Anyone use a fitbit?

Bumping this thread from a few years ago - do any folks on here use Fitbit? either the basic versions or the new, more advanced Fitbit Surge - looks like a watch with a HR, GPS, etc.

I'm interested as well. I trust LRC goers opinion on this most of all. No way I'm going to plop that much cash for something that could so easily suck bad.

I've had the fitbit charge for the past couple months. It's a fun little tool and appears relatively accurate for walking and jogging, but it's way off for faster runs. I've done a couple experiments where I'll count my steps over a set distance and then compare that to the fitbit. When I run with my wife, typically 8-9 min pace, it's compares pretty well. However, when I'm running alone, typically at 6-6:30 pace, it only counts 700-800 steps/mile when I'm actually doing around 1100. Not sure why this is happening (I've found reports of others who have similar problems)... only thing I can think of is that I don't have the best arm carriage (high and tight and a bit circular sometimes) so the fitbit may not recognize the motion sometimes and may be filtering it out? The stair count function is odd too... my wife and I recently ran 10 miles together and at the end of the run I had 11 stairs while she had nearly 90 (it's flat where we live).

So... long story short, don't get the fitbit if you are expecting an accurate mechanism for measuring daily runs, especially if you're running at a faster pace. However, if you just want something that can provide insight into daily levels of activity it's great.

Thanks that was what I was looking for. I didn't expect it to replace the existing traditional and advanced tools of hard running, just more the really light stuff... Walking, hikes, movement, other time on feet, turtle jogs etc

Schweet

I've been wearing a fitbit charge for a while. As far as accuracy goes, it's pretty good with elevation changes, but tends to underestimate distance at faster speeds.

But that's not really why I wear it. My absolute numbers don't really matter. What I really use it for is as a reminder and a commitment mechanism. I work a desk job that involves a lot of sitting, and the fitbit gives me a rough idea of how active I've been over the course of the day, and can motivate me to do an additional activity/exercise if I'm getting too low.

I don't really see it as a "running" tool, just a lifestyle tool.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Do any of y'all use the more advanced Fitbits (e.g. Fitbit Surge)?

bumping

I use activity trackers so I can make sure I'm spending as little time on my feet as possible to recover between workouts.

My Grandma does.