Help with a fitness tracker

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MrsBrown104
MrsBrown104 Posts: 88 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Im wanting to purchase a fitness tracker but need recommendations. I want one that's a watch style, heart rate monitor ( but no chest strap) , pedometer, and counts calories burned. Ive been researching but im lost to what will be worth my money. Would like to keep it $100 or less. Help!

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  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    No activity tracker under $100 can monitor heart rate. The Fitbit Charge HR (available in select stores) is $150: https://www.fitbit.com/store

    The Jawbone UP3 (coming soon) is $180: http://jawbone.com/store/buy/up3

    Fitbit has other models starting at $60. MFP has a Fitbit Users group: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/1290-fitbit-users
  • fionat29
    fionat29 Posts: 717 Member
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    No fitness tracker without a chest strap is any good. Don't waste your money! I had one that was supposed to measure heart rate via a pulse detector, mostly it detected I was dead! Honestly Polar aren't that expensive and my Garmin has GPS and can show you on a map where I've run, how far, how fast Etc.
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-310XT-Multisport-Watch/dp/B0025VKW5K/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1419706099&sr=8-6&keywords=garmin+hrm+gps

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/Polar-Heart-Monitor-Sports-Watch/dp/B005O9JJVI/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1419706268&sr=8-6&keywords=polar+hrm
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
    edited December 2014
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    Polar FT4 Heart Rate Monitor might be what you are looking for. Google around I've seen prices ranging from $50- $99
    Polar is one of the few brands that doesn't sync with MFP if that's not an issue for you, then this may be right up your alley. In fact looking at polar's site there are a few you might like the FT 7 and FT 60 as well.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    Activity trackers calculate your TDEE (aka your 24/7 burn, your maintenance calories). Heart-rate monitors only measure your burn during sustained cardio activity (for example while running). Two totally different things.
  • milaxx
    milaxx Posts: 1,122 Member
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    Read the original post. OP asked for a fitness tracker "that's a watch style, heart rate monitor ( but no chest strap) , pedometer, and counts calories burned". Polar's heart rate monitor's do that.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    edited December 2014
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    I wasn't calling you out @milaxx‌—I was just explaining the difference between activity trackers and heart-rate monitors for everyone reading this thread. Sorry if I caused offense!

    Edited to add a link to another recent thread with more information, "FitBit vs. Heart Rate Monitors": http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/30649998
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    milaxx wrote: »
    Read the original post. OP asked for a fitness tracker "that's a watch style, heart rate monitor ( but no chest strap) , pedometer, and counts calories burned". Polar's heart rate monitor's do that.

    The FT4 and FT7 both have chest straps and are not all day trackers (neither counts steps, tracks sleep, etc). The M400 requires a bluetooth HR device ... either chest or forearm strap ... to count heart beats.

    So, just which of those devices comes close to what the OP asked for in a tracker?


  • BWBTrish
    BWBTrish Posts: 2,817 Member
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    i have a Polar FT7 and works perfect for me. Has a chest strap and a watch and wear it while i am training. Costs 72 dollar on Amazon. Doesn't count steps. But have a step counter the 4xx'motion which costs 9.99 dollar. Also bought on amazon. Those two together tell me exactly what i want to know. :) And both working perfect.
  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
    edited December 2014
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    brianpperkins wrote: »
    So, just which of those devices comes close to what the OP asked for in a tracker?

    For $100, the Fitbit Flex meets all but one of the OP's requirements—it is not a heart-rate monitor: https://www.fitbit.com/store

    The Jawbone UP for $80 and UP24 for $130 do everything the Flex does: https://jawbone.com/store/fitness-trackers

    The UP has to be plugged into the headphone jack of a compatible smartphone or tablet. The UP24 syncs via Bluetooth with a compatible smartphone or tablet. Fitbit Flex is Bluetooth, but it can also sync (via a dongle) with a computer.

    I've had all three, and Fitbit customer service is way better than Jawbone's.

    Edited to add that all three sync with MFP. When you connect your accounts, MFP adjusts your calorie goal every day to TDEE minus your deficit.

    And all three failed and were replaced multiple times. After all, they're tiny computers you wear on your wrist 24/7. I only take them off to charge.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    editorgrrl wrote: »
    brianpperkins wrote: »
    So, just which of those devices comes close to what the OP asked for in a tracker?

    For $100, the Fitbit Flex meets all but one of the OP's requirements—it is not a heart-rate monitor: https://www.fitbit.com/store

    The Jawbone UP for $80 and UP24 for $130 do everything the Flex does: https://jawbone.com/store/fitness-trackers

    The UP has to be plugged into the headphone jack of a compatible smartphone or tablet. The UP24 syncs via Bluetooth with a compatible smartphone or tablet. Fitbit Flex is Bluetooth, but it can also sync (via a dongle) with a computer.

    I've had all three, and Fitbit customer service is way better than Jawbone's.

    Edited to add that all three sync with MFP. When you connect your accounts, MFP adjusts your calorie goal every day to TDEE minus your deficit.

    And all three failed and were replaced multiple times. After all, they're tiny computers you wear on your wrist 24/7. I only take them off to charge.

    So .. just like with milaxx's post hyping Polar products that don't meet the OP's wants, you post current trackers that also fail to meet the specs she listed (in your case the HRM and watch style requirements).

  • editorgrrl
    editorgrrl Posts: 7,060 Member
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    Fitbit Flex, Jawbone UP, and UP24 are all wristbands.

    I gave two options upthread that meet all the requirements except price—and they aren't widely available yet.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    I am very aware that they are wristbands and not watches. That they don't have HR capability. It's the typical default here to recommend whatever device the person making the recommendation uses, not necessarily what the person asking for advice is looking for.

    Very simply ... noting in the current marketplace matches the OP's wants. Without knowing what activities they participate in, what their priorities of tracked data are, there is no way of making an informed, intelligent, recommendation based on their desires.

    There is little to no objective testing of the Charge HR or UP3 yet. Optical HRMs without side shielding tend to be inaccurate due to the introduction of outside light that interferes with the sensor. Those that are accurate tend to be well above the $100 price point.

  • aknroberts
    aknroberts Posts: 102 Member
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    Would this be suitable...Lifetrak C410 Activity & Sleep Tracker with Heart Rate?
    I have just started looking for a water proof tracker and this one seems to have a lot of features in a watch style and reviews seem quite good so far.
  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
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    aknroberts wrote: »
    Would this be suitable...Lifetrak C410 Activity & Sleep Tracker with Heart Rate?
    I have just started looking for a water proof tracker and this one seems to have a lot of features in a watch style and reviews seem quite good so far.

    It isn't a constant read device meaning you have to touch it to get a reading. That alone makes it inaccurate as an HRM when exercising since you only get snapshots when you touch it, not a read for the entire duration of the activity.

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