FitBit Charge HR: Pros & Cons
I got a FitBit a few months ago and I love it. (Ok, Alex would probably say I’m a little obsessed with it.) I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to tracking and quantifying health related things, so it’s not too surprising that I fell in love with it quickly.
Since I’ve had it for a little while, I thought I’d share the pros and cons of the FitBit Charge HR!
Pros of the FitBit Charge HR
It’s a great motivator! Actually, it’s almost crazy how motivating it is. (I think at one point Alex had to remind me that steps still count even if they’re not tracked with the FitBit…) I love hitting my step goal and it was one of the reasons I was so excited about my DIY Treadmill Desk!
The silent alarm is a nice way to wake up. It vibrates in the morning to wake me up a minute or two before my alarm. It’s a nice way to start the day, rather than relying on a jolt-you-out-of-your-sleep-siren noise.
The challenges are a fun way make it social. My coworkers and I have had more than one “Work Week Hustle” challenge which tracks everyone’s steps Monday-Friday. Maybe I’m just competitive… but I think it’s a fun way to keep each other accountable!
I actually like having a watch. That probably sounds silly but I’ve never worn a watch before so having the time on my wrist is handier than I thought. That’s not a reason to buy one of these but I’ve found it’s kind of nice!
Cons of the FitBit Charge HR
Sometimes I love it a little too much. I get a little crazy if I don’t get my 10,000 steps for the day. I know that it’s more about the overall trends rather that one specific day but… I get kind of disappointed if I can’t hit my goal!
It doesn’t track all my steps. If I’m pushing a cart, for instance, the steps won’t register (because my wrist is still) so it’s not always accurate. It’s not a big deal, but it’s a bummer when I use my treadmill desk because it doesn’t count all those steps when I’m typing!
It’s not exactly discrete. Since it’s on my wrist and it’s not very small, it stands out a bit. I’m so used to it by now that it doesn’t bother me, but one day I’ll look back at this period in my life and laugh that I have it on in every single picture.
Overall, I’m really happy with it! I had a fitness tracker about 4 years ago but back then, the technology was pretty poor, you had to manually plug it into the computer to get a read, and it was even less discrete than the wrist band (if you can believe it). It’s pretty cool to see how far these things have come in just a few years! If you like being able to track your steps, calories, and sleep, I definitely recommend it!
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I bought a Jawbone awhile back, but ended up not liking it at all so I took it back after a day. The design of the FitBit looks nicer and comfier than the Jawbone I tried. It’s always nice have competition with friends because it’s such a good motivator :]
I thought about the Jawbone but I didn’t like the idea of having to connect it to my phone to see my steps!
Interesting to hear the pros and cons about this! I have a Fitbit Flex right now and really love it. I use it mostly during teh week to compete with coworkers and make sure I’m active during the day when I am forced to sit for long stretches.
It’s definitely a good reminder to get up a move when you’re in an office all day!
This is so great!! Thanks for being real and sharing all the pros AND cons!! I love FITBIT and wear my ONE on my hip EVERY day!! It’s the best! I hear ya on loving it a little too much tho!
That’s the one my mom has and she loves it! The nice thing about the FitBit one is, you can still count steps while pushing a grocery cart! 🙂
Some days I really want one but not sure how much I’d use it since i’m not reliable with those sorts of things. My phone tracks my steps and it’s pretty awesome when I reach 10,000 steps – since I work at an office it’s hella hard to do so but I do try. Now that it’s summer I’m higher in steps but wait until Winter.. Lol. 🙂 Have a great weekend Liz! -Iva
I’ve been wondering about the FitBit Charge so this review is right on time. It kinda sucks that when your wrist is still it won’t track steps though. Thanks for sharing.
I’ve been on the fence about getting one of these so this was really helpful! I agree, the vibrating alarm sounds like a very pleasant way to wake up. And I would also be just as crazy as you about meeting my goal! Definitely not a bad thing. 🙂
I got the Charge HR a few months ago too, and love it! Only con is that it doesn’t seem to track my heart rate very well when I’m not taking a lot of steps (i.e., when I’m lifting weights)
I have the Fitbit Zip and I love it! It doesn’t track as much as the new Fitbits (mine only tracks steps, calories burned, active minutes and distance), but I love that I can hook it onto my bra and go about my day…and it tracks grocery cart pushing too 😉 I have thought about upgrading, but for now it keeps me on track and does everything I need it to do. I’m a sucker for the Fitbit App though, I check that thing all day long!!!
I’ve never had any type of activity tracker, but have always wondered/debated. Thanks for the review!