Another fitness tracker band post..I'm so confused!

Why not wait on the Fitbit Charge HR? It will have constant heart rate. I tried the Microsoft band, it was just way too big and too uncomfortable on my wrists (I have pretty small wrists).

I had my Fitbit One for two years before it quit working, and when it did, after a bit of trouble shooting, they just sent me a completely new one. Their customer service is outstanding. I just did the pre-order for the FitBit Charge HR, got it Monday, and I'm liking it so far.

Yah if you don't care about the HR part, Go ahead and order the CHarge. I love the interface! It gives you big green Smileys for meeting your goals, stupid yet motivating! Also I hear the sleep tracking is the most detailed, which I am concerned with.

If you don't care about the HR, they are clearing out the last generation of monitors at terrific prices. As far as I can tell, the only thing the new generation has is HRM and, in some cases, smart watch functions.

Unfortunately, I don't have the Charge. Right now I have the Flex, but want to upgrade once the HR versions come out.

Raynne413 wrote: »

Why not wait on the Fitbit Charge HR? It will have constant heart rate. I tried the Microsoft band, it was just way too big and too uncomfortable on my wrists (I have pretty small wrists).

Actually, I'd highly suggest anyone interested in the Charge HR or Surge sign up for Fitbit's forums and read the threads on them.

They allowed a limited release of them and the feedback for the Charge HR is not looking that great.

The steps are exaggerated, the HR seems a bit intermittent, the battery life is short, the auto-sleep function doesn't seem to really work, chargers not being shipped with the product, etc.

Also, a heads up - the wrist measurements on the website are not right. If you have wrists larger than 6", you'll want to go with the large and not the small.

Check out the Polar Loop. Water proof, can be paired w/ a HRM for cardio/improved accuracy. You set an activity goal and it gives you suggestions for what to do to meet it. Such as walk x minutes or run y minutes. Personally would not trust wrist based HRM especially on a brand new product. Generally speaking, I would not want to be in the first wave of customers for a brand new product...

StaciMarie1974 wrote: »

Check out the Polar Loop. Water proof, can be paired w/ a HRM for cardio/improved accuracy. You set an activity goal and it gives you suggestions for what to do to meet it. Such as walk x minutes or run y minutes. Personally would not trust wrist based HRM especially on a brand new product. Generally speaking, I would not want to be in the first wave of customers for a brand new product...

Well, that's why I am leaning more towards the Up3 as they are using the same bioimpedence sensors from Bodymedia. I had the Link and I loved it but am giving it up since Bodymedia is basically dead.

The Up3 pre-orders come with 60 days money back, so if you find that it's not accurate, you'll only be out the cost of shipping. It's the only one so far with bioimpedence instead of light pulses for heart rate readings. If you have dark skin, small wrists or if there's really bright ambient light or very warm weather, the light pulses don't work so well. Also, you have to wear these bands very tight when exercising, as any jiggling of the band against your skin will also throw it off. The Up3 tech works with a looser band, as it only has to make contact, not block out light. It's also much smaller than the others, and can be worn swimming.

mtgrzz wrote: »

I just saw somewhere that now it will be mid January for the UP3, which worries me. I guess that just means I have more time to research. I have been reading the Charge HR reviews and so far it seems more negative than positive. I'm really hoping the UP3 ships sooner than later.

A lot of the negative reports I read from people are more user fault than product.

Like band size. They tell you exactly what the sizing is, people don't read and order what they think will fit, it doesn't fit, but somehow it's the products fault that their 5.5" to 6.3" size band does not fit the users 7" wrist.

Or why does it not have a back-light? It does, you just need to hit a button.

Or how come my steps are way off? Did you try going through and calibrating it to your stride for walking and running? Cause it's actually pretty accurate when you do that.

Honestly, I think you'll see plenty of negative reviews for all these type products. The only ones you won't see negative reviews on are for the trackers that haven't made it into the hands of people yet. Many of the problems are user error though or user related that specifically applies to them.

Kasuad wrote: »

mtgrzz wrote: »

I just saw somewhere that now it will be mid January for the UP3, which worries me. I guess that just means I have more time to research. I have been reading the Charge HR reviews and so far it seems more negative than positive. I'm really hoping the UP3 ships sooner than later.

A lot of the negative reports I read from people are more user fault than product.

Like band size. They tell you exactly what the sizing is, people don't read and order what they think will fit, it doesn't fit, but somehow it's the products fault that their 5.5" to 6.3" size band does not fit the users 7" wrist.

Or why does it not have a back-light? It does, you just need to hit a button.

Or how come my steps are way off? Did you try going through and calibrating it to your stride for walking and running? Cause it's actually pretty accurate when you do that.

Honestly, I think you'll see plenty of negative reviews for all these type products. The only ones you won't see negative reviews on are for the trackers that haven't made it into the hands of people yet. Many of the problems are user error though or user related that specifically applies to them.

For the band size - that's false. There were several users on the Fitbit forums with 6", 6.1" and 6.3" wrists complaining about the sizing being incorrect. I didn't come across anyone with a 7" wrist complaining about not fitting into the small. In fact, there were those around that measurement that were saying to go with the XL versus the Large.

Again, for the steps - users are documenting the changes they made or didn't make and still, the steps are around 1000 off. Some of the users have even taken to creating a 2nd account so they can wear their older fitbits to compare (so far I've seen a flex and a Fitbit One comparison).

mdove3411 wrote: »

Following.
Which ones actually read across the screen?

Charge HR has a smaller screen, Surge has a the bigger screen. Microsoft Band as a long rectangular screen, Basis Peak has a square screen.

I think of the new ones coming out that are over $100, the Jawbone UP3 is the only one that does not have a screen.

Pikaknight, I wasn't using any direct examples of people not paying attention to what they ordered for size and then blaming fitment issues on the product. but that does exist. I think people should read the low ball reviews and infer for themselves if the reviewers opinion/experience should be taken serious or thrown out and not just see 1 star vrs 5 stars. Kinda off-topic, but I read a review on Amazon before for a pop-corn popper. A reviewer rated it one star and slammed it as junk because it does a very poor job of roasting her coffee beans and even burned the coffee beans. It's a popcorn popper.

I should be getting my Surge today. I am really wanting to like it. If I don't and have problems with it, I'll report back in a few days and give warning.