Title: The Updated Nike+ Fitness Band: More than Just a Stepping Stone
When the Nike+ FuelBand made its debut roughly two years ago, we weren't exactly blown away. It was a decent, albeit flawed, new entry into the fitness tracking market. Our review concluded with the sentiment, "it's clear the technology still has a long way to go — and Nike’s sure to raise the bar whenever the next generation of FuelBands hits stores."
Lo and behold, it's been two years, and the FuelBand SE ("Second Edition") has hit the market. So, is it the game-changer we've all been waiting for?
Why Invest in a FuelBand?
First things first: Nike's new watch is cool. The FuelBand is a sleek, if slightly uncomfortable, bracelet with a trendy LED screen that looks great on anyone's wrist (especially now that it comes in a variety of vibrant colors).
After entering your height, weight, and active level, the gadget keeps you on track by counting steps, estimating calories burned, and tracking your progress through "fuel points" – a somewhat abstract metric based on your stats. It's enjoyable to try to improve your fuel points throughout the day, and the FuelBand rewards you with badges and accolades that can be shared with Nike+'s incredibly active online community of roughly seven million users. This online component not only fosters healthy competition but also provides positive reinforcement for all that hard work.
However, most of these features remained unchanged from the original FuelBand. What's new with the SE?
The Second Revolution
Nike has tackled some of the original FuelBand's issues by making the SE more durable and water-resistant (though it's still not waterproof enough for swimming).
The SE also offers a few new features: It now displays the time and encourages users to spend at least five minutes per hour on their feet (useful for desk-bound individuals). The biggest improvement, however, is the "Sessions" feature. While the first FuelBand only tracked daily fuel points, the SE can now calculate fuel points per minute. This makes it invaluable for determining when and how we burn the most calories – for instance, after logging a fifteen-minute session of sprint intervals, I learned that my workout was most intense in its final five minutes (perhaps the Rocky theme song had something to do with it).
Additionally, the FuelBand's Bluetooth capabilities have been upgraded with the addition of Bluetooth 4.0 technology. This means that the SE can constantly, wirelessly sync data with an iPhone without requiring the user to press a button – and since Bluetooth 4.0 uses less battery energy, the SE can now last up to a week on a single charge.
Still Troubled by Flaws
The update has certainly given the FuelBand a bit more functionality, but it hasn't addressed any of our concerns with the original model.
Sure, it's harder to earn fuel points during a bumpy car ride now (although Nike hasn't entirely solved this issue), but the FuelBand still struggles to recognize any form of exercise that isn't walking or running. The SE's "Sessions" feature offers a workaround by allowing the user to label a gym sesh with its type and intensity, but since this is just an estimate, cheating is still relatively easy – a heart rate monitor would have been a more effective solution.
Perhaps most frustratingly, the FuelBand app remains iPhone-only, which means nearly all of the SE's new features are useless for Android or Samsung users. A better alternative for non-Apple users is a FuelBand competitor like the Fitbit Force, which works well with Android phones and other popular fitness apps like Runkeeper and Endomondo.
The Conclusion
If you're a runner with an iPhone, the FuelBand is a decent, if somewhat pricey, investment. It does a good job of tracking steps and caloric burn, and the Nike+ online community offers the group motivation and camaraderie that many runners thrive on. If you struggle to stay active during rest days or to walk enough, it's also a worthwhile purchase. But if you prefer to workout with weights, cycling, swimming, or any other type of exercise that isn't running, there are better places to spend your money.
The Nike+ FuelBand SE is now available at major retailers for $149.99.
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The FuelBand SE's tech upgrades, such as the inclusion of Bluetooth 4.0 for wireless syncing and longer battery life, make it a more attractive option for weight management and fitness tracking. However, its limited compatibility with non-iPhone devices and inability to accurately track various exercises remain challenges in the realm of tech-driven health and fitness.
