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Best Sleep Monitor Reviewed & Rated

last updated: May 15, 2020

Most adults in the United States are sleep deprived. We stay up too late, get up too early and toss and turn in the hours between. As a result, many of us struggle through the day in a constant state of lethargy. Fitness band sleep trackers are designed to do something about that.

The quantity and quality of our sleep are being recognized as an integral part of overall health and wellness. Fitness and activity tracker manufacturers have acknowledged this by incorporating sleep tracking capabilities into their devices. In this article, we will discover some of the best sleep trackers on the market today. Take a look at our list of the best sleep monitoring devices.

This is the best product on our list that is currently in stock:

icon
FitBit One Activity Plus Sleep Tracker
92.6/100 our score
Features
95
Ease of Use
95
Durability
89
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
94
FitBit One Activity Plus Sleep Tracker
Why is it better?

Syncs automatically to your computer

Water resistant

Smart silent alarm

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Researched Sources
40
Researched Sources
Reviews Considered
11k
Reviews Considered
Hours Researching
24
Hours Researching
Products Evaluated
14
Products Evaluated
Sorting Options
Features Ease of Use Durability Comfort Effectiveness By Default
Rank
PictureProduct
Name
Rating
Shops
#1
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94
Features
98 %
Ease of Use
97 %
Durability
90 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
95 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#2
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92.6
Features
95 %
Ease of Use
95 %
Durability
89 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
94 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
$299.00
#3
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
90.4
Features
90 %
Ease of Use
95 %
Durability
87 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
90 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#4
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
88.8
Features
90 %
Ease of Use
90 %
Durability
87 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
87 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#5
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
87.2
Features
85 %
Ease of Use
90 %
Durability
86 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#6
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86.2
Features
85 %
Ease of Use
85 %
Durability
86 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
85 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#7
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
85.6
Features
85 %
Ease of Use
84 %
Durability
85 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
84 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#8
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.8
Features
80 %
Ease of Use
82 %
Durability
85 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
82 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#9
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.4
Features
80 %
Ease of Use
82 %
Durability
85 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
80 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link
#10
The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.2
Features
80 %
Ease of Use
81 %
Durability
85 %
Comfort
90 %
Effectiveness
80 %
Price Comparison Last Updated (01.12.24)
Amazon Link

10 Best Sleep Trackers

1. Garmin VivoFit

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
94
Garmin VivoFit
Amazon Link
Features
98
Ease of Use
97
Durability
90
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
95
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Water resistant

Stylish and comfortable to wear

One year battery life

Cons:

Band clasp is fidgety

The VivoFit by Garmin is a smart activity tracker. It will learn your current activity level and then set attainable daily goals based upon what you are currently doing. As you reach your milestones, VivoFit has the ability to adjust your specific goals for the following day, gradually pushing you in the right direction for a much healthier lifestyle.
The Garmin VivoFit has a hugely impressive one year of battery life. It displays steps, distance, calories burned, and sleep.Read more

This tracker comes with a heart rate monitor chest strap to help you track your fitness activities. It reminds you to stay active with a red bar which lights up if you are not active for an entire hour. Other segments will light up if you are not active for 15 minutes or more. Walk around the room for a few minutes and it will reset.

The battery is designed to have a long life and will work for over a year before it needs to be replaced. The watch display is easily readable so you can see what time it is, as well as your fitness stats, right from your wrist.

The Vivofit tracker learns how active you are and gives you a goal that is personalized just for you every morning. It also tracks and records how many calories you burn through each day including information about your metabolism.

When you get ready for bed, be sure to put it in the mode for sleep and the tracker will keep track of your sleep and rest quality. In order to pair with your Vivofit device, you need a phone which supports Bluetooth.

2. FitBit One Activity Plus Sleep Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
92.6
FitBit One Activity Plus Sleep Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
95
Ease of Use
95
Durability
89
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
94
best offer for today
Amazon Link
$299.00
Pros:

Syncs automatically to your computer

Water resistant

Smart silent alarm

Cons:

Not a very user-friendly design

The Fitbit One is powered by a rechargeable built-in battery. This device will monitor how long and how well you sleep. It will set goals, view goals and it will award you with badges. It will also track steps, goals, distance, calories burned and stairs climbed.Read more

The FitBit One will sync with tablets, computers, and over 150 leading smartphones which use the Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology. The computer needs an internet connection and a USB port.

This tracker is rain, sweat, and splash proof, but you cannot swim with it on. It is also recommended that you take it off before you shower because it is best for your skin if that band stays dry and clean.

You should charge your device every couple of days to make sure the device keeps tracking. It charges fully in an hour or two. The battery will last up to 10 days.

3. MisFit Shine 2 Tracker and Sleep Monitor

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
90.4
MisFit Shine 2 Tracker and Sleep Monitor
Amazon Link
Features
90
Ease of Use
95
Durability
87
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
90
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Tracks light, moderate and REM sleep

Very comfortable to wear

Water resistant to 50 m

Movement alarm

Silent alarm

Cons:

Hard to tell the time

The MisFit Shine 2 Track has alerts that vibrate for notification of calls and texts as well as movement reminders and alarms. It is also a smart button enabled to help you control your connected household devices. This device is swim-proof with an anodized aluminum disc. It has a multicolor LED display that tracks the progress and displays the time. It also tracks how many steps you take and how far you go, how many calories you burn, and an analysis of your sleep habits. The battery does not charge but is replaceable every six months.Read more

The MisFit Shine 2 will analyze your light, moderate, and REM sleep and provide you with advanced graphing.

The great thing about the Shine 2 is that it is so comfortable that you literally forget that you are wearing it. In fact, you ever have to take it off. You can sleep with it, swim with it and shower with it. This is in line with Misfit’s mission to make fashionable and functional gadgets.

When you set up the Shine 2 to pair with your mobile phone, you choose a goal for yourself, which is either easy, moderate, or hard. The tracker will then tell you at any point how far through your daily goal you are. There is no actual word or digit display on the device. Rather, there are 12 dots that light up around the perimeter of the face of the tracker. When all 12 light up, you have reached your goal.

The device will track, walking, running, swimming, tennis, yoga, and many other activities. In terms of being asleep monitor, the device feeds back how light or how restful your sleep was to the mobile app. You can then analyze this data by way of graphs and other analysis to work out what you did or didn’t do that affected the quality of your sleep. The device also features a silent alarm. However, the vibration alert is quite minimal. It will wake you up during a light part of your sleep cycle within 20 minutes of when you set the alarm. Vibrate technology means that you won’t wake your partner.

The Shine 2 also has a movement alarm. This will vibrate to let you know that you haven’t been moving enough and will give you the little push you need to get you off the couch and active.

The Shine 2 also doubles as a watch. If you are a watch wearer, however, you are best to keep it and wear both. It is quite difficult to tell the time using the lighted dots system of the Shine 2.

4. LETSCOM Fitness Tracker and Sleep Monitor

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
88.8
LETSCOM Fitness Tracker and Sleep Monitor
Amazon Link
Features
90
Ease of Use
90
Durability
87
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
87
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Cordless charging

Has a color display screen

Is waterproof

Cons:

The display is not very bright

The LETSCOM Tracker and Sleep Monitor track your fitness activity and calories burned. It has 14 sports modes and monitors your heart rate as well. It keeps track of your heart rate during exercise and your rest heart rate automatically. It also tracks your sleep patterns. It has a clear screen, a waterproof design, and is compatible with smartphones.Read more

The LETSCOM monitor keeps track of your heart rate while you are exercising or resting. It monitors automatically and continuously. It also monitors your sleep patterns and gives you detailed data reports in the app, including how long you are in a deep sleep, light sleep, and awake.

You can connect the tracker to the VeryFitPro app on your smartphone and receive notifications of incoming phone calls and messages from your wrist. It has a sweatproof and waterproof design so you can use it when you are running in the rain, showering or even light diving.

This watch is compatible with newer smartphones, iPhone, or Android. It has a built-in USB plug so you can charge it without a cord. You just remove the band and plug the tracker body into a USB plug to charge it.

5. Letsfit Fitness Tracker and Sleep Monitor

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
87.2
Letsfit Fitness Tracker and Sleep Monitor
Amazon Link
Features
85
Ease of Use
90
Durability
86
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
85
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Built-in USB plug

Automatic sleep tracking

Communication notifications

Cons:

User manual hard to understand

The Letsfit Tracker gives you a more accurate view of your daily activity including your steps, calories burned, and heart rate monitoring. It keeps track of your heart rate during your exercise routines and when you are resting. It gives you a perfect picture of your heart health.

It also tracks your deep sleep, light sleep, and waking hours. You will be able to analyze the data on the app and modify your habits to get the most out of your night's rest with sleep tracking. You will also receive all kinds of notifications for email, text, calls, social media, and more.

You do not have to worry about messing up your tracker by running in the rain, washing your hands, or sweating although it is recommended that you do not wear it while you are swimming or showering. To charge the tracker, just take it apart and plug the base into a USB port on your computer. One charge will last up to seven days.Read more

The Letsfit keeps track of your heart rate and puts it into a graph in the app so you will be able to understand the information while allowing you to understand the stats.

This tracker will record your steps and how many miles you walked, how many calories you burned, and more. The sleep tracking monitors your deep sleep, light sleep, and wakes time so you can get a complete understanding of good your sleep quality.

The tracker vibrates to let you know when incoming calls or messages come in. It also reminds you when you have not moved around for a while and helps track your calendar. It will keep you connected.

To charge this tracker just gently pull the bands off the host and insert it into a USB plug on your computer to charge. It will take a couple of hours and then it will be good for up to 5 days.

6. Willful Fitness Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
86.2
Willful Fitness Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
85
Ease of Use
85
Durability
86
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
85
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Waterproof for swimming and diving

Automatic sleep monitor

Message notification

Cons:

Instructions are useless

The Willful Fitness Tracker has the newest in HD color screens. It also comes with a dual-color band in your choice of eight different fashionable colors. This is a watch you can use for swimming and diving since it is IP68 waterproof. It has a 24-hour continuous heart rate monitor. The sleep tracker works really well. Wear it while you are sleeping and it monitors and analyzes your sleep quality so you can make the changes you need to get better rest.Read more

This tracker has an excellent heart rate sensor and tracker. It also automatically detects your sleep between 9 p.m. and 8 a.m. It will analyze the quality and how much time you spend in deep sleep, light sleep, and awake. It also has a handy silent vibration alarm so it wakes you up without disturbing anyone else.

It is also a fitness tracker that will record how many steps you take, calories and other fitness information. There are 14 training modes you can use to better track your activities.

This tracker is also waterproof and can be used while swimming or diving. It has a nice LCD color screen which gives you a great image. It also has new dual-color bands which make it unique from other trackers.

This watch is also a useful notification center. It helps you keep track of your calls and messages. It also keeps an eye on your calendar, SMS, and social media. You will never lose touch.

7. Lintelek Fitness Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
85.6
Lintelek Fitness Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
85
Ease of Use
84
Durability
85
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
84
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Continuous heart rate monitor

Waterproof

14 sports modes

Cons:

Do not disturb does not work well

The Lintelek Fitness Tracker has a 24 hour a day heart rate monitor so it keeps track of your rate even while you are sleeping. It comes in a choice of 16 different colors so you are sure to find one which will match your lifestyle. It will fully charge in about an hour and stay charged for about 7 days. Be sure to hook it up to the app on just about any smartphone.Read more

The Lintelek is easy to use with an easy to read touch screen. It is a multi-sport fitness tracker with 14 sports modes, three which are default and an additional eleven spots you can add.

This tracker has a continuous heart rate monitor which gives you a thorough sleep analysis. This will help you know your health. The accurate and effective sleep analysis so you can get some good suggestions about how to adjust your habits.

You will also not miss out on communication with the notifications. Once you are connected to the app you will get a vibration alert whenever calls, messages, or social media comes in. When you are connected to the GPS you can map the route and will always know where you are. This tracker also has a long-lasting battery and is waterproof.

8. Akuti Fitness Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.8
Akuti Fitness Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
80
Ease of Use
82
Durability
85
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
82
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Vibration alarm wakes you up gently

Only takes two hours to charge

Bright colored display

Cons:

The USB plug can break off

The Akuti Fitness Tracker monitors your heart rate. and uploads the real-time data into your phone app. It is the perfect tool to track your sleep pattern so you can adjust your habits and improve your health. This tracker monitors your steps. It also reminds you to get up and move around on a regular basis. It will notify you of calls, texts, and social media. It has a nice clear display. You can use it to help with camera controls. It tracks your sleep time and then wakes you up peacefully with a silent alarm.Read more

This is a great fitness tracker that records your daily activity, calories you burned and it monitors your heart rate with a good analysis. It will fully charge in about two hours and will last up to five days.

Everything you need is in this tiny tracker. You have a heart rate monitor, a counter for your steps, a stopwatch, notifications reminders, a calorie counter, and most importantly a sleep monitor.

There are lots of band colors to choose from which are adjustable to a nice range of wrist size. It also has a bright, colorful LCD display.

9. MorePro X-Core Fitness Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.4
MorePro X-Core Fitness Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
80
Ease of Use
82
Durability
85
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
80
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

24/7 heart rate and blood pressure checking

Auto sleep tracking and alarms

Waterproof design

Cons:

Not good if you work nights

The MorePro X-Core Fitness Tracker has an excellent sleep monitor which uses heart rate monitoring technology. It can identify your different levels of sleep and give you data about mild and deep sleep patterns. The heart rate is monitored without keeping a strap on your chest all day. It simply records data in 30-minute intervals. This will give you more information about your heart rate trends. Learn more about your heart rate trends.Read more

Quality of life depends a lot on your health. This tracker will be a big help in monitoring yours. It tracks your heart rate and blood pressure during the day and at night. It also tracks steps, calories burned, distance, active minutes and if you are running it helps with a GPS map.

It also has a very comprehensive notification function. You will be notified of phone calls, texts, and messages from social media. It also has an alarm clock, sedentary reminder, and heart rate warning.

This tracker will automatically track your sleep patterns from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. and let you know how long you were in light and deep sleep. Then it gives you personalized insights into how to get better rest.

The tracker is waterproof enough to wear swimming, in the shower, or anywhere. It also charges at any USB port without a cable. You can charge it in 1-2 hours and the charge will last 3-7 days.

10. BingoFit Fitness Tracker

The rating is based on the average rating (1-100) from all the criteria in which we rated this product.
83.2
BingoFit Fitness Tracker
Amazon Link
Features
80
Ease of Use
81
Durability
85
Comfort
90
Effectiveness
80
best offer for today
Amazon Link
Pros:

Call and message notification

Monitors heart rate and blood pressure

Connects to KingFit app

Cons:

A little big for a thin wrist

The BingoFit Fitness Tracker will definitely keep you on track. It helps track your sleep and it's a tracker designed for women or men. The sleep monitor analyzes the data about deep sleep, mild sleep, and when you are awake. It helps improve your sleep quality and also has a silent vibrating alarm to wake you up without being startled. It gives you notification of incoming messages and tracks your activity all day. It is waterproof.Read more

The BingoFit Fitness Tracker watches your heart rate and blood pressure. It also tracks your steps, calories burned, and all the other fitness information. It is also an intelligent sleep tracker. You can also use it as a camera remote and it includes an alarm clock, stopwatch, and reminds you to get up and move around.

This tracker connects to the KingFit app and will track your heart rate in real-time and keep a 24-hour record of it. You get a graph that lets you monitor what it is doing. The sleep monitor analyzes the data like your sleep duration and depth, so you can see how you are sleeping and take steps to improve it.

It helps you stay in touch with call and message notifications as well as social media. You can quickly see the messages and not miss the ones that matter. It is waterproof and dustproof.

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Features

If you are going to invest in a nice fitness tracker, you want one with the features which will meet your needs. Since we are talking about sleep monitoring, that is the first feature you will want to look for. Find a tracker that monitors your sleep patterns during the hours that you are normally asleep. It should keep track of your deep sleep, lighter sleep, and wake times. Then the information should upload into an app where you can see it in one place and can analyze it to see what the patterns are. From there you will be able to make changes to help yourself get a better rest which always makes a huge difference in your health.

Check out all the varieties of faces and bands on fitness trackers. Find the colors you like and a face that is big enough to read easily without being too bulky, especially if you have a thin wrist. Make sure it syncs to your specific smartphone brand or to your computer.

It is also handy if you have a tracker that will monitor your incoming messages so you will not lose track of important messages. Most of them show you who is calling, let you briefly see a text message, or give you incoming social media messages.

Ease of Use

You want a fitness tracker that is easy to use. If you are using it to monitor your sleep, you need to be able to wear it to bed. That means you need a watch that is not going to be bulky to scratch you during the night. It also needs to not light up and wake you up whenever you brush against it while moving around. Having a vibrating alarm is handy too so you can be woken up easily and gently without waking up other people in the room.

The display should be easy to read and it should be easy to page through the information you are looking for either with a touch screen or with easy to understand buttons. It is nice if the display lights up and it should be big enough you can read it easily.

Having a tracker that is compatible with Bluetooth helps with ease of use so it is easier to connect with apps. Speaking of which, the app should be easy to navigate so you can get to the information you need and easily understand what you are reading because they have it set up clearly.

Most of the trackers have notification alerts that help you easily see who is calling you so you know if it is important enough to interrupt your workout and answer. Most of them also let you see text messages as they go across the screen. Some of them also help you keep track of social media messages like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and others.

Durability

Since this is something you will probably be wearing to 24/7 you will want a fitness tracker that is durable. The band should be durable yet flexible and made of a material that will not irritate your skin. The clasp should be sturdy and hold it on your wrist without slipping or scratching.

The face of the watch would be durable enough to resist scratches while you are wearing it during your everyday life. It is also handy if your watch is water-resistant so you do not have to worry about sweating or running in the rain. It should also be dust resistant so dust cannot get into the cracks and mess up the functions.

Being durable means having a strong battery life and also the connection to recharge it. It should be water-resistant. It would be handy if you could wear it in the pool or even in the shower, but at the very least it should stand up to your body sweat.

Comfort

You will be wearing this fitness watch for most of the day and night, you need one which is comfortable. Take a look at the band and the material it is made out of. It should be soft and flexible while being durable. You should be able to wear it snug against your skin without it irritating or causing your arm to sweat too much.

The clasp should keep the watch snug and attached while at the same time being at a good angle where it is not going to irritate you in your daily life by snagging on your clothes or anything else. The face of the watch should be big enough for you to be able to see comfortably so you can read it on the go, but it should not be so bulky on your arm that it gets in the way.

You need a tracker that has a strong battery as well so you can keep your monitoring on track. The battery should last for a long time, usually at least a week or so. When it is time to charge, it should be easy to do and quickly. If it plugs into a USB port, the plugs should be sturdy so they do not break off when you use them.

Effectiveness

You want a fitness tracker that is going to be effective at helping you to track the quality of your sleep. It should keep track of your heart rate during the day and then while you are sleeping as well, and be able to tell when you are in deep sleep or light sleep. This information should be recorded and uploaded to an app where it can be analyzed you can recognize patterns. From there you should be able to look at the information and use it to make changes in your habits so you can get better rest and improve your health.

Also to be effective, the tracker needs to be able to keep accurate data. It should give you the correct time and when it monitors your heart rate and blood pressure as well as steps and other fitness information, those numbers should be accurate so they will be useful for you.

It is also nice if you have a watch that will help you keep track of phone calls, messages, and calendar events so you do not have to worry about such things while you are working out. To be more effective, it helps if the tracker is scratch-resistant, dust resistant, and water-resistant so it does not interfere with whatever you are doing throughout the day.

Maybe you can find something more effective in your daily life which has vibrating alarms, a stopwatch, remote control for your camera, or a GPS system. The more tools it has to make your life easier, the more effective it is going to be.

expert tips icon
Learn The Sleep Stages So The Information Is Useful

It is important to know a little about the sleep stages so you can get the most out of your monitoring. When you are sleeping at night you typically go through multiple sleep cycles which last about 90 minutes each. You have stages of light sleep and deep sleep throughout the night. The deep sleep periods are usually longer earlier in the night. The REM sleep periods feature vivid dreams and are usually longer as the night goes on.

Wearing A Monitor Gives You A More Natural Read

If the watch will help you monitor your sleep at home, then you can get a real sense of your true sleep health. You are at home in your own environment so you can make a good decision about how to optimize your sleep. The long term tracking will help as well.

Other Factors to Consider

Band

You want a band which is soft and comfortable so you are content with wearing it all day. It can be made of rubber material, plastic, or leather. The band should fit snugly without any extra length hanging which is going to get caught on things.

It is also nice to have a band which is water-resistant so it will not be affected by sweat or rain. There are fitness trackers you can even swim or dive in, however, we do recommend that no matter how resistant they are, you should take it off in the shower. It is better for your skin if you take it off so you will not have water under the band. You want your wrist to stay clean and dry.

Frequently Asked Questions

q: How does a sleep monitor work?

a:

The main way that your sleep cycle watch measures your sleep activity is through actigraphy. Actigraphy uses movement, as measured through an accelerometer to measure your sleep. This is based on the idea that the period when you are awake you are moving more than when you are asleep.

​Even though polysomnography is the most accurate measure of sleep activity, it has its problems. It involves hooking a person to a whole lot of measuring machines before they fall asleep. This, in itself, is bound to ensure that the person does not have a normal sleep; it is far too invasive. As a result, actigraphy has been used by researchers as a less invasive method of recording sleep activity for decades.

q: How Accurate Are Sleep Trackers?

a:

Sleeptracker watches provide relatively little data when compared to the gold standard for measuring the quality of sleep – polysomnography. This is a collection of different physiological measures that can be used to define and characterize sleep. Patients stay overnight for these sophisticated sleep studies which require a slew of equipment, from muscle monitors to EKG machines.

Fitness monitors use accelerometers to measure actigraphy. Rather than actually measuring sleep, they are measuring your sleep approximately by measuring your movement. Since the purpose is to make estimates on deep sleep versus light sleep, the best sleep monitor uses a unique algorithm that measures the level of movement your body does in different amounts during the night.

So, how accurate is actigraphy as a method of measuring sleep? A study was conducted in 2011 by Martin and Hakim which looked at that very question. Their conclusion was as follows:

Actigraphy should never be used as any type of substitute for using things like sleep diaries, clinical interviews, or overnight sleep studies, it does provide useful information concerning how you sleep in your natural environment which could clue you in on things which may need additional monitoring. They are not able to record sleep latency, which is the time it takes to fall asleep. Neither are they very good at telling how long you are awake in the middle of the night or your total sleep time relative to the time you are in bed.

Sleep monitor devices do encourage you to pay more attention to your sleep habits. This is a very good thing. A lack of sleep can affect mood, ability to concentrate, and stay tuned in to our day. Fitness band sleeps trackers not only help us to get our steps in. They also help us to get our zzz’s in.

q: How long does the battery last?

a:

This answer will vary a lot depending on the tracker you have. It will depend on how many features it has run on it. You can usually count on 5-7 days of life before you need to charge it. If it a battery inside the unit which you have to replace, most of the time they last about a year.

q: What is the most accurate type of sleep monitoring?

a:

Polysomnography is the most accurate way to measure sleep, but it is also very expensive and impractical for most of us. These sleep trackers fill the gap. Tracking your sleep actigraphy (body-movement analysis) which is what they use is up to 90% as effective as the expensive polysomnography.

q: Why is good sleep important?

a:

Sleep is a major key to good health. It helps your body relax and rest. You wake up full of energy and have good concentration. It also helps in keeping you from getting sick. It is not just the amount, but the quality of sleep that matters.