For those complaining that they don’t have the time to jog, Fitbit gadgets offer a great package. Almost everyone has one either clipped to the wrist or belt. Those considering to buy it for themselves or others as a Christmas gift, take a look at the pros and cons of Fitbit products.
Fact
Fitbit Force was recalled from the market because of complaints of skin irritation from consumers.
Thanksgiving is finally over, and with Christmas coming round the corner, we wonder if we can ever stick to the same shirt size. While we fool ourselves by taking a slice of pie for the fifth time, maybe it’s time to consider the effects of binge-eating, and take a hard look at the mirror.
Most of us consider ourselves to be pretty healthy. We drink clean water, use the stairs instead of the elevator, and spend less time near the microwave. For those of you happy with your life choices, good for you. But for those who wish to lose those few extra pounds, and lose the practice of sucking in your gut, read on.
Fitbit gadgets have been in vogue for some time. They have given tough competition to Nike and Jawbone. There are many reasons for their popularity, and the name isn’t one of them. They have launched a number of products, keeping in mind the demographic of users in the market, and all the while targeting overall fitness and the well-being of consumers. We take a look at the pros and cons of Fitbit gadgets, and what keeps the average consumer coming back for more.
Fitbit One
Cost: $99.95
For those who like to be free when running, this gadget is for you. Fitbit One is a sleek gadget that you can clip on easily. You don’t have to wear it on your wrist continuously. With a simple display, you can keep track of your fitness with one touch. It comes with a separate charging cable and wireless syncing. Fitbit One was the first to adopt Bluetooth technology. The wireless syncing is currently available on newer Android devices and iPhone 4S and higher. The One comes with a wrist strap which can contain the device, and it wakes you up with your preset goals. While syncing with the online account, Fitbit One devises a well-planned diet based on the intake of foods and your current goal.
Pros
►Very easy to wear; you can’t even feel its presence while running. It can be clipped onto your shirt or your belt. It won’t slip off even if you jogged your hardest trying to lose that last pound.
►You can scroll through the number of steps taken, calories lost, and goals you have achieved. You can create your account on the Fitbit website and sync it online with other users to compare your progress. An image of a flower is displayed, which keeps growing the more active you get.
►It has a set of default goals in-built in the system, like 10,000 steps a day, 5 miles a day, 30 ‘active’ minutes, and 10 floors climbed. Though the reason for setting these goals is still unclear, the recommendation is a minimum of 150 minutes of walking every week or any other activity. It also tracks your sleeping patterns and displays the result in a graphical format.
►The device wakes you up silently with a vibrating alarm. It gives you badges based on your performance. Plus, this gives you the chance to gloat to your friends on social media, and those connected to your Fitbit account. The device shouts out encouraging messages, unlike your PE teacher, like ‘You Rock!’ and ‘I’m Ready!’.
►One has a battery life which lasts a week. No need to keep it charging everyday like your cell phone.
Cons
►It tends to count steps even when you’re asleep. Simply twirling the device racks up 3,000 points. It also lacks the features to track cycling and swimming.
►There’s no manual included that tells you to set up the device. You need to create a Fitbit account online to sync it with your device.
Fitbit Zip
Cost: $59.95
Designed as a pedometer, the Zip is good for those going for the retro look. Released at the same time as the One, it calculates the number of steps taken and calories burned. You can dress it up as an ironic accessory of the ’90s, like the pager, but there’s no doubt that this little dude’s gonna help you on your way to fitness.
Pros
►It has a clip-on feature which you can attach to your belt or shirt, whichever makes you comfortable. You think it would be easy to lose, but the device just hangs on, even while enduring the morning rush to work or when you take off your shirt at the end of the day.
►Tap on the device to change the display. Each tap cycles through the five modes: Steps, Distance Traveled, Calories Burned, Clock, and Fitbit Smiley.
►The main reason you bought this small wonder is for tracking your calories and sticking to your goals. If you’re serious about losing that flab, then input your intake of food into the device. It’ll tell you the amount you have to lose or gain according to your goals. 3,600 calories totals one pound. Once you know that figure, it helps quite a bit. Other online apps charge you extra for this feature.
►The Bluetooth feature in your device syncs automatically if the dongle is inserted in your PC, and uploads the data to your Fitbit account.
►As with One, it gives you medals if you have achieved a milestone or a default goal set by the device.
Cons
►The Zip doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, but instead uses disposable batteries. So it lasts only 4 – 6 months.
►It doesn’t have an altimeter. In case there are any folks who climb a lot of stairs, it won’t calculate your vertical movements.
►It’s not waterproof, but is water-resistant. You can’t submerge it further than 10 meters underwater.
►You need to shell out extra if you want additional features. Like the Barcode Scanner that uses your smartphone to scan food barcodes to extract nutritional information. The premium version gives you a personalized digital session, which provides you with an analysis of your food intake, as well as provides you with a list of foods with a healthier intake.
Fitbit Flex
Cost: $99.95
Fitbit Flex was released in place of its predecessor, Force. Designed like a bracelet, it’s the first wearable device from the Fitbit family. Travel however you want, and it’ll keep track of your calories. They have used a slim display with five flashing dots to signify different meanings on your device. The five LED lights flash back and forth when updating, flash in an ascending order when charging, and vibrates silently in case of an alarm.
Pros
►Those looking for that style quotient, they offer this in a variety of colors, from black, tangerine, teal, navy, lime, pink, blue, slate, to red.
►As per the norm, Fitbit gadgets are water-resistant. This can be submerged 33 feet for those want to take it for a swim, but it won’t track your laps.
►You need to tap it five times to enter the sleep mode, so it can record your sleep patterns and give you a detailed analysis. Tap it five more times to wake it up.
►You can customize your goals on the dashboard or your display, for that matter.
Cons
►It doesn’t track your steps accurately. You have to include your stride length in your profile for it to calculate it correctly.
►It has the worst battery life out of all the gadgets, and needs to be charged every 5 days.
►The altimeter is too dull to provide any motivation, and displays its info in the form of dots.
Fitbit Charge
Cost: $129.95
Fitbit Charge is the newest addition to the family. It sports a trendy outlook, and can be worn as a watch. It’s offered in various colors.
Pros
►Learning from their previous model, Flex, they have offered this device in different sizes, with larger sizes available for bigger wrists.
►Another neat feature is the Caller ID function. If synced to your smartphone, it gives you call notifications on your wristband.
►You don’t need a watch, as it displays the time continuously. The battery charge lasts for 7 – 10 days, so it won’t be a problem.
Cons
►The price is too steep, considering they have almost the same features. If you need an upgrade, wait for the Charge HR, which includes a heart rate monitor as well as GPS tracking.
►It’s bulkier than the Flex, and cumbersome to wear it all the time.
►It needs a charging cable to recharge its batteries.
Fitbit Aria
Cost: $129.95
Fitbit Aria is a Wi-Fi enabled weighing machine. In conjunction with your Fitbit gadgets, it helps you track your weight goals, and gives you a detailed plan. Embedded with a 3-axis accelerometer, the Charge captures your motion 24/7, and relays the data in the form of steps, sleep patterns, and the results of calorie loss.
Pros
►It has a very stylish look. The top is made of solid glass while the back has a bubble pattern with rubberized feet that keeps it stable.
►The accuracy of Aria is spot-on. It calculates your weight and then formulates a plan for your goals.
Cons
►At around $130, it’s quite a steep price for a weight scale.
Quite recently, Fitbit withdrew its products from the Apple HealthKit, because it plans to launch the Surge, a smartwatch designed to give competition to the Apple Watch. Along with the Surge, it also plans to launch Charge HR, an extension of Charge with heart-rate monitoring capabilities able to detect increased blood pressure and imminent heart attacks. Even the best-laid plans can go haywire, but with the help of these gizmos, you can chart a better path to your health.
