My (current) favorite health-related product is my Fitbit Surge. I got it a couple of months ago and am still going strong with it. I had been searching for a gps watch with wrist heart rate monitor for my runs but was having a hard time deciding. I had a tomtom on my wish list for months but couldn’t pull the trigger. I didn’t intend to buy a Fitbit.
But then a few months ago my bathroom scale had decided it had enough. I didn’t want to go with out so I hopped online and started scrolling through the selection on Amazon and came across the Fitbit Aria. I wanted a decent scale and one that would give body fat (I know it’s not accurate but can give me a trend). I was leaning towards the Aria but figured what good is it without a Fitbit tracker.
I didn’t realize Fitbit had the Surge. I stumbled upon it and once I saw it and read through the website I knew I had to have it, which meant I had to have the Aria as well. I ordered both and was impatient for them to arrive. I have been using them ever since.
I had been using my S Health to get my step count but then I had to carry my phone everywhere, having the watch is so much more convenient and it has way more options. I use it to track my sleep and my food in conjunction with myfitnesspal.
So far I have only used the free run and love it. It takes only a few seconds to connect to the gps and I can see my current pace time and miles at a quick glance. I was using an app on my phone before and it was always such a pain to see how I was doing. I plan to try out the lap feature soon; I just want to see how that option works and if it would be good for my speed work. I don’t do it on a track but rather stretches of road that are approximately a quarter-mile. Hopefully the lap feature will be adequate.
I also like the other exercise tracking options. So far I have used the yoga and weight training ones. It helps me track how long each session was and a heart rate/calorie estimate. I feel it’s a little more accurate than my guessing. 😉
I feel the watch helps keep me more active throughout the day. I know I want to reach 10,000 steps a day so I find excuses to get up and walk a bit more. It is easier at work; on the weekends I work on my blog and photography business and don’t move as much as I should. I just get into the zone and enjoy the work but with the watch I check my steps after a bit. I walk for a few minutes and get back at it.
As much as I love this watch I do have a few small complaints, not enough to get me to stop wearing it. First Fitbit says the battery should last 5-7 days (5 if you use the gps). Mine lasted 2.5 days the first time, no gps usage. I turned off the backlight and still 2,5 days. I use the gps, 2.5 days. I have not tried turning off the heart rate monitor but I am not sure that would make that much of a difference. I would love it if the battery did last 5 days. It uses a special usb charger so I can’t just grab my phone/kindle charger and do it at work. I have to remember to charge it overnight or at home when I am not moving a lot.
My only other issue is the size. I ordered a small band because my wrist is pretty small. I have it fastened in the middle of the band, not too tight and not too loose. The band is fine but my problem is the actually watch part. It is huge. It fits slightly awkward on my wrist because it is almost as wide as my wrist. If it was a bit smaller I think it would fit on my wrist better. As it is, it slightly goes off my wrist and gets to be uncomfortable since I wear it almost 24/7 (never in the shower). In fact I took it off when I went to bed last night because it was bothering me. It isn’t so bad that I am going to stop wearing it or not recommend it but I just feel it could be a bit smaller to fit on those of us with small wrists. Maybe Fitbit could do a male and female rather than large and small?
