HR accuracy question

[PrincessScotch]

I wear my watches in a certain fashion. The watch face facing the same way as my palm would this affect HR accuracy or improve considering the HR thingy is against the point that you take pulse on your wrist

[Kosnick]

Hello @PrincessScotch and welcome to the forums. We're glad to have you here.

My opinion is, wearing it face down gets continuous and consistent HR reading. I do that with my Surge. However, my Blaze seems to get continuous readings eitherway. But since the big veins runs on the palm side of your hand; i think it's better wearing it that way; at least i do that when doing an activity.

[campyrichard]

I had read that the fitbit devices tend to measure resting or light activity pulses accurately.  High intensity readings would be way off.  I verified this on a ride last week...

In the closing miles of a ride, my Surge showed my pulse at 141 (reasonable).  However, the last half-mile was an all-out uphill sprint.  I glanced down and saw my pulse at 120.  As I am still living, I know my pulse did not drop 20 bpm during this sprint.

As hinted, I am going to try wearing my Surge on the bottom of my wrist.  I read that helps.  Thanks!

[AngelaMa]

Welcome to the Community @PrincessScotch! 🙂  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. As shown on the next image: 

Fitbit’s PurePulse heart rate tracking system is designed to be most accurate when the tracker is worn on the top of your wrist. I used to wear my Charge HR with the display in the inside of my wrist and the accuracy of my heart rate was never affected.  You can read more about the heart rate readings here. So I suggest you to test your Blaze on the inside of your wrist and let me know how it goes. @campyrichard and @Kosnick thanks for your cooperation! 

I'll be around if you have any questions! 🙂 

[campyrichard]

Wearing the FitBit on the inside of my wrist was my plan. However, the
weather has not been at all cooperative! If I ever get a good ride in, I
plan to follow-up.

I noticed yesterday (FRI 3-JUN) that firmware had been updated. Perhaps
the new firmware handles the rapid pulse rates more accurately?

Yeah, raining all day today again...
--
richard

[AngelaMa]

Hello @campyrichard! once you have the chance to test your tracker let me know the results! 🙂  

Happy stepping! 🙂  

[campyrichard]

Yesterday, although my trip was a commute, it included the closest thing to
a hill this town provides. I sprinted up it, wearing the device against
the inside of my wrist.

Approaching the hill, my pulse was just below 150. At the crest, it was
something like 140. HOWEVER, shortly after that (10 yards or so), it was
showing the more reasonable 165.

I believe between the new firmware and wearing it inside my wrist, I have
believable results.

(BTW, I mainly got it for the GPS functions, which have been great!)

Thank you...

--
campyrichard

[AngelaMa]

Hello @campyrichard thanks for the update! I'm glad to know your Blaze is working properly inside your wrist! 

Hope to see you around more often! 🙂 

[campyrichard]

Actually, my device is the Surge (with GPS)... Still, if all or most
devices also got or are getting new firmware, there should be some happier
users out here.

--
campyrichard