FitBits - cheap and cheerful

[TeenTimesTwo]

My DD, soon to be 14, has asked for a Fitbit for her birthday.
We think it is really because others have got one, and think her interest may well fade quite quickly so we don't want to spend £££.

She really just wants to know how many steps she does each day.

Her smart phone is currently not internet enabled (because we are grumpy parents who don't want her glued to her phone).

Recommendations on how to achieve this?

We got DD an activity tracker from amazon for her 10th birthday. Was about £20. She absolutely loves it! It motivates her to move (she's not a very active girl naturally). Loads of her friends have got the same model since seeing DD's. She's not (yet) brand conscious though, so maybe your DD would be disappointed if it weren't a proper FItBit?

The fitbit syncs to an app on the users phone. So you lose the vast majority of the functionality of the fitbit if you don't use the app alongside.

You'd be better getting a cheap stand alone wrist pedometer. Not sure your DD would be happy with receiving that if she's asked for a fitbit specifically though. I'd explain beforehand to manage her expectations.

Oh, and regarding cost. You can get the fitbit Flex 2 dead cheap, we got it for £30 last Christmas. But it's lack of screen on the wrist means it can only be used with an app on her phone to sync to.

Great answers. Thank you.

She is not brand conscious and I believe is using 'fitbit' as a generic term.
So an 'activity tracker' or a 'cheap standalone wrist pedometer' sounds perfect. Can you suggest any make/models?

(And if she wears it for more than a month we can always upgrade at Christmas)

Like this GOJI GO ?

Or this Beschoi ?

Can happily spend more if needed.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is quite cheap and lets them see steps and heart rate on the inbuilt screen as well as sync the data to their phone. When you say it's not internet enabled, am I correct in assuming you mean they don't have a mobile data connection but can connect to wifi at home? If so, you can still sync the data from the watch because that's done over bluetooth and will work without an internet connection (though one is required to install the app).

Thanks. Yes to Bluetooth. Can connect to internet at home I think (even if it needs DH temporarily doing something to make it work).
That Xiaomi looks good.

This is the one DD has. She's had it about a year and is very happy with it.

I’ve got one of these motenik ones from amazon amzn.to/2Pr5ySo it’s still going strong so I’ve never changed for a better one

The problem now temporarily on hold as all these devices need a more up to date Android operating system than is currently on DD's phone... DH now tasked to find a newer phone pre-owned that isn't too many £££ and is suitable!

DM has this, it’s pretty simple and she’s happy with it, i font think she uses the app.

I got a Xiaomi Mi Band 2 to see whether I'd stick with it before I bought a Fitbit.

The Mi Band 2 is all I need, and a year on I haven't felt the need for a Fitbit.

It synchronises with my phone via Bluetooth.

I see there is now a Xiaomi Mi Band 3 as well, sorry for jumping on your post OP but would it be better to go for the newer version for a technophobe parent. Or is there something else out there that would work better for counting steps / calories. :)

Thanks Bike but that's more than we want to spend (especially as it looks like the phone upgrade is needed too!)

happy gazelda palmer Thanks for recommendations

Ice jump away!

Thanks Teen, it's such a minefield as there are so many options.

DD hasn't got a phone, I've got the app on mine and she asks me to sync it every week or so. It works for us, at the moment!

My phone is equally ancient , DH says he doesn't want her to use his.
But we are happy, we can get a phone for < £100 that will be suitable, either lower spec and new, or higher spec and pre-owned.
DH is now on the case!

Thank you. DH has ordered the Motenik one in purple. If I remember I'll report back some time in October.
Now to find a phone.