Coming to the market as a cheaper option to one of our favourite fitness trackers, the Misfit Shine, the Flash ditches the classy metal looks of the Shine, replacing them with a sturdy and durable plastic body. It’s little chunkier, but thanks to the improved band it feels great on the wrist and it’ll withstand more wear and tear than its smarter brother. Looks aside, both bands from Misfit are practically the same. They work with the same iOS and Android app, track steps and sleep and, thanks to the replaceable battery, last for about 6 months without running out of juice. It’s a bargain too, coming in at under £50

If you're looking to get fit in 2014, buying the best fitness tracker or best fitness band can give you a real head-start...

Fitness bands went global in 2013, with top offerings such as the Nike Fuelband SE, Fitbit Flex andJawbone Up taking the market by storm, turning your wrist into a mobile fitness data centre.

Strap one of these fitness trackers to your wrist and you can find out how many steps you take daily, the calories you burn and even during which hours you're getting the best sleep.

From Jawbone's iconic UP, to Nike's juiced up Fuelband, all these devices have a myriad of sensors nestled underneath their svelte frames, taking care of all the heavy lifting. They also connect to apps for your Android and iOS smartphone, so you can see a streamlined view of all your daily activity. Obviously with a product like this, the prices can range quite drastically - from around £50 to nearing £200, but it really depends on what you want out the device.

Resident ultra runner and T3 editor in chief Kieran Alger has some words of wisdom for those looking to 'join the band'

"Fitness tracking is leading the way when it comes to wearable tech we actually want. Responding to the growing obsession for analysing our every step, you can now get accessories that do everything from monitoring how much you move to how fast your heart beats on your 10km run.

"So how to pick the right product for you? Be honest with yourself. If you’re sofa dweller who needs to be more active then the wristbands are the place to start. Swimmers should strap on the Misfit Shine and the sleep-obsessed should snuggle down with a Fitbit. How and where you want to see your stats is also a big consideration.

"All the devices here have web tools, but if you prefer to check your fitness data on the move, check compatibility – the Nike+ Fuel Band SE only works on iOS devices, for instance."