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 Apple Watches to instant cameras, Dan is deeply passionate about helping readers save money and make informed purchasing decisions. In 2024 so far, Dan’s tested dozens of wearables, including the latest devices from Apple, Google, Garmin, Fitbit and Samsung.
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 more, he also makes every effort to combine his day job with his passions. When not assessing the GPS and heart rate accuracy of the latest Fitbit, you can find him photographing Seattle’s vibrant underground music community.
Latest articles by Dan Bracaglia
Pentax just launched its first film camera in two decades — and it looks like the ultimate travel companion
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Pentax tapped a legendary designer to help build the new Pentax 17 half-frame film camera, and boy, does it look good.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is real — and tipped to cost nearly as much as the Apple Watch Ultra
By Dan Bracaglia published
The Galaxy Watch Ultra will almost certainly be Samsung's priciest smartwatch ever.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE vs. Galaxy Watch 6: which should you buy?
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Samsung's new budget model takes on last year's model in a showdown of price, tech, features and battery life.
Garmin Forerunner 165 review: my favorite GPS smartwatch for outdoor adventures
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The Forerunner 165 borrows many of its best features from higher-end models and offers them in a more approachable and affordable package.
I hiked 5 miles along the California coast to test AllTrail’s ‘biggest update yet’ — 5 features that stood out the most
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
AllTrails just got a major facelift for free and premium users alike.
Apple Maps refresh — new hiking features are welcome but these are the ones I really wanted
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Apple Maps needs these features to truly compete with popular hiking apps like AllTrails.
watchOS 11 — Apple Watch is finally getting the fitness feature I’ve been waiting for
By Dan Bracaglia published
watchOS 11 brings some long-awaited health and fitness tracking improvements, including a new Vitals app and customizable Acitvity Rings.
I walked over 5,000 steps with the Helio Ring vs. Garmin Forerunner 165 — here's the winner
By Dan Bracaglia published
We tested the new Helio smart ring against the popular Garmin Forerunner 165 and this one was more accurate.
5 affordable items that made my recent 6-mile hike extra awesome
By Dan Bracaglia published
Hiking doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. These five items are part of my core kit and don't break the bank.
Samsung's Galaxy smartwatches are about to get new AI health and wellbeing features — here's what we know
By Dan Bracaglia published
Samsung's next-gen smartwatches will be jam-packed with AI features aimed at improving your health.
I tried the new Helio smart ring — 5 things that surprised me about this budget-friendly Oura alternative
By Dan Bracaglia published
Say hello to the $199 Helio Ring, a subscription-free smart ring alternative to the popular Oura Ring.
Garmin Epix Pro vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro – which GPS adventure watch goes the distance?
By Dan Bracaglia published
Which of these flagship rugged smartwatches reign supreme? We break down all the key differences between the Garmin Epix Pro and Polar Grit X2 Pro and declare a winner.
Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT review – a great ebike for first-time riders
By Dan Bracaglia published
The Trek Verve+ 1 Lowstep LT is an entry-level ebike with lots of well-thought-out features and high-quality components.
I tried this budget-friendly heated massage gun on my sore muscles – 5 things that surprised me
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
The Bob and Brad C2 Pro Massage Gun comes with five attachments, including a heated/cooled massage head.
Nocs Field Tube hands-on: This lightweight telescope is built for outdoor adventures
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Stylish and tough-built, the Nocs Field Tube is perfect for birdwatching, sightseeing, sporting events and so much more.
Forget canned air – this rechargeable, ‘jet-powered’ duster is my new favorite gadget
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Like a miniature leaf blower, the Kica Jet Fan 2 makes dusting gadgets and removing pet hair a task I look forward to.
How to store your ski and snowboard gear in the offseason like a pro
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
We chatted with former pro skier Jonah Deshner for tips and tricks on keeping your winter gear in tip-top shape in the warmer months.
I walked 5K+ steps with the G-Shock Move and Polar Grit X2 Pro— here's the winner
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Here's how the $300 G-Shock Move DWH5600 stands up against the $750 Polar Grit X2 Pro in a step count showdown.
Google is finally catching up to Apple and Garmin on fitness-tracking data
By Dan Bracaglia published
Android smartwatch users are about to get improved running data thanks to Wear OS 5.
I tried to ride Trek’s new ebike up the steepest hill in Seattle — and it didn’t go as planned
By Dan Bracaglia published
Is Trek’s latest commuter-friendly electric bike a match for the steepest climb in town?
I walked 5,500 steps with the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Polar Grit X2 Pro — here’s the winner
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Our Garmin Forerunner 165 vs. Polar Grit X2 Pro showdown looks which device is more accurate at counting steps.
5 outdoor adventure-ready smartwatches I recommend for tracking summertime fun
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
These wearables are the cream of the crop if you're looking to keep tabs on your next outdoor adventure, by land or sea.
TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro hands-on: an impressive GPS smartwatch with a cloudy future
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Not yet ratedThe new TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro sports a slimmer case, a tougher design and streamlined wellness software.
Polar Grit X2 Pro hands-on — 7 things that surprise me about this new rugged smartwatch
By Dan Bracaglia last updated
Our senior writer for fitness and wearables reviews plenty of GPS watches for a living, but he found a few surprises when using the new Polar Grit X2 Pro adventure smartwatch.
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