How to Wear a Fitbit Tracker for Daily Activities

There are several types of Fitbit trackers, including the Charge, Inspire, Versa, and Ionic lines, and the key to getting the most from these fitness trackers is to wear them. All the time if possible. And even more important, you need to wear them correctly so the device will accurately track your movements and other stats like heart rate. What you’re doing could determine how you should wear your device. Here’s how a Fitbit should be worn during normal everyday activity.

How to Wear Your Fitbit When Exercising

When you’re exercising, having your Fitbit too low on your wrist could result in interference with the heart rate monitor (if it has one). This is because some exercises, such as doing push-ups or lifting weights, can cause you to bend your wrist at more of a right angle, which could cut off the blood flow to the area around the Fitbit. Instead, when you’re working out, you should move the Fitbit up on your arm so it’s two-three finger-widths above your wrist bone. This moves the sensors to a distance far enough from the bend in your wrist that the blood flow is more easily monitored.

How to Wear Your Fitbit When You Can’t Wear It on Your Wrist

Sometimes, wearing a watch-style device isn’t possible. For example, for safety reasons, some jobs require employees wear nothing on their arms between their fingertips and elbows. If you don’t want to lose tracking capabilities while you can’t have the Fitbit on your arm, you can put it into a front pocket. Unfortunately, while in your front pocket, the heart rate monitor won’t be able to track your heart rate, but the Fitbit should keep track of your steps accurately in your pocket. If you’re not using the heart rate monitor, you can turn it off to increase your battery life.

How Not to Wear Your Fitbit

There are a couple of things you should keep in mind when you’re wearing your Fitbit. The first one is that no model of Fitbit is designed to be worn on your ankle. Many people do buy after-market bands designed to let you wear your Fitbit around your ankle, and some users even just put the device in their socks, but Fitbit devices are specifically designed to be worn around the wrist. Wearing one around your ankle or in your sock will result in inaccurate tracking. In addition to that, here are some other tips to keep in mind about wearing your Fitbit.

Don’t wear it too tight: Tightening your Fitbit too much could result in decreased blood flow. Make sure the strap is comfortable at all times.Don’t wear the Fitbit too loose: Keeping it too loose on your wrist—so that it slides around and doesn’t maintain contact with your skin—will result in inaccurate readings during your movements and for your heart rate.Don’t wear your Fitbit when the strap is wet: If you intend to use your Fitbit in the water or if the band gets wet from sweat, take it off as soon as you’ve finished your activity and dry the band. This prevents the wet band from irritating your skin.Use a polymer band when in water or working out: If you’re wearing your Fitbit in the water or to work out and you know you will sweat heavily, don’t use a band (such as nylon or leather) that will absorb the moisture and not dry quickly. Instead, use the polymer band that came with the device.