Fitbit launched their ‘#1 health tracker’ – the Fitbit Cost 6 – again in September 2023 and we, at Operating Shoe Guru, tried and examined it daily, for over a month to see what kind of runner most accurately fits the health tracker.
We determined that a newbie runner or somebody trying to dip their toe into the well-being world would have essentially the most profit from the Fitbit Cost 6 due to its progressive but considerably simplistic options.
It could actually completely sustain together with your day-to-day antics and spotlight the place you’re overexerting your self, or equally, suggesting the place you would be extra energetic because of its wealth of well being metrics analysed 24/7.
Nevertheless it additionally falls brief on different options that restrict its useability to the brand new runner.
So let’s dive into the main points a bit extra:
Fitbit Cost 6 Professional’s:
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Well being Metrics
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In-app exercises
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Readiness rating
Straight off the bat, the largest professional must be the wealth of well being metrics that this tracker can… monitor.
From weight administration to blood glucose, Coronary heart Charge Variability, stress response all the best way to interval monitoring, sleep analytics and readiness scoring.
If there’s a well being objective you’re trying to obtain this new yr then the Fitbit can positively assist you to monitor your progress and monitor the way you’re physique is admittedly doing.
This can be a newbie runner’s dream device that will help you perceive how your physique is adapting to a extra energetic way of life AND to be sure you’re not overdoing it.
Typically, a beginner feeling the runners excessive for the primary time can’t get sufficient and tries to problem themselves to the hefty job of operating day by day, when ranging from scratch.
Operating the danger of sickness or harm (no pun meant). However, that is the place the Fitbit Cost 6 can assist you perceive when to relaxation and when your physique is able to go once more. It could actually assist you to be taught to take heed to your physique simply that little bit extra.
It must be stated the variety of exercises obtainable on the Fitbit app is nice. There’s actually one thing for everybody from energy exercises to mindfulness and recipes.
For the brand new runner, discovering a strength-based exercise that may assist profit your operating is unbelievable and there’s no excuse for ‘no time’.
You’ll be able to choose a time-based exercise (from below 5 minutes to over half-hour), have it equipment-focused in case you have some dumbbells or bands at residence – and it doesn’t finish there!
Low influence to HIIT coaching, to leap rope to yoga, there’s one thing for everybody which retains coaching enjoyable – any of those periods will assist enhance your health when out operating too – sure, even the 3-minute ab exercise!
The primary device to assist anybody whether or not you’re already operating or simply beginning out. It’s a unbelievable characteristic that collates very advanced knowledge and serves it up for you in a beautiful score-based dish.
In case your physique may let you know precisely the way it feels, in a single phrase (or quantity) once you stand up then that is it.
You’ll discover comparable variations on totally different health or well being monitoring watches on the market, so it’s helpful to grasp as you begin this wonderful operating journey (okay I’m barely biased).
Basically, the Fitbit Cost 6 measures your current exercise ranges, current sleep high quality and Coronary heart fee Variability rating and produces a easy ‘that is the extent of exercise it is best to do in the present day’ to relaxation and recuperate optimally.
And sure each runner, it doesn’t matter what degree would profit from this wizardry.
Fitbit Cost 6 Con’s:
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No operating coaching plans obtainable
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Fitbit has its personal Coronary heart Charge Zone system
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GPS monitoring
Sadly, Fitbit supply a wealth of exercises and mindfulness periods however operating exercises they don’t do. Impressed to run your native 5k Parkrun? Yeah, the Fitbit can’t get you there however it could actually let you know tips on how to recuperate over the next days.
There isn’t any set coaching plan so that you can comply with, which is the place it loses out massively to its rivals.
HOWEVER, there are operating exercises obtainable. No thought the place to start out in your operating journey? Nicely, there are a number of outside and indoor operating exercises obtainable.
From 2 miles in 20 minutes to introduction to intervals. There are periods from 10 minutes as much as 45 minutes for outside periods so you possibly can have a superb go at what you take pleasure in.
Contemplating Fitbit doesn’t truly supply coaching plans they’ve now considerably restricted your use of third-party choices, particularly for freshmen.
Most coaching periods use Coronary heart Charge zones to watch the trouble and output of any given session, and this often consists of 5 coronary heart fee zones. Gentle effort zone 1 to maximal effort zone 5, all primarily based on a per cent of your most coronary heart fee.
As a result of Fitbit makes use of a three-zone system that is slightly complicated in case you determine to make use of a plan from right here, from magazines or something given to you through a operating coach. Fitbit presents a Fats burning zone, cardio zone and peak zone.
This may be nice in the event that they provided coaching plans to stick to their coronary heart fee three-zone system, however to everybody else, and runners eager to progress, it’s a major roadblock.
Sadly, Fitbit has a popularity of missing within the GPS division. Every Cost 6 is loaded up with inbuilt GPS and GLONASS system (similar as different model fashions) nonetheless we discovered that monitoring run distances was somewhat off… by half a mile or extra!
You may get turn-by-turn navigation by means of Google Maps however once more getting that connection between stated App, Telephone and Watch is a little bit of a circus.
Once more this is likely to be okay for runners who’re new to the sport, who usually tend to follow locations or parks they know properly. I do urge you to not run too distant from residence so that you gained’t closely depend on the navigation system – at all times have your telephone with you.
Do you might have the Cost 6 or are considering of shopping for one? Tell us within the feedback!