Bodybugg V2 Reviewed

As some know I have had the bodybugg for about two months now, which i think gives me enough time to give an honest review.

First an update for those that don’t know what the bodybugg is:

Bodybugg V2

Bodybugg takes the guesswork out of weight loss by monitoring your calorie expenditure and consumption using the most sophisticated consumer body monitoring capabilities available on the market today.

The bodybugg v2 is basically a monitor about the size of a small cellphone that you wear on your arm all day and it tracks calories burned using an accelerometer as the main input but also a heat flux sensor, GSR (galvanic skin response sensor), and skin temperture.

Over the two and a half months i put the bodybugg v2 through it’s paces and the following is what I liked and what I didn’t like:

Likes:

1. It monitors your movements and steps pretty accurately.
2. Somewhat comfortable, after a while you forget you have it on.
3. *Uploads data onto the web
4. *Simple and straight-forward to use
5. Can motivate you to move more
6. *Get real feedback on calories burned

Dislikes:

1. V2 is somewhat bulky
2. Must use the paid website inorder to get results
3. Must wear on the arm
4. *For realtime feedback, must buy a separate watch
5. *Must upload to the Website
6. Computer interface and website can be complicated to set up
   
7. *Some exercises (cycling, for instance, may not be accurate)

*I have a star next to some of these because it’s both a good and bad thing.

Likes:

1. It monitors your movements and steps pretty accurately.

You can wear it all day while your awake, which makes it easy to see which times of day your the most accurate, and where you can pick it up a little bit.

2. Somewhat comfortable, after a while you forget you have it on.

I often found myself at the end of the day forgetting that i even had it on.  This is a good thing in that you don’t want to wear something uncomfortable all day.

3. *Uploads data onto the web

With using a web program it’s nice because if you travel you can use someone else’s computer and still keep all of your tracking and info up-to-date.

4. *Simple and straight-forward to use

Once registered, you put the bodybugg on everyday, it turns itself on, and when your done, you take it off, it turns itself off.

5.Can motivate you to move more

When you have it on it serves as the little angel on your shoulder, reminding you of the goals that your working towards.  Also seeing your progress visually on the website is also motivating.

6.*Get real feedback on calories burned

If you don’t have the watch (an extra $100 bucks), you still get somewhat real time feedback in that, at the end of the day you sync up and you can see how active you were for that day, or workout.

Dislikes:

1.V2 is somewhat bulky.

This is my main complaint about the bodybugg v2 unit itself.  It’s not too big where it’s uncomfortable to wear, but big enough to if you are wearing tight fitted clothing, or big arms, you have a lump or bulge on one arm.

2.Must use the paid website inorder to get results.

And this is my #1 negative of the whole system (bodybugg v2 AND v3 and gowearfit also).  You must pay a monthly fee in order to use the bodybugg.  Even if you shell out the $100 bucks for the watch, after 14 days if you do not offload the data then you can no longer use the system.  And the only way to offload the data is if you are paying the subscription fee.

3.Must wear on the arm.

I know this doesn’t seem like a big deal, and for most it’s not, however i know many people trying to loose weight who don’t exactly like their arms and all they need is something to bring more attention to them.  Also when wearing tight fitting clothes there is a large bulge on the arm which make you think twice about the clothes your trying to wear. It would be nice if there was an option to wear it in different locations.

4.*For realtime feedback, must buy a separate watch

It would be nice if on the unit itself you could see some sort of real time feedback, or if the watch was included for free, however it seems like another “gotcha” when you have to put out another $100 for a feature that should already be included.  There are times when you want to wear another watch, however you would still like to “check in” on your progress.

5.*Must upload to the Website

I konw i’ve talked about the website already but this is another addition.. While using the bodybugg there was a few times where either my internet was down for one reason or another, or i didn’t have access to the net, or their website was down and/or giving errors.  If i was on my 14th day i could see this being a major issue/frustation.

6.Computer interface and website can be complicated to set up

I consider myself computer literate (most of my friends come to me when they have a computer issue), however, there were times setting this thing up when i wanted to pull my hair out!  It just seemed not to want to install or run correctly.  Once i did get it set up it wasn’t too bad, but sometimes it felt like it just didn’t feel like working that day.

7.*Some exercises (cycling, for instance, may not be accurate)

I don’t cycle all that much, or swim – there are some who do and you cannot swim with this unit and i have heard complaints that the accuracy of the unit while cycling is off.

So there it is, my review. Do i recommend it? I would go for the v3 or gowearfit, however it can be a useful tool if you can get passed the negatives, the main one being having to pay extra for things that should be included, and the size (which the v3 is much more “wearable”) then i would say go for it.

I give it an 8/10

Bodybugg V3 … it’s here

So i’ve done a lot of research… and possibly through the law of attraction – a lot has gone on over the last two weeks.

First off I will say that i now own a bodybugg – it is a bodybugg V2 and the thumbnail – i’m impressed. More on this in another post –

So as many of you may know the NEW and improved bodybugg is now out in the wild, you can get them at 24 hour fitness locations, on the 24 hour fitness website, Apex, or even the bodybugg website.

The Smaller, thinner, sexier Bodybugg v3

As of this post you can buy the NEW bodybugg V3  for $249.00 – what do you get with that purchase?

Your new bodybugg calorie management system® includes:

• one bodybugg® armband
• 2 arm straps (1 medium and 1 large)
• one USB cable
• user guide and getting started card

* for a limited time they are throwing in the $99 watch in for free

So what does this all mean? What is different about the V3 from the V2?

Well i’m glad you asked, that’s exactly what I asked the Bodybugg employees.  Unfortunately i didn’t really get a decent clear cut response back.  After doing more research i found a few things that might be of interest to you.

New Bodybugg v3

• new sleek design – 50% smaller than the original version
• now MAC compatible
• now 64 bit PC compatible
• no battery required – just recharge with the USB cable

In other words (found from a different website):

the V3 weighs only 1.6 ounces. The smaller, lighter model offers a one-of-a-kind ergonomic design intended to provide improved comfort and can be worn more discreetly under fitted clothing. In addition, the new model operates on a rechargeable battery which lasts up to 7 days, and contains a 3-axis accelerometer for improved detection of a range of daily activities.

So that’s the short of it.  What makes things interesting is that the Bodybugg is made by Bodymedia and they have come out with their own version of the V3 under the Gofitwear title.  Coming up is a comparision of the V3 and Gofitwear but until then you can check out their website (here’s a hint, there isn’t that much difference).

So if you have the V2 should you spring for the V3?  The human race loves to collect shiny new things, however, if the one you have now works, i don’t see why you would move on besides the size.  This is a choice that you have to make for yourself.