Next generation Alta HR/Alta with altimeter (stair counter)

[sjhowe]

I own a Charge HR because I really wanted to track heart rate but I originally bought the One so that I could discretely track my steps. The Charge HR is anything but discrete and I really don't like big wearable tech, especially ones that shout "I TRACK MY STEPS". More importantly, I always wear an analog watch and wearing two watches is just dumb.

When the Charge 2 was released I was really looking forward to updating my Charge HR, but the display is massive and looks stupid on my small wrists. Then I was beyond excited to hear about the Alta HR. My boyfriend was just about to order it for me as a gift until I saw they don't track floors so I had to call him in a panic saying "DO NOT ORDER - No floors climbed = No deal"! Thanks but no thanks. 

I understand that there are size limitations for what features can be included but please can you create a sleek/slim tracker like the Alta HR and Charge 2 put together that we don't have to be embarrassed about wearing? (Yes, I've had multiple times when I've gone out and got the "are you actually going to wear that?" in reference to my Fitbit). Something with sleep tracking, floors climbed, interchangeable bands, and small. Text/call notifications would also be nice 🙂

Moderator edit: Labels and title for clarity

[SunsetRunner]

@ataladay

Feel free to create a new suggestion and mention it's for the next generation Alta so your awesome suggestion can become possible when there's enough interest. It's up to fitbit to decide. 

As mate' @DerrickS mentioned, the current Alta HR doesn't have a altimeter so the function can't be added to the current Alta's. This requires a hardware change, which is unlikely as the tracker needs to be redesigned to include the altimeter. It's not possible by adding a altimeter to the Alta HR and adding the code to the software of the tracker to make it possible. 

[BritPick]

Would love to have the floor counter on the Alta HR as you have on several other models. Steps is great, but not the same as knowing how many floors you've climbed.

[Heelhog]

I emailed about why my new AltaHR that replaced my broken HR didn't count floors and yes I was told the "sleek" new design didnt have room for the tracker.  Fine (not really, if I knew ahead of time I actually wouldn't have purchased it) then please take it off the dashboard, it's depressing to meet all my gosls each day and the a big fat zero stare at me that I've claimed no floors (when I have!)

[nicole17]

I finally saved up (poor college student with a love for step tracking) to buy/upgrade to the Alta HR from my big, chunky Charge HR that looked rather ridiculous on my wrist. I was so excited to finally have all the features I wanted until I went to check my steps after the first day of wearing it and noticed that my home screen was lacking something. I quickly realized this was the floor count. I'm overall very dissappointed as I had no doubt this should be included in the newest, 150 dollar device. In hindsight I never should've upgraded.

[SaraC87]

Hi,

i was really excited to get my new Alta HR for my birthday yesterday but really really disappointed when I realised it doesn't track the flights of stairs! I thought this was a really great feature and often found myself walking up and down the stairs a couple of times at night to reach my goal. 

Just a suggestion that it'll be really missed, and could you consider bringing it back please! 

Many thanks,

Sara

[cathym2]

Even with the breathable sport band the Charge2 is big, clunky & hot -
adding stairs to the Alta HR would be a wonderful solution. If they could
do it on the Fitbit One, they should be able to do it in the Alta HR. Come
on, you are missing a great market item!!!

[Abby_173]

I was super excited to receive my new Alta HR special edition tracker as it was a BIG upgrade for me design wise from the clunky charge HR. However, I was very disappointed to find that the floors climbed feature is not available on this tracker as it is one of the features I used the most! This tracker was more expensive than my last one and has less features which is a big negative for me... I am actually considering returning  it because I've only had it for a few days and I really miss the feature 

[cathym2]

Agree completely - need to add stairs to Alta HR.

[mag85028]

When my HR broke, I wanted the slim Alta with the HR.  It was very new. I did not look at all the specs.  I climb stairs and was looking for my next badge.  Love the design, but not sure if I would have gone with this one, had I known it did not do stairs.

[Andy81]

My Charge HR broke and got it replaced with the new Alta HR, I did not realise that this replacement does not come with a floor counter, this is not the best news to hear.

Having been tracking my floor count for a year and a half, I now have to just sit idle and no longer see what badges to look forward to with all my stair counts.

Poor design choices on this one Fitbit, this will see a lot of negativity from existing Fitbit users who will upgrade their fitbit, especially those who see the Alta HR as the direct replacement to the Charge HR.

[hjward325]

There are so many people, like myself, that need a small tracker that counts floors as well as steps. Please add floors climbed to the Alta HR. If you can include that in the small One, you can include it in the Alta HR version.

[JakeLeunig]

It would be great if it counted floors. If it can't then when the owner starts it up and syncs it maybe "floors " should not appear on the App

[debbyt627]

I, too, was disappointed to find my stair climbing no longer counts.  That was one goal I could accomplish no matter the weather or how tired I felt. It was encouraging. Please bring it back!

[SunsetRunner]

I'm a new Fitbit user as of 7/1/17. I purchased  the Alta HR which at first glance had everything I'm looking for. I later compared it to other Fitbits and was disappointed that it doesn't count floors. I returned the Alta HR and got the Charge 2 for this reason only. Adding the floor count feature to the Alta HR should have been a no brainer. 

[Redheads]

My charge HR died and I was happy that there was a slimmer version with an adjustable band but didn't realize it didn't count floors.  VERY disappointed that that feature was left out.  Had I known this I might have reconsidered buying the Alta HR and looked around at other models from other companies to see if they have a slim model with everything.  Seems that shouldn't be so hard to program and design.  Also I think it should be pointed out that that feature no longer exists for customers who are switching from the Charge to the Alta HR.   My doctor likes to know how many stairs I walk and now I can't tell from the product I specifically bought for heart issues.  Not happy.

[Watson61]

I agree with this for my basic alta. Why not include a floor log to enter manually? I have to do this for my swimming. I miss my floor count. Give me this as a feature to choose please.

[tjulianna88]

Please make the smaller Charge 2 happen! I have started tracking my steps mith a Samsung Charm lifestyle band, but just recently I have switched to a Fitbit Alta HR. First I wanted tu buy a Charge 2 because of it's features, but on my small wrist the Charge 2 looked strange. So I settled for an Alta HR because of it's size, but I really miss some of the features of the Charge 2. And I hate this... I hate that all the cool tech gadgets came only in big sizes... I'm a woman and I want to use cool and up-to-date gadgets but I simply can't do that because of this sizing nightmare... 

[JenB04]

I read the Alta HR doesn't track floors due to size, but this makes no sense given the One is actually smaller and sleeker. But since it doesn't and we have to look at Floors on the dashboard then manual entry is a must!!!! Update the software and fix your error partially fitbit. 

[JenB04]

Agree should track floors

[Dani.G]

Need to add in exercise tracking stairs, step ups etc rather than just walk run or hike cause really most of us do other forms of exercise as well

[Clanduncan]

Size is not the issue here for me as a bloke (pun intended) because I'm not fashion conscious but function conscious. It's more the loss of a feature. Changed from a Charge HR to an Alta HR, for better battery life (I get a tad over 8 days usage), and have lost the stair/floor count function.

Surely with a 3axis accelerometer this would be a simple firmware upgrade, to restore the floor count function?

[kmg22]

I want this feature to be expanded to more models - right now it's jsut the One (which is now discontinued), and then the big bulky ugly and more expensive models. Why can't the Alta and the Flex have this feature too? Ideally they make the Alta 2 waterproof with floors climbed (since it has the display and the Flex 2 does not). This would be the perfect product! 

[s.katerberg]

It would be nice if the Alta HR was also shower proof like the Alta is since the HR is basically the same unit.

[HikingJules]

I had a Fitbit One that was lost and, out of options and having limited time, settled for the Alta HR. It was only reading these comments did I fully realize it didn't track flights of stairs. The One tracked things it didn't display, so I thought this was the same. It would suck, but at least the info would be captured. But, now I learn otherwise. I hike mountains. Flights of stairs is critical info. I will likely have to return it.

[eedoherty1988]

As someone who wears my Fitbit everywhere (currently just the Flex 2)... Form and function are both so important. As a woman, the Charge models, Blazes, and Surges are just too large to look good when going out or in a professional work environment. The Alta is the perfect size and is still feminine looking, but it needs just a few more features in order to be worth it...currently, the difference in features between the Alta HR and Flex 2 is really not all that substantial.

 Please add the following when you release the next version: 

1. Stairs -- as someone who hikes and does regular stairs I really want to be tracking floors climbed... and accruing stairs related badges!

2.  Better Sports Tracking -- One thing that drives me crazy is that when I bike I get no credit for any exercise on my current Flex 2. 

3. Waterproof / more water resistance - I would hate to upgrade to the Alta, just to turn around and ruin it by forgetting to take it off in the shower.