Consumer Reports: Wearable tech gains popularity

You can wear them on your wrist, on your neck and even on your face. They can help you check your e-mail, check your pulse and check directions. They're wearable technology, and they're gaining in popularity. But are they the next big thing or just a passing trend?

"Wearable tech is still very new, but we really think it's going to take off," said Carol Mangis of Consumer Reports. "A lot of big companies are jumping into the game like Samsung, LG, Motorola and maybe even Apple."

Smart watches are one of the fastest growing categories. Users can get e-mail, text and phone call notifications all on their wrist, without having to pull out their cell phone.

"It allows me to at a glance tell if something is important enough to stop and take care of now or forget until later or not pay attention to at all," Pebble Smart Watch user Matt Safford said.

Consumer Reports is developing tests for wearable devices, including smart watches and activity trackers that count steps and track and log calories. So far, the highest-rated tracker is the $100 Fitbit One.

It's very accurate and allows users to see their progress in real time without connecting to a computer.

"The first devices we saw were kind of clunky, but that's changing," Mangis said. "For example, this Misfit Shine activity tracker. You can wear it around your neck, your wrist, or even your ankle."

Popular fashion designers are starting to get in the mix, including Tory Burch, who now makes accessories to hold a Fitbit.

Diane von Furstenberg has designed frames for Google Glass. Consumer Reports has been checking out the high-tech frames, which is still in beta testing, and said it is certainly an innovative product. But starting at $1,500, it's more of a novelty than a must have.

Consumer Reports said we should expect to see a lot more wearable tech in the run up to the holidays. Already in the works: high-tech socks that track your steps, speed and running technique. Also, a ring that can make a phone call or change TV channels with the wave of a hand.