Thoughts on the Nike+ Fuelband - Day 1

Nike+ Fuelband

I’ve been playing with the new Nike+ Fuelband for about six hours now. I really, really like it. Here’s why:

This goal I’ve set - 3000 fuel points to start - looms over my head. I’m constantly checking the Fuelband every hour or so to see how close I’m getting to achieving my goal. I’m also checking how small activities contribute to Fuel points. High five - 2 points. One pushup - 3 points. Eating a meal - 32 points (I’m left-handed and the Fuelband is on my right wrist, for the record).

It’s simple and focused. My Fuelband measures my day, everything from walking to a meeting (150 points), to tying my shoes (8 points), to going on a run (832 points), to closing the Fuelband on my wrist (0 points). 

I don’t have to take pictures of my food and the Fuelband doesn’t care about how I sleep. Maybe it’s because today is Day 1 with the Fuelband or maybe it’s because it’s a great product, but I want to make it an active part of my life.

The mobile app is decent. Syncing works well and is incredibly easy. The UI is simple and fluid.

It’s a good watch. The time shows up and fades away and my sleek new watch converts back into a discrete black wristband full of magic and accelerometer bits.

My one complaint is that the Fuelband doesn’t work in the pool. I mean, it might, but I’m not going to chance that.

I had a Jawbone UP for about a week. I didn’t like it and I took it back. The Fuelband feels like a coach on your wrist, quietly reminding you throughout the day to get up off of your ass and move around a little bit. I’m excited to see how I feel throughout the rest of the week and into next week as the honeymoon phase wears off and it hopefully becomes something I throw on in the morning without thinking twice.