Fitbit Air has a strap problem after launch

You're gonna need a bigger wrist

Summary created by Smart Answers AI

In summary:

• Tech Advisor reports that the Fitbit Air, despite being a top-tier fitness tracker, faces significant design issues with its strap fitting poorly on small wrists.
• Reddit users have documented the problem with images showing the Elevated Modern Band and Performance Loop Band creating unsightly bumps and excess material.
• While the screenless device excels at discreet health tracking through Google’s AI Health Coach, Google must address these fit issues for smaller-wristed users.

As much as the Fitbit Air is the talk of the fitness tracker world right now, having launched to a glowing critical reception, it seems as if Google has overlooked one user base with its new device: those with smaller wrists.

The small-wristed community has taken to Reddit to voice their disdain against the build, which has been described as “one-size fits all” by Google, positing pictures that seriously call into question the validity of that statement, and whether or not the Fitbit Air was even tested on users with smaller wrists.

The original post, courtesy of Enchantress11, shows the porcelain Elevated Modern Band wrapped around to the point where there’s no more space left to give, leaving an unsightly bump on top of the Fitbit Air, which belittles the more compact aesthetic that you’ll see in the wearable’s marketing material.

In another photo, this time showcasing the included velcro-based Performance Loop Band, the strap has wrapped around itself so much that a small portion at the end is jutting out and likely to snag on something.

Plenty of other users in the comments have detailed their own issues with getting the Fitbit Air to fit properly on their wrists, but it’s led to a wider discussion about why the Air hasn’t launched with a bicep band, something which can be bought for the competing Whoop Strap 5.0.

Some users have even suggested wearing the Air around their ankles as a means of finding a more appropriate fit. While it’s hard to say whether or not the Air is even properly calibrated to work on a different part of the body, one thing is clear – Google will need to find a more permanent solution for users who are struggling with the current setup.

Is the Fitbit Air still worth buying?

Thankfully, this isn’t an issue that we encountered in our testing for the Fitbit Air, after which the device proved itself to be one of the best fitness trackers currently on the market.

Without a screen to distract users, the Fitbit Air is designed to discreetly track your health and fitness in the background, upon which the collected data can then be viewed in the all-new Google Health app.

Beyond the device itself, it’s the potential of Google’s AI-driven Health Coach that left us most impressed, offering tailor-made advice and instructions to users based on the information they choose to share, which is something we’d love to see more brands adopt in the future.