Surge Fitbit: Sleep Tracking And More

The Fitbit Surge does have sleep-tracking capabilities. It has automatic sleep detection that starts logging sleep within minutes of dozing off. It also has a silent alarm that vibrates to wake you up. However, the Fitbit Surge does not support advanced sleep stage tracking, which is available on newer models like the Alta HR and Blaze. This is due to the Surge's older technology, which does not have a high enough resolution for heart-rate variability (HRV) analysis used for sleep stage tracking. Fitbit has introduced the Sleep Schedule feature, which helps users decide on the best times to sleep and wake up for a healthier lifestyle.

Fitbit Surge accuracy

The Fitbit Surge is a GPS-enabled "superwatch" that offers a range of features, including sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, and activity tracking. It is an older model that has been phased out by Fitbit since 2018, but it still offers valuable insights and functionality for users.

Regarding accuracy, the Fitbit Surge provides a good blend of activity tracking, runner's watch, and smartwatch capabilities. While it may not excel in any single category, it offers a well-rounded experience. For example, it can track your pace, route, and heart rate during runs, and it also keeps tabs on your daily steps and distance travelled. When compared to other trackers on the market, it performs well and is considered reliable and easy to use.

In terms of sleep tracking, the Fitbit Surge offers automatic sleep detection, which starts logging sleep within minutes of dozing off. It can track your sleep patterns and provide a basic sleep timeline, indicating when you were asleep, restless, or awake. However, some users have reported discrepancies between the data provided by the Fitbit Surge and their actual sleep times. It's important to note that automatic sleep tracking may not always be entirely accurate, and the Fitbit Surge's patterns might not align with other trackers.

The Surge also includes 24/7 heart rate monitoring through an optical sensor. This feature measures heart rate by emitting a green light that shines through the skin to the capillaries, where blood flow is measured using an optical receptor. This continuous heart rate monitoring adds valuable data to the overall health and fitness tracking provided by the device.

Additionally, the Fitbit Surge provides GPS capabilities, which enhance its functionality as a running watch. It can track your outdoor activities and provide data on your pace and route. However, in terms of GPS accuracy, the Surge has shown an average error of 5% in outdoor running tests, which is slightly higher than comparable products.

Overall, while the Fitbit Surge may not offer perfect accuracy in all aspects of its tracking, it provides a well-rounded and reliable experience for users seeking a blend of activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and smartwatch features.

Fitbit's Sleep Schedule

Fitbit Surge offers automatic sleep tracking, which starts logging sleep within minutes of dozing off. It also has a sleep schedule feature that helps you decide when to sleep and wake up to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The sleep schedule can be found in the Fitbit companion app, where you can set a bedtime or wake-up time target, or both. If you meet your target, a star appears in the sleep schedule graph.

To track your sleep with Fitbit, you must wear your device during sleep. Fitbit automatically detects your sleep when you wear your device to bed, but only when your body is completely at rest and you haven't moved for about an hour. Fitbit devices that track heart rate (except Charge HR and Surge) also track sleep stages.

You can also set a bedtime reminder in the Fitbit app to help you maintain a consistent sleep schedule. You can receive bedtime reminders on your phone or Fitbit device from Sunday through Thursday (common work or school nights).

Additionally, Fitbit offers a sleep profile feature, but it requires a Fitbit Premium subscription and a compatible device, such as the Charge 5, Charge 6, Inspire 2, Inspire 3, Luxe, Pixel Watch series, Sense, Sense 2, Versa 2, Versa 3, or Versa 4. To be eligible for the sleep profile, you must wear your Fitbit during sleep for at least 14 days in the previous month and have sleep logs that include sleep stages data.

Sleep tracking methods

Smartwatches and fitness trackers, such as the Fitbit Surge, offer automatic sleep detection and basic sleep tracking. They can record sleep duration and provide a simple sleep timeline, indicating periods of restlessness or deep sleep. However, their accuracy has been questioned, with some users reporting discrepancies between their actual sleep times and the device's records.

Sleep-tracking apps have also gained popularity, with options available for both Android and iOS devices. These apps, such as SleepScore, Sleep Cycle, and Sleep Time, can approximate sleep duration by tracking phone usage. Additionally, the iPhone's Clock app includes a Bedtime feature that allows users to set their sleep schedule and receive bedtime alerts. While apps offer a convenient way to track sleep, they may be affected by factors such as mattress movement or phone overheating.

For more dedicated sleep tracking, smart mattresses or sleep sensors like the iFit Sleep HR or Eight Sleep Tracker can be used. These sensors are placed under or over the mattress to track movement, heart rate, and respiratory rate, providing detailed insights into sleep cycles and duration.

Other innovative sleep tracking options include smart rings, such as the Samsung Galaxy Ring, which offers health-tracking features and long battery life without a subscription fee. Headbands, like the Muse S headband, can also monitor brain activity and provide sleep tracking data, often accompanied by relaxation tools such as soundscapes and spoken-word journeys. Earbuds, such as the Amazfit Zenbuds, offer discrete sleep tracking along with sleep sounds to enhance your sleep environment.

Sleep tracking data

The Fitbit Surge does have sleep-tracking capabilities. It offers automatic sleep detection, which starts logging sleep within minutes of dozing off. It also has a Sleep Schedule feature, which helps users decide on the best times to go to bed and wake up for a healthier lifestyle.

The Fitbit Surge uses movement and heart-rate patterns to estimate sleep cycles. It assumes the user is asleep when there is no movement for about an hour. Additional data, such as the length of time when movements indicate sleep behaviour (like rolling over), also help confirm the sleep status. The device tracks beat-to-beat changes in the user's heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as the user transitions between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep stages.

The sleep data is presented in a basic sleep timeline: blue for asleep, aqua for restless, and pink for awake. Users can also compare their data from the previous night to their own 30-day average to gain further insight into their sleep patterns.

The Fitbit Surge also has a silent alarm feature, which vibrates to wake the user up without disturbing anyone next to them.

To accurately track sleep, the Fitbit Surge should be positioned higher on the wrist, about 2-3 finger widths above the wrist bone.

Fitbit's sleep stages

Sleep has a significant impact on almost every aspect of health, from mood to appetite, physical activity, and chronic conditions. Fitbit has a full line of fitness trackers, and they all have sleep-tracking functions that work in the same way and deliver the same information. The Fitbit Surge, for example, has automatic sleep detection that starts logging sleep within minutes of dozing off. It can also help you decide when you should be waking up and going to bed to have the healthiest lifestyle possible through its Sleep Schedule feature.

Sleep scientists recognize three main sleep stages: REM sleep, deep sleep, and light sleep. REM sleep is where most dreaming happens, deep sleep is a restorative phase for the mind and body, and light sleep is the time not spent in REM or deep sleep. The Fitbit app shows a Sleep Score that's made up of time asleep, the amount of time spent in deep and REM sleep, and restoration. The overall number is reported on a scale of 0 to 100, along with a one-word description like "good" or "fair".

It is important to note that a wrist-worn sleep tracker like the Fitbit cannot directly measure your brain's electrical activity in the same way a laboratory sleep study does. Instead, it uses other metrics such as physical movement, pulse rate, and breathing to infer which stage of sleep you are in, so it may be less accurate. Sleep experts also say that unless you have serious sleep problems, your body tends to do a good job of allocating the total amount of sleep among the various stages.

While the sleep staging information can be interesting, it should be taken with a grain of salt. The Fitbit's sleep staging data is less important than the overall amount of sleep you're getting. Additionally, factors like how the tracker is worn or how you're sleeping can prevent it from reporting sleep stage information on any given night. For best sleep tracking results, wear your Fitbit moderately snugly and higher on your wrist (toward your elbow) for the most accurate readings.

Frequently asked questions