Initial Thoughts
Wearing it doesn’t bother me. I always wear a watch, always. When you
are blind like me and can’t see the alarm clock, you have to wear one and make
sure it has Indiglo so you can see the time when you wake up in the middle of
the night. So this wasn’t a major transition. Some people have said it is too
bulky but I don’t get that. The Fitbit isn’t very fashionable or feminine but
how often do people judge you based on the watch you wear (unless you are
wearing a $50,000 Rolex).
I find it a bit annoying that I have to push a button to see the time.
But that is a minor annoyance. A major annoyance is the thing isn’t waterproof...say
what? How can they not waterproof this
thing, it can’t be that hard? All my Timex and Garmin watches are waterproof.
They say it is “sweat proof” and “splash proof.” What good does that do me? I’m
afraid to wear it in the rain! And I hate having to take it off when I shower. But I
will get over it.
Steps and Distance
As for counting steps it seems fairly accurate. I compared the my step counter on my smartphone to my Fitbit and they were really close. I think the Fitbit
might be a little more sensitive and tracks less than the phone. I tested it
during two runs this weekend while also using my Garmin watch which has GPS. On
Friday I did 2.25 miles and my Fitbit said 2.1 miles. Saturday I did 4.25 miles
and my Fitbit said 4.45. If you average the two runs it was off by less than 1%.
Overall that is acceptable.
Heart Rate Monitor (HRM)
I have read many reviews on the Fitbit before I purchased and the main criticism
was the HRM is never right. I don’t agree. Maybe they wear it in the wrong position? I'm not sure. I periodically check
my heart rate during resting times and I have been using a HRM for runs for about 3 months now. So I knew what to expect. My resting heart
rate has always been in the mid-to-upper 40s. The Fitbit says my average
resting heart rate is 47 bpm. That is pretty darn close to what I would expect.
I have done tests with my phone's HRM and my Fitbit at the same
time and they are generally within a couple beats of each other. I love being
able to see my heart rate during the middle of the night. The Fitbit data shows
your average heart rate in 5 minute increments. While sleeping, my heart rate will
go down into the 30s. My heart must be healthy if it doesn’t have to work that
hard! (I hope!)
I have taken it on two runs and both times it was right about where my Garmin
HRM would have me (145-155). So I think for the most part the HRM on the Fitbit is
accurate.
Sleep Tracker
I never thought I’d get any use out of the sleep tracker but I have to say
it is kind of fun to look at. According Fitbit my sleep efficiency is in
the upper 90%. It tells how many times you were restless and how many times you
were awake...drinking too much water during the day if you know what I mean.
Ha! You can see what time you feel
asleep, what time you woke up, how long you were in bed and how much actual
sleep you got. I’m a creature of habit. I go to bed and wake up at roughly
same time every day, even on weekends (although I slept in on Saturday as you see below).
Other Data
The Fitbit has data for just about everything. It tells you how many
sets of stairs you have climbed, how many calories burned per minute and minutes
in each of the active zones (Fat burn, Cardio or Peak). If you like numbers and
data you will love the Fitbit!
Syncing and the Dashboard
If you set it up to sync with a smart phone it will update all day. It
gives you warnings if it doesn’t think you will reach your daily goals. I have
some issues with syncing but I think that is a problem with my phone’s Bluetooth.
Eventually everything syncs up. Below is some of the dashboard information. It is very straightforward and easy to use and full of all sorts of cool information, After 4 days, I’m hooked on this thing. I wish I had it before we went
to London…I’m sure I would have had a ton of steps during that trip!
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| Main Dashboard |
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| Sleep Tracker Detail |
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