Activity trackers--your recommendations

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.

Love my FitBit Flex

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.

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.

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.

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.

Yeah... ok.

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.

Yeah... ok.

My BMF was the same. Maybe they've changed them since but I'm pretty sure the skin sensors added very little and it got most of its info from its accelerometer, just like the other trackers.

Jawbone has owned Body Media for a few years. I don't see them putting skin sensors in their UP trackers.

I use the Withings Pulse (O2), mostly on my wrist but I put it on my hip or in my pocket sometimes (good point here for the Pulse: it's very adaptable that way, it's not wrist-only or hip-only). I used a Fitbit Flex for a while. The only feature I have felt the loss of, between these two, is the vibrating alarm (Flex). Otherwise I prefer the Pulse. Found it more slighty more accurate, screen display (Pulse) is handy, the battery life seems longer on the Pulse, I had a rash with the Flex band that I don't have with the Pulse one. Speaking of the band, they are really different. The Pulse has a more flexible one, the material has clearly more elasticity and the band itself is less thick than the Flex (but it's larger, the device itself is larger as well). Finally a big plus is the way the Pulse is connected to my phone. I had a lot of problems with the connection of my Flex to my phone, and that's what prompted me to change.

I've seen these chinese fitness trackers over at dealsmachine.com and wow, the prices look mighty fine! LOL. I'm just curious how well they'd hold up......most all of these are made in China anyways right.....? So How bad can they really be? lol.

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_185481.html even does sleep/pedometer trackering......

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_186616.html does steps distance, energy (calories), sleep tracking, bluetooth

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_187910.html a strange looking LED readout one lol with sleep monitoring

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_187998.html

They gotta bunch of various versions......what's odd is none of them directly look similar in any way to the major brands we have here in the states lol.....

And anther neat one, http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_186499.html but no sleep monitoring.....and that's something I'd really be interested in.....I've tried the various sleep apps on my phone and they just dont cut it lol......

http://www.dealsmachine.com/best_183805.html is kinda neat cause theres no cable, it is a dongle that plugs directly into the USB port.....kinda nifty,,,,as I have a habit of losing USB cables lol

But yea, they are tempting.....the most expensive I think I seen was like 40 bucks......vs. 99$ (FitBit Flex) lol

I have to admit, they do look interesting. I like the design on some of them!

I also would like the Misfit Shine to connect to MyFitnessPal!!!