To buy or not to buy...multi-sport watch or Activity Tracker

Gaaya3
Gaaya3 Posts: 13 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So, I'm running regularly, albeit slowly, I go to a spin class once a week and want to start biking outdoors using Citi Bikes. I also have access to an indoor pool. What I really want is a way to accurately determine the calories I burn during these activities and my pace. I know the best way to track calories is through an heart rate monitor. I have two options and a few questions if anyone has any opinions or answers :).

Bestbuy sells the TomTom GPS MultiSport Watch with HRM strap for $249. This tracks outdoor running and biking, indoors swimming and treadmill workouts. Some questions I have about this is: Can I wear the strap while swimming or do I rely on the pace data only for calories burned? Can I track just my heart rate and calories burned during my spin class, as the GPS is irrelevant here and I don't want to buy a cadence sensor (I only care about calories burned for this activity).

Plus: tracks running, biking and swimming and calories burned
Minus: if the answer is no to my above questions, those are major minuses; and it's more expensive

The other option is a Fitbit flex. It's a $100 without a HRM, so I don't know how accurate calories burned is. I know it tracks steps, including while running and walking. Does it track biking? Does it seem useful without the display like the Force? I know it wouldn't track swimming but I guess I could do without that. Does it give you pace/distance/time for specific workouts and not just the day as a whole? I think I'm more interested in data for actual workouts.

Plus: tracks steps all day, cheaper
Minus: doesn't track swimming, possibly not workout specific

Anyone who uses either of these devices, what are your thoughts?

Replies

  • brianpperkins
    brianpperkins Posts: 6,124 Member
    I have a TomTom linked with a Polar H7 HRM and a Flex. The TomTom does connect with a HRM when in running or cycling mode but not in swim mode. Its swim mode only tracks distance (strokes/lengths) for indoor swimming (no GPS for swimming to calculate open water). It will connect with a bluetooth BLE cycling speed and cadence sensor for cycling. It connects with the TomTom app along with MapMyFitness and/or Runkeeper. The TomTom app provides GPS distance, HR data, time, pace, and strides per minute for outdoor running.

    The Flex is great for counting steps. It then uses internal calculations to determine the activity level and estimated caloric burn. It is a good all day activity tracking. Distance is based on user input of stride length ... mine is close after some trial and error. It will count some steps from cycling but if worn on the wrist the number of "steps" counted does not equal the number of pedal rotations due to the different motion between the two.

    It really comes down to what data you want to track. HRMs are good for providing estimated calorie burns based on measured exertion via heart rate during certain steady state cardio events ... GPS systems do distance, speed, pace ... Fitbits count steps and measure all day activity.
  • SKME2013
    SKME2013 Posts: 704 Member
    I had a fitbit force activity tracker, returned it because of recall and got myself the fitbit one activity tracker. After a while I also got the Polar RCX5 multi sports watch with heart rate monitor and gps. It is MUCH more expensive as any activity tracker, but worth every penny.
    Nevertheless, the most important part for me is the heart rate monitor and there are now some activity trackers, such as e.g. Polar loop or Garmon vivofit that can be used with a heart rate monitor.
    Stef.
  • DebinMelbourne
    DebinMelbourne Posts: 134 Member
    Ha! I've been driving myself crazy with the same type of question. Like you, I do various activities (jogging, walking, exercise bike for HIIT, weights and high-intensity Pilates). I love tracking and logging all my activities, and I want an accurate calorie expenditure device.

    After reading, reading, reading here and elsewhere, I ditched any idea of a fitness tracker and have decided to go with a Suunto Quest HRM. High-end models use a more accurate estimate of calorie expenditure (keep in mind, NONE of these devices measures calorie expenditure directly), and Suunto provides a more comfortable belt, better for Pilates. And Suunto products aren't hideously ugly, like most watch HRMs.

    I don't swim, so I didn't research that aspect. But if you want accurate calorie expenditure, a HRM w chest belt is the only way to go.

Categories