I picked up a Fitbit Charge 2 last night as I've had some good and some not so good experiences with wearable tech. I was finding myself missing the nudge to get up and move after getting a wrist buzz notification so after doing a bit of online research decided to give the Fitbit a go.
In the past I had the first and second versions of the Nike Fuelbands and absolutely loved them. They were like having a virtual cheerleader on your wrist and the App was fun with lots of colourful rewards to chase after and acquire. The problem with them was like any new generation product... they didn't always work consistently and it would get frustrating when you'd be this close to a goal and the equipment would fail.
When the first Apple Watch showed up in the market I was totally on it and at first really enjoyed it. However the battery life was ridiculous and the device ended up failing. It always felt kind of fragile too and that took away some of the pleasure in wearing it. It's not as much fun scrambling around and hiking when you're babying an relatively expensive watch.
I looked at the Fitbit Alta and the Charge 2 and given the way the bands were constructed the Charge 2 was a hands down winner. I found the Alta band harder to put on and according to a few different reviewers it's easy for it to come off when you're wearing it and you can lose your device. They have a great looking optional steel band for $139.99 CDN but reviews slammed it saying it scratches after one wear and you loose some of the functionality of the device by the heart rate monitor not being close enough to your skin for it to work.
So far the Fitbit Charge 2 is a winner. I gave it a go on the sleep function and it worked really well but when you move the display light comes on and it's bright when you've got a blacked out bedroom. Not sure if there is a sleep mode that turns off the display but that would make it a lot more user friendly.
It synced perfectly to my iPhone and the App seems awesome. I'm already loving having those friendly nudges to get up and move and it delivers text messages so that's sweet.
It doesn't feel the least bit fragile and it's a nice size. I've only been wearing for the day and already would feel lost without it. Seems like an awesome device and a great way to stay mindful of movement and overall health. Would be perfect if it was waterproof but that will probably show up in the next generation.
Definitely glad I gave it a try and I'm expecting it to be a very positive addition to my life. Have you had any good or bad experiences with wearables?