Activity Tracker VS HRM VS Phone App

derrickyoung

I have tried searching this and still not seeing the answer so i will ask.

I have a Galaxy S4 with a variety of apps for activity tracking. The two I seem to keep going to are moves and the Samsung S Health. Based on all the technology in a phone (GPS, Gyros, Barometers....) Is this as accurate as a Fitbit, polar loop or pick another brand?

What I am trying to determine is if I will get more accurate calories burned by adding a Blue Tooth HRM to these apps or will an activity tracker still out perform the APP+HRM as far as accuracy.

I do realize that the phone will only be effective if your carrying it.

3dogsrunning

In general, the phone is not as accurate for any of those things. I would go with a dedicated device over using the phone.

Whether you will get more accurate calories burned by adding a Blue Tooth HRM to these apps or an activity tracker - I have no idea. It will have a lot to do with what kind of activity you are trying to track.

A HRM calorie estimation is based on steady state cardio activity. As soon as you go outside of that, accuracy decreases (keep in mind there are still a number of other factors that affect accuracy even when being using during SSC). It is not accurate at all for low intensity activity such as daily lift, so it is not useful for tracking all day.

Activity trackers are typically useful for tracking things like walking and stuff, not so much for more intense exercise.

In the end, outside of a lab, you won't get "accurate". These are all just estimations, all have their positive aspects and all have degrees of errors and limitations. TBH - considering the difference in calories you will probably get, it is unlikely that one of these methods will make or break you. Even following MFP's suggestions will get you where you need to go, so long as you are logging realistically.

joeyzuraski

It's best to use a Polar HRM versus a Galaxy S5 and Gear Fit.

GF is not as accurate if getting a reading on your finger or wrist. Running 4 MPH on a treadmill, you'll get way inaccurate readings. The Polar would read 120 BPM average depending on your age, but the GF when my friend used one read 170.

DavPul

get an activity tracker instead of the HRM or standard phone based tracking.

if you want to consistently know that you're meeting your calorie goals, knowing where you are for the FULL day is, i dunno, about a million trillion times better than using an HRM and knowing what you burned for 30-45 mins out of a 24 hour day. in fact, knowing the exact amount you burned while working out (versus making a guess that's within 150-200 cal of being accurate) has almost no value at all. with an all day activity tracker (fitbit, bodymedia, jawbone, fuelband, etc) you'll know if you've up to 1000 calories off base during the other 23.5 hours of the day.

rpmtnbkr

I've used them all. I currently have a Polar HRM (CS300) & Polar Loop. I went with the Loop because it had the HRM function. I've used both in conjunction with Endomondo, Cardio Trainer and the Polar Beat app.

I like the Loop because of the all day tracking, but I like the HRM for a more accurate result for exercise burn. Most everyone on here will tell you the calculations from the machines are no where accurate.

What I really find amusing is the difference in heart rate and calorie burn information between The Loop (heart rate session) and the CS300, or the Polar Beat app and the CS300 using the same transmitter.... hard to believe it varies like it does.

Bottom line...just stay active....:)

MeanderingMammal

What I am trying to determine is if I will get more accurate calories burned by adding a Blue Tooth HRM to these apps or will an activity tracker still out perform the APP+HRM as far as accuracy.

The most appropriate type of instrumentation depends on what activities you're trying to measure.

If you're thinking about all day capture of your activities then S-Health is as inaccurate as any other tool like fitbit or jawbone. the racticality is the need to carry the phone al the time.

If you're thinking about some form of higher intensity activity then an HRM will give you a more accurate figure, for that activity. In that sense using a strap that integrates with an activity tracking app like Runkeeper or Endomondo will integrate theR data with your GPS data, a useful conflation.

You're then into the realms of whether your phone is the most appropriate exercise tracking tool, clearly the vlunerability with any android device is battery life. I carry a spare when I'm my long runs; 2-3 hours.

Note that calorie expenditure is only an approximation based on what the instrumentation measures, whether it's a glorified pedometer or your HR. Neither directly indicate calorie expenditure, although HR is probably more reliable as a source for the approximation.

Kimsied

I have tried searching this and still not seeing the answer so i will ask.

I have a Galaxy S4 with a variety of apps for activity tracking. The two I seem to keep going to are moves and the Samsung S Health. Based on all the technology in a phone (GPS, Gyros, Barometers....) Is this as accurate as a Fitbit, polar loop or pick another brand?

What I am trying to determine is if I will get more accurate calories burned by adding a Blue Tooth HRM to these apps or will an activity tracker still out perform the APP+HRM as far as accuracy.

I do realize that the phone will only be effective if your carrying it.

Hard to say about accuracy since it will have a lot to do with the proprietary formulas used by the company and how well you and your activity matches whatever assumptions are built in. I use a Fitbit One all day and a heart rate monitor for some activities. I have two HRM's a Polar watch/chest strap I had first and now mainly use for water exercise and a bluetooth Polar strap that I use with the app "Digifit ICardio". I've used these for a few years and find my estimated total calorie burn (fitbit and hem combined) seems to be pretty accurate for me. My concern about using a phone app is that would you always want to have the phone on your person all day, if not, would it miss much of your activity. I think there are some advantages to a device you wear separate from your phone.

About accuracy and activity trackers. It is going to depends on the activity you do. That is why I supplement with the HRM and sometimes just with a MET chart calorie burn calculation (for some non-aerobic exercise like weight lifting). I find my fitbit One does dine with step based cardio that doesn't involve extra resistance--it usually gives me a similar calorie burn to my HRM. For cardio that is not step based like rowing, swimming or cycling and that involves resistance (like many gym machines) I tend to trust my HRM more and my fitbit always gives a much lower estimate. For non-aerobic, resistance or non-steps captivities like lifting weights and yoga neither is likely to be that accurate. I understand their are a couple activity trackers coming out that apparently can track strength training and count reps, but as far as I know they are not released yet. And until they are released and more widely used it is hard to know if it is accurate enough to invest money in--at this time.

I think all this is really personal preference as people improve their fitness without devices of any kind. It may just depend what information you want and what fits your lifestyle. I think most options have some pros and cons and some activities they track well and others they do not.

pinkshiningstar

I wear my Fitbit Flex throughout the day and when I hit the gym I strap on a Polar HRM to track that activity. Definitely my preferred method and what works for me