Heart rate zones alert feature

[kingtut1975]

 Many fitness enthusiasts and individuals of whom base their workouts on target heart rate zones would really appreciate a heart rate alert feature implemented into the new Fitbit Ionic as well -if possible ALL Fitbit watches. This feature would allow a Fitbit user to manually set their Fitbit watch to alert the user once their targeted maximum and minimum heart rate has been achieved while performing a workout. Â The watch would vibrate on the user's wrist alerting the user when their selected heart rate has been accomplished or met allowing the user to more cater their workouts to stay within a selected threshold. Â Implementing this feature will also serve well as a safety feature which can alert the user when their calculated heartrate is dangerously high or above the maximum threshold that they set enabling the user to adjust their workout accordingly. Â Some Fitbit users I can imagine and many other individuals have cardiovascular/heart related issues which prevent them engaging in a workout that is too intense therefore a heart rate alert feature implemented into the new Fitbit Ionic would make the watch more marketable to the present customer base, a broader audience of fitness enthusiasts, and desirable to a whole new market of individuals of whom have cardiovascular/heart issues and will really appreciate a heartrate alert feature implemented into their fitness/activity trackers. Overall, implementing this feature will likely increase popularity of the watch, increase revenue, and appeal to a wider range of individuals that are taking steps to improve their health through daily workouts but are limited to what they can do due to cardiovascular/heart concerns. Â Implementing this feature can likely be as simple as have software engineering add it to a software/firmware update which will allow it to perform identical to the silent/vibrating alarm feature already included in most Fitbit watches anyhow.

Moderator edit: updated subject for clarity, format & labels.

[dave222]

me, too!

[Farnsworth]

Come on... How many years have people wanted this!? 

[Bullcrappy]

Fitbit does not care... likely will not be around in 5 years if they can not react or even field an acceptable answer.

Further issue with riding motor cycles it counts the vibration as steps yet Apple and Garmin do not... they are sitting back and losing customer base.

cheers

[Baldrunningman]

I agree entirely with what you have written. I will not be buying another
one. I also have a Garmin 620 (second hand) and I will buy another one
that gives me the same functionality, and more, as the Fitbit. Regards.

[Myrin]

For those of us who use heart rate pace training, it would be really nice if there was a feature built into all the applicable FitBit models (the ones with heart rate monitors) that allows us to set a silent alarm when we reach a specified heart rate. This would allow me to really focus on my exercise rather than constantly checking my watch to see if I have gone over my desired heart rate zone. I have checked for apps and clock faces that might allow this and haven't found any. The closest I found requires me to set my max heart rate at something like 280 so I can have the notification go off at 155 where I want it to. 

Please create this feature! It would be incredibly helpful!

[JLHumbert]

It is hard for me to understand why the Fitbit Ionic did not have heart rate zone alerts (via vibration) at the initial release.  It is shocking to me that this much time has passed, since the watch was introduced, and this feature has not been added.  My $70 Amazfit Bip has this feature and I depend on it extensively to know when I have reached a certain heart rate. PLEASE add this feature quickly.  It is an absolute necessity for a fitness watch!

EDIT: In retrospect, I'm starting to believe the reason Fitbit has not implemented this feature (on the Ionic) is because the "vibration" on the ionic is so anemic that the user would never feel/notice the vibration and keep increasing intensity until they had a heart attack, and thus, creating a liable situation.  Seriously, unless I'm concentrating on it - and hardly moving - I never notice the anemic vibration generated by the ionic.  Conversely, the heart-rate zone vibration (or any vibration) on my $70 Amazfit Bip makes me jump every time!

[SunsetRunner]

I only bought my FitBit Charge 3 yesterday specifically for it's supposedly accurate HR monitor. Without the zonal alerts it's not as useful as I'd hoped. I'm thinking of selling it already as it doesn't do this.

[marquisfleur]

This pains me...

I've been a Fitbit user for over 4 years. I love the platform and have owned the Charge 2, the Blaze and have now had the Ionic for 18 months. I've had the Aria scale as well. I love the platform, the app, the performance of the devices. But it has simply been too long for this feature to be developed! I train exclusively based on HR zones in both cycling and running, and it is insufferable to constantly be looking down, doing a hard flick of the wrist to wake the Ionic screen up, and then reading my HR every 30 seconds.

I've been following this forum for the last year in the hope of Fitbit making the feature available to no avail. Today, I did the unthinkable - I pulled the trigger and ordered a Garmin Vivoactive 3. My perfectly-functioning Ionic is about to find its new home in a desk drawer. 

I am genuinely sad to be leaving the platform. Farewell, Fitbit. 

EDIT: Three days into owning my Garmin Vivoactive 3 with HR Zone alerts, and it has already transformed my training. I love it! Worth every penny. One negative though - Fitbit sleep tracking is far superior to Garmin. 

[ScottHsv]

This is a sorely needed addition to the ionic. Please add this!

[AXELTI]

Want to add to the feature request:

1. There should be three Alarms

A. Recovery heart rate (1 vibration)

B. Optimal heart rate (2 vibrations)

C. Max heart rate (3 vibrations}

.

2.  All values should be user definable.

3. Please make it active also in the Blaze. 

[timocin]

Hello everyone! This suggestions enables users to get direct input on what kind of situations could be bad for your health. The feature should notify the user by vibrating or by any other convenient way when the BPM goes higher than a predefined/or self-defined level which is not normal. Note that it should be a feature that can be toggled on and off since there are plenty of situations where the BPM will go higher than normal. 

Yes, It is possible to check history of your BPM but will you remember the situation that you were in? Thoughts that you might had that could possibly lead to stress/anxiety?

https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/what-causes-heart-palpitations#1

Here is a quick read on things that could lead to higher BPM when not training. Knowing the exact situation and thoughts could be very helpful in preventing future causes. 

[raeofmoonshine]

This feature would be very helpful for many people and should be added to all Fitbit devices for everyone’s general health and safety.

[Annelii]

I would love an alert when I'm over a custom heart rate. Because of my illness (ME/CFS) I have really high heart rate when I'm having a flare up/ when I'm pacing, so this would be soooooo so helpful!

[LuciaFitbit]

Hi @timocin, 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!

[jus257]

My wife wanted me to buy a Versa in order to have a heart rate monitor that could alert you when the heart rate gets too high.  She uses an apple watch.  She has that feature on her watch.  I assumed a $200 Versa would have the same capability.  I never could find that feature on the Versa I purchased.  I eventually found out it doesn't exist.  Fortunately, I was still 5 days from the cutoff to get my refund.  I will now look for another brand that can do what I am looking for.  This feature just seems like a no-brainer.  Considering this thread was started in 2014, this would have been resolved by now if it was under any serious consideration.  I assume this isn't going to happen or for some reason isn't possible. 

[gadhabi]

+1 - this is a must have for someone like me who is trying to maximise workouts in the Aerobic zone 

[Maddy522]

May I ask what app did your wife use,to keep track of her heart rate.
Thx Maddy

[KaiRyn]

I like difficult hiking and running but I also have a heart condition that could be fatal if I go over a certain bpm, so this sounds awesome for me. 

[LodniSroub]

Also interested in apps that enable HRZ alarm, thanks! 

I have a metabolic condition that worsens if I work out in the cardio zone and as I am trying to loce weight I want to work out in the fat burn zone. I do not want to switch brands only because of this one feature, but it how seems to an substantial feature. 

[Alfronce]

Does anyone read this other than users?

[Baldrunningman]

I agree entirely Jus257. My wife bought my Ionic without asking me about it, and that was the first, and still is, a major deficiency of Fitbit. And that is why I started this thread that was later amalgamated with another. Fitbit suggest using a third party software but I disagree with that. Fitbit have not made any effort in this area. I also use a Garmin 620, and it has a chest strap.

Sent from my iPhone

[mollyjeanne]

My first (now discontinued) wrist-based HRM had a set of color-coded LEDs that allowed me to effortlessly and at a glance monitor my heart rate zone. While wearable fitness tech has progressed in *so* many ways since then, I really miss this functionality. HR zone change alerts would be an amazing step in reclaiming this function, making it super helpful for folks who try to maintain specific HR zones during exercise. 

[Baldrunningman]

Agree entirely and forcefully.

Sent from my iPhone

[theredcoquette]

this would be a great feature! I find myself constantly checking during a workout what zone I am in.  

[Skirabbit]

Searching through the forums the requirement for heart rate alarms, low and high - as found on the new apple watch - are being begged for. However I have not seen a single response from FITBIT - a number of posts are marked solved and as you follow them excited, you just find it is BS it is not solved.

So FITBIT PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE explain

1. why you refuse to add this feature a la Apple

2. why you refuse to answer the question

3. why you keep marking the posts as solved when they clearly are not

4. is there any intention at all to introduce the feature

for the rest of the community anyone found an alternative other than the apple watch?