Best Fitness BandS

I got my Garmin Vivofit 2 + HRM a few weeks ago. The step count was off a little at first, however, after calibrating the steps in settings on Garmin connect, it is pretty much spot on with my step count and miles traveled throughout the day. Also, the chest strap was a little bit tough getting used to coming from my Polar HRM chest strap. However, after a few days using it for running and a few other activities I don't even know that it is on while I'm working out anymore.

I've read good and bad reviews for the Garmin connect App. After using the App for myself I feel that the Garmin connect app is ok for my needs since I only mainly use it to look at Steps taken, miles, Activities. I do look at the sleep time as well which I like better than Fitbit because it actually does record my sleep pattern every night. I don't need to know the exact times that I am restless or get up during the night. My Fitbit would only record my sleep half of the time and if I got up for more than 10 minutes, it didn't record the first 2 hours of sleep and started my counting from the time I went back to bed. My Vivofit 2 will stay in sleep mode longer unless I press the button on the side first telling it that I'm up and ready to start my day.

I don't count calories so that aspect of my device doesn't matter as much for my needs. However, for the first few days I did sync it with the MFP App and did a calorie count with it as a test. While synced with MFP the calorie intake was correct as was the number of calories burned doing other activities with it while wearing the HRM. As far as calories burned while going about my daily steps throughout the day, it doesn't seem too far off, but who knows. As I said, I don't normally count calories and was only using this feature as a test.

I love the fact that the battery lasts for a full year and that you can change out the bands for a different color if you want. In fact, this is the only time I ever remove the Vivofit 2 from my wrist since getting it, lol. Also, the Vivofit 2 is truly as waterproof as they say because I have gone swimming with it a few times now and shower with it as well and it still works great. These were 2 of the biggest reasons why I chose to get the Vivofit 2 over another Fitbit.

You can get the Vivofit 2 without the HRM anywhere from $79 to $99. If you want the HRM it will run about $130.

Overall, I really like my Vivofit 2 much better than the Fitbit's that I used before (Flex, Charge, Charge HR) and have decided to keep it.

Following this with interest. I'm in need of a new heart rate monitor since the death of my Polar FT4. Was thinking of a fitbit charge Hr as I wouldn't need to wear a chest strap.

Check out the Garmin Vivosmart.

How are you planning to use it? What are you looking to track? What apps do you use?

With the vivosmart and the vivofit you need a chest strap. Is that right?

Not sure how accurate, but Microsoft band optical heart rate is on bottom of wrist strap so it's where the veins are exposed... As opposed to samsung gear fit where optical heart rate is usually on a bone and has to be moved....

I prefer polar, I only want my heart rate when I'm working out. water proof (a300 and V800 will read your heart rate in water to 100ft) , step counter, links to most cardio equipment to control level/incline during work out.