How easy/hard to change the bands?

[Dexterity]

I now have a Charge 2 and I am thinking about updating to an Inspire HR, mainly because I think it looks nicer. I was very disappointed when I saw how the Charge 3 looked and very happy when this one came out! I want a sleek looking tracker with the same functions as Charge 2 has. This one seems to meet my demands fairly well.

I have one question though. How easy or hard is it to change the bands? I need to change the bands twice a day on work days because I work in health care and have to wear the tracker on my ankle during work. My ankle needs the size large band and my wrist the size small. Since I need to change bands twice a day I want this to be fast and easy. Changing bands on the Charge 2 is very easy and I suspect that with the Inspire HR it might be a tad more difficult. So what is your experience with this? Thank you in advance!

[Julia_G]

Inspire and Inspire HR have a pin mechanism for changing bands.  I find it quite simple.

If you wear the Inspire with a clip when you cannot wear a wrist device you may find the change even simpler.  The Inspire has a clip accessory that you can order seperately.  Apparently it does not perfectly fit the Inspire HR, so I cannot comment on that.  

Both the Inspire and the Inspire HR have a software toggle switch to let the program know you are wearing it on your body and not on your wrist, which should make it more accurate, and is a great update.

[MattFitbit]

@Julia_G That is a great suggestion. Clip mode would certainly cut down on time changing bands.  However, I do have to confirm that the clip is only available for Inspire base, and is not designed to fit Inspire HR. 

@Dexterity I have found the pin mechanism pretty easy to work with when changing bands on Inspire. There are some helpful pictures detailing the pin mechanism found in the manual, starting on page 11.

Feel free to let me know if you have additional questions. Thanks!

[Dexterity]

Thank you guys for the replies. It has worked very well for me to wear my Charge 2 on my ankle while working and it even picks up my heart rate (which it couldn't if I wore it in a clip). I think it shows steps fairly accurate as well. Therefor I am sure it will also work with the Inspire. I am not interested in the model without heart rate. 

It sounds like the bands are easy enough to change then, but I'd love to hear some more people's experience with them. 🙂

[SteveH]

My impression is that when changing the bands it is clear when you have a secure attachment - it has a nice, clear, click. I've had other fitbits where I thought it was secure only for it to detach soon after. 

On the negative side, I find that with my poor fingernails the locking pin is a little too recessed and a bit fiddly.

[ValerieAnne]

I've found them very easy to change, just press a button and they pop in and out, much easier for me than the Charge 2 or Versa were to swap

[cal110]

maybe it's me- but I am finding the band on the inspire hr difficult to change- I think the pin is hard to get back in. It took me around 5 mins to change it. I was told the inspire hr won't fit in the clip but haven't tried it. 

[PAT7776]

miserable to change inspire hr band--had a alta hr and the clips on it just needed to be pressed so easy on off. this has a miserable small clip to move and be careful you don't loose it or you have a useless watch. getting it off is easy but putting it in the new band and back on watch is a slow process. 45 minutes of struggle produced success but that is just a terrible design.  had alot of watches and changed alot of bands but this is by far the worst design i ever have delt with......

Moderator edit: format

[PAT7776]

terrible to change. just got mine on after 45 minutes of determination to get my new band on. i had a alta and it had to clips which you just squeezed to change and took less then a minute to do both sides. this little metal part is for a mouse to use---human fingers were not made for this!! i'm a nurse and have tiny hands and am able to do alot of things people with bigger hands can't do (surgery in md office) but the design on this is poor at best. got my adjustible band on today and sticking with it, sad because i like to get it in various colors but won't due to the hassle!!!

Moderator edit: format

[cal110]

I agree 100%- that pin is ridiculous and so tiny/easy to roll off a table and lose, I wanted to be able to easily switch back and forth between the silicone band and a metal band and doubt I'll have time to do that in between the gym and work. 

[SunsetRunner]

The pin isn't spring loaded or something?  I wanted a different band than the Charge 2 because the one I have failed on the fitbit side (two bands came undone on the same side).  Are you saying the pin comes completely out and unattached?

[cal110]

Yes. I can post a pic later or google Fitbit inspire hr pin. It’s gotten a drop easier but you need to change the band at a table and not be in a rush 

[Julia_G]

@SunsetRunner the pin is spring loaded and does not come out and unattached.  It is very like changing many bands, and I think it is easy.  

Entirely different from changing Charge 2 bands.

Edited to add: I don't need a table (don't even see what I might need a table for) and it takes me seconds.  I regularly remove the band, because I switch between using my Inspire HR as a wrist tracker and popping it in my pocket to use as a traditional pedometer.  I think this flexibility is the best thing about the Inspire series of trackers, so the band swap really does have to be easy (and it is).

[SunsetRunner]

That's good to know 🙂  Maybe the other poster has a broken band if the pin is rolling off the table.  I've looked at videos of changing the Inspire and the Charge 3 and was glad to see the charge 3's band attaches differently than the charge 2.  I'll probably go with the Charge 3 for that reason as I prefer the larger screen.  Too bad the Versa is so large 😞

[spider11]

I also agree.  The pin is ridiculous.  I have to help my 12 year old daughter clasp it together, it takes 2 of us over 15 minutes to put it on.  I feel like the one we got was flawed.  There is no way that it should be that hard to put on. 

And to take off.... well, I see where the table might come in handy.  My daughter tugged at it and the pin went flying.... it is now lost in the grass.  Total waste of money, she wore it for 2 days.  Fitbit is not acknowledging this design flaw.  Not impressed with the Inspire

[cal110]

I've stopped changing the band-- 

[Ram2645]

I wanted to buy Inspire HR to replace my Alta HR which is very scratched. When I tested how easy or hard it was to change the band in the store even with instruction from the sales person for the life of me I could not do it. I decided not to buy for that reason and bought another Alta HR which is so easy to change bands. 

[MamaBugMaasch]

I have never had so much trouble changing a band before I changed my Apple Watch all the time no problem but this stupid pin design is ridiculous and so hard to use it takes me over 10 mins to get it on and sometimes it just won’t go on I’ve had to bring several bands back and now that I have one on I am scared to take it off sucks it’s basically a paper weight if I can’t wear it with a band for me kinda wish I could bring it back 😑

[cal110]

it definitely got easier over time.

[xsxpxixdxexrxsx]

I just messaged Fitbit support because on the Inspire we have one of the pins actually damaged one of the plastic pin holders on the device itself, so now it won't even keep a band on. I'm not sure why it did that, it wasn't subjected to anything that should have done that. Just normal everyday things.