Fitbit Blaze and heart rate

[Bigbiker]

I found in important HR range the Blaze is about 30% out (low) when compared to Nordic Track and SUUNTO chest strap monitors! Plus the HR monitor packed in after 3 months and is now in for "repairs". Came to conclusion Mickey Mouse will do well wearing a Blaze!

Moderator edit: subject updated for clarity 

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hi there @Bigbiker. Good to see you in the Fitbit Community!

I would recommend taking some considerations to make sure your tracker will collect your HR the most accurate way:

As with all heart-rate tracking technology, whether a chest strap or a wrist-based sensor, accuracy is affected by personal physiology, location of wear, and type of movement.

For all-day wear when you’re not exercising, your tracker should usually rest a finger’s width below your wrist bone and lay flat, just as you would wear a watch. Fitbit’s PurePulse heart rate tracking system is designed to be most accurate when the tracker is worn on the top of your wrist.

For improved heart rate accuracy keep these tips in mind:

1. Experiment with wearing the tracker higher on your wrist during exercise. Because blood flow in your arm increases the farther up you go, moving the tracker up a couple inches can improve the heart rate signal. Also, many exercises such as push-ups cause you to bend your wrist frequently, which is more likely to interfere with the heart rate signal if the tracker is lower on your wrist.
2. Do not wear your tracker too tight; a tight band restricts blood flow, potentially affecting the heart rate signal. That being said, the tracker should also be slightly tighter (snug but not constricting) during exercise than during all-day wear.
3. With high-intensity interval training, P90X, boxing, or other activities where your wrist is moving vigorously and non-rhythmically, the movement may prevent the sensor from finding an accurate heart rate. Similarly, with exercises such as weight lifting or rowing, your wrist muscles may flex in such a way that the band tightens and loosens during exercise. Try relaxing your wrist and staying still briefly (about 10 seconds), after which you should see an accurate heart rate reading. Note that your tracker will still provide accurate calorie burn readings during these types of exercise by analyzing your heart rate trends over the course of the workout.

Now, also your heart rate may be affected by any a number of factors at any given moment. Movement, temperature, humidity, stress level, physical body position, caffeine intake, and medication use are just a few things that can affect your heart rate. Different medical conditions and medications can impact your heart rate. Consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine.

Hope this helps and if you need anything else, let me know!

[Bigbiker]

Hi Ferdinand,
All the tips you mentioned I already found in the manual! My problem is when I am on the treadmill, no excessive jarring or movement, just walking at pace- the monitor does not indicate high (no caffeine), but 30% low.

still not convinced heart rate is a usable figure

Thanks

Carl

[FerdinandFitbit]

Hey there @Bigbiker! Thanks for getting back and clarifying this!

I can also recommend restarting your tracker. This helps in most cases where accuracy is not working fine. To restart your Blaze, just press and hold the left and lower right buttons for 10-12 seconds until your tracker reboots and also, check your settings to make sure that your height, weight and other personal information is entered correctly as this will also help determine your heart rate.

Let me know how it goes after the restart.

[Bigbiker]

I have realized I should have read the community forum before buying the Blaze! That would have changed my mind.

[FerdinandFitbit]

I'm sorry you're feeling like that @Bigbiker 😕

Were you able to check the tips I provided before to see if that made any difference?