Alta HR XL band not available

[Momjesty]

I am so frustrated. I got my Alta HR just over a year ago. I decided to purchase the Alta because I have large wrist and hate having a tight band. They had an XL band. In March my band broke and I contacted Fitbit and they kindly replaced it. Now it is November and my band broke again. Since my band goes from the original purchase date Fitbit won't replace it. 

So I go to order one and find out the XL band is no longer available. I am so frustrated that they don't still offer this size. I tried Amazon and I found one for over $200 for just the band. 

URGH! 

Moderator edit: Updated title for clarity

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hi there @Momjesty, welcome to the Fitbit Community Forums! 🙂

I'm very sorry to hear that our team was not able to provide you with a band for your Fitbit Alta HR.

In this case, since our the XL band is no longer available, I'm pretty sure that you can find other options on Amazon. I believe $ 200 for a band is too much. 

Again, I apologize about this inconvenience but anything else I can help you with, let me know!

[Momjesty]

I search for an hour last night to find a xl band. The $200 was the only
one I could find. If you can find a reasonably priced band I would love to
buy it. Otherwise I have to replace my device. Since it is just a year old
and working just fine I am not happy with that option. Like I said, I made
my decision to buy an Alta HR because it offered an xl band. It is
frustrating that you don’t follow through with that option. What would you
do if my device was still under warranty?

[MakMak]

Hi, @Momjesty! Do you know what size your band actually is? A lot of the third party vendors on places like Amazon list their sizes, many of which are a larger span of sizes that the actual Fitbit band. You might be able to find a "large" band that is the size you need.

[Momjesty]

My Fitbit band fit wrist up to 9.1”. I could only find a similar band up to 8.1.

Tom and April Zimmerman
Glory B Farms

[LAFundo]

I am in exactly the same position.  Purchased an Alta HR due specifically to the fact that there was an XL band available.  My band also recently broke  - Fitbit's reply was to purchase an extender to wear with their L band.  As a plus size woman, I am resigned to the fact that I often wear things that look masculine.  I could buy into the black only XL band (my daughter with a S HR Alta has teal, purple and rose gold bands and it looks attractive with most any outfit) but I am extremely disappointed that now I don't even have this black band option.  I ordered the extender and it is bulky having two clasps on my wrist and looks even more masculine.  I am so disappointed in Fitbit.  You are not serving your customer base well at all.  The very people who could benefit the most from your product are now excluded.  Shame on you!

[Momjesty]

YES!!!! This is exactly how I feel. I have worked hard the past two years to improve my health and mobility. Using the Alta has been a vital key. I went from walking with a cane due to a knee injury to riding in a two day 30 mile bike ride. Plus I have lost and maintained a 100 pound plus weight-loss. I am still plus size and need a larger band. I original bought a Charge 2 but it was to small and bulky. I gifted it to my daughter and purchased the Alta HR for the same reason. So now I am forced to purchase a new device. I am not happy and I am not excited to purchase a 3rd Fitbit product in less than 14 months, especially with the way they have not stood behind their product. I will miss my challenge groups.
Thank you for sharing your story!
April

This was not a solution and as far as I am concerned the issue is not solved in the least!

Moderator edit: Merged replies

[cinda1212]

We have the exact same problem.  Purchased 2 AltaHR last Christmas - still under 1 year warranty - specifically for the XL bands.  My daughter's broke a few months ago, and my husband's a few weeks ago.  Well, not broke, exactly - the band doesn't stay connected to the fitbit device, so it won't stay on their wrists.  It's ridiculous to have to buy a whole new device (for $100+) just to replace a faulty band (which are available for $10 for S and L sizes) on an otherwise working fitbit.  Infuriating.

[Momjesty]

I know. I bought the knock off large bands but it is tight. So tight that
it is irritating. If I have it on the second to last notch it comes undone.
It has fallen off twice. Once in bed and once in the house thankfully. I
really feel like Fitbit dropped the ball with this one. I even dig out my
first broken band in the hopes I could maybe piece together a complete band
but it is the same piece on both. Is it crazy to think a $30 band should
last more than 6 months? I am about ready to do a rant of my social media
account. I almost bought an new device during the Black Friday sales but
frankly the idea of sinking more money into a company that doesn’t follow
through and back there product makes me want to seriously look elsewhere.
Even though that means leaving my challenge groups and friends. I am so
dissappointed.

[DramaQueenDiva]

Has anyone tried eBay?  I got my replacement band on there for $5.  I didn't get the large (shockingly, all I needed was a small).

[Momjesty]

Yes, no luck. The largest one I could find was 8.1”. The metal ones go up to 8.5” but I can’t use metal.

[suebob]

Check out the Supcase Unicorn Beetle Pro band for the Alta HR on Amazon.  It looks promising, and apparently is long enough to replace an XL band.  The look is more rugged than stylish, but I tend to be hard on my gear so I plan to give it a try.

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hi there everyone! Good to see you all around! 🙂

I'm very sorry to hear that you've not had luck finding XL bands available online 😕

At the moment, I don't have any other alternative that I can think of. If you're able to find any, be sure to let us know so others will take advantage of it.

Anything else, I'm here to help.

[Gonbal]

In the same position - can't find an XL band at all. Very disappointed with Fitbit's service on this issue. Will be looking for other trackers with better service. There are a lot of good alternatives out there. 

[suebob]

In my own case I've been able to get by because my wardrobe is mostly casual.  I wear an ankle band (B-Great, Large/XLarge, Amazon) under my long pants most of the time because the tracker is more accurate this way.  The Alta HR on the wrist doesn't count steps when you are pushing strollers/shopping carts.  In the evening I then transfer the ankle band to my wrist for sleep tracking.  But I, too, would love to see more XL bands out there.  It's unfair that Fitbit doesn't make them available.  We shouldn't have to look so hard for them.

[Momjesty]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check it out. I am extremely disappointed in Fitbit’s customer service to its plus size community as well.

Tom and April Zimmerman
Glory B Farms

[JasonChild]

Yes, I'm a big guy with a 9” wrist and I can barely fit the large size of my new Alta HR. I would love an XL band but I couldn't even find any Chinese knock offs on eBay which was very surprising. 

Anyway after reading this post and others like it, I found someone who said to try their online chat support. I did so, and the person on the other end was very helpful and said that although they don't sell them, they do offer them for free to customers who ask for them. All I had to provide was my proof of purchase (can scan a physical receipt) or in my case it was just an e-mail tax receipt from the online store from which I purchased the alta hr. The person then requested my contact details and delivery address and told me that one would be sent free of charge. The only caveat is that the XL bands only come in black (this is fine with me as its the colour I wanted anyway).

Long story short, if you're looking for an XL Band, try the chat support. 

[SonnyB2]

I just chatted with Fitbit (Sales guy I think) and I am extremely disappointed as the response (non answer) was "We no longer have an XL Alta Band .... but you can try our retailers" well we know the retailers only carry S or L trackers and accessories. Was not offered a free XL band as a previous post mentioned, but I have had my tracker for a few years now and I am sure it is no longer under warranty. Actually last time my XL Band broke, I recall doing a chat and the fitbit chat suggested I order from their store. No luck this time. Not a Happy Camper!!!

[AnneJS]

I have had the exact same issue as you.  And no, Amazon does not have cheaper options than $200.  In fact, I can't find any XL bands.  I am so frustrated. 

[SonnyB2]

I am sure that there are many more folks like us who require the XL band for the Fitbit Alta or Alta HR. It is really sad that a company would discontinue an item from their product line after selling MANY of them and also at the same time discontinue the accessories (bands). Especially when they do not even suggest to their supplier of these bands to make them available thru another venue. What about the company's install base. Seems like Fitbit has a sell and forget attitude, SERVICE does not seem to be in their vocabulary unless you are still under warranty.