Ability to use Chest Strap Heart Rate Monitor or foot pods

[JSy]

I like that the Charge HR and Surge have the ability to monitor heart rate via the wrist based optical monitor, but from what I have gathered, it sounds like all wrist based optical heart rate monitors have poor accuracy at high intensity workouts.  It would be great if fitbit had a product that had a wrist based heart rate monitor, but would switch to using a chest strap heart rate monitor if one was detected.  Any chance that the firmware/software on the Charge HR and/or Surge could be updated to use a bluetooth chest strap heart rate monitor? 

Moderator edit: labels and title.

[JMASON]

I have been using my Alta HR for 18 months and love it 95% of the time, hate it the 5% when I'm actually working out. I wear my good old chest strap when I can to track how much effort I am actually making, 'cause the Alta just plain sucks and sends me nuts. Seriously I would have to record myself trying to make it work every time so that Fitbit realizes how much a pain it is (and yes I try everything recommended - put it a few inches up, clean it, keep it still, shift it several times, etc. It works 45% of the time which is ridiculous. Ruins all my stats and any goal tracking I try to do).

Fitbit: I am ready to PAY GOOD MONEY for a chest strap that works. Or an integration. Certainly more than your fitness coach app that you desperately try to sell and which I don't care for at all.

What I don't understand is how can you just ignore your customers so much after 4 years? How can you ignore the brutal fact that your product, as a fitness tracker, sucks? 

I am now seriously considering the Garmin and Polar equivalents, all because you are keeping your head buried deep in the sand on this topic.

[keith.uk]

I've just been reading though all of the top feature suggestions. Almost all of them have some response from Fitbit, be it released, not currently planned or under consideration. This request  seems to have been ignored for  over 4 years.

[LizFitbit]

Hi everyone, quick update that whilst this is unlikely to be released on Fitbit Ionic, this has been noted by our Product teams and discussed for future products. I have updated the labels accordingly and changed the status back to 'Reviewed'. Thanks for sharing this idea and please continue to vote on it if it's of interest.

[goaud27]

I am also hesitant if I should go with a Polar tracker capable of pairing with chest strap or buying Charge 3 with its amazing sleep tracking capabilities. Fitbit, why can't you just allow pairing your devices with external HRMs and easily make them above all competition?

[UrmiA]

Would love to incorporate data from polar H10 and Moov

[steve.devore]

When I bike, I don't get accurate results with the Charge 3.  I'd love to be able to use a chest strap and have fitbit use that data when it is available.  For me realtime isn't that important.. I can use my bike computer for that.  Though what I'd find useful is to be able to import that data afterwards.

[jpsalvesen]

I'm looking into getting myself a new activity tracker device and the Charge 3 looks like what I want for everyday wear, but the lack of a chest strap option is really holding me back. You guys have built a really nice overall solution with all kinds of sophisticated tracking and analytics and best-in-class privay. But as somebody who runs I'd like to maintain accuracy as the workout intensity increases. Honestly, I'd even buy it if is was a fitbit-only HRM strap.

[SunsetRunner]

After many months of fiddling, wearing a Charge 2 in MANY different ways, I strongly recommend the inclusion of connectivity to a chest strap or other heart rate monitor in exercises.

As an example, I do a walk to the convenience store. my HR is 85 to 95 which is normal for a walk.

I pick up a 4L water bottle. You clearly see a step from 100 to 157 bpm. Then a step down from 155 to 105.

Why? I changed hands holding the bottle.

You guys already have BT chips in your watches, have them support BT chest straps with no additional hardware needed.

Just software enhancement.

How to keep battery use low?

Have the chest strap only looked for and used if an exercise is selected. Otherwise the optical sensor is fine.

Hope this helps. But as of now, for me, the Charge 2 is useless during exercises when are arms move.

[thebeanster]

I love my Ionic despite its drawbacks. Chief among them for me is the lack of HR chest strap option. Ideally you'd make your products compatible with chest-straps already out there from your competitors, but I'm perfectly happy to buy a Fitbit only version and provide you with more revenue (despite a drawer full of older Polar products/chest-straps). But pleeeease......just do something!

[Voodoochildaro]

There's tons of us asking for this feature for years, a chest strap is really needed, not necessarily a third part, even a fitbit one, but it seems there's no chance to get listened, such a shame - still hope someone at fitbit will understand that's gonna bring their products to the next level!

[Tim1023]

Looking at the the comments over the years, I can't believe that this is STILL an issue.

I'm looking at getting my first fitness tracker and this is the only thing stopping me getting a Fitbit device. Will probably get something from Garmin.

I've heard arguments that Fitbit doesn't want to admit that wrist-based monitoring is not as accurate as chest-based monitors when doing intensive training, or when the wrist is being jogged a lot (ever been mountain biking?) I don't see this as a weakness in the product at all. Garmin doesn't have a problem with connecting to external HR monitors.

I can see that there may technical problems with the chipsets (e.g. talking to multiple bluetooth devices), but why not do it via software? For example, record the activity with, say Strava, then (automatically?) import the data into Fitbit.

This would have to be integrated after the activity, but better than nothing. I understand that Strava and Fitbit exchange data direct, probably over web services, however, all Strava activities are currently brought in without GPS or HR data. Can Strava not deliver or does Fitbit not want to take the information?

Even if external monitors cannot be directly connected to the Fitbit device, I could imagine a number of software workarounds. I'm sure this would make very many Fitbit users very happy, only strengthening their relationship with the Fitbit brand. Everyone wins!

PLEASE finally look into this! A couple of decent software engineers could work this out in a couple of weeks. If there was the will.

[Tim1023]

There have been a number of threads about wanting direct connectivity to external heart rate monitors for more accurate monitoring during high-intensity activities. In one there is a comment that it might possibly, maybe, be included in a future product.

This leaves all current customers disappointed. This could be mitigated by offering better synchronization capabilities with other software, e.g. Strava can connect to an external HR monitor, but data imported into Fitbit currently does not include GPS or heart rate data. I would have thought that a change to include the further data would be pretty quick to implement in software.

Yes, it needs you to have your phone with you and yes, the information is only available in the Fitbit data afterwards, but it would be a huge improvement over the current situation.

Thank you!

[LuciaFitbit]

Hi @Tim1023, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us. This feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here. That way, we can keep the board organized and searchable. Don't forget to add your vote!

[Tim1023]

Hi @LuciaFitbit,

My suggestion is different. The ideal solution, as per this thread, is that there would be hardware support for external HR monitors, also for existing devices. If this feature is added, I guess it would be on new products only. See comment from @LizFitbit four comments above.

My suggestion was for a software workaround for current products, i.e. including HR data from external sources when syncing. This would also be much quicker, easier and cheaper for you guys to implement.

[SunsetRunner]

i'd like to have my versa be able to connect to external heart rate monitor during heavy exercises, like via Bluetooth, for example polar H10. 

It's not only beneficial to users who can get more accurate heart rate readings, thus can get more accurate insight of the exercise session. but also beneficial to fitbit who can collect more accurate data, thus can improve your algorithms, product. why not to have a win-win situation? 

[SunsetRunner]

Wrist measurement is not accurate when I do crossfit, would love to use my existing Bluetooth chest strap (Polar).

[SFGG]

I bought and wear a Garmin Vivoactive HR because my Fitbit does not integrate with a chest strap. I prefer the Fitbit (my ChargeHR2) in almost every way EXCEPT for its inability to track my heart rate accurately during intense exercise.  Because of the conflict and my preference for Fitbit, I now wear BOTH fitness devices.  I would prefer to need only one.

I would buy Fitbit's TOP OF THE LINE device (as I did for the Garmin) to get a device that integrates with a chest strap.  While Polar is the chest strap brand with which most of the cardio-fitness equipment works, Ant+ is another promising standard.  No matter the brand, if Fitbit integrates with a chest strap I will use that brand with which it integrates.

[CavemanMench]

This is my second message for this request, it's simple, I'd like a fitbit chest strap or ability to pair a third party chest strap with the fitbit app. I'm not the only requester and my post from last year continues to get supportive comments so people are still interested in this. To my knowledge fitbit hasn't released any plans for this. I'd at least like an answer of "this will never happen" so I can move on, or "this is in the works" so I can wait. All I'm asking for here is mostly communications about plans less than a product at this second. Here's the transcript from a chat support I just performed.

Al (4/5/2019, 10:11:34 AM): Hi Andrew, My name is Al. How can I help you?
Me (4/5/2019, 10:11:52 AM): Hi Al, I am wondering if there's a way to pair my versa to a chest strap
Al (4/5/2019, 10:12:18 AM): I'm glad to assist you with regards to your inquiry about pairing your Versa to a chest strap.
Al (4/5/2019, 10:13:08 AM): For me to better assist, you do you have a name of the chest strap with its corresponding app so I can check it on my system?
Me (4/5/2019, 10:13:40 AM): I don't as I was hoping to learn which chest straps can be paired or integrated before I purchased one
Al (4/5/2019, 10:14:57 AM): I see. Let me check on my system if there is an existing feature for the Fitbit app.
Me (4/5/2019, 10:17:24 AM): Thank you
Al (4/5/2019, 10:17:50 AM): Thanks for patiently waiting.
Al (4/5/2019, 10:18:22 AM): I search on our compatible third party apps but I was unable to find a chest trap which you can use to pair with our Fitbit app.
Al (4/5/2019, 10:19:19 AM): This is a wonderful suggestion so and we are aware that our product needs improvement to cater to every Fitbit customers and our team always open for feedback.
Al (4/5/2019, 10:19:34 AM): Since most of our upgrades came from Fitbit community suggestions, you may visit feature suggestions board in our community forums and share your thoughts.
Me (4/5/2019, 10:19:43 AM): Thank you
Al (4/5/2019, 10:19:50 AM): Here is the link for reference https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Feature-Suggestions/idb-p/features
Al (4/5/2019, 10:19:58 AM): While in the community, you can also find additional product help, ask questions, and take part in discussions with other community members.
Me (4/5/2019, 10:20:02 AM): I will do so
Al (4/5/2019, 10:20:07 AM): By the way, after our chat you will receive a brief survey. Any feedback you'd like to provide would be most appreciated, and will help us refine our support processes.
Me (4/5/2019, 10:20:12 AM): thank you
Al (4/5/2019, 10:20:15 AM): Is there anything else I can help you in the meantime?
Me (4/5/2019, 10:20:22 AM): no, that will be all
Me (4/5/2019, 10:20:24 AM): enjoy your ay
Me (4/5/2019, 10:20:26 AM): day*

[jazmc]

I’ve been using my Charge 2 HR for a little over a year. High intensity heart rate monitoring is extremely inaccurate while doing group fitness classes (Turbokick, Defend Together, Zumba) that include a lot of arm movement. I like the features that Fitbit offers and would like to upgrade to a Charge 3, but would REALLY like to see Fitbit offer a chest strap for more accurate readings or at very least pair directly with other heart rate monitors so we can get an accurate heart rate when doing an exercise that involves moving arms.  Currently looking into Polar and Wahoo chest straps. 

[tb1120]

Just received the fitbit versa in the mail and am disappointed to learn it cannot connect to my HR strap. Will be returning as I mostly lift weights and would like more accuracy.

[LuciaFitbit]

Hi @CavemanMench, thanks for taking the time to share your feedback with us. This feature suggestion already exists so I’ve moved your post here. Don't forget to add your vote!

[CavemanMench]

Thank you @LuciaFitbit 

[steve.devore]

I was looking at the Fitbit API's and currently there's no way to import heart rate data to Fitbit.  (It is possible to export it).

So right now, even if someone wanted to integrate heart rate data it would be impossible to do so

[Bernie64]

Also a lifter.

I find the HR monitoring of the watch to be quite accurate for all but HIIT, the sudden rise in HR seems to cause the issue.

Sent from my iPhone

[stevesatori]

Can we get some kind of feedback from FitBit on this forum? Is this on the roadmap? How far out? This is really a deal-breaker feature after two fitbits as I'm looking at my third fitness tracker. I need a high degree of accuracy for HIIT.