Watches for exercise
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Samm471
Posts: 432 Member
Just curious as to what everyone's favourite watches are for tracking your workouts? I use the Fitbit charge 2 but it's broke and I'd like to get a new one and try something different. Any suggestions? Preferably one that tracks cardio and resistance training. What's your favourites? 
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Replies
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I have a Garmin forerunner 225.
A HRM is no use for strength training though3 -
TavistockToad wrote: »I have a Garmin forerunner 225.
A HRM is no use for strength training though
How is the Garmin? I know my Fitbit did track weights but now it's broke. I'd really like to try something new
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I have a Garmin Fenix 5X.
It counts laps in the pool, and takes it's best guess whether I'm doing deadlifts or squats or whatever based on how my arm moves. Pretty food but not perfect. It talks to the power meter on my bike (which means bike calories are never off by more than 2.5%) and tracks open water swims. I like it.4 -
NorthCascades wrote: »I have a Garmin Fenix 5X.
It counts laps in the pool, and takes it's best guess whether I'm doing deadlifts or squats or whatever based on how my arm moves. Pretty food but not perfect. It talks to the power meter on my bike (which means bike calories are never off by more than 2.5%) and tracks open water swims. I like it.
That sounds excellent! There's so many watches out there it's hard to see what ones are good for their money or not.
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TavistockToad wrote: »I have a Garmin forerunner 225.
A HRM is no use for strength training though
How is the Garmin? I know my Fitbit did track weights but now it's broke. I'd really like to try something new
I love it... I'm just a runner, and it's perfect.1 -
My favorite is the Garmin 935. Tracks a variety of different workouts and does daily activity tracking as well. It's basically a Fenix 5 in a polymer (instead of metal) casing.1
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I have a Foreruner 225, but I am primarily a runner. dcrainmaker.com has very complete watch reviews, so I would look there for ideas.
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Seconding that DC Rainmaker is a great resource . . . but, having recently used the site to pick a device myself, I'd point out that he's predominantly a bike/run/swim guy, and goes into great depth on those things. Since OP mentions wanting a device for resistance training, it might be desirable to also look at reviews elsewhere for more on that dimension. (I don't have a suggestion for a specific "elsewhere", unfortunately. I looked up rowing-specific info elsewhere, but not strength training.)1
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Seconding that DC Rainmaker is a great resource . . . but, having recently used the site to pick a device myself, I'd point out that he's predominantly a bike/run/swim guy, and goes into great depth on those things. Since OP mentions wanting a device for resistance training, it might be desirable to also look at reviews elsewhere for more on that dimension. (I don't have a suggestion for a specific "elsewhere", unfortunately. I looked up rowing-specific info elsewhere, but not strength training.)
Actually, there are no activity trackers that are really worth a darn for strength training. The algorithms used to calculate calorie expenditure from heart rate are all based upon steady state cardio, and the further you deviate from that, the less accurate the figure is. My Garmin has a setting for strength training and will even (try to) track reps and guesstimate what exercise you were doing. I don't use that function, and I take the calorie readings for my strength workouts with a large grain of salt. Basically, I use it for my strength workouts just so they show on my activity calendar for tracking purposes.
Here's a great read from @Azdak about HRMs and their usefulness in tracking calories: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
[ETA:] And yes - I third the recommendation of DCRainmaker as a great resource. He does the most thorough, comprehensive reviews of activity trackers that you'll find anywhere.2 -
I use Garmin Fenix 5...absolutely love it. I’m mainly a runner and do outside activities and it’s great. As far as resistance training, not sure. But, this watch has it all. A little pricey, but darn well worth it .0
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Seconding that DC Rainmaker is a great resource . . . but, having recently used the site to pick a device myself, I'd point out that he's predominantly a bike/run/swim guy, and goes into great depth on those things. Since OP mentions wanting a device for resistance training, it might be desirable to also look at reviews elsewhere for more on that dimension. (I don't have a suggestion for a specific "elsewhere", unfortunately. I looked up rowing-specific info elsewhere, but not strength training.)
Actually, there are no activity trackers that are really worth a darn for strength training. The algorithms used to calculate calorie expenditure from heart rate are all based upon steady state cardio, and the further you deviate from that, the less accurate the figure is. My Garmin has a setting for strength training and will even (try to) track reps and guesstimate what exercise you were doing. I don't use that function, and I take the calorie readings for my strength workouts with a large grain of salt. Basically, I use it for my strength workouts just so they show on my activity calendar for tracking purposes.
Here's a great read from @Azdak about HRMs and their usefulness in tracking calories: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
[ETA:] And yes - I third the recommendation of DCRainmaker as a great resource. He does the most thorough, comprehensive reviews of activity trackers that you'll find anywhere.
I do, and it's great. It's got better at counting reps and figuring out what exercise since they released it (I think). You can use the up/down buttons on the watch to tell it how much weight you did for each set. Then you have a historical record of your performance.2 -
If you are serious about tracking fitness, and you plan on committing to it consistently, I would go with one of the higher end Garmin devices. They have advanced fitness metrics such as...
aerobic training effect
anaerobic training effect
recovery time
VO2max
training load
lactate threshold
To name a few.
I use the fenix 5x, and I have tried just about every fitness device on the market...
Suunto
fitbit
Polar
Apple Watch
Samsung
To name a few.
Garmin is way ahead of everyone else at this point in time as far as features go.
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Seconding that DC Rainmaker is a great resource . . . but, having recently used the site to pick a device myself, I'd point out that he's predominantly a bike/run/swim guy, and goes into great depth on those things. Since OP mentions wanting a device for resistance training, it might be desirable to also look at reviews elsewhere for more on that dimension. (I don't have a suggestion for a specific "elsewhere", unfortunately. I looked up rowing-specific info elsewhere, but not strength training.)
Actually, there are no activity trackers that are really worth a darn for strength training. The algorithms used to calculate calorie expenditure from heart rate are all based upon steady state cardio, and the further you deviate from that, the less accurate the figure is. My Garmin has a setting for strength training and will even (try to) track reps and guesstimate what exercise you were doing. I don't use that function, and I take the calorie readings for my strength workouts with a large grain of salt. Basically, I use it for my strength workouts just so they show on my activity calendar for tracking purposes.
Here's a great read from @Azdak about HRMs and their usefulness in tracking calories: https://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/the-real-facts-about-hrms-and-calories-what-you-need-to-know-before-purchasing-an-hrm-or-using-one-21472
[ETA:] And yes - I third the recommendation of DCRainmaker as a great resource. He does the most thorough, comprehensive reviews of activity trackers that you'll find anywhere.
Yes, 100%. Thank you for the clarification/correction.
Personally, I've never relied on devices for strength training calorie estimates, and should've said what you did.
Thanks. :drinker:3 -
I have a Samsung sport and it is not accurate at all0
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I have the Garmin Fenix 5X and I really like it so far.2
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Im old school and love my polar f7. No bells and whistles. Just tell me how many calories i burned.
Plus im pretty good with figuring out what i burned with time and rpe (rate of perceived exertion) ive been in the fitness industry for over 20 years.0 -
I've had my Fenix 5x for about a year now.
My primary use is for swimming. I love the large easy to read face. I can reread it without my classes on.
For swimming, I careen easily change from the standard 25 yard pool at home, to the 22m pool at the gym in China.
It is rugged and takes the abuse of lane rope and occasional scuff to the pool wall (lane get crowded with slow swimmers in China)0
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