Nike Fuel Band Review
Nike Fuel Band Review
A few weeks ago Nike launched their brand new fitness product the Nike Fuel Band. Like the FitBit and the Jawbone UP Band the Fuel Band aims to turn your exercise activity into a quantified game. I had the opportunity to try out (and own) an advance copy of the product and here is my review of the Nike Fuel Band.
What is the Nike Fuel Band?
When Nike first debuted the Nike+ running system, it was a cant miss tool for runners to monitor and quantify their workouts. The problem however was that the Nike+ system only worked for running. But what about the rest of your sport and exercise life? Enter the Nike+ Fuel Band.
The Nike+ FuelBand is a rubber bracelet worn during exercise, sports or physical activities to measure “steps, calories, time & Fuel metric (currency measured by oxygen kinetics)”. It’s a better designed, better marketed, and obviously better product than its fellow competitors.
How does the Nike Fuel Band work?
The Nike Fuel Band doesn’t measure miles ran, stairs climbed, or laps swam. What it does is measure the amount of oxygen your body is costuming using “oxygen kinetics”. It then converts that information into a universal currency called NikeFuel. It doesn’t matter what activity you are doing; boxing, running, making dinner, or swaying your baby to sleep, the Nike Fuel Band will measure it all.
What I Liked About The Nike Fuel Band:
The most unique aspect of the Nike Fuel Band is that it appeals to anyone and everyone who participates in any form of physical activity. It doesn’t matter if our are running a marathon, skateboarding, shooting free throws, or making pizza. The Nike Fuel Band can be used for any activity and will measure any firm of physical activity.
I also liked that at any given time you can look down and see exactly what progress you’ve made on your daily fitness goals. That feature alone makes this band worthwhile.
The biggest thing I didn’t like: IT’S NOT WATERPROOF. That means you can’t take it swimming and swimming is arguably the best full body workout. I suppose the USB port and ‘oxygen kinetics’ are to blame for this but what are you going to do. Making it waterproof would have made it an instantly “can’t miss product”.
What I didn’t like about the Nike Fuel Band:
This seems odd but the thing I didn’t like was that it’s a bracelet which must be worn on the wrist. I don’t wear jewelry (a watch on certain occasions) and I found it odd to have something on my wrist. Nike however did do a great job of designing a product that doesn’t look awkward or cumbersome but for me, a prodct like thismwouldmbe best hidden away.
The device isn’t exactly groundbreaking as there are several iterations already on the market and some even have better features. Nike however will make several changes to this product and I’m sure the Fuel Band version 2 or more will be better. I wouldn’t hold off of purchasing quite yet as you never know when a better version will come out.
It was cool to constant see your status as you worked towards our goal but I would be just as happy looking at my phone as my wrist or even better, getting a text or message when certain fitness goals were met.
Key Aspects of the Nike Fuel Band:
Small, lightweight, and fashionable. The 20 dot LED display is also very cool and makes you feel like a spaceman when worn 
- 3 access accelerometer to track movement
- 4 day battery
- Weighs 1 oz
- Water Proof
- iOS and website support
- Built in USB
- Syncs over Bluetooth
- Connects to Facebook, FourSquare, and Path
Cost of the Nike Fuel Band?
On par with its competitors ( FitBit and JawBone ). It clocks in around $150 and will be available almost everywhere when it comes out in February
How The Nike Fuel Band compares to the Jawbone UP
I used the JawBone UP when preparing for my first marathon last year. It’s a great product, very valuable and even has a few features the Nike Fuel Band does not. For example, the UP tracks your sleep patterns and can even track your eating habits. However, even after a very limited trial period, here is why I prefer the Fuel Band to the UP:
Unlike the UP you don’t have to tell it when you are doing activities. There is no exercise, still, or sleeping mode. The Fuel Band automatically recognizes when you are engaged or not engaged in activity and measures you output accordingly. Also, with the Fuel Band, all of your relevant information is displayed right in the band instead of on a separate app like the UP (note: the Fuel Band also has an app which will be out soon).
The JawBone might have more features but the Fuel Band is a better product. Often, less is more and in this case, the Nike Fuel Band wins out.
Final Review of the Nike Fuel Band:
For me, it’s awesome. I’ve always wanted a quantifiable way to view my exercise stats. This has helped kick start my 2012 goal of getting in better shape. Just having a constant reminder of where you are in your daily fitness goals is what makes the Nike Fuel Band paramount to any other product. it’s a personal trainer/motivator on your wrist.
That does it for my review of the Nike Fuel Band. If anyone has any questions, comments, or concerns I will gladly answer them in the comments.
No related posts.
16 Comments
Leave a comment
Sponsors
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- admin on Nike Fuel Band Review
- Kyle on Nike Fuel Band Review
- Connor on Nike Fuel Band Review
- Connor on Nike Fuel Band Review
- Richard on Nike Fuel Band Review
Great review of the nike fuel band. Do you know when it hit stores or if it’s available for Pre order anywhere?
Thanks!
Comes out February 22nd. You can pre order it on Nike’s website
looks pretty cool. You mentioned that you cant swim with it, but can you shower with it? whats the limit to its waterproof-ness?
thanks connor!
I usually take mine off before I shower. Havent tested it out around water yet. too scared.
Are you saying it does not measure speed/distance?
That does not sound like the kind of thing a runner is looking for?
What am I missing here???
That is correct. It does not measure speed or distance. The Nike+ running system is better for that. The fuel band quantifies your total physical output for ALL activities. No distinction is made between running, weight lifting, or chopping onions.
I am interested in buying this product. Do you think the price of the product is worth it? Also, do you think the Fuel Band coupled with the Running System will be best for someone trying to loose weight?
If you are interested in fitness and personal care, then yes its worth it.
Nike+ Running is designed only for runners and measure only running related activities. As mentioned in my article, the FuelBand measures all activity.
For someone trying to lose weight, I recommend the Fuel Band over Nike+ system. Keep in mind, you need to do more than just wear the fuel band. Proper diet and a
Propriety exercise is the most important.
I can recommend this book: The 4 Hour Body - as it helped me out quite a but on my path to a healthier lifestyle.
Good luck!
i do alot of weights and prob spend 2 hours a day in the gym doing weights and explosive movements. will this give me an accurate reading of calories burned through work out ? because although gettin massive sweat on and feeling exhausted my work out dony invole me moving around alot etc…. would be nice to have something that shows me exactly wat calories ive burnt throughout the whole day from minute i wake up to just before i go to bed ,
Yes, it measures calories burned. It also measures steps taken and fuel points. Simple press the button and you can cycle between the time, calories, steps, and Nike Fuel Points.
Hi Connor, thanks for the review. I’m wondering, do you know how well it distinguishes vs intense/non intense activities that feature similar wrist movement? They say it measures oxygen intake, is it taking a pulse? My worry is that certain activities (lifting, cycling, etc) won’t be recorded at the same level as running or soccer. Thoughts?
From what I’ve gathered, Nike mapped hundreds of exercises and movements to the Fuel Band. Basically, they individually recorded all the movements someone does while playing an activity even those similar like ping pong, squash, racquetball, and tennis. With that information embedded into the fuel band, it should be able to tell the difference in activities weather it’s upper body, lower body, full body, or no body (changing channels).
I’ve definitely noticed a difference between walking, jogging, running. It’s supposed to measure everything you do even something like skateboarding which has almost zero upper body exertion so I imagine it would be able to record cycling and weightlifting as well.
Hope that makes sense.
I have congestive heart failure. Just plain walking will perhaps extend my life.
So I would like a device that monitors all my activities so I can determine my relative amount of activity each day and hopefully increase it each week. I get my excercise doing ordinary tasks as well as walking on a treadmill. This devices seems to provide
a relative measure of all of walking my dogs, walking around a mall, walking up and down the 13 steps in my home just to do the wash or play my piano. It seems to do it for all my activities.
I am senior and have been active all of my life though not a runner. I have been playing with gadgets and smart phones since the first IPhone was introduced.
I think I want a fuel band but not at the $149 dollar price point. But is it ever so tempting and it is cool. Can you imagine what kind of comments I might get?I
Amazin
Hey Richard,
This is exactly what the fuel band was designed for. The device will in fact monitor all of your activities and determine a relative amount if activity. With the fuel band you can easily compare your daily outputs and see how they stack up against each other and how they compare over time.
If you’re interested in it, I recommend it. You seem like you could definitely benefit from the fuel band.
You said that the fuel band had a 4 day battery so do you just plug it in like you would your iPhone and what day does the fuel band come out
It looks like a really cool wristband tux
Kyle
Kyle,
You charge it via the built in USB port. Super easy.
I believe it comes out this week. I’ll put out a message / link when I see that it’s out.