Sure, there exists a wide array of fitness bands in the market. Some people, however, want their wrists device-free.
And this is why Under Armour has taken the wraps off its smart sneakers, named the SpeedForm Gemini 2, aimed at those who want to track their fitness without wearing a wristband monitor.
Although at first glance, the SpeedForm Gemini 2 sneakers could look like any other pair of athletic shoes, these are actually equipped with a computer chip that can measure the distance traveled, pace and stride length of the wearer. These can also track the amount of calories burned.
They can store data, including metrics from the wearer's five runs, locally. The shoes can also track the total number of miles the shoes have been worn in, akin to a vehicle's odometer. The data collected can be synced from the shoes to the UA Record app.
Under Armour even touts the $150 sneakers as smarter than a treadmill. Moreover, the American sports apparel company claims that footwear's tracking abilities are more precise than what fitness bands can offer.
Mashable's Samantha Murphy Kelly tried out these Gemini 2 sneakers.
"Perhaps my favorite part about the SpeedForm Gemini 2 sneakers, in addition to the comfortable fit, is that I don't have to wear anything on my wrist," Kelly says. "Being free from a wristband is not only a fashion-plus, but there are no distractions."
Kelly goes on to name the good things about these shoes. She says the SpeedForm Gemini 2 sneakers come with a stylish, comfortable design and are beneficial for fitness tracking. What's more, the shoes include a long-lasting battery (which does not need charging), plus they can be linked with third-party devices.
However, Kelly also points out that she experienced a few data-logging errors during the test.
Time's Lisa Eadicicco also tested the smart shoes.
"I noticed they felt lightweight and springy, adding just a bit of extra momentum to my strides," Eadicicco says.
The sneakers are slated to hit store shelves beginning Feb. 29. This lovely pair of shoes is available in two color options: charcoal/red and gray/light green.
