Sitex special: Get fit with your digital fitness buddies

The relationship between tech and sports is getting ever more cosier. Make sure to check out some of these "sports buddies" when you're at Sitex 2014.

The 26th edition of the annual consumer technology fair is now on at Singapore Expo. It ends on Sunday.

Garmin Forerunner 920XT

$729
Booth: 6C31

The Garmin Forerunner 920XT is a GPS watch built with triathletes in mind. When used with Garmin's HRM-Run heart-rate sensor (included), it can record cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time during your runs.

Whether you are swimming in open water or in a pool, it is able to measure your swim distance, pace, stroke type and stroke count. It also has a built-in altimeter for precise ascent, descent and gradient data for bike rides.

For daily use, it can connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth to show your e-mail and text messages, as well as other notifications.

Garmin Vivosmart

$229 (usual price $269)
Booth: 6C31

If you want to use a fitness tracker, you might as well get one that can double as a smartwatch of sorts. Enter the Garmin Vivosmart.

It is a wristband that tracks and displays your steps taken, calories burned, distance walked and time of the day. The Oled display is hidden until you double tap it to wake it up. You swipe to toggle through your fitness statistics.

The wristband will alert you if you stay still for too long. In addition, it gives both visual and vibration alerts for calls, as well as text and e-mail messages when it is connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth.

Jabra Sport Pulse

$278 (usual price $298); freebies include a sports water bottle (worth $9.90) and a Moigus 3000mAh Powerbank (worth $39)
Booths: 6E01, 6F20 and 6F40

The Jabra Sport Pulse is more than just a pair of wireless sports music earphones with an inline remote control. It actually has a heart-rate monitor built into the left earpiece.

Compatible with Android smartphones and Apple iPhones, it comes with an app that will alert you if you are overtraining or undertraining by keeping track of your target heart rates.

To use this feature, simply sync the earphones to the Jabra Sport Life mobile app via Bluetooth to set your personal training needs and goals.

Plantronics Backbeat Fit

$189 (usual price $219)
Booths: 5B20, 5E01, 6E01, 6E65 and 6F02

Those who have time to exercise only at night will like the Plantronics Backbeat Fit wireless Bluetooth headphones.

The Backbeat Fit's bright colours and reflective materials warn road users and other joggers of your presence. In addition, its safety-first eartip design allows you to hear over the music, so you are alert to what is happening around you.

The music playback and receive call buttons are built into the earpieces, so you never have to reach for your smartphone.

TomTom Multi-Sport Cardio GPS

$499; includes a free carry case
Booth: 6C20

As its name implies, this GPS running watch doubles as a heart-rate monitor which works whether you are running, cycling or swimming.

An optical sensor at the back of the watch monitors your blood flow by shining a light through your skin and onto your blood vessels, so you do not need to wear one of those uncomfortable heart-rate monitors which you strap onto your chest.

When you are done working out, sync the Cardio's workout data with your iOS devices via Bluetooth to see how well you have done.

This article was first published on Nov 27, 2014.
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