NEO+ Necklace for Fitbit Alta/Alta HR Review: a simple way to wear your tracker off the wrist

I’ve been using a Fitbit Alta HR on and off for a while, and I’m one of those people who gets annoyed by having things on my wrist all day. Between a watch, sometimes a bracelet, and then the tracker, it starts to feel like I’m wearing handcuffs. That’s why this NEO+ necklace holder caught my eye: it lets you clip the Alta into a silicone pendant and wear it around your neck instead. Nothing fancy, just a different way to carry the tracker.

I used this NEO+ necklace in plum for a couple of weeks, basically every day during work and casual outings. I swapped the original wristband off, slid the tracker into the silicone holder, and wore it like a simple pendant. I wasn’t expecting miracles, I just wanted to see if it was comfortable, if the tracker stayed in place, and if I still got decent tracking during the day.

Right away, the thing that stood out is how light it is. The whole setup – chain, silicone holder, and tracker – feels lighter than most watches I own. It doesn’t pull on the neck, and I kind of forgot I was wearing it after a while. The flip side is that it also feels a bit cheap: thin chain, basic silicone, very functional but nothing that looks like real jewelry.

Overall, my first impression is that it’s a practical little accessory if you’re tired of the wristband or if your skin reacts to Fitbit straps. It’s not perfect, and it’s definitely not high-end, but it does what it says: it holds the Alta/Alta HR around your neck without much fuss. The rest of this review is basically: what works well, what’s annoying, and who this thing actually makes sense for.

In terms of value, this NEO+ necklace sits in that “cheap but handy” category. You’re paying for a simple way to wear your Fitbit Alta/Alta HR around your neck instead of your wrist. It’s not expensive, and for the price you get a working solution that doesn’t feel like a scam. It holds the tracker securely, it’s light, and it solves real problems for some people: skin irritation from wristbands, dress codes where a sporty wristband looks out of place, or just personal preference.

On the flip side, you can feel where they saved money: the chain is basic, the materials are nothing special, and the design doesn’t try to be stylish. If this cost a lot more, I’d say it’s not worth it. At its usual low price point, I’d say it’s decent value if you actually use it regularly. If you just buy it to try once and then go back to the wristband, it will feel like a pointless purchase, even if it wasn’t very expensive.

Compared to some third-party Fitbit bands I’ve tried in the same price range, this is roughly on par in terms of quality. The difference is just the format: those are wristbands, this is a necklace. So the question is basically: do you really want to wear your Alta as a pendant? If yes, this is a simple, budget-friendly way to do it. If you’re just curious and not sure you’ll stick with it, I’d think twice, because it’s not versatile beyond that one use.

Overall, I’d rate the value as solid but not mind-blowing. You get what you pay for: a functional holder with some small compromises (short chain, basic materials). If you’re okay with maybe swapping the chain later and you like the idea of freeing your wrist, it’s money reasonably well spent. If you’re picky about looks or durability, you’ll probably want to invest in a higher-end accessory or stick to the standard bands.

The design is basically a silicone sleeve shaped like a small bar, with a cutout where you slide the Fitbit Alta/Alta HR unit in. On top of the sleeve, there’s a small loop where the chain passes through. The tracker’s screen ends up facing outwards, so you can still tap it and see your stats. It’s pretty straightforward and doesn’t try to hide the fact that you’re wearing a fitness tracker on your chest.

From a practical angle, the design works. The opening is tight enough that the Alta unit snaps in and stays put. I shook it, walked, jogged lightly, and it never slipped out. You do need to push a bit to get the tracker in and out, but for me that’s a good thing; I’d rather fight with it for five seconds than see it fall off in the street. The fit is snug, which matters since the whole point is not losing a device that cost way more than this holder.

Visually, it’s pretty plain. The plum color gives it a bit of personality, but the shape is just a clean rectangular bar. No fake metal parts, no decorative elements, no logo that stands out. If you like minimal stuff, you’ll be fine. If you were hoping to disguise the Fitbit as a real pendant, that’s not the case here – anyone who knows what a Fitbit looks like will spot it instantly.

One thing I noticed: because the tracker is vertical and hanging, the screen is not always at a nice angle to read. You often end up grabbing the pendant with one hand, tilting it, and then tapping to see your steps or the time. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s less convenient than glancing at your wrist. Overall, the design is functional but basic: it does the job of holding the tracker securely, but it doesn’t really try to be stylish or super ergonomic.

On the comfort side, I was actually pleasantly surprised. Once the necklace is on, the weight is very light, even with the tracker inside. It doesn’t pull on the neck, and the silicone doesn’t stick to the skin in an annoying way. I wore it during full workdays, including walking around, sitting at a desk, and commuting, and I mostly forgot it was there. Compared to a tight wristband that leaves marks, this felt like a relief.

The main issue is the chain length. As mentioned, it’s about 60 cm, which on me lands the pendant relatively high. It’s okay with a t-shirt, but if you’re wearing a shirt with a collar or a hoodie, the pendant tends to sit right at the top of the chest and sometimes gets hidden or pushed to the side. I totally understand the Amazon comment saying it’s too short for an adult. It’s not unusable, but if you like your necklaces to sit lower, you’ll probably find this one a bit short and slightly annoying.

In terms of daily use, a few small things: when you bend forward (like tying shoes or picking something up), the pendant swings a bit and can hit your chest. It’s not painful, just mildly annoying. When I was walking fast or going up stairs, I could feel it move, but nothing crazy. For sleeping, I tried leaving it on one night; it was okay but not ideal because the chain turns around and the pendant ends up in odd positions. For sleep tracking I’d still prefer the wrist.

Breathability is not really an issue here. The silicone doesn’t cover a large area, and since it’s a necklace, your skin can breathe. If your main goal is avoiding wrist irritation, comfort-wise this is a win. If your main goal is something you can wear 24/7 without feeling it at all, I’d say this is good for daytime but not the best for sleeping or more active sports unless you’re okay with a bit of bouncing.

The materials are about what you’d expect for a cheap accessory: soft silicone for the holder and a generic metal chain. The silicone is flexible and slightly rubbery to the touch. It stretches just enough to get the tracker in but doesn’t feel like it’s going to tear right away. I bent it, twisted it a bit, and it bounced back into shape easily. It’s not thick or heavy-duty, but for something that just sits on your chest, it feels adequate.

The chain is probably the weak point. It’s light, which is comfortable, but it also feels a bit flimsy. I didn’t manage to break it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it snapped if it got caught in something or if a kid yanked on it. The clasp is small and a bit fiddly, especially if you have big fingers. It works, but it doesn’t give that secure, solid feel you get from better-quality chains.

On the skin side, I had no irritation from the silicone. That’s actually one of the nice aspects: if your wrist gets red or itchy from Fitbit bands, this silicone pendant is much gentler, and it doesn’t trap sweat the same way. The chain is metal, and I’m not particularly sensitive, so I didn’t have any rash or green marks, but if you usually react to cheap costume jewelry, you might want to swap it out for a chain you already trust.

Overall, materials are in line with the price: the silicone is fine, the chain is passable, and nothing feels premium. The good news is that the pendant hole is big enough that you can easily replace the chain with a better one if you want. That’s probably what I’d do for long-term use: keep the silicone holder (which is actually okay) and pair it with a sturdier, slightly longer chain to fix the two main weaknesses.

I haven’t had this for months, but over a couple of weeks of daily use, nothing broke or tore. The silicone holder looks exactly the same as on day one: no cracks, no whitening, no stretched-out areas. I slid the Fitbit in and out several times, and the opening still feels tight, so it doesn’t seem to loosen quickly. Silicone in general tends to hold up well if you’re not abusing it, and that seems to be the case here.

The chain, on the other hand, is the part I don’t fully trust long term. It hasn’t snapped on me, but it feels like the type of chain that could break if it gets snagged on something or if you accidentally pull on it too hard while taking off a jacket. The clasp is small and functioned fine, but it doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence. For something holding a tracker that costs way more than this accessory, I’d rather not rely on a chain that feels this light for years.

I also tested it a bit with sweat and light rain. The silicone didn’t stain or get sticky, and it wiped clean easily with a damp cloth. The chain didn’t show rust in that short time, but since it’s not advertised as stainless steel or anything fancy, I wouldn’t shower with it or wear it in the pool. If you want it to last, I’d avoid water and take it off for sports that involve a lot of pulling or sudden movements.

In short, durability seems acceptable for the price, with the caveat that the chain is the weak link. The good part is you can easily swap the chain for a sturdier one you already own. Do that, and I think the silicone holder itself could easily last a long time with normal use. If you keep everything stock and are rough with your gear, I wouldn’t be shocked if the chain gives up first.

Let’s be clear: the Fitbit Alta and Alta HR are originally made to be worn on the wrist, so moving them to a necklace changes the tracking a bit. For basic step counting during normal walking, it’s surprisingly decent. I did a simple test: one day on the wrist, one day on the neck, with roughly the same routine (commute, office, grocery store). The step count was in the same ballpark, maybe a slight difference of a few hundred steps by the end of the day, which for casual users is totally fine.

Where it gets less accurate is with specific activities. When I was typing on a keyboard, the wrist-worn Fitbit usually picks up some movement; on the neck, it’s more stable, so some of those micro-movements don’t get counted (which is arguably more honest). During light jogging, it still counted steps, but the bouncing made it a bit annoying, and I didn’t trust the heart rate data as much because the Alta HR is designed to read from the wrist, not the chest through clothing. So if you care a lot about precise heart rate tracking, this necklace setup is not ideal.

Reading the screen is doable but less practical. When it’s on your wrist, you just twist your arm and glance. As a necklace, you often have to grab the pendant, angle it, and then tap. With a jacket or scarf, it’s even more fiddly. Notifications still come through, but I checked them less often just because it was more effort. For some people that might be a good thing (less distraction), but it’s worth noting.

So in terms of performance, I’d say: for casual step counting and daily tracking, it gets the job done. If you’re more of a stats nerd, into workouts and heart rate zones, this is more of a backup or occasional way to wear the tracker, not your main setup. It’s a compromise: comfort and wrist freedom in exchange for slightly less convenient and slightly less accurate tracking.

Out of the package, you get exactly what the listing says: one chain and one silicone pendant holder, nothing else. No spare chain, no extra colors, no instructions beyond what’s on Amazon. The pendant is already on the chain, so you just pull it out of the little plastic bag, unclip the chain, and you’re ready to slide your Fitbit Alta or Alta HR into it. The tracker is obviously not included, so you’re just buying the holder here.

The dimensions match the description: the chain is about 60 cm (23 inches), and the silicone pendant is roughly 5 cm long. On me (average male height), the pendant lands a bit higher than mid-chest, closer to the upper chest. On someone taller or with a thicker neck, it will sit a bit higher, more like a short necklace. I saw the Amazon review where someone said the cord is too short for an adult, and I kind of get that. It’s wearable, but if you like long necklaces that hang low, this will feel short.

In terms of look, it’s clearly more gadget than jewelry. The plum color is nice enough – more of a muted purple than a flashy one – but the overall vibe is sporty, not dressy. You can get away with it over a t-shirt or under a sweater, but it’s not something I’d wear with a shirt and blazer if I cared about style. The chain is a basic metal chain, not super shiny, not super dull, just generic.

So in practice, the presentation is very straightforward: it’s a small, light accessory that does one job. No fancy packaging, no premium feel, but also no surprises. If you expect a simple holder to get your Fitbit off your wrist, that’s exactly what this is. If you’re expecting something that looks like proper jewelry, you’ll probably be a bit underwhelmed.