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.

[SunsetRunner]

For cycling do not want to turn my wrist to see the stats. especialy while doing intervals. Rather just mount the surge on the handlebars.

[Andy_in_KC]

Great idea, agreed that the optical sensor is great for low intensity exercise and getting a resting HR reading e.g. during sleep, but really not reliable for many types of strenuous workouts.  It's a good feature but not a complete solution to HR monitoring.  

Allowing pairing of chest straps using either bluetooth (the BT radio is already in the device for this) or Ant+ would enhance useablity of the fitness tracker for serious fitness enthusiasts who are accustomed to having reliable heartate data from their chest straps.  The optical sensor can be infuriating.  I often use it with my stationary bike and wear my Ant+ strap just for comparison and most of the time the optical sensor under-reports HR by 30 to 50 bpm .

Let's just accept that the optical sensor tech has limitations.  Allow pairing of a chest strap during workouts for those who desire to do so, and the issue is resolved.  Why do manufacurers see this as a one or the other thing and keep defending the optical sensor as 'verified to be reliable' despite mountains of data to the contrary?   

It seems odd to be honest.  Is the tech licensed from Mio with an explicit clause that states chest strap pairing is disallowed?

[nstaff]

Agreed this needs to be done urgently in my opinion - allow people to wear chest straps alongside their watch, since the strap is more accurate for high intensity excercise. or just allow them to import HR data from other apps.

[jkbuckethead]

Absolutely a TERRIFIC idea.  This would be a great feature to add to older trackers that don't have any heart rate capabilities.  Also, good since the Surge and Charge HR are totally worthless at tracking exercise heart rates.

[cskaiser]

I have the Surge and am generally happy it.  However, I am not happy with its inability to provide accurate heart rate data while weight lifting or doing crossfit type exercises.  I have tried wearing it every way possible including what is recommended and it just won't read my HR consistently.  It seems to work pretty well for running and light cardiovascular but the current design doesn'the cut it for other types of exercise and frankly my 4 year old Polar monitor is far superior in this respect.  This problem could be solved by adding an optional chest strap HR monitor.  This would add the capability to gather accurate  HR data during any type  of exercise regardless of perspiration, wrist  movement, etc.

[Ryeguy11]

I'm a rower and this is frustrating and I have tried positioning the surge up and down my arm and it is not accurate or does not take a reading. Love the watch but a chest strap hr as an accessory would be something that I would buy just for the added accuracy during these workouts. 

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@cskaiser wrote:

I have the Surge and am generally happy it.  However, I am not happy with its inability to provide accurate heart rate data while weight lifting or doing crossfit type exercises.  I have tried wearing it every way possible including what is recommended and it just won't read my HR consistently.  It seems to work pretty well for running and light cardiovascular but the current design doesn'the cut it for other types of exercise and frankly my 4 year old Polar monitor is far superior in this respect.  This problem could be solved by adding an optional chest strap HR monitor.  This would add the capability to gather accurate  HR data during any type  of exercise regardless of perspiration, wrist  movement, etc.

[fabio_santino]

The built in HRM is pretty good for all-day and sleeping heart rate, but it loses a lot of accuracy when tracking intense workouts. This problem could be solved by allowing us to pair our Surge/Charge HR with a chest strap monitor that could override the built-in HRM data during workouts. 

[PatrickHulan]

Originally I was so estatic to see products on the market like the charge hr and surge due to the fact that a chest strap was not necessary to read heart rate monitoring. Being a certified strength and conditioning specialist it would prove so extremely useful for myself and my clients. I have done tons of research and these products work amazingly as activity trackers, but the objection I have come across so many times is the lack of ability for the monitors to keep heart rate tracking during high intensity training and weightlifting. This could have a lot to due with vascular dialation and increased blood pressure in which I am not entirely sure if it is a software or hardware problem. All I know is that on a maximum repitition squat, a 25 year old's heartrate goes above 110 bpm. I still think these are both amazing products for the common exerciser. The addidas smartfit watch works incredibly well in this aspect, however it doesn't contain everyday tracking. Maybe it is selfish of me to want both everyday tracking and accurate performance delineating abilities, but I believe it is quite feasable and in the mind of all those active the masterpiece of an ideal piece of technology. I hope you consider my thoughts among that of the entirety of the exercise community, in which I say thank you for your passion for health, and keep up the good work here fitbit users and creators. 

[realityhack]

Over and Over I am seeing the same problem I am experiencing. The Charge HR tracks my HR accurately up to 130pbm or so. Then it just tops out.

My polar strap had me at 180+ for a while today and I was seeing 130 or so on the Charge.

I have tried the advice on the site to improve accuracy but it isn't even close and all I am doing is running on a treadmill.

I would like to see a bluetooth chest strap that would sync with / overide the fitbit specifically for intense excersize.

I like a lot of the things the HR permits the Charge to do but it's junk at high heart rates.

Frankly I would like to see the studies you claim to have done against chest strapps because I honestly do not believe you got consistant results that good.

[Sarah_J]

Yes please. Fortunately I read the reviews before purchasing charge HR, and knew I would need to continue using Garmin for workouts as I get very high heart rates and need to keep an eye on it to stay within the range the doctor has ordered. Had I just believed the sales Information from Fitbit I would have been in trouble. The device does not give accurate reasons for all activities, although I do get accurate results when running, but add in jumps, burpees, pushups etc, and it can't handle it. It would be great to have a Fitbit chest strap to use for workouts. Save collating data from multiple sources.

[realityhack]

I can't get my polar and Charger HR in the same balpark even when
running on a treadmill.
Anything you are specifically doing that helps?

I tried further up the arm.
Different tightens.
I am almost ready to shave my arm but it will look ridiculous.

[Sarah_J]

To be honest, it just happens automatically. I wear out about a finger width above the wrist bone, fairly firmly. It will be about 3-4 beats lower than garmin at most. I haven't had to change anything.

Sarah

[moebius-one]

This is honestly the only thing that's keeping me on the fence about getting a charge HR. I really, really want to get it but I've already seen a friend of mine show me how inaccurate it could be during heavy action (120 BPM when he was actually 160+). But when he was at rest it was pretty obviously very accurate.

I'd say I'd get the Charge HR in a hearbeat (pun very intended =P) if they added chest strap compatibility!

[SunsetRunner]

Seeing many of the same complaints regarding the accuracy of the heart rate data during intense activity for the Surge.  The unit already has bluetooth, in order to sync to our phones, why not take that a step further and allow users to connect a bluetooth chest strap to their Surge for more accurate HR recording when they want it?  Surge consistently underestimates HR during intense exercise, therefore giving an inaccurate calories burned read out.  This is not a feature that all Surge users would use I'm sure, but a very helpful one for those that have a committed investment in their personal health and want the device to provide the most accurate data possible.  Seems it would be a quick fix to enable bluetooth sync with an external unit and would make a lot of people very happy until the wrist unit gets to a more reliable place.

[Renoref]

an option for linking a Bluetooth heart rate monitor would be much welcomed. The instant feedback provided would be very useful when performing short rest period interval training. The lag of the wrist heart rate monitor could get someone into a dangerous heart rate situation when performing this type if exercise. Instant accurate heart rate data is very important. The devices already have Bluetooth capability, it wouldn't be difficult to add a firmware update to allow chests trap connectivity.

Thank you,
Renoref

[swoopdk]

 I agree that this would be useful.

Perhaps even just a seperate heart rate monitor that can sync to the phone/fitbit after exercise ends ?

I would love to have my HR from a band rather than the fitbit wristband since it's in the way of my KB Cleans ect. So sometimes i cannot wear the band anyhow. 

So any kind of support for an external heart rate monitor band would be amazing.

[Brentonius]

It has been four months since the last post .  Is any consideration being given to the the chest strap ideas?  The optical sensor is not getting the job done.

[M_spunkmeyer]

I love my Charge HR. The only time I ever have a problem with the heart rate monitoring is when I sweat a lot at the gym. Other than that I have no complaints. I would love to see Fitbit add a chest strap heart monitor that I could wear to the gym or when I plan to do serious activities that would otherwise not allow my Charge HR to accurately read my heart rate. The one feature that would send the chest strap heart monitor over the top is if it was water proof.

[MegaScience]

Having realized that the workouts I tend to do just aren't getting monitored properly by my Fitbit Charge HR I tried out on of your competitors activity-bands which syncs with their heartrate monitor-band because I was tired of having to live in two different ecosystems and I was looking to migrate. I quickly came to realize that although their hardware was fine and proper their useability and software's about 5 years behind the curve (no proper Android-support in 2015? Really Polar?!?) and the only reason I even considered switching from Fitbit was the lack of HR-band support. I have no idea if you could add support to newer models just through a firmware-update or you'd have to manufacture a completely new model but I'd be more than willing to buy a new model equivalent to the Charge HR with the added option of using a HR-band!

[lizvocal]

Something has to be done about the heart rate monitor, it is terrible just when you need it most -during sweaty exercise!

I hate the idea of a chest band, but it might be the only way to correct this problem. 

[JMoto]

I completely agree. I race motocross and the movement of my wrist / forearm keep me from getting an accurate reading. An optional chest strap is something I would definately purchase - the watch would then cover all my HR tracking needs.

[Nicahlos]

I agree too. Or they can allow us to use third party ones with fitbit along with the fitbit tracker.

[gsmith]

I agree totally.  I really like the watch and information provided on the dashboard but if I can't trust the data what good is it.  I need something that will track my heartrate accurately and I just don't trust this watch for that.  I they could provide an optional chest strap or arm band like Garmin does for the vivofit that would be great!  As it stand now I'll probably be taking it back.

[ursijaz]

Fitbit should provide the compatibility with Polar chest band heart rate monitor and also introduce one of there own. Since, all other graphs seems to be acurate except the heart rate when it gets to the intense workout.

[Kelsey_ob]

I completely agree! 

I think you should design a chest strap heart rate monitor that is compatible with some/most of the devices (charge HR and Surge). While at CrossFit I log my workouts on my Fitbit HR; however, the heart rate obtained by the device is very inaccurate when compared to a chest strap HR monitor I borrowed from a friend. When I am out for a run my Charge HR is fairly accurate, but once I am moving in a non-rhythmic manor the accuracy of the device decreases drastically. I was once rowing for 4 minutes and my Fitbit said 108 while the Polar chest strap HR monitor said 165. I would be very interested to see an accurate display of my heart rate during some crossfit workouts. If you decide to develop this product, please have the data stored locally in the chest strap or on the Fitbit on my wrist so I do not need a phone within a few feet while working out.