
Dan Bracaglia
Dan Bracaglia is the Tom’s Guide editorial lead for all things smartwatches, fitness trackers and outdoor gear. With 15 years of experience as a consumer technology journalist testing everything from Oura Rings to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In the past year alone, Dan has assessed major product releases from the likes of Apple, Garmin, Google, Samsung, Polar and many others.
An avid outdoor adventurer, Dan is based in the U.S. Pacific Northwest where he takes advantage of the beautiful surroundings every chance he gets. A lover of kayaking, hiking, swimming, biking, snowboarding and exploring, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the sleep tracking and heart rate accuracy of the latest tach gadgets, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.
Latest articles by Dan Bracaglia

Forget Galaxy Watch 8 — Samsung's best smartwatches are up to 38% off before Prime Day
By Dan Bracaglia published
Early Prime Day smartwatch deals: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch 7 are seriously discounted right now.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 — these 5 rumored upgrades could be game-changing
By Dan Bracaglia published
We’re less than two weeks from Galaxy Unpacked, where we’ll likely get our first look at the new Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 and possibly Galaxy Watch Ultra 2.

I review smartwatches for a living — and 5 of the best models I’ve ever tested are deeply discounted ahead of Prime Day
By Dan Bracaglia published
I review smartwatches for a living, and my favorite models from Apple, Samsung and Garmin are heavily marked down.

2025 hiker’s gear guide — 9 pieces of outdoor gear I can’t live without
By Dan Bracaglia published
Presented by Timberland
Get your hike on with these trail-approved staples, picked by our resident outdoor gear expert, from no-break-in footwear to the perfect camping chair.

I walked 7,000 steps with the Garmin Venu X1 vs. the Apple Watch Ultra 2 — this watch won
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Our Garmin Venu X1 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2 comparison looks to answer one question: Which is the more accurate fitness tracker?

I walked 5,500 steps with the Garmin Forerunner 570 vs Apple Watch 10 — this smartwatch won
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
I tested the step count tracking accuracy of the Apple Watch Series 10 versus the Garmin Forerunner 570.

I just went hands-on with the Amazfit Balance 2 — this new multisport smartwatch boasts 21 days of battery life
By Dan Bracaglia published
Amazfit also announced the new Helio Strap, a screen-less device similar to Whoop 5.0.

5 reasons why the Garmin Venu X1 could be my new favorite Apple Watch Ultra 2 alternative
By Dan Bracaglia published
The Garmin Venu X1 is unlike any Garmin smartwatch I've encountered and may finally be the Apple Watch Ultra 2 alternative I've been craving.

Google Exclusive: How the Pixel Watch 3 got a life-saving feature the Apple Watch can't match
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
From concept to crisis averted, a Google product manager tells all about the Pixel Watch 3's Loss of Pulse Detection feature.

I test smartwatches for a living — and my favorite Garmin is finally on sale
By Dan Bracaglia published
Battery life got you down? The world’s longest-lasting smartwatch is $50 off right now.

I walked 6,500 steps with the Fitbit Charge 6 vs Pixel Watch 3 — and I’m surprised by the winner
By Dan Bracaglia published
This Fitbit Charge 6 versus Google Pixel Watch 3 face-off looks at which Google wearable tracks daily walking goals with better accuracy.

watchOS 26 preview: 5 new Apple Watch features I can’t wait to try
By Dan Bracaglia published
I test smartwatches for a living — and these are the 5 new Apple Watch features I’m most excited to try.

The Best Fitbit and Fitbit alternatives in 2025: Tested and rated by our experts
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
We've tested the best Fitbit and Fitbit alternatives to help you find the right wrist-worn device to log your activity, monitor your sleep and keep tabs on your health.

Nocs Zero Tube hands-on — 5 reasons this tiny, tough-built telescope will be joining me on all my future hikes
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
This palm-sized, rugged telescope has quickly become a core part of my outdoor gear kit thanks to a ten times zoom and a pocket-friendly design.

watchOS 26 — all the rumored upgrades coming to Apple Watch
By Scott Younker, Dan Bracaglia last updated
We're getting closer to our first look at the new Apple Watch operating system. Here's what we expect.

I biked 12 miles with the Apple Watch 10 vs Garmin Vivoactive 6 — here's the winner
By Dan Bracaglia published
I biked 12 miles with the Apple Watch 10 versus the Garmin Vivoactive 6 to find out which device was more accurate.

Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 — everything we know so far
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The Samsung Galaxy Ring 2 may boast better battery life, a comfier design and new health sensors, but its release date is unclear at this time.

Best fitness trackers in 2025: These are the 6 fitness trackers worth considering
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
I've spent hundreds of hours testing the best fitness trackers available today and have whittled the list down to my favorite six, including options from Fitbit, Samsung, Garmin and Amazfit.

I’m an avid hiker — and these are the 7 essentials I pack every time I hit the trails
By Dan Bracaglia published
I never hit the trail without these seven hiking essentials, including my faviorite footwear, backpack, jacket, spotting scope and more.

I hiked up New York's highest waterfall with the Apple Watch 10 vs Garmin Instinct 3 — 5 things I learned
By Dan Bracaglia published
I hiked to Kaaterskill Falls in the New York Catskill Mountains while wearing two of my favorite smartwatches. Here's how the data compares.

Timberland Motion Access Mid Waterproof Sneaker review: Comfortable, stylish and no break-in period
By Dan Bracaglia published
I hiked 25 miles in the Timberland Motion Access Mid Waterproof Sneakers, and they are my new favorite footwear for outdoor adventures, checking all the boxes, from comfort to durability.

How to choose a smartwatch for hiking — 5 things to look for
By Dan Bracaglia published
I test a lot of smartwatches while hiking, and these are the features that matter the most.

I test smartwatches for a living — and these are my 5 favorite models when I go hiking
By Dan Bracaglia published
I've tested dozens upon dozens of smartwatches, and these five models are my current favorites for tracking outdoor adventures in 2025.
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