Talk about history repeating itself. Last year, Fitbit issued a voluntary recall of their Fitbit Force fitness tracker. The recall happened after a small number of Force owners reported rashes and contact dermatitis after wearing the tracker. , under two percent of Fitbit Force owners reported skin irritation. But now, Fitbit is under fire again. Owners of these popular activity trackers are once again reporting serious rashes and skin irritation on the parts of their body that come into contact with the device.
Consumers and tech insiders are reporting that the new Fitbit wristbands are causing serious skin problems. caused a stir when she posted which show the skin rash she got after wearing a Fitbit Charge fitness tracker.
When it comes to the prevention of skin issues, Fitbit is singing pretty much the same tune this time around as they did last year. The company blames the rashes on a variety of causes. Fitbit argues that people are wearing their bands too tightly, or that perhaps skin irritants like sweat and soap are being trapped under the band. Fitbit tells people that the rash will go away after a few hours or days without wearing the tracker. However, Bereznak and others have noted that not wearing a tracker for that length of time sort of defeats the purpose of having a tracker in the first place.
Fitbit announced late last year: the Fitbit , , and . Check out the video above from CNET, which outlines the differences between these new devices from Fitbit. You may also want to check out our post to see which model is best for your needs, if any.
In addition to these offerings, Fitbit also has the wristband, as well as the and , which are not worn on the wrist. The One or Zip might be ideal options for people who want the Fitbit experience, but without the rash. But many people like wearing a fitness tracking device on their wrist, rather than clipped to their clothes.
With consumers losing confidence in the Fitbit line, and the Apple Watch not due out until April, what’s a fitness-focused shopper to do? If you’re looking for a replacement for your Fitbit, or just want to avoid the brand’s known problems with skin irritation, here are five solid options you should consider.
Check out the video review above, where one user shares his thoughts about the Pebble Steel after wearing it for two weeks.
Pebble had a strong 2014, especially compared to some of the Android Wear smartwatches out there. , the company launched their own app store, and the company stayed relevant by working with both Android phones and the iPhone. As reported late last year, both the Pebble and Pebble Steel track a wearer’s steps and sleep activity in the background. Pebble also has a respectable stable of fitness partners, including Jawbone, ESPN, Misfit, and Swim.com, so this device is great for people looking for both a smartwatch and a fitness tracker.
Pebble is an established brand, which actually gives the Pebble an advantage over some of the newer smart watch offerings out there. Pebble has had longer to work out bugs, and they have a definite edge over other smartwatches when it comes to mobile gaming (). It’s also a lot easier to customize your watch with , at least compared to newer smartwatch models. Oh, and did we mention the battery lasts for up to seven days on a single charge? The Pebble is the base model, with the Pebble Steel being the more premium Pebble offering. Both options are great options to replace your existing fitness tracker. If you’re worried about skin irritation, the metal band of the Pebble Steel may be just what you’re looking for.
Price: $99-$199
There are lots of fitness trackers out there to choose from. One underrated brand is the French company Withings. Their Pulse O2 fitness tracker is featured in the video above. However, the band pictured is not the standard band that comes with the device. This is a nice selling point, however: unlike the Fitbit bands, the Withings O2 and other similar devices let you swap out the band for something more skin-friendly.
The Withings O2 tracker works with companion apps for both iOS and Android. You can track activities like steps, elevation, distance, running, and calories burned. It also tracks sleep, and even supports real-time coaching through the Health Mate app. You can wear it on a clip, or on your wrist. The clip option is another way that you can minimize skin issues. You could alternate between your left wrist, right wrist, and clip orientation each day.
It should be noted that Withings just came out with a newer tracker, the . This new, relatively expensive tracker’s debut may mean that the Pulse O2 sees an even bigger price drop in the coming months.
Price: $104.48 (13 percent off)
Get a detailed review of the pros and cons of this tracker in the video above.
While Garmin may have gotten famous for their in-car GPS devices, the company is arguably better known today for their fitness trackers. The most notable feature here is their “move bar,” a bar that shows up after you have been inactive for an hour. Leading health research now indicates that it’s important to get up and be every active every hour or so, rather than do all your activity at once during a long gym session. Garmin’s “move bar” is a great way to be more mindful of how long you have been sitting.
Additional move bar segments light up for every 15 additional minutes of inactivity. If you get up and walk around, you can make the bars disappear. This is a great feature for people who need a reminder to get up and move around during the day, if only for a few minutes.
In addition to tracking your movement, the Vivofit will help you count calories burned, track your base metabolic rate, and even monitor the quality of your sleep. Users can also check out Garmin’s free fitness community to earn virtual badges and stay motivated. This tracker is a bit cheaper than many other competitors, which also makes this a good band for the budget-conscious.
Additional features we like in this band include the huge range of color options, and the slim form factor. If you want something that’s similar in form to the Fitbit wristbands, this is an option worth considering. Plus, you have the option of getting one with or without a heart rate monitor.
Want to learn more about Garmin’s fitness trackers? Check out our comparison post on .
Price: $88.99 (33 percent off)
Check out CNET’s take on the Jawbone UP 24 in the player above.
The UP 24 is the newer, thinner version of . It plays nice with lots of different apps, including Runkeeper, MyFitnessPal, and IFTTT.
This device tracks steps, exercise, overall calories burned, hours slept and quality of sleep. You can also use the UP App’s food score capability to judge the balance of your food, drink, calories, and nutrient intake. It also has a similar form and profile to the Fitbit line.
With Jawbone’s UP3 band expected to launch , the rest of the UP line is likely to see at least a bit of a price drop in the coming months. When it debuts, the feature rich UP3 will cost about $179, which is way more than the UP 24. Want to learn more about the whole Jawbone lineup? Check out our post comparing .
Price: $76.62 on select sizes/colors (41 percent off)
Check out a detailed review of this fitness tracker in the video above.
A relatively new arrival on the wearables scene, the Jaybird REIGN is a fitness tracker without a display. The REIGN stands out because of a couple key features. The automated activity detection system helps you to recognize when you’ve been inactive for too long. There’s also five-day battery life, which is great for people who hate having to charge their tracker every day or two. There’s also waterproofing to help the device last longer. While the color options are a bit limited, this cool wearable is a good candidate for replacing your current Fitbit.
The REIGN also has some nice sleep features. It tracks your sleep patterns, and helps suggest when you should sleep so that you can have the energy to tackle tomorrow’s troubles. Jaybird also uses something called “Go-Zone,” which is a scoring system that lets you know how well your body is recovering from a workout. Each day, your score reflects how ready your body is to tackle another big workout.
The REIGN’s band is stain-proof, and made from soft silicone that shapes to your wrist. The band comes apart, then re-attaches using sand-blasted chrome clips and a magnetic pin-locking-system for a secure fit. If you don’t want to accidentally lose your tracker, this is a nice feature.
Price: $141.49 (29 percent off)
Unlike some other fitness trackers, the Misfit Shine comes in a huge array of beautiful colors. The colors are a big selling point for some Fitbit converts, especially given that many Fitbit models come in only one or two colors. You can use this tracker to monitor sleep, as well as common activities like walking, running, swimming, cycling, soccer, tennis, or basketball. A replaceable battery means that you won’t have to recharge the device every week. The battery lasts about six months.
A “halo” of lights is used to indicate your activity level throughout the day, providing gentle encouragement to get up and get active. The halo can also be used to tell the time, making this is nice option for people who prefer minimalist watch designs.
Price: $64.64 and up, depending on color selected (34 percent off MSRP)
If your main form of exercise is running, then a running watch may be a better choice for you than a general purpose fitness tracker. The Garmin Forerunner 220 can work with a heart rate monitor, but it can also be used without one if you prefer. This is an advanced GPS running watch, making it very accurate. Only one Fitbit model, the Surge, has GPS built right in. Ideal for both beginning runners and the demanding needs of serious marathoners, this Garmin watch can help any person achieve their fitness goals.
Price: $244.98 (18 percent off MSRP)
The Samsung Galaxy Gear Fit is the slimmest of all the Galaxy Gear smartwatch offerings, and it has a form factor that’s not entirely dislike the Fitbit. The Gear Fit allows you to quickly respond to notifications and track your heart rate. You can easily customize the look of your Gear Fit, which makes the experience feel more personalized (an area where Fitbit hasn’t really excelled yet). If you want a fitness tracker with a full-color display, this is a nice option to consider.
Price: $149.99
The relatively new Microsoft Band is an interesting wearable, and it may be a better fit for some people than the Fitbit line of devices. This device tracks your heart rate, steps, calorie burn and sleep quality. It’s also a really nice wearable for golfers, thanks to a partnership with TaylorMade. You can get notifications and alerts, a feature that only the most premium Fitbits can offer. Despite being a Microsoft product, the band can pair with Windows Phone, Android devices, and iPhones.
Price: $174.28 and up, depending on size selected (13 percent off MSRP)
Only a couple of Fitbit models offer heart rate monitoring. This wearable from adidas offers continuous heart rate monitoring, which is a nice perk for those who want that crucial fitness feature. This wearable plays nice with the miCoach Train & Run app, and offers both motivation and coaching advice to help you train smarter. If you want to train like an athlete, this wearable may be better for your needs than a lower-end tracker from Fitbit.
Price: $149.99 (25 percent off MSRP)