Fitbit Charge 2 & Boxing / Kickboxing

[navin]

Hi fitbit community!

Just wanted to start this thread to share experiences of those using the Fitbit Charge 2 for boxing and/or kickboxing.

I have been using my Charge 2 for about a week, and been trying to get the most out of it during my boxing & kickboxing workouts. 

I found that it was uncomfortable to wear the Charge 2 under my handwraps, so I put my handwraps on first, and then wear the Charge 2 wristband looser than normal, further away from my wrist (towards my forearm). Hopefully that doesn't effect the accuracy of the tracking.

I'm also trying to determine whether to let the Charge 2 automatically track the exercise, or if I should manually start & stop the logging of the workout.

Today, when I let it automatically track, the Charge 2 didn't start tracking until 20 minutes into the workout, (which was well after the warm up, during which I saw I hit 160+ bpm).

But when I manually start the workout, I don't know when to press "stop", as it still tracks my recovery period as "exercise" while I cool down after class is over.

I'd appreciate your feedback on your experiences!

[_Manda_]

Have you found that the Charge 2 is accurate for kickboxing so far? Are you doing cardio-kickboxing or more traditional kickboxing? I am looking at buying the Charge 2, but I'm unsure how accurate it will be for my exercise routine which is part walking, part kickboxing. I am successfully losing weight and currently use the Fitbit One, which is very different from any wrist-based monitor. While I do not need 100% accuracy, I really want good accuracy in calorie burn, since I am monitoring my calorie input for weight loss. 

Thank you for your help!

[GlistenDiva]

I do kickboxing and tonight I had my first boxing class. They didn't want me to wear it because of the gloves so I unabashedly put it in my bra. I need to track my HR. It read higher than kickboxing but the boxing is more intense. I felt it was reasonably accurate based on past use. Try your pocket.

[navin]

I do group classes, but more traditional boxing / kickboxing.

If you want something super accurate then get a chest monitor. I don't live & die by the readings from my Charge 2, but I am satisfied with it. It gives me an overall metric to compare from workout to workout, but I don't take what I read there as gospel.

Also, I've learned to manually start the workout timer myself, as I don't trust the automatic tracker to pick up the workout's beginning.

[navin]

What I do is first I put on my handwraps, which also cover my wrist (where I would normally have my Charge 2). Then I put on my Charge 2, looser than normal, but so it is secure below the handwraps (closer to my forearm than I would normally wear it).

Once I put on boxing gloves, the Fitbit is covered, so there's no issue. No one has ever complained about me wearing my fitbit. You just have to be sure not to bump into the buttons when putting on your gloves, which could pause the workout timer.

[CityGirl81]

I participate in kickboxing via 9Rounds four days a week. I wear my Charge 2 about two inches above my wrist.  It doesn't interfere with my wraps or my gloves. I also wear a chest monitor provided by the gym and the calories burned are pretty close to each other so I would say the metrics are pretty accurate. 

[navin]

Good to hear your feedback on accuracy of the Fitbit vs heart rate monitor. Rock on!

[fastlife]

I'm a daily MMA and kickboxing practitioner and the Charge has not held up for me with aggressive daily use.  I've had to replace two of these because the 1) heart rate monitor either failed and does not display a heart rate at all or the 2) battery dies prematurely.  If you're doing mitt work, it's even worse as the high impact of the punches seems to jolt the electronics inside the device.  I highly recommend getting the replacement warranty and the Charge is not designed for boxing and MMA style workouts.  With my latest replacement, i've resorted to taking the device off and putting it in my pocket so it won't  break after a few months. 

I've placed the monitor both underneath my wraps under the glove, outside of the glove higher up on the forearm and both position track steps fairly well, but the calories burned due to the rapid movement of the arms aggressively overestimates calories burned.  With a chest strap monitor, I'm getting lower calorie burn counts.  The Charge 2 calorie counter seems to swing wildly with a variation +/- 20% so I don't really trust the calorie counter to be very accurate during intense boxing sessions. 

I love tracking my fitness, but I don't recommend wearing this if you're doing any type of intense boxing or kickboxing workouts regularly.  It's going to break after repeated impacts over time, faster than with lighter activity. 

[GlistenDiva]

Get a band for the ankle

[Alicat2104]

I wear mine on my ankle for my boxing workouts, and any kettlebell work. Tracks heart rate just fine.

No tracker will give an accurate calorie burn, there are too many variables.

[navin]

fastlife, what Charge version do you own? I don't know what is causing yours to "break" - perhaps you've had some lemons.

- My battery lasts me at least 4-5 days on a full charge, it's never died mid-workout

- The electronics don't get "jolted" by the punch impact

- The calorie count if not aggregate by moving of your arms - it is calculated from your heart rate

[realjzinkc]

I go to 9Round in Kansas City and just received a Charge 2 for Christmas.  This is the EXACT review I needed to see.  Thanks, CityGirl! 😄

[WouterNL]

Agree. Same experience here. The tracker can't stand the high impact of actually punching and hitting. Non impact cardio kickboxing may work

[fastlife]

It was 2 HRs that malfunctioned and now i'm on my 2nd HR 2.  On the ankle, it's impossible to place it around the ankle since the shin is where the kicks take the most impact and in true muay thai classes, the kicks are hard enough to break ribs.  These things weren't designed for for heavy impact boxing and sparring.  I can get away with some light heavy bag conditioning classes, but in most boxing and muay thai classes, you're sparring with heavy kicks/punches shielded by the gloves or kick pads.  I've just resigned to just using it as a step counter and getting new HRs when they break with warranty because I need to track the kickboxing workout data.  

[Dragonbird]

I prefer to manually track my exercise for everything as I like the stats it gives.  I box and sometimes the manual detection doesn't even count some of it-like the five minute jump rope....I have an ionic and I have some major issues with the gloves pausing and ending my workouts.  I usually open the band up as far as it will go and slide it down so the wraps don't touch the buttons but I'm pretty sure the gloves themselves are touching the touchscreen.  The ionic doesn't come with a larger band or I'd try wearing it on my ankle to see how that works.  I've asked for the feature of setting a time for a workout and then disabling the buttons and face for that length of time, but it doesn't look like it is in the works at all.  If, however, I make it through a whole workout without it pausing and ending I'll push finish when I am done and leaving, I don't keep it on during the cool down because I will forget to turn it off! haha!

[mbsmith88]

What exercise Mode do you put your Fitbit in when doing 9Round?

[fastlife]

Interval or just Workout mode. You're going to see some inaccuracy, but
it's better than not selecting anything at all.

[mbsmith88]

Thank you. I want to try to choose the best fit. I also wear the 9Round heart monitor which is no doubt more accurate but wanted my Versa to log it in automatically. My Versa not only has interval workout and workout but also has the option to choose circuit training and kickboxing. Do you think it really matters which of those 4 options I choose?

Mindy
Sent from my iPhone

[fastlife]

I'd use the default kickboxing workout if you have that option. The
Smartrak built into your watch will auto-recognize your kickboxing by
looking at your activity patterns and monitor accordingly. However, if you
know your class interval duration like Tabata or a pre-defined interval
pattern such as 20 secs on/10 secs rest, intervals would be more accurate
as you manually set the intervals and it tells you when to move, but it's
kind of a pain to keep fidgeting/looking at your watch during your
workout. However, with all workouts, the PurePulse measurements will vary
slightly based on your movements and physiology. Setting any workout mode
is better than nothing, intervals are more work but more accurate, and
kickboxing mode is best "set it and forget it" option for a solid
measurement.

[llandis84]

Are you finding your versa is logging more calories burned than yourn9 round heart rate monitor?