Smart Health Walking Fit
Smart Health Walking Fit Review Facts
The Smart Health Fit line of watches allows users to be more aware of their fitness habits and daily calorie burn with its minimally featured, user-friendly products. This is one of the easiest to use heart rate/fitness tracker watches we have found. There is almost no setup required; you can take your watch out of the box, set the time, and go.
This Walking Fit watch automatically tracks an entire day’s worth of steps, distance, and calories burned. By gently touching and leaving your fingers on the heart rate sensor, the watch reads your ECG signals while you are exercising or at rest, to give you a fairly accurate heart rate.
This company purports to use its own proprietary technology to integrate your heart rate into the calorie calculation. It also makes use of basal metabolic rate (BMR), speed, and motion, all to provide a more accurate all-day calorie burn.
The combination of precision technology and simplicity allows users to meet their fitness goals with consistent use. The watch is low cost and gets the middle of the road reviews. Let’s take a deep dive into the features and specs of the Smart Health Walking Fit wristwatch.
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Low price, simple operation make the watch a good entry level option for beginners
Holds 24 hours worth of data
Includes access to a walking video with trainer Denise Austin
Watch calculates your stride length, so you don’t have to input it when you start
Water-resistant for shower/rain/shallow swims
Adjustable wrist strap
Cons
Some reviewers said the watch is not durable
Almost no information available about Smart Health
Proprietary Technology?
When a product that fulfills a common role--tracking heart rate, calories, and movement in this case--claims to use proprietary technology, we are skeptical. Often, products will use the same or virtually the same technology as competitors, but with a fitness-y or scientific-sounding name. We decided to examine their claims before sharing any more critical information about the Walking Fit.
The technology used by Smart Health is called S-Pulse. From the Amazon listing: “S-Pulse(™) is the established leader in episodic heart rate for Sports Brands and international commercial cardio equipment.” But that claim does not hold water, because we were unable to find any further information about S-Pulse. We found several commercial and consumer electronics companies by that name, but none of them seem to have a connection to the fitness tracker industry. It is unclear, from the sparse description, how S-Pulse technology works or how it is different from the optical or electric sensors used by most fitness watches and chest strap heart monitors.
We did find something called PurePulse, which is what Fitbit watches use for heart rate data. PurePulse is also the name of a FitBit line of products. We can’t know what they actually had in mind, but it is possible the company chose the name S-Pulse to describe its sensor technology simply because it sounds like PurePulse.
We couldn’t even verify that anyone holds the trademark for the word S-Pulse; a Google results page reveals it is used in sports, entertainment, healthcare, and other industries.
The watch requires you to place your fingers on the sensors to read heart rate. Reading finger pulse is a time-honored way of counting heart rate; there is nothing new about this and, in fact, many trackers at a similar price point give constant data as long as the pulse sensor is in contact with your wrist skin. No placing or holding of the fingers is necessary, actually making the Walking Fit less convenient than a more full featured watch at a comparable price point.
The technology used by Smart Health is called S-Pulse. From the Amazon listing: “S-Pulse(™) is the established leader in episodic heart rate for Sports Brands and international commercial cardio equipment.” But that claim does not hold water, because we were unable to find any further information about S-Pulse. We found several commercial and consumer electronics companies by that name, but none of them seem to have a connection to the fitness tracker industry. It is unclear, from the sparse description, how S-Pulse technology works or how it is different from the optical or electric sensors used by most fitness watches and chest strap heart monitors.
We did find something called PurePulse, which is what Fitbit watches use for heart rate data. PurePulse is also the name of a FitBit line of products. We can’t know what they actually had in mind, but it is possible the company chose the name S-Pulse to describe its sensor technology simply because it sounds like PurePulse.
We couldn’t even verify that anyone holds the trademark for the word S-Pulse; a Google results page reveals it is used in sports, entertainment, healthcare, and other industries.
The watch requires you to place your fingers on the sensors to read heart rate. Reading finger pulse is a time-honored way of counting heart rate; there is nothing new about this and, in fact, many trackers at a similar price point give constant data as long as the pulse sensor is in contact with your wrist skin. No placing or holding of the fingers is necessary, actually making the Walking Fit less convenient than a more full featured watch at a comparable price point.
Tech Specs
Despite our wariness about the company and its claims of proprietary technology, the Walking Fit did get about 311 five star reviews on Amazon (35% at the time of this writing). Before we dig into some common praises and gripes, here is a rundown of the numbers provided on the Amazon listing page for the watch.
The Smart Health Walking Fit watch measures 8 by 5 by 3 inches (the wristband extends to 8 inches and will accommodate most wrists). It weighs four ounces and runs on a single 9-volt battery. The battery is included with purchase, so we assume the four ounces includes the battery and not just the watch.
The watch gives you the time of day, but no date and no alarm for waking up. The watch is not for swim sports, as using the buttons underwater may let water leak in and ruin the watch. The simplicity of the watch makes it ideal for kids, and one PE teacher talked about letting a student use it to track distance and help map class walks and other activities.
The flexible polymer band uses a hole and hook system to adjust quickly and stay securely in place. People with small wrists will be able to wear the watch without it falling off. You manually enter your height and weight when you put on the watch, so there is some setup required if you want accurate movement and calorie tracking. Many reviewers mentioned wearing the watch all the time with no issues, while others complained that the watch broke loose from the strap quickly. Judging by their web presence, we wouldn’t expect stellar customer service from Smart Health although we could not find many reviewers who needed help.
Of the five products offered by this company, the Walking Fit garnered the highest average rating at 3.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Aggregate Google reviews were much more generous, giving the watch an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. However, Google only aggregated 31 reviews on the search results page compared to 891 reviews provided by Amazon customers.
The Smart Health Walking Fit watch measures 8 by 5 by 3 inches (the wristband extends to 8 inches and will accommodate most wrists). It weighs four ounces and runs on a single 9-volt battery. The battery is included with purchase, so we assume the four ounces includes the battery and not just the watch.
The watch gives you the time of day, but no date and no alarm for waking up. The watch is not for swim sports, as using the buttons underwater may let water leak in and ruin the watch. The simplicity of the watch makes it ideal for kids, and one PE teacher talked about letting a student use it to track distance and help map class walks and other activities.
The flexible polymer band uses a hole and hook system to adjust quickly and stay securely in place. People with small wrists will be able to wear the watch without it falling off. You manually enter your height and weight when you put on the watch, so there is some setup required if you want accurate movement and calorie tracking. Many reviewers mentioned wearing the watch all the time with no issues, while others complained that the watch broke loose from the strap quickly. Judging by their web presence, we wouldn’t expect stellar customer service from Smart Health although we could not find many reviewers who needed help.
Of the five products offered by this company, the Walking Fit garnered the highest average rating at 3.5 stars out of 5 on Amazon. Aggregate Google reviews were much more generous, giving the watch an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. However, Google only aggregated 31 reviews on the search results page compared to 891 reviews provided by Amazon customers.
Other Facts
Amazingly, we were able to find the owner’s manual for the Walking Fit. We didn’t get it from Smart Health, as Smart Health appears not to have a website. Though the manual is provided by a site that scans and uploads these documents, we can verify that the manual is authentic and originated from Smart Health. It is 32 pages long, which seems excessive for a product that promotes its simplicity as a point of difference.
On the front of the manual, we found the company’s website is called Smart Health USA, not simply Smart Health. We do not recommend typing that name followed by a .com extension, as it led us directly to a phishing site. The Smart Health USA YouTube and FaceBook pages are legitimate but have not been updated since 2013.
The manual, like our reviewers, warns that the buttons cannot be operated when the watch is underwater. This is a huge drawback and makes us wonder if the watch is safe in the sauna or steam room, too. Drawings in the manual provide a closer look at the watch face and buttons, revealing how simple and pared down the product really is.
Setting the time initially is just as baffling as doing so for any low-end wristwatch. You have to push and hold multiple buttons. The manual does a good job of labeling the buttons and walking you through time setup. A view button on the upper right of the face scrolls you through calories, step count, the distance for the preceding 24-hour period. There are no advanced metrics, and the watch is not compatible with any apps or mobile devices.
On the front of the manual, we found the company’s website is called Smart Health USA, not simply Smart Health. We do not recommend typing that name followed by a .com extension, as it led us directly to a phishing site. The Smart Health USA YouTube and FaceBook pages are legitimate but have not been updated since 2013.
The manual, like our reviewers, warns that the buttons cannot be operated when the watch is underwater. This is a huge drawback and makes us wonder if the watch is safe in the sauna or steam room, too. Drawings in the manual provide a closer look at the watch face and buttons, revealing how simple and pared down the product really is.
Setting the time initially is just as baffling as doing so for any low-end wristwatch. You have to push and hold multiple buttons. The manual does a good job of labeling the buttons and walking you through time setup. A view button on the upper right of the face scrolls you through calories, step count, the distance for the preceding 24-hour period. There are no advanced metrics, and the watch is not compatible with any apps or mobile devices.
Why This Product
It’s pretty clear that the Smart Health Walking Fit watch does not reach the performance or complexity levels of its major competitors. If the social media pages for the company are six years out of date, we can only assume that the watch’s firmware hasn’t been updated either. Not that there’s much to update--this doesn’t qualify as a smartwatch and doesn’t claim to be one. It does not contain an accelerometer, gyroscope, GPS unit, or fitness apps. It will track basic metrics, which will be erased after 24 hours with no means of uploading to a mobile device.
None of this means we won’t recommend the watch. It is cheap, effective in a limited way, and simple. The lack of update ability means there is little that can go wrong with the watch’s CPU. It will give you the time of day when you aren’t scrolling through your day’s activity. The wristband is comfortable, durable, and adjustable, and the watch comes in either black or white. The low cost, ease of use, and lack of deal-breaking critical reviews all add up to good value for those who want to try a fitness watch without having to learn an array of features or have their every move stored somewhere. The watch would make a fun gift for kids, seniors, and anyone who wants to meet a daily step goal or make sure their calorie burn stays higher than their food intake for weight loss purposes.
None of this means we won’t recommend the watch. It is cheap, effective in a limited way, and simple. The lack of update ability means there is little that can go wrong with the watch’s CPU. It will give you the time of day when you aren’t scrolling through your day’s activity. The wristband is comfortable, durable, and adjustable, and the watch comes in either black or white. The low cost, ease of use, and lack of deal-breaking critical reviews all add up to good value for those who want to try a fitness watch without having to learn an array of features or have their every move stored somewhere. The watch would make a fun gift for kids, seniors, and anyone who wants to meet a daily step goal or make sure their calorie burn stays higher than their food intake for weight loss purposes.
The Final Word
If you do not need third-party apps, training programs, GPS, mobile device alerts, media streaming, or any of the other tech features that drive up the price, this is a watch for you. It will run for a long time on the replaceable 9-volt battery, will not need charging, and will not fall off or cause excess sweat during activity. This watch is an effective way to work goal tracking into your fitness life without feeling like you have to check multiple data points all the time. Keep in mind, too, that you will not get support from the maker, who we can only assume went out of business or was acquired by a larger company sometime after 2013.
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