Has the HR issue been fixed on the Versa?

[RSloshy]

I currently have a fitbit Charge 2 and when I sweat it fails to read my HR and therefore fails to clock my workout accurately.  I am interested in the fitbit Versa but I don't want to purchase it if it will have the same issues.  I have looked in various forums and a lot of people have had the same issue with their HR not reading when sweating.

[Albertofb]

I used the Versa yesterday for the first time, and it was 60-80 BPM below my heart rate during an exercise that I do regularly with a chest strap. It's really disappointing, I love the Versa but if this isn't fixed the product is of no use to me..

[RSloshy]

Wow that's really disappointing.  That's a huge variance.  This is my concern with these...I want to track my exercise as accurately as possible but the signs are pointing to me not being able to do that.  What do you use with your chest strap? Polar?

[NellyG]

The technology for measuring heart rate with a chest strap is quite different from the technology used in an optical HR monitor worn on your wrist. This uses light and as everyonr knows light travels differentlu through water than air. So if you are a heavy sweater optical HR is going to struggle once you start sweating. The best suggestion I have seen is wearing a sweat band right above the tracker to stop sweat running down your arm. Another option might be to use an anti perspirant on your arm where the tracler sits.

I really dont think it is something that can be 'fixed' by fitbit. I think it is a limitation in the technology. I havent got a Versa, but I find my Ionic HR really good and very accurate - much more reliable recordings than I had from my Alta HR (which tended to miss HR elevated to around my peak zone). I dont sweat heavily, so I guess I am lucky there.

[fluxx]

I'm interested in that too. I sold my Ionic due to the very inaccurate hr sensor, it's much worse than the one on my Charge 2. I saw that they changed the layout on the Versa slightly but still stick to one led instead of two like on the Charge 2. So it would be interesting to hear if accuracy has improved to a good level again. 

[RSloshy]

Great answer.  Thank you.  I will try the sweat band idea.  I am not a heavy sweater either...I find the Charge 2 fine when I go for a walk or ride.  It's just when I do a gym workout that it struggles...also at the end of my ride when the sweat comes out.

From all the research I've done Fitbit appear to do a good job and this is a small failing that could be fixed with your suggestion.  I'm interested to see how the Versa goes compared to the Charge 2.

[RSloshy]

I've tried the sweat band idea...perhaps it worked a little but not completely.  HR still dropped out during my workout. 

[RSloshy]

For anyone interested I have used the Versa a few times now and the HR and workout tracking seems to be ok during a gym workout if you manually start it rather than letting it recognise you've started a workout itself.  

All in all at the moment I'm happy with the Versa.

[KeeneCello]

I have the new Versa. Unfortunately, my only complaint is that the HR is not accurate and it looses tracking when I sweat. I have only been using it 2 days. It isn't ALWAYS inaccurate, but if this feature is essential to your goals,  as it is to mine, I would wait until they fix it.

[Carylinn]

I have had.a Versa for over a year now and since I started running on the treadmill I have noticed this issue. It doesn't happen all of the time, but sometimes I sweat a lot under the Versa and my heart rate will drop from 155-170 down to 115-125. Obviously way off. I try to wipe the back and switch wrists during a walking break and sometimes this works, sometimes it only works for a bit before the issue happens again and I switch arms again. It's very annoying and frustrating. I tried ordering a new band, tried different positions on my arms, nothing solves the issue 100%.