New updated clip on tracker

I have had a One for 3 years now and love it but am a bit disappointed that some features are not available on it (e.g.. active mins per hour etc). Please can you make a new clip on fitbit with more features. I really don't want a wrist one at all.

1,086 Comments
geepondy
Tempo Runner

I wonder if the stair tracking ability which isn't a big deal to me, is figured into the calorie burning equation.  I've gone hiking before and gotten like 500 floors in a day.

Glendamay
Recovery Runner
Wrist trackers don't track steps if you are pushing a cart or a stroller
either
Scrapjen
Recovery Runner

The Alta comes in two versions (regular and HR) but neither tracks stairs. @geepondy I am 95% certain floors are NOT included in calorie calculations. While incline will increase your burn IRL, I don't think Fitbit uses the number. It can be too affected by weather/driving ... my One has been going CraZy this last week (over 100-200, and that didn't happen). I wear a wrist Fitbit too (Versa) as well as my One, and its stair count was normal (it seems like any changes that affect one would affect both, but ...).

 

@hyybid... the original Charge was one piece (the band could not be switched out). This was a HUGE issue (as the band would often break well before the device. Thus the upgrade to the Charge2, which is SO much better. I haven't peeked at the Charge3 to see what is so improved about it. I really thought the Charge2 was wonderful (I only upgraded to the Versa when my boy's bought it for me on their own). I do think with the bigger and more expensive models, the assumption is that people would wear them on the wrist as intended - but almost everyone probably has a time or two when they would prefer to wear their device clipped. It just makes sense (to me) to have it an option for all of the models.  Note, the original Charge could not be converted to a clip model - it IS a band. The Charge2 can be unattached, and a GarminVivofit3 clip case will work. I'd recommend turning off the heart rate function (in settings) as that will help save battery (someone mentioned that their Charge2 battery didn't last as long, I'd make sure HR and notifications were off).

 

Wearing both a One and a wrist model (Charge2 originally, now Versa) ... my wrist model is UNDER my One the majority of the time. I've compared workouts, and it's actually during EXERCISE that the wrist model seems to not pick up quite as much (even with arms freely swinging during a walk, jog, elliptical and Zumba). I exercise a lot, and these missed steps add up. Also those when pushing a shopping cart. Only on days when I don't exercise much, but stay busy (gardening, dishes, cleaning) will my Versa have steps more than my One.

 

I've also experimented a bit on torso (bra) vs pocket/waist placement. My "hipclip" is always more than my "torso tracker" ... a wrist model worn clipped is generally as accurate as a clip tracker worn clipped. I think it's the placement more than the device! Just my personal observations, but not just casual observations ... I tracked and wrote down and compared 😉

hyybid
Runner

Yeah I remember in older discussions of the One, someone mentioned it was designed for the hip, that's where the sensors were.

 

I guess these companies figure you're not really checking so everyone goes for the wrist, since smart watches get so much attention these days, since there's more emphasis on HR tracking and smart phone notifications on the wrist vs. accurately tracking steps, distance and floors.

 

Well one reason I'm willing to put up with Fitbit, despite them falling down on integrating with Apple Health, is that I like the Fitbit dashboard and the app.  I've tried the Misfit Shine 2, which comes with wrist strap but supposedly could be used anywhere.  Their app. is weaker (takes forever to sync) and the Shine 2 which I kept mostly in my pocket or in a shoe pocket would ALWAYS undercount compared to Fitbit One or the treadmill.

 

I don't know if I have to look at Garmin but they're all wrist-based and I don't think they track floors, which I also like to track since I've hiked mountains and got huge totals on those days.

AuntieS
Base Runner

I am one of the ones who have had posts removed as I let people know how they could contact corporate management (apparently violates policy) so that we could go to the top and vent our frustrations.  Yes, Fitbit is a public company and you can find this information online.  Anyways, I am in the process of going through all 26 pages of comments to create a list of why people cannot/will not wear a wrist based tracked.  Where wrist based trackers fail (count when they shouldn't and don't count when they should) and why we do not want the Zip.  Once I have this completed, I will post for all.  Feel free to copy and paste and add anything I am missing.  Maybe when they see a complete list, they may start to listen.  And yes, I have taken to social media with the standard response of "We have something for everyone."

geepondy
Tempo Runner

 @Scrapjen, you mention you have a Versa.  Has it ever experienced any mystery steps, that is showing thousands of unwarranted steps either at rest or while on the charger that doesn't show up in the step graph?  Those of us that feel pretty burnt by the lack of response from Fitbit and many post having it happen on their replacements as well.  I'm just wondering if this still only happens to a small amount of users or it's more of a widespread problem as we suspect.

NZLisa
Base Runner

Grateful to AuntieS for doing a summary - I was going to ask whether it wouldn't be a good idea to have this discussion under a different heading, since "new updated clip on tracker" doesn't seem to reflect the "bring back a One type tracker" feeling many of us are trying to express. 

(I know the clip issue is the least of our worries now?!  Like many, many users, I imagine, I hacked my clip so that I didn't have any more problems with mine - I threaded thin elastic and a clip off something else on to it and it was much easier to use and never needed replacing.)

Perhaps a new thread heading would attract more votes as well?  But the more I read, the more depressed I get that any of it will make a difference anyway.  Some of us are only just finding out now that One was deleted, as we don't routinely go looking for a new tracker and we have missed the opportunity to grab one at a store with old stock.  I too, will be looking at the price-inflated ones on Amazon, to have on hand when my faithful One finally bites the dust.

Scrapjen
Recovery Runner

@geepondyI haven't had any issues with mystery steps with my Versa. I'm a member of a couple FB groups and haven't really heard of this as a problem. Occasionally someone had some steps during the night, that they determined were caused by being placed next to a moving fan. Another had their steps from one day roll over (not reset at midnight) but that worked itself out (I think it was a low-battery issue, when charged it corrected).

 

@hyybidI tried a GarminVivofit3 for a time (worn clipped, to see if it might be a replacement for the One). It's not one of the high-end models, but I was not at all impressed. Garmin seems to focus on "running" ... that was the only exercise that seemed to record anywhere near expected (in steps and calories). Walking, elliptical or Zumba would be unbelievably (and unmotivatingly) low.  250 calories for an hour of pretty intense Zumba? My Fitbits would credit me 400 or so calories (and that's still below what the "Zumba" people claim you can get *Ü*). It was missing so many of the functions I rely on with Fitbit ... most importantly, STEPS during exercise. It would give me "miles" and calorie burn (sometimes, this wasn't consistent). The steps and calories would be added to my daily total, but I like to see stats for individual workouts. I couldn't get these from the Garmin unless I started the timer, and then manually wrote down the numbers at the end of the workout before I turned the timer off. After that, the stats were gone.

 

So as you mentioned above - I'm sticking with Fitbit. I'm too used to their app and website options. I have years of data with them. While they don't connect to AppleHealth (is that a failing of Fitbit, or did Apple not allow it?) they connect to so many other things (MFP, Achievemint, Walgreens, etc.) and I like the friend lists, most of my family has a Fitbit.  Even if another company came out with an identical product to the One ... I would use one of the Fitbit workarounds because of everything else I use beyond the device itself.

AuntieS
Base Runner

I went through the 26 pages of posts on why we want/need the One back in our lives.  Below is what I have come up with.  Please feel free to copy and paste and add to it.  Maybe if they see the whole list, it may rattle some cages.  If not, it may be time to start a petition through change.org and share it all over social media.  I am not trying to be disrespectful but me and my entire family love the One.  We have been loyal since the Ultra, have upgraded to the One, purchased as gifts, recommended them many times to others and wear them 24/7.  As I know many of you on this site has as well. 

 

Anyways, here is what I have summarized from everyone's posts.

 

Steps not counted with a wrist tracker

  • Those walking and texting
  • Pushing a stroller/carriage
  • Carrying bags
  • Mowing the yard
  • Working on a car or other
  • Hanging on to your backpack
  • Carrying a child
  • Walking the dog
  • Construction (carrying lumber, roofing material, etc.)
  • Picking fruits/vegetables
  • Coaches running up and down the court with whistle at the ready
  • Carrying boxes/pushing a dolly
  • Purse hanging off arm
  • Treadmill users who need to hold on
  • Those using walkers
  • Holding hands
  • CARRYING ANYTHING

 Steps counted with a wrist tracker when they should not be

  • Doing dishes
  • Knitting/quilting/sewing
  • Yard work (Gardening, cutting trees, scooping leaves)
  • Putting on lotion
  • General cleaning
  • Carpentry/trades (flooring install, decking, plumbing, electrical. Mechanical, Etc.)
  • Physical therapy

 Those who cannot

  • Veterans or others who have lost limbs/amputees
  • Those in the medical profession
  • Those working with hazardous chemicals
  • Lab workers
  • Allergenic reactions
  • Not work appropriate in the corporate world
  • Health/hygiene issues (work and non-work related)
  • Those with medical issues/needs (nerve/pain, chemo, radiation, etc.)
  • Factory workers
  • General health issues
  • Safety issues

 Those who will not

  • Have many fashionable watches they prefer to wear instead
  • No desire to have something on wrist
  • Do not wear jewelry
  • Not professional looking
  • Does not work with formal attire
  • They are not attractive
  • Want something discrete
  • JUST DON’T WANT TO

Reasons not to get the Zip

  • Does not track stairs
  • Bulky
  • Always needs batteries
  • No sleep tracking
  • Inferior product

Loyal One users

  • Wear it 24/7
  • Buy them as gifts
  • Tell others about it
kemOx
Recovery Runner

@NZLisa, I agree... I think it would be more appropriate to have a different thread, but I think a fair number of people were referred here by a moderator when we posted—and they closed our threads requesting to bring back the One... We could try and see.

 

With the old stock on eBay, I suggest to purchase with caution. I bought one well over retail value and it was “new” in the box, and it wouldn’t turn on. Thank goodness the seller was honest and gave me a refund!

Dqd
Recovery Runner

AuntieS I agree. Feel the company is totally ignoring us. I refuse to wear a wrist band. Haven’t wore anything since I retired and not starting now.

JEH1
Tempo Runner

Wow @ Auntie S,

THANK YOU!!

@JEH1

One still hanging in there- I NEVER install updates! 🙂

Mainer82
Recovery Runner

Many people have no interest in wearing a watch or wristband. I have a watch and don't want to wear a trackable on my wrist. 

 

Thinking about leaving the Fitbit ecosystem.... 😐

Happy.
Recovery Runner

I'd also like your list AuntieS in a new thread as well so I can vote on it separately.  I was asked to complete a survey at the end of this comment and because my answers weren't terribly favourable it wasn't submitted 😮

 

 

maryclaire3
Runner

Thanks, Auntie S, for that list and for all your efforts toward convincing Fitbit to give us back the One. As I've said before, we can always dream...

maryclaire3
Runner

KemOx, I was afraid of that, as well, when I bought a One via eBay. I used it for a few days as soon as I got it and it was working well. Now I'm afraid my current One will last so long that the battery in the "new" one will be dead when I need it! 😃

Attgroup
Recovery Runner
AuntieS
So well said. I was planning on printing out all the post and sending them to FitBits headquarters in San Francisco. But maybe you should send you post to them directly. You can find their address on the Fitbit website. Send it to Eric Friedman at Fitbit.
Great post.
Shirley (attgroup)

Sent from my iPhone 😉
AuntieS
Base Runner

Great idea attgroup.  I will put this in letter form and send to HQ on everyone's behalf.  There are so many more people I am sure that feel as we do just do not post here.  I know I speak for my entire family.  And there are so many more that are not aware of the community.  Should anyone have anything that they wish for me to add to it, please let me know.

SueAlan
Base Runner

Why won't Fitbit acknowledge that wrist trackers do not track floors and step accurately?

 

When I wear my Charge 2 (which I had to resort to when my beloved One died) hooked to my bra using a flexible third party band, I get an accurate count. This morning, I left the Charge 2 on my wrist and it failed to count 3 flights of stairs. I switch it to the bra and the next 2 flights were counted.v

 

I have experienced inaccuracies with step counts when wearing the Charge 2 on my wrist as well. It's amazing how many steps I registered sitting on the couch knitting and how many steps I've lost because of walking with no arm movement.

 

How about finally offering a clip-on option for the Charge 2? Or a new clip-on (with floor counts) or a resurrected One?

 

Attgroup
Recovery Runner

Good morning all

instead of posting your requests for a new ONE and your frustration here. I suggest that you send your desires to Fitbit. Maybe with enough letters they will get the importantance to us for using a none wrist tracker.  Please send by US mail a letter to

Eric Friedman

Fitbit 

150 Spear Street, San Francisco CA 94105

i know they are watching this post but maybe letters will get their attention!

JEH1
Tempo Runner
@AuntieS THANK YOU!!!

@JEH1 

Sunrider
Recovery Runner

@AuntieS  Thank you for your time and patience to go through that many pages of comments to compile those reasons.  Wow, seeing them all out there like that is amazing.

 

@Attgroup  Thank you for the address information for where to mail it.  And I've saved both to a separate file, just in case it gets removed here.

 

I'm totally in for a letter campaign.

JEH1
Tempo Runner

@Sunrider:

A new ONE for Christmas ??!!💃😄

Sunrider
Recovery Runner

@Scrapjen   & anyone else considering the Charge 3 . . .

 

You'd mentioned that the Charge 2 fits in the Garmin Fit Vivofit clip on.  I haven't confirmed it, but I did find that someone on Amazon asked the size question and one person said that the Charge 3 is the same physical size as the Charge 2.  But that the bezel on the screen is different so that it appears like it's larger.

 

It would be nice to have definite measurements on both to compare.  Anyone have a Charge 2 that they can share height, width, depth in millimeters? 

I know there's a forum for Charge 3.  Maybe some nice user would take the time to measure theirs for comparison. 

Sunrider
Recovery Runner

Oh look.  The Charge 3 is overcounting steps while being worn on the wrist. 
I never would have guessed such a thing could happen . . .

 

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-3/Charge-3-overcounting-steps/m-p/2999338#M3691

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