Heart rate errors and poor display

[MickeyMouse1964]

My surge often registers incorrectly high or low pulse rates at the beginning of elliptical or stair climber activities - no amount of adjustment corrects the issue.  It also generally significantly overestimates calorie burn - I accurately enter calorie consumption, but must consume 750 or so fewer calories than indicated calorie expenditure to maintain weight.  Also, the display lighting is far different/poorer than presented in marketing materials.  Much room for improvement in this product, must be time to try the Apple Watch.

[stevethompson49]

My Charge 2 heart rate reporting was quite intermittent, and quite inaccurate, sometimes showing heart rates in the 160s when I was walking on a level street and around 90 when I was powering up a hill.

I've improved both the reliability and the accuracy by lifting the device off my wrist by placing a rectangle of 3mm thick cardboard, with a slot cut out for the sensor, between my wrist and the device.

Don't know if the sensor on the Surge is the same, or if this workaround would help?