Adidas Fit Smart MiCoach
The Adidas miCoach Fit Smart Run is a wearable from the much-loved German sports brand back in 2014.
Oddly, the newer versions of this activity tracker don’t offer a GPS connection like their predecessors. This was a deliberate decision by the developers in an effort to make the device more slimline and improve battery life.
The first attempt was a little shy of being one thing over another, GPS tracker or fitness device. Since the update, the miCoach now offers step counting, calorie tracking and approximate distance measures using the workout assistant. Now, it’s a great budget fitness tracker to rival the lower end of what Fitbit has to offer.
Design and build
This fitness tracker didn’t get the love Adidas anticipated on release. Audiences were keen on the first release of the training smartwatch and even more happy to receive the Smart Run, so this version was highly-anticipated.
The Smart Run was quite chunky for some. The strap was cumbersome and the display was unnecessarily big. The miCoach Fit Smart solves these design issues.
The display hasn’t been left behind in its entirety, there’s just less of it. You don’t get glass or an abundance of pixels. You get a 34mm strap made of silicone which protects an LED matrix display of only 17 x 11. It’s basic, but it works well. The display has a simple row of LED neons, two buttons to navigate and one button on the bottom for main actions.
The silicon band is breathable and comfortable on the skin, especially on the underside of your wrist.
It only measures 50g so it’s incredibly lightweight.
You get the choice of two colours; either black or pearl. The latter is very modern-looking when the LEDs are lit up. It’ll require regular wiping to keep it clean. It’s not water-resistant as it is sweat-proof; offering a 3ATM rating. Adidas directly says not to swim with it on.
Training
Underneath those LED lights lives a Mio heart rate sensor. This is the same as the one used on the Smart Run GPS and other Mio wearables. So it’s reliable.
Although not a dedicated watch for runners, it’s more what it says on the tin: a coach that will aid you throughout a whole range of activities that include strength training.
Whilst you’re training, the LED strip lights up and indicates the zone you’re in, out of five, which are indicative of your intensity level. You can/should keep an eye on your level and adapt your efforts in accordance with your goals for that session. The LEDs will tell you if you should work harder or relax the pace to reach this desired level. It’ll vibrate to indicate this, too, so you can focus on what you’re doing and not stare at the display. Either way, the instructions are clear.
Activity tracking
Potentially the biggest gripe with the Fit Smart was its inability to track useful fitness data. It didn’t record anything and users felt this was entirely counterproductive. This issue has been addressed in the miCoach Fit and now, using sensors, it will track steps and calories as well as an approximate distance travelled during the day.
You’re best off downloading the app so you can clearly see all this information. It’ll display your progress here. It’ll tally any data from other Adidas devices you may have, or just that from the fitness tracker. You can get a quick glance at this information on the display by clicking that button on the bottom of the display.
It’s been noted that the step count, in comparison to other budget trackers like some early Fitbit devices like the Flex or the Jawbone UP, is quite generous. As with all these things, though, it’s always advisable to take the numbers with a pinch of salt; they’re there as a guide.
If you’re using the updated Train and Run app, you’re able to set yourself daily and weekly goals.
Ecosystem
As with the Smart Run, the Fit Smart is very much tied to the miCoach ecosystem from Adidas. You can access it from your smartphone or tablet/PC, though.
Using the Fit Smart means using the app anyway, which is iOS, Android and even Windows compatible. It’s had an update not too long ago and seems to be working well.
You need to connect your devices via Bluetooth and it’ll sync your data within the app. It’ll let you store up to 15 training sessions, which you can customise, or simply use the ones prescribed by Adidas.
You can make your display a little more bespoke to yourself, if you like, depending on what information you want to see at a glance, in what order.
You don’t need to be within a given distance to your smartphone as they work independently. As the GPS function has been removed, the distance predictions can be a little janky, so if the distance is important to you, take your phone.
Battery life and bonus features
This second attempt by Adidas is far superior in battery life. You’ll get 5 days out of it, which includes one hour of activity every day. So an hour workout, or a 5-10km run. It has a standby mode too, to eek the power out as best you can.
It takes about 3 hours to charge and does have a proprietary charging dock.
Verdict
The welcome addition of daily activity tracking to the new Fit Smart is considered to be more valuable than the GPS it’s been swapped out for. The training zones are a useful guide as to how hard you should be working to attain your goal. The colourful visual reminder and vibrations make it a very simple process to keep motivated for that session.
The HRM has been reviewed as a little hit-or-miss, but you must always remember that we’re talking about a budget tracker which is really a perfect device for someone who is dipping their toe into what will be a later investment into something more high-spec.
If you’d like to learn more about budget fitness trackers, check out the latest news about the world’s cheapest tracker at only $15.
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