Fitness Tracking

Dolby

Dolby

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I got Endomondo on the phone, started using it the other day - and found the tracking quite interesting.

I remembered with the Samsung S4 launch they punted S Health with bracelets, sensors, heart rate and scales - and the phone has built in pedometer. I checked at the Samsung store they have one or two other sensors on sale as well (not sure if they're standalone though).

Then, Nike has their Nike+ which BT'd to a phone - and also their Fuelband which monitors something.

And I see Sony will be launching something as well in the new few months to rival the Fuelband

Then you still get other manufactures that have their own sensors and pedometers.

What is the most accurate and does the most?
What is the most convenient to use and measure the most?

I guess the Nike+ is obsolete nowadays anyhow - but anyone got the other sensors/trackers?
 
Depend on what you want to track, if running / cycling get a dedicated gps. and use Strava
 
I use a Nike+ Sportswatch (R 1800) for running - the watch pairs with a heart-rate monitor and the Nike+ foot pod. Unlike most of the other running watches, you do not need a separate gps transponder. For day-to-day stuff I use the Fuelband (R 2000) to just make sure that I hit over 3000 fuelpoints every day.

I found that Nike+ has the best eco-system (especially when you run iOS) and the devices last for more than a week on a charge. I think that most of the Android wearables don't last more than a day. I did look at Fitbit (the Fitbit Force would probably come closest to the Fuelband - the Flex has no watch).

I think whatever you pick, you will be somehow locked into that brand's ecosystem, so find something which is practical and use it for it's purpose of a fitness device (TBH - what is the point of a sportswatch which can play music and a ton of other things if it can't last more than a day). I think I would only move off Nike, if there is a wearable which is not as clunky as the Sportswatch (most running watches are huge or you have a separate gps transponder) and incorporates a heartrate monitor.

I am not sure why you say Nike+ is obsolete? The apps and the website are really good and provide you with sufficient motivation (and coaching) to stay moving.
 
I thought Nike+ was the sensor you put under your shoe which records steps taken, distance and time - which a phone does? I could be wrong.

EDIT : For a device to measure your heart rate, does something need to near your chest? I thought they could do it via your wrist - on other words I would have thought these bracelets could measure them without external purchases?
 
Last edited:
Dolby said:
I thought Nike+ was the sensor you put under your shoe which records steps taken, distance and time - which a phone does? I could be wrong.

EDIT : For a device to measure your heart rate, does something need to near your chest? I thought they could do it via your wrist - on other words I would have thought these bracelets could measure them without external purchases?
Click to expand...

You have the Nike+ footpod which works directly with the iPhone, but it also works with the Sportswatch (so for example you can start running while GPS is still connecting and it will measure quite correctly). The footpod is mainly used indoors. I have not come across a watch which is able to measure heartrate on the wrist (I did read the Samsung is doing a wearable, where heartrate is read through the headphones).

I think the Garmin Forerunner watches are quite cool and actually look quite nice. The Polar is very chunky. I think both the Polar and Garmin have a stride sensor (which you attach to either your ankle or shoe) - that's probably the only reason why I like Nike's footpod, as it is inside your shoe and you don't have to worry about something dangling on your shoe ;-)
 
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