FitBit Flex

Introduction

FitBit has expanded its collection of personal fitness monitoring gadgets, with the FitBit Flex officially unveiled at CES 2013 as a direct rival to the Nike FuelBand.

The latest wrist worn fitness gadget, the FitBit Flex is a simplistic offering with a wrap-around rubberised strap playing host to a removable fitness tracker that is capable of monitoring a selection of performance parameters, such as steps taken and calories burned.

FitBit Flex Design

Basic and bare-bones are two terms that spring to mind on first impressions of the FitBit Flex design. Far from brimmed with excessive bells and whistles, the FitBit Flex is a straightforward offering, with no physical controls, expansive touchscreen display or variable menu options in sight, unlike many of its competitors.

Simple but effective, the FitBit Flex design is lightweight and comfortable on the wrist with the watch-style clasp ensure a secure, easily altered fit for all wrist sizes. What’s more, thanks to the device’s rubberised construction, the FitBit Flex is perfect for monitoring an active lifestyle with an easy wipe-clean finish ensuring hygiene and reduced wear.

One area for concern, however, is how the holes of the rubberised strap will stand up to continued stretching my the oversized double fastening clasps. Although this is an area that could potentially damage the longevity of the device, without further testing and prolonged use, we cannot pass critical judgement.

Although set to be made available later this year in a variety of different colours the varying hues of the FitBit Flex are subdued and muted, a slight disappoint when compared with the vibrant coatings handed to the recently released FitBit Zip.

FitBit Flex App

As the FitBit Flex lacks a dedicated display, instead playing host to just five LED lights which show progress to pre-set daily targets when tapped, the fitness monitor is reliant on a companion app to allow users to track and monitor the performance data collected by the unit’s centralised and removable pod.

Connecting quickly and simply via Bluetooth 4.0, the FitBit app, shown off alongside the FitBit Flex during our hands-on time with the device at CES 2013, is elegantly laid out, offering users easy to understand facts and figures in a visually appealing, graphic enhanced manner. Also available as a web service, the FitBit app and backend service is where the FitBit Flex comes into its own with user friendly elegance.

Available for both iPhone and Android devices, the FitBit app has helped open the FitBit Flex up to a wide user base with the only stipulation being synced handsets must support Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity options.

FitBit Flex Features

Whilst the FitBit Flex’s rudimentary collection of features has helped remove unwanted faff and fiddly menus that are found on some rival devices, there is one function that this wrist-worn gadget has sadly overlooked, a watch. With many people keen to have the time displayed accessibly on their wrist, the FitBit Flex’s lack of time telling capabilities means users will have to double up their wrist wear in order to have the time at their disposal, an oversight that is sure to put many off.

Although we have as yet been unable to test the accuracy of the unit’s data collection abilities, FitBit has suggested that the device will, like many of the company’s other products, allow users to gain instant feedback on a broad range of parameters, including steps taken, total distance covered, calories burned and time active.

If that wasn’t enough, the FitBit Flex also allows users to track nocturnal activities with sleep monitoring featuring alongside the activity tracking credentials to provide feedback of time and quality of sleep. Stay tuned for a full FitBit Flex review in the near future when we will fully test both the unit’s daytime and nigh time abilities.

Are you put off by the FitBit Flex’s lack of time telling capabilities for a wrist worn gadget, or are you happy to put multiple items upon your body? Let us know via the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds or through the comment boxes below.