Irony: a state of affairs or an event that seems deliberately contrary to what one expects and is often amusing as a result.
In a beautiful twist of situational irony, less than 24 hours after sharing the news that my Fitbit reported that I had taken 2,655,566 steps in 2014, that same Fitbit promptly decided to function no more.
What at first appeared to be a low battery issue quickly became a flat line situation. No charger or adapter, nay, not even the paddles of life could bring light to my now dark device.
Readers with keen memory will recall that my Fitbit had another dramatic exit back in August. First the vibrate function died. Then, as I was trouble shooting that issue with Fitbit, my battery stopped charging altogether.
They agreed to replace the device, and a few days later I received a shiny new one.
While that customer service certainly deserved a round of applause, when this replacement unit died Friday evening I had a decision to make. Should I go through the replacement process again and hope for a better result – or – should I take this opportunity to try something new?
I chose door #2.
Based on my friend Sam’s recommendation, I decided to look at the Garmin Vivofit. A quick search on the interwebs revealed that a local retailer was selling it for $99 (reg price $149), so I wasted no time in getting to the store and snapping one up.
If you’re keeping track, I’m now on my third brand of fitness tracker.
During year one I used the BodyMedia Fit (the armband worn high on your upper arm). I loved it; it was by far the most accurate for tracking exercise and calorie burn. But it was an eye sore. No disguising that puppy.
For year two I moved to the Fitbit Flex. I burned through two of those bad boys in < 11 months. I liked the added features, like sleep tracking /analysis, as well as the less obtrusive wrist placement. On the downside, a battery life of ~5 days meant frequent charging. This was a definite drag, especially when both of the Flex units I owned started getting finicky in the charging department (this went on for months with each unit).
And finally, in year three, I’m using the Garmin Vivofit. I’ve only had it since Saturday night, so I can’t do a proper review yet. Here’s what I can tell you though, it’s year-long battery life alone makes it a giant improvement over the Fitbit.
I will definitely miss the silent alarm (a gentle vibration on your wrist at your wake up time), but I’m less likely to punch a hole in the wall every week as I try to wiggle a cord to coax it to charge my device. Nope, I won’t be missing that.
I’m in Atlanta for the week, and this is a heads down, real work kind of trip, so it will be a true test of my #Janathon resolve (which is still going strong, by the way). Wish me luck.
p.s. My niece is still killing it, too! #ZeroDaysOff
Get moving,
xoxo nancy
John’s Fitbit Flex is showing signs of an early demise too but my One is still working fine… let us know how you like your Garmin! Good luck with your Janathon resolve and share a high five with your niece!
I’m just so happy that I didn’t have to pack a charger for the Garmin this morning!
Is the One the version that you clip on? I’ve heard really good things about that one.
Yes, the One is the clip on that tracks sleep and stairs too. I only charge it twice a month and it has worked great for 10 months. 🙂
And I think it recognized stairs, too, right? Used to drive me nuts that the Flex didn’t count my Stairclimber workouts. Grrrrr.
Yes, it tracks stairs. Hills count as a flight of stairs too which is a great help towards my step count some days.
Gotta love that. Makes me scratch my head as to why the others (including other fitbit products) don’t do that.
Good question, stairs are a big part of any active persons fitness day and any good tracker should definitely have a way to count the steps.
They have to have heard this market feedback, right? So strange that it’s not a basic feature.
So glad to see this post from you. As you know, I lost my Fitbit. I was thinking of getting the new Fitbit Charge HR when it comes out, but now you’ve got me thinking about the Garmin Vivofit. I’ll definitely check it out. Thanks.
Oh, and as a bonus, Carrie, while it has the same clip/clasp as the Fitbit Flex, this one features a little belt loop thingy that secures it, in the event your clasp came undone. Should drastically decrease losses!
Sounds like a feature I need!
You’re not the only one! I know 3 people who lost theirs because the clasp came loose. It’s a shame they don’t address the design flaw.
Well, mine was a clip on. I had it clipped to my bra. Not sure how it came loose.
Oh dear. :/)
I’m not laughing, I swear. Mostly not.
Somewhere a snowbank hugging my Fitbit is laughing too. (I’m thinking it fell out when I got out of my car and slipped right out of my shirt and into the snow. That would be my luck anyway.)
Sounds like Fitbit can’t win: their wrist devices unclasp and their clips unclip. 😦
p.s. If the surgery is done, hope all is going well recovery-wise for your mom. If it hasn’t happened yet, well wishes being vibed your way.
Thanks. The surgery went well today. Hopefully her recovery will too. 🙂
Wonderful news!
I’ve heard about sooooo many FitBit issues it’s almost ridiculous. Good luck with the new gadget!
Welcome to Atlanta! Let me know if you need some restaurant recommendations 🙂
So far, so good with the new toy. Fingers crossed this one lives longer than one year. 🙂
Our campus is actually way outside of Atlanta – so I won’t be getting to some of my old favourite restaurants (I built up quite the list from the many, many conferences Microsoft used to hold here over the 10 years I worked there…) My new company’s ATL offices are actually in Lawrenceville – so yeah, I’m way out there. 🙂 If you have any recos in this area, please let me know!
Ooooh yeay! You got one!! I cant wait to hear what tou think!
Not having to charge it every five minutes is so good!
Without a doubt,; that is my favourite feature thus far!
it is mine too!
I like its adaptive goals too, it makes me feel guilty if the goal goes down!
Ooh, haven’t seen that yet, but will watch for it.
Love the guilt inducing red line from lack of movement!
yes me too…mine has one at the moment… 😦
I often have to go and walk up and down in the loos to get rid of it!
Me too!
Oooooo I’m interested to hear how you like it after awhile. Vivofit has always been my first preference (i started researching and chose it back when you got the first Fitbit – it was your post that inspired me). Keep at it with Janethon. The month is almost over!
Harder to do when your days start at 5:30 (yesterday’s wakeup time) and end at 11:30 (when I climbed into bed), but I still managed a 20 min run on the hotel treadmill. Let’s see what today brings. 🙂
One word: Rockstar
Walking dead today. 😦
I’d like to get a fitness tracker and I’m looking forward to seeing how yours works. Any early comparisons?
yes, as noted above, the fact that I don’t need to charge the battery on this one makes it infinitely better than the Fitbit. I’ll share more reviews as I get more usage. And when my hair’s not on fire with morning-til-night meetings. 🙂
Gotta love those all day conferences. Their misery is only outdone by the taste of the stale coffee left out too long in the hallway. Best of luck on that, and I hope you get some down time!
Not a conference this week, Rob. FY16 planning meetings and go to market strategies. Total grind but totally in my wheelhouse. This is the type of activity I thrive in.
I hope that you have your closing the deal wardrobe with you. 😀
My closing shirt isn’t quite as effective with women.
I wasn’t expecting that curve ball, Nancy. Well played, well played…..
😉
Thanks for the heads-up. I had seriously considered getting a Fitbit because I missed my little Zip. I was held back by the rubberized bracelet. I can tolerate the bracelet of my running watch for the length of a run, …. but all day? I had serious doubts.
Your experience has now tossed me over the edge 😉
Good luck with your new tracker! … and well done to both you and your niece!!
The unit is very lightweight, Jo – and I also love that I have the on-wrist display (instead of needing to sync with my smartphone for the data). And lastly, the fact that it’s also a watch = 2 birds, 1 stone. Not the prettiest (and considering I collect watches like I collect shoes and purses, this is a big hurdle for me…), but for now it’s convenient and keeping me on track/motivated.
p.s. It was 2001 Audio Video that sold the unit for $99 if you’re interested. That’s their online price – but one store (Kennedy/Ellesmere) carries a low quantity of stock.
Yeah – that’s the other issue. LIke you, I love my watches and bracelets. Black rubberized band doesn’t cut it in the aesthetics department. I guess I’m managing to talk myself out of one 😉
Meh, nothing that a stack of cute bracelets can’t hide. 🙂
I like the way you think 🙂
That’s a great battery life . . . perfect for Energizer Bunnies!
OMG, NH, it has already improved my quality of life! I was running around my house at 6:00 am yesterday, rushing to leave for the airport and panicked about having all my chargers. One less for me to worry about now! 🙂
I was thinking of going with the Jawbone next – as my Fitbit flex has decided to go funky on me! But, good luck with it and you’ll have to give us a review in a few weeks/months!
I tested the Jawbone UP unit in January of 2014 – then returned it and got the Flex. I felt it didn’t do as great a job on accurately reporting steps/activity. Now that I’ve got the on-wrist display of stats with the Garmin Vivofit, I can’t see going back to a device that doesn’t provide that. That said, the one thing the UP has over Flex and Vivofit is it is a slimmer profile, so it’s the least obtrusive from an aesthetic standpoint. Let me know which one you end up with!
I wish you luck! I know you’ll keep it up. But I’m only going to buy a fitness device when they become thin, feather-light and solar powered…I think 🙂
This one isn’t thin, but it is feather light – and effectively solar powered (only need to charge it once a year, like a watch battery) 🙂
Now you almost caught me 😀
Just wait til I share the fancy charts and analytics. You’ll be a convert in no time!
There is a slight risk for that! I’m a stats addict.
Uh huh. Thought so…management consultant. 😉
You know the curse…
Totally.
This post should go straight to Consumer Relations/Product Review at Fitbit. This might help them work out the kinks.
I’m sure they’ve heard it all before… 😦
I’ll be interested to hear how you like this one. You’ve had quite a few problems with the FitBit now.
And if you walk extra, you can eat at The Optimist!!!!
So far I’m really liking this one. Well mostly the fact that it never needs charging. 🙂
Nancy, I somehow missed that you were back in Atlanta, probably because I have been MIA. I hope they are not working you to death, and remember downtown Norcross for the many cute restaurants we saw when we went there. Safe travels home, I hope you get out before the rain starts…
It has been a BRUTAL week, Lynne. There are 4 of us in from different parts of North America, so at least there’s always company for dinners, which is nice.
Hope all is well for you!
Hang in there!
We’re doing a group activity in Atlanta this afternoon, riding that big observation wheel. It will be a nice break!
Oh fun!! I live here and haven’t done that. Well, actually, I live within an hour and a half of it. 🙂
And I didn’t really answer you…just getting back from a long weekend away. Going back to work was hard. Planning our next trip (in April) is not. 😉
Oooh, can’t wait to hear more about it!
That looks like one bad-ass band. Good luck in Atlanta. John
In the home stretch now! One more sleep! 🙂
Why do I feel an overwhelming need to go sit down after reading your posts? 2 mill+ steps? Why haven’t your legs dropped off?
Ha! All that exercise is nothing compared to how my work trip last week made me feel. 2+ million steps, no leg falling off. 1 week of back to back planning meetings in Atlanta, head pretty much fell off.
Hope it’s still on your shoulders.
Barely. 10 hours of catch-up sleep last night has done wonders.