When it comes to reaching your fitness goal, steps are just the beginning. Fibit tracks every part of your day – including activity, exercise, food, weight and sleep – to help find your fit, stay motivated and see how small steps make a big difference.
Disclosure: “Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Fitbit via Mode Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Fitbit.”
Tracking A Runner’s Life
And just like that, the fitness-watch game has changed. With the advancements in technology and the runner’s desire to get instant feedback, the bar has been raised in the GPS and wearables market. From function to fashion, Fitbit has been leading the way in wearable technology and that continues with the debut of their latest product: Surge —a fitness super watch.
What It Does
Surge meets the runner’s basic needs with built-in GPS, current pace, average pace, elevation, routes and splits. It also includes the popular tracking ability of its other wearable products: steps, distance, floors climbed, and calories burned, as well as all-day activity tracking and sleep monitoring.
- How It’s Different
The Fitbit Surge tracks your continuous heart rate through a wrist-based optical heart rate sensor, Pure Pulse, built right into the watch. It delivers instant feedback with all-day tracking when you are working out, sitting, and even while you are sleeping.
The Surge also displays text messages and caller ID notifications (as well as offers music control) when paired with your smartphone. In the middle of a workout, or throughout the day, you’ll receive a gentle vibration and the information will be displayed on your watch when someone calls or texts (this feature can be disabled if desired).
- On The Run
The Surge gives you several options to track your run. “Free Run” tracks distance, pace, HR, elevation, mile splits, calories burned, steps, and most of what the runner has become accustomed to when analyzing data during (or after) their typical run. There is also a “Lap Run” setting that allows you to manually track your splits, and a “Hike” option to track your adventures on the trail.
- At The Gym
Along with the previously mentioned options, there is also a “Treadmill Run” setting that allows you to record the same data while running on a treadmill. In the “Exercise” category you will also find other settings to track various workouts including: elliptical, spinning, yoga, and weights.
Monitoring your continuous heart rate can help you train smarter. By determining your optimal heart rate range based on your fitness goals, the Surge can give you instant feedback within three desired preset heart rate zones: peak zone vs. cardio zone vs. fat burn zone. You can also create a “custom zone” if needed.
- At Home
If you are like me, then your phone is not always with you after you walk through the door. Setting it down on the counter or leaving it in the other room happens from time to time. After pairing the Surge with your smartphone, it will gently vibrate and display notifications on your wrist of incoming calls or text messages up to 30 feet away — just like it does while you are working out.
The sleep monitoring also happens automatically without the need to place it in a special setting. You can adjust the settings based on your sleep sensitivity and review your sleep patterns to determine how you slept: sleep vs. restless vs. awake.
What Else Can It Do?
We’ve covered a lot of what the Surge can do functionally, but the Fitbit Surge provides some additional features that make it more interactive and enjoyable. One of my favorite features is the option to adjust the clock face. There is one called “Flare” that displays how active you have been every minute of the hour. It creates an interesting display of activity.
If you pause your workout, there is a gentle vibration that occurs when you initially press pause and again when you resume. It’s subtle, but I found it comforting to know that the timer had continued and it removed my need to look down again 5 seconds later to double-check that it was still tracking my workout.
Knowing your current heart rate zone can be valuable information in helping you train smarter, but having a continuous heart rate tracker also provides you with a very useful resting heart rate — an important factor in helping to determine the health of your heart.
Don’t Just Start. Surge.
The Fitbit Surge delivers on its ability to give back accurate and important information while running. From day one, I was able to incorporate the new device into my demanding running schedule without complications and appreciated the additional information that was being delivered. The fact that is has freed the runner from strapping something around their chest is a welcome advancement for those interested in heart rate training.
Its ability to also track the popular step and sleep functions found in their other wearable products allows the user to avoid the need to acquire additional products. Having one device that tracks your daily activities, allows for various workouts, delivers text and caller ID notifications, monitors your heart rate continuously, and fulfills your GPS tracking needs is a game changer.
As I mentioned in the first paragraph, the bar has been raised.
Ive been eyeing the surge for a while. When my Garmin got stolen, I just kinda kept running (i know my distances around here so well) and then got the forerunner 15 right before phx (the marathon was the first run I clocked with it #peakingearly). It also tracks steps, but I wish it did heart rate and such with out the strap. But then I wonder if I really need one? Who knows. I want the surge tho. it’s just legit and nifty Lol
The HR is def. something extra if you are looking for more feedback. I’ve never done HR training, but it’s nice to know that if I go down that path, it’s there as an option and I don’t need a chest strap.
Looks interesting! I love the idea of combining all my gadgets into one. Only problem is I like my usual pretty watch vs wearing this thing around all the time. It looks like it would be really bulky for a girl.
Can you set intervals on it for running?
It’s great to have something on my wrist that counts steps, and looks like a normal/everyday watch. Unfortunately, it does not have an interval setting. But there is a “lap” option while you are running.
I’m interested to try this out. I used to run with a Garmin watch but it was always sort of bulky. I made a change to the Nike+ app on my phone, but now I always have to run with my phone in my hand and it gets pretty annoying. I like this summary… it may have just convinced me to branch out to something different
Running with your phone can def. be tricky. It has easily incorporated itself into my running routine without trouble. The text/call notifications have to be within range of your phone, but the GPS tracking and HR have been spot on with my running routine.
I’m a big fan of the Surge. I’ve been running with it now for about 2 months. It’s really easy to use and comfortable to wear. My only gripe is that I wish it was a little slimmer. When I’m wearing the Surge at work or anything non-running related, I feel like I’m wearing a monitoring device. Non-runners give me some strange looks. However, I think the features trump the looks. Certainly worth the investment given the GPS and heart rate monitoring.
It definitely does draw attention from folks outside of running. I’m asked about it constantly, but people seem really drawn to it. I love that I don’t have to switch from a GPS watch to step counter post run… this one does both which is great.
I love the technology, just wish it were smaller for my wrist!
Def. does some great things… maybe down the line they will make a slimmer one?
I love gadgets!! I’m not a long distance runner, so I don’t think I would need the GPS feature, but I love it anyway!!
Thanks. I love that it does everything that their other wearables do AND has GPS (for us crazy runner folks).
I love my Fitbit Charge. The Surge sounds like it’s got everything that I love in the Charge plus all my running GPS watch features. Sounds great!
It’s def. a great combination of GPS and a wearable. I’ve never used HR training, so it was great additional feedback.
I’m not a big gadget person, but this one definitely sounds like the be all/end all. Thanks for the great review!
Thanks. I think the wrist-based HR is a huge step for runners that don’t want the extra hardware, but want to HR train
Very cool! I have a FitBit flex but would love to upgrade to this!
I love that the Surge tracks my steps… sort of like a GPS plus a wearable.
I’ve came within seconds of ordering one of these about a week ago. I held off. Next morning, I woke up late because my Flex had died (as is DEAD, not loss of charge) and I nearly missed my group run. This was the THIRD Flex to crash on me since I bought my first one less than two years ago (and it’s not like I abuse them … the first two were verifiably defective). Fitbit has been great about replacing them (though I haven’t yet gone through the process with this one), but it does give me pause about spending $250 or so for a Surge. As it is, I use my iPhone 5s to track workouts with MapMyFitness+, and the Health app automatically tracks things such as steps. Lordy, Pavey, I want to believe I can trust this new one, but I have my qualms.
I hear ya Jim. I wish there was a way to “rent” it, kind of like a Netflix, but for technology. I’ve used the Charge without issues and the Surge has treated me well (1 full, 2 halfs so far). I would keep checking online down the road and see what the community is using.
Thank you, sir. I do appreciate your review, however. I have a little cash to burn right now and want to make the right decision. :)
Controlling music (or starting/stopping app tracking) from the wrist is HUGE. Whether you keep your phone in a pocket, belt or armband, it’s always awkward while running, the wrist is so much more accessible.
Music control is pretty sweet, and yes, def. much easier to skip to the next song.
That sounds pretty amazing and love that it combines so many functions into one device! Thanks for the awesome review.
Thanks. The text message option definitely gives me peace of mind when I’m on a long run and the family is at home. I don’t have to worry about having to pull out my phone every hour to see if “something” happened.
Wow, this seems like everything you need in a watch! I really like the phone notification feature. I don’t have my phone on my all the time (especially when I’m playing with my little guy) but it would be nice to have access to quickly check a message without having to run over to grab my phone. I’d be a little scared to see my sleep patterns. I don’t think I get enough quality sleep these days!
This makes my Fitbit Flex sound like child’s play! I so want one of these!
This watch seems to do everything you need as a runner! What was the battery life like?
I’ve been using a fitbit for years. I also use a Garmin for running. It would be nice to have everything in one, but like someone else said, I wear “girly” watches – have my own watch box that has 20 watches – what would I do with just one?
I have a friend who has a Surge..she loves it! I’m not sure I could part with my Garmin for my runs though. But I love everything else about the Surge! I have a Fitbit Flex and love it…but I’d like more data! ;-)
Ahhh! I’ve been wanting this one…settled on the more basic FitBit instead, coupled with my Garmin. I’ve been so curious about my heart rate! I also love that it syncs with the phone!!! Maybe I’ll go for it in the near future!!
I’d really like to try the Surge, although I can’t justify buying another watch right now. :) I love Fitbit as a company.
I just completed my first run with the Surge. I was pretty excited to see the stats. My biggest letdown is that it has no mile notifications and splits on the watch as I’m running. Did you find a way to configure mile splits on the watch itself, or did you have to check those on the mobile app or web interface? Thanks for the review!
As far as I know, there is nothing set up to show mile splits while running. To date, I have been looking at the splits through the app or dashboard AFTER I finish. I usually keep my watch showing “avg. pace” and that tends to keep me on pace for the overall run.
I love my Garmin, but as a large-breasted runner I find that the chest strap HR monitor makes me chafe like crazy. This gadget might be the solution. Does it have an auto-pause feature for when I’m stopped by traffic lights etc.? Or would I have to manually pause?