G’day Travelers! I’m not a fitness junky but any stretch of the imagination, however I do like to try to keep healthy-ish… well somewhat. Even while I’m traveling. That’s where I find fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge HR come in handy. Even if at the very least, it allows me to know that I’ve done enough walking in my explorations that I can justify ordering dessert.
I’ve been using Fitbit products for a long time, but a couple of months ago picked up their latest creation the Fitbit Charge HR. I’ve been using it everyday since, so here are my thoughts on it.
What I like about the Fitbit Charge HR
Like all Fitbit products, I like that the Fitbit (with its app) keeps track of my steps and the energy I’ve burnt during the course of my day. Coupled with other apps like MyFitnessPal its a good way to keep track of your energy in and energy out to make sure you are either losing weight, or at least maintaining your pre-travel physique.
What I like about the Fitbit Charge HR specifically is its heart rate monitor. It’s gives me a little bit more accurate tracking of how active I’ve been through out the day. 10,000 steps through city streets is hardly as strenuous and hiking to the top of a mountain, and the heart rate monitor accounts for that.
Another interesting feature is the mapping tool within the app. While designed for runners etc to map out their routes, it can also be using to keep track off your explorations. I often use it on hikes to give me a better idea of where and how much ground I covered during the walk.
What I don’t like about the Fitbit Charge HR
There are a couple of things I’m not a fan of in regards to the Fitbit Charge HR. One thing is particular is that it stands out on your wrist, it doesn’t look like a watch so it stands out as a fitness product which people do notice. That said I’ve had several other Fitbit products that clip to pockets and belts and they’ve been lost for a number different reasons during my travels. While the watch style clasp, and the fact that it is obvious means even after couple of months I’ve yet to lose the Charge HR, in fact I don’t think I’ll be loosing it any time soon. The charging cable though, that’s another story.
The other draw back is the battery life. Being so small there isn’t a lot of room for batteries, so it needs to be recharged regularly. In my experience you’ll need to plan to charge it every 4 days roughly, depending on how active you’ve been. That can get a little tedious sometimes.
Alternatives
There are plenty of alternative products in the fitness tracker space, with more and more being added every day, so I wont bother listing them here. I’m sure they’ve all got their pro’s and con’s but they all offer very similar tools. I chose the Fitbit product because I’ve been using them for years.
Conclusion
For me it’s a fantastic product, even if I don’t use it to the extent of most fitness fanatics. For me it’s just about keeping track how active I’ve been so I can choose to eat appropriate meals at the end of the day, which it does perfectly.
For more information about the Fitbit Charge HR check out the Fitbit website – https://www.fitbit.com/au/chargehr
For more travel tips, make sure you check out the rest of my blog posts as well.
Keep up to date with all the latest Here, There & Gone! adventures by following along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
And if you have a travel-related question, you would like me to answer, head on over to my contact page to get in touch and let me know.
