Questions on Fitness apps

If you've been using FitBit trackers for a long time and are happy with them, you may want to look at FitBit's new entry into the smartwatch market, the Blaze. The FitBit Surge, while not as fancy, has onboard GPS, making it a nice running watch if you don't like to take your phone with you.

The Apple Watch syncs all its data to Health on your phone, as well as to Activity. There are lots of apps out that there will use that information. The FitBit app is not one of them. You might look at My Fitness Pal.

I Have been using a Fitbit One and Charge HR for a while now and have been thinking to change to an Apple Watch. I know it has some shortcomings... So does Fitbit's HR. I have come to realise that the Charge HR is fine for walking and working. It is also useless for any type of exercise (weights, interval training) except gentle jogging. I use a separate chest strap and always have to delete the exercises from the Fitbit app and manually enter them. I am very interested in the Apple Watch because I can connect my chest strap to it.

Chris J Davies wrote:

It is also useless for any type of exercise (weights, interval training) except gentle jogging. I use a separate chest strap and always have to delete the exercises from the Fitbit app and manually enter them. I am very interested in the Apple Watch because I can connect my chest strap to it.

Most wrist worn trackers are bad at anything other than rhythmic exercises such as walking or running. Especially with weight lifting, you'll get better heart rate results if you move the device further up your arm that you would normally wear it. Cocking your wrist tends can move the device away from your skin.

Best of luck.

I can see why a wrist based device can struggle under certain conditions which is why the Apple Watch ability to connect to a chest strap is appealing. My Fitbit can't do that.

Chris J Davies wrote:

I can see why a wrist based device can struggle under certain conditions which is why the Apple Watch ability to connect to a chest strap is appealing. My Fitbit can't do that.

The chest strap will certainly give you better HR information. Whether you find the rest of the exercise monitoring better for things like weight lifting is something you'd need to experiment with.

I used a number of FitBit products over the years. I find that my Apple Watch fills most of the needs met by them and has a number of other features that I find even more valuable. The ability to get and respond to notifications is very valuable to me.

Mistteak wrote:

I don't really need a watch .. I want one.. 🙂

In that case, you should absolutely get one! I love mine. If you can swing it, buy the Watch, not the Watch Sport. The sapphire crystal is well worth the price.

Mistteak wrote:

Yes .. I work outdoors and with horses and in a kitchen .. I was eying off the red sports band with the s/s magnetic band as a going out one ;; Its my birthday .. may treat myself!

Happy birthday!!!!! (Mine is tomorrow). I have the Watch with black sport band for knockabout and the Milanese loop for pretty.

I have had an apple watch for a few months now and am seriously considering going back to a fitbit. I find that for fitness purposes the fitbit is more user friendly and gives me more data on calories/steps/floors climbed/etc. The apple watch has it's cool factor for being able to use a lot of the same apps from your phone but if you are strictly wanting a fitness tracker then fitbit outshines the capabilities of the fitness app on the iwatch in my opinion.

im finding the same thing. It seems all the things the fitbit did you have to pay for 3rd party apple apps. Such as tracking my sleep patterns. I have had the iwatch just a few days and I have the iFit Blaze and was happy with it. I have to make up my mind soon. I think bestbuy has a 14 day return.

Well the apple watch took some getting use to. And I went threw a few aftermmarket bands / bumpers. But I'm liking the apple watech better overall. you just have to find the right apps to track what you want. For me is was my HR and my sleep patterns. I sleep terrible. Bad dreams most of my Rem sleep. The AW just offers more is is just plain old built better and seems to be more water resistant though it's not supposed to be.

I tried the Fitbit Blaze and returned it to get an Apple watch. I found that the fitness tracking was not very reliable and the GPS function was especially disappointing. I am a runner, so the GPS is a huge feature for me. I previously used my iPhone only to track my runs and was hoping the Fitbit would do the same. It did not. My mileage on known routes was way, way off. I have found the watch to be much more suited to my needs with the added benefit of more features. I am not concerned with challenges with other users, but find the activity tracking on the Apple watch to be very motivating goals. It also allows me to use the running app of my choosing which I was unable to do with the Fitbit. I find the Apple watch a little less bulky, although I honestly don't mind the appearance of either one. The Apple watch is more expensive for sure, but for my fitness needs and applications...far exceeds what the Fitbit could offer. Good luck in your decision.