Fitbit Flex vs. Fitbit Charge HR

xxghost

Hi all.

I have had my Fitbit Flex for a couple of years now. I absolutely love everything about it.

However, my birthday is coming up, and I'm thinking of upgrading to the Charge HR. I'm just working on losing weight right now, and I use the Fitbit as more of a motivator more than a 100% accurate tool. But I don't have a heart rate monitor right now, and the Charge HR has me intrigued.

I have heard a lot of horror stories about the Charge HR - hardly any battery life, causing pain and rashes, etc. That's why I wanted to check in here to see if anyone has first-hand experience.

Is it worth swapping out my Flex and paying the money for the Charge HR?

I scanned the first ten pages or so of the forum and didn't see an answer to my question. However, since repetitive topic creation is a problem, feel free to link me if this discussion has taken place already. Either way, thanks for your help!

fish2find

Im watching for feedback to help me make a choice. I wish I had more input.

Katiebear_81

I didn't have a flex, and went straight for the CHR.

I haven't had any skin reactions, and where it unless I'm in water or it's charging. I find I charge it about 2x a week, maybe 1.5 times. I have it set to only sync when I tell it to, which saves on battery life.

I can't speak as to whether the HR portion is really accurate or not - I have never used a chest strap, and the idea doesn't appeal to me. However, I've been using the fitbit's caloric burn + MFP food input to keep within a deficit, and the weight has been coming off (except for the two week hiatus I took and gained those 5 lbs back... Ugh... but that's my fault, not the fitbit's fault).

I do find that the HR reading will help me push up into the higher HR range while running, just so I can see the "peak" line on my dashboard after going for a run. I also like that once I push the "workout" button, it automatically takes all the metrics for me - time, distance, pace, etc. I do a mix of lifting and running, so it's a little less useful during lifting sessions, but it still times me, measures my heart rate, my steps between sets and gives me a calories burned (usually around 100 for lifting, but I walk a lot between sets).

All in all, I am a fan, but really have nothing to compare it to.

kimmijo88

I had the flex, bow got the HR, so glad I bought the HR! Is so much better xx

ActiveApril

I have the Charge HR. I haven't had any problems with rashes or irritation from the band. I wear it all the time except when showering or doing dishes. The heart rate measurement seems to be pretty accurate. In the middle of a workout I've compared it to both the manual heart rate measurement and what it says on the treadmill and it's usually no more than 5 beats off. For me the battery life is fine unless I put it in workout mode and forgot to turn that off I usually have it in workout mode for 6 or 7 hours a week and charge it maybe 2 times a week.

xxghost

Thank you so much for all of your answers so far, everyone. I appreciate it.

For those of you who use the Charge HR - do you still log your exercise with MFP? Or do you just use the calories recommended by the Charge's HRM, and do the usual calories in, calories out?

K8T80

I'm interested too as I'm thinking about the HR one. Seeing my HR helps me know if I'm really at the limit or if I can still push on. I should be able to do that in my own head, but it gets ugly in here.

xxghost

Cool, thanks!

I'm feeling pretty good about getting one now.

gopgirl425

I have the Charge HR and I wore it a few weeks and never had the pain or rash people talk about until one day I fell asleep with my hand under my head and slept this way for about an hour with my head pushing the Charge HR into my arm...after I woke up I had a terrible pain in my arm....thought it may go away but I had to take it off. Left it off a few days and put it back on and no pain at all. I also recommend wearing it loosely like they recommend. I think wearing it too tight could cause pain.
Keep the all day sync and the caller id off and the battery lasts much longer.
Oh I have the flex too and I like the Charge HR so much better. So much more information.

editorgrrl

You can learn more (and find Fitbit friends) in the Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users

I upgraded from Flex to Charge HR because the buckle is a million times better than the clasp. And because it comes in purple.

brianpperkins

A review of the Charge/Charge HR

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/02/fitbit-charge-review.html