Find your fit - Fitbit

Fitbit Zip

The Fitbit Zip is the cheapest activity tracker available within the company’s portfolio. It measures steps taken, distance travelled, calories burned and active minutes. There is also a clock feature and it will sync wirelessly to the smartphone app or your computer.

The Zip is a clip-based device that can be worn on a belt, pocket or a bra. It has an LCD display and its replaceable coin battery should last between four and six months. The Zip is also sweat, rain and splashproof.

Through the Fitbit app, Zip users will be able to see their progress, complete challenges with friends, log food, record workouts and earn badges. The FitbitZip comes in charcoal, lime, midnight blue and magenta colour options.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Zip is cheap and allows you to monitor basic activity discreetly.

Fitbit One

The Fitbit One is similar to the Zip, only it adds sleep tracking to its list of attributes, as well as a more slender design. Like the Zip, it will sync wirelessly to the app or your computer and it is also a clip-based device so you can wear it on a belt, pocket or bra.

Rather than an LCD display, the One opts for an OLED screen and its battery type changes to a lithium polymer rechargeable number rather than a replaceable one like in the Zip. The One is said to offer between 10 and 14 days on a full charge.

The same app features apply as the Fitbit Zip, but users with the One will also get access to sleep trend graphs, sleep goals and sleep quality data. The FitbitOne comes in black or burgundy colour options.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit One is a little more expensive than the Zip but it adds sleep tracking to the mix so this device is good for someone who wants basic sleep and activity tracking without having to wear anything on their wrist.

Fitbit Flex

The Fitbit Flex sits within the “Everyday” category of the Fitbit products, like the Zip and the One. It offers exactly the same as the Fitbit One in terms of tracking features so that means steps, distance, calories, active minutes and sleep tracking.

The OLED display is replaced by four LED lights, meaning more visits to the app for progress details, while the design moves from a clip-on device to a wrist-worn band. As there is no display, there is no clock feature like there is with the Zip and One, and battery life drops to five days.

The Flex’s tracker is removable so while you can stick with the standard rubber band comes with, you can also buy a special Tory Burch bracelet or necklace if you want to increase your fashion status with your step count. For those happy with the rubber band, it comes in 10 colours including black, orange, pink, teal, red and navy.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Flex is a simple, stylish activity tracker that will do the activity basics, plus sleep tracking. It is easy and comfortable to wear and a little more on trend than clip-on devices currently are, which might be a reason to select it over the One.

Fitbit Charge

The Fitbit Charge is £20 more expensive than the Flex but it adds floors climbed and caller ID to its features, as well as reintroduces a display. The OLED display will not only show you the time and who is ringing, but it will also provide you with your stats for that day without you needing to pick up your smartphone and open the app.

Battery life increases back up again from the Flex, with Fitbit claiming the Charge will give you between 7 and 10 days. It is sweat, rain and splash proof again, but like the other Fitbit devices mentioned above, it is not swim proof.

The app functions are the same as the Fitbit Flex and Fitbit One, apart from the addition of floors climbed. The Fitbit Charge comes in black, slate, blue and burgundy colour options.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Charge gives you all your basic activity tracking information on its display so there is no need to look at the app to see your progress. Caller ID is also a useful additional function and one the cheaper alternatives don’t offer, as well as the elevation measuring.

Fitbit Alta

The Fitbit Alta is the most recent addition to the company’s line up and the final device in the “Everyday” range. It sits at the same price as the Charge and offers many of the same features. Floors climbed isn’t present on the Alta, but in its place is automatic exercise recognition, something which is present on the more expensive devices further down this list.

The Alta is slimmer than the Charge, sitting more in line with the Flex in terms of size. It comes with a larger OLED display than the Charge however, allowing you to see your progress and alerts, including text notifications which is not something the Charge offers. The same app functions apply as the Flex, along with the same battery life, which stands at five days.

The Fitbit Alta comes in four standard colours comprising black, blue, teal and plum, but there are also two leather band options for an extra £50 each or ametal bracelet for £80 extra. It is sweat, rain and splash proof like the others.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Alta is the tracker for those that are after basic activity tracking information at a glance, in a slim and stylish design.

Fitbit Charge HR

The Fitbit Charge HR is the first of two devices within the “Active” portfolio. As you might expect, all the features present on the Charge come in the ChargeHR, but the HR device also adds continuous heart rate monitoring and Alta’s automatic exercise recognition.

The Charge HR looks identical to the Charge in design, offering a small OLED display to present daily stats, the time and the ID of anyone calling you. Battery life is sits at up to five days, so around the same as the Flex and it is sweat, rain and splash proof like the rest.

App functions are the same as the other devices but you’ll get the added bonus of being able to monitor your heart rate data, as well as see more detailed analysis of workouts. The Fitbit Charge HR comes in black, plum, blue, orange and teal.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Charge HR offers more advanced activity tracking thanks to the continuous heart rate monitoring. It is a little more expensive than the models above it on this list, but it brings a lot to the table. Great for gym geeks.

Fitbit Blaze

The Fitbit Blaze is the second in the “Active” range and one of the newest devices on this list, succeeded only by the Alta. It offers everything the ChargeHR offers, along with a couple of extra features, as you are probably starting to expect.

A feature called Multi-Sport is introduced on this model, allowing you to choose various sport modes and see real-time stats. The Blaze also offers text notifications like the Alta and introduces music control and GPS tracking. It is worth mentioning that it is connected GPS tracking though so you will still need your phone with you. There is a five-day battery life and it is sweat, rain and splash proof.

The Blaze is more like a smartwatch than the other activity trackers we have already mentioned, offering a coloured touchscreen and the option of various straps and frames. The classic band comes in three colours comprising black, blue and plum, but there are three leather options and a metal links model too.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Blaze is for for those that want an activity tracker that is a little smarter looking, as well as one that offers a couple of extra functions such as music control. It is the Fitbit for those after an activity tracker that could potentially replace their watch.

Fitbit Surge

The Fitbit Surge is the most expensive and most feature-rich Fitbit device, categorised by the company on its own under “Performance”. It is more of a watch than a band, like the Blaze, but the Surge comes with a monochrome display (rather than coloured) and proper GPS tracking, meaning you can track a run without your phone.

The Surge offers everything the Blaze does in terms of other features, which means a few more on top of the Charge HR including music control, text message notifications, and the multi-sport feature. It is tested up to 5 ATM but it remains just sweat, rain and splash proof so you still shouldn’t take it in the shower and certainly not for a swim.

In terms of battery life, the Surge is said to last up to seven days and it offers the same app functionality as the Blaze and other Fitbit devices, with the added advantage of maps of where you have gone for a run or walk with the GPS on. The Fitbit Surge comes in black, blue and orange.

WHY BUY?

The Fitbit Surge has all the features available within a Fitbit device so it will track basic activity, as well as more specialised activities like free running. It’s not cheap but if you want all the features Fitbit has to offer, this is the one for you.