Question for Construction & Farming Community re Zip

[Miltee]

I hope people might have some ideas here.  I am posting this question on behalf of a co-worker.  He is a field inspector for construction projects and is also a farmer.  During his days he may be helping move and pick up equipment, fixing machinery, climbing into trenches, throwing hay bales, handling goats and cattle; in other words, doing a lot of varied and highly physically active movements.  He has a hard time keeping his Zips and has gone through at least 2 in just a few months.  As I understand it, clipping them to his pockets, including clip-side out, results in the device getting caught on things and coming off.  His best solution has seemed to be to just dropping it into a front pocket which is pretty deep and relying on the friction of the rubber case to keep it there.  However, he recently lost one that way also.

In my experience, people that work with their hands in trades have a lower tolerance for 'things-that-get-in-the-way' than I and others who I know have, wedding rings and wrist watches come to mind as prime examples.  The rest of us either are not bothered at all or can figure out a placement/position that works well and if there is a little bit of inconvenience, it's not a big deal.  I don't know if this is a true generalization or just happens to be true with the people I know.

Does anyone have any feedback, comments, or suggestions?

[SunsetRunner]

My grandparents worked a subsistence farm until they died, and were devout. They always wore a religious medallion around their necks on chains, and as far as I know never lost them and were never injured by them. I wore a similar chain around my neck, until the Pacific Ocean stole it from me one day in the surf, and I never had any difficulties with it while working hard on their farm.

Wearing a Fitbit Zip around your neck on a chain would require the construction of a slim carrier of some sort so you could attach the Fitbit to the chain. There are details to be worked out regarding the contruction of the carrier and the ability to sync, and the strength and reliability of the chain and the attachment links, but I think it's workable. The Zip is a remarkably small device.

There's one more place to wear the Fitbit Zip: I've worn it on the waistband of my underwear, with the face outward. One disadvantage is that you can't check it during the day unless you want to look like you're committing an obscene act. You probably want to keep the back of the silicone carrier toward your skin, so you sweat doesn't have as good a chance to ruin the Fitbit (even though they are sealed with a smear of either petrolatum or silicone grease around the battery door).

[SantiR]

@Miltee Welcome to the Fitbit Community! There are some ways in which he can wear a Fitbit Zip. The ones recommended by Fitbit are clipping it to a shirt pocket, bra, pants pocket, belt, or waistband.

As a suggestion, the idea @SunsetRunner said about the necklace is very good. It reminded me of the new Flex 2 tracker. There is a pendant accessory for it and could be of great use for your friend. Maybe he can consider getting one of those, it should be more comfortable while doing that kind of activities. 

Hope this helps! Let me know how it goes! 

[SunsetRunner]

Your question returned to my mind unbidden yesterday.

It suddenly occurred to me that I don't think I have seen a farmer that didn't wear a hat of some sort. I believe a Fitbit Zip on a hatband would count steps as well as the same fitbit mounted at waist level. I suspect that a field inspector also wears a hat most of the time.

[william.peralta]

Hope this issue gets resolved soon

[RobertoME]

Hi there @SunsetRunner and welcome aboard to our Community @william.peralta.

I would never imagine using the Zip on a hat, but it makes perfect sense. The only thing that worried me is how secure can be there so it cannot be lost.

I worked with my father in the past and it was not farmer work though, but it required to transporting different heavy machinery. From time to time I borrowed my Mom's Zip and never have any troubles using the Zip clipped inside my pocket facing towards my hip. The only inconvenient of this, is that you can not constantly review how many steps you have achieved as was mentioned before.

Nowadays there are other options like my friend @SantiR mentioned before. But I don't know if this is an issue as you mentioned @william.peralta. I think is more to find a way to wear the tracker comfortably and that allows an accurate reading.

Stay awesome fellows and see you around.