The TomTom Spark Answers the Call for More Precise Activity Tracking

Disclosure: Influence Central sampled the TomTom Spark at CES 2016 to facilitate this review. All opinions are our own.

When activity trackers first burst out onto the marketplace, counting steps, calories burned, or floors climbed provided people with information they didn’t previously have easy access to, and helped them stay committed to fitness goals, and motivated while exercising.

Fast forward a little, and wearable tech no longer proves the exception but the rule. Even non-fitness-fanatics enjoy tracking daily activity levels and progress from one day to the next. The marriage of technology and fitness passed the test of time, inspiring many new entrants, and improvements to device capabilities, as we saw at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show (“CES 2016″) this January.

TomTom, known for providing superior GPS and real-time traffic information, has answered fitness buffs’ and athletes’ appeals for more accurate tracking of individual sports and activities. By indicating which sport or activity the user engages in (such as cycling, yoga, swimming, skiing – just to name a few), the TomTom Spark adjusts its accelerometer sensors to detect and track results specific to the activity – results that might otherwise not have been captured, or that might have been captured inaccurately, using older technology.

The TomTom Spark Music model also allows users to store up to 500 songs on the device via built-in music playback capability – incredible news for athletes tired of being tethered to bulky smartphones simply to enjoy their fitness playlists. Water-resistant, the Spark line offers everything your old tracker offered (steps, calories, etc.) and more: heart rate measurement, the ability to set daily and weekly goals, wireless syncing, and sleep tracking.

Compatible with Strava, Runkeeper, NikePlus and more, the TomTom Spark line of fitness watches can be purchased for $150-$250 depending on which model you choose, available at most major retailers including TomTom’s own website.

Photo Credit: TomTom.com

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.