Which FitBit Is Right for Me?

I recently bought myself a FitBit for my birthday.  I already had a pedometer and heart rate monitor, but rarely used either one.  The pedometer was an old, clunky model that barely worked and kept popping off my belt.

And I was getting tired of strapping on the HRM chest strap every single time.  Add in the fact that I'm doing a lot of yoga and Pilates classes, and the HRM just wasn't comfortable to wear while  exercising.

I'd already been toying with the idea of getting a FitBit and talking with my nextdoor neighbor sealed the deal. She really loved hers!

Decision made, it was time to head over to FitBit.com to buy my first FitBit.  Simple enough, right?

But the decision gets more complicated when it comes down to choosing which of the six FitBit models is right for you.

If money's no object, and you like all the bells and whistles, the decision is easy:  get the FitBit Splurge -- um, sorry, I mean the FitBit Surge.

And if you're on a tight budget and only want to track your steps, calories burned and distance, the Zip is your best choice.

But what if you want to spend your money wisely or want to make sure you buy the right one for your activity level?

This review groups the six models by type of exerciser you are.  Whether you're a casual exerciser who's only interested in being active, a fitness enthusiast or fitness fanatic, there's a FitBit that's just right for you.

You can also click on an FitBit model down below to quickly see which feature it has.  I've set it up using colors so you can easily see the features. Green means yes.  Red means no.  Pretty neat, eh?

What You Get With Every FitBit

Before we dive into the nitty gritty details, keep in mind that each FitBit comes with these features (except for a few noted exceptions):

• You can track the steps you take, the calories you burn and the distance you've walked or run in a 24 hour period.
• It acts like a watch (except for the FitBit Flex).
• Your "active minutes" will be tracked automatically.  Active minutes are activities more strenuous than walking that last more than 10 minutes. 
• Free mobile app for your iOS, Android or Windows device (check here first to make sure your device is compatible).
• Free online dashboard, where you can track your food and really dig down into the details.
• Set goals, get notifications, messages from FitBit and connect with Friends who use FitBit.
• Wireless syncing.
• A variety of colors to choose from.
• Track GPS activity through your phone with the FitBit app.  (With the FitBit Surge, the GPS receiver is built in.)
• Every FitBit except for the Zip has a rechargeable battery. The Zip has a replaceable 3v coin battery.

I get it. Not everybody loves to exercise.  Or maybe you find it difficult to start a formal exercise program. The word 'exercise' is banned from your vocabulary.

But if you want to burn more calories, become more fit and lose some weight, lower your cholesterol, you need to become more active.

The FitBit Zip and FitBit Flex are  great for those who don't do any "formal exercise" like a weight training workout or a Pilates class. or who don't want to necessarily track every single workout automatically.

If most of your exercise is everyday activities like walking, gardening, walking the dog, the FitBit Zip or FitBit Flex are right for you.

These two FitBits are great if you're not ready to take the step into formal exercise but you want to know how active you are and to push yourself into doing more.

Note to Beginners:  I've included beginners in this section more for those who don't exercise a lot and don't  really intend to "work out". But if you're new to exercise but have joined a gym or fitness studio, or you're determined to make exercise and working out a part of your life, consider the FitBits in the Intermediate or Fitness Enthusiasts section.

Both the Zip and the Flex  track your steps, calories burned and the distance you've walked.  You can set goals and compete with other friends who have a FitBit.

While each one will track your activity minutes, neither FitBit will automatically track your workouts. But you can easily record a workout manually through the online dashboard.

If you're more or less active and try to exercise on a regular basis, the FitBit One or the FitBit Charge are right up you bowling alley.

Not only can you track your sleep and floors climbed with both models, but you can track your workouts at the simple push of a button.

Both models have a silent wake alarm, too.

If you exercise on a regular basis and want to track your heart rate, the FitBit Charge HR and Surge will pump you up.

Both models will monitor your heart rate. with the Surge adding in extra features like MultiSport (to track a variety of sports, including biking) and built-in GPS tracker.

With a $100 USD price difference bewteen the two, the Charge HR will still do a great job of tracking your workouts and your heart rate.