A fitness tracker might seem like a lovely gift, but it’ll go down about as well as a hamper full of deodorant.
A fitness tracker might seem like a lovely Christmas gift – something that your nearest and dearest can use all year round, and that will help steer them on a healthier course through life – but tucking one away under the tree could be a colossal mistake. It’s not that fitness trackers are unpopular, particularly as fresh starts are planned and new year’s resolutions made. Google searches for Fitbits peak in December and January (though searches for dedicated cycling and running watches are more stable throughout the year). The issue is that, no matter how good your intentions, presenting someone with a fitness tracker is very much like handing over an elegantly wrapped basket of soap and deodorant. At best, it’ll end up being worn, with some degree of resentment, for a couple of weeks before it’s left in a drawer and forgotten. The only thing worse would be a smart scale. There’s also the fact that an increasing number of fitness devices require an ongoing subscription fee if the owner wants to get the most out of them.
