The Fitbit Charge HR is a formidable opponent in the wearable fitness tracker arena. The successor to the voluntarily recalled Fitbit Force following an outbreak of skin irritation claims, the Charge HR gave Fitbit an opportunity to improve the quality and technology of its now out-of-production device. It is worth noting that although we did not notice any skin irritation during our tests, other users have reported mild outbreaks after intense workouts. Those with sensitive skin may hold onto their purchase receipts; however, we feel that the issue has largely been resolved. The Charge HR is identical to the Fitbit Charge, except the HR version provides continuous heart rate monitoring that proves to be a game changer in the Fitbit brand. This feature provides a wealth of benefits for only $20 more, making it an irresistible addition to the overall value of the Charge HR.

The thing you can’t help but notice when looking at the Fitbit Charge HR is the crosshatch grip pattern on the outside of the band. It is aggressive and tactical without being so masculine that it reads strictly as a men’s fitness tracker. Unfortunately, like most fitness bands, routine cleaning is necessary to keep the tracker looking its sleekest and free of grime.

The inner side of the band is very smooth against the skin without leaving a sweaty feeling during and after workouts, unlike our experiences with the Fitbit Flex that seemed humid even with light movement. With four color options – black, plum, blue, and tangerine – users have the choice to go bold and bright or simple and subtle.

The Charge HR is very comparable in size to a standard wristwatch, complete with a buckle-like clasp instead of the push-through tab of Fitbits past. It is slightly bulkier than the Fitbit Charge to make room for the constant heart rate tracking technology. The benefits of this continuous tracking far outweigh the miniscule weight difference in the two trackers; in fact, the Fitbit Charge HR is still so lightweight that it’s easy to forget you’re wearing it. The tracker monitors sleep in addition to daily activities, and we were happy to find that it was comfortable enough to wear 24/7, with the silent alarm providing an effective and less obnoxious alternative to our morning routines.

The monochrome screen is small, yet surprisingly effective and easy to read even in direct sunlight – not to mention customizable through computer-side controls. The bright OLED display is controlled through either standard tapping or pressing convenient button located on the left side of the band.

The Fitbit Charge HR comes standard with features we would expect from a Fitbit device: seamless Bluetooth syncing, step tracking, calorie tracking, sleep modes, and water resistance. Unfortunately, it still is only water resistant and not yet waterproof, so swimmers are a bit out of luck. Although dedicated runners may be discouraged by the lack of GPS capabilities to provide accurate distance and pace reports, they can find solace in alternatives such as the Fitbit Surge. Alternatively, enabling GPS monitoring on the Fitbit app allows you to track those variables if you don’t mind running with your phone in tow. And of course, any physical activity that the Charge HR cannot track and monitor, such as swimming or weight lifting, can be manually entered into the app to count toward your goals.

Even though you can program a selected screen to a tap gesture, tapping feels a bit clunky, and we found that using the left side button was much more easy and convenient to use. The screen options include time, daily total steps, total distance travelled, calories burned, flights climbed, and your heart rate. The left side button can also be pressed and held to trigger “stopwatch mode,” which logs your activity as a training session in your metrics. While we would have loved to see the accelerometer tech switching the display to the clock screen when we glanced down, we can’t complain about the overall quality of the features.

The typical users in the activity tracking game who love monitoring calories burned will be more than happy with the Fitbit Charge HR’s calories burned tracker and heart rate zone monitoring and training, Fitbit-branded as “PurePulse.” The heart rate zone training allows you to adjust your workouts based on three or four monitored zones based on potential fitness goals (max heart rate, aerobic and anaerobic heart rate, and fat burning heart rate). Taking advantage of this technology allows you to maximize the benefits and efficiency of your workouts.

Because the tracker constantly measures heart rate, it allows you to measure your average daily heart rate and average resting heart rate. A low average resting heart rate is a good sign of vascular health, and it was so satisfying watching that number lower over the weeks we tested it. Fitbit reports that the accuracy of its heart rate monitoring technology only shows a slight percentage discrepancy compared to heart rate chest-straps, and our testing showed that the HR Charge was quite accurate during both periods of rest and high intensity workouts.

The Fitbit Charge HR boasts a new caller ID feature that smoothly scrolls the contact name of incoming callers but still lacks the notification integration the Fitbit Surge has. It’s a convenient feature that allows you to identify which calls are worth stopping your workout, business meeting, or date for. Even with the caller ID integration, we found we were able to get five to seven days of battery life from each full charge – even more if we disabled the “All Day Tracking” sync from the app.

A huge improvement we saw from previous generations is that the Fitbit Charge HR is able to utilize the constant heart rate monitoring technology to automatically enter sleep mode. That’s right – you no longer have to manually engage sleep tracking like you did with the Flex, something that is painfully and annoyingly easy to forget to do as you drift off to sleep. This automatic sleep mode gives us hope that future generations and will integrate smart sleep phase settings, allowing the watch to trigger the silent alarm optimized based on your sleep cycle like the Jawbone brand trackers currently do.

If you find the amount of features overwhelming and you’re looking for a stripped-down version, the Fitbit Charge or the Fitbit Flex might be perfect for you. With fewer metrics to follow, they provide all the essential information at a bit more modest price tag.

The Charge HR utilizes the same Fitbit app users have come to know and love. It is the quickest way to access all your tracked metrics throughout the day. The app allows you to manually enter your water and calorie intake, which helps you to monitor your net calories for the day. It even features a barcode scanner that makes adding calories more convenient than ever. Simply scan the code off a package, and the app goes through a fairly comprehensive database of information. Non-US users may find the database lacking, but we expect a more comprehensive list as firmware updates roll out. You can also use the GPS settings on your phone to monitor runs, complete with sound cues to let you know when you’ve reached your preset distance or time goals.

Through the app, you are able to customize your Fitbit Charge HR’s display screen order, clock style, and main goal. Additionally, the tap gesture setting allows you to program a favorite screen for quick two-tap access. Being able to adjust these settings adds an extra feeling of customization and custom-catered workout assistance.

Most importantly, the app allows you to set and monitor a variety of goals simultaneously, which proves to be a very motivating feature whether you’re trying to take 10,000 steps a day, walk five miles, or keep your net calories lower than your BMI. For an extra push in your efforts, the app offers social syncing and competitions so you and your Fitbit-owning friends can earn bragging rights.

Dedicated Fitbit fans already know about the benefits of getting a Fitbit Aria Scale for maximum results with their fitness tracker. The scale wirelessly syncs with your Fitbit account over WiFi to monitor your weight, BMI, lean mass, and body fat percentage. These stats are graphed and charted with the information logged from your tracker, viewable through the app and computer software, so you can monitor and rejoice in your progress.

The Fitbit Charge HR is the best activity tracker for metrics-obsessed users. It has just enough variables to monitor without being overwhelming, and the heart rate monitoring zones lend themselves to the ultimate customizable workout experience. Unlike other popular fitness bands on the market, the always-on heart rate monitoring tracks both average and resting heart rate and makes the Fitbit Charge HR one of the best fitness bands on the market today in terms of features and overall value. Perfect for both casual consumers and dedicated fitness enthusiasts alike, the Fitbit Charge HR has set the bar high in the fitness tracker market.