Fitness trackers and smartwatches are undoubtedly great fitness companions and a smart investment to make if you’re looking to keep track of your fitness journey and ultimately achieve set fitness goals.
Most fitness trackers we see these days rely completely on Bluetooth technology to work efficiently and while this might seem normal on the surface, getting exposed to unnecessary electromagnetic radiation both from the watch and your smartphone is not always good especially when it’s too close to your body.
Thankfully, there are some fitness trackers that don’t need Bluetooth to work and they’re known as standalone fitness trackers. These fitness trackers also do not require a smartphone or computer to function and even though some of them come with Bluetooth sensors, these sensors can be completely disabled when you don’t need to sync fitness data on the watch with your smartphone for backup.
After extensive research and trying out various smartwatches and fitness trackers in the market, I will be sharing my top picks on the best non-Bluetooth fitness trackers that you can use without a smartphone. Some of these fitness trackers are completely radiation free while others emit some form of radiation when the blutoothn feature is turned on.
In a hurry? Below is a quick rundown on my top picks.
10 Best Non-Bluetooth Fitness Trackers To Buy In 2022
Below is a rundown of my top choices on the best fitness trackers right now that don’t require Bluetooth.
Like I mentioned earlier, these fitness trackers would either be trackers that don’t come with Bluetooth at all or fitness trackers you can use without enabling the Bluetooth connectivity which comes by default on them.
I will also be writing a short but detailed review of each fitness tracker, reasons why you should buy (pros), and also reasons why you shouldn’t buy (cons).
1) Garmin vívosmart 4 – Best Overall
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
Opening this list is an awesome fitness tracker from Gramin – the Garmin vívosmart 4. The best part about this fitness tracker is that it doesn’t need a Bluetooth connection to work and even though it comes with a Bluetooth sensor, Bluetooth connectivity can be completely disabled if you’re not interested in using it.
On its features, the Garmin vívosmart 4 is an impressive fitness tracker, and for its price, you’ll be getting almost all the features available on most modern fitness trackers including the ability to sync your fitness data with the Garmin Connect app.
Available features on the Garmin vívosmart 4 include sleep monitoring with REM sleep, blood oxygen saturation levels measurement, heart rate monitoring, all-day stress tracking, relaxation breathing timer, Vo2 Max monitor, and more. It also features dedicated activity trackers for specific sporting or exercising events like running, swimming, yoga, and more.
The Garmin vívosmart 4 fitness tracker is Bluetooth enabled but it can be completely disabled if you don’t need it. To disable it, all you have to do is connect the tracker to your smartphone with the Garmin Connect app, then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth > Status > Off on the app to turn off Bluetooth on the tracker completely.
Note that when you have Bluetooth turned off, the fitness tracker won’t be able to sync your fitness data with your phone and the data will be deleted in 2 weeks if unsynced. I recommend enabling Bluetooth at least once per day to ensure your fitness data is completely synced with your Garmin Account while keeping you radiation free while you use the watch for the rest of the day.
2) Garmin Vívosmart HR – Best Battery Life
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
The Garmin vívosmart HR is another impressive fitness tracker from Garmin that also doesn’t require a bluetooth connection to work. It is Bluetooth enabled though and that is because the tracker uses bluetooth to pair to your smartphone but bluetooth can be turned off if don’t want it.
Pairing your smartphone with your fitness tracker allows you to use features like music playback control, smart notifications, camera control, and others on the tracker.
This Garmin vivosmart HR is a sleek and stylish-looking fitness tracker that can track your fitness activities including steps, distance covered, calories burned, heart rate, floors climbed, activity intensity, and more. One thing I really loved about this fitness tracker is the fact that the display is very visible even when you’re under a bright light or outdoors.
Like the Garmin vívosmart 4 which was mentioned earlier, the Garmin vívosmart HR also allows you to completely disable bluetooth connectivity if you don’t need it. To do that, connect the tracker to your smartphone via the Garmin Connect app, then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth > Status > Off.
Overall, the Garmin vívosmart HR is an impressive fitness tracker offered at a very low price and the best part is that it doesn’t require bluetooth to track your fitness activities although it requires bluetooth if you need to sync your fitness data with your smartphone.
3) Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro – Best Stylish
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
The Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is a stylish fitness tracker from Samsung and like other fitness trackers on this list, it doesn’t require a Bluetooth connection to work.
On its features, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro is basically a standalone fitness tracker. It comes with fitness features including heart rate monitoring, calorie burned tracking, activity tracking (via GPS), and more. It is also water-resistant up to 50m meaning you can have the tracker on while swimming, taking a shower, or washing your hands without any issues.
Aside fitness, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro also comes with other interesting features like music playback (onboard), dust/scratch resistance, and enhanced fitness tracking via third-party apps like MyFitnessPal, MapMyRun, and more.
Like other fitness trackers on this list, you can disable Bluetooth connectivity on the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro if you don’t need or use it. To do that, tap the Power button on the fitness tracker, then navigate to Settings > Connections > Bluetooth > Status > Off to turn off Bluetooth completely on the device.
Note that when Bluetooth is disabled, you won’t be able to sync your fitness data with your smartphone or use other third-party apps like MyFitnessPal, Strava, and MapMyRun which require the tracker to be connected with your phone. I highly recommend connecting the fitness tracker to your smartphone via Bluetooth at least once a day to ensure you don’t lose any of your fitness data.
4) OZO Fitness SC2 – Best Digital Pedometer
- Bluetooth – No
The OZO SC2 Digital Pedometer is the first completely non-Bluetooth fitness tracker on this list and unlike other trackers outlined earlier that ship with bluetooth connectivity and an option to disable, this tracker doesn’t come with or use any form of Bluetooth connectivity at all making it the best radiation free fitness tracker on this list.
This is essentially a pedometer and it doesn’t come with other fitness tracking features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, etc but it does the job of step counting very well and if this is what you need, then consider getting this device.
The device is also very portable and you either hold it on your hand or clip it to your ankle or any part of your cloth via a clip that comes with the device while walking or running. It doesn’t require any app or any form of connectivity to work and it can only store your fitness data for only 7 days.
Overall, the OZO Fitness SC2 Digital Pedometer is an excellent pedometer for its price and if you need a pedometer that doesn’t require any form of Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity, then I highly recommend this device.
5) OZO Fitness CS1 – Best Non-Bluetooth Step Tracker
- Bluetooth – No
The OZO Fitness CS1 Simple Step Tracker like the name suggests is a simple step tracker and the second fitness tracking device from OZO on this list.
Like the OZO CS2 Digital Pedometer, the OZO CS1 Simple Step Tracker allows you to accurately track your steps without the need for any form of connectivity, smartphone, or computer.
The device is also pretty accurate in my experience and very easy to use too. It comes with an extra-large non-touch screen which allows you to view your fitness data clearly unlike other fitness trackers on this list with small displays.
Overall, this step tracker from OZO is an ideal fitness tracker for seniors as it doesn’t require a smartphone for anything at all.
6) Garmin Forerunner 35
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
The Garmin Forerunner 35 is another outstanding smartwatch from Garmin that you can use without a Bluetooth connection. Although it’s an older model in the Garmin Forerunner series, this smartwatch is still a great value for its price even in 2022.
On its features, the Garmin Forerunner comes with most fitness tracking features you will find on most modern smartwatches. Some fitness features available on this smartwatch include heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, step counter, calories burned monitoring, GPS activity tracking, and more.
Although the Garmin Forerunner 35 comes with Bluetooth connectivity, it can be completely disabled if you don’t need or want to use it. To disable Bluetooth on this smartwatch, all you have to do is click on the Menu symbol (on the watch) then navigate to Settings > Bluetooth > Turn Off and you have turned off Bluetooth completely.
If you disable Bluetooth completely on the Forerunner 35, you won’t be able to sync fitness tracking data with your phone (via the Garmin Connect app) or use other features like smart notifications, music playback control, and more on the watch.
Overall, the Garmin Forerunner 35 is a simple and lightweight smartwatch that gets the job done most of the time with or without a Bluetooth connection. It’s not as stylish as newer smartwatches, but it does its job perfectly.
7) Mijiaowatch Fitness Tracker
- Bluetooth – No
The Mijiaowatch is essentially a kids’ fitness tracker but it’s also great for adults too. If you need a lightweight affordable non-Bluetooth fitness tracker that can be used without a smartphone or computer, then check out the Mijiaowatch fitness tracker.
On its features, the Mijiowatch fitness tracker comes with essential fitness tracking features expected of a fitness tracker of its price range. With this wrist-based device you can keep track of your fitness activities like heart rate, blood pressure, steps taken, calories burned, distance traveled, exercise time, and more.
As mentioned earlier, this fitness tracker is completely non-Bluetooth meaning it doesn’t come with an inbuilt Bluetooth sensor and it doesn’t use Bluetooth connectivity for anything so if you need a fitness tracker that doesn’t need a smartphone to work, then you might consider getting this device.
Overall, the Mijiaowatch fitness tracker does its job quite well as one would expect for its price range. It is targeted at kids but can also work well for adults. If you’re searching for a non-Bluetooth fitness tracker for kids, then I highly recommend you check this watch out.
8) IGank Fitness Tracker
- Bluetooth – No
The IGank Fitness Tracker is another wrist-based fitness tracking device that doesn’t need a Bluetooth connection to work. It is also lightweight and a great fit for men, women, and kids.
This fitness tracker can help in tracking fitness activities like steps taken, walking distance (via an advanced 3D motion sensor), calories burned, and more. The best part is that it doesn’t use a Bluetooth connection to do any of these.
It is also equipped with a high-quality polymer lithium battery which lasts for 15days meaning that you don’t have to worry about charging the device every now and then.
Overall, the IGank fitness tracker is an impressive fitness tracker and a great fit for someone who wants to use a fitness tracker without a smartphone or Bluetooth connection.
9) Feifuns Fitness Tracker
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
The Feifuns fitness tracker is another fitness tracker that you can use without Bluetooth and it performs just as expected for its price.
On its features, this fitness tracker is an all-around fitness-focused watch and as you would expect, it comes with many fitness tracking features. Some of these fitness tracking features include all-day heart rate monitoring, blood pressure monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, step counter, calories burned calculation, and more. It doesn’t use any form of connectivity to do any of these.
This fitness tracker is not completely non-bluetooth because it uses Bluetooth connectivity to sync data with a phone and do other things like notifications however, you can disable it entirely if you don’t need it.
Overall, the Feifun fitness tracker is an impressive fitness tracker and for its price, I really had next to nothing to complain about.
Fitness tracking works just fine and the best part is that it doesn’t need any form of Bluetooth connection to track fitness activities. You can also view your fitness stats directly on the watch without having to connect with a smartphone.
10) Garmin Forerunner 935
- Bluetooth – Yes, but can be disabled completely
The Garmin Forerunner 935 is another excellent fitness tracker and smartwatch which doesn’t require a bluetooth connection to work. Like some fitness trackers on this list, the Garmin Forerunner 935 comes with bluetooth connectivity but this can be completely disabled if you don’t need it.
Now to its features. The Garmin Forerunner 935 is essentially a sports/outdoor smartwatch so it comes with many fitness tracking features as expected. Some of these features include heart rate tracking, steps counter, sleep tracking, and more.
As a sports-focused watch, the Garmin Forerunner 935 comes with multiple sport modes to enable you to track your sporting activities data. Some supported sports include running, cycling, swimming, hiking, and more.
This smartwatch also does not require Bluetooth connectivity to track things like heart rate, sleep, steps, and more so you can disable Bluetooth if you don’t use or plan to use it. You will however need bluetooth to sync data with your phone or to use features like music playback control, notifications, and more.
To disable the Bluetooth connectivity on this watch refer to this page on Garmin’s website.
Although a slightly expensive fitness tracker, the Garmin Forerunner 935 is completely worth the price. If you plan on disabling the Bluetooth occasionally, then I recommend this watch but if you need the Bluetooth disabled all the time, then check out other fitness trackers on this list as this watch relies heavily on Bluetooth and GPS connectivity to perform well.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Can a fitness band be used without a smartphone?
Q: Do all fitness trackers need Bluetooth?
Q: Can I use a Fitbit without a smartphone?
Q: Are there any Samsung fitness trackers that don’t require Bluetooth?
Also, you can’t use features like smart notifications, music playback control, and the likes without connecting the tracker with your phone via Bluetooth.
Conclusion
There you have it, my list of the best fitness trackers you can use without Bluetooth right now. Note that some of these fitness trackers are not completely non-bluetooth as you might need to connect them to your smartphone via bluetooth at some point for syncing to ensure you don’t lose any of the fitness tracking data stored on the tracker.
That said, syncing is completely optional but important if you want to keep track of your fitness progress in the long term. There are also some completely non-Bluetooth fitness trackers on this list like the IGank fitness tracker and the Mijaowatch fitness tracker and if you don’t want any form of Bluetooth at all, then consider getting any of those to trackers.
If you just need something very basic, then check the pedometers from OZO listed above. They are great for step counting alone unlike the other trackers that can track things like heart rate, sleep, calories burned, and so on.
That’s all for now and I hope this article helped you make an informed buying decision.
