Fitbit Charge HR Shell

Do you have a Fitbit Charge HR with a strap that is peeling off or bubbling? Or even a Fitbit Charge HR with a broken strap? This might be a solution for it.

I made this Fitbit Charge HR shell because I got tired of gluing the original strap back on my Fitbit. My design guidelines where to be able to use a cheap watch strap with my Fitbit and to be able to remove the Fitbit easily so I can wipet it after every couple of workouts. I also wanted a relatively shell that is not too bulky.

If you think this product is for you there are a few details I want you to be aware of:

1) You need to take off the old strap from your Fitbit. For best results use isopropanol (ethanol won't work). Put a few drops of isopropanol in between the fitbit case and the strap (where it is peeling off) and let it sit for half a minute. Then gently pull on the strap side to side. Repeat these two steps until the isopropanol makes its way in between the strap and the case and completely dissolves the glue holding them together. The strap and the Fitbit will separate cleanly. It normally takes me about 5 minutes per side to unstick the strap.

NOTE 1: Pulling very hard on the strap can break the Fitbit case that is why I suggest using isopropanol.
NOTE 2: When you pull on the straps be careful you don't splash isopropanol in your eyes.
NOTE 3: I got isopropanol from my local pharmacy.

2) The shell fits the Fitbit tightly. Make sure you depress the Fitbit button as you place it in the shell so it doesn't snag. Do the same when you take it out. The Fitbit is easily removable so that it can be wiped once in a while.

3) You don't need to press on the Fitbit button to activate the Fitbit. Tapping on the Fitbit 3 times activates the screen. To cycle through the different screens tap the Fitbit once.

4) Use a push pin to make the watch strap holes a little deeper so that the watch spring bar sits in more securely. Insert the push pin from the outside hole towards the inside hole. The outside hole is slightly larger so the pin fits more easily. The inside hole is narrower so the watch spring bar fits tightly. If the spring bar hole is not deep enough the watch belt will pop out (and you will think bad thoughts of me).

5) For my first Fitbit I used a strap and spring bars from an old Casio W201 watch I had. I attached the dimensions of the strap to one of the product pictures (OD stands for the outer diameter of the spring bar tip). Any 18 mm watch strap is compatible with this Fitbit shell. For my other Fitbits I purchased the CIVO Quick Release Silicone Watch Band - because it comes with a removal tool that I can use to make sure the watch strap bar hole is deep enough.

Tip: There are quite a few second hand Fitbit Charge HRs on craigslist that are being sold for cheaper because of "broken straps". I got a couple of them for my family.

I am looking forward to any feedback you have. Thank you for looking.