It has been a big year for wearables. The Apple Watch was born (finally), Google Glass died (finally), and bands that track everything from steps to mood changes have grown up and become not terrible (finally!). While wrist-bound devices have cemented themselves as the face of wearables, we started to see other forms of wearable technology grow in popularity, like smart scales, textiles, and jewelry. There were hits and misses in 2015, and trends are emerging that indicate where these devices will go in the coming year. Here are some of the wearables that stood out in 2015—for better and for worse.

What worked

Fitbit Charge HR

Fitbit has been the king of fitness trackers since 2013, and it's keeping that title this year by making the best tracker for the money: the Fitbit Charge HR. It does everything you'd want a fitness tracker to do and has the right mix of extras to make it worth the $150 price tag. It monitors steps, distance, calories, floors climbed, and sleep and has a continuous heart rate monitor to use throughout the day, whether during workouts or just sitting around. It also delivers call notifications to your wrist, and now with software updates, the SmartTrack feature will automatically know when you're doing some type of workout and record it to the app.







Jawbone

LG

Razer

Andrew Cunningham

Valentina Palladino

Fitbit has one of the most extensive lines of fitness trackers available, and the Charge HR is easily the most cost-effective way to monitor your activity. It's a no-brainer choice for anyone in need of a tracker but not sure where to start, as it provides the simplicity of the more affordable Fitbits with the heart rate monitor and exercise tracking software similar to the $250 Fitbit Surge. Overall, Fitbit remains the top fitness tracker company because its devices are versatile enough (and priced well enough) to appeal to people with all kinds of lifestyles—from coach potato to marathoner to anyone in between.

The new Microsoft Band

The original Microsoft Band was peculiar to say the least—it had a comprehensive library of guided workouts to choose from, but its awkward design made it incredibly uncomfortable to wear. Microsoft improved on the device this year in the newest version, righting almost all of the wrongs in the band's design and expanding the guided workout ecosystem. Even if it still suffers from a clumsy clasp, the new Microsoft Band is the most smartwatch-like fitness tracker available with compatibility for Android, iOS, and Windows devices; customizable alarms; smartphone notifications; and apps and programs accessible directly from the band's display.

Its best feature is Microsoft Health, which includes the guided workouts from the original (more have been added) and customizable workouts that you can set up yourself. That feature truly turns you into your own personal trainer: it's overwhelming at first to see a never-ending list of exercises like "3-way calf raise" and "bent-knee V up," but once you create a few workouts, the ease and control of making your own training sessions becomes addictive. Rather than just counting steps and calories, the new Microsoft Band gives you many options to take your activity into your own hands and make the most of it.

Fossil Q range

Fossil jumped back into the wearable pool and made a splash this year. The fashion company is no stranger to technology, as it attempted to release a wearable many years ago, but its new "Q" device line is a collection of fitness trackers and smartwatches suited for 2015. All of the devices—the Q Reveler/Dreamer bracelets, the Q Grant non-display smartwatch, and the Q Founder Android Wear watch—embody Fossil's signature style with genuine leather bands, metal accents, and fine, vintage-inspired details and make each accessory equal parts fashion item and smart device.

Simplicity is key for the Q collection, particularly with the Q Reveler/Dreamer and the Q Grant. Each has three main features: activity tracking, filtered, discreet notifications, and curiosity inspiration (via the Fossil Q app), and that's it. Unlike other wearable companies, Fossil didn't go overboard or try to make these devices do anything and everything possible; rather it stuck to its fashion roots and made sure each device spoke to its aesthetic identity. Both devices are refreshingly focused, proving that a wearable's features are just as important as its style. Considering Fossil recently acquired Misfit, I have no doubt we'll see more wearables from the company next year as well.