So, the Nike+ Fuelband. Just enough calorimeter to make it useful, just enough game to make me interested.
I did a search on the dope and it appears that none of us have this thing. Nobody? I mean, I kinda suspected we were all couch potatoes, but still… 
I saw some ads for this. Really bad ads–I couldn’t even tell what the thing was, or what it was supposed to do, or whether it came free in a box of cereal, or what.
So I googled it. Now I’m with you–it’s interesting. But I am not $148 interested. Not yet.
Looks just like Jawbone’s Up.
I read this New York Times article about it and the Up a few days ago - seems to be lukewarm tha the Nike one would actually be useful.
I’ve got one. Had it for about 4 months or so. As a pedometer it seems pretty accurate. I occasionally check it by counting out 100 paces and it’s never off by more than one or two. The way the fuel points are calculated seem a bit of a mystery, but it’s basically more movement = more points. So running gets you more than walking, and a brisk walk with swinging arms gets more than strolling along with your hands in your pockets. One downside is that it’s pretty much useless for cycling.
The battery lasts for at least a week and when you plug it into your PC to charge it uploads the data it’s stored. The Nike website tracks your progress and lets you set goals. It can post updates to Facebook if you want it to.
If you can, try one on to see what size you need. It comes with 2 sizing spacers for fine tuning. Even though it looks like a rubber band it’s actually stiff so it fits more like a bangle than one of those rubber charity bands.
Well, kferr would know better than me, but I purchased a Nike+ wristband/watch deal a few years back and it was such a poorly made piece of crap that I wouldn’t even consider buying something similar. I’ve long since gone to a Garmin anyway, but at one point I was a big fan of the Nike+ system, so I can’t tell you what a disappointment that thing was.
I will give Nike kudos for giving me my money back with no hassle, but it sounded like they were having to give EVERYBODY their money back, so they knew better than to hassle people on it.
Thank you for saving me a hundred and fifty bucks.
I wondered about this as my main mode of outdoor exercise is cycling. It’s a shame. I think it would have been fun.
Huh? They have bicycle computers that tell you everything you wanted to know. I’d think cycling was the easiest sport to measure activity.
Cycling IS simple to measure, but a simple accelerometer, which is what the Nike Fuel Band is, isn’t the right tool for the job. It’s designed to be worn on the wrist and measure the jolts and arm swings of walking or running. On a bike on a smooth road it would hardly measure anything, and on a rough fast offroad trail it would measure too much.
I mean if you’re cycling, you’d consider bicycle computers, which are more accurate, detailed and easier to find than a wrist band.
I liked the idea of something that didn’t have to be hardwired to the bike, so to speak. I also liked the idea of something that could also be a pedometer, watch, etc. seamlessly and on the fly. Bike computers generally don’t do that, either.
Why not the phone apps for that?
I use the second, which can alternate between cycling and running “skins”, and it works fine enough so long as you don’t take it too literally as precision truth.
I hadn’t even thought of looking for an app. That might just be the way to go. Thanks! 