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Healbe GoBe 2 Smart Life Band fitness tracker review

Did you start the new year off with a resolution to exercise more and improve your fitness level? If you answered yes, how are you measuring your progress towards your goals? If you have been shopping for a wearable fitness tracker but don’t know which one to choose from the crowded market of trackers, you’ll be thrilled to find out that I’m going to make your choice even harder by telling you about the Healbe GoBe 2 Smart Life Band fitness tracker.

What is it?

The Healbe GoBe 2 is a fitness tracker that measures all the normal things that most fitness trackers measure, like your steps, sleep, and even your heart rate. But the GoBe 2 goes quite a bit further by also tracking calorie intake, calories burned, energy balance, hydration levels, and emotional state.

What’s in the box?

  • Healbe GoBe 2 fitness band
  • Charging dock
  • Charging cable
  • Instructions

Design and features

The GoBe 2 is a made of black plastic with a flexible and adjustable wristband. The top of the GoBe is actually a display. I’ll show you more about that in a bit.

The wristband can be replaced and various color straps are available for purchase from the Healbe website.

There’s only one button on the GoBe, which toggles power to the tracker and shows the time and other status indicators when pressed multiple times.

A large gold sensor is built into the underside of the tracker. This sensor is designed to make contact with the top of your wrist so that it can measure your calorie intake, stress levels, hydration levels, and heart rate.

There are also two small electrical contacts on the underside of the tracker that connects to the charging dock to charge the tracker.

The included dock snaps to the bottom of the GoBe 2 fitness tracker by magnets. The included micro USB cable plugs into the dock and the other end can plug into a free USB port on your computer or into a USB adapter (not included) to charge the tracker.

You’ll become very familiar with the charging dock because you’ll be charging the Healbe GoBe 2 every day. You might be able to squeeze two days of use out of the GoBe if you turn it off while you’re sleeping, but then you’ll be losing sleep tracking data. They recommend that you charge the GoBe each day when you’re sitting at your desk or showering.

Compared to other fitness trackers on the market, I found the Healbe GoBe 2 to be huge. Here it is on my wrist. For reference, I’m 5’6″ and 129lbs. The GoBe looked and felt like I was wearing some sort of house arrest monitor.

Remember, I mentioned above that the gold plate on the bottom of the tracker has to make full contact with the skin on your wrist? Well, that means that you have to keep the strap snug. If the tracker isn’t making full contact, it will vibrate and show NO CONTACT on the display to let you know that you need to tighten the strap. I found the GoBe to be uncomfortable to wear all day and it even irritated my skin slightly.

For the most part, you won’t look at the tracker while you’re wearing it although you can press the button on the side to show the time which lights up in a bright blue old school dot matrix style display. Tip: Don’t check the time in the middle of the night when you’re half awake because it will blind you.

Subsequent presses of the button on the GoBe will cycle through readings for battery status, heart rate, steps, hydration level, and more. It’s easier to consult the Healbe app when you want to check the fitness data.

Healbe app

The Healbe mobile app has an easy to use interface that has a dashboard that displays calorie info, hydration info, heart rate, sleep data, and stress info.

I was really interested in the calorie and hydration features of this fitness tracker. If you’ve ever used apps that count your calories vs. presumed calorie burn, you will probably agree that they are tedious and a pain to use. The allure of not having to manually enter food and exercise sounded great to me.

First of all, how does this wearable fitness tracker even measure calorie intake and burn rate?

When you eat, food travels to your stomach to be broken down and digested.
10-15 minutes after you eat, your body starts converting the carbohydrates in your food into glucose. This process continues for up to 4-6 hours, depending on what you eat and your body’s unique physiology.
As glucose concentrations rise, your cells absorb glucose and release water. Fat and protein in your food influences the rate of glucose absorption—leading to different shapes and durations of the “glucose curve,” which GoBe measures.
GoBe uses an impedance sensor to measure the fluid moving in and out of your cells—continuously, around the clock.
Healbe FLOW™ Technology uses an advanced algorithm to analyze impedance readings and calculate calorie intake based on your glucose curves, giving you a complete picture of your calorie and nutritional intake over time.


If you expect the GoBe 2 to accurately show you exactly how many calories you consumed and the exact number of calories you burned, or how much water you drink on a given day, you’ll be disappointed.

The app will show you percentages of fat, carbs, and protein consumed, and will also show if you had a calorie surplus or calorie deficit for the day. This can be useful if your goal is to lose weight. However, the readings change throughout the day, so you won’t be able to check the app 5 minutes after you swallowed the last bite of your cheeseburger and see that you just consumed 500 calories. It can take between 5 minutes and 6 hours for the calories to be tracked.

The app shows spikes after a meal or after you’ve drunk something, but it also shows changes when you’ve not eaten anything at all and doesn’t show exact calorie amounts.

I also found it odd that the app would show that my hydration was low in the middle of the night, but then show that it got better before I took even one sip of water the next day.

So while the calorie tracking feature is interesting and I’m excited about the possibilities going forward, I wasn’t wowed.


I did like the GoBe’s heart rate tracking feature and experimental blood pressure reading feature.


The sleep tracking feature was only mildly interesting. The sleep tracking reports in the mobile app don’t let you see details like the amount of time you were in REM sleep versions light sleep or the exact times you were in each level of sleep.


The Healbe GoBe 2 can even track your emotion/stress levels. I was skeptical about this feature but changed my mind when the tracker vibrated to tell me that I was having a tension episode right as I was getting ready to record my voice for a video that I was working on.

Healbe web app

If you prefer viewing your fitness data or a larger screen, there’s a Healbe web app that you can sign into. You’ll be reminded of this each week when you receive an email from Healbe with a weekly report. Clicking the More Data button will prompt you to login to their web app.




The web app is excruciatingly slow, but it does allow a deeper dive into the data where you can see timestamps for calorie, heart rate, stress levels, sleep data, etc.

As I mentioned earlier, I’m not convinced that the GoBe 2 reports calorie intake or calorie burn accurately. I wore the GoBe 2 for a full day (minus a short time where I had to charge it which you will see above) and the web app reported that I only had 1063 calories that day. I know that number is significantly lower than it should be because we had a big bowl of oatmeal with walnuts and berries for breakfast, a whole turkey sandwich with chips for lunch, a couple of pieces of chocolate after lunch, soup and crackers for dinner, and a piece of homemade banana bread with chocolate chips later after dinner.

What I like

  • Calorie intake and calorie burn features show promise
  • Hydration level features
  • Continuous heart rate measurement
  • Can export data to Google Fit

What needs to be improved

  • Price is high
  • Short battery life
  • Bulky and not comfortable to wear
  • Calorie intake number doesn’t seem accurate
  • Web app is painfully slow

Final thoughts

Although I found the GoBe 2 to be bulky and uncomfortable to wear, I’m hoping that these calorie tracking features continue to evolve. Being able to see accurate trends that show how the fuel (food) I put in compares with the fuel I burn can be a powerful tool for staying healthy and at an optimal weight. As it stands, I can’t quite give my full recommendation for the Healbe GoBe 2 based on my own experience. But I will definitely keep an eye on future versions of this product.

Price: $199.00
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Healbe.

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Travel with these disposable sheets, and you’ll never worry about cleanliness again

I’m always a little wary of hotel cleanliness, even when staying in nice, clean hotels.  I do things like encase the TV remotes in ziplock baggies, and I throw the comforter in the corner as soon as I enter the room.  When I used to have to travel for business and had no control over where I was booked to stay, I was even bit wary of the sheets in some places.  Back in the day, I could have used some of these Beantown Bedding disposable sheet sets.

These Beantown laundry-free sheets can be used on a hotel, camp, or dorm bed, and they are sturdy enough that you can use them for days or weeks.  When you change the bed or move to your next travel destination, you simply throw away these biodegradable, compostable sheets.  They are made of 30% TENCEL / 70% lenzing viscose, and the bacteria-, mold-, and dust mite-resistant TENCEL makes them hypoallergenic.  The description says they are a natural white color and are “chemical-free, dye-free, odor-free” – but hey, we all know that even water is a chemical, so I assume they mean free of dangerous chemicals.

A set of two pillowcases is $9.95.  Sheet sets to fit cots, twin (regular or extra-long), full, queen, or king mattress start at $19.95; each set includes a fitted sheet, flat sheet, and one or two pillowcases.  Order a single set or set up an auto-delivery subscription of these laundry-free sheets at the Beantown Bedding website.

Holsem x12 power strip with USB review

As Gadgeteers, what if I told you that there is one single item that all of us have, or will have, in the next year or two? What would you guess it to be? You may already have multiple of these. But, if you don’t (yet), the offerings are becoming too interesting to pass up. I speak, of course, of the combined power outlet and USB charging port. (OK, if you guessed flying car, I am really proud of you. But, sadly, not yet!)  I was recently sent an extension power tap from Holsem that has 12 regular 12V power outlets, and three 5v 3.1A USB A ports, 2 of which are IQ ports. I had to fight with my Lovely Bride because she wanted to spirit it away to her annual sewing camp where it would have served as a base station for loads of sewers, crafters, and electric embroiderers. Actually, that’s a pretty good use case and proves my point: having one of these in your home, family room or office is an inevitability, and it’s not just geeky Gadget lovers who need them. In her sewing room, she has a sewing machine, serger, iron, steamer, her laptop on occasion, an iPad and her phone. Maybe she would be better server by Holsem’s 8-port model, but it’s still a valid idea.

Note: Photos may be tapped or clicked for a larger image.

What is it?

The unit is called a Model X12, for obvious reasons. It measures 13” x 4.5” x 1.5”, which means it is roughly the shape of an aircraft carrier. Fortunately, the designers didn’t just expect it to sit on your work surface. There are 4 keyhole slots so that you can mount it to a vertical surface (like under the backside of your desk or on a baseboard). The keyholes are molded so that only two of them can be used at a time, and can only position it horizontally, with the power cord at either end, but that does give you easy options for which way to orient the unit. I think having a vertical option might have been a nice touch.

Design and features

The upper deck has the classic power adapter layout: cord on one narrow (top) end, power/circuit breaker reset switch, a row of power taps, then the USB ports in a line across the bottom. With 12 ports, Holsem took the interesting step of putting 6 power outlets straight down the center at standard 1.24” spacing, and the remaining 6 oriented 90º away, three on each side, on 2.125” centers. That means 6 wall warts and 6 normal plugs can fit without getting in each other’s way. Pretty nice! The USB ports are a bit tighter, just under an inch between centers. The power cord is 6 feet long, with no visible strain relief on the outlet side, but heavy molding around the straight plug. The plug will require at least three or four inches from the outlet to prevent compromising the molding of the plug, so this is not meant to go behind furniture.


I have replaced the power drop on my desk no fewer than 4 times since we’ve been in this house – four years. (See the “before” image above with no available 12V outlets on an 8 outlet/5 USB power adapter.) But with each new iteration of this type product, I see more benefit. (See same plugs as above moved to Holsen 12x.)

Hardware specs

Their website lists the features like so:

  • 6 compactly allocated sockets: ideal for regular plugs
  • 6 widely spaced sockets: enable you to manage with bulky plugs easily
  • 2 Smart USB Ports and 1 Common USB Port: The 2 built-in Smart IC technology USB ports detect your devices automatically and deliver the fastest possible charge speed up to 5V/2.4 A per port
  • 24-month Warranty and lifetime technical support

Safety:

  • Surge Protection: Fully built-in 3-line surge protection safeguards your devices from voltage fluctuations, surges, and spikes. The green LED light makes the surge protection function visible and more reliable.
  • Overload Protection: In the event of power overload, the reliable Double-Break safety switch will trip off automatically to protect your devices and your home. After one year’s testing and several adjustments by our dedicated engineers, we’ve found the ideal force level for our Double-Break safety switch, and make sure it won’t get stuck after a long term of use.
  • Heavy-duty power cord: premium protection for your electronic devices and your home/office

Convenient:

  • Keyhole slots on the back: Keyhole slots on the back allow you to easily mount it to a wall or baseboard.

Flame Retardant Material:

  • The flame retardant material is able to withstand temperature up to 1,380℉(750℃).

Warranty:

  • Worry-free 24-month warranty
  • 30-day no-hassle return & refund guarantee
  • Friendly customer service team

What’s in the box?

The unit and a warranty statement. No plastic, no foam, just paper, cardboard, and the power tap. Nice!

Positives

  • Wide, sleek styling doesn’t need to be hidden
  • 6 power outlets spaced for “wall warts”
  • Strain relief on plug

Negatives

  • Only 2 of the attachment points can be used at a time
  • Attachment points give no vertical options
  • Only 3 USB ports? Really?

Final thoughts

I had not planned for the Holsem Model x12 to stay topside on my main desk because I am overly dependent on USB charging. But I do have a Dremel battery charger, two hard drive adapters, and the occasional need to charge my LED photo lights, which use a wide charger. It would be nice to have a ton of USB connectors built in, rather than have to fill up 12-volt slots with power adapters, but we’ll see how it goes. I really do like the smooth lines and the two-tone look of the white top and the grey underside.

Price: $31.99
Where to buy: It is available from many stores online, including Amazon.
Source: The sample of this product was provided by Holsem.

Synchronos watches are custom-printed to perfectly fit you

Synchronos watches aren’t smart watches, but they are clever.  They are custom 3d-printed to perfectly fit you.  The Alpha watch has a premium mechanical Swiss movement (Sellita-SW210-1) and a scratch- and shatter-resistant crystal.  The metal band is custom printed to your exact measurements and has a patent-pending, proprietary 3d-printed clasp mechanism.

When you order, or pre-order for some styles, an Alpha watch, you’ll first receive a scanning kit including a 3d scanner and instructions for precisely measuring your arm.  (Online help is available, if needed.)  Send that information in to Synchronos, and it will be used to adjust the watch printing pattern before your watch is printed.

Right now, you can order a titanium model for $1999.  These are limited to a production run of 10 watches.  You’ll be able to travel to the Synchronos studios (at your own expense), where engineers will do a personal fitting for you. You can pre-order the rose gold model ($749, 18k rose gold-plated 316L stainless steel, shipping in March 2018), the Onyx ($499, black ceramic-coated 316L stainless steel, shipping in April 2018), or the stainless ($399, 316L stainless steel, shipping in May 2018).  Learn more and order an Alpha watch from Synchronos.

Jabra updates and expands their Elite line of wireless earbuds

This week @CES, Jabra announced their new Elite Franchise, a line of headphones and earbuds “engineered for superior sound to provide the best combined voice and music experience”. Last year, I reviewed Jabra’s Elite Sport truly wireless earbuds one of my favorite review items of 2017 and my goto headphones for EDC, travel, and working out alike. Jabra is raising the bar this year by not only releasing a next generation set of active sport earbuds but an entire line of Elite wireless headphones.

Jabra is spotlighting three of these new products: Elite 45e, Elite 65t, and Elite Active 65t. The entire Elite line is engineered for outstanding music quality, strong voice capabilities, and the ability to communicate with Alexa, Siri, and Google Now. All of the new Elite products come with a two-year warranty against dust and water ingress (two years for the Elite Active 65t also includes sweat ingress).

The Jabra Elite 65t will be available for $169.99, the Elite Active 65t will be $189.99, and the Jabra Elite 45e will be $99.99.