Fitbit Surgechat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Several users experienced water damage behind the screen after swimming, showering, or even just washing a car, despite marketing claims of water resistance, with mixed results on warranty coverage.

@vikramltv

I went swimming with the watch on and the screen backlit was gone..So not complete waterproof. Good news is the Fitbit replaced my watch without any cost or much investigation.launch

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April 13, 2017

@ewenhuffman

Thanks. Mine is a year old and have just swum with it. I now have a slight moisture patch behind the screen which effects touchscreen functionality sometimes. I wouldn't recommend swimming with it.launch

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March 12, 2016

@DustinKFowler

I've heard that this thing can bug out after getting even a little wet. I've heard that sweating can mess it up. Is this true?launch

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February 2, 2016

@buttersmagoo3659

Got one for christmas and it has already taken in water from wearing it while i washed my car, no submersion. just outside washing my car, came in and took watch off to dry me and the watch off and its hosed... screen has water behind it...contacted FITBIT and got a email stating it is NOT COVERED. 1 week old, wearing while going about my day, 250 bucks down the drainlaunch

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December 29, 2015

Users report the HR monitor can be significantly off, sometimes by up to 30bpm, particularly during weightlifting or high-intensity interval training, undermining its main selling point.

@rsei900

Love all your reviews. When looking for a review I check \" techy agent\" first. I have very similar exercise routines that you do.. I'm caught between the Fitbit surge and the Garmin vivo active HR.. 2 questions. 1. The Fit bit surge has been around for about a year. Is it still a good purchase for \"weights, crossfit and running? \n 2. You mentioned there is a delay in the heart monitor when performing intermittent bursts of energy like HIIT or weight lifting. Would this delay be significant enough to effect the workout stats-- creating false workout information? Thanks.launch

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December 16, 2015

@callmemarc

The HRM is useless when it doesn't work right while you are exercising. A chest strap is still the way to go.  I love my Polar M400 and H7 combo.launch

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April 21, 2015

@terencedegree9079

Had a surge and my girl had the charge hr but the heart rate is very inaccurate sometime 30 bpm off until it catches up.... Have you noticed this issue I exchanged for a polar m400 has weight training too constant heart rate and like 99% accuratelaunch

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April 15, 2015

@mc-fine

Been waiting for a watch that could measure heart rate all day AND have GPS to replace my Garmin GPS watch. Reading the reviews on Amazon it appears the heart rate monitoring and the GPS isn't very accurate. Especially when doing lifting which is where heart rate monitoring would give you a better idea of calories burned.\n\nKind of kills the selling point of GPS and heart rate monitoring without chest strap.launch

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February 20, 2015

Multiple users report false step counts from driving, hand movement, or even during sleep, since the device tracks arm motion rather than actual steps taken.

@spventures9395

I've had the surge for two weeks now. I'd just like to add to your point about accuracy of steps, like you it does seem to pick up movement while I'm driving, but also while I'm sleeping, all values reset at midnight but I find in the morning I've walked 100 steps in my sleep sometimes :) (I don't sleepwalk) overall though it is a fantastic device! I would recommend it, for your workouts it is brilliant! The GPS has been great, the sleep monitoring is good, it tells you all you really need to know (in my opinion) and it's very comfortable, I've had smart watches which are bulky but with the surge you ofen forget it's there! I love it! :)launch

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June 15, 2015

@GioraSluzky

Fitbit Surge is much expensive almost as Apple Watch Sport, but after all it's a really useless product. First ad all because it registers not only your real steps, but every movement you make with your hand. If you are the person that move your hands a lot during a day, you would get a lot of false steps. Even more: it shoes that you make 7-10 steps during the night, so you feel like a sleepwalker, but then you check your sleeping behavior (Fitbit itself registered for you) and you understand that it was again the false steps record.launch

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June 4, 2015

@johncas1

Al it said I had done 1000 steps and all I had done was get out of bed and ride my motorbike to work and sit down for 1 hour shaking it must add stepslaunch

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April 30, 2015

@lcboatz07

The fitbit wrist devices count movement based on the movement and intensity of movement of your arm. So, naturally, climbing a flight of stairs while holding your arm stationary to watch your step count would yield an incorrect value. Conversely, any motion you make with your arm may result in additional step counts. I have noticed that I pick up additional steps simply driving regardless of which arm I wear my fitbit on (my car is manual transmission). Is this a minus? Not necessarily. Pedometers are predominantly designed to target two functions: give the consumer a rough estimate of their activity throughout the day, and motivate the consumer to keep going. To throw a little \"pocket protector speak\" into the mix, there are numerous studies that show simply wearing a pedometer or step-counting device increases activity in those who regularly utilize them. The battery life is a big bummer to which I have not found a solution in my research for the perfect fitness watch. I have my eyes on the new TomTom Runner Cardio but the battery life is approximately 8 hours which will not even get me through a single workday. Ultimately, the Surge seems to have the best battery life for the price compared to the others on the market, even though it requires charging somewhere between 5 and 8 days. Plus it has HRM capability without having to wear a strap around your chest, making sure the monitor rests at the xiphoid process (base of the sternum). Just food for thought.launch

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April 4, 2015

The device lacks a dedicated cycling activity mode despite being shown in marketing, and cannot be reliably used to track swimming, frustrating users who want accurate stats for these activities.

@sumitdhamija787

Hi mate, I am not getting Bike option in exercise in fitbit surge. is there is any other way?launch

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January 10, 2016

@PerryP2025

Its kind of misleading that Fitbit show's people cycling with it when its not supported.  Maybe in a future update?launch

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January 29, 2015

@tylerw800

Ok so I'm really stuck, it's kind of between Surge, Charge HR, pebble steel, or that new garmin VEVOactive that is coming out, I am considering apple watch but the price is huge, plus its not waterproof. Does the Surge track swimming? Also which do you think is the best for me? I swim, do weights, football, also a little running and basketball.launch

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January 16, 2015

@skykink

I notice that you use cycling (both stationary and outdoor), but I don't see a cycling function on the watch unless I am missing something.  What setting do you use for cycling?  I would imagine you could use the run function but then you make your overall stats very inaccurate.launch

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December 30, 2014

Long-term users report the band cracking near the screws or coming loose over time, sometimes requiring multiple replacements within less than a year of ownership.

@Ficktao

After having used the fitbit Charge HR for a half year, the rubber on the wrist strap is coming loose. I am considering buying a Surge, but I wonder how it holds up on the long run. Anyone here has been using a Surge (basically 24/7) for a year or longer? Does the strap hold? Any other problems occurring after a while?launch

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April 3, 2016

@shawnascott904

i love mine. however the band is crap and not interchangeable. mine had huge chunks off it. very difficult to get bestbuy to replace it.launch

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February 26, 2016

@dawnschweers664

I am on my 3rd Surge in 8 months because of the well known issue of the band cracking inside by 2 screws. The warranty is good because they will replace it, but only one month. I am sure my newest one will crack too. For $250, it should last longer. I love this watch, but they need to fix this issue!launch

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December 18, 2015

At $250, several commenters felt the price was too steep, especially compared to alternatives with color displays or given the reliability issues experienced.

@chrisancrum8088

Great video, your review was awesome! I don't think this watch would be good for anyone who is just beginning or who hasn't been into the fitness world and all of its parts. I have been an athlete for many years(football & track) but now I'm more into just being healthier and getting the most out of my workouts. Being that I want to be more healthy than worried about being able to perform out on the football field, I like these type of devices to show me exactly what my workouts are producing. I'm always on the move, and I like to do all kinds of active things. I'm currently using the Polar FT4 but I think it's time to step up to something better...and I'm tired of putting the heart rate monitor band around my chest every time I want to track my activities. I think I will be going with this watch soon, I just wish it wasn't so expensive.launch

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December 19, 2015

@SKStephanus649

Thanks for the review. I was looking to get a new fitbit. You can only charge it on a Macbook? Well I don't have one (and I know how much you hate Apples <G>).  $250? Too steep. I'll be looking at other fitbit items.\n\nThose 5 dislikes are the fitbit people :).launch

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February 25, 2015

@LoneFisherman

For 250$ i rather get a fitness watch that has a color dislay....that is the ONLY reason I was discouraged about getting it. The Gshock aviation watch is also 250 and a sick watch (the one with grey bands), and although it doesn't monitor my heart rate i rather get that Gshock than a fitness watch that has no color display. if it was 100$-150$ than maybe I would consider.launch

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February 20, 2015

Some users report buttons failing to function or Bluetooth syncing breaking down within a year, requiring replacements and leaving them dissatisfied with overall product quality.

@KhaiSin

Lousy quality product from FItbit. Within a year the button unable to function. After get a replacement, less than a year the bluetooth system fail. The device unable to sync. Really disappointed with the quality Fitbit product. Not worth the value at all.launch

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April 23, 2017

@dawnschweers664

I am on my 3rd Surge in 8 months because of the well known issue of the band cracking inside by 2 screws. The warranty is good because they will replace it, but only one month. I am sure my newest one will crack too. For $250, it should last longer. I love this watch, but they need to fix this issue!launch

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December 18, 2015

One long-time user described a serious account issue where Fitbit's system lost their account data entirely and linked someone else's login to their device, raising concerns about data security practices.

@geminiabode

I have been a avid fitbit user since past 3 to 4 years. However based on a recent issue and my research thereafter, I have concluded that fitbit has a serious security issues with the IT system and managing customer data. \nOne fine day, fitbit tells me that my account does not exist and never existed. That is really scary. There goes years worth of fitness data in the drain. Further more they locate someone else's email login on my tracker. There security department has no clue and never contacted me. From the forums I found it a common problem. They try to sell it to the customers as a security breach (which given their weak security is a major vulnerability) but they hide the underlying issue of their IT systems which causes database glitches and evidently has no trace of audit or security to find out whats happening with a customer account and his data. This attitude of carelessness towards protecting customer data will definitely wean away customers from fitbit.launch

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December 11, 2015