Fitness tracker/band reco

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

My Microsoft Band 2 broke and they've stopped making them.. I really liked the Microsoft band, even though I was on my 3rd in 2 years- straps broke.

Now I need to find something else. Any recommendations?

I cycle and run. I want GPS and a Heart Rate monitor built in. I want calories burnt be based on heart rate. I also want to be able to drill into the data to see heart rate zones etc.

I'm struggling to find something. I tried the Samsung Gear Fit 2 but the information shown in the app was minimal and heart rate wasn't part of calorie calculation so I returned it.

I'm considering Fitbut surge, but it looks huge. I am a 5ft2 petite woman.

Your recommendations will be very welcome!

CoachJen71

I saw a woman with a surge the other day. It does look big, but not as big as the Blaze. She's swapping it for an Apple watch when it dies. I will stick with my charge HR for now. Still hoping that fitbit makes a mini Blaze for petite ladies someday!

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

I'm really tempted by the Apple watch, but I don't have an iPhone. Getting a new phone so I can buy the Apple watch feels a but OTT, but size wise it is perfect - so I have thought about it! :-)

CoachJen71

I'm not an apple person, so the switchover would be too much for me as well.

NorthCascades

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12 wrote: »

I also want to be able to drill into the data to see heart rate zones etc.

jennybearlv

Garmin is good for that kind of stuff. I've never had a device with built in HR because chest straps are more accurate for fitness activities. My Vivoactive did everything you have mentioned, there is an HR version too, and the band is replaceable. If you have the money to spend for more features the Fenix 5s just came out. The rest of the Fenix line is huge though.

Kollane

Look into Polar too. I swear by my Polar M400, but it doesn't have wrist-based HR monitor. Chest strap doesn't bother me though, it's about the same as wearing a sports bra. The watch itsself looks bulky, but it's so comfortable. Also, waterproof, though it doesn't track in water.

If you really need wrist HR, then new Polar M430 just came out. Not sure of its availability yet, but it should be in stores soon. There's also M200, that has GPS, wrist-based HR and is slightly smaller, I just personally don't like round watches for some reason.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Thanks for the recommendations, I hadn't considered Polar. The M430 looks really great, but it only seems to cover running and I want something for cycling too. Shame because I like the look of it, especially in orange.

natruallycurious

Have you looked at the Garmin Vivosmart HR+? It's one I've been considering (can't decide between it and the Fitbit Charge 2). But it has built in GPS, wrist based heart rate that it uses to calculate calories burned, and tracks workouts such as cycling and running. It is also supposed to be able to track swimming as it is waterproof. I'm not sure how much info it gives you heart rate wise, but I'm pretty sure it breaks your work out down into zones based on heart rate.

Tacklewasher

Posted it in a different thread, but I've used the VSHR and cannot recommend it. What it does if you use activities is wrong and you can have a double counting of your calorie burn.

I do recommend the VivoActive HR. Does all I need and is waterproof (important to me) vs. water resistant.

NorthCascades

khenik6064 wrote: »

Have you looked at the Garmin Vivosmart HR+?

The new Vivosmart 3 has some really neat features. The devil is always in the details, and we don't know the details yet, but Garmin claims it will 'measure' your VO2max and even stress levels from wrist-based HRV. A year ago that wasn't possible.

But it doesn't have the visual HR gauge that the OP wants.

MarleneSioson

I've used my Fitbit Flex as I am only seeking the calorie adjustment on MFP. But it hasn't been syncing up lately. Can anyone recommend a tracker that will actually work with MFP to adjust my calories based on steps taken? The simpler the better thanks!

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

VivioSmart 3 looks like its perfect, except it has no GPS which I really want. I went to check out the Fitbit surge again last night and I just can't buy it. It is so big in sure id find it too bulky.

So now I am thinking about the Garmin Viviosmart hr+. Does any one here use one? I especially want GpS built in, heart rate monitor, calories calculated using heart rate and ability to track multiple activities (run, bike, aerobics).Does it tick those boxes?

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Im not sure if the VivioSmart hr+ will track my cycle.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Also thinking about the TomTom Spark 3 Cardio - looks like it has the features Im looking for. Has any used TomTom? I didn't know they made wearables!

Jabbarwocky

Fitbit just put out a version of the Alta with a heart rate monitor. They are designed much sleeker than the others with HR monitoring.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Does it have built in GPS?

natruallycurious

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12 wrote: »

Does it have built in GPS?

Neither of the Alta bands have built in GPS. Some Fitbit models have connected GPS (uses your phone's GPS), but only the surge has it built in

NorthCascades

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12 wrote: »

VivioSmart 3 looks like its perfect, except it has no GPS which I really want. I went to check out the Fitbit surge again last night and I just can't buy it. It is so big in sure id find it too bulky.

So now I am thinking about the Garmin Viviosmart hr+. Does any one here use one? I especially want GpS built in, heart rate monitor, calories calculated using heart rate and ability to track multiple activities (run, bike, aerobics).Does it tick those boxes?

I use a Fenix 5X and it checks all your boxes but it's in a different price range entirely. You could probably get a Fenix 3 HR for about double what the Vivo line goes for. Garmin's wrist HRM isn't the best, though, and it's much worse in the F3 than in newer devices.

Tacklewasher

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12 wrote: »

VivioSmart 3 looks like its perfect, except it has no GPS which I really want. I went to check out the Fitbit surge again last night and I just can't buy it. It is so big in sure id find it too bulky.

So now I am thinking about the Garmin Viviosmart hr+. Does any one here use one? I especially want GpS built in, heart rate monitor, calories calculated using heart rate and ability to track multiple activities (run, bike, aerobics).Does it tick those boxes?

Gave mine to my wife as a step tracker and use a VivoActive HR. The VSHR has serious software issues where calories can be double counted if you use the activities. I recommend against it and highly recommend the VAHR, but it is pricier.

My issue with the VSHR was that if I used an activity, even just a walk, it would give me calories for the walk and, at the end of the day, give me calories for the steps I took. But no adjustment was made for some of those steps being tracked in the walk. So I ended up not using the activities at all (not what it seems you want to do).

I like the VAHR. It's much more robust in what it can track, I can download golf courses to it (still waiting to try this out) and is still fully waterproof (I think all Garmins are). These things are important to me.

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

Thanks for the recomendations: -) the VAHR looks great features wise, but it also looks gigantic. Its hard because in the shop you can't try anything on. I am a small woman and just think something with a screen wider than my wrist is going to be annoying- any women out there using the VAHR?

mnbvcxzlkjhgfdsa12

The Fenix 5X is more than I want to spend- it would have to be the perfect device for me to spend $600 on it.

I wish Microsoft hadn't stopped making the band - its great!