FitBit or Polar HRM?

kassiebby1124
kassiebby1124 Posts: 927 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My birthday and Christmas are right around the corner and well, my mom wants to get me something. I sent her a link to the Polar FT7 and I like the features. HOWEVER. I came across the FitBit and it looks just as enticing. So my question is, which on in your opinion is worth the money, since they both cost around the same? I was looking at the FitBit Force

Replies

  • tryttej
    tryttej Posts: 18 Member
    The two tools are used for different purposes, so it depends on what you want to measure. A HRM measures heart rate and calories burned over a specific period and activity, as opposed to relying upon MFP measures, which are inaccurate for many. You wear a HRM to see how many calories you actually (or close to actually - they're all somewhat estimates) burn running for half an hour, completing a fitness video, etc.

    A fitbit on the other hand, is more of a glorified pedometer, and is used to measure steps taken and therefore calories burned over the course of the day.

    If you exercise regularly and are primarily a runner/walker, then the fitbit can serve both needs. If you exercise in other ways, you'd want a HRM to measure that activity.

    I have both. I wear my HRM when exercising, which for me is usually a video, like Insanity or Turbo Fire. I am a teacher and move around A LOT during the day, so I bought a fitbit to see just how much I do move each day in addition to my workouts.

    Hope this helps...
  • DreamOfSunshine
    DreamOfSunshine Posts: 911 Member
    I cannot comment on FitBit as I've never used it, sorry. However I have a POLAR HRM FT4 and I love it! For me the HRM for burnt cals is basically what MFP is for food cals - gives me the idea of what I've done :happy:
  • KatC_88
    KatC_88 Posts: 101 Member
    For working out, I would definitely stay with the polar HRM.
  • chelstakencharge
    chelstakencharge Posts: 1,021 Member
    I had a FitBit and hated it. I then purchased a Polar FT4 HRM and LOVE IT!!!
  • kassiebby1124
    kassiebby1124 Posts: 927 Member
    Lol I guess the Polar is the winner! Thanks guys (:
  • MichMunchkin
    MichMunchkin Posts: 94 Member
    I have both a Fitbit One and a Polar FT7 HRM, and I'll be honest with you -- for me, personally, I find the Fitbit essentially useless (or at least not as useful as my HRM.) In my experience, it vastly underestimates my TDEE, and what good does that do me in helping me figure out anything? I find it much more useful to just use my HRM when I exercise. I wear it both when I go out walking, and when I do cardio at the gym.

    I agree with another poster who called the Fitbit a glorified pedometer. I certainly don't think it's worth what I paid for it. :(
  • TheRealParisLove
    TheRealParisLove Posts: 1,907 Member
    You wear the fitbit all the time and the HRM only during exercise. They both are excellent tools. I went with the fitbit flex because I have a very physical job and wanted to know how many miles I'm walking everyday at work. I also like the sleep tracking function.

    Next on my wish list is HRM.

    I love my fitbit, and find it very motivating. It is a little crashy at times, but resetting it after it crashes is super easy. And when it does crash, you don't lose your data, because it backs up wirelessly to your smart phone or computer.

    For $99, you get an a really useful tool.
  • Jays_chick
    Jays_chick Posts: 5
    I have a Fitbit One and I've synced it with MFP which is great. My question however is why does the "calories remaining" on the Fitbit dashboard/app differ from the calories remaining on MFP. Which one is more accurate? My assumption would be the Fitbit but I wanted to get other users' opinions...
  • tdawg875
    tdawg875 Posts: 29 Member
    I have both and love both! Use my the Polar for exercise (running, elliptical, cycle class) and then the Fitbit overall use. As mentioned, the Polar only really works for cardio type activity. The fit bit comes close to the calories burned if i am running/walking but most other activities the Polar will be more accurate. I like having the fitbit for overall knowledge of how active I am. Now that I have them, it is hard to do without ether.
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    I have both, and I love, love, love my Fitbit. I love the entire picture of the day, not just your workouts. I do several workouts throughout the day, and so often I just don't want to bother putting the Polar on. I still will here and there, and I do like the heart rate feedback during the workout, and the calorie estimate at the end (IF I remember to turn it on). I could give up my HRM, but not my Fitbit.

    I did a review of the Fitbit on my blog
    http://jenbsjourney.blogspot.com/2013/08/wondering-about-fitbit.html

    My HRM review is yet to come ... they are both good tools and are quite different,
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    Depends how you exercise. If you move and walk a lot, fitbit. If you do a lot of workouts, fitness classes etc, polar.

    I would never sync the fitbit with MFP though, it seems to make things way more complicated.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,428 MFP Moderator
    Neither are truly essential tools. Most HRM's are truly only good for cardio (mostly steady state type) exercise and FITBITS are based on body movements which can over exaggerate the results. They are both good guess and probably 80% accurate but that also assume you set it up correctly. If you are one to eat back exercise calories, than a HRM would be beneficial for cardio. I personally say spend the money on a good food scale and save the rest for your pocket.
  • dare2love81
    dare2love81 Posts: 928 Member
    I have both. I wear the FT7 during workouts and then enter calories burned into MFP, which then syncs to the fitbit. I wear my fitbit all the time. I bought the fitbit to try to get a better guestimate on what my TDEE is...seems to be pretty accurate with the online calculators (assuming you're honest about your activity level).

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