Fitbit Zip Wireless Activity Tracker

I have had the original Fitbit for a couple of years, and I''ve always loved it. My ONLY complaint was having to turn on my computer to charge and synch it. In these days of tablets, I barely use my computer anymore, so it was irritating.

The Fitbit Zip solves these problems. No charging necessary except for changing out the battery now and then, and synching is awesome via Bluetooth straight to the Fitbit app on my iphone. No computer necessary now.

Do be aware that if you have been stationary for a while (watching TV for example), the Fitbit display goes to sleep, and synching may not work. But just tap the screen lightly and it will then wake up and synch.

Another thing I like, is that it isn''t even necessary to ever look at the Fitbit screen. I wear mine on my bra, so it can be inconvenient to check my data. But with the Zip, I don''t have to I just open the app on my phone, let it synch, and I have my information.

By the way I had no problems with the battery door. There is a little tool supplied with the Fitbit, and I suppose if you don''t use that you might break the tabs.

Well done, Fitbit.

(Updated Mar 7th 2013)

My life is 8+ hours on a desk every workday. I got a treadmill 6 months ago but find myself often with excuses not to stand on it but rather in front of the computer in my den most of the nights. I crossed shopped the Fitbit one and decided to buy a pair of this Fitbit Zip for me and wify two weeks ago. I got to say, this idea works wonders. Nothing motivates me better than keeping a little score of myself. Now I know I walk 4k~5k a day and I spend ~30 minutes everyday at home to walk that extra couple miles to get my 10k steps. Already lost 2 lbs. My wife hits almost 12k a day and I don''t know if I''m able to catch her soon.

Let me tell you why the Zip is perfect, rather than a pedometer, or the better Fitbit One model:

1. It IS a pedometer that is zero-maintenance! That is the single most important feature. It has no buttons and requires nothing from you other than keeping it on yourself. It auto-resets to zero at midnight and constantly syncs data online. Old school pedometers need to be reset and recorded manually, enough for lazy people like me to stay away.

2. It syncs with my iPhone 4s using the low-power Bluetooth 4.0 (by the way a very new, high-tech mode) about every 40 minutes or every time when I fire up the Fitbit app. Again nothing is needed from me. This single handedly beats all the Nike band, Jawbone Up or the old Fitbit where you need to plug in something to sync. One thing to note: the iPhone Fitbit app does not sync to the Fitbit Zip in the background by default, just remember to go into its settings and turn it on. When on, the app doesn''t need to be in the front. You don''t even see the Fitbit in the Bluetooth device list. Everything just works.

3. No charging cable. This is the key feature that makes me proud of my decision away from the Fitbit One. It''s just one less hassle to deal with, one less routine to remember to do. Being lazy as I am, I will probably forget to charge the Fitbit One''s rechargeable batteries every once in a while and grow excuse not to exercise. Again the CR2025 coin battery for the Zip lasts several months (not tested yet for obvious reasons but it''s still full after 2 weeks on mine) that''s basically forever in today''s tech gadget language. These batteries are $2 for a 5 pack on Amazon so cost isn''t an issue.

So all in all, Fitbit Zip is a glorified pedometer but one that can be clipped on and forgotten without any hassle of clicking, charging or syncing. It''s truly changed my lifestyle as a lazy person. Highly recommended.

Oh by the way, I don''t understand the negative reviews on the battery door: I opened and installed the battery on two Fitbit Zips within 3 minutes, using the provided tool (really a plastic quarter). No problem whatsoever. Could it be a bad batch of devices those people got?

March 7, 2013, update on battery life: it''s been exactly 4 months since beginning of December and one of our Fitbits shows the "Low Battery" sign today with a notification on the iphone as well. I looked up Fitbit''s website and this means it has 25% battery life left. A flashing battery sign will mean changing it immediately and I''ll wait till then to do it. This is after average use of 12k steps a day.

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I remember the carefree days of the Tamogotchi, where a tiny LCD face told me about personal responsibility, and more importantly, the tragedy of neglect. Oh no, my tiny LCD creature is sickly, for I have forgotten to eliminate its foul, digital waste! Oh no, I have starved yet another ducklike beast near to death due to my incompetence as a plastic bauble owner.

The Fitbit Zip has many Tamogotchi-like qualities, with one major difference: when its simplified emoticon face shows disgust at you, it is because you have failed yourself.

Many a lazy Sunday have I woken up from a pleasing, decadent afternoon nap, to see the little guy judging me from his silicon throne: ":P" Oh god, I thought. I could have been wandering aimlessly around my house, probably between my couch and fridge.

And yet, post-workout, he feeds me his genuine, electronic glee at my activity: ":D" YES. Finally. The callous but potent validation that keeps me motivated to continue plodding through my otherwise dreary life.

Because I clip him to my bra strap, he is literally a demon that sits on my shoulder. One time, furious at his intercession in my otherwise sedentary lifestyle, I yelled, "Are you happy now, you little a**hole?" My boyfriend thought I was referring to him, and we had a fight. (-1 star.)

But seriously.

+ Good motivator, great online support.

+ I haven''t had the battery case problems reported elsewhere.

+ Convenient, and easy to remember to carry around.

Cat thinks it is a toy, sometimes steals it.

Registers steps accurately, but an hour of Zumba is disappointingly low compared to an hour of walking.

May cause internal strife at home.

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I am new to Fitbit. My wife and I both picked them up and have been using them for a few days. So far I am happy with the product. It seems to log my steps accurately. I like the small size as its only about 50% larger than a quarter. This makes it extremely easy to wear and hide because after all I don''t want to advertise that I am wearing a very fancy pedometer.

The website and phone software are very well done. This is important as they are a big part of the product. I have an Android phone so my mobile app doesn''t sync with my Zip as of now but the feature is supposed to be on its way. Its really no issue as the sync software was easy to install and the USB dongle is easily left in the computer. My Zip just syncs automatically when I am near my computer and makes things quite convenient.

Battery Door:

I know there are many reviews about the door being fragile. I have not had this issue. I do notice that the color of the door doesn''t match the device very well. I am guessing that they may have addressed the issue with a new plastic. Please comment if your doors color is off and you have this issue.

"Touch Screen"

This one had me a little upset at first. I was trying to touch the screen to cycle the mode and had no success. The trick is it isn''t a touch screen device at all! This thing has a very accurate accelerometer in it. It is sensing a jolt not a touch. I have found a quick tap with a fingernail is the best way to cycle the modes. You can even just flick the side and it will cycle as well. This made the device usable don''t try to touch.

I am happy with the device/software. I can easily recommend this product to anyone looking to help them track progress or gain encouragement by competing with friends or earning badges.

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I''ve been an on and off user of Fitbit''s gadgets for about four years now, and they''ve been really effective in motivating me to get outside and walk. For those unfamiliar with these wonderful trackers, Fitbit offers two options-the Fitbit Zip, a $60 LCD display tracker reminiscent of your latest Apple device that tracks steps, calories burned, and distance, or the Fitbit One, an all-in-one tracker that shows your steps, calories burned, stairs climbed, and can track your sleeping pattern through the included wrist band. Still available (surprisingly) is the good old Fitbit Ultra; the Ultra has the same features as the One, but is bit more prone to breaking (or so was my experience).

Fitbit also offers a free food tracking service when you buy any of its devices and I can happily report that it is very useful. You enter every bite of food or and sip of drink that passes your lips for the day and the program compares your calorie intake to the data your Fitbit device has collected to give you an allotted calorie amount for the day. When it''s used consistently, it''s a great tool, and Fitbit is working hard to improve their mobile app (it was previously nearly useless) and has added Bluetooth to the Zip and the One to synch with your iPhone or Android phone as you walk so you can see if that trip to the 99 is really worth it. You can choose from several programs to meet your goal weight. Easy, Kinda Hard, and Hard. They each demand varying amounts of calorie deficits from you-mix and match to find the program that suits you best.

Today I discovered, much to my horror, that I washed my Zip today because I had forgotten it was clipped to some jeans I wore over the weekend. I''ve killed no fewer than three Fitbit Ultra''s before so I sighed and prepared to dispose of my tiny buddy. To my happy surprise, I picked it up and was greeted with the Zip''s adorable LCD emoticon face that gets happier the more you exercise. It had survived! I can''t speak for the Fitbit One, but the Zip has a screw-on battery compartment on the back-the fact that it made it through a wash AND dry cycle is simply amazing to me. Maybe it''s a sign from the fitness gods that I need to get my butt off the computer and exercise more....

No matter how you slice it, the Fitbit is an affordable solution in the world of fitness trackers going for $150+. The trackers are cute and almost unnoticeable under a shirt so you won''t have to explain to your partner/family/coworkers what that wonky device you''re wearing is. If you use the nutrition service consistently I guarantee you will lose weight. The Zip''s LCD emoticon will make you smile after you''re kicking yourself for walking that last two miles, and the device itself has been beefed up to withstand some water and impact abuse.

PROS: Inexpensive. Tiny and well designed. Effective if used consistently.

CONS:Easy to lose, easy to wash! Difficult to remember to log your food over extended periods of time as device nor app remind you.

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