Inspire HR and the Clip Accessory?

[AstonReyes]

Hello everyone!

I recently got the Inspire HR and I purchased the clip Accessory because I already have an Android Wear watch that I like for other stuff. I don't recall anywhere previously saying that the HR wasn't compatible with the clip and the user guide mentioned that Clip On/Off toggle that I had used prior to the most recent update.

Now I see that the option is gone and the marketing says that the clip is not compatible with the HR. What happened? Did I just miss this somewhere before I purchase my clip? I use the band for sleeping and workouts, but I wanted to use the clip for when I'm just walking about.

Is it truly not compatible anymore? Will readings be accurate? And if not, can I get a refund because the marketing and options on the device lead me to believe that it was compatible when I purchased?

[eleesabailey]

Thanks!

That's too bad.

[lhamwen]

Hi MattFitBit - is there any danger to the Inspire HR itself if I use the clip?  Is the metal clip going to damage the actual HR device?

Basically I did not see that it was not compatible (Clip accessory) when I purchased it with a new Inspire HR and leather band this last week.  (Maybe the new banner wasn't on the page?  IDK)  In order to return the clip ($20) I have to pay $7 shipping (hmmmm...so I get $13 back?  seems like a bad deal).

I'm not going to stress if steps are a bit off, but I don't want to break my new HR if that clip will some how damage it.  thanks!

[Carrie3030]

When I called Fitbit they said the clip wasn’t designed to hold the hr which weights more so you might be more prone to lose it in the clip that was all they said to me

Sent from my iPad

[Dan-]

Re "the inspire HR is going to be so limited."

Have to chime in here. This product was built to read heart rate and they specifically built and tested it to read your heart rate from your wrist.

All these devices are really amazing, with complex features we couldn't imagine just a few years ago.

If you want to wear it on your ankle, fine. But they didn't design and test for that, so it may not get your heart rate correctly.

If you want to wear it in a pouch or clip it on your side, great. But again, it wasn't built to the use that way, and it certainly can't get your heart rate if it's in your pocket.

I'm not some FitBit fanboy. Buy when I see someone complaining that a product is limited because it doesn't do exactly what they wanted to do, when they want to use it in a way that it wasn't designed to be used, I kind of have to call BS on that. Submit a feature reuest and stop whining.

[BBurgDave]

@Dan- If people want to have an HR and they want to wear it with a Clip, even though they know they will lose the HR part, that's not whining, it's customers stating what they want this product to do.  Now, if they complained about losing the HR capability while wearing it in a Clip, that would be whining, but that's not what folks are saying.  They are, basically, saying, "don't patronize me, let me do what I want with this product!".

[Julia_G]

I have to totally agree with @BBurgDave on this one.  A device that could be worn on the wrist sometimes (and when worn there can read the heartrate -- say when you are at the gym or at leisure outside working hours, or for sleep) but also could be worn in the pocket at other times -- for instance when working in an environment where wrist worn devices are not allowed -- would have a lot of flexibility, and, it seems to me, appeal.  

I would not be surprised if some third parties make clips for this device, as Fitbit has confirmed that they have no plans to make one.

It is not whining to want some flexibility in your fitness device...

I have the Inspire HR and currently mainly use it with HR turned off and with it set to clip mode (although I have no clip).  It seems to be very accurate.  The only current disadvantage I have discovered is that lacking the clip I do frequently accidentally turn on activity mode.  I expect that this would be less likely to happen if it were secured in a clip.

[Dan-]

OK... Here I go.

The question from OP @boescout019 was -  

* Does fitbit plan on coming out with a clip accessory for the inspire hr (and clip mode) ?

* Will the inspire HR work on the ankle?

From what I read, the answer is 'no plans yet' and I read that if you put it on your ankle, it's not tested that way, but I read people say (1) it works for HR most of the time but (2) it doesn't track sleep well, because people move legs too much during sleep.

- Somewhat 'Officially'  @WendyB answered: No and Not as designed.

But @BBurgDave -- you followed up with how he won't buy it because it's 'so limited
I'm sorry if this is ranty. But for some reason, "so limited" really struck me as a snotty drive-by comment.

I'm all for using it different ways, I just have an issue with the wording "the inspire HR is going to be so limited" as though it's now practically useless. You've got a 'cheap knockoff" and are passing on the fitbit because you can't put it in your pocket? Don't you own a Charge 2? Maybe it's not whining, but you were not "customers stating what they want this product to do".

@Julie_g (+ BBurgDave)

To be clear- I'm all for it having other ways to be used- Personally I'm going to try to use it on my ankle and see how well that works, I've got it on my ankle right now and will compare the data against how it worked for a couple of weeks on my wrist. I'd love a device that worked on my ankle.

As of now, the options for the product are only which wrist it's on- (dominant or not) - I do wish there was an option for 'ankle'- a lot of people try it on their ankles. What is kind of strange is that- I think FitBit did make a clip-on device, but no longer does? I don't know for sure.

And not that I really know... But one would think that FitBit could, probably without a lot of additional work, add 'in pocket' and 'on ankle' as additional ways to wear the device without a lot of testing.

But I'm not going to call it 'so limited' - I'm going to see if it works, and if it doesn't I'll suggest it as product feature. I'm not going go into product usage forums and in response to someone's question, complain and write off a product I don't own as limited. Probably not, anyway. 

[Julia_G]

@Dan- , I have to admit that I didn't entirely understand your post, but just to address the ankle issue:

There are NO Fitbit trackers that are designed to be worn on the ankle.  This has nothing to do with the heartrate function.  Apparently it is possible to detect the heartrate on the ankle if the Fitbit is correctly placed.  

However, the step counting for Fitbits is based on a three axis accelerometer built into all Fitbits.  The accelerometer readings are combined with a computer algorithm (series of instructions) based on where the Fitbit is worn.

The computer program receives information from the Fitbit, and evaluates the information based on what it knows about where the Fitbit is worn.  There are instructions for interpreting information if the Fitbit is worn on the. wrist, and there are instructions based on if the Fitbit is worn on the body.  There are no instructions if the the Fitbit is worn on the ankle.

That is why Fitbit does not recommend this.  I appreciate that this may be counter intuitive.  If it is counting steps, surely it will be more accurate if it is worn on the foot, right, because the foot is making the steps... Yes, that might be true, if the device were designed to be worn on the foot.  But it isn't!  

The program will evaluate the information it receives as if it were worn on the wrist or on the body (deoending on settings).  It will ALWAYS be inaccurate worn on the ankle, unless Fitbit changes its algorithms, which I think unlikely.

On the other hand, Fitbit has well established algorithms for wearing on the core (short cut 'on clip') or on the wrist.  They have produced a pedometer rated by the Journal of American Medicine as the most accurate tested (the Fitbit One) and the Inspire is the legacy device. 

My experience is that it is very accurate!  

I think the only beef here is that since they have a device that is VERY accurate in the pocket AND on the wrist, please let people choose where they wear it (wrist or core -- ankle is currently always off piste).  

That choice is totally available for the non HR version of the Inspire.  It should also be available for the HR version -- accepting that when worn on the core the HR would be unavailable -- just as it always is on the non HR version.

[Dan-]

@Julia_G 

It makes sense that if they already have a lot of body data, then, yes, it should be sort of trivial for them to run that test data against the Inspire HR (or Charge 3, whatever) and then see if it matches their corpus (so to speak).

I would think they could find 'early adopters' who want to try it that way, and they would know what it's 'supposed' to look like and compare what they capture from actual users reporting activity against what they expect.

To do ankle- yes, they'd need to start 'from scratch' - including TBD whether the product even gathers data reliably on an ankle. 

I'm more of a "HR / workout and sleep" person myself, so to speak, and not so much 'steps and stairs" guy. Not yet anyway. Maybe the fitbit will turn me into a stairs guy. 

[BBurgDave]

@Dan- we own a Charge 2, two Ones, a Charge, a Flex 2 and I am trying to decide between an Inspire and and an Inspire HR for my wife.  I think I qualify as a customer and I’m entitled to an opinion on what I’d like the HR to do so that my wife will be happy with it.

[Dan-]

 It wasn't even you that made the comment! It was boescout019, I'm not trying to get you in a twist. I give up trying to explain it, it's not getting anywhere. 

[Tedzone]

Does it fit in the clip is the real question-- I saw it written somewhere that it may be too snug because the hr is slightly taller.  

As for whether or not it'll count steps, the answer is absolutely YES.   I currently alternate between an Ionic, Flex2 and an Inspire HR.  So often, on weekends, if I'm doing physical work, I'll put any one of the units in my pocket to avoid dinging it up and they all work perfectly.   

Now I realize some Fitbit tech could answer with "algorithms, technicalities, etc etc" but at the end of the day... even if it's off by a hundred steps up or down-- what's the difference in the big picture when you're doing 10-20k/day ?  Nothing. 

[KBeck64]

This is great to know.  I was an avid One user but changed to the Charge a year ago.  I really hate that I need to move my arms for it to count steps (ie: walking at Costco with both my arms holding a shopping cart doesn't register steps).  I also don't love the sporty look of the watch when dressed up (even with the stainless band) so it would be great to have the clip options for those times.  

[OneVision]

I just purchased the Inspire HR (my first Fitbit!), as well as the clip accessory.  I am disappointed to find out that it isn’t intended for the HR model.  I work in a kitchen and we are not allowed to wear watches or fitness trackers on our wrists, so I figured the belt clip was my best option for work days.  I obviously knew it wouldn’t track my heart rate attached to my hip.  I spoke to Support and got the “algorithm” reasoning.  Not sure what to do...

[Elizababa]

Did you try tacking your steps with the HR version in the clip? Many here say that it works even though FitBit claims it doesn't.

[OneVision]

Um I briefly tried it as I walked in my home.  Seemed fairly accurate.  🤷🏻‍:male_sign:  Has anyone had any issues with anything as far as syncing with the app?

[Carrie3030]

Above Amy has tested it a bit and seems to be working fine in the clip it fits it tracks not sure what Fitbit is worried about they have given a few answers to the same question I found a lady on Etsy that custom makes a bra strap holder for all fitbits and ordered one from her it cloth so very comfortable and tracks good too the shop is GoFishSewingApplique if anyone else wants to try it out I just got mine today but so far so good

[OneVision]

Well I wore mine on the belt clip all day at work today.  Step count seemed legit.  No issues with it coming loose from the clip.  

[BBurgDave]

@OneVision @What belt clip?

[OneVision]

The official one for the basic Inspire model