For the most part, I sit at a desk hunched over and don’t move unless I absolutely have to. My back aches, my knees are stiff and someone told me moving around would help ease these aches and pains. Where I was at, I felt I had nothing to loose. After all I had put on some pounds, moving might help me loose some weight, right? I had to take the plunge, I was going to walk more. But before I walked more, I had to know how much I was walking- that led me to the next question:
What type of pedometer did I want to get?
At the time I started with this idea, there were several on the market. I knew I wanted something I could look at and see where I was at with my modest goals. Another feature was that it had to be relatively small, or if it was large, have someway of being inconspicuous. I had been really intrigued with the prospect of the Jawbone Up in December 2011, but that was pulled from the market so what to get?
Nike Fuelband? Too Nike, but I’ve read that this is a good product but not what I want right now.
I ended up settling on the Fitbit Ultra. September 12, 2012 was when I started using it. Bear with me, I know this review is supposed to be about the Fitbit One, but getting there was a process for me.
I liked it, it’s ease of set up and it’s size. After it took a bath in a porcelain throne, and survived, and survived the vigorous and enthusiastic washing it went through afterward I was really impressed. What else could they do?
Fitbit One. It was smaller, lighter and it’s clip seemed to be more secure. It will sync through Bluetooth with my phone when I travel, and sends e-mail or texts to let me know that the battery is low. Pretty cool!
Fitbit One without the clip.
Fitbit One with the clip.
The biggest problem is its size. It’s small and inconspicuous and has managed to get lost 3-4 times since last December. It has also managed to make it into the washer like its predecessor and then the dryer and much to my surprise, it still worked fine.
The dashboard for the Fitbit website.
With the Fitbit Ultra, I didn’t need the app. The Ultra had a charging station that would sync with it wirelessly and when it was low on juice, as the name implies, charge it. I would also log into the Fitbit website periodically and check my progress. I didn’t know this before I purchased it, but the Fitbit One offered a new freedom that I hadn’t experienced with the Ultra.
The iOS app. (Now available on the Android)
Initially the app for it was a little clunky and didn’t have all the features that the website offered. The current version of the iPhone app works well and matches the features on the web based dashboard. I’ll review this app separately.
IT IS IMPORTANT- you don’t need a smart phone for this gadget. It works great without one, but you do need a computer that can connect with ithe internet. The app on the smartphone enhances the way the Fitbit works, giving you the ability to read your data on the fly.
If you want to learn more or purchase from the Fitbit website, click here. Also, you can check out their FaceBook page.
The home screen on the app.
One of the features I like is the Sleep monitor.
