Fitness trackers

[adambr2]

For the people who use fitness trackers, what do you use and do you like it? I had a Fitbit One which went missing a couple weeks ago and judging by my last activity that it tracked it isn't around where I'm going to find it again.

 

I thought about just replacing it directly but they seem fairly outdated and hard to find now. Thought about a Blaze, and thought about going cheap and just trying something basic like the Jawbone. My job can be physically demanding at times and any tracker that clips on will always be a possible risk for getting snagged off, so I would prefer to stay away from more expensive ones this time. Really all I'm looking for is something that can track steps and distance with decent accuracy and sync to a mobile app.

[Patrick425]

I use a fitbit Alta that I purchased a year ago for a little over $100 on Amazon. I can look up steps/miles/sleep through an app on my phone. I also set it to try to get in 250 steps an hour and it reminds me 10 minutes before every hour if I have not reached that goal. Also texts that I get on my phone transfer through to my fitbit as well.

 

The main purpose I use it for is to motivate me to do more walking (my job is not physically demanding). I read something a few months back that fitness trackers really do not do anything to help one's health because most people start ignoring it after the novelty wears off. That has not been my experience. I've had mine for a year and I'm still motivated to get 10,000 steps a day in. I know I have done a lot more walking because of that motivation.

[Bikeage77]

I had/have a Fitbit, I was really into it when I first got it. I monitored my water intake online and tried everyday to get those 10,000 steps. But as noted above after some time the novelty wore off. I checked it, but didn't go out of my way to get to 10,000 steps. Whichever model I had the band was peeling and they didn't make a replacement. I was able to get a warranty on it, but the next one did the same thing within about 6 months. They wouldn't give me a replacement for that one because I was two weeks past warranty. I was super gluing it for awhile, but I got tired of doing that, and the glue was really starting to show. I didn't think it was worth it to spend $100 because the band wore out. I'm sure my average steps are down now, and I'm sure they've improved their wrist bands, but since I'm not a runner anyway, I don't think it's worth it.

[MrTPlush]

I had a Fitbit Blaze and loved it for it’s fitness tracking accuracy. After about 6 months it started acting up and I complained so they sent me a new unit. When they told me the warranty doesn’t get extended for the new unit and they pretty much gaurantee it to live a year I sold the new one. There are so many complaints about reliability and life for them.

 

I opted to get an Apple Watch because I wanted more smart watch capabalities and the reliability. I don’t really use it for fitness tracking because I got the Series 2 and it isn’t the most accurate when it comes to tracking of fitness stuff. I have it set up to, but I don’t check it.

 

I’d love to recommend a Fitbit, but I think they are junk when it comes to reliability. If you want one I would not trust the Blaze or their new flagship unit. I’d check online reviews. There are quite a few articles that go over how accurate each watches sensors are. Some are more accurate than others.

[DHonks]

I've had 2 Apple Watches--a series 0 when they first were released and a Series 3 with GPS and Cellular. The 3 is incredibly fast, has long battery life (can sneak out 2 full days as long as I don't do a cardio workout), accurate, and a great tool for reading/sending texts. I'd say my primary uses are: 1) texting, 2) watch, 3) activity tracking, 4) news updates, 5) phone calls. I've been disappointed in it as a golf GPS tool, as I haven't found an app that works on its own without needed the phone to at least download the holes.

[jerichoholicninja]

The old guy who runs on the treadmill next to me at the Y uses a pocket notepad that looks to be a few decades old. Seems to work pretty well for him.

[Bikeage77]

The old guy who runs on the treadmill next to me at the Y uses a pocket notepad that looks to be a few decades old. Seems to work pretty well for him.

 

LOLZ

[hawing]

I'm glad I wasn't the last person on earth rocking a Fitbit One.

I lost mine too, after 2+ years, and replaced it with a Charge 2 about 13 months ago. At first I was reluctant to have something on my wrist all the time, but now I like it. The Charge 2, like Patrick425's Alta, tracks more stuff than the One did, and you can sync it to your phone so you're notified of incoming texts and calendar appointments. (You can also bypass that function if you prefer.)

 

I haven't had durability issues with either the One or the Charge 2. I just got a new band (blue for Brewers season!) but I haven't swapped the black band out for it yet.

 

I walk home about 50% of the time, and expect to do it more often in a couple of weeks, once a large road construction project starts in our neighborhood. I use the walk function to time my walk and see which route home uses more or fewer steps.

[clancyphile]

I've had a FitBit Blaze for about six weeks... it has worked out very well for me.

 

Their calorie tracker is much better than Fooducate (not that Fooducate is bad - I have a monthly subscription to it, and it does good things, but when I'm having an Atkins bar, they try to push a vegan granola bar recipe on me) in some aspects.

[LouisEly]

Along this topic, wondering about people's experiences with fitness tracker watches, such as the Garmin Fenix. Several friends have a Fenix 3, but they are huge - I have small wrists and a 45mm case diameter is pretty much ideal.

[homer]

The old guy who runs on the treadmill next to me at the Y uses a pocket notepad that looks to be a few decades old. Seems to work pretty well for him.

 

Ha! That old guy might be me...except I don't use the treadmill.

[stoutdude04]

The old guy who runs on the treadmill next to me at the Y uses a pocket notepad that looks to be a few decades old. Seems to work pretty well for him.

 

Hilarious.

[Zad Fnark]

Fitbit user here. It's helped me lose 50 lbs over the last 2 years.

 

Of course, being unemployed 11 months helped as I was walking 5-8 miles a day then. Since getting a job, I immediately gained 15 lbs.

[CheezWizHed]

Rotten work is bad for your health!

[JackNicholson1974]

I had a Fitbit Surge and the screen shorted out. My family has also used a Fitbit Charge 2 and the Alta, both bands broke in short order but replacements can be had for under $10. A friend of mine was just showing me their Garmin, which I actually think looks better and the features I thought were more detailed. So I might check that brand out.

[brwrsfan]

This isn't about a tracker but more fitness related and I didn't want to start a new thread.

 

Short version...I'm heading to a wedding in Mexico in August and my arms/chest just don't look how I'd like them to with my shirt off. If anyone could give me some help in the best ways to build arm muscles fast (I know I won't be huge obviously) I would appreciate it - we can chat in private if you want to PM me. I googled it of course, but there's so much out there it made my head spin!!