fitbit vs. jawbone

Pattycakes80, I read an article that made me choose the Jawbone over the Fitbit because it does analysis and tells you what you need to do to improve your health based on the data you've entered. It had the highest rating and beat out the Fitbit by quite a lot. I'm sorry I can't find the article again to share with you. Last week, the small or medium Jawbone UP 24 was offered on Amazon for $69 if you could handle it in red. I would check to see if they're still running the special. I ordered one for myself and one for my husband. He needed a large, so I paid $139 for the larger one and got it in black for him. Merry Christmas!

Bumping this post... Curious to know if they track strength training very well.
Also eager to hear about the new updated versions coming out.
I have a body media from 2010 and while it works awesome I hate how bulky and obvious it is on my bicep.

MrsSmith24102014 wrote: »

I have a FitBit and love it, the choices are great for individuals too. The goals you can set are really helpful and it syncs up well on here. I have the app, dashboard on comp and go on to the website. I'm not sure if the JAwbone is smaller but I like the interchangable bracelets for the FitBit!

I hope you manage to find what you're looking for

Same here I love my Fit bit, warning it's addictive after you start wearing it every day if you forget to wear it, you feel cheated that you are not getting your movement credits ha! Choose the best one for yourself price, water exposure etc. I have to track all my exercise there instead of other apps. it is just easier plus it emails you your stats, and if you tie in the scale it also lets you know your progress. I confess to avoiding the scale recently.... just don't want to go there right now.

Tanya0927 wrote: »

Bumping this post... Curious to know if they track strength training very well.
Also eager to hear about the new updated versions coming out.
I have a body media from 2010 and while it works awesome I hate how bulky and obvious it is on my bicep.

The Up3 is suppose to use similar technology as the BodyMedia since Jawbone bought that company. I'm really interested in that.

I don't know if this answer is still relevant for you but maybe somebody else will find my experience useful. I chose the UP24 over the Fitbit Flex in the end. I had no preference going in and tried to read reviews. It was essentially a toss-up for me and I decided on the Jawbone because it has the idle alert, which to my understanding, Fitbit does not. There were no Fitbit Charges available in local stores at the time of my purchase or I might have gone that route. The Surge and UP3 both got delayed and I didn't want to wait to start using these types of devices.

I really like the UP24. I love the idle alert since I sit at a desk for work. It has been buzzing me like crazy today and it serves it's purpose, I got up pretty much each time and took a break and walked around for a few minutes, used the restroom, etc.

It's also pretty comfortable. I don't wear watches typically unless I need to for an event, so that was also a consideration I made as Fitbit uses a band versus Jawbone's wraparound design. I find the wraparound design to be great. Half the time I don't even notice it is there and the other half it is barely noticeable. It also seems to have a long battery life so far. I charged it when getting it home from the store and haven't charged it again. It's been 5 days.

I also find the app very appealing. It has some good, basic coaching tips and can give you challenges everyday (you can opt out of individual challenges or all challenges in the settings and on the main screen). It also syncs up quite well with myfitnesspal app (I'm inputting info through Apple devices and Online). I haven't used the actual food entry function in the UP24 app, so I don't know how good it is. But it looks very similar to the myfitnesspal app. It also sets more challenges with the syncing like challenging me to eat more fiber (it keeps a running tally via syncing my food input throughout the day into the myfitnesspal app).

One final note. It does seem to be pretty accurate with the step counts. I've done several tests walking around the stores and in parking lots and have found it to be anywhere from right on to very close (28 steps off at a count of 500).

To answer one more question that might relate. Somebody asked about tracking weightlifting (I'll throw in cycling also). The short answer is no, devices without a heart rate function cannot test exertion through things like cycling or weights. Since the devices without HR are basically tracking motion they cannot tell when you are standing still and doing curls or bench presses and they cannot tell when you are on a stationary (they do sense a treadmill since your arms are swinging). To go further into your actual exercise calories being burnt you need a device with a heart rate monitor. Now, that I am impressed with the device and have confidence in the brand I am very interested in the UP3 once it is released (it got delayed until the 1st quarter sometime). The Fitbit Surge would be the rough equivalent of the UP3 and was very scarce around the holidays. It should be more readily available 1st quarter also.

Any more questions, please feel free to ask.