StellenboschStudent
Expert Member
About a year ago I bought myself a Fitbit Charge HR. So I thought I will give my thoughts and feedback on how it has been.
I wear my Fitbit everyday, only take it off when I shower or when I charge it. Some reviewers said they showered with their Fitbit, without any problems, but to date I have not taken the chance. The Charge HR does the basics: counts your steps, distance, floors climbed, calories burned... it can also track your sleep, and the much debated heart-rate monitoring (big lawsuit ongoing due to inaccurate reading in, you guessed it, USA).
I have to agree, the heart-rate isn't very accurate once you start working out. I can feel my heart pounding like crazy, close to 200, but the Fitbit measures 100 - 120. So that part still feels gimmicky... It does however work great if you gradually increase your heart-rate, slowly building up steam as you workout, then it seemed a lot more accurate (compared to setting of and doing the 100m sprint and getting your heart-rate to 200 as quick as possible).
The app gives you a lot of added stuff (which I don't use). You can input the amount of water you drink, track your weight and input each and every calorie you consume - this can help you gain or lose weight. You can sync up with friends and do challenges.......
One nice feature is that when you get a call the Fitbit vibrates and shows who the caller is. Very nice if you are walking/jogging with your phone in your pocket (or if you are in a meeting) and you don't want to take out your phone, you can quickly glance at your wrist and check who is calling.
But, the one problem I have is battery life. It lasts for 5 days - which seems great, but, I often forget to charge it, leaving me with dead-weight on my arm (its not that heavy). On the one side, if it lasted only one day, I will remember to charge it when I go to bed (yes, I am complaining about good battery life).
After the year it is starting to feel meh. Great, it tracks my steps (who really cares), heart rate monitoring is not 100%... I am not a fitness junky wanting to track anything really...
At this point I think I am close to retiring my Fitbit. I have a normal (old fashioned) wrist watch, and I think when it dies, I will consider a smart watch. It does add something, but for me, the Fitbit doesn't offer enough.
I wear my Fitbit everyday, only take it off when I shower or when I charge it. Some reviewers said they showered with their Fitbit, without any problems, but to date I have not taken the chance. The Charge HR does the basics: counts your steps, distance, floors climbed, calories burned... it can also track your sleep, and the much debated heart-rate monitoring (big lawsuit ongoing due to inaccurate reading in, you guessed it, USA).
I have to agree, the heart-rate isn't very accurate once you start working out. I can feel my heart pounding like crazy, close to 200, but the Fitbit measures 100 - 120. So that part still feels gimmicky... It does however work great if you gradually increase your heart-rate, slowly building up steam as you workout, then it seemed a lot more accurate (compared to setting of and doing the 100m sprint and getting your heart-rate to 200 as quick as possible).
The app gives you a lot of added stuff (which I don't use). You can input the amount of water you drink, track your weight and input each and every calorie you consume - this can help you gain or lose weight. You can sync up with friends and do challenges.......
One nice feature is that when you get a call the Fitbit vibrates and shows who the caller is. Very nice if you are walking/jogging with your phone in your pocket (or if you are in a meeting) and you don't want to take out your phone, you can quickly glance at your wrist and check who is calling.
But, the one problem I have is battery life. It lasts for 5 days - which seems great, but, I often forget to charge it, leaving me with dead-weight on my arm (its not that heavy). On the one side, if it lasted only one day, I will remember to charge it when I go to bed (yes, I am complaining about good battery life).
After the year it is starting to feel meh. Great, it tracks my steps (who really cares), heart rate monitoring is not 100%... I am not a fitness junky wanting to track anything really...
At this point I think I am close to retiring my Fitbit. I have a normal (old fashioned) wrist watch, and I think when it dies, I will consider a smart watch. It does add something, but for me, the Fitbit doesn't offer enough.
