Versa 2 - swimming concern

[Linz76]

Hi Fitbit, have you solved the swimming issue  and is the Versa 2 capable to track swimming ?

Moderator edit: subject for clarity

[DrDrew99]

See my previous posts, but briefly, whether swimming is "recognized" as an exercise, or you tap swimming on your watch, only a stopwatch will appear on the watch.  Once you are done, however, go to the fitbit app, tap on the stick figure in the exercise this week bar, and your swimming will be listed.  Tap that exercise, and all the details are in there - laps, distance, etc.  Still frustrating to not see it on the watch (I've made that recommendation to Fitbit), but it is on the app.  Versa 2 does track exercises well, but doesn't display that tracking worth a darn.......

[MH_London]

No news from Fitbit. Looks like they’re busy trying to ignore this to make it go away. 

I’ve written to Santa. Time to swap to an Apple Watch. Shame, really, as the Versa 2 would be a good product otherwise. 

[Atooms]

Purchased new Versa 2 a few days ago and couldn't wait to take it swimming for my usual mile swim (36 laps in a 25 yard pool).  I liked the new brighter screen and the promise of longer battery life, but was sorely disappointed to get in the water and find it only functions as a stopwatch while in the pool as pointed out by @MH_London, @Linz76 and others.   I could use my $40 Timex Ironman for that!    I liked the Versa 1 because it could tell me of exact progress which is very important while exercising, especially swimming. Without the lengths & laps being counted and easily available on my wrist, I now have to count and keep track in my head.    A huge distraction and point of frustration for swimmers.  Having to do that nearly ruins the entire swim for me.  I loved the Versa 1 because it freed my mind and made swimming much more enjoyable.   It's really concerning that FitBit dropped an important core capability like that, but spent a lot of resources to bring in things like Alexa and Spotify.  What do those have to do with being "Fit"?   I understand some people might want those frills, but we have smartphones that already do everything much better.  People don't expect your wrist to be an entertainment center.  This is just a watch with fitness and heart rate tracking.   FitBit should focus on those core things first and strive to make them as good as they can be.   I have several pool mates who have Versa 1s and will switch to something else when they learn this.    It seems like this is just a software fix, just put back in the code they took out and refine it a little.  @LiliyaFitbit, can you provide insight?  Maybe give the option of displaying laps instead of just lengths so I don't have to divide by 2 in my head all the time during swim?    That is what I foolishly thought this update might bring.   Sadly, I guess I'll be returning it and buying something else instead.   Disappointing.  We have had 6 FitBit devices in our family, but if this is how customers are treated, that won't be the case for long.     Cheers everyone!   

[DrDrew99]

Not so much a reply as an endorsement!  I've requested to the Fitbit help desk and through these blogs that real time data is what we all want (and likely why we went with Fitbit), and looking at my watch to determine I've been swimming for 14 minutes does NOT meet my needs nor expectations.  Please, Fitbit, put the data back on the screen!

[SunsetRunner]

I ran away from Fitbit about 3 years ago. Moved on to greener pastures (Garmin Vivosmart 3 and Withings steel HR.

I was looking for a watch that wasn't too expensive and did all I need it to do (track sleep, HR, cycling and swimming. 

Well, finally decided to give Fitbit another chance, because I read good things about them.

I guess it's going right back to Amazon. No lap count, in an upgrade of a device that had it? What new level of ridiculousness is Fitbit trying to achieve? 

To be honest, the watch feels great on my wrist, but that downgrade for an upgrade alone makes me go back to not trusting Fitbit. 

I have until around December 26th to start a return with Amazon, I'll be nice and give Fitbit until that time comes. 

[Gemini1]

Thank you all  for your feedback . I have purchased the VERSA ,  the original one. It counts my swimming lenghts which is what I wanted .  So far so good. It is ridiculous that when they upgrade they take away a simple but vital stat from the watch. So I have stuck to the original 

[Swim62]

I’m using ionic now and its great

Sent from my iPhone

[Kathwil]

Hi
That’s what I have and plan to stick with it when needing to replace it.

Sent from my iPhone

[MH_London]

Well ... there was a new release of the OS today. Looks like no change.

[Sd5260]

I didn't know there were issues and just got my new Fitbit last night and was going to try it in the pool tonight.  I am guessing it will be a one-day only fitness tracker based on what I am reading.

[Sd5260]

Oh no, are you serious, there is no lap counter?  Isn't that the #1 or #2 most important stat for swimming?

[Sd5260]

I just got mine and I am thinking I will return immediately based on this.

[Atooms]

Is the ionic fast? I know I read early reviews that complained about it. Hoping they fixed that. Also how durable is it?

[Leafy2019]

This is really annoying. I was offered a Versa 2 as a replacement for the third Versa which died. Went swimming today and was really annoyed it didn’t track lengths as the waterproof swim tracking was the only reason I upgraded from an Alta in the first place!!

has anyone had a sensible answer from FitBit as to why they removed this feature?! 

[VicariouslyFit]

No. We get a very dismissive "It tracks it in the app" response. 

[VicariouslyFit]

Only in the app for Versa 2. 

[ChazzMaduka]

I just want to add my voice to the chorus of Versa2 users who do not have the ability to see their lap count WHILE swimming.  Unfortunately and regrettably, you have to wait until after swimming to check your laps by going to the App.  How disappointing...this is a step backward from the original Versa that robustly shows how many laps you did while swimming and how much time you spent at the pool. I had dumped my Versa for the Versa2 because I couldn't install the band or strap onto my Versa.  I complained to fitbit and they did nothing.  So I bought the Versa2 because I couldn't install the band on the Versa, only to discover that Versa2 would not show my laps!!! How disappointing! Perhaps with Google on board, fitbit will begin to wake up.  I have had so much disappointments with fitbit and I keep threatening to go to Apple Watch, but you have to charge Apple Watch everyday and I do not like that. What's a man to do? I can't win.

[VicariouslyFit]

Hello,

I am the original poster for what has become a very popular thread. My original post mentioned that I could see the laps in the app but asked if I was missing something on the watch itself or settings in order to see it on the watch while swimming as my friend with the original Versa kept showing me how many laps we had swum. It was frustrating to say the least. But I've stuck with the Versa 2. I like everything else about it. Well, most everything. I had the Samsung Gear 2 Frontier for a minute and loved the design (minus the large size on my small arm). But, as loyal and I am to Samsung products, Fitbit won out for step counting and sleep tracking. Both of those were more accurate and had more information with them than Samsung Gear. So.. .I'm sticking with Fitbit for now. I just hope they listen to the users and add that back on the next iteration of the Versa. 

[DrDrew99]

Hey LJThomas -

The Versa 2 only displays a stopwatch when you start the swimming exercise.  The button will pause, allowing you to either pause, restart, or end the exercise.  It even states that the touch function is disabled during swim.  Thus, you have NO INFORMATION during the swim.  Once you get back to the app (on the phone, in the locker) you can retrieve the information we all want - lengths, total distance, energy, etc.  As you can see, there are a LOT of complaints in these forums about the lack of information on the screen during the swim - yet Fitbit does not seem to either acknowledge these complaints nor suggest they are going to do anything about it.  Truly a shame, because I absolutely love the watch and its other functions.....

[DrDrew99]

I had the ionic for about 3 years.  Worked great, including swimming.  It would usually miss one length out of 15-20, but it was nice to look at the watch and see how many lengths I had gone - exactly what the Versa 2 left out.  My ioinic screen got scratched from the day to day abuse I put watches through, so "upgraded" to the new and wonderful Versa 2.  The watch is great, the exercise tracking is wonderful, but they removed all the functional aspects of swimming from the watch - it's still in the app, but that is useless while you are swimming.  Fitbit appears to be entirely deaf to all the comments being made about the lack of real-time data during swimming, so I can't give the watch a full recommendation - especially for swimmers.