Swim app inadequate

[NickVersa]

I've just bought the Fitbit versa because it advertised it tracked swimming (I previously owned a Pebble & Garmin). You can imagine my disappointment after my swim when reviewing the Swim app data which only provides lap count, distance, average time/100m based on total swim time. There are no Matrix's logged that allow you to review the time it took to swim each lap (length) which is the most fundamental performance measurement requirement of any swimming tracking device amongst others such stroke count & rate, SWOLF, etc. I suggest Fitbit look at swim.com which provided meaningful Matrix's that worked with the Pebble watch plus other competitor watches and that Fitbit develop their app to provide similar if Fitbit want their watch to be competitive. Unfortunately I had to blog my colleagues today at numerous swimming clubs to hold off buying the Versa until I hear from Fitbit or to buy another product if they want meaningful swimming Metric's now that meets basic swimming tracking requirements which are fundamental to improving performance. Fitbit, please can you advise if this is going to be rectified ASAP (date?) so I can decide whether to return my Fitbit Versa for a full refund. (Purchased mine on 15 April 2018)

[RobertoME]

Hello there @NickVersa, awesome to have you as a new member of the Fitbit Community! I was reading your post and I really appreciate your great feedback about the swimming exercise in the Fitbit Versa. is true that there are not some metrics at the moment to swim like SWOLF.

Rest assure with feedback like yours, we can continue working to improve this feature.

At the moment the Swimming exercise will let you customized different metrics as you know, among these you can find:

• Elapsed time
• Distance
• Pool Length 
• Pace
• Pace (average)
• Calories burned
• Time 

If this is something in which you're interested, I would like to share with you the following feature suggestion, feel free to contribute with your vote and comments, it would be nice to have your support for this ideas.

For more details please refer to our article: How do I track my swims with my Fitbit device?

See you around and keep sharing your feedback.

[SunsetRunner]

My understanding so far is that you can’t get pace by length which is an essential metric for any swimmer. Calories per length like it is right now probably the most useless metric. 

[NickVersa]

Totally agree and extremely disappointed. The watch in its current form should never have been marketed as "+15 exercise modes" of which Fitbit claimed "swim tracking" as one with such a useless metric and not one performance metric - false advertising. The only positive for my swim mates is they've seen the limitations of my Versa swim app and will not be purchasing it anymore.

[saytoken]

Im in the exact same situation.  Just fresh off the pool and could not find time / length, pace over 25 /50 meter.  Going to have to return the versa.  I really liked it except this critcal feature.  

[NickVersa]

Hi  Roberto

Thanks for your response though not sure whether you've addressed my dilemma. As per my original post, my issue is: do I return my fitbit and get another watch that provides meaningful metric's that a swim app should have or get a concrete commitment from fitbit they will address the matter ASAP?

To assist you I’ve provided examples of metric’s that fitbit app should address.

You could also consider partnering with swim.com to develop your swim app who had worked with Pebble to provide a swim app which fitbit has subsequently acquired?

Also look at this link for swim app metric's descriptions...  https://www.swimoutlet.com/guides/track-your-workout-with-a-swim-watch

 Also look at this link for swim app metric's descriptions...  https://www.swimoutlet.com/guides/track-your-workout-with-a-swim-watch

 

[ohyooha]

Yes please add more feature for swimmer  ,I'm interest in this device maybe this weekend i will order one.

[Wakal]

Totally agree I'd like to know what my split time is per lap. Love the Versa other than this. Unsure why it shows calorie burned per lap as that's not very helpful. I'm also confused by it saying it measures pace and pace average. I can see pace average per 100m but Pace does that mean i need to look at the screen at each lap to check the pace?

[oldaddydunck]

My pool is 20yrds.  my Ver  sa gives me 25 meters?  Should measure better or let me set length.  Also, need to hold hand still on edge of pool for about 3 seconds to reliably get lap counted.  And even though it adds into daily calories, it doesn't credit activity time which is what my fitness program (Transform) tracks.

[Humanwholikesto]

Will you add the edit swim log to the fitbit versa with android phone (or dashboard) any time soon?  Otherwise, it's going back - super frustrated with its swim log inadequacy!  (Another reason it's not living up to standards is its poor battery life even without all day sync.)

[SunsetRunner]

I swim in a 50 m pool and every time I complete 20 laps, my iconic shows 500 meters!  Don't seem to be able to change the settings from 25 m per lap to 50 m. Frustrating. 

[SunsetRunner]

Ok. I waited for this to be addressed now for almost 3 months. Decided for another fitness watch from one of your competitors that is more serious about actual swim stats. Happy with it. Bye bye Fitbit. 

[JRW]

The timing splits after completing as swim are nowhere to be found except after a swim on the versa; once you press done that information is gone forever. And The versa only lists some not all of the timing splits.Which is the stat I am interested in. 

I would thing that those develop would have researched swimming and what stats are important.  I also wonder if there are any avid swimmer engineers?

[swimgal]

While on the swim screen, press the gear icon. Then you csn adjust pool length.

[SunsetRunner]

Thanks very much!

[Herefortheswim]

Partnering with swim.com would be the most ideal solution.

[NickVersa]

I gave up on Fitbit as they don't see this a priority therefore not customer centric. I had to scrap my Versa and buy a Galaxy Gear Sport watch which is superior in all aspects including price. (also see galaxy Active watch just launched which has excellent reviews at US$199). You can install the swim.com app on the watch which works with IOS and Android. You will be able to see all your stats on the watch during your swim session, on your phone app and on the Web. The swim.com support is amazing, i.e. I made a suggestion which they have implemented, very customer focused and why it's used by swimmers worldwide!

[NickVersa]

I gave up on Fitbit as they don't see this a priority therefore not customer centric and disappointingly ignorant towards swimmers. I had to scrap my Versa and buy a Galaxy Gear Sport watch which is superior in all aspects including price. (also see galaxy Active watch just launched which has excellent reviews at US$199). You can install the swim.com app on the watch which works with IOS and Android. You will be able to see all your stats on the watch during your swim session, on your phone app and on the Web. The swim.com support is amazing, i.e. I made a suggestion which they have implemented, very customer focused and why it's used by swimmers worldwide!

[NickVersa]

I also gave up on Fitbit as they don't see this a priority therefore not customer centric. I had to scrap my Versa and buy a Galaxy Gear Sport watch which is superior in all aspects including price. (also see galaxy Active watch just launched which has excellent reviews at US$199). You can install the swim.com app on the watch which works with IOS and Android. You will be able to see all your stats on the watch during your swim session, on your phone app and on the Web. The swim.com support is amazing, i.e. I made a suggestion which they have implemented, very customer focused and why it's used by swimmers worldwide!

[NickVersa]

Update: I gave up on Fitbit as they don't see this a priority therefore not customer centric. I had to scrap my Versa and buy a Galaxy Gear Sport watch which is superior in all aspects including price. (also see galaxy Active watch just launched which has excellent reviews at US$199). You can install the swim.com app on the watch which works with IOS and Android. You will be able to see all your stats on the watch during your swim session, on your phone app and on the Web. The swim.com support is amazing, i.e. I made a suggestion which they have implemented, very customer focused and why it's used by swimmers worldwide!