Live data from Hacker News

Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

thememo.com

11–20 of 46 posts

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#13
post #12

I had a Charge HR for almost a month, got one for my wife too. I finally returned them this week. They're nice to wear and pleasant to use, but the battery lasts one day and the reported steps/calories/distance is basically science fiction.

I dunno - I'm finding it to be decent enough.

e.g. Monday was Fitbit:13293/9.54km, Garmin920XT:13612/10.6km, iPhone:12529/9.8km.

Tuesday was similar - Fitbit:24305/19.85km, Garmin920XT:21928/18.6km, Moves:22097/18.2km

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#14
post #3

Optical HR monitors aren't that accurate. They are only useful if your analysing trends over time. People that buy these fitness trackers and expect medical level accuracy are either misled by deceiving marketing or not doing enough research.

They can be accurate - In a static test I did the other day, the Charge HR reported the same* as the Garmin HRM, Withings Scales, and a finger pulse oximeter. It was within 5-10bpm of the Garmin on a 25 minute run after I'd adjusted the position according to their advice for exercise. * they were all within 5bpm

Finger pulse ox meters are often inaccurate and can't be trusted to give a reliable pulse for a whole host of reasons

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#15

Compared to the iPhone 6's built-in step counter, Fitbit is sometimes off by as much as 2x. I wouldn't rely on either of them.

I'm seeing decent agreement between the Charge HR, the iPhone 6, and the Garmin 920XT - although this is only my first week of HR ownership.

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#16
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can be accurate - In a static test I did the other day, the Charge HR reported the same* as the Garmin HRM, Withings Scales, and a finger pulse oximeter. It was within 5-10bpm of the Garmin on a 25 minute run after I'd adjusted the position according to their advice for exercise. * they were all within 5bpm

Finger pulse ox meters are often inaccurate and can't be trusted to give a reliable pulse for a whole host of reasons

But as a comparison to three other methods at the same time, I think it's safe.

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#17

Compared to the iPhone 6's built-in step counter, Fitbit is sometimes off by as much as 2x. I wouldn't rely on either of them.

Actually - the Fitbit will sometimes have 2x the step count if I sync an activity from the Garmin because that then goes to MyFitnessPal which then comes back to the Fitbit (since you can't sync calories but not steps, unhelpfully.)

But that's a sync problem, not a Fitbit problem.

Re: Your Fitbit fitness tracker might be lying to you

#19
I have always found these things to be a bit iffy. I think it is difficult to accurate track the number of steps or distance you have travelled.

As for heart rate you would think it is easier but again I guess it would depend on the fit around the wrist and the position on the wrist to determine it accurately.

I don't really understand why people are suing over this. If your heart rate is 160 and your Fitbit is saying it is 80 then you return it for a refund or replacement. You don't train yourself to death.

It is a bit like if your sat nav says drive a across a field then into a river.. you should be using your judgement - not deferring it to some device.

If you are struggling to catch your breath or feeling a bit funny then typically you would ease up rather than run yourself to death on a devices say so. I would hope that most people are smart enough to determine that if they can feel their pulse pounding and the monitor says you are barely above resting heart rate then something is probably incorrect with your device.

Post reply on HN