Multisport watch

RunAmock
RunAmock Posts: 95 Member
edited November 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Looking to get either a Garmin 920xt or the Garmin Vivoactive. Input appreciated. I am a runner and cyclist and just started adding swimming/triathlon to the mix. TIA

Replies

  • cheshirecatastrophe
    cheshirecatastrophe Posts: 1,395 Member
    dcrainmaker.com for all your GPS/gear review needs. (Spoiler alert: loves the 920xt, like everyone.)

    The Vivoactive is more of a daily activity tracker. If this is for training and you want to stick with Garmin, go with the 920xt or the 910xt if you want to save $$$. In particular, DC Rainmaker notes that the Vivoactive can't track open water swimming, which might matter for you for tris.

    Here's a side-by-side comparison of the 910, 920, Vivoactive (hope it works! If not, you can set it up yourself on the site).
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    I based my decision on the link above (dcrainmaker)

    I have the 920xt for triathlon and I love it. But open water tracking was a big deal to me.
  • ScreeField
    ScreeField Posts: 180 Member
    edited June 2015
    cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »
    dcrainmaker.com for all your GPS/gear review needs. (Spoiler alert: loves the 920xt, like everyone.)

    The Vivoactive is more of a daily activity tracker. If this is for training and you want to stick with Garmin, go with the 920xt or the 910xt if you want to save $$$. In particular, DC Rainmaker notes that the Vivoactive can't track open water swimming, which might matter for you for tris.

    Here's a side-by-side comparison of the 910, 920, Vivoactive (hope it works! If not, you can set it up yourself on the site).

    This! I definitely recommend reading DC Rainmaker's site.

    I own a 920xt. Love it. A couple things it has that I found useful are 1. the metronome, and 2. the map feature (you can see your "trail" and how far you are from your start). It also does activity tracking, but was pretty ugly as a daily watch, so I use something else for daily watch/tracking stuff. One thing I didn't like was the activity tracker was very generous with steps--if you want to track distance of a walk, it's pretty good. However, if you want to track steps just doing regular life stuff, it's not great. (I also have an Epix, Suunto Ambit 2, and a few others. The 920xt is definitely in the top for training activities. I think it does a better job at pool swimming than the Suunto, but the Suunto software allows corrections whereas Garmin Connect does not.)
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    Try this site to compare more choices.

    http://www.heartratemonitors.com/hr-monitors-main.html
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    ScreeField wrote: »
    cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »
    dcrainmaker.com for all your GPS/gear review needs. (Spoiler alert: loves the 920xt, like everyone.)

    The Vivoactive is more of a daily activity tracker. If this is for training and you want to stick with Garmin, go with the 920xt or the 910xt if you want to save $$$. In particular, DC Rainmaker notes that the Vivoactive can't track open water swimming, which might matter for you for tris.

    Here's a side-by-side comparison of the 910, 920, Vivoactive (hope it works! If not, you can set it up yourself on the site).

    This! I definitely recommend reading DC Rainmaker's site.

    I own a 920xt. Love it. A couple things it has that I found useful are 1. the metronome, and 2. the map feature (you can see your "trail" and how far you are from your start). It also does activity tracking, but was pretty ugly as a daily watch. One thing I didn't like was the activity tracker was very generous with steps--if you want to track distance of a walk, it's pretty good. However, if you want to track steps just doing regular life stuff, it's not great.

    I haven't actually tried the metronome.
    It is ugly as a daily watch, I still wear it, lol. I haven't had an issue with the activity monitor. It seems reasonable enough. And I checked it against my father's vivofit and checked the steps (he was calibrating his).
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    edited June 2015
    I've got a polar rcx5 and a garmin 910. Both are good but garmin connect interfaces with everything and polar doesn't (At the moment). Polar takes HR in the water but dosn't lap count which is pretty stupid. If you want to get data into MFP, strava or training peaks Garmin goes straight in whereas polar doesn't. I've heard mixed views when people move from a 910 to a 920 . I haven't myself so I can't give experience but I would seriously look at if the added functionality makes the 920 worth the hundreds of $ more you will pay over a second hand 910. The 920 may be worth it BUT you could get a second hand 910 AND a second hand Edge 800 for the same price as a 920 :-) The edge 800 is great (not much different to Edge 1000), gives turn by turn navigation and great mapping. Fantastic if you pushing your cycling because you can ride new routes without having to worry about getting lost. Good luck
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    edited June 2015
    davert123 wrote: »
    I've got a polar rcx5 and a garmin 910. Both are good but garmin connect interfaces with everything and polar doesn't (At the moment). Polar takes HR in the water but dosn't lap count which is pretty stupid. If you want to get data into MFP, strava or training peaks Garmin goes straight in whereas polar doesn't. I've heard mixed views when people move from a 910 to a 920 . I haven't myself so I can't give experience but I would seriously look at if the added functionality makes the 920 worth the hundreds of $ more you will pay over a second hand 910. The 920 may be worth it BUT you could get a second hand 910 AND a second hand Edge 800 for the same price as a 920 :-) The edge 800 is great (not much different to Edge 1000), gives turn by turn navigation and great mapping. Fantastic if you pushing your cycling because you can ride new routes without having to worry about getting lost. Good luck

    I've have the Polar V800, it takes laps in water, syncs to MFP. It's the triathlon watch with profiles for indoor and open water.

  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    cheshirecatastrophe wrote: »
    dcrainmaker.com for all your GPS/gear review needs.

    This

    But the two are different beasts. Personally I'd say 920XT.
  • davert123
    davert123 Posts: 1,568 Member
    ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »
    davert123 wrote: »
    I've got a polar rcx5 and a garmin 910. Both are good but garmin connect interfaces with everything and polar doesn't (At the moment). Polar takes HR in the water but dosn't lap count which is pretty stupid. If you want to get data into MFP, strava or training peaks Garmin goes straight in whereas polar doesn't. I've heard mixed views when people move from a 910 to a 920 . I haven't myself so I can't give experience but I would seriously look at if the added functionality makes the 920 worth the hundreds of $ more you will pay over a second hand 910. The 920 may be worth it BUT you could get a second hand 910 AND a second hand Edge 800 for the same price as a 920 :-) The edge 800 is great (not much different to Edge 1000), gives turn by turn navigation and great mapping. Fantastic if you pushing your cycling because you can ride new routes without having to worry about getting lost. Good luck

    I've have the Polar V800, it takes laps in water, syncs to MFP. It's the triathlon watch with profiles for indoor and open water.

    I looked at a v800 after I brought the Rcx5 lol. How do you get it to sync, does it come straight off websync. I couldn't get it working. Does the v800 take HR in the water the Rcx5 ?
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    edited June 2015
    davert123 wrote: »
    ScubaSteve1962 wrote: »
    davert123 wrote: »
    I've got a polar rcx5 and a garmin 910. Both are good but garmin connect interfaces with everything and polar doesn't (At the moment). Polar takes HR in the water but dosn't lap count which is pretty stupid. If you want to get data into MFP, strava or training peaks Garmin goes straight in whereas polar doesn't. I've heard mixed views when people move from a 910 to a 920 . I haven't myself so I can't give experience but I would seriously look at if the added functionality makes the 920 worth the hundreds of $ more you will pay over a second hand 910. The 920 may be worth it BUT you could get a second hand 910 AND a second hand Edge 800 for the same price as a 920 :-) The edge 800 is great (not much different to Edge 1000), gives turn by turn navigation and great mapping. Fantastic if you pushing your cycling because you can ride new routes without having to worry about getting lost. Good luck

    I've have the Polar V800, it takes laps in water, syncs to MFP. It's the triathlon watch with profiles for indoor and open water.

    I looked at a v800 after I brought the Rcx5 lol. How do you get it to sync, does it come straight off websync. I couldn't get it working. Does the v800 take HR in the water the Rcx5 ?

    I haven't used it in water for the HR feature (forgot my sensor when I went diving) but it's supposed to with the H7 sensor, I wore it on a 40ft dive. it syncs through Polar flow app, the profiles sync so you don't have to chose the exercise. syncs well with my Ipod, has the ability for smart notifications (iphone) an update is coming to control music also (iphone).

    What has really sold me in the product was Gymlink, I do a lot of cardio, and it's nice to do a cardio workout and have the level/incline adjust without having to hold the handles. There may be other products that do the same thing, but I wasn't able to find any.

  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    You can score a great deal on a 910XT (the inner cheapskate in me speaking.....)
  • rockinrodders123
    rockinrodders123 Posts: 22 Member
    I've got the Garmin fenix 2 and its pretty good, suits my needs and probably going cheap now that the 3 is out. HRM is pretty accurate and also counts calories (approx obviously), VO2 max, recovery etc. Has modes for running, cycling, mountaineering, skiing etc etc etc! Its waterproof but not sure about the chest strap.
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