fitbit or polar ft7

Amanda82691
Amanda82691 Posts: 298 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Which one do you have and why is it better?

*I love all the info guys but I feel I made a mistake for not stating what om looking for from a device.

I am looking for a decice that can track my calories burned throughout the day, during weight training cardio and any workout. That way I can take the guess work out of how many calories I burn daily. I feel eventhough mothing can be 10000% right it will help greatly. Can both of these do that or is there one that can't or one that can do it better?
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Replies

  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    The fitbit is made for wearing all day while you're walking around. The Polar FT7 is only for use during cardio exercise. They're two different animals with different applications.
  • Stdavis53
    Stdavis53 Posts: 233 Member
    I personally have a Fitbit Ultra and love it. It has been the most accurate device when it comes to steps/stairs/calories that I have used so far. I also love that I can track my sleep paterns with it as well.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    They're two totally different tools for two totally different purposes. If you're comparing them and trying to decide which one to buy then I strongly advise that you educate yourself on what they actually are and what they're for before making your purchase. And if anyone in here pipes in saying one is clearly better than the other then all that proves is they don't know any more than you do.

    That being said pedometers by nature can't be even close to exact in their measurements. They can only get you "in the ballpark" because anything that jars them can incorrectly register as a step which will lead to improperly registering calories burned. Just an FYI.
  • Coltsman4ever
    Coltsman4ever Posts: 602 Member
    The fitbit is made for wearing all day while you're walking around. The Polar FT7 is only for use during cardio exercise. They're two different animals with different applications.

    ^^^ This
  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    I have both, honestly, I have had the fitbit longer but I like the Polar ft7 for my total workout, I wear my fitbit 24/7 and only wear my HRM when I work out. they are better as a team, if i had to choose, I would say fitbit because it is more user friendly. but If you get one, you will buy a HRM later, it is a safe bet.
  • hannahcall2
    hannahcall2 Posts: 175 Member
    Haven't tried either, but I just got a Polar FT40 for christmas and I love it! It works well with cardio and some resistance training.
  • pmaxson
    pmaxson Posts: 137
    I have both also - I like to see my heart rate, etc. from the hrm but the overall activity level from the fitbit. Besides, sometimes it is good to get a little extra motivations. :)
  • goldfinger1967
    goldfinger1967 Posts: 3 Member
    I have a polar heart rate monitor and can wear it all day as the latest one is a soft band with the monitor being really small. Personally I have had Polars for years and wouldn't use anything else.
  • Onesnap
    Onesnap Posts: 2,819 Member
    two different devices.

    Polar you wear only when you workout.

    But Polar 10000% because I only believe in a chest strap and tracking only when you workout.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    getting my Polar FT7 tomorrow.

    That really is more a question of would you rather have a pedometer or a hear rate monitor.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    I have a polar heart rate monitor and can wear it all day as the latest one is a soft band with the monitor being really small. Personally I have had Polars for years and wouldn't use anything else.

    You may be able to wear it all day but if you try to use it to get an idea of resting calorie burn you're only screwing yourself over. They aren't programmed for that and incorrectly overestimate calories burned when the heart rate is at resting pace.
  • shanmackie
    shanmackie Posts: 194 Member
    they're two different things entirely. i like the fitbit anyway because it's good you can wear it all day and it has a nice little website. then use the HRM to monitor your workouts and how many calories you're burning. fitbit can only base your workouts on how much you're walking during them.

    i wear a fitbit and a bodymedia together.
  • lesliefoste
    lesliefoste Posts: 137 Member
    I just got a FitBit Zip about a week ago. I can't compare them (never tried the other), but for what it's worth I love my FBZ. It really encourages me to be more active, and it's fun to compete with my friends who have them, too. And I especially love that you can sync it with MFP.
  • Coltsman4ever
    Coltsman4ever Posts: 602 Member
    I have a polar heart rate monitor and can wear it all day as the latest one is a soft band with the monitor being really small. Personally I have had Polars for years and wouldn't use anything else.

    You may be able to wear it all day but if you try to use it to get an idea of resting calorie burn you're only screwing yourself over. They aren't programmed for that and incorrectly overestimate calories burned when the heart rate is at resting pace.

    ^^^TRUTH
  • Pedal_Pusher
    Pedal_Pusher Posts: 1,166 Member
    Garmin Edge 500
  • Coltsman4ever
    Coltsman4ever Posts: 602 Member
    Garmin Edge 500

    Garmin Forerunner 910XT
  • Katacheese
    Katacheese Posts: 112 Member
    I have a fitbit which I like, but it has it's limitations. If you are going to do something that is not walking/running/cycling based it doesn't pick up the calories you burn and you have to input that stuff on the fitbit app.
  • cwanek726
    cwanek726 Posts: 98 Member
    I have both also, I use the fitbit for all day use, and the ft7 for my workouts. I got both of them recently and I like them both for what they're intended to do. I got my fitbit first, then added in the HRM a couple of weeks later. If you want a better picture of what you're burning on an average day, go for the fitbit. If you want a more accurate picture of calories burned during a cardio workout, get the HRM. Or, like others have done, get both!
    If you decide on the FT7, you won't be able to upload the workouts to Polar's website unless you also buy a flowlink.
  • FitterGill
    FitterGill Posts: 25 Member
    I also have both. I wear my Fitbit on my bra through the day (I don't wear it in bed but you can if you want to get info on your sleep patterns) and wear a Polar HRM during my gym workouts. Fitbit syncs with MFP which is fab and I overwrite the time spent in the gym with my HRM read outs.

    I was glad to note that my Fitbit and HRM numbers over the week are bang on compared with the Scooby calorie calculation.
  • Amanda82691
    Amanda82691 Posts: 298 Member
    They're two totally different tools for two totally different purposes. If you're comparing them and trying to decide which one to buy then I strongly advise that you educate yourself on what they actually are and what they're for before making your purchase. And if anyone in here pipes in saying one is clearly better than the other then all that proves is they don't know any more than you do.

    That being said pedometers by nature can't be even close to exact in their measurements. They can only get you "in the ballpark" because anything that jars them can incorrectly register as a step which will lead to improperly registering calories burned. Just an FYI.

    And from what I gather a fitbit is more like a pedometer??
  • Brittany3914
    Brittany3914 Posts: 258 Member
    Both are great, but it's really comparing apples to oranges. What will you use it for?

    I have a Polar FT4, and I don't know much about fitbit, but here's what I've gathered:

    Fitbit is meant for all-day wear. Like a pedometer, but suped up. Keeps track of calories burned throughout the entire day. A heart rate monitor is meant to be worn only during specific exercise (running, group fitness class, etc etc).
  • KarenJanine
    KarenJanine Posts: 3,497 Member
    I have a fitbit One and polar FT4. I use both, fitbit all day and HRM for workouts. I got my HRM first but then decided to get a fitbit too because I wanted to get a better idea of my total daily calorie burn. The two combined give me a good picture.
  • DivaMoe40
    DivaMoe40 Posts: 159 Member
    I'm glad that is was posted. I have been toying with the idea of whether or not I wanted to buy a Fitbit. Reading everyone's comments and experiences really helped me. I haven't totally decided which one to purchase but this was certainly helpful.
  • Coltsman4ever
    Coltsman4ever Posts: 602 Member
    If anyone here is using their HRM for weight training or wearing it all day and entering your calories burned on MFP, you are doing yourself a great disservice. Unless of course you don't eat back any of your exercise calories. Then who cares! ;)

    HRM's are only designed for cardio.
  • jallison12
    jallison12 Posts: 83
    I have a fitbit, but for HRM I use my phone and Bluetooth chest strap. I used to have my fitbit profile, connected through endomondo and then through to MFP (I think...it was complicated). But I've recently "disconnected" that. I felt I was being credited for too many cals burned, somehow. Am sure it was my way of connecting. Anyway, I still love the fitbit as it does get my out of my chair to walk. Very motivating. I use the phone/HRM for specific workouts and then (back to) logging them manually in MFP.

    So, to me, 2 very different gadgets which do different things. If you wanted to track the whole day, I would get annoyed wearing a chest strap all day. So the fitbit is better in that regard.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    They're two totally different tools for two totally different purposes. If you're comparing them and trying to decide which one to buy then I strongly advise that you educate yourself on what they actually are and what they're for before making your purchase. And if anyone in here pipes in saying one is clearly better than the other then all that proves is they don't know any more than you do.

    That being said pedometers by nature can't be even close to exact in their measurements. They can only get you "in the ballpark" because anything that jars them can incorrectly register as a step which will lead to improperly registering calories burned. Just an FYI.

    And from what I gather a fitbit is more like a pedometer??

    A fitbit isn't LIKE a pedometer. It IS a pedometer.
  • DonaA123
    DonaA123 Posts: 337 Member
    The fitbit is made for wearing all day while you're walking around. The Polar FT7 is only for use during cardio exercise. They're two different animals with different applications.

    ^^^ This
  • sammniamii
    sammniamii Posts: 669 Member
    I had/Have both - Fitbit Ultra and Polar FT7 & WearLink Bluetooth.

    Fitbit is ok, I got the older version NOT bluetooth, so I had to wait all day for an update. Also, changes made on MFP had made it very difficult to get a correct amount of calories to show up.

    It's basically a fancy Pedometer - if you walk or run, great. Most other activity isn't recorded right and you will not get a correct reading from the FitBit.

    I bought the FT7 so I could get acurate numbers of my burns - it showed me the FitBit wasn't great for anything but walking/jogging/running. It's a watch & chest strap and if very accurate.

    I recently upgraded to the Polar WearLink BlueTooth to work w/ my smartphone & use the app Endomodo to record data. Still has a chest strap, just no watch. Same great HRM as the FT7, just more modern to work with what I needed.

    Between the two devices - GO POLAR. A heart rate monitor will show you the burn of all of your workouts more accurately than the FitBit (with in mind some workout like weight lifting may not be the best w/ a "heart rate monitor").

    Plus, unless you score an older FitBit or go with the Zip model - the FT7 (or many of the Polar models) are cheaper if you hunt around the internet.

    Also - as others have stated, FitBit is for all day wear (i still wear mine from wake to sleep) - it tracks MOVEMENT, which can be deciving to a Pedometer (I used to sit on a balance ball and "bounce" - IT RECORDED THAT MOVEMENT). The Polar is more for wearing during a workout for tracking the calories burnt.

    If you want all day movement record - try that BodyMedia thing.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    I have both, honestly, I have had the fitbit longer but I like the Polar ft7 for my total workout, I wear my fitbit 24/7 and only wear my HRM when I work out. they are better as a team, if i had to choose, I would say fitbit because it is more user friendly. but If you get one, you will buy a HRM later, it is a safe bet.

    I do the same thing. I feel that the fitbit isn't quite accurate with my calories burned like my HRM is, especially when it comes to strength days. So my opinion, get both. Fitbit makes sure you are moving around enough, and HRM is better for during your workouts.
  • BOOMaggedon
    BOOMaggedon Posts: 244 Member
    I now have both. The FitBit is very nice for showing you all the steps you take in a day. I stopped using it with MFP though because the calorie counts it gave me credit for seem insanely high. I have been using the Polar FT7 for a few workouts now. I really like it. I love how the heart rate strap works with the machines I work on. I also like the data (I am a geek). It seems to give me a more accurate calorie count at the end of the workout (it has been 15% lower than the machine tells me and 25% lower than most of the MFP counts). I also like how the FitBit tracks my sleep patterns. But if I had to start over I would take the Polar FT7 first and the FitBit second.

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