The number of people who own wearable tech in the UK is set to double in 2015 – from 6 to 13 per cent – as products make the leap from niche to mainstream.

These are the findings from market research firm YouGov’s recent analysis of the prospects for wearable tech, which suggests that Christmas 2014 will be a key juncture for the sector, as Health Club Management has previously reported. The YouGov research finds that currently 2.8 million people own a piece of wearable technology and by the end of the festive season there will be 4.7 million. This steady increase is set to continue over the next year and by September 2015 6.1 million are likely to own one of the devices.

The research found that the most popular wearable tech category is currently fitness devices, with 3 per cent of the population owning a fitness band. Despite hype around recent launches such as the Apple Watch, approximately 1 per cent of the population currently own a smartwatch, but this is expected to increase.

“Our figures suggest that the coming year is the time when the devices finally start to gain traction amongst a wider consumer audience,” said YouGov director of digital, media and technology, Russell Feldman.

“Crucial to this is the shift in the balance of the category from fitness bands to smartwatches over the coming months. The Christmas period will mark the moment category finally moves the niche to the mainstream.”

Recent statistics from research house Mintel show just how tentative UK consumers are towards smartwatch devices, despite interest currently raging for more basic health monitors, wearable straps to collate fitness metrics and fitness apps on mobile phones.

Differing slightly from YouGov’s figures, Mintel’s Digital Trends Autumn Report found that 2 per cent of consumers in the UK currently own a smartwatch, however five times this number are considering purchasing one in the next three months.

However, the report found that the problem area for consumers remains around what they’d actually use the device for and whether it actually furthers the functions they can potentially already carry out on their smartphones.

Read More:

• Apple’s ‘iWatch’ could send wearable sector into overdrive: research

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• Wearable tech devices expected to dominate Christmas lists this year• Google continues wearable tech push with smart lens plans

• Adidas could match Google Fit partnership with new wearable device