Summary created by Smart Answers AI
In summary:
- Tech Advisor highlights a new trend where users are combining the Fitbit Air with analog watches using the Perform Band to create a hybrid wearable.
- Dan Seifert, Google’s Product Critic, showcased this inventive approach, demonstrating how the Fitbit Air can be discreetly worn under the wrist while still collecting fitness data.
- Google has released official blueprints to support third-party accessory development, although some analog watches may need 3D-printed adapters for seamless integration with the band.
The Fitbit Air is already a stylish fitness tracker, renowned for its slim, screenless design. However, users have discovered an inventive way to enhance it by attaching an analog watch to the band, resulting in a surprisingly effective combination.
Initially, attaching a traditional watch to the Fitbit Air Perform Band might seem awkward. Yet, users sharing their setups on social media reveal that the Fitbit Air can be cleverly concealed beneath the wrist, rather than prominently displayed on top.
Among those sharing this innovation is Dan Seifert, a Product Critic at Google. He successfully threaded the standard Perform Band through the lugs of his Instrmnt Field Watch, creating a striking and integrated two-in-one device. It appears just like a typical watch with a fabric strap.
Credit: Dan Seifert
This approach is particularly appealing to those who prefer traditional watches over smartwatches and choose the Fitbit Air for its lack of a screen. Utilizing a single strap to accommodate both the watch and the Fitbit Air means wearers can avoid the inconvenience of having two separate devices on their wrists.
This solution isn’t without its challenges, though. As illustrated by user Josh Makeshfit, attempting to attach a Casio calculator watch showed that the Perform Band’s thickness can be problematic, requiring 3D-printed adapters for proper attachment.
The Fitbit Air band is also narrower than many watch straps at 17mm, which may necessitate allowing the strap to slide within the slot for a proper fit.
Overall, this trend reflects a growing interest in merging fitness trackers like the Fitbit Air with analog devices, echoing the hybrid approach seen in products like the Withings Scanwatch Nova and the Garmin Lily 2.
With Google’s recent release of official blueprints for the Fitbit Air, it is likely that third-party manufacturers will soon develop custom bands specifically designed to better integrate traditional watches. This area is worth monitoring for forthcoming innovations.
