GoKawiille_cs / Reddit
TL;DR A new Google Fitbit Air user has found out the hard way how bug spray could wreck their wearable.
The main culprit here is DEET, a common component in bug sprays that doesn’t mix well with plastic.
Google has rejected warranty claims after deeming this to be beyond what would be considered accidental damage.
While the Google Fitbit Air‘s launch was anything but ideal, particularly for some customers, it has served as a decent alternative to Whoop’s offering. As with most new hardware, customers aren’t always aware of what may harm their devices, and one user has just learned this the hard way.
Detailing the ordeal on Reddit, user le_cs claims to have used bug spray on their shirt ahead of a hike, which eventually rubbed off onto their Fitbit Air, causing the plastic on the fitness tracker to break down (via Phandroid).
As a user in the comments rightly notes, the main culprit here is DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), typically used in insect repellents. DEET is known to impact certain materials, including plastic, which plainly explains what went wrong here.
The affected user claims Google deemed this as “environmental” damage, thereby rejecting any warranty-related claims.
While the discoloration of the plastic may not be a sufficient reason to seek a replacement for your Fitbit Air, the user states the sensors are “too clouded,” meaning they won’t get accurate readings from the device. Moreover, the individual claims their wife’s Fitbit Air has met the same fate.
Although the Fitbit Product Care page specifically mentions avoiding insect repellent sprays, the Fitbit Air Safety & Regulatory Guide and the support page make no mention of it. Still, the fact that products that contain DEET can affect plastic is well known.
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