Fitness Devices Garmin/Polar/Bodymedia etc. - Ask Me

Thinking to veer away from a tracker that I wear all day and only wear it during exercise. Specifically to track my heart rate (strap seems to be better than any wrist option) and better estimate my calories burned. What's the best option for me?

What kind of exercise to you do primarily?

Right now I'm doing Insanity, otherwise I usually lift weights, circuit training and cardio (usually on a machine).

Okay, thanks for the input! Was thinking to get a heart rate monitor strap for now to link to my phone to stay in target ranges and then maybe getting a garmin watch down the road...perhaps the garmin vivofit.

I have a windows phone and am really interested in the vivosmart. I could care less about the app connectivity but i want to be able to use the text notification functionality. Do I NEED to have the app to be able to connect it to my phone?

I think you need the Garmin connect app (free) in order to configure the notifications. However, since it uses standard operating system platforms to deliver these, I believe it's only compatible with iOS and Android phones.

I am looking for the following.

1.Tracks distance
2.Tracks speed
3. Tracks duration
4. Is fairly small. ie, it can be clipped onto a top, or worn on the wrist
5. Doesn't cost a bomb

I already have a HRM which meets my current needs, but have just started with running (in a running group). I'm not so concerned by the calories burned for that activity, as I am with progress about speed and distance.

Is there anything like this?

Bump to capture for future reference...

I have a windows phone and am really interested in the vivosmart. I could care less about the app connectivity but i want to be able to use the text notification functionality. Do I NEED to have the app to be able to connect it to my phone?

You do need to set the Garmin Vivosmart up with the app on the phone to get notifications. I'd wait awhile if I were you, as it seems they are still working out bugs. I bought one and I'm having to do a replacement because of issues with the screen freezing, randomly pulling up menus, and not linking to the HRM.

I am looking for the following.

1.Tracks distance
2.Tracks speed
3. Tracks duration
4. Is fairly small. ie, it can be clipped onto a top, or worn on the wrist
5. Doesn't cost a bomb

I already have a HRM which meets my current needs, but have just started with running (in a running group). I'm not so concerned by the calories burned for that activity, as I am with progress about speed and distance.

Is there anything like this?

Free - Strava, Mapmyrun apps for your phone.
If you are looking at a watch then

Garmin FR 10 or 15

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/06/garmin-forerunner-15-depth-review.html
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2012/08/garmin-forerunner-watch.html

or an older FR like 405

I have the 405 and like it - note that it is useless on the treadmill

And you can sell off the HRM because these all include that functions.

Thank you.

I already have Endomondo on my phone, which I've always use to track my walks, but I didn't want to take my phone on these runs as it is bit bulky and heavy really (compared to a watch).

I'll have a look at the watches, thanks. Are they waterproof? I currently have an FT4...I think. Anyway, it's waterproof, which I do like for the occasional swimming that I do. I'll check 'em out now.

Garmin Vivofit (I like this very much after a few months using it)
Has the vivofit fallen off yet? Looks like it could easily snap loose.

Currently have a fitbit flex, which I do like for the most part, but miss having a wristwatch and would like some additional functionality. Was looking at the Garmin Vivofit or Vivosmart. Is the Garmin connect app similar to the fitbit update? I like the built in gps etc. but miss having heart rate functionality etc.

Hi Marilyn,

One thing that stood out from your comment was the "built in gps". The Vivosmart, nor the Vivofit unfortunately do not have an integrated GPS.

The Vivosmart and the Vivofit are very similar.

-=Vivosmart=-
Displays steps, calories, distance and time of day
Vibration alerts for calls, texts and emails from your smartphone
Easy operation using touch and swipe
Pairs with heart rate monitor for fitness activities
Inactivity alert reminds you to move
Auto goal keeps you challenged

-=Vivofit=-
Learns your activity level and assigns a personalized daily goal
Displays steps, calories, distance; monitors sleep
Pairs with heart rate monitor for fitness activities
1+ year battery life; water-resistant²
Save, plan and share progress at Garmin Connect™

Yes yes, I more or less copied those from Garmin's website...


They both look to be on par. Both are water-resistant to 50m, can pair with a Bluetooth Ant+ Heart Rate Stap...

One thing I will note, is that Vivofit display is not backlit in anyway. So in really dim light, you can't read the display (that doesn't bother me, and I've been wearing mine for months now).

The Vivosmart uses an OLED display, so you can see time in the dark. You can also control music on your phone, have vibration alerts.. you can see some more differences with the below links.


https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/health-fitness/vivofit-/into-sports/health-fitness/vivosmart-/prod154886.html

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into-sports/health-fitness/vivofit-/prod143405.html


The Vivofit is being used on this Seasons Biggest Loser, just an FYI. So there's some advertising (credibility?) for them.

I haven't used the Fitbit update app, but I imagine they are similar in nature. Identifying calories burned, steps taken etc..Since Fitbit has been in the pedometer game longer, they likely have a more polished interface.

So I'd boil it down to... do you want much longer battery life with no charging (1 year+)? or alerts from your phone, readability in low light, the ability to skip music tracks, and vibration alerts with a $40 premium?

Hopefully that helped, let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks. This helped me decide on the Vivofit, instead of the Smart. Saved myself a bit of money.

Hi
I am looking for a product that can track my swimming and HR while swimming without the use of a band is there such a product ?

As I understand it, no HRM is going to be accurate without a chest strap. Though I'm sure others will correct me if I've misunderstood.

Hello Group,

I have been doing a lot of reading an research in order to purchase my first fitness device / tracker and would sincerely appreciated your feedback. You all have a lot of experience and expertise and seem to be aware of some of the issues I have found and that are important to me (the accuracy of the body media device according to the university study, etc.).

I feel that we are just on the cusp of getting some fantastic fitness trackers, but the market is still a little premature. With that said, I really want to get fit and lose some weight now, rather than later. I'm 33, 5'10 and 230 lbs... I have very little stomach fat, but carry my weight more in my rear and thighs and have more of a stocky build. So, my BMI is way out of whack, more my waist to height ratio is more representative of my weight. I would like to lose at least 20-30 lbs.

So, my primary forms of exercise is very intense beach volleyball at least 4 times a week (2 vs. 2) , some tennis and running on the treadmill. Accuracy is very important to me and I am looking for a fitness tracker that would work best for my preferred exercise types. I like the Basis band, the best probably, because of all of the sensors, but it did not perform well on accuracy on the university tests and it does not measure HR during exercise. With tennis and volleyball, I want it to track HR during exercise, since there is more stop and go and it is more of an interval type exercise. I don't mind wearing a chest strap or ankle attachment, if necessary, as well. It seems all the current generation fitness trackers only measure HR during sleep and during the day, if they even have HR trackers at all. The body media is extremely accurate, but bulky and I'm not thrilled about the 7 dollars a month required price. If these are my best options, I have no problem with that either, but am open to any other suggestions...

I was hoping for good things from the apple watch, but was highly disappointed. They hired sooooo much talent in the fitness and health industry and all they put on it was a HR sensor. I don't need to check my email, make calls, text, etc. from my tracker and know that future generations of the apple watch will be MUCH better for fitness and have better sensors, but battery issues limited them and I can't wait for another 1.5 years.

I am very much looking for any recommendations and suggestions you may have...

Best Regards,

Jack

Hi
Just got a Polar FT60
plan on trying it out in the pool over the next couple of days and will post back my findings.

Anybody else have/use the Polar Loop + H7? I like it but the data collection/app (which I had to wait till mid year - i got both last year - to get)...

And I gave up on the BodyMedia thing - they even sent me a replacement, late last year/early this year it stopped syncing to my phones no matter what I did (S3 & S5) - it would work once, then even see the damn thing again, requiring a full reset, reboot the phone, un sync/re sync and "maybe" it would work.

I have a Flex (which after 4 months fubar'ed, but they replaced) and my Gear 2 Neo (Fit & Lark & Endomondo app which pulls HR data from the watch). I'm getting a Lumafit (http://www.lumafit.com/) and a Jaha (http://www.jaha.com/) via Kickstarter. I'm hoping they work well.

I just would like to add something that might turn out to be important: should you ever be interested in running, jogging..hiking...then one with GPS functionality is worth considering as it gives you data re distance, speed, route, altitude...some models have gps included in the sports watch while for others you have a separate gps unit to carry with you.

Also one more point: should you be on iPhone you can download the Polarbeat app for free, buy yourself a heart rate monitor (not the watch) and use this combined with the app. There are other apps out there that can do the same thing.

Stef.

Hi Stef, thanks for the input and that is a good point. Apple users should be aware though that you require at least an iPhone 4s for that functionality since earlier models to not have the appropriate Bluetooth chip. Not everyone has this, nor looking to buy a new phone to obtain that functionality. Also, as stated above, if you're looking for your heart rate strap to work with gym equipment, the Polar Bluetooth strap will not work.

Just to add: the Polar H7 strap does work with gym equipment, at least with the ones that I use.
Stef.