anyone bought fitbit or similar??

indesisiv

I tried one but gave up and went back to my Garmin Forerunner. I couldn't be doing with the need to take my phone with me when I go running!

Accuracy if you are counting steps is never going to accurately reflect distance.
Or if you are like me not really reflect steps either, I don't sit still very well, and it ends up picking up steps when I am not moving.

My Garmin on the other hand uses GPS to measure distance and is fairly accurate as it picks up the distance correctly on properly measured courses.

Mr_Singleton

indesisiv wrote: »

I tried one but gave up and went back to my Garmin Forerunner. I couldn't be doing with the need to take my phone with me when I go running!

Your missing the point.

littlemissrach

I've had my Fitbit Charge HR for about a year now and my partner has the Surge (I found the Surge quite chunky as I only have small wrists).

As very regular gym goers we've found them really useful to see how many calories we burn vs how much food we were actually eating. The app is really handy and easy to use, I haven't had any problems with it (iPhone user).

The steps counter you could probably argue isn't 100% accurate all the time, but I'd say averages out the over/under over a period of time.

the Charge HR you have to manually add specific workouts in via the app on the phone (not a big hassle) but Surge you can select a workout on the watch.

The sleep recording seems pretty accurate, although sometimes when you're relaxing on the settee watching TV not moving, it thinks you're asleep but you can delete that period of time after syncing with the phone.

The Charge doesn't have GPS tracking on it so if you like running / cycling outdoors you have to find another means of recording where you've been (although you can put you've been on a run and at what speed to work out calorie burn). The Surge has GPS tracking so can do it all on that and don't need to take phone wi you if you don't like that.

If you really wanted to you can keep the Bluetooth on and it vibrates when someone is calling you, you can look at your watch and see if it's anyone worth taking your phone out for :rotfl: Surge also has text notifications.

Battery wise, I generall sync my Charge with my phone once a day and would say battery needs charging every 3 - 5 days, other half's Surge is more like 5 - 7 days.
A little tip for the Charge if anyone is struggling with battery life, in your settings there is Quick View, if you're not bothered about flicking your wrist and seeing the time automatically without pressing the button - switch it off, saves a hell of a lot of battery.

I personally don't use the function to track my food on Fitbit app, I use Lifesum - I did get a 30 day trial with Lifesum where you can link it with Fitbit app which was ok for general calories in vs out, but as I had specific protein requirements etc it wasn't all that useful too me so now keep it separate.

There is also music control on the Surge which there isn't on the Charge. Also on both an option for an alarm where your watch vibrates to wake you up - I've not used that so can't really comment.

No they aren't recommended for swimming etc, if you do want something for that you'd maybe be better getting a Polar one.

It does surprise you how many calories you burn even when you think you're having more 'lazy days'.

I'll be interested to see what the new Blaze is like when it comes out.

So to sum up, I personally as a general active person going to the gym feel the Fitbits been a good purchase - for a more elite levels or for swimming etc, you might want to look at alternatives.
There are apps out there where you can track different things which don't need the cost of the watch, but I like the ease of having some things done automatically and just having to press a button to sync haha.

Westonly

You can use skylet fitbit flex. Original material, breathable elastic band, comfortable for sporting time, nice replacement for lost or damaged bracelet.

waxy

I bought the Charge HR back in September 2015 but by Feb 2016, the strap had started to blister and peel away. I'd used it in anyway out of the ordinary and took it off if there was any water around.

Fitbit wouldnt accept just my email and photo proof or for me to return the defective item, they wanted a hand written note that I needed to take a picture of and email that to them.

They did eventually send me another one though.

I've had the new one since mid Feb and its started to blister again and so I contacted them and this time I requested some form of refund but they just stone wall and offer a new product but no refund.

Fitbit are well aware of this defect and from what I can see, have had many many of the exact same complaint in the USA but just send out new products until the one year warranty expires. I can only assume they have a massive batch of defective goods and its cheaper for them to just send new ones out, rather than actually sort the issue

There appears to be a joint law case going on countrywide against fitbit for this issue in the USA and I'm just wondering how many of us in the UK have had the same issue but have just walked away.

Either way, I've reported this to trading standards and am still pursuing Fitbit for a partial refund.

Shame on you Fitbit and to anyone thinking of buying one of these, I'd think twice, unless you want to pay twice!!

slimball2001

Mine was a present Christmas and it has failed when charging and now fitbit are failing to replace it.I would buy another brand.
Simon Richardson:mad:

mrs_baggins wrote: »

I admit to being a bit of a gadget freak.!

I have some christmas money that I am debating what to do with.One of the options is to buy one of those fotness monitor type wrist bands- the ones that look more like a bracelet than a watch! If you have one does it monitor sleep? is it any use?

As I said I am just debating. I cycle a lot and have a garmin edge which also has a heart monitor if I dare look at it when going up hills so not sure if I get one I just wouldnt really get that much from it.

would love to hear other peoples views

MallyGirl

I got a Garmin vivofit last May and found it an eye opener as to how little I moved. I made changes as a result and it was good to have something to measure what I was now doing on a general level. I used a phone app to record proper walks/runs. I got a Garmin forerunner for xmas (with GPS) and it has been interesting to compare - the watch gives me a higher step count than the vivofit.
TBH I now don't really need the vivofit now except if I want to be a bit smarter (the watch is a bit utility looking, but I do love it).
I have never used the sleep functionality as I don't want to wear either in bed.
I am also very Garmin as I have an Oregon for hiking too.

Miró

waxy wrote: »

I bought the Charge HR back in September 2015 but by Feb 2016, the strap had started to blister and peel away. I'd used it in anyway out of the ordinary and took it off if there was any water around.

Fitbit wouldnt accept just my email and photo proof or for me to return the defective item, they wanted a hand written note that I needed to take a picture of and email that to them.

They did eventually send me another one though.

I've had the new one since mid Feb and its started to blister again and so I contacted them and this time I requested some form of refund but they just stone wall and offer a new product but no refund.

Fitbit are well aware of this defect and from what I can see, have had many many of the exact same complaint in the USA but just send out new products until the one year warranty expires. I can only assume they have a massive batch of defective goods and its cheaper for them to just send new ones out, rather than actually sort the issue

There appears to be a joint law case going on countrywide against fitbit for this issue in the USA and I'm just wondering how many of us in the UK have had the same issue but have just walked away.

Either way, I've reported this to trading standards and am still pursuing Fitbit for a partial refund.

Shame on you Fitbit and to anyone thinking of buying one of these, I'd think twice, unless you want to pay twice!!

:T I agree with you entirely. I am on my third Charge HR, (thanks to the 2yr warranty in the UK). First of all the screen went cloudy and they replaced it without me having to send it back. Then the strap started to split and peel away from the gadget itself. This time they insisted I had to send it back to them in the Netherlands, (tracked and insured at my expense....cost me £16) and they then replaced it again. Have a squiz on the Fitbit forum to see all the complaints about similar issues. Avoid like the plague!

P.S. I've now bought a cheapo 'sleeve' thingy (about £1.50 delivered, from China on eBay) that fits over the working bits in the hope it might protect the strap a little.

lisa110rry

I have a Fitbit Alto, do we know if this has GPS? Seems to as I don't always take my phone with me.

Also, I wish I could set it to "Nordic Walking" instead of it just thinking I'm walking. There's a bit more to it than that.

Seabee42

Statistically these devices work well for a bit i.e. they aid motivation in the first six months then its back to normal so if that's enough for you go for it.