Do "cheap" fitness trackers "work"

bad_dog_ny
bad_dog_ny Posts: 22 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
I'd really like to get a fitness tracker, but the name brand ones seem to all cost about $150. I noticed a lot of cheap knock-offs from China that seem to run $30 to $40, and have an app to sync the device. Technology is cheap, does anyone know if these devices work well? It would be nice to track everything, but what I really want most is a live heart rate monitor. It is getting harder to put my heart rate into the proper range on the treadmill just by walking, I may need to start jogging soon. I can't really Jog and hold on to the heart rate sensors, I would rather just have a readout on My Wrist all the time. First, are these knock-offs accurate? Like I said, the technology is actually cheap so it may work just fine. Also, is there a standard format that they are using so that data could be imported to MyFitnessPal? I don't know that it's a big deal if it's not, it's just a matter of moving the data over everyday, keeping notes within the app or elsewhere. It would be nice though, I have a feeling they all use, for lack of a better phasing, a similar data stream for their "telemetry." Are there any inexpensive Fitness bands that are known to work with MyFitnessPal? They should at least have the heart rate monitor, but they should also have a blood pressure monitor if possible. Like I said I see quite a few from 30 to $40, and some around 50 and up. I saw one inexpensive model for just $20, that seems to do everything I would like. Will it work with MyFitnessPal? Does anyone know if such inexpensive devices work well at all?

Replies

  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    For your purposes, an inexpensive chest strap that uses Bluetooth (to communicate with your phone) may be preferable.

    Syncing to MFP isn't a matter of having a common format, it's a matter of it being implemented from a particular source. Which means in general knock-off devices aren't likely to do it. But you can check in the apps section here before you make a decision.
  • bad_dog_ny
    bad_dog_ny Posts: 22 Member
    What do you mean by chest strap? I am looking at watch like devices. I actually found one for just $20 with free shipping on Amazon that gets mixed reviews. Some of the reviews sound like people who have had difficulty syncing the app. Other people review it and say they tested the readings against other devices and they are relatively accurate. That's really my greatest concern. I want to just be able to glance at my wrist and see if the heart rate is in range. Then I can adjust my pace and difficulty accordingly. If it doesn't sync to MyFitnessPal fine, but it's only $20 and I'm really looking for the heart rate feature. Tracking steps would be nice, but I go to the gym and I offset those calories burned. I really wouldn't want to calculate every calorie burned so that I could "eat it back." I am trying to lose weight, so the deficit is preferable as long as I am eating enough to keep my body out of starvation mode. Like I said, my main concern is really heart rate during cardio. Possibly Durning strength as well, as by working quickly I can get my heart rate up there as well. I have been doing a lot of elliptical because I find it easier to hold on to the heart sensors and adjust my Pace to keep the heart rate in range. I don't care for the bikes because the seats are very painful. Right now I switch back and forth between treadmill and elliptical, but I can't keep my heart rate up high enough on the treadmill without running. I find it difficult to run while holding the heart rate sensors. And taking my own pulse while running is a little difficult.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    Measuring HR at the wrist is less accurate than measuring at the chest. That's not a controversial statement at all. Measuring at the wrist requires shining a light into your skin and using proto-cameras to see your blood vessels dilate. At the chest, you use sensors to pick up the electrical activity that makes your heart beat. There's just so much more that can go wrong with the wrist approach, that accuracy suffers. How much is going to depend a lot on the individual, how the device is worn, which one specifically, and what you're doing.

    Here's a photo of a chest strap. Many of these pair with watches so you can see your HR on your wrist. Newer ones also pair with smart phones because everybody has one nowadays; you use an app to record your HR throughout the workout and give you statistics later, maybe you also position your phone to be visible while you exercise. You can get one for around $30. These don't count steps, they don't estimate calories, all they do is measure your heart rate and variability.

    heart-rate-monitor-watch-with-chest-belt-450x344.jpg

    Starvation mode is a myth. It's something you do not need to worry about.
  • StaciMarie1974
    StaciMarie1974 Posts: 4,138 Member
    I see you are in the US. I'd suggest if you're shopping thru Amazon, to make sure you buy a product sold or fulfilled by Amazon. THat way, if you get it and its not any good - Amazon is really good about returns.

    In general though, its hard to say. You can check reviews and such but the quality of a specific brand/model is going to be unknown unless someone has already tried it.
  • ccsernica
    ccsernica Posts: 1,040 Member
    edited May 2017
    No. But then, expensive fitness trackers don't really work either for tracking anything other than heart rate. http://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2017/05/fitness-trackers-accurately-measure-heart-rate-but-not-calories-burned.html
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    I got a cheap step counter (didnt have HR) for like $7 off amazon, it worked just as well as my fitbit at tracking steps and looked identical to a fitbit. I just upgraded to a fitbit, which was always the plan, I have a bad habit of buying something and then never using it so I wanted to make sure I actually was interested in a tracker before I spent the money. I know your looking for a HR monitor so I cant comment on that and if they will really work or not. If your willing to spend a little more than $20 I suggest looking on craigslist. I bought a new fitbit charge 2 in box last week for $50.
  • bad_dog_ny
    bad_dog_ny Posts: 22 Member
    Since my main use for this device would be heart rate, it seems like it would be accurate enough for my needs. 5% is tolerable, even 10% would not be bad. I can always order it and compare it to the treadmill and the elliptical and see how much variance there is. If I shoot for 138 and it tells me 138 when my heart rate is actually 145 that is still within my range. I would rather have it read slightly low then slightly high. I will have to determine its accuracy and which direction it tends to be off in, plus or minus. I mean for $20, I'm only expecting a ballpark anyway. I just want to be sure I'm keeping my heart in a Range. I don't go by mileage or anything like that, I go purely by heart rate. Usually I try to go 45 minutes, getting into the range within 5 minutes so I have 40 minutes of properly elevated heart rate. It's just to keep me moving at the proper rate. Often I have to speed up on the elliptical for a minute, and then I can back off for three or four. So I will put my heart up to 145 and then slow down a little bit and it will slowly drop back to 138, and then I will increase again. Sometimes I find that sweet spot that keeps me right around 140 for a long time.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    If you're using HR as a target for intervals, you should know that chest straps become aware of changes in your HR more quickly than wrist sensors.
  • bad_dog_ny
    bad_dog_ny Posts: 22 Member
    edited May 2017
    I understand. It's just that I'm a pretty big guy and the chest strap looks a bit more complicated, and it may not fit across my chest comfortably. I don't need super instantaneous results, just something that gives me an idea where I'm at. If there's a minute lag, then that is always there, and it is probably there on the hand grip sensors I am using right now. It's more to keep me honest than it is for any scientific measurement. Make sure I'm always pushing myself into that zone, and make sure I stay in a safe Zone. I don't go at it so intensely that in a matter of a minute I would suddenly be way out of range. Whatever I try, I will have to run some tests to see how accurate it is and how quickly it registers changes. If it stays accurate to the ones built on the machines that I am using now that would be fine. It would also allow me to run outdoors and stay in that range, rather than always be on the treadmill trying to stay in that range. It should also work for light climbing and hiking.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    I have a $20 Xiaomi Mi band 2. It works great for movement and sleep tracking. It also has HR, but you have to stop what you're doing and hold your arm steady to take readings; and by then, my HR has gone down. As far as I know, this is true for all wrist HR devices. When I'm moving too much, its often off by ~2-fold, so when my HR is actually ~120, it shows 60 or 200 because it counts incorrectly. I don't really use it except for resting heart rate.

    For workouts, I use a bluetooth HR chest strap, which syncs with most fitness smartphone apps to give you a constant readout of your HR. The fitness app can graph your HR, save your workout, and sync the workout with mfp (log exercise for you).
  • bad_dog_ny
    bad_dog_ny Posts: 22 Member
    edited May 2017
    Now that is an important factor. The main reason I want this is to measure my heart rate while I'm working out. If it's not accurate while I'm jogging it's fairly useless. Like I said I would have to do some tests to see what the results look like. I would only order one fulfilled by Amazon, so I'm pretty sure returns would be no issue.
  • NorthCascades
    NorthCascades Posts: 10,968 Member
    bad_dog_ny wrote: »
    I understand. It's just that I'm a pretty big guy and the chest strap looks a bit more complicated, and it may not fit across my chest comfortably. I don't need super instantaneous results, just something that gives me an idea where I'm at. If there's a minute lag, then that is always there, and it is probably there on the hand grip sensors I am using right now. It's more to keep me honest than it is for any scientific measurement. Make sure I'm always pushing myself into that zone, and make sure I stay in a safe Zone. I don't go at it so intensely that in a matter of a minute I would suddenly be way out of range. Whatever I try, I will have to run some tests to see how accurate it is and how quickly it registers changes. If it stays accurate to the ones built on the machines that I am using now that would be fine. It would also allow me to run outdoors and stay in that range, rather than always be on the treadmill trying to stay in that range. It should also work for light climbing and hiking.

    I would personally go with different equipment but it sounds like you've put a lot of thought into your needs and planning into how to achieve them and use this to improve your fitness.

    In my experience, people like you are the ones who do really well.
  • MoiAussi93
    MoiAussi93 Posts: 1,948 Member
    I haven't used any fitness trackers or heart rate monitors, but if you are having difficulty getting your heart rate high enough by walking, you can easily fix that by setting the treadmill at an incline. On days I don't feel like running, or want to let some minor injury heal without the stress of running, I often will just walk with the treadmill at a 10% or 12% incline...this gives me a heart rate similar to when I run. Since you don't want it that high, you could try starting with an incline of 3% or 4%...then bring it up higher if that is still too easy for you. An added bonus is that walking hills (which is what an incline simulates) will over time build up lower body muscles. You may want to try that occasionally even if you do get a tracker just to add some variety to your workouts.
  • lemmie177
    lemmie177 Posts: 479 Member
    bad_dog_ny wrote: »
    Now that is an important factor. The main reason I want this is to measure my heart rate while I'm working out. If it's not accurate while I'm jogging it's fairly useless. Like I said I would have to do some tests to see what the results look like. I would only order one fulfilled by Amazon, so I'm pretty sure returns would be no issue.

    It sounds like it would be a similar inconvenience to the hand sensors. It probably only takes 20 seconds or so of not moving to take a good HR reading (it just feels like forever in the middle of a workout!). At least you would be able to be outside?
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