I've been a pedometer user for many years. I used to wear a mechanical pedometer to track my daily activity.
In more recent years, I've moved onto fitness gadgets that keep track of all that for you. I've had a Fitbit One since March 2013. I enjoy tracking my daily activity with it and challenging my friends and family regularly via their leaderboard feature.
A few months ago, I set my One aside in favor of a Charge HR. A lot of my exercise isn't easily read by a pedometer (best for running and walking activities). I wanted the calories burned based on heart-rate readings. I tie Fitbit in with MyFitnessPal and wanted accurate calorie data as I track what I eat in pursuit of weight loss goals.
After getting to know both gadgets, I could see definite pros and cons to each device.
- Fitbit One
- Pro
- Inconspicuous
- Cons
- Easy to lose
- Wristband for night wearing is inconvenient
- Fitbit Charge HR
- Pro
- Heart rate data
- Cons
- Some people do not like the watch style
- Skin rashes for some
- Easy to see you are wearing it
I wanted to compare the accuracy between the two devices. I was convinced that the Charge HR would give me loads of unearned steps from arm movements. My experience: that was not the case!
Below is a brief overview of each day. My activity (normally there'd be plenty of exercise, but I was suffering from a cold and didn't do as much as usual. I also noted car trips. I see lots of feedback from others about watching the watch-style Fitbits record steps while driving/riding in a car.
Results/Summary
It's a good reality check that these devices aren't the end-all, be-all for accuracy. My father-in-law has done similar testing and gotten very different results. He was finding larger discrepancies (say 2000 steps on a 12000 step day) with the Charge HR reporting more than the One.
I've got half the week with close ending step counts (one was off by two steps, others off by a few hundred steps for a 3-4% discrepancy). Those are promising results.
But I've got 3 days with 12-18% discrepancies representing step discrepancies of over 2000 steps. Considering that's enough to be at least a mile, it adds up.
What does this mean for me? Not tons. I still love my Fitbit products and will continue to use them. I just won't take the data as ironclad fact. I find it interesting if nothing else.
Day 1: Saturday, September 5, 2015
Daily overview:
A fairly inactive day. I had flown home from California to Michigan the day before. On top of having to deal with the time change, I was sick with a cold. The daily was fairly inactive and included a nap. No time in the car. I did take the dog on two short walks (1.75 miles total).
Charge HR: 9998 steps
One: 9996 steps
Result - very accurate
Day 2: Sunday, September 6, 2015
Daily overview:
Not extremely active. Slept in very late due to my cold.
Charge HR: 11422 steps
One: 13425 steps
Result - 18% discrepancy, Charge HR lower
Day 3: Monday, September 7, 2015
Daily overview:
Fairly active around the house. Walked the dog 1.25 miles.
Charge HR: 15213 steps
One: 17488 steps
Result - 15% discrepancy, Charge HR lower
Day 4: Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Daily overview:
Commute to work (15 miles each way) in the car. Busy day at work, so not much time for walking. Walked the dog 1.25 miles in the evening.
Charge HR: 7576 steps
One: 7873 steps
Result - 4% discrepancy, Charge HR lower
Day 5: Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Skipped audit on this day. I had misplaced the charger for the Charge HR and its battery died. I was unable to wear both trackers all day.
Day 6: Thursday, September 10, 2015
Brief car trips. Brief walk for dog. Walking desk for one hour completing 3 miles.
Charge HR: 12085 steps
One: 13523 steps
Result - 12% discrepancy, Charge HR lower
Day 7: Friday, September 11, 2015
Morning dog walk of 0.5 miles. Commute to work in car (30 miles round trip). Evening drive to Costco (30 miles round trip). Plenty of walking in Costco
Charge HR: 11288 steps
One: 11746 steps
Result - 4% discrepancy, Charge HR lower
Day 8: Saturday, September 12, 2015
Completed a 3 mile jog and walked the dog times 2 for 1.4 miles. No car trips today.
Charge HR: 15386 steps
One: 14897 steps
Result - 3% discrepancy, Charge HR higher
