What is the Best Activity Fitness Tracker for the Gym?

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What is the Best Activity Fitness Tracker for the Gym?

Heading to the gym is a lot better with a fitness device strapped around your wrist. There are huge benefits to knowing your fitness progress and measuring your performance over time. For starters, it’s a great motivator and the Fitbit Charge 2 HR is one of the best trackers to help you stay on track in the gym.

Prior to the Fitbit Charge 2 HR I used its predecessor extensively and got sucked into the wonderful Fitbit ether. I’m a huge advocate of Fitbit because of their great motivational techniques to keep me engage with my fitness, so it goes without saying that the brand has changed the way that I train in the gym and my awareness of the health benefits associated to staying fit.

With the Fitbit Charge 2 HR you are constantly challenging yourself to improve from day to day and beat your previous stats, this only contributes to a healthier fitter version of yourself which only gets better with each passing day.

If you are an existing Fitbit user and are considering upgrading to the Charge 2 HR or if you are completely new to fitness tracker craze I’d urge you to stop procrastinating and get one.

There’s the hot debate whether to choose a fitness tracker over a smartwatch i.e. Apple watch or vice versa. Smartwatches can perform all the usual tasks such as step count, calories and heart rate but tend to be a bit distracting. Personally, I’d rather use my phone to respond to emails, texts and take calls rather than fiddling with this on a smartwatch. If you are looking for a tracker that focuses purely on your fitness and keeping you in shape then Fitbit Charge 2 HR is a winner.

Here’s what you get with Fitbit Charge 2 HR:

Fitbit Charge 2 HR in the Gym

Most people will use the gym for different types of workouts and try to vary their exercise with a combination of cardio, aerobic classes, swimming, weight training and maybe circuit training. The Charge 2 HR is suitable for all of the above- it tracks steps, heart rate, pace (for the treadmill), distance, calories burned, gradient and more. You can also set it up for interval training and outdoor running/cycling.

The Fitbit app is a lovely place to be. Think of it as your wellness hub where you can analyse your efforts and monitor your progression. It will also award you various badges for your achievements. I also like how it quantifies individual achievements by comparing them to a real-life situation e.g. 402 km achieved which means you’ve walked the length of the world’s first underground railway.

Long Battery Life

The biggest advantage of opting for the Fitbit Charge 2 HR over say an Apple Watch is the long battery life that lasts for an amazing 5 days. Apple Watch needs to be charged every evening which renders it useless for sleep tracking. Whereas the Fitbit only needs a 30-minute charge for 5 days of battery life. This is an improvement over the older model which last 3 days on a 30-minute charge.

Sleep Tracking

The sleep tracking feature on Fitbit devices is amongst the best that I’ve used on any fitness tracker. Fitbit breaks down your sleep patterns into different stages (REM, Light sleep, Deep sleep) and provides the data through the Fitbit app in a graph that is super easy to understand.

Fitbit monitors your sleep stages by combining your movement and heart rate patterns. During sleep, the tracker will analyse changes in your heart rate i.e. your heart rate variability which changes as you enter different stages of sleep.

Fitbit Charge 2 HR Calendar Reminders

If you like to plan your days and schedule your weekly gym routine you’ll be happy to know that the Charge 2 HR will automatically sync with your calendars. The device uses Bluetooth to notify you of calendar reminders that will appear on the display.

The calendar function is a handy feature that has been a lifesaver when I’ve nearly missed a few appointments on busy days. I no longer need to rely solely on my phone as I get notifications delivered to my wrist. I like to schedule my workouts in my calendar so that I know in advance what type of training I’ll be doing in the gym and pack adequate gear for it. You can also receive and view text messages.

Interchangeable Bands

If you get bored of your existing band or fancy a different colour you can switch it easily. There’s plenty of colours and styles to choose from and these extend beyond Fitbit branded bands. Swapping the bands is easy but bear in mind that if you decide to buy a third-party band, not made by Fitbit, it might be more difficult to swap.

Design and Display

The Fitbit Charge 2 HR has a large display for easier viewing and to showcase all its engaging graphics that encourage you to keep active. The tracker is slimmer than the older model and doesn’t feel bulky on the wrist. The screen is LED and easy to read in direct sunlight.

Silent Alarm

One of the standout features for the Charge 2 HR is its silent alarm which gently wakes me up and, most importantly, doesn’t interrupt my partner. You can set up various alarms and reminders and customise them for different days. The alarm lightly vibrates on the wrist to gradually wake you up and is a lot better than a noisy alarm.

Fitbit Charge 2 HR is Simple To Use

Fitbit consistently designs trackers that are user-friendly and do away with complicated features that rarely get used. I like the no-nonsense focus on fitness from the moment you complete setting up the tracker. My grandmother owns a Fitbit and she gets on with the device without any issues.

Tap the display and you have access to step count, distance completed throughout the day, heart rate, calories burned and stairs climbed. You can also customise the display to prioritise the data that matters most to you.

Fitbit Charge 2 HR Extra Features

Similar to the apple watch you can engage in some breathing exercises through the assisted trainer. You can choose the length of time for each session which lasts either 2 or 5 minutes. The Fitbit tracker will display a visual representation of the rate at which to take your breaths. The aim here is to help you achieve calmness by slowing down your breathing. You can schedule your breathing sessions so that the tracker reminds you to carry them out at a time that suits you best.

Pros:

Fitbit Charge 2 HR caters for all aspects of gym exercises whether you need it to track cardio, aerobic exercises, treadmill running, weight training or circuits.

The device is lightweight and features a slim profile that looks good even on small wrists.

Syncing data via the Fitbit app is automatic and seamless. This is a noticeable improvement over the older model.

The 5-day battery life is remarkable and it only takes 30 minutes of charging to last 5 days.

A great selection of watch straps in different colours and designs are available online.

Use Fitbit Charge 2 HR to get immersed into the Fitbit community where you can buddy up with other users with similar goals and get involved in different exercise challenges.

Cons:

Certain users have reported that the heart rate sensor doesn’t always provide an accurate reading when sweat builds up between the sensor and wrist. I’ve not had any issues with this thus far.

Fitbit Charge 2 HR Activity Tracker Product Rating

The Fitbit Charge 2 HR activity tracker is a slick exercise device that feels great around the wrist. It never gets in the way at the gym and provides all the fitness stats required to stay on track.

The Fitbit Charge 2 HR is one of the best activity trackers for the gym and it has received a huge amount of positive feedback from users owing to a user-friendly experience, seamless syncing between tracker and Fitbit app and a reasonable price point.

Product Rating: 8/10

Where to Buy The Fitbit Charge 2 HR

Click here to find the best prices for the Fitbit Charge 2 HR

Conclusion

If you’re looking to upgrade to the Fitbit Charge 2 HR or if this is your first fitness tracker then you’re lined up for a fitness treat. This is the best fitness tracker for the gym that I’ve tested, it performs better than the Fitbit Alta HR and still retains a slim attractive design.

Take it with you for intense HIIT classes, gruelling circuit training, treadmill running or any other form of exercise and it will track heart rate, pace, calories, steps and everything else in between.

Are you considering buying the Fitbit Charge 2 HR or do you already own one? Please leave your comments in the section below. I’d love to hear from you.