Surge vs Blaze

[bakkely27]

Hello
At the time being,I have a Charge HR, but I really want an upgrade,but can't make up my mind whether to choose Surge of Blaze? Wich one would you recommend? I can read that the wristband on the Surge break in time,but what are the Pro's and con's for the Surge and the Blaze???

[J-flex]

I have both. For the longest time I wore my Surge until the wristband broke. I now have a Blaze. I like them both. I found that the Surge was big in terms of the design whereas the Blaze is sleeker. The only difference with the Blaze is if you want to use a GPS to map your run/walk you have to use your phone. But that hasn't been an issue.

[WendyB]

I also like both. I like the surge for the GPS. But the Baze is sleeker and not so klunky. If I had to pick it would be the Blaze.

[shipo]

I hate running with my phone so, if I want to log my runs using GPS and I have a Blaze, I'll have no choice but to run with my phone.  With a Surge you just strap on the tracker, start it in Free Run mode, and away you go, no phone, no nuthin'.

As an additional benefit to the Surge is much greater accuracy; when I run with folks in my running club with Charge HR and Blaze trackers when in GPS mode; the Surge, while certainly not as accurate as the full-sized Garmin unit I have in my car, has about the same accuracy as my Garmin Forerunner 205.

[bakkely27]

Yeah that's the big IF,cause I really miss an GPS on my Charge HR, if it would come whit a GPS in the wristband that would be the best product...
I have look a lot at the Surge, and it sounds like that's the one I could use the most,but my concern is that I'be read about that the wristband break's and I can see a lot of people have this problem,so I'm still not sure,wheter the Blaze is in better quality? But also I hate running whit my mobile all the time and think it's smart that it is in the Surge....

[shipo]

I have also heard of the band issues with the Surge, that said, I'm now over one year, 6.5 million steps and over 1,500 miles of running, and my band is still completly serviceable.

[bakkely27]

Ok that sounds alright then....Must amid I was more hooked on the Surge because of the GPS, I wonder why there isn't a GPS in the Blaze??
Thanks y'all for your reply....

[shipo]

I'm guessing the Blaze doesn't have the physical room inside the case to house the GPS functionality.

[J-flex]

Yes what makes the Surge bigger & clunky is the GPS unit. The Blaze is much sleeker, the only thing is you need your phone if you want to use the GPS.

It comes down to it being a personal preference.

[Elsey]

I walk, not run.  Wristband on my $250 surge lasted 16 months.  Very disappointing that the band is not replaceable.

[Griswold]

@Elsey  The band is replaceable, though not by FitBit.  Aliexpress sell them.  They can also be found on Amazon.com and eBay.  Come with Torx screwdriver need for around $20.  Plenty of videos on YouTube how to do it.

[Elsey]

Fitbit support told me that the Bands sold on eBay, I sent them a link, would damage the unit. Have you heard of people having success? Is your watch band still intact? Thanks for getting back to me.  L C

Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone

[Griswold]

@Elsey  If FitBit told you that then they were somewhat economical with the truth.  But then, they'd rather sell you another FitBit....

The replacement bands you can buy cannot damage your Surge.  Of course, you need to take care removing the old band as, if you go about it ham fisted, you certainly could damage your Surge.  But many many people have done this with no issue whatsoever.

Do a search on YouTube, loads of videos showing you how to do it.