Shape by Atlas claims to be the world’s first 24/7 fitness coach. Find out how Shape by Atlas works today in our review.
What is Shape by Atlas?
Shape is a project that recently launched on Kickstarter. It’s a wearable wrist-based fitness tracker that promises to be the world’s first 24/7 fitness coach. The wearable analyzes your daily routine to determine what’s working for you, then makes intelligent decisions based on that data.
The wearable’s final retail price is estimated at $130. Today, you can buy it on Kickstarter for $60 and up. At the time of writing, the project is approximately 50% funded.
Shape by Atlas, as you probably guessed from the name, is made by wearable fitness tracker company Shape. The wearable device itself is known as Atlas. Shape is the company’s third major project, after launching the Atlas Wristband 1 and 2 between 2014 and 2016.
How Does Shape by Atlas Work?
Shape by Atlas promises to digest your daily routine “to help you understand what’s working and how your training affects the future you”. Every time you use and wear Shape, it gets smarter at creating workouts custom-designed to what works for you.
Shape talk to you while you’re working out, helping you improve your form while pushing your intensity. Shape will also talk to you in between workouts – “like you text your favorite personal trainer”. For example, you can test Shape for recommendations on which workout you should do next, and Shape may respond with visual instructions for the best possible fat burning workout for your current situation.
Ultimately, the features on Shape promise to make it seem like your 24/7 digital fitness coach.
Shape Features
Shape offers all of the following features:
- Day & Night: Automatically tracks daily activity, metabolic rate, and sleep patterns throughout the day and night. Whether you’re in the gym or in bed, Shape is tracking you.
- Heart Rate Tracking: Shape tracks your heart rate in real time to keep you in the ideal zone – whether at rest, burning fat, or doing cardio.
- Audio Coaching: Follow Shape’s voice as it guides you through workouts move-by-move while helping you work on your form.
- Coach AI: The coach gets smarter over time, as it learns your habits and adjusts its recommendations based on your feedback.
- Smart Workouts: All of the tools and trackers listed above are designed to create smart workouts. These workouts are 7 minutes in length and have no equipment required. They’re “bespoke workouts” you can perform nearly anywhere. For example, the coach might send you a “no equipment, bodyweight and running workout”.
- Integrates With Health Platforms: Google Fit, HealtKit, and Atlas Dashboard are all supported by Shape.
- Works with Music Services: Spotify, Pandora, and other music streaming platforms work with Shape.
- Scientific Approach to Training: Shape works in 4 week “mesocycles” that keep your muscles confused, maximizing your progress over time and ensuring you get the best possible results over a long period of time.
- HIIT Workouts: Many of the 7 minute workouts recommended by Shape are based on High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) techniques. The workouts are designed to keep your heart rate up, activate anaerobic fitness levels, and maximize daily calorie burning by taking advantage of the “afterburn” effect.
Shape Tracking and Metrics: What Does It Track?
Shape uses Atlas Motion Tracking, described as a “bleeding-edge machine learning system” to track and understand your movement. Atlas built that system based on studying human motion and developing its other wearable fitness trackers. Some of the things tracked by Shape include:
- Goals
- Rep Count
- Velocity
- Exercise Form
- 1 Rep ax
- Intensity
- Stability
- Smart Timer
- Heart Rate Zones
- Caloric Burn
- User Anatomy
- Training History
- Goals
Additionally, with Shape, Atlas has added 24/7 tracking features that monitor your activity throughout the night and day, allowing you to get intelligent information about your total daily calorie expenditure. That’s why Atlas calls Shape “a truly comprehensive fitness tracking system”.
Shape by Atlas Tech Specs
- Waterproof: Waterproof up to 1 meter underwater.
- Sensor: Wrist-based heart rate sensor, 3D accelerometer, inactivity sensor, sleep sensor, touch screen
- Battery: Lasts 5 days of normal use (rechargeable lithium polymer), or up to 10 days with just daily activity tracking (only 2 days with fitness + daily activity tracking + pulse tracking)
- Charging System: Charge via USB dongle and magnetic Shape dock
- Mobile Support: iOS 8.5 and higher or android 5.0 and higher
- Compatibility: Apple Health Kit and Google Fit integrations
- Connectivity: Connects over Bluetooth 4.0 (BLE)
- Size: Fits wrists up to 8.5”
Shape by Atlas Pricing
Shape’s final retail price will be $130.
You can currently buy Shape through Kickstarter for between $60 and $80, depending on your early bird deal.
There’s also a “Spotter Pack” available on Kickstarter where you can get two Shape wearables for $129 total.
About Shape by Atlas
Atlas was launched in 2014 when the company began a crowdfunding campaign for its first MotionAI tracking device, the Atlas Wristband. The company eventually delivered that wearable in November 2015. In early 2016, they started developing the idea for the Atlas Shape building off experience from the Atlas Wristband 1 and 2.
The Kickstarter campaign for Shape launched in February 2017. If all goes according to plan, the wearable will begin shipping in June 2017.
The Atlas Wristbands, by the way, received “okay” reviews online. PCMag gave it a rating of 2.5 stars out of 5, for example, while GadgetsAndWearables.com gave it a rating of 7.7 out of 10. Most people were turned off by the high price (MSRP of $250) and the odd design of the object, which made it look like an ordinary fitness tracker with a large rectangular device added over top. Reviews also mentioned issues like short battery life and the lack of running or step tracking.
Shape, the newest release from Atlas, will try to improve upon these aspects. Starting at a lower price – $130 – is certainly a good start. Stay tuned for more information about Shape by Atlas as it gets closer to release!
