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Smartwatch/Fitness tracker-Whats the concencus? Garmin, Fitbit or?

Hammer

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I have had my I Watch for about a year, I lost it about a week ago and I really miss logging my daily activity.. I never really cared for the fitness/health tracker ecosystem within the apple IOS but enjoyed having the apps(text and email particularly) on my wrist. I have been spending a lot more time on my health and fitness monitoring, between my diet and exercise. I also noticed some of the watches monitor your sleep habits which I'd like to start monitoring as well. I spend enough time on my phone as it is and am looking for a fitness tracker where I dont need my phone with me while working out, I also want to disconnect while I run or exercise. I'm working on not being married to my phone, therefore, I don't want the SM apps on my wrist anymore, but I'd like email text in case there is an emergency. I want to log the data on the fitness tracker and have the ability to automatically sync the data onto the app when my phone is within range of said tracker or real time via satelite while I'm working out.

The bottom line is I want to monitor how healthy I am on a daily basis, work out, log it and set goals to improve my fitness. The Garmin products seem to be the best bet overall?

The Garmin Phenix seems bad ass but it is expensive. The fitbits look cheesy to me. I also want to wear it daily without worrying about it breaking and having to charge it every night. The Iwatch battery life sucked.

Probably a tough question to ask a bunch of overweight beer drinking boaters! J/K 😂
 

MissB

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I love my Garmin. It has more fitness analytics than Apple, and yes you can’t set it to receive ’phone’ alerts, like texts, or notifications, or not. Garmin connect is where you track everything and that’s where the community is as well. I highly recommend it over a Fitbit.
 

Hammer

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I love my Garmin. It has more fitness analytics than Apple, and yes you can’t set it to receive ’phone’ alerts, like texts, or notifications, or not. Garmin connect is where you track everything and that’s where the community is as well. I highly recommend it over a Fitbit.
Which Garmin watch do you have? I hope you are well BTW!!! It has been forever...
 

Terminal Velocity

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I have no idea, but this is what they were using during the Ryder cup, and had a bunch of advertising on no idea if you have to have phone with you, or it'll sync when you get close?

 

rivermobster

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Following.

Been getting my lazy azz in gear as well.

Been using Google Fit to track my walks and LoseIt to track my food.

Courious if a watch thing would be helpful too?
 

Hammer

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Following.

Been getting my lazy azz in gear as well.

Been using Google Fit to track my walks and LoseIt to track my food.

Courious if a watch thing would be helpful too?

The Garmin watch seemed perfect for GPS tracking for outdoor stuff. I used to hike a ton and “get lost” on the dirt bike back in the day. I’m thinking that might be the way to go so I can get lost “off the grid” more often.

They are freakin expensive though. Still better then carrying a Handheld everywhere
 
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Xtrmwakeboarder

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I've had my Fenix 3HR since it came out, and like it. It's tough, tells time, and looks good. That being said, the battery life sucks, I'll never use all of the functions, I use a more accurate Scosche armband to track HR, and it was expensive. If you REALLY want a smartwatch, the galaxy watch looks great, or just go for another Apple watch if you're in the Apple ecosystem. When this one dies, or possibly sooner, I'll just go for a nice G-Shock and skip the fancy stuff.
 

lakemadness

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I've been wearing a Whoop for about 4 months now. It tracks sleep, recovery, strain during workouts, calorie burn, heart rate, HRV etc. I think it provides a lot of data. I like it so far. I dont know if its a long term thing. Two reasons, I like to wear a nice watch (I have for 20 years) I haven't worn a watch since putting the Whoop on. I'd like to get back to wearing one. Second reason is I think it will give me enough education on my patterns to eventually go without it. Maybe another few months, not sure. It also has kinda made me paranoid about my sleep and how much recovery I get.

 

RandyH

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5X Fenix - it fits your requests perfectly. this one is going on two years. No hicups.

RD SUX.JPG
 

Hammer

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I've had my Fenix 3HR since it came out, and like it. It's tough, tells time, and looks good. That being said, the battery life sucks, I'll never use all of the functions, I use a more accurate Scosche armband to track HR, and it was expensive. If you REALLY want a smartwatch, the galaxy watch looks great, or just go for another Apple watch if you're in the Apple ecosystem. When this one dies, or possibly sooner, I'll just go for a nice G-Shock and skip the fancy stuff.
With the armband do you need your phone to log HR data while working out?

I’d have no problem wearing a HR band to log data and have the watch save the data without my phone being with me. I use a HR band on the peloton.
 

Hammer

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I've been wearing a Whoop for about 4 months now. It tracks sleep, recovery, strain during workouts, calorie burn, heart rate, HRV etc. I think it provides a lot of data. I like it so far. I dont know if its a long term thing. Two reasons, I like to wear a nice watch (I have for 20 years) I haven't worn a watch since putting the Whoop on. I'd like to get back to wearing one. Second reason is I think it will give me enough education on my patterns to eventually go without it. Maybe another few months, not sure. It also has kinda made me paranoid about my sleep and how much recovery I get.


I think I’d prefer a watch as well. I want to wear it all the time and not worry about taking it off in the water. That’s how I lost my Iwatch, was afraid of breaking it or losing it in the water… someone snagged it at the Nautical when I left it in the hotel too I think
5X Fenix - it fits your requests perfectly. this one is going on two years. No hicups.

View attachment 1054211

Good to know… thanks Randy. Definitely looks like it will handle the eliminates. I don’t want to have to worry about it.
 

ridebig

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Garmin 6x Pro. Love it. I’ve had it for almost 3 years. The app is awesome.
07E4D016-F52E-4416-9E27-BAEE9B49518E.jpeg
 

ridebig

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I went with the large dial so I could easily read it while on my mountain bike.
 

humvkev

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I have the Garmin Venu, works in the office but also everywhere else. I seem to only charge it every 5 days and it works well on the golf course with the golf app. It tracks all my fitness goals mentioned before me and syncs to the phone with the connect app. On the river, I can control the radio with the watch since there is a Spotify app. I really like the Garmin and don't regret the purchase. Oh I also get notifications from the phone on the watch too.
 

Crazyhippy

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I have used a Garmin 935 for 3+ years now. Had a Garmin 910 before that. Tried a Suunto briefly, and went back to Garmin. Tried a Samsung, went back to Garmin...

935 is essentially a Fenix 5, in a plastic case vs metal. A bit less bling, and a bit less weight. There is a 945 out now also.
 

Xtrmwakeboarder

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With the armband do you need your phone to log HR data while working out?

I’d have no problem wearing a HR band to log data and have the watch save the data without my phone being with me. I use a HR band on the peloton.
Not sure. I only use the HR monitor with the Peloton.
 

Hammer

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I have the Garmin Venu, works in the office but also everywhere else. I seem to only charge it every 5 days and it works well on the golf course with the golf app. It tracks all my fitness goals mentioned before me and syncs to the phone with the connect app. On the river, I can control the radio with the watch since there is a Spotify app. I really like the Garmin and don't regret the purchase. Oh I also get notifications from the phone on the watch too.
Well Shit.... I like the price point of the Venu over the Phenix....
I have used a Garmin 935 for 3+ years now. Had a Garmin 910 before that. Tried a Suunto briefly, and went back to Garmin. Tried a Samsung, went back to Garmin...

935 is essentially a Fenix 5, in a plastic case vs metal. A bit less bling, and a bit less weight. There is a 945 out now also.
945 does not seem to have email/text capabilites?
 

humvkev

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Well Shit.... I like the price point of the Venu over the Phenix....

945 does not seem to have email/text capabilites?
I went to REI near me and looked at all of them before buying. The price point was nice too. I am not sure if the new Venu's have changed, but if you are using an iPhone, you are not able to respond to messages from the watch, with an Android you can.
 

Crazyhippy

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Well Shit.... I like the price point of the Venu over the Phenix....

945 does not seem to have email/text capabilites?

935 does for sure. Shows Phone #'s, text, and email. Can also say no to answering a call thru the watch and not take the phone out of my pocket.

Supposed to be able to control music thru it, but I've never dicked with it to know.
 

Hammer

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I went to REI near me and looked at all of them before buying. The price point was nice too. I am not sure if the new Venu's have changed, but if you are using an iPhone, you are not able to respond to messages from the watch, with an Android you can.

I have an iphone, i feel the message can wait, I just want to know if there is an SOS text so I can stop what I am doing and get back to my phone if I had to...
 

Flying_Lavey

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Mike, I have a Samsung Watch 3 that is really cool. The rotating bezel makes navigating through the tiny screen SSSOOOO much easier. I haven't touched much of any of the fitness apps but, there are a TON! Whenever I have read any comparisons of the non-apple smart watches, the Samsung wins them all.

They are releasing the Watch 4 anytime now so you should be able to pick up a 3 REALLY cheap.
 

Hammer

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Mike, I have a Samsung Watch 3 that is really cool. The rotating bezel makes navigating through the tiny screen SSSOOOO much easier. I haven't touched much of any of the fitness apps but, there are a TON! Whenever I have read any comparisons of the non-apple smart watches, the Samsung wins them all.

They are releasing the Watch 4 anytime now so you should be able to pick up a 3 REALLY cheap.

I have read the reviews on the Samsungs. They sound good too. Thanks Kevin🤙
 

lakemadness

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I think I’d prefer a watch as well. I want to wear it all the time and not worry about taking it off in the water. That’s how I lost my Iwatch, was afraid of breaking it or losing it in the water… someone snagged it at the Nautical when I left it in the hotel too I think


Good to know… thanks Randy. Definitely looks like it will handle the eliminates. I don’t want to have to worry about it.

It’s water proof. You can also wear it around your upper arm supposedly. Hard to find one that does it all that isn’t a small trailer wheel you’re lugging around on your wrist.
 

humvkev

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I have an iphone, i feel the message can wait, I just want to know if there is an SOS text so I can stop what I am doing and get back to my phone if I had to...
The watch does this well, that’s how I use it.
 

Emac

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Mike,
Phoenix 5x here and is an awesome watch. Had a Fitbit before and not anywhere close to the Garmin. I even use it to track routes on fishing trips etc.. Even works flawlessly in Mexico unlike many things, It is definitely a tough watch and I have been using the ishield lens covers and they work well also. In two years on my second one. plenty of screens available as well for whatever you want to do with it, They are a lil pricey but well worth it.
 

Hammer

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Mike,
Phoenix 5x here and is an awesome watch. Had a Fitbit before and not anywhere close to the Garmin. I even use it to track routes on fishing trips etc.. Even works flawlessly in Mexico unlike many things, It is definitely a tough watch and I have been using the ishield lens covers and they work well also. In two years on my second one. plenty of screens available as well for whatever you want to do with it, They are a lil pricey but well worth it.
Thank you for the insight!. I’m going to try a 5 out. I’m really looking forward to it.
 
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MissB

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Which Garmin watch do you have? I hope you are well BTW!!! It has been forever...
I"m good! Love seeing you and the babies on FB!! I have the Venu! I know the Fenix does way more!
 

airchair.rider

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I"m good! Love seeing you and the babies on FB!! I have the Venu! I know the Fenix does way more!
I have 2 Fitbits and both lasted less then 1 year. I have had a Garmin Instinct for 3 years now and never had a problem.
 

Fenderbender

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I have buddies with the Garmin watches and they regularly upload trail GPX files to them and navigate backcountry MTB rides with them. On another note I saw Costco has the Samsung for $179 without the dial.
 

FCT

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I use apple and a Garmin 935 for the last few years. For fitness the Garmin is way better in my opinion. The only time I use my Apple Watch for fitness is when I want music for a run and don’t want to bring my phone. For everyday use I use my Apple because of the phone capabilities only.
 
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