Any suggestions for a good fitness tracker for Zumba/intense cardio?

jonzo21
jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
edited December 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I've been reading a lot of reviews for different trackers, and I'm stuck. I'm really hoping for just a watch (no chest strap) that will calculate HR and calorie burn for intense cardio pretty accurately, as well as daily activity. I don't really care about extra features like text/call alerts. My budget is less than 200. So far I've come up with the fitbit blaze as a good option but I'm hoping for other suggestions from people who have used them!

Replies

  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Don't bother, HR isn't a reliable indicator of calorie expenditire in environments like class cardio.
  • jonzo21
    jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
    In the past I would take heart rate and plug into a formula that included v02 max, to get a burn. So as long as I have a heart rate count I'll be satisfied
  • jonzo21
    jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
    Plus, I'd like to know how I do throughout the day as well anyway
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    jonzo21 wrote: »
    In the past I would take heart rate and plug into a formula that included v02 max, to get a burn. So as long as I have a heart rate count I'll be satisfied

    You're assumption is that HR and calorie expenditure are related. If you're doing steady state aerobic range work then there is a relationship. That's where VO2Max plays in as it helps define your aerobic range.

    For non-steady state, the relationship breaks down rapidly.

    I guess taking an average will be a bit less inaccurate.
  • jonzo21
    jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
    edited June 2016
    Well the way I see it, taking an average or relying on a device to calculate for me is more accurate than me currently guessing "I guess I didn't work as hard at Zumba today so I'll just guess I burned 300 calories instead of my usual high burn" it doesn't have to be a perfect count but at least ill be in the right range whereas now I'm just guessing
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    jonzo21 wrote: »
    Well the way I see it, taking an average or relying on a device to calculate for me is more accurate than me currently guessing "I guess I didn't work as hard at Zumba today so I'll just guess I burned 300 calories instead of my usual high burn" it doesn't have to be a perfect count but at least ill be in the right range whereas now I'm just guessing

    Only problem is it's really not

    The way an hrm works is that it converts to HR to oxygen uptake based on specific conditions of steady state cardio

    You may as well just guess if you are looking for a daily activity burn or a non steady state activity burn
  • jonzo21
    jonzo21 Posts: 446 Member
    So what you are saying is fitness trackers calorie burns are not even close to accurate? For day to day activity as well as cardio, or just cardio?
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    You may as well just get a basic step tracker ..the hrm 24 hour wearables are, IMO, just marketing and no more accurate

    And always judge against your body eg rolling 6-8 weeks weight against calorie intake and wearable calorie estimate ...and adjust accordingly
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