What is a fitbit exactly?

Fitbit is a brand of devices, they have several different versions.

The questions you would want to ask are:

1. Do you want it to sync with MFP? If so, there are several options besides Fitbit. If not, there's tons of options.

2. Do you want it to work with your smartphone? If so, what kind do you have? Fitbit and several others only sync with newer phones which use Bluetooth Smart or Bluetooth Low Energy technology. Bodymedia is the only one I've found that works with MFP and with regular Bluetooth so it syncs with older smartphones.

3. How accurate do you want it to be? Many of the ones you wear on your wrist will not count steps when you push a shopping cart or carry something heavy. The ones you clip on to your clothes are more accurate, and Bodymedia seems to be the most accurate.

4. How much do you want to spend? Some of the clip-on Fitbits are only around $50. From there, they go up to around $150, depending on what you want. Bodymedia, despite being the most accurate, scares many people off because it has a $7 monthly subscription fee.


ETA: Also, 5. Do you want something around your wrist all day, every day? The Fitbit clip-ons can be put on a bra strap or belt loop, so they can be hidden. But they can also be more easily lost. The Bodymedia goes around the upper arm, so it can be hidden with a sleeve. The rest go around the wrist. Although many companies offer a changeable wrist band in a few different colors, the basic style is going to be the same. It will be like wearing the same bangle bracelet forever.

Just bought a fitbit flex myself and so far I enjoy having it

Pros:

Syncs to phone and MFP
Monitors your sleep
Counts steps
Tracks long periods of higher activity
Gives an idea of the calories you burn all day
Fitbits are step counters that monitor your activity day and night

Cons:

This is NOT an Heart rate monitor like a polar FT4, this product cannot give you an accurate calories burned through exercise, say you did 20 minutes of HIIT, fitbit flex along with mfp may give you an idea of calories burned but not an exact match the way an HRM would

Over all its a great product for those just trying to get started on their health journey

I just bought a FitBit zip and I love it. Syncs walking, running, with MFP. Awesome

I imagine those chest am straps would be annoyingly uncomfortable too during a workout when you are all sweaty. I think I prefer a watch

Most watch HRMs get their info from a strap. If it doesn't, it will be terribly inaccurate. The strap is actually not uncomfortable for women, as we are used to wearing a bra and the strap goes in exactly the same place. If it's uncomfortable, it's too tight. Once you have it on under a sports bra, you forget it's even there.