[Need Recommendation] Accurate Fitness Trackers

RhapsodyWinters

I'm looking to buy a fitness tracker in the next month or so, and I was wondering your thoughts on the MOST accurate. I know none of them will be accurate to a T, but I want to get close to it.

Features wanted:
Steps
Calorie counter
Heart Rate
Sleep Tracking
Clock (would be nice so that I also have a watch )

I saw that the new Fitbit Charge 2 will, for the most part, automatically sense when you start a workout and start logging information for it. I like that idea of not having to stick on my phone to log exercises right before I do them.

My budget would be maybe $150, since I've never had a tracker before. If the tracker is really good, I'd be willing to spend more (especially if I waited until Black Friday).

StealthHealth

Recent BBC magazine program (Trust me I'm a Doctor) performed a calorie and steps test on a range of fitness trackers and smartphone tracking apps.

Steps showed a massive variation between devices and in their 100 steps test (performed using a range of step types and arm movements) gave results ranging from (if I remember) about 40 to 120 steps.

Calorific burn when compared to a professional medical chest strap HRM were of a similar level of inaccuracy. It think the best was just less than 50% out according to the pro-version. What was interesting was that they chose to test the cals function with a HIIT style work out rather than a steady state activity: Maybe better results with SS cardio? Unfortunately the variation of each brand was not presented so there was no way of knowing which was best (least bad).

But, my take home was - If you really want one, go for one that you can afford that has the kind of features you like. Don't take either the step counts or calories too seriously but instead look at your daily trend of each and use that as motivation for continual improvement.

For the record I've always thought they were a just another gadget that would end up in the back of a drawer until I gave it away or threw it away, but MrsStealthHealth has a MSFIT swarovski crystal tracker and really likes it. It encourages her to walk more during the day and if she's not hit her target by dinner time she goes out for a walk.