02-21-2017
05:58
- last edited on
08-20-2020
17:15
by
MatthewFitbit
02-21-2017
05:58
- last edited on
08-20-2020
17:15
by
MatthewFitbit
Have just added the Flex2 to my collection of Fitbits. Was so excited finally to have a tracker for my swim workouts. I find the time and distance swum to be 99.9% accurate. But calories burned is a farce. It estimates 1 cal per minute. I.e. 40 calories for a 40 minute swim. I'm 67, 140 lbs, 5'6" and very active. So what's going on? (I also own an Alta, charge HR and Charge 2).
Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity
Answered! Go to the Best Answer.
12-29-2017 05:17
12-29-2017 05:17
12-29-2017 11:22
12-29-2017 11:22
12-29-2017 11:25
12-29-2017 11:25
12-29-2017 14:24
12-29-2017 14:24
12-29-2017 14:37
12-29-2017 14:37
02-19-2018 04:48
02-19-2018 04:48
I also bought the Flex 2 to track my swim calories. But it's calculator is very erratic and inaccurate. After a mile swim, in 29 minutes it often calculates 35 calories consumed. I have all the settings set as described. I restarted it 3 times as described. It calculated 325 calories once, then back to 35.
BTW, other online calculator estimate that for my weight (180 lbs) free-style swiiming 1700 yards in 29 minutes would consume just shy of 500 calories. Any other suggestions how to improve the Flex 2's calorie calculator? It does, generally keep track of the number of laps and time pretty well, it's just the calculator that is ridiculous.
02-19-2018 05:25
02-19-2018 05:25
The Flex2 is worthless for swimming. After 7 live chats with technicians, two replacement pebbles, directions to turn on swim mode before entering the water and turn off after swimming, referral to the engineering dept. - nothing works. The dammed device tells me how many steps I have taken and registers the activity as sports. A few times when I have manually switched to the swimming section and get a ridiculous reading that I swam for 2 minutes and burned 26 calories. (I swim for 30 to 40 minutes, freestyle, non-stop, 7 days a week.) I think there was a manufacturing lot of the black Flex2 models that are faulty. FitBit folks don't seem to care. My wife and a swim buddy have the lavender colored models purchased shortly after I received mine, and they work fine. I like the other info for the Flex2, but soon as I can find another brand device that works better, the Flex2 will hit the recycling program. Most annoying.
02-19-2018 05:27
02-19-2018 05:27
These steps have been done countless times with no change or good results. The direction may work for a model that is not faulty. Waste of time!
02-19-2018 05:27
02-19-2018 05:27
02-19-2018 05:30
02-19-2018 05:30
They didn't offer me that option, but I will plan to return it for a refund. Anyone out there have a recommendation for another product line that WORKS?
02-19-2018 05:35
02-19-2018 05:35
I have found that setting the pool length to 50 yds will.correct the calorie issue. However, now your distance is wrong. I swim 45-60 minutes, also non stop, 5-7 days a week. Summers are outside in a 50yd pool, winters indoor 25yd pool. I know Apple has a watch that does out of my price range. it all correctly, as well as heart rate, but it' out of my budget.
02-19-2018 10:28
02-19-2018 10:28
I broke down and bought the fitbit ionic. Love the new model overall. When swimming I alternate between setting the manual sport setting to swimming and using the autorecognize function. The difference is that in the swimming setting there is no heart rate recognition. Fitbit acknowkedgea that hr reading underwater is not always accurate. But when I let the tracker auto recognise my swim I get a pretty decent hr reading. In both cases calories burned seems pretty much on point. Distance tracked is accurate as far as I know. I no longer count laps manually. I like other features of the new tracker. But it is pretty pricey. I will keep the Flex 2 for ocean or outdoor use when I don’t want to use my ionic in adverse situations.
02-19-2018 10:43
02-19-2018 10:43
02-19-2018 11:33
02-19-2018 11:33
02-19-2018 11:42
02-19-2018 11:42
04-20-2018 11:19
04-20-2018 11:19
For me it's not registering as low as 1 cal/min but it IS registering it as 7 calories burned per minute. Putting that in perspective, walking is 8 calories/min. This is super disappointing and I hope I can get a refund because the whole point of why I chose the Flex 2 was so that it would automatically register swimming. If I have to manually enter it there's no point in wearing the thing.
04-20-2018 11:38
04-20-2018 11:38
Just this week I have had my 11th live chat regarding the Flex 2. Grrrr. It has NEVER registered swimming and recently completely shut down and failed to enter correct durations for swimming and exercise. I asked why I have never heard back from the engineering dept. that was supposed to be trying to remedy the problem. Answer: It is still in the engineering department's hands. SO disappointed!
Mine was a gift. I bought one for my wife that works fine and recommended it to a swim buddy whose also works well. Fitbit refuses to listen that there may be a defective batch produced, and there has never been an offer to refund the value. I am on the third pebble which works as poorly as the original two. I am still researching a better product from a more reliable company. It is interesting that there is little or no response to my comments on their customer service survey after the live chat sessions.
04-20-2018 11:41
04-20-2018 11:41
Pricey and still does not work well? Yes, time to find another manufacturer.
04-20-2018 11:43
04-20-2018 11:43
Thanks. It might be worth the cost for the Apple model rather than the hassle of Flex 2. I am carefully checking consumer reports and recommendation before investing an any of these devices again.
10-12-2018 17:29
10-12-2018 17:29
I have the same problem. I have a brand new Charge 3. I have entered pool length correctly, and I have auto recognize on. + I started my swim manually. It counted laps and distance very well, but calculated just about 1 or 2 calories per minute. How do I fix that?