Versa vs Ionic - HR monitor, step counting, and run accuracy

[josborne93]

So I recently bought the new fitbit versa, and I cant say I am all that impressed with it. I've found that mine does one of two things while I am driving - either it continues to add steps by the hundreds or it automatically thinks I am biking outside and tracks a workout. This is kind of frustrating considering the price tag and inaccuracy that it carries with it. 

The other issue I have ran into is the HR sensor grossly underestimating my HR during intense workouts. When tracking with a chest tracker or the exercise device (treadmill, stairclimber etc) my HR is much higher - upwards of 40-50 bpm at some points - than it shows on my fitbit versa. This happens when I am playing basketball or doing a boxing workout as well when I know my HR is much higher than the versa is indicating. This ultimately means an underestimation of calories burned and is also kind of frustrating. Is this due to the technology or does the versa not work as well with a lot of sweat? I would think a fitness watch would be able to track and withstand sweat during an intense workout. 

I guess my ultimate question is do users with the ionic run into these same problems? I am not sure if I should return this and buy an ionic or switch it out for a new versa. Do other versa users see these same problems as well? 

[AlvaroFitbit]

@josborne93 Welcome! Thanks for being part of our Community! Sorry to hear about the discrepancies between steps and heart rate you are seeing on your Versa. Your Versa and other Fitbit devices use a 3 axis accelerometer to detect your movement and will translate said movement to steps. Due to the vibration on some cars, a bumpy road (this also applies when biking for example) or a stiff suspension it can happen that steps may be recorded during this activity. You can manually log a driving activity to negate these steps. Regarding the heart rate the position your Versa is may affect its accuracy. Several activities you mentioned are high impact and movement (boxing, basketball) and this may affect your watch position. Additionally excessive sweat could also impede a good heart rate reading. You can try wearing your Versa a little bit more tight when doing these activities and use a sport wristband to quickly remove the sweat. Also check these suggestions to improve the heart rate reading.

Let me know how it goes!