Garmin Or Fitbit?

A HRM and activity tracker like a FitBit are two very different things and serve different purposes. If you're just looking to track general step type of activity, a FitBit is fine...they have one with a HRM, but that's really irrelevant to the purpose of a FitBit.

If you're wanting to track your HR for training purposes and different zone training, you'd want a HRM...you don't wear these all of the time, only when you're actively training.

It really depends on what your objectives are...I have a Garmin 510 for my bike...but it's really specifically for cycling whereby I can track my HR as well as cadence, speed, elevation, and a whole host of other things that are applicable to what I do.

I think from what I've heard and limited experience with wrist hr monitors, they are generally accurate only for sedentary and mild motion, being very rough estimates above say 110 bpm. You could not expect to accurately track five zone hr workouts, but they are good if it has the right app for keeping track of the time you are sedentary vs active vs exercising. Many people have wrist trackers with hr for this and steps, but use a hr chest strap for exercise. Now Moov is coming out with a temple hr monitor worn in a sweatband or swim cap. They, of course claim this is more accurate than wrist or chest strap, and have some internal and anecdotal evidence to back it up, but I don't really know.

I used a Fitbit Charge HR throughout my 70lb weight loss. I trusted the calories burnt and it worked out for me. I did weight training and HIIT. I gave it away to a family member and plan on buying a Garmin (when and if I can afford one) because I took up running and I would prefer a garmin for its gps. Good luck!

In my experience, the Fitbit is a poorly made product. I had my Fitbit charge replaced 4 or 5 times under warranty. Now that it's no longer covered, I switched to the Garmin Vivosmart HR.

One thing is to avoid the Garmin Vivosmart HR. I've had one and it is pretty unreliable and the software has more than it's fair share of bugs. I've replaced mine with the Garmin Vivoactive HR. Much more versatile unit and the software is better. Still not perfect but those things that don't seem to work are common with others (stairs, intensity minutes). And it is much closer to my chest strap for measuring heart rate. Plus I can download golf courses to it.

I don't want a FitBit as they are not waterproof (although I understand they have one waterproof one now).

Do you want to put on a chest strap when you exercise, which is more accurate, or have the HR monitor built into the wristband, which is less accurate but easier to use? If you don't need an HR monitor or smart notifications you can spend less than the Charge 2 and get a thinner wristband or one you can clip on to your bra or put in your pocket. I've heard the clip on ones are better at counting steps especially if you walk with a stroller or cart. Also, how often is it convenient to charge your tracker? Nightly, weekly, or change a battery every six months? Do you want something waterproof or are you good about remembering to take jewelry off before jumping in the pool or shower? Sorry I ask so many questions, but there are a lot of tracker options these days.

Love my Garmin Forerunner 35

jennybearlv wrote: »

Do you want to put on a chest strap when you exercise, which is more accurate, or have the HR monitor built into the wristband, which is less accurate but easier to use?

A third option is to just not track your heart rate while you exercise.

How good an option it is depends what kind of exercise you're doing, and what your goal is with it.

If you want to go in depth on the research dcrainmaker.com has in depth reviews of each tracker after using them for a month and has a table at the end of each review comparing it to other similarly priced options. There is a lot in each review but he has it organized well with headings for various sections so you can skip the ones that don't apply to you. Just enter the tracker you are interested in in the search field at the top of his webpage. Someone here mentioned this site to me a bit ago. Very helpful.

I've been using the FitBit Charge 2 for the last 2 months and I love it. HR, steps, calories burned, and so much more. I believe it to be accurate because I was using a Polar HRM during exercise and I was gaining weight even though I thought I was at a deficit. Once I got the FitBit, I saw it was showing less calories burned, I corrected my calorie intake based on the FitBit measures and am now losing weight.

My wife got us fitbit charge hrs earlier this year in May. I am on day 1 with my third tracker this morning the other 2 the bands have bubbled and started to separate from the tracker unit. My wife is on her second after her first tracker stopped charging after a month or 2 of use.

Now I will say here that fitbit customer service is fantastic in replacing defective units however the rep I spoke with seemed to believe my bands are separating due to extreme temperature environments like Kayaking in the sun and running in the cold. Now correct me if I'm wrong here but fitbit is designed to track your activity and should be durable enough to do this. If I had this decision to do over again we would both be wearing Garmin units.