While there is no shortage of options for wearable activity tracking these days, not many solutions take the cyclist into mind. Enter the FlyFit, which solves the cycling dilemma with a simple solution, putting the tracker around your ankle where its on-board sensors can track and decipher leg movement. The ankle tracking allows it to combine the everyday tracking from regular movements throughout your day and sleep tracking to more targeted sport activity data collection from cycling, as well as running and even swimming. Linked together with a powerful smartphone app, Flyfit offers one of the most comprehensive tracking solutions on the market. Check out the details, pricing, and availability after the break…
Flyfit aims to be the one device you need to track all types of activity. Part of that is a virtue of combining the relatively simple motion tracking with a powerful app-based visualization tool that can be continually developed to offer more and deeper functionality. The Flyfit has a simple LED panel that shows each of its main tracking functions, like regular day time activity of walking, running, cycling, stair climbing and swimming, as well as length and quality of sleep. Its ankle-based measurement also makes it idea for stationary fitness training like riding on an indoor trainer that otherwise would require an additional measurement device.
The Flyfit was developed with backing from a successful Kickstarter campaign last year, out of which the company has made the transition to a stable business model. At $170 and available now (plus $15 shipping in the US and $25 internationally), it’ll set you back a bit more than the basic Fitbits that it is going up against, but forgoes the heart rate or GPS tracking of the higher end competitors in lieu of leg tracking and a lower price.
By tracking leg movement vs. arm movement the Flyfit is able to get a better sense for a broader range of activities. With its gesture recognition it automatically identified different types of movement and tallies your stats accordingly. Being waterproof and storing data in the tracker module itself to be later synced with a smartphone, it is one of the few devices that provides its full tracking capability from swim to bike to run.
The Flyfit band itself is made of Silicone and comes in 5 colors, with the removable sensor/tracker. The tracker module itself is completely waterproof and includes a basic set of 4 LED indicators that let you know it is working, without draining power. And since it is on your ankle you only really look at it to check that it is turned on and doing what you want. The rechargeable Li-ion battery lasts 5-7 days in its offline syncing mode or 8 hours of full realtime data syncing with a smart phone to live track an activity.
Communication is with Bluetooth 4.0 to an iOS or Android app that both live tracks activity and provides overall activity stats, analysis, and sleep quality. It even lets you compete against your self and compare with your friends to set activity achievements. The app pulls in your phone’s GPS data for detailed mapping and integrated cycling functionality, displaying activity time, speed, cadence, distance, and calories burned.
