So... another year eh?
As users can see from my posts below, I'm very grateful for all that the Fitbit devices have helped me with over the years. They're cracking devices when you're just getting going and want to be a bit more active (I started with a One on a belt clip, then upgraded through a Charge HR, Blaze and then a Charge 2). They helped me no end getting started on getting fitter and leaner. I'll always be grateful to them for that and they started a real trend.
Unfortunately I grew to require other needs from them which they haven't chosen to answer. I suspect their business model isn't overly concerned with these things as super-accurate fitness training etc. isn't their market; they're happy being a middle of the road device so they'd rather work on features to support that instead of resolving issues like the above. That's fair enough and I have no hard feelings towards them about it, but I've had to move on.
I won't name names as that seems like an unfair thing to do on their forum but I've switched to a device which is wrist-based as well, still has an optical heart rate monitor (and the same issues with the heart rate spiking when jogging on the spot incidentally; proof to me that the optical tech is flawed for accurate readings during vigorous exercise) and also operates as a smart watch... Accurately tracks steps too and can be used to upload music to so that you don't need to take a phone with you if you don't wish (I haven't used this feature though to be honest so can't vouch for it either way)
BUT it can also be paired with a very accurate chest-strap monitor (which sorts the accuracy problem out entirely for me) and because it pairs with that device it means I don't have to have a separate one then go through the rigmarole of having to then manually input the workout data into the Fitbit app afterwards for it to be included in my Myfitnesspal calories etc. It also has a simple and effective lock function so you don't bash the buttons accidentally whilst working out and it has built-in GPS which is quick to find the satellite and accurate. I paired it with Strava also and it auto-updates runs and cycles to the Strava app as well. I have to say I've been using it about 2 months now and it's really, really good.
I'm a bit of a geek so feeling like my workouts weren't being recorded properly actually had a real effect on my motivation to do the workouts in the first place... I appreciate that shouldn't be the case but it was, so now I've found a new lease of life on my workouts and have picked up the pace again. It's also a nice looking device as it's a round watch face with a metal edge and you can choose watch faces - so the one I picked looks to the casual eye like a nice analogue watch face which means it's not a big super-ostentatious square on my wrist either.
Compared to the lower end fitbit devices it was more expensive (around £175) but that's still cheaper than the top-end devices like the Ionic and from what I can see it does what I want it to do better than that.
I really hope Fitbit incorporate these features in the future and when I come to buy a next generation device I will check out their range thoroughly; I'd like to come back to them in the future but for now they simply appear to be going in a different direction to the one I would like.
All the best Fitbit, I hope to see more of these sorts of features in future. Thank you for helping me with my goals over the years.
I hope to come back to the forum at some point and find these issues have been answered but for now good luck everyone!
