Fitness Trackers

kelerin

Hello! I am looking in to purchasing a fitness tracker. Thoughts on the most effective? I'm a runner, so want to consider my runs in to my day.

Thanks!

debubbie

I would suggest looking into the Polar line of products. They have a bunch of trackers that pair with HRM to provide you with a bunch of information about pace, distance, heart rate, calories burned, and much more. I like the Polar Beat app with my HR7 by Polar for exercising and my Polar Loop for daily activity tracking.

WaterBunnie

I have a FitBit One and have been very happy with it. You can sync it with this site and it'll automatically adjust your calorie requirements for you.

kimny72

I love my Fitbit to track my steps throughout the day, but if you are a runner I would suggest getting a tracker that includes or pairs with a HRM. A lot of the trackers (like my Fitbit) only track steps and "active minutes" which works great for me, I just log my workouts separately.

Fit_Happens_2021

I have the Fitbit Force for tracking calories, steps, distance and it also monitors sleep and how many times I wake, how restless etc. I also recently purchased a hrm - Polar FT7 because the Fitbit Force doesn't monitor heart rate. I really like both of them. There are a really wide range of Polar products.

_runnerbean_

I have a fitbit zip - it works well for walking and running.

QuilterInVA

I have a Garmin VivoFit with the HRM strap (optional). I got it because I do water aerobics and water zumba and it is the only one I could find reasonably priced ($129) that was water resistant. I wear it 24/7. It also gives me a fitness goal every day based on past performance and if I haven't moved enough in an hour, a redline starts across the face to remind me to get moving. Walking about 200 steps or doing a few yoga poses turns it off. I also have a FitBit and a BodyMedia. I like the VivoFit a lot better.

Wheelhouse15

I have used Fitbit, which is decent, and Polar, which I returned since the software is horrible, but if you are looking for a running platform then you should think about a more comprehensive tool like Nike or Garmin with a GPS tracker that allows you to get your millage and pace information as you run and can be paired with a HRM.

If you want to track you life steps then you can get a Fitbit on top of the running platform since GPS watches don't work indoors and aren't particularly suited for those. You can also integrate many of them with Map My Fitness/Map My Run and MFP for a more comprehensive package.

MamaMollyT

Garmin Forerunner 110 is great for running and heart rate tracking.

kellypence

Garmin Forerunner 15 combines a running watch with an activity tracker. So you get the Move! reminder if you've been sedentary too long, the step tracker, calorie estimator etc, with a good basic GPS running watch.

eldamiano

Any Garmin watch, or for free, a phone app such as Runkeeper.

Marie047

I have a fitbit one for walking, polar FT4 for cals burned during exercise and for running/cycling I also track distance with Endomondo tracker.

skylark94

Marie047 wrote: »

I have a fitbit one for walking, polar FT4 for cals burned during exercise and for running/cycling I also track distance with Endomondo tracker.

Same here. I wear my One all day, but for workouts I will also wear my FT4 and manually log the calories burned on MFP, which I have set to sync with Fitbit.

424a57

I'm interested, too. I have used a Withings Pulse, and currently use Accupedo. Both track steps & total calories, and sync with MFP so they both make adjustments to my allowed calories. But...

These devices (or apps) don't handle other cardio exercises (swimming, cycling, etc) well, and MFP assumes they are the end-all, know-all when it comes to total calories. The end result is that if I spend an hour cycling and burn 600 calories, MFP completely ignores these calories.

Is there a step-based activity tracker that also allows you to enter other exercises before it syncs with MFP?

rsclause

I use fit bit force to track my steps. I use Runtastic on my phone to log my running. Also have a runtastic heart rate monitor but stopped using it. Both work well and I can get progress updates via my bluetooth headphones. I will probably start using the HRM again when I start training for a full marathon.

MeanderingMammal

kelerin wrote: »

Hello! I am looking in to purchasing a fitness tracker. Thoughts on the most effective? I'm a runner, so want to consider my runs in to my day.

Can I just clarify the question, rather than making an assumption about what you're after.

Do you want something that'll track your all day activity, glorified pedometer like a fitbit, or do you want something to track your running and account for it?

If the latter, then it really depends on how much running you do; phone based, or dedicated running GPS.

If the former, then personally I don't see much point in them for an already active person, but I'd be inclined to suggest the Vivofit with HRM strap, or the FR15, as desribed above.

StaciMarie1974

I have the Fitbit One - but my husband just got the Polar Loop a few weeks ago. I'd probably go with that one if I were just shopping now. Works with a Polar HRM for more accurate burn info during cardio. Water proof. And Polar is a solid product usually. It tracks steps, miles but also allows him to set an activity goal. And throughout the day it will tell him what to do to hit the mark. Like walk for x minutes or run for y minutes.

The ONLY downside? Polar Loop does not sync w/ MFP. But we figured a way around that for Hubby.

1. Know what MFP expects you to burn. Such as if your MFP goal is to eat 1500/day and that is based on losing 1 pound a week, then MFP expects you to burn 2000. Anything over that will need an adjustment.

2. Know your BMR per hour. If your BMR per day is 1600 then 1600/24 means your BMR is roughly 67.

3. When you're 'done' for the day, see what Polar Loop shows for your calorie burn. If its 1900 and there are 2 hours left in the day, you know you'll end at 1900 + 2 x 67 or about 2034.

4. Enter cardio, for 1 minute, call it Polar Adjustment for 34 calories. Which is 2034 actual - 2000 expected.

kelerin wrote: »

Hello! I am looking in to purchasing a fitness tracker. Thoughts on the most effective? I'm a runner, so want to consider my runs in to my day.

Thanks!

erockem

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

kelerin wrote: »

Hello! I am looking in to purchasing a fitness tracker. Thoughts on the most effective? I'm a runner, so want to consider my runs in to my day.

Can I just clarify the question, rather than making an assumption about what you're after.

Do you want something that'll track your all day activity, glorified pedometer like a fitbit, or do you want something to track your running and account for it?

If the latter, then it really depends on how much running you do; phone based, or dedicated running GPS.

If the former, then personally I don't see much point in them for an already active person, but I'd be inclined to suggest the Vivofit with HRM strap, or the FR15, as desribed above.

This was my question, what are you looking to track? I use endomondo (free) to track my running, walking, riding, etc. It provides pace, splits, elevation information, mapping, and more.

TeaBea

Activity trackers (depending upon model) can track steps, sleep, and stairs. Because running is a step based activity.....the calorie estimate won't be too bad.

Check out the FitBit group to see specific topics.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

Heart rate monitors are designed to calculate steady state cardio calories. Because there is a heart rate component the calorie burn estimate should be more accurate.

The Polar FT (and Polar Loop) would be two separate purchases, but they link together.

It comes down to how much you want to spend. There is no one thing that combines both (yet).

MeanderingMammal

TeaBea wrote: »

It comes down to how much you want to spend. There is no one thing that combines both (yet).

That would be the Garmin Forerunner 15, and the available for pre-order Garmin FR920XT.

The latter is horribly expensive unless one is a serious multisport athlete.

KrzyGal

I have the fitbit flex and love it! I got a cheaper one and returned it 2 days later; the software didn't work right at all. Fitbit syncs with my phone and on the website. It's helping me narrow down sleep issues as well.

mrsgault79

i have been researching this for days. It appears the Bodymedia Fit is 1st than Fit Bit Zip and Fit Bit One for accuracy. BM is 9.3% the others are 10.%. Bodymedia tracks steps, calories burned, vigorous and moderate activity and can even track your sleep.

TeaBea

mrsgault79 wrote: »

i have been researching this for days. It appears the Bodymedia Fit is 1st than Fit Bit Zip and Fit Bit One for accuracy. BM is 9.3% the others are 10.%. Bodymedia tracks steps, calories burned, vigorous and moderate activity and can even track your sleep.

Monthly subscription for Body Media.....none for FitBit.

The FitBitOne & the FitBitFlex do track steps, calories burned, stairs, vigorous activity, and your sleep. No fee to use their website.

tullyelly

I've seen a few different posts similar to this here and across the web. Fitbit appears to
have the best marketing and market penetration.

That said, I'd suggest you read the following article from The Verge. It'll break down what tracker does what pretty well for you. I ended up following their advice and getting the newest Jawbone Up24 and couldn't be happier.

http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/14/6001153/the-best-fitness-tracker-you-can-buy

My guess is if you are dedicated enough, any of these devices can really be a huge benefit. Good luck!!

jhboise

I ordered a Jawbone Up24 about three hours before reading this thread, based on a bit of research. When I was a runner (before the hip replacement!) I *loved* the Nike chip that fits into their shoes & the app that comes with it. I found it really helped me train harder.