Activity trackers--your recommendations

MIM49

Not too long ago there was really only Fitbit and BodymediaFit as far as choices went for a 24/7 activity tracker. Now it is amazing and a little confusing how many are available. I need help finding just the right one. I want one very similar to the recalled Fitbit Force. I want a bracelet style that shows a digital readout that can also function as a watch. Accuracy is important (I know they aren't 100% accurate but I have been using the BodymediaFit Link and its data has been pretty consistent) I know Polar has the Loop. Garmin the Vivofit. And Ifit has a relatively new tracker (can't find mush info on it.) I don't need a HRM (exercise is just walking or the occasional Leslie Sansone DVD workout.) Basis is just too big and chunky for my taste. I keep waiting for Fitbit to come out with a replacement for the Force but am getting tired of waiting.

randomtai

I love my BodyMedia FIT LINK.... No need for anything else in my book.

MIM49

I have the Link and have been wearing it for 1 1/2 years but tired of paying for the Activity Manager each month and the bulkiness of the armband.

jbrownnolan

I have a BodyMedia and will probably wear it till it dies, I believe it is extremely accurate, but agreed, it is a bit intrusive, I've looked into a couple other alternatives. I've decided that when my BodyMedia bites the dust that I will look into getting a Jawbone, it's worn like a bracelet and uses wireless syncing to transfer data. Good Luck with you search.

Here's a link: http://store.jawbone.com/store/aliphcom/DisplayHomePage

Raynne413

I am feeling the urge for a new tracker myself. I know you are wanting something now, but it seems like there will be a lot of new trackers coming out in the fall/winter from things that I have read. So I am waiting until the end of the year to see what is available.

goldmay

Have you looked into the Fitbit Flex? It's the current bracelet-style tracker they have.

Withings is also planning on releasing a watch tracker soon, only it's analog not digital.

dandelionjelly

I was waiting for fitbit to put out something new as well. I really miss my fitbit force but I was one of the unlucky ones who ended up with the skin irritation. I finally went to the garmin vivofit. I needed to have something with a display and this fit my requirements pretty well and isn't too much bigger than the force. The display does not light up so it is difficult to read in low light. Also, it isn't recording my steps very accurately. I am only 5'2" and a mile for me should be well over 2000 steps but this gives me about 1500-1600. Contacting garmin has been a pretty fruitless effort.
If fitbit does come out with a replacement for the force, I will probably go back to it as soon as it's available! until then, at least this makes me work a lot harder to get my steps in!

MIM49

Jawbone, like the Fitbit Flex, are both great devices but I want a readout on the device so I don't have to use my phone or PC to see the numbers.

WalkingAlong

I like the Misfit Shine (though it has a limited display like the Fitbit Flex), though I've never tried it.

Are you an iPhone user? The upcoming iWatch might be worth waiting for, if you're willing to spend a bit more.

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/portable-devices/apple-iwatch-release-date-news-and-rumours-1131043

MIM49

What is analog versus digital?

Snip8241

Bump because I am shopping also. Thanks everyone.

mltapper

Has anybody out there used the Moves free iPhone app? I've checked it against MapMyFitness, and it seems pretty accurate.

randomtai

To each their own.... the information provided in the activity manager, as well as the unparalleled accuracy override the "look" of the armband or the low price. *shrug* :ohwell:

goldmay

What is analog versus digital?

It has hour and minute hands like a traditional watch instead of an LCD display. It also has a smaller hand that tracks percentage of step goal completed. I don't think it will show calories burned though.

http://www.withings.com/activite


You could also try the Nike Fuelband.

rlynnehawk

Bookmarking this. Thanks!

WalkingAlong

To each their own.... the information provided in the activity manager, as well as the unparalleled accuracy override the "look" of the armband or the low price. *shrug* :ohwell:

Unparelleled accuracy of the BodyMedia? I don't know if I'd call 9.3% error vs. 10.1% error unparalleled accuracy.

http://time.com/2857434/find-out-how-accurate-your-trendy-fitness-monitor-is/

skyekeeper

bump

randomtai

To each their own.... the information provided in the activity manager, as well as the unparalleled accuracy override the "look" of the armband or the low price. *shrug* :ohwell:

Unparelleled accuracy of the BodyMedia? I don't know if I'd call 9.3% error vs. 10.1% error unparalleled accuracy.

http://time.com/2857434/find-out-how-accurate-your-trendy-fitness-monitor-is/

More is more... *shrug* That is exactly what I mean. WTF are you talking about?

WalkingAlong

What is analog versus digital?

It has hour and minute hands like a traditional watch instead of an LCD display. It also has a smaller hand that tracks percentage of step goal completed. I don't think it will show calories burned though.

http://www.withings.com/activite

Very cool. Now I want that instead of the Shine. Except I just noticed it says $500. I guess not!

Raynne413

The Razer Nabu is the one I am most interested in at the moment:

http://www.razerzone.com/nabu

WalkingAlong

To each their own.... the information provided in the activity manager, as well as the unparalleled accuracy override the "look" of the armband or the low price. *shrug* :ohwell:

Unparelleled accuracy of the BodyMedia? I don't know if I'd call 9.3% error vs. 10.1% error unparalleled accuracy.

http://time.com/2857434/find-out-how-accurate-your-trendy-fitness-monitor-is/

More is more... *shrug* That is exactly what I mean. WTF are you talking about?

I'm talking about a less than 1% difference in accuracy between the clunky, expensive BMF and the small $59 Fitbit Zip. Does that help?

randomtai

To each their own.... the information provided in the activity manager, as well as the unparalleled accuracy override the "look" of the armband or the low price. *shrug* :ohwell:

Unparelleled accuracy of the BodyMedia? I don't know if I'd call 9.3% error vs. 10.1% error unparalleled accuracy.

http://time.com/2857434/find-out-how-accurate-your-trendy-fitness-monitor-is/

More is more... *shrug* That is exactly what I mean. WTF are you talking about?

I'm talking about a less than 1% difference in accuracy between the clunky, expensive BMF and the small $59 Fitbit Zip. Does that help?

It isn't clunky to me nor expensive... to each their own. *shrug* Accurate is accurate.

SezxyStef

I just ordered my jawbone. I don't care if I see my activity on the tracker I can wait till I sync it with my phone/computer.

After reading a lot of reviews and talking to people with them I chose the Jawbone ...not great reviews for the fitbit and it looks "cheap" imo...much like a swatch watch from my youth...

looking forward to seeing what it can do for me.

Early_Riser

Love my FitBit Flex

mikeyrs

I started out with a Withings Pulse, which I still wear on my pocket. I lost my first Pulse and bought another. The Pulse is rugged, accurate, and it gives lotsa' data for you to absorb and act on. The Pulse O2 (retail $120) is the same except it comes with a wrist band as well as a clip so you can wear it where ever you like it. The Pulse does not seem to be water resistant so showering with it is out of the question. I also have a Withings scale and a Withings blood pressure monitor. Data from all these devices are integrated together through the Withings Health Mate App, which is excellent. The Health Mate Web App and iOS App are designed for monitoring family health. However, these Apps are weak in the areas of community forums and competitive events. Withings is MFP compatible.

I also wear a Garmin Vivofit ($130). I like the Vivofit because it is waterproof, does not require recharging, and the Garmin Connect Web App and iOS App are oriented more toward fitness and competition rather than diet and health. Garmin Connect is MFP compatible.

I bought my wife a Striiv Touch ($99) because I loved my Striiv Smart Pedometer so much. The Striiv Touch is targeted at integration with your daily lifestyle. The Touch uses the Striiv gaming engine which gives you short and varied gaming challenges that are loads of fun to do. The Touch also includes functionality like Incoming Call and Text Alerts. My wife really likes the Striiv Touch but wishes it remained illuminated all the time. I think that would drain the battery quickly though. Striiv Touch should be compatible with MFP and Lose It!

veloman21

I've had the Vivofit since May. There are pros and cons with all these devices and none of them are particularly 'accurate' all that you can hope for is that they are consistent so that you can measure your own relative progress.

for the Vivofit

Pros
Comfortable to wear 24/7
Quite lightweight and not bulky so fits under a shirt cuff easily.
Compatible with a HRM so that you can track calories when doing other things like weightlifting, tennis, mowing the lawn etc.
Waterproof so you can wear it in the shower or when swimming.
Does not need to be recharged, batteries are expected to last about a year (this is a really big deal for me)
Display is easy to read and shows time and date as well as steps, distance, HR etc.
(Finally) Garmin and MFP have worked out a way to sync data both ways
Syncing is by Bluetooth with your phone so long as it's nearby or via +ANT usb stick with your pc

Cons
Display is very easy to read during the day but is not backlit so very hard to read in low light situations (trade off for longer battery life)
Garmin Connect software is pretty bad but they have made a lot of progress since May. I'm hoping that by the end of the year the majority of the bugs will be sorted out and enhancements offered. As I use a Garmin Edge 500 for biking and a FR310XT for running, I do find the concept of having all my activity data in one place and the ability to compare and run reports over time.
The Vivofit can be fooled into counting steps when you are just waving your arm. Granted this is not a normal activity for most people but it's good to realize what the device can and can't do.
The little red bar that tells you to get off your duff!!

On the whole I'm happy with it. Now that it syncs with MFP it is great to see adjustments made to my total calorie expenditure each day. If Garmin continue to develop the software side of things then I think this device will be a success for them and is all that I need personally.

aybarlow

I have had the Vivofit since March, and I like it. I had the Bodymedia link....and I liked it a lot too. But, if you are one that doesn't do a lot of moving forward(running, walking) to get their exercise in, the bodymedia isn't going to calculate your exercise as well. I do more weight lifting and crossfit, so a tracker with HRM capabilities more suited me....along with not having something strapped to my upper arm that became uncomfortable throughout the day. Also, having the tracker on my wrist, and being water proof, I have never forgotten to wear it!

randomtai

I have had the Vivofit since March, and I like it. I had the Bodymedia link....and I liked it a lot too. But, if you are one that doesn't do a lot of moving forward(running, walking) to get their exercise in, the bodymedia isn't going to calculate your exercise as well. I do more weight lifting and crossfit, so a tracker with HRM capabilities more suited me....along with not having something strapped to my upper arm that became uncomfortable throughout the day. Also, having the tracker on my wrist, and being water proof, I have never forgotten to wear it!

You have it backwards. A HRM is only good for steady state cardio. The BMF with its sensors tracks the adjustments you get from lifting.

aybarlow

I have had the Vivofit since March, and I like it. I had the Bodymedia link....and I liked it a lot too. But, if you are one that doesn't do a lot of moving forward(running, walking) to get their exercise in, the bodymedia isn't going to calculate your exercise as well. I do more weight lifting and crossfit, so a tracker with HRM capabilities more suited me....along with not having something strapped to my upper arm that became uncomfortable throughout the day. Also, having the tracker on my wrist, and being water proof, I have never forgotten to wear it!

You have it backwards. A HRM is only good for steady state cardio. The BMF with its sensors tracks the adjustments you get from lifting.

Well, my BMF must have had it backwards also. As I stated, the BMF didn't calculate as well, and sometimes not at all UNLESS I was doing cardio such as running/walking. I get most of my "cardio" from mountain biking(BMF showed I virtually didn't do anything), beach volleyball(BMF tracked steps, but that was all), weight lifting(again, BMF hardly showed I got off the couch), and crossfit(virtually nothing)...but moving on, having the HRM capabilities will also be more accurate for steady and non-steady state cardio.

jbrownnolan

I do LOVE my Body Media (I don't love the monthly membership fees), and like I said I will keep it till it dies, I have met lots of new people because of it, it has stricken up many many conversations with friends, family member, and strangers who want to learn more. It has glitched on me a couple of times lately but not enough for me to abandon it (that's also why I say until it dies, it may be on its way out). Because of it I am able to start up meaningful conversations with anyone who asks be about it, been able to tell them my story, and I would say that 90% of the people who have asked me about it could stand some extra activity and a little less weight in their lives (and they've come to me, not me to them, so I find it easier to talk to them about it). I even had a woman at the zoo this weekend take a picture of it, we sat and talked about the struggles of losing weight (how I was once 200+lbs (9 yrs ago) and am now in the 120's, how she's hovering around 200 and would like to start a new lifestyle and perhaps this is a route she may look into) although I never even got her name she walked away thanking me for the conversation, that it was just what she needed.

When I say it's a bit intrusive I simply mean "it's super sexy to wear at a wedding or a night on the town" LOL, everyone is use to me wearing it now though.

WalkingAlong

I hated that about the BMF. I wouldn't wear it without long sleeves because I felt like, "Look at me! I need a gadget to help me not to overeat!" I try to avoid all conversation starters, though.