A glossy sensible scale for Fitbit customers

Though Fitbit constructed its fame on exercise trackers, its choices have since expanded to incorporate smartwatches, sensible water bottles, and — the driving force of this trial and article — sensible scales. The Aria Air, priced at $49.95, is the corporate’s newest toilet scale that provides a number of options that make it straightforward for present Fitbit clients particularly to trace yet another health- and wellness-related metric. Whether or not the size caters as effectively to non-Fitbit customers is up for debate.

Should you’re questioning whether or not the Fitbit Aria Air scale is best for you, right here’s what it is best to know: 

The setup is straightforward

To start out utilizing the Aria Air, all you need to do is take away the plastic tab from the battery compartment on the again, at which level the size activates and is nice to go. (That Fitbit consists of the three AAA batteries required is a minor however appreciated characteristic.) 

To report and observe your weight, you’ll then have to arrange a Fitbit account should you don’t have one already. To take action, set up the Fitbit app on a appropriate telephone or pill, comply with the prompts to create an account (or log into your present account), and comply with the directions so as to add a tool (Aria Air) to your account through Bluetooth.

Whereas the default unit of measurement is kilos, you’ll be able to swap to kilograms or stones (used primarily in the UK and Eire) by urgent the button on the again of the size.

The size is glossy and unobtrusive

With its curved corners, minimal design, and cloudy black and white coloration choices, the Aria Air bears a transparent resemblance to Apple merchandise. At simply 3.9 kilos, 1 inch thick, and slightly below 1 sq. foot, it’s additionally light-weight, and its grippy backside ensures that it received’t slide round throughout use. I’m of the opinion {that a} scale ought to by no means be greater than a low-profile accent in no matter room you retain it in, and this one blends in effectively — particularly in case your flooring are comparable in coloration to that of your scale.

The weighing course of is simple

Whether or not it’s a barebones scale or a Bluetooth-equipped one, the weighing expertise needs to be uncomplicated. Luckily, that’s the case with the Aria Air. Simply step on up and watch your weight seem virtually instantaneously within the backlit LCD show within the top-middle of the size. (Because the scale solely shows weight, you need to log into the app to see your physique fats share and physique mass index, colloquially generally known as BMI.)

It’s additionally a very good signal when a scale constantly stories the identical weight, because the Aria Air did to the tenth of a pound once I measured myself at roughly one-minute intervals a number of instances in a row.

As with all different scales, there are some common guidelines of thumb that enhance the Aria Air’s accuracy and longevity. Fitbit recommends inserting it on a tough, flat floor (learn: not carpet); utilizing it whilst you’re barefoot and dry; attempting to distribute your weight evenly between each ft; weighing your self at roughly the identical time and below the identical situations every day; and avoiding publicity of the size to extraordinarily excessive or low temperatures, open flames, or direct daylight for prolonged intervals of time.

However, to report your weight, you need to use the size with the app open

The most important downside of the Aria Air is the truth that your weight doesn’t get recorded until you weigh your self with the app open after which click on “save” when the quantity pops up. Positive, you’ll be able to examine your weight at any given time, with or with out the app open or your telephone close by. However should you care to doc the numbers on the show, you both should open the app inside moments of stepping on the size or manually enter your weight after the actual fact — each of which make the entire course of extra of a manufacturing than it needs to be.

The app makes it straightforward to detect tendencies over time

Should you’ve been diligent about documenting your weight (both weighing your self with the app open or manually getting into your weight every day), the Fitbit app makes it straightforward to see how your weight is trending over time. While you click on on the burden tab, there’s a clean-looking graph on the prime of the display that exhibits how your weight has fluctuated over the past 30 days. Scroll right down to see your every day weight and physique fats share measurements in a desk format, in addition to your common weight for every week and the times during which your weight objective was met (designated by a inexperienced star). Swiping proper within the weight tab shows further graphs displaying your lean versus fats weight, physique fats share, and present BMI.

It might strike you as a adverse that the Aria Air tracks fewer measurements than another sensible scales in the marketplace. In contrast to the Renpho Physique Fats Scale, for instance, it received’t present you your metabolic age or subcutaneous versus visceral fats mass. However given how inaccurate these measurements are typically when generated by at-home scales, you may very well be higher off with out them.

The reported weight is probably going correct, whereas the physique fats and BMI are much less so

When procuring round for a scale, one factor you’ll positively wish to know is how correct it’s. The reply right here depends upon the metric you’re speaking about. Relating to weight, the Aria Air might be near actuality, as weight is an easy measurement that Fitbit takes utilizing 4 load cells.

The supplementary metrics of BMI and physique fats share, nevertheless, are tough estimates at finest. (The BMI you see within the app is calculated primarily based in your weight and peak alone.) Dwelling-use physique scales such because the Aria Air merely can’t account for variables which will skew the numbers corresponding to hydration, location of physique fats storage, and present menstrual cycle part, in order that they’re extra helpful in displaying adjustments over time than in providing an correct learn of anybody second in time.

It could assist your weight-related targets

Whether or not you wish to lose, acquire, or preserve weight, the Aria Air may help you’re employed towards your private targets. Within the app, you merely select which of these three classes you slot in, after which enter your weight objective (and physique fats share objective, should you select to). Then you’ll be able to clearly see on the app’s residence web page and within the weight tab the place you’re in relation to that objective.

It accommodates a number of customers

As you’d count on from a wise scale, the Aria Air can accommodate a number of people. Anybody, clearly, can step on the size and see their weight in actual time. However those that even have the app and join it to that individual scale also can observe their weight (provided that the app is open whereas they weigh themselves). Luckily, the default setting is that solely you see your knowledge; something you wish to share is as much as you.

The measurement vary is 10 to 400 kilos

This isn’t essentially a knock on Fitbit, as most rest room scales have an higher restrict within the 250- to 400-pound vary — however people who weigh greater than the Aria Air’s 400-pound most deserve a heads up that that is most likely not the size for them. Likewise, should you’re hoping to make use of it as a meals or new child scale, you’ll need one particularly designed to measure lighter issues (and folks) with higher precision.

Your Fitbit account is appropriate with Fitbit Premium and main companion apps

Lastly, if you wish to elevate your health-tracking expertise, Fitbit presents two main methods to take action. First, for $9.99 per thirty days or $79.99 per 12 months (after a free 90-day trial), you’ll be able to improve your account to Fitbit Premium, which supplies you superior customized insights and guided packages corresponding to a every day readiness rating, sleep instruments, exercise movies, and varied video games and challenges.

Secondly, you’ll be able to join your Fitbit account (and thus weight information) to a stunning variety of well being, health, and diet apps. These embody MyFitness Pal, Weight Watchers, Lose It!, Peloton, and Strava.

Go/no go

Should you’re already within the Fitbit ecosystem — that means that you just use a Fitbit smartwatch or health tracker — there’s good cause so as to add the Aria Air scale to your fittech arsenal. It’s appropriate with the Fitbit app you have already got, and, when mixed with different metrics corresponding to every day steps and hours slept, can supply a extra full image of your total well being and wellness.

Should you aren’t a Fitbit consumer, nevertheless, the Aria Air scale might not be the most effective scale for you. You’d nonetheless want the Fitbit app despite the fact that you’d solely be using only one small a part of it, and there’s no getting round the truth that you need to keep in mind to weigh your self with the app open each time, until you’re diligent sufficient to enter your weight manually. For $49.95, it is best to have the ability to discover a extra streamlined approach to measure and observe your weight.