Good news if you have just upgraded: Charge 5 and Charge 6 bands are interchangeable. Fitbit kept the same case size and the same band connector between the two generations, so a strap bought for a Charge 5 clicks straight into a Charge 6.
That makes the Charge one of the easier Fitbits to shop for. It also means your old bands are not landfill if you have upgraded.
What does not fit
Charge 3 and Charge 4 share a band with each other, but not with the Charge 5 or 6. The 5 introduced a new and narrower connector, so bands do not cross between those two groups. Charge 2 uses its own strap and shares with nothing.
Nothing from the other Fitbit lines fits either. Inspire, Luxe, Versa and Sense each use their own connector. A band listed for a Versa will not work on a Charge regardless of how similar the clasp looks in photos.
Some of our Charge bands are made for more than one group and carry a model selector on the product page. Choose your exact Charge model there and we ship the connector that matches it.
Metal bands for the Charge
Metal is one of the most searched Charge band styles, and the options behave quite differently from each other.
Stainless steel mesh uses a magnetic clasp that slides to any position, so you get a genuinely exact fit rather than the nearest hole. It is the most forgiving option if your wrist size changes through the day, which most people's does. Mesh is also the easiest metal band to put on one-handed.
Link bracelets look the most like a watch. They size by removing links, which means a one-time adjustment and then a fixed fit. Heavier than mesh, and more formal.
Thin or minimalist metal bands split the difference. On a tracker as small as the Charge, a slim band keeps the proportions right where a chunky bracelet can overwhelm it.
One practical note on all metal bands: they are not the right choice for hard training. Sweat sits in the links, and the weight is noticeable on a run. Most people who buy a metal band keep a silicone one for workouts and swap between them, which takes about ten seconds.
Choosing by how you wear it
Everyday and workouts: silicone. It handles sweat, showers and swimming, wipes clean, and does not hold odour the way fabric can.
All-day comfort and sleep tracking: woven nylon or elastic. Lighter and more breathable than silicone, and softer against the skin overnight.
Work and evenings: leather or metal mesh. Both dress the tracker up. Leather should stay dry.
Running and swimming specifically: silicone or a nylon sport loop. Rinse either with fresh water after pool or ocean use, since chlorine and salt shorten the life of both.
How to change a Charge band
Turn the tracker over and find the small flat button where the band meets the case. Press it and slide the band sideways out of its channel. Fit the new band by lining the connector up and pressing until it clicks.
Do both halves and then tug each one gently. A half-seated band holds long enough to fool you and then releases, usually mid-workout.
Getting the fit right
For accurate heart-rate readings, the Charge should sit snug against the skin about a finger's width above the wrist bone, and can be moved slightly higher up the arm during exercise. Too loose and the sensor reads motion rather than pulse. Too tight and you restrict blood flow, which skews it the other way.
This is where mesh has a real advantage over hole-punched bands: you can adjust it by a millimetre rather than by a whole notch, which is often the difference between snug and slightly wrong.
Shop Fitbit Charge 5 and 6 bands, or read our full Fitbit band compatibility guide.
