In the midst of the technology era, many curious tech inventions have arisen, especially when it comes to sports. Without doubt, the most popular would be the fitness watch-curated first by Apple. Fitness watches rose to fame with Apple’s backing and have since spurred other fitness brands to create their own versions. This wave of wearable technology was new, fascinating, and intriguing to many recreational and professional athletes, and their popularity continues on an upward trend in the present day.

Being an athlete myself, I have admittedly been drawn to the allure of them. The list of unique features that came about with the creation of wearable fitness devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit go on and on, and they enthrall someone like me. The devices give detailed, unbeknownst information about your workouts and your health, such as your heart rate, calories burned, and more, sparking the attention of athletes wanting to know more about their athletic own prowess.

I am fortunate to have an Apple Watch, and before that a Fitbit-I recall getting my first Fitbit and being overjoyed that I was able to delve into the deeper levels of my tennis playing and seeing what I accomplished with every hit. I would track my steps religiously, competing with my tennis friends that also owned a Fitbit, and became elated when I reached twenty thousand steps a day; yes, I was an active child.

I loved, and still do, being able to track my fitness and the patterns that these devices provide for me. Now, with wearing my Apple Watch, it is one of my favorite routines to come off of the tennis court and see how many calories I have burned and steps taken; it is like a reward. I have recently taken up long-distance running to prepare more for my upcoming tennis season, and having my Apple Watch on me as I am running adds an extra thrill of excitement because I love to see how much I have done. It really does motivate me to get on the treadmill and to keep running when I am fatigued. For me personally, fitness devices are fun, worth it, and motivating.

However, more often than not, fitness watches cost a hefty penny-most notably the Apple Watch , although it comes with a multitude of other features other than fitness. The average Fitbit costs around $100-150, and the Apple Watch can reach up to $800 with some models, prompting people to question their true worth. It can certainly be argued against the practicality and usefulness of these devices, as they do not enhance workouts to extreme amounts, and one can be just as fit without them.

However, with my experience with them, these fitness watches are worth it. The fun I have had competing with friends over our stats, the golden feeling I get when I look at it after a couple of hours of playing tennis, and the boost of motivation they provide me are benefits stronger than the price tag. For athletes, fitness watches are a little helpful accompaniment that poses many benefits that ultimately bring physical and mental success.