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?

[BBurgDave]

Technically, I think only the base Inspire is compatible with the clip, although many of us would like to use the HR with the clip (3rd party if necessary).  If it was me, I would try to answer two, simple questions before I returned it:

1. Does it fit in the clip?, and 

2. Does it count steps accurately? (You can test this)

If both of those are yes, I'd just keep it and ignore marketing.

[MattFitbit · Accepted solution]

@AstonReyes Welcome to the forums!

I can confirm that the clip accessory is intended for use with the Inspire base model rather than Inspire HR. Sorry for any confusion with the removal of clip mode on Inspire HR. 

Though the algorithm for picking up steps changes when toggling clip mode on Inspire, it should still capture most if not all of your activity when being worn on your hip. For more info on how Fitbit trackers calculate your daily activity, check out this article.

If you feel that Inspire HR is not accurate when you use it in the clip, please let me know and I would be happy to reach out to our support team to see if they could replace or refund your tracker. 

@BBurgDave Thanks for the assistance!

[AstonReyes]

Thank you @MattFitbit !

I'll give it a couple more days of using the clip to see if the steps are accurate enough. I was more so confused about the removal of the setting and the references in the User Guide. I will still mostly use the band so I can get the HR readings and use it for sleep and workouts, but it would be nice to use the clip for situations where I just want to have my WearOS watch on and not have my Inspire on the other hand

[BekiB]

It would be good to know how you get on with using the inspire hr with the clip.  

When I first saw the inspire hr I thought it was the perfect upgrade to my One.

I don’t like to wear a tracker on my wrist day to day, but it would be useful to

have the option to use the wristband and hr function when I’m doing sports/working out.  

[BBurgDave]

@BekiB I think there are a lot of us with that question!

[cmichie]

So if I'm understanding you correctly... Fitbit decided to put the additional algorithm into the *cheaper* model, and make the more expensive model "incompatible"?   This sounds backwards.  I am looking for a replacement for a Fitbit One, but liked the flexibility of the HR for something like a cycle/spin class.  I think you could have a really great product if you can make the HR have the same functionality as the base model.

[Carrie3030]

Hey Matt just wondering if the inspire hr is working in the clip well enough for you I'd really like to buy this model over the base but also really want the clip option thanks for taking the time to keep us updated

[MsBedel1a]

This is so frustrating! I am looking for a replacement for my Misfit Shine 2; the clip is just not well-made and I can't easily purchase replacements when the clip-on device becomes too loose, leading me to lose it around the house and go without a tracker for days and days. I like the idea of being able to wear the Inspire HR on my wrist to get HR data (maybe for a week or a month, or when doing an intense workout) but want to be able to wear it as a clip-on throughout my daily life. 

Another thread on this issue was closed because it sounds like Fitbit doesn't want to support the HR being compatible with a clip-on. Presumably, they don't want to confuse customers or deal with a deluge of "this was supposed to track my heartbeat but it didn't when it was clipped to my belt, what gives?" Still, it would be great if they could trust their customer base enough to let us decide that we can handle having a device with some features that only work with wristband mode.....

[MsBedel1a]

Like so many others, I'm curious how you got on with this! Thinking about buying an Inspire. Would like to be able to use the HR features when desired but primarily looking to use as a clip-on....

[Carrie3030]

Spoiler

I spoke w Fitbit today and they tell me the hr weights more and the clip was not designed for the weight so it could get lost more. I'm following a girl on fb who has the hr and clip it fits in I'm just waiting to hear if it tracks well enough in the clip. I bought it anyways I'm sure if Fitbit doesnt a third party will make a clip

[boescout019]

I was excited when the inspire came out, i work at a place were we cannot were jewelry above the waist and i was finally going to upgrade from my cheap face $20 fitbit fake.  However i realized that the Inspire HR is not compatible with the clip. i wanted HR for now work times like when at the gym etc i understand the clip and the HR feature may not work together.  initial advertising made me think that the inspire HR was compatible with the clip and not it is not! it seems weird that the cheaper model has a feature that the upgraded model does not.

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? 

[WendyB]

Welcome to the forums!

I'm sorry but no there is not. It was intended for the wrist to read the HR

But you can vote and comment here. The more votes the better

Features Forum

The Heart rate will not be accurate on the Ankle.

Hope to see you around the forums! Join in on the discussions forums!

[boescout019]

i get that the HR part is designed for the wrist but couldn't "Clip mode" just turn off the HR monitor?! so you could use it for the wrist with HR on and on a clip for just steps when jewelry is not permitted. 

[Julia_G]

Hi, @boescout019 , yes, I think this would be a good way of using the Inspire HR, and that is how I use mine.   

However, Fitbit have recently confirmed that they have no plans to make a clip for the Inspire HR.  You can still vote on the feature request, but it is closed to comments.  

I am guessing that a 3rd party might make a clip for it at some point.

Also, in a recent update the "clip mode" option was removed from the HR version and is only available on the non HR version of the Inspire.  So if you already have the Inspire HR, amd you want the facility to switch between wearing it on your wrist and wearing it on your body or in a pocket, then you would need to avoid the update.  If you do not update, it is possible that you will miss out on other features (currently the main feature you would miss is logging water directly on your Fitbit, rather than in the app).

[boescout019]

i do not own one yet but was going to upgrade my knockoff, i guess i will not now, not if the inspire HR is going to be so limited. 

[Elizababa]

I'd love to know what your experience is with it, or the girl you're following on FB. The accuracy of the Inspire HR in the clip will determine if I buy it to replace my One.

[AmyEverAfter]

Hey, I think I'm the person Carrie is following on Facebook about this! I came here looking for info but I guess I'm going to give some instead.

First off, though, full disclosure: I received a Fitbit Inspire HR and a metal mesh band to review, from Fitbit. However, I have not received any other compensation from them, and I've purchased two Fitbits on my own in the past. I also purchased the Clip on my own.

I went to an event for bloggers for the launch of Inspire and Inspire HR, and when they asked me which one I wanted I said that I wanted the HR, because I wanted to use it with the Clip, and mentioned that I was going to order one as soon as I got home. Nobody warned me that the HR was not compatible with the Clip. I also *think* I would have noticed the big warning on the Clip's product page about it not being compatible with the HR, but can't guarantee that because sometimes I miss things (pretty sure, though). So at the time I ordered the Clip I'm fairly confident that it had not been deemed incompatible with the HR yet, but I can't be sure.

The HR seems to fit just fine in the clip. It feels very secure. I took a walk today to test it out, and I turned off the Phone GPS setting on the HR first, just in case that gives it some step help (no reason to believe it does, but turned it off just in case). I walked half a mile with the HR in the Clip on my bra strap (distance measured by the Runtastic app on my phone), and then another half a mile with the HR on my wrist. I was actually pretty surprised to see that for both half-mile walks, the HR registered 1,125 steps, even though I wasn't able to switch the algorithm to the Clip setting. I'm planning on doing more tests this week.

I'm really not sure why this change was made. There is a metal strip on the inside of the Clip, can that do some kind of damage to the heart rate monitor? I have no idea. If that's a possibility I may cover that strip with some electrical tape. Or does the heart rate monitor cause the HR to run hotter? Also no idea. But I wish Fitbit would let us know what the reasons were for this change, since having the clip is a great feature. 

I will say that as absolutely secure as the Clip felt on my bra strap, I'm not sure I'd run with it. But I tend to be paranoid about losing things.

Also, I would suggest that if you want the Clip option back on the HR, you go here and vote: https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/A-clip-that-could-be-used-with-the-Inspire-HR/id...

Moderator edit: merged reply

[eleesabailey]

The clip accessory indicates it's for the Inspire only- will the Inspire HR not fit in the clip? ( I get that it won't track heart rate).

[WendyB]

I'm sorry but no it will not fit in the clip