Few are the fitness trackers out there that have generated that amount of hype around them as the Moov 3D Fitness Tracker & Audio Coach. It is one of the cheapest and simplest trackers out there that has quite a lot of functionality but also quite a few drawbacks. Still, people that are after the minimalist approach it offers are going to find it more than enough for basic tracking needs, be it on the running track or the swimming pool.
My verdict: If you are out on the market for a cheap and practical fitness tracker, then put the Moov on your shortlist. It does all the essential tracking minus heart rate monitoring. To use it you won’t need a device but in order to check the data and reports, you will have to sync it to a tablet or a phone, as it has no built-in display. For its price, it is one of the best mobility trackers, even though it is greatly limited by the lack of display and HR measuring sensors.
If you want to find out more about other top waterproof fitness trackers, head over my detailed Buyer’s Guide on the topic. Now, let’s jump into this review and see where this tracker shines and where it falls short compared to its competition…
Overview & Features
The standout feature here is the simplicity so I have to start by briefly talking about it. Unlike other trackers like the Huawei Band 2 Pro, this one doesn’t have a built-in display and is somewhat limited by that fact. It tracks the same way, if not better, but it ultimately requires to sync to your device (be it a phone or a tablet) and upload the workout information on there. You can leave it in your locker, go through your training session and sync up at the end, but at the end of the day, you will be bound to some type of mobile device in order to access your information.
In order to use the audio coach feature, you will need to download the Moov coach app which will guide you through your workouts. So in essence, this is cheaper than its competition but is also more limiting and cannot be used as a stand-alone tracker which is a deal-breaker for most people. That is especially valid if you want to use it as a gift to your kids that don’t yet have other smart mobile devices.
Product Rating:
- Very cheap
- Comfortable to wear both on your hands and ankles
- Sleek design
- Good motion tracking
- Comes with various fitness coaching options
- Tracks swimming, cycling, and running metrics
- Accurately measures steps, distance travelled, and calories burned
- Comes in many color options
- Up to 6 months of battery life
- Creates detailed reports of your workouts within the Moov App
Tracking
In terms of tracking, there is something that isn’t mentioned anywhere about this particular model. It doesn’t come with HR tracking. For that purpose, you need to get the Moov HR Bluetooth headband which is really disappointing for a lot of people. The headband costs almost twice as this wristband and only comes with that limited heart rate tracking functionality. One thing I can’t fault about it, though, is its accuracy. It is far more accurate than almost all sub-100$ wristband HR trackers and is also quite stylish and comfortable to wear. It is also entirely waterproof meaning you can run, cycle, or swim with it.
The sensors in the Moov wristband fitness trackers are basic mobility sensors using Moov’s “Omni Motion” 3-way technology. They are perfect at tracking movements but that is just about everything they can track.
You can check out the Bluetooth headband on Amazon by clicking here.
Sleep Monitoring
There is a sleep monitoring option here, enabled through the Moov fitness app. It is very limited compared to other smart trackers since the Moov doesn’t have an HR sensor, as I already mentioned. So, in reality, all it does is track how much you’ve moved around during your sleep. There can’t be any sleep stage tracking with this time of limitations, unfortunately, so you must look elsewhere if you want something to keep track of your sleep as well.
Design and build quality
The design of this tracker is one of its strong selling points but also one of its biggest flaws. Let me elaborate on that now…
The Moov tracker itself is a small clock-sized plastic pebble that contains all the vital sensors, hardware, and battery and is attached to the wristband that comes with it. There are a lot of sensor and wristband colors you can pick from which is a great way to diversify a seemingly simple product but the wristbands themselves aren’t that sturdy and often come with factory defects.
Almost all user complains stem from the fact that there is poor quality control with the wristbands and the rubber is often teared up between the different holes upfront. The clasp mechanism also isn’t very sturdy or reliable but it holds on pretty okay during light tasks.
The material of the wristband is great, though, so it has that going for it. This is important since a lot of kids will be wearing these, and soft and nice-to-the-touch materials are a must.
The entire construction is sealed shut making it entirely waterproof. The band can be also worn on your ankle which gives you a little more freedom and is arguably even better for step tracking for runners.
Audio Coach
The audio coaches here are specialized in five different areas:
- Running & walking
- Cycling
- Cardio (Boxing)
- Swimming
- Bodyweight training
Within the running program, you have audio guidance through the Moov app which uses your connected headphones. It supports HR monitoring via the Moov headband. It tracks calories burned, cadence, impact, pace, range of motion (feet or hands depending on where you put the trackers), distance travelled, and elevation changes.
There are different running and walking training modes, HIIT modes, levelling up system, and a road mapping feature.
The Cycling coach has audio functions as well as videos within your app that guide you through your cycling session. It supports tracking of your HR, cadence, speed, distance travelled, and elevation changes. There are also live map options, road/route mapping, and shift assistance.
To get the most out of the boxing coach, you will have to use two Moov wristband sensors. Unfortunately, this program doesn’t support HR monitoring via the headband. Still, it will measure the velocity of your punches, your technique, punching power, timing, and duration.
Swimming is one of the best coachings here, as it provides you information about laps, strokes (4 stroke recognition), stroke count, rate, distance per stroke, turn times, and rest times. It has the option to leave your smart device in your locker and only use the wrist tracker and then sync at the end of your workout.
All programs give you a detailed report of your workout at the end of the session.
Battery Life
The battery life here is definitely my favorite feature of this tracker, as it can last up to 6 months. There is no HR-sensor or built-in GPS to drain the battery, nor any display, so it makes sense for it to last quite some time on a single charge.
Additional Features
There aren’t that many additional features that stand out over the competition at this price class, besides the various color options and the coaching options, which are quite unique.
Price
In terms of price, there is hardly any tracker out there that matches the accuracy of this one when it comes to tracking your movements. This price range is also very limited in terms of additional features, while the Moov will give you the option of detailed reports, training coaches through the app, and a ton of other metrics, as well as a huge battery life. That hardly leaves any space for competition, unless you want a built-in display to give you the live data of your workout and/or a built-in HR sensor.
Advantages & Disadvantages
Pros
- Very cheap
- Comfortable to wear both on your hands and ankles
- Sleek design
- Good motion tracking
- Up to 6 months of battery life
- Comes with various fitness coaching options
- Tracks swimming, cycling, and running metrics
- Accurately measures steps, distance travelled, and calories burned
- Comes in many color options
- Creates detailed reports of your workouts within the Moov App
Cons
- No heart rate tracking
- No detailed sleep analysis
- The rubber protectors often have factory defects
- For HR tracking you need an additional (and more expensive) Moov Headband
To learn how to get the most out of your current fitness tracker, head over to my article on the topic where I’ve laid out some of my best tips for using these devices.
Conclusion and Rating
Product Rating:
As a whole, the Moov 3D Fitness Tracker & Audio Coach is a truly one-of-a-kind product that we will see more and more of in the future mainly due to how easy it is to use and how much of a hassle-free experience it offers. Moreover, it is really cheap and has a battery that will require just a few charges within a full year. You can take it running, swimming, boxing, or cycling and it will detect the type of activity and accurately measure most of the important stats. The drawbacks, as pointed out, are the lack of display and HR-sensor, as well as some issues with the wristband itself, but those can be easily overlooked when you consider the price.
