4. It provided plenty of inspiration for varying my routine.
Charge 6 users can pick from more than 40 exercise modes, ranging from usual suspects like running, cycling and HIIT to more niche pursuits like kickboxing, canoeing and more. It also comes with 6 free months of Fitbit Premium, and members can unlock an even more extensive library of expert-led workouts and mindfulness sessions. That gave me the nudge I needed to explore my gym more fully — in one session, I split my cardio routine between the bike, the rower, and the stair climber. Again, a few taps is all it took for my Charge 6 to record each workout, and it also clocked a light after-work jog automatically thanks to its handy auto-recognition feature, which can detect when you’re running, cycling and walking. As an added bonus, the Charge 6 can sync your heart rate data via Bluetooth to a wide range of cardio machines, making it easier to keep an eye on your level of exertion right on the screen.
5. It helped me realize when my body might need some extra recovery time.
I don’t always do the best job of listening to my body when it’s telling me I need a rest day. Fitbit’s Daily Readiness Score (available to Premium subscribers) made that inner voice harder to ignore by assigning me a number ranging from 1 to 100 based on stress factors like my amount of sleep, physical activity, and heart rate variability on a day-to-day basis. (The lower the number, the more likely it is you might need to take it easy.) Charge 6 also has a few other features that can help you keep an eye out for other irregularities, such as an ECG app for taking a heart rhythm assessment, an oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor and notifications for unusually high and low heart rate activity. Since my resting heart rate tends to be on the lower end, any sudden uptick when I wasn’t exercising helped me slow down and reflect on what was stressing me out, or whether I really needed that second cup of coffee.