My name is Coco, and I’m addicted to fitness trackers. It started with the Jawbone UP. Then I gave the Garmin Vivosmart a try. I was surprised at how much I liked the “smart” features and upgraded to the Vivosmart HR for its wrist-based heart rate monitoring. I loved being able to see all that data, but the Jawbone UP3 caught my eye with its sleek profile. I never was tempted by the popular Fitbit devices because they didn’t have idle alarms, but that changed with the Fitbit Alta–the newest device on my wrist.
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So why did I trade my UP3 for the Alta? I’ll give you five reasons in my Fitbit Alta review so I can join the Friday Five link up hosted by Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Mar at Mar on the Run and Cynthia at You Signed Up for What?!.
My Fitbit Alta Review
1.The Alta Can Tell Time. The number one reason I wasn’t happy with my UP3 is its lack of on-wrist display. Even though I knew this, I constantly found myself looking at my wrist to check the time–only to see the blank band. It sounds like a small thing, but it was so frustrating!
Jawbone UP3 vs. Garmin VivosmartHR
I really think Jawbone needs to add a discrete time display to its bands–I’m sure it can be done! The Alta screen usually is dark, but if you twist your wrist or tap the screen, it will tell you what time it is. Brilliant! 😉
2.The Alta Can Be Dressed Up. The main reason I decided to try the Fitbit Alta is because of it’s relatively sleek profile. It’s not quite as pretty as the UP3, but it’s much smaller than the Garmin devices. Plus, you can buy different bands
I have this silver one
3. The Alta Has An Idle Alarm. Unlike many fitness tracker devotees, I don’t care much about how many steps I take. If I run, I will meet my step goal; if I don’t, I won’t. What I rely on fitness trackers for is to remind me to MOVE throughout the day, especially when I’m at work. The UP and Garmin devices have an idle alarm that vibrates every hour. The Alta has an idle alarm that vibrates after 50 minutes if you haven’t taken 250 steps yet.
Looking at my data, you can see how much I need this feature. This week was particularly rough since I was in meetings all day and could not take significant walk breaks, but even Saturday is shameful since I spent most of the day relaxing, blogging, and reading.
4. The Alta Has All The Great Fitbit Features. The Alta does not measure heart rate, but it has all the other great Fitbit features–activity tracking, sleep tracking, the option to log your food and water, and the ability to track your weight.
I may be less active during the day on business trips, but I get more sleep.
When you are active for at least 15 minutes, the Alta counts that as “exercise,” and keeps a tally of your weekly exercise minutes.
And, its algorithm recognizes cycling!
5. Everyone Has A Fitbit. Sometimes I feel like I was the last person to get a Fitbit device. Now that I finally have joined the crowd, I have a lot of friends on Fitbit whom I can cheer on or taunt. (Sorry, Kiran!)
Bonus Reason. Amazon Promised Me Same Day Delivery. When I decide to get a new toy, I want it NOW. When I saw that Amazon could deliver a new Fitbit Alta to my doorstep by 9:00 pm for free with my Amazon Prime Membership, I could not resist. Once the tracking information showed that my package was out for delivery, I was like a kid looking out the window waiting for Santa to come!
I’d like to think that the Alta will keep me happy for a while, but even as I’m writing this Fitbit Alta review, I’m wondering why I didn’t research the Garmin Vivofit 3 ….
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Is there something you keep trying to find the perfect version of?
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My sister had the Garmin Vivofit but lost it. She recently got a new Garmin that she mentions on the blog today!
Oh I’ve been eyeing an upgrade from my Charge HR to the Alta. While I kinda like having the HR feature, I probably don’t use it enough that I’d miss it. I’ll have to friend you on FitBit 🙂
Definitely find me there! I really like the look and features of the Alta!
That looks awesome. I keep hearing great things about all the FitBits but I haven’t gotten one yet.
Nice review! I like the look of the FitBit Alta. It’s slim and tells the time. I have a FitBit One, which is old and just clips on my pant pocket. I wear my Garmin Watch too, which tells me to move. I can’t get myself to buy another fitness tracker unless there’s a really good deal lol.
I’d be afraid of losing the clip on one. I think they make pendants for the Alta but I’m not sure how it would track your steps that way!
I researched Garmins because I need a new running watch and the Vivofit looks amazing! Just saying.
Been there, done that – really liked it. 🙂
I have been coveting the fitbit for years but I don’t really feel like I can justify the purchase, since I don’t really need all that info and my phone tells me how much exercise I get 🙂
I would demand that there be a watch feature. I’m pretty much keeping my own watch on simply because it does steps, so having something that did steps but not a watch would drive me nuts!
I have the basic fitbit. I like it but it is annoying because I can’t see what is going on unless I look on my phone.
I have an OLD Garmin (205).
So I bit the bullet and ordered the new Apple Watch 2.
I’ll let you know what I think.
I am totally out of the loop – I don’t have Prime or a Fitbit.
My Garmin 225 will tell me to move if I wear it all day, but I rarely do.
I do like how small the Alta is. I feel like my Garmin is too bulky to wear all day, but I do love it to run with.
I kind of gave up on my first generation fit bit tracker a long time ago. Awesome that it is working so well for you
Thanks for this. I have a fitbit but stopped using it after 6 months… in part because it doesn’t tell the time and wasn’t sleek enough. I am going to look into the altar. Thanks !
I am on a mission for the perfect health/wellness/fitness wearable. I’m also a bit of tech junkie since I design software and apps for a living and have a background in jewelry design and health tech. The perfect makings for my current obsession – even thinking of designing my own at some point.
I’ve never tried a FitBit, but I currently have a BellaBeat leaf. It looks more like jewelry than a fitness tracker, but it has a lot of great features and with each new app release, it gets better. I am tempted to get an Alta, though.
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This is an awesome fitness band.
I am using this kind of band, it looks like a watch and work also like a watch that
I need not to take an extra watch in my wrist. I like to wear this all the time,
cause now a days it has become a part of my daily life that make me active about my daily exercises.
I love this band for its activities reminder that helps me to do my daily work in specific time.
And I think everyone one should use this kind of tracker for their own advantage that can makes
one conscious about their health and Fitness Tracker news which is necessary for everyone.
This is without a doubt a great article about the Alta. I found very useful to know which tracker is best for the Fitbit Brand. That’s the one I Love I also posted a similar post on tracker under 100 under 100 I would love to hear your feedback on it 🙂 Thanks