Australian review: Should Fitbit’s foray into smartwatches really get your heart racing?

LEADING fitness gadget firm Fitbit has finally released a smartwatch in Australia. But is the so-called ‘fitness super watch’ worth strapping to your wrist?

Everyday use ... Fitbit’s advanced fitness tracker is designed for workouts and everyday use.

Review: Fitbit / 4.5/5 / $349.95 / fitbit.com/au

HOW excited was I to see a text message on a Fitbit screen? My heart rate spiked to 80 beats per minute and I did a 10-step happy dance.

The leading fitness gadget firm has released its first “fitness super watch” in Australia and the device delivers a lot of firsts.

In sync ... the Fitbit Surge fitness tracker delivers its sporty statistics to a connected Apple or Google-based smartphone.

They include a GPS chip to map and measure runs, a backlit touchscreen to navigate menus, a continuous heart-rate monitor, multiple sport modes, text-message notifications, and music controls.

Mercifully, they arrive in a slick package that is water resistant to 50m and comfortable to wear.

The Surge’s 1.25-inch black and white touchscreen offers fresh convenience, with users able to swipe through step count, heart rate, staircases climbed and other statistics for the first time.

Super watch ... Fitbit's Surge comes in black initially, followed by blue and orange.

Press the button on its side, and users can choose one of 15 exercise modes to more accurately assess hikes, walks, weights, spinning, yoga or martial arts sessions.

Running modes get their own menu, however, as most buyers are expected to covet its GPS addition. The watch only works for five hours with GPS engaged, rather than a week without it, but seeing Fitbit runs on a map adds insight.

Naturally, this Fitbit also tracks the wearer’s sleep automatically, and provides an accurate daily step count.

Everyday use ... Fitbit’s advanced fitness tracker is designed for workouts and everyday use.

The Surge’s music controls, plus phone call and SMS notifications also work efficiently, but smartwatch aficionados will despair that more are not available, even as an option.

This watch must also be charged with a proprietary cord, and while its two-colour screen is a battery miser, it looks basic beside smartwatch rivals.

The Surge is by far the best exercise gadget Fitbit has produced, however, and its all-rounded count-every-heart-beat approach to sports tracking is admirable and useful.