FitBit Review
FitBit is a fitness equipment company which sells a number of different fitness tracking devices. From the popular FitBit Flex to the FitBit Aria “smart scale”, FitBit has a diverse lineup of products which all have the same goal: quantify your daily workouts to help you get in better shape.
Find out everything you need to know about FitBit today in our FitBit Review.
What is FitBit?
FitBit is a fitness tracking equipment company headquartered in San Francisco, California. The company was founded in 2007 by James Park and Eric Friedman. The goal was to give users an easy way to measure different personal metrics every day – like sleep quality and the number of steps walked.
Today, FitBit sells 7 main products as well as a collection of FitBit accessories.
Some FitBit products – like the FitBit One – clip onto your clothing or fit into a pocket. Other products – like the FitBit Flex – are worn around your wrist like a watch.
Some personal metrics tracked by FitBit devices include:
— Steps Taken
— Stairs Climbed
— Calories Burned
— Heart Rate
— Active Minutes
— Distance Traveled
— Hours Slept
— Quality Of Sleep
Depending on which FitBit device you buy, you might find additional metrics and features – like a vibrating alarm that gently vibrates on your wrist when you need to wake up.
FitBit Features
All FitBit devices have certain features in common. All devices play along well with fitness-style mobile apps, for example.
The official list of FitBit-supported apps includes Lose It, Run Keeper, Map My Fitness, My Fitness Pal, Endomondo, Spark People, and dozens of others. You can view a full list of FitBit-supported apps here.
All FitBit devices also celebrate your personal goals using achievements. You’ll receive achievements when you hit certain milestones: like taking 30,000 steps in a single day or climbing 150 stairs.
FitBit devices also keep track of your lifetime achievements, which means you can see your personal best records for calories burned in a day, steps taken, or stairs climbed.
FitBit devices base your burned calories off of your personal profile: so instead of calculating calories burned based on the average stats of an individual who weighs the same amount as you, you can get an accurate readout of how many calories you burn each workout.
With FitBit, you can challenge your friends and family by adding them on FitBit.com. This lets you see which one of your friends is the most active, and lets you compete with your friends in pursuit of daily goals: like who can climb the most steps in a day or burn the most calories.
If you need extra help keeping track of your workouts and diet routines, you can login to FitBit.com and log your meals, water intake, and workouts. Download the FitBit mobile app and keep track of your daily habits using your phone, then check up on your progress at the official website.
When you enter food into FitBit.com, it will actually list a number of standard food portions in its database, which means you don’t have to guess how many calories you just consumed.
All FitBit devices are also rain, splash, and sweat-proof. They’re typically powered by watch batteries that last for about 6 months – although some of the newer FitBit devices with more advanced displays have lithium batteries that you recharge every 3 to 7 days.
Certain FitBit products have different features than others. Below, you’ll find a thorough description of all FitBit products and their unique features.
FitBit Products
As mentioned above, there are a total of 7 main FitBit products on the market today, including all of the following:
FitBit Zip – $59.95
The FitBit retails at a price of $59.95 and is the smallest – and cheapest – FitBit device. The Zip tracks all of the following metrics:
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— LCD Display
— Clock
— Wireless Syncing
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Not Swimming or Showering)
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 23 Days
— Replaceable Battery
— Up To 4 to 6 Month Battery Life
You can wirelessly sync your Zip anytime from anywhere using the magic of wireless internet. Syncing your Zip lets you view your progress in the form of graphs, charts, and tools.
It’s available in five different colors, including blue, silver, green, black, and pink.
The main limitations of the FitBit Zip are that it can’t track your sleep and you can’t wear it on your wrist: it clips onto your pants or in your pocket.
The Zip has a basic display. Just tap on the outside of the display with your finger and you can cycle through the menu of calories burned, steps taken, and distance traveled.
FitBit One – $99.95
The FitBit One tracks a bit more than the Zip. Just like the Zip, it clips onto your pants or your pocket. Unlike the Zip, however, the One features an accelerometer, which means you can track your sleep and quality of sleep. Here are all of the trackable metrics with the FitBit One:
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— Stairs Climbed
— Hours Slept
— Quality Of Sleep
— OLED Display
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Not Swimming or Showering)
— Silent Alarms
— Wireless Syncing
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 23 Days
— Up To 10 To 14 Day Battery Life
The One can also gently wake you up in the morning. You wear an additional device on your wrist at night, and this device gently vibrates when you need to wake up. It’s designed to help people wake up without disturbing their partners.
After you wake up, you can view certain metrics about your sleep patterns, including how long and how well you slept, and how many times you woke up. All of this information is presented in a convenient graph.
FitBit Flex – $99.95
The FitBit Flex is FitBit’s flagship fitness tracker. It’s what most people think of when they hear “FitBit”. The Flex comes in two colors, turquoise or black, and fits discretely on your wrist.
The only display on the FitBit Flex is a series of five lights. These lights let you instantly see how far you progressed into your daily goal.
Main Features Of The Flex:
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— Stairs Climbed
— Hours Slept
— Quality Of Sleep
— LED Indicator Lights (Each Light Is 20% of Your Step Goal)
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Okay For Showering Not Swimming)
— Silent Alarms
— Wireless Syncing
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 30 Days
— Up To 5 Day Battery Life
It can also wake you up with the vibrating alarm. Since you wear it on your wrist all the time, there’s no need to wear an additional device to monitor your sleep patterns.
Flex will automatically sync with your electronics: it syncs to most electronic devices – including your computer – over a wireless internet connection. It can also sync with your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth.
There are two main differences between the FitBit Flex and the FitBit One: the Flex fits on your wrist and doesn’t need to be worn in your pocket, and the Flex can sync with your phone via Bluetooth. Despite the difference in features, both the Flex and the One cost $99.95.
FitBit Charge – $129.95
The FitBit Charge works in a virtually identical way to the FitBit One and the FitBit Flex. However, the main difference is that the FitBit Charge has a versatile OLED display.
This display tells you your daily stats, time of day, exercise mode, and daily activity totals. When you sync it to your phone, it can also deliver incoming call notifications – which can be helpful if you keep your phone in your pocket while exercising or leave it out of sight at work.
Main Features Of The Charge:
— OLED Display
— Caller ID & Watch
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Not Swimming or Showering)
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— Stairs Climbed
— Hours Slept
— Quality Of Sleep
— Silent Alarms
— Wireless Syncing
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 30 Days
— Up To 7 to 10 Day Battery Life
The Charge’s battery life lasts for 7 to 10 days. You charge the device using an included cable.
It comes in four different colors, including black, silver, blue, and purple, and two different sizes: large and small, both of which can be customized to fit snugly around your wrist.
Like the Flex, you can sync your Charge via Bluetooth. It also uses Bluetooth to communicate with nearby mobile devices and deliver incoming price data.
FitBit ChargeHR – $150
The ChargeHR is the first device on this list from the “Active Fitness” category. The Charge, Flex, One, and Zip are all classified as “Everyday Fitness” products.
What does that difference mean? With the ChargeHR, you can track heart rate activity. The ChargeHR has a wrist-mounted heart rate monitor located directly on the device, making it easy to keep track of your training zones when you’re working out. You don’t need to use a chest strap: every sensor you need is included directly on the device.
The ChargeHR comes in four different colors, including black, purple, blue, and orange. The lithium battery lasts for about 5 days, and you can charge up the device using the included cable.
Main Features Of The ChargeHR:
— PurePulse Heart Rate: Continuous & Automatic
— OLED Display
— Caller ID & Watch
— Real Time Run Stats
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Not Swimming or Showering)
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— Stairs Climbed
— Active Minutes
— Hours Slept & Of Sleep
— Silent Alarms
— Wireless Syncing
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 30 Days
— Up To 5 Day Battery Life
FitBit Surge – $250
The FitBit Surge is classified as a “Performance Fitness” product. It’s FitBit’s first entry into the smart watch category: unlike other FitBits, the Surge features a square OLED display which delivers multiple metrics at once – including the time, heart rate, and distance traveled.
Main Features Of The Surge:
— GPS Tracking: Distance, Elevation, Pace
— PurePulse Heart Rate: Continuous & Automatic
— OLED Display
— See Workout Reports
— Call & Text Notifications
— Music Control
— Water-Resistant (Splash, Rain, Sweat Proof – Not Swimming or Showering)
— Steps Taken
— Distance Traveled
— Calories Burned
— Stairs Climbed
— Active Minutes
— Hours Slept & Of Sleep
— Silent Alarms
— Wireless Syncing
— Tracks 7 Days Of Detailed Motion Data – Minute By Minute.
— Tracks Daily Totals For Past 30 Days
— Up To 7 Day Battery Life
The larger watch design has let FitBit fit a satellite GPS within the actual watch: the other FitBits rely on your connected device for this information.
The obvious benefit to this is that you can leave your phone at home if you don’t like running or biking with it in your pocket. If you do decide to bring your phone, you can use your Surge to view call and text notifications or even control songs on your connected device.
The Surge also comes with three different sizes: small, large, and extra-large. You can order it in three different colors, including blue, black, and orange.
The Surge is easily the most expensive FitBit on the market today – but it’s also the first FitBit that functions doubly as a Smart Watch. Expect the battery to last for 7+ days.
Basically, the Surge is the smartwatch/FitBit combo the world has been waiting for. If you’ve been debating whether to buy a smartwatch or a FitBit, then the Surge can make your decision easier by combining both tools into one.
FitBit Aria – $129.95
The FitBit Aria surprised some FitBit fans: instead of making a fitness equipment tracker, FitBit went another direction and created a “Smart Scale”.
The Aria is designed to be placed in your bathroom, bedroom, or wherever else you need to weight yourself. Obviously, you can get bathroom scales for cheaper than $130 – so what’s the big deal with the Aria?
Well, the Aria tracks your weight, body fat percentage, and BMI over time, giving you a more complete summary of your long-term progress.
The scale will also wirelessly sync your stats and graph them – just like you can graph all of your other FitBit metrics.
Main Features Of The Aria:
— Weight
— Body Fat Percentage
— BMI
— Lean Mass
— Program Up To 8 People
— Wireless Sync To Fitbit
— Measurement range: 20-350 lbs
There’s an electronic display on the front of the Aria which lists one metric at a time. It can display your name, weight, body fat percentage, and BMI and will automatically cycle through all of these stats when you step on the scale.
One cool feature of the Aria is that it can recognize up to 8 people: so you and your entire family or household can use it to keep track of your weight, if needed. Better yet, everyone’s information is private by default.
The scale syncs via Wi-Fi to your private FitBit account, giving you real-time access to your stats anywhere you go.
Extras and Accessories
In addition to all of the products listed above, FitBit sells certain extras and accessories. Those extras include a Tory Burch-designed FitBit which costs $195. The unique design looks a little more stylish than the traditional FitBit, and you can buy FitBit bracelets or pendants.
FitBit accessories include all of the following:
— Flex Wristband ($14.95)
— Flex Band 3-pack: Sport ($29.95)
— Flex Band 3-pack: Vibrant ($29.95)
— Flex Band 3-pack: Classic ($29.95)
— One Clip ($14.95)
— Zip Clip ($14.95)
— Charging Cables For All Fitbit Devices ($19.95)
— Replacement Clasps ($4.95)
— Wireless Sync Dongle ($19.95)
— Sleep Bands For The One And Ultra ($14.95)
— Ultra Belt Holster ($9.95)
— Ultra Charging Station ($19.95)
— Fitbit Apparel, Including Tank Tops, Hats, Cotton T-shirts, And A Backpack, Ranging In Price From $19.95 To $79.95
How to Buy FitBit Products
FitBits can be purchased online at the official FitBit store, FitBit.com. At that store, you’ll enjoy an easy checkout process and competitive prices.
FitBits are also sold at many major retailers, including Amazon, AT&T, Best Buy, Brookstone, Dick’s Sporting Goods, RadioShack, REI, Target, Verizon, and Sports Authority.
The prices for each FitBit product are listed above. They range in price from $59.95 to $250.
