Fitbit Surge Fitness Tracker: A Comprehensive Review and Guide

The Fitbit Surge is a feature-rich fitness tracker that's perfect for those who want to track their daily activity, sleep, and heart rate. It's a great option for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want to monitor their progress and stay motivated.

The Fitbit Surge has a large touchscreen display that shows all the essential stats, including time, date, heart rate, and calories burned. With a simple tap, you can access more detailed information, such as your daily activity, exercise, and sleep patterns.

One of the standout features of the Fitbit Surge is its GPS capabilities, which allow you to track your runs, hikes, and bike rides with precision. This is especially useful for athletes who need to monitor their distance, pace, and route.

The Fitbit Surge also offers guided breathing sessions and a guided relaxation mode to help you relax and unwind after a long day. This feature is perfect for those who want to reduce stress and improve their overall well-being.

Related reading: Fitbit Zip Tracker

The Fitbit Surge is designed for workout performance, featuring a larger LCD display that's always on and backlit, allowing you to keep tabs on your stats on a 1.25-inch black-and-white screen.

The Surge upgrades to a touchscreen and adds three physical buttons, giving you more control over your fitness tracking experience.

You can easily cycle through multiple stats with the Surge's display, but it's not in color and may not fit as much information on one screen as some other fitness trackers.

The watch clasp is a welcome improvement, making it easier to fasten and less likely to slip off during exercise.

The Fitbit Surge measures 34mm wide, with a display that takes up much of that space, measuring 24.36mm by 20.88mm.

The Surge's design is more like a sports watch than a simple band, with a watch-like strap and buckle that feels secure and less likely to slip off.

Take a look at this: How to Resize Web Pages to Fit Screen on Phone

The Surge features a grayscale touchscreen that's always on, but can be difficult to see outdoors, and comes with only four customizable watch faces.

The Surge has a larger battery, lasting up to seven days or up to 10 hours with an active GPS signal, although your actual time may vary depending on usage.

The Fitbit Surge tracks steps, distance traveled, and calories burned with accuracy, but it also has a GPS that can measure stair climbs and distance traveled during a run.

The GPS produces a route map with elevation and heart rate figures, although it can be off by about 50m, failing to match up with a road map of the route.

The heart rate tracking during a run has a similar problem to the cheaper Fitbit Charge HR, only briefly peaking at 175 beats per minute.

For me, when my heart rate is between 95 and 133 beats per minute, I'm apparently in the "fat burn" zone, which is pretty meaningless without any advice on how to get to or maintain it.

Sleep tracking was also poor, simply showing time asleep, restless, and awake, unlike other heart rate-based fitness trackers that provide more meaningful data on sleep quality.

The Surge's biggest problem is the lack of useful analysis of the data it tracks, unlike competitors like Jawbone's Up, which provide analysis of exercise and how it affects sleep patterns, tips on how to train better, and more.

A fresh viewpoint: Health and Fitness Apps Analysis

The Fitbit Surge can track steps, distance traveled, and stair climbs with decent accuracy, but its GPS tracking can be off by about 50m, failing to match up with a road map of the route.

The Surge's heart rate tracking has a similar issue to the cheaper Fitbit Charge HR, with a tendency to record a brief peak at 175 beats per minute, resulting in inaccurate zone determination.

The Surge doesn't provide useful analysis of the data it tracks, unlike competitors like Jawbone's Up, which offers analysis of exercise and its effects on sleep patterns, as well as tips on how to train better.

The company offers a premium service for £40 a year, which provides weekly reports on fitness and health stats, but most other fitness trackers provide similar analysis for free.

The Surge's GPS tracking isn't the most accurate, with noticeable smoothing around corners and occasional off-track routes, but these errors are few and far between.

The watch can inflate step counts, making it easier to reach daily goals, but this can be inconsistent and may not accurately reflect actual activity levels.

The Surge's data syncs to the Fitbit app and a web interface, making it easier to study and track progress, unlike mobile-only Jawbone Up products.

The Fitbit Surge tracks your heart rate, which can be monitored in real-time on the watch's LCD touchscreen. This feature is particularly useful for serious fitness users who want to optimize their workouts.

You can also create a custom heart-rate zone on your computer's Fitbit dashboard, giving you more control over your training. This is a feature that's exclusive to the Fitbit Surge and other advanced Fitbits.

The Fitbit Surge's heart rate monitoring is just one of the many features that make it a great tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Its accuracy is a big plus, especially for those who need precise data to fine-tune their training.

The Surge's ability to track your heart rate in real-time means you can make adjustments on the fly to get the most out of your workout. This level of control can be a game-changer for serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Battery life is a crucial aspect of any fitness tracker, and the Surge delivers in this department. It lasted seven days on a single charge in my testing.

Several runs with the GPS active during the run didn't seem to affect the battery life, which is impressive.

The Fitbit Surge's software is a highlight of this fitness tracker. It comes with a free app and desktop dashboard that display fantastic graphs and stats to show how you're performing to your set targets.

You can get a lot of useful information from these graphs and stats. The Surge's software is a great way to track your progress and stay motivated.

The Surge can display call information and text messages when connected to an iPhone or Android phone, but it doesn't support email or third-party apps.

The Fitbit Surge is a watch that can display some notifications, but it's not a full-fledged smartwatch.

It can show call information, which is helpful for staying connected, and text messages when connected to an iPhone or Android phone.

However, it doesn't support email notifications, which might be a drawback for some users.

The Surge also lacks support for third-party apps, which means it can't show notifications from other apps like social media or fitness trackers.

This limited notification system is a far cry from what Fitbit calls a "superwatch", which implies a more comprehensive smartwatch experience.

The Fitbit Surge has a free app and desktop dashboard that display fantastic graphs and stats to show you how you're performing to your set targets. These software features are a major highlight of the device.

The Surge's large screen is also a great feature, with swipable navigation that makes it easy to move through the different screens and menus.

The Fitbit Surge is a serious fitness tracker that's perfect for those who want to take their workouts to the next level. It features GPS tracking, real-time workout stats, and a heart rate monitor, making it a valuable tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts.

Its larger, swipeable display is a game-changer for on-wrist stats, giving you a wealth of information at your fingertips. The Surge has a chunkier, more watch-like design that's perfect for those who want a tracker that looks like a real watch.

The Surge is not just for serious fitness users, but it's only they who will use all of its more sports-orientated features. If you want to see dedicated heart-rate stats during performance-based workouts, the Surge is the way to go.

You can create a custom heart-rate zone on your computer's Fitbit dashboard, giving you even more control over your workouts. This feature is particularly useful for athletes who need to monitor their heart rate in real-time.

A fresh viewpoint: Fitness Watch Apps

The Fitbit Surge costs £199 and is available in black, blue, and orange.

Compared to other fitness trackers, the Fitbit Surge is priced higher, with competitors like the Basis Peak costing £150 and high-end fitness watches costing over £250.

You can find the Fitbit Surge for under £150 at Amazon, which is a great deal considering its features.

The Fitbit Surge will cost £199.99, which is £100 more than the Fitbit Charge and £80 more than the Fitbit Charge HR.

The Fitbit Surge fitness tracker is a great option for those looking to track their daily activities and stay on top of their fitness goals.

It has a large display screen that shows a lot of information at once, including the time, date, steps taken, distance traveled, and calories burned.

One of the standout features of the Fitbit Surge is its ability to track sleep patterns, which is done automatically by the device.

The Fitbit Surge also has a built-in GPS, allowing users to track their runs and other outdoor activities without needing to carry a separate device.

It's waterproof up to 50 meters, making it perfect for swimming laps or just splashing around in the pool.

The battery life is impressive, lasting up to 5 days on a single charge.

The Fitbit Surge is a feature-packed fitness tracker that's designed to keep up with your active lifestyle. It has a very respectable 7-day battery life, which is better than some other models on the market.

One thing to keep in mind is that prolonged use of the GPS function can drain the battery faster, shortening it to just three days. This is something to consider if you plan on using the GPS frequently.

The Surge is also more water resistant than some other Fitbit models, with a rating of five Atmospheres. This means it can withstand splashes and shallow water, but it's not recommended for swimming or bathing.

Intriguing read: Sbc Water Pump Fit

Here are some key specifications to know:

The Surge comes in three different band sizes: Small (16-20cm), Large (16-20cm), and X-Large (20-23cm).

The Fitbit Surge is a great device, but it's not perfect. It comes half charged, so you can turn it on right away and get a feel for its features.

The packaging includes a wireless USB dongle for syncing with your PC or laptop, and a proprietary USB cable for charging. However, I was disappointed to find that it has yet another different charger, just like the other Fitbit trackers. This means if you lose the charging cable, you'll need to buy a new one from the Fitbit Store for around £17.

To get started, follow the quick guide instructions and head to fitbit.com/setup to download the Windows or Mac software. Don't forget to plug in the special dongle into your computer.

The Surge has a short delay between steps, but it catches up quickly. In my testing, I compared it to the Galaxy Note's S health app, and they were close to each other.

You can swipe across the watch to view different data, and press the upper-right button to see text messages. For iPhone users, all the new features are immediately available, but Android users will be missing out on music player controls – at least for now.

It's recommended to wear the tracker on your non-dominant wrist, and to remove the wristband regularly to prevent possible skin reactions.

The Fitbit Surge isn't perfect, and here's what you need to know about its limitations.

The design is a bit dated, with an '80s-like aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone. It's not a major issue, but it's worth considering if you're particular about style.

The battery life is also a bit weaker than some of its competitors. You can expect to get a few days of use out of it, but it's not as long-lasting as some other fitness trackers.

Here are some of the key cons and limitations of the Fitbit Surge:

It's also worth noting that the Fitbit Surge doesn't support email or third-party apps, which is a bit of a letdown for those who were hoping for a more robust smartwatch experience.

The Fitbit Surge has its downsides, and I want to highlight them so you can make an informed decision.

It has a dated design, reminiscent of the '80s, which may not appeal to everyone.

The watch is enormous, making it bigger and bulkier than other watches, which can be a turn-off for those who prefer a more streamlined look.

It's not completely accurate, and you may notice some discrepancies in its readings.

The battery life is also a concern, lasting only up to four days in my experience, although it can last up to seven days under optimal conditions.

Here are some specific cons to consider:

The Surge isn't designed for shower use, which might be a surprise given its water resistance. It can withstand up to 5 ATM (50 meters) of water pressure, but Fitbit still doesn't recommend swimming or showering with it.

You'll need to take it off before getting in the water, which can be inconvenient if you're used to wearing it in the shower.

The Fitbit Surge is a great option for active consumers due to its superior software, which is one of the easiest to use and has the largest social base.

Its compatibility with various services is a major plus, making it a great choice for those who want to track their fitness journey with a community.

However, it's not ideal for more serious athletes, as its features are not as robust as those of other fitness trackers on the market.

If you don't need GPS, you're better off getting one of Fitbit's other trackers, as they offer similar features at a lower price point.

The Fitbit Surge has been superseded by the all-new Ionic, but it still boasts competitive specs, particularly if you can find a knocked-down price.

With GPS tracking, real-time workout stats, and a heart rate monitor, the Surge is a solid choice for those who want a feature-packed fitness tracker.

However, if you're looking for a more minimalist design, you may want to consider other options, as the Surge is a bit larger than other Fitbit trackers.

You might like: Google Says It's Not Ditching Fitbit Smartwatches Just Yet.