Tracking your sleep could lead to better grades — 5 budget-friendly trackers to shop now
I've always been aware of the link between sleep and learning. So sleep was something I prioritized (as best as I could) at college. After recently graduating, I can honestly say maintaining a consistent sleep schedule was the one habit that made sure I rested well and bagged good grades, all while juggling a social life too.
So, how can you make sure you're keeping it on track as best as you can? With a reliable sleep tracker. Of course, there are plenty of products you can shop in back to school sleep sales, from the best cheap dorm mattresses to cosy bedding.
But if you're looking for a gadget to hold yourself accountable around going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, a sleep tracker should be on your shopping list.
Yes, top of the range sleep trackers can be pricey gadgets. But I've shopped around to find you the best budget options available right now.
Science shows a link between sleep regularity (i.e. going to sleep and waking up at the same time each day), improved brain function and better wellbeing among college students.
Research by associate professor of neurology at the University of Michigan, Dr. Shelley Hershner, specifically found students with greater sleep consistency have better academic performance.
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Meanwhile, a 2019 study published in the Sleep Research Society journal agrees that stabilizing sleep schedules can help improve well-being among students.
This is because a consistent sleep schedule helps to regulate your circadian rhythm, so your body gets used to releasing sleepy hormones like melatonin at the right times of day.
In turn, it's easier to fall asleep fast at night, bag quality sleep and wake up with energy for class in the morning.
So, you know going to sleep on time will help your studies and overall health. But without your mom there to tell you it's time for lights out, strict bedtimes can easily become a thing of the past. This is where a sleep tracker can come in handy at college.
I tracked my sleep with my Garmin watch through college and have recently experimented with a wider range of trackers including Oura, Whoop and Eight Sleep in my role as a sleep tech tester.
While they all vary in the detail they go in to, even the most basic sleep tracker will deliver two key metrics — the time you fall asleep and the time you wake up.
These alone can help you cement the healthy sleep habit of going to bed and waking on time. Trust me, notifications from your friendly sleep tracker telling you it's time to sleep somehow guilt trip you into halting the doom scroll and hitting the hay on time.
With a student budget in mind, these are the top 5 sleep trackers I recommend shopping before the semester starts...
1. Fitbit Inspire 3: was $99.95 now $79.95 at WalmartThe Fitbit Inspire 3 is a top-rated, affordable health tracker that does a grand job of tracking basic sleep metrics like sleep timing and duration. Though you can get more in-depth sleep tracking from Fitbit if you're willing to get behind the Fitbit Premium paywall (it'll set you back $9.99/month). As a small smart watch, the Inspire 3 sits comfortably on your wrist overnight and packs 7+ days battery life.
2. Amazfit Heilo Strap: now $99.99 at AmazonFrom the Amazfit Active smart watch to the Amazfit Heilo ring, we're big fans of Amazfit health trackers here at Tom's Guide. The brand is known for producing affordable versions of industry-leading trackers and the Heilo Strap is essentially their take on the Whoop band. At $99.99 without a subscription fee, it is a great value health and recovery tracker that monitors heart rate, blood-oxygen, stress, and sleep.
3. Oura Ring 3: was from $299 now from $199 at OuraStylish and intricate when it comes to its sleep reports, the Oura Ring 3 is my favorite sleep tracker. Yet, requiring a subscription fee at $5.99 per month, it's the more premium option here - one for the students looking to seriously invest in their sleep health. That said, there's currently $100 off the Oura Ring 3 while stocks last. Plus, I've tested the Oura Ring 3 alongside the new and upgraded Oura Ring 4 and think you're getting better value for money with the previous generation — it's perfectly functional and studies show it is reliable too.
4. Milavan Smart Ring: was $59.99 now $49.99 at AmazonOf course, the Oura Ring is the gold-standard sleep tracking ring, but at $200+ and requiring a monthly subscription fee, it's not the most student budget-friendly. The Milavan is a more affordable alternative that monitors your sleep quality and recommends habits for improving your sleep health. It's rated an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars by Amazon customers who say it's "surprisingly smart". With $10 off now it's even more affordable.
5. Withings Sleep Analyzer: was $159.99 now $151.99 at AmazonIf you'd prefer to snooze wearable-free, an under mattress sleep tracker is a great option for you. The Withings sleep tracking pad slips under your mattress and keeps tabs on everything from your sleep stages to sleep duration and snoring. Our Certified Sleep Science Coach and Senior Sleep Editor Claire Davies says Withings is about as close to an at-home polysomnography test as you can get - pretty cool, huh? With 5% off at Amazon now you can get it for the slightly cheaper price of $151.99 (down from $159.99). It's another more expensive option, but a worthy investment in your sleep health and overall wellbeing.
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And it has customizable watch faces and widgets, so you can tweak it to suit your aesthetic or info preferences. It has an exceptional battery life. Perhaps the best part of all Garmins: The battery life is incredible. The Vivoactive 6 battery lasts for up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 21 hours when using continuous GPS tracking. Even with heavy use (daily workouts, regular walks, notifications on, screen brightness medium-high), I only need to change it once a week — if even (and it charges pretty quickly, so you're not missing many steps). That means you can track your sleep without worrying about charging nightly and go on weekend trips without packing a charger. Compared to the one- to two-day lifespan of most smartwatches (especially Apple and Samsung), the Vivoactive 6 easily wins in longevity. The Garmin app has a lot of potential. 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But if you're training for a race or a triathlon, or you're a multi-sport athlete and activity data and analytics are your priorities, this isn't the best watch out there. Adventure athletes, backcountry adventurers, and serious runners will certainly miss the barometric altimeter. Without it, the Vivoactive 6 cannot accurately measure elevation or track ascent/descent (look at the Forerunner 265 or Fenix 7 instead). Triathletes and hardcore runners will also want the deeper training analysis — training load, performance condition, guided lactate threshold test — that the Forerunner models offer. If you're a serious athlete, check out "how it compares to other watches" below to see what we recommend for you. It doesn't have full smartwatch functionalities. While it checks the boxes for basic conveniences — notifications, weather, Garmin Pay, and music controls — the Vivoactive 6 stops short of being a full-blown smartwatch. You can't take calls from your wrist or respond to texts (unless you're on Android, and even then, responses are limited to pre-set messages). It also lacks a voice assistant or third-party app ecosystem like Apple's App Store or Google's Wear OS. That trade-off helps the watch stay streamlined and battery-efficient, but if you're hoping for a seamless, phone-free experience or more app integrations, you'll want to look at models like the Garmin Venu 3, Samsung Galaxy Watch, or Apple Watch Series 10. Garmin Vivoactive 5 vs 6 Having tested both models, I can tell you: the Vivoactive 6 is a significant upgrade from the Vivoactive 5. The new features include: 80 activity modes vs. just 30 A lot of on-watch running data, including running dynamics, running power, and pace suggestions Daily recommended workouts at the morning report (i.e., when you wake up, it recommends whether you should get after interval training, LISS, HIIT, or rest today) Smart-wake alarms Physical buttons alongside the touchscreen for better control during workouts Better default data screens during workouts (in my opinion) These may seem like small changes, but they're just enough to remove what was frustrating about the Vivoactive 5 and put the Vivoactive 6 just over the edge to where it feels worth its $300 price tag. How it compares to other watches Our guides to the best fitness trackers and best Garmin watches outline the most noteworthy options in the wearables space. Here are some standouts to consider: Garmin Forerunner 265: The 265 is more expensive and doesn't look as sleek as the Vivoactive 6, but IMO, it is a better pick for multi-sport athletes. It tracks a handful of key activities the Vivoactive 6 doesn't (like triathlon training) and has a barometric altimeter to sense elevation changes. Read my full Garmin Forerunner 265 review. Garmin Venu 3: Essentially the step-up from the Vivoactive line, the Venu 3 has additional smartwatch features like a built-in mic and speaker for calls, a longer battery life, and a higher resolution display. Apple Watch Series 10 or Apple Watch Ultra 2: While the Apple Watch is very comparable to the Vivoactive 6, Garmin's version has a far longer battery life, more accurate GPS, and deeper fitness and training metrics. However, if you're interested in answering calls and texts, Apple Watches have a better ecosystem for iPhone users. Read our Apple Watch 10 review for more. The bottom line The Vivoactive 6 hits the sweet spot for anyone who wants a highly accurate, everyday fitness tracker that looks sleek and polished but doesn't need a full-blown smartwatch. I appreciate that this watch gives you basic notifications and features like music control on-wrist, but still prioritizes Garmin's class-leading heart rate and GPS tracking — and for a very reasonable price of $300. It's not the most advanced or accurate option for serious athletes or full tech heads. But the 11-day battery life and multitude of coaching and data-tracking abilities make it a near-perfect everyday fitness watch for active people who value both accuracy and style.
