Fitbit vs. Garmin activity trackers

I have a Garmin Vivofit2 that I'm really happy with. It syncs pretty well though on occasion I will have to try a couple of times. The Garmin Dashboard syncs easily with MFP as well so I haven't really got any complaints there either. I chose my band because it has a user replaceable battery that only needs replacing about once a year and it's waterproof so I can shower with it. If I have to take it off to charge, shower, wash dishes, etc, I won't wear it consistently so that was a consideration for me. I like that I can see the time, date, step count and daily goal right on the band. I can also wear a separately purchased heart rate monitor with it and see that info on the band (though the calorie burn you have to look at on the sight after you sync.) I'm very pleased with it and would make the same choice again.

My daughter has a Fitbit charge (I think it's that one?) and she's happy with hers. She can see her steps on the screen, thinks it's fun that it gives her little motivational comments from time to time and likes the FB interface. She doesn't use MFP so I can't say how well that works but the reputation is that it's pretty stable and people like it. She does have to take it off to charge it but she's good about putting it back on so it doesn't bother her. She does get irritated when it occasionally runs out of juice on her when she's in the middle of work though. I think if she were to do it again she'd probably choose the Garmin. She works shifts where she gets 30,000 plus steps so losing out on the credit for that really ticks her off.

You just need to think about what you want from the band and choose the one that fits your needs best. I think as far as reliability, Garmin and Fitbit are pretty neck and neck. I haven't used FB's interface so I don't know how it compares to Garmin but even with Garmin, I mostly use MFP anyway. Either one will adjust your calories here if you set it up to do so, or you can turn that part off.

Garmin has much better reporting. Fitbit has much better challenges. I think Fitbit sycs slightly better with MFP and I like how it tells you how many calories you have left as you go through your day. Garmin could be better at that. I haven't been able to easily interpret the calorie burn provided and estimate my remaining calories. With Garmin you can focus on much more than steps at the lower models.

also, many garmin products are waterproof.
i love my Vivosmart.

Makes a lot of sense to me, don't know why they don't have a better view - either active calories or calories remaining based on MFP consumption.

I had the Vivofit (entry level model) and just upgraded to the Vivoactive. Wrist HRs are just not accurate enough for me yet and the chest strap doesn't bother me. I'm loving my upgrade, the burns I'm getting now are much lower (and I used a chest strap before too!) so I think it's more accurate and therefore much better in helping me hit my weight loss goals. I also really like the interface and data from my workouts. And the built in GPS is another reason I upgraded, no need to lug my phone with me to get more accurate distance details. I use MFP to track calories and it shares that data pretty reliably.

I don't have experience of the Fitbit but have had friends complain about it to me recently.

earlnabby wrote: »

I had a Fitbit Flex for 2 years and recently replaced it with a Garmin Vivofit2 when the battery started to need charging every day.

My thoughts:

• Any tracker with a wrist HRM will not be very accurate. Not worth the extra money IMHO
• Garmin has an optional chest strap HRM for when you are doing cardio
• Both appear to be reasonably accurate with their calories burned estimations
• Both are comfortable to wear
• Vivofit is a bit bigger and clunkier
• Vivofit runs on a watch battery. No charging needed
• No Fitbit models are water resistant (the older Flex's were). I spend a lot of time in the pool. Garmin is water resistant to 50 meters
• Both websites give the info you need, but I find Fitbit to be a bit more user friendly
• Fitbit syncs with MFP better than Garmin, but both are decent
• I like the info on the Vivofit2 unit itself. Steps, miles, calories burned, time, and date. You can also set it like a stopwatch. Flex only showed a little light for each 20% of step goal completed
• Flex vibrates when you reach your step goal. Garmin beeps which I rarely hear.
• Fitbit will sync with any smartphone. Garmin will with any IOS but only some Android. It does not work with my Nokia

I have been happy with both, for different reasons.

When I first asked about the Windows OS, Garmin said they had no plans to support it. However, I just saw that they have a release for Windows 10, so maybe in the future.

earlnabby wrote: »

20yearsyounger wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

I had a Fitbit Flex for 2 years and recently replaced it with a Garmin Vivofit2 when the battery started to need charging every day.

My thoughts:

• Any tracker with a wrist HRM will not be very accurate. Not worth the extra money IMHO
• Garmin has an optional chest strap HRM for when you are doing cardio
• Both appear to be reasonably accurate with their calories burned estimations
• Both are comfortable to wear
• Vivofit is a bit bigger and clunkier
• Vivofit runs on a watch battery. No charging needed
• No Fitbit models are water resistant (the older Flex's were). I spend a lot of time in the pool. Garmin is water resistant to 50 meters
• Both websites give the info you need, but I find Fitbit to be a bit more user friendly
• Fitbit syncs with MFP better than Garmin, but both are decent
• I like the info on the Vivofit2 unit itself. Steps, miles, calories burned, time, and date. You can also set it like a stopwatch. Flex only showed a little light for each 20% of step goal completed
• Flex vibrates when you reach your step goal. Garmin beeps which I rarely hear.
• Fitbit will sync with any smartphone. Garmin will with any IOS but only some Android. It does not work with my Nokia

I have been happy with both, for different reasons.

When I first asked about the Windows OS, Garmin said they had no plans to support it. However, I just saw that they have a release for Windows 10, so maybe in the future.

It works with many android phones (Samsug Galaxy, LG, Motorola), just not Nokia

I know, what I am saying is that they just now released it for Windows 10 so it works with Nokia windows 10 phones.

diafox0 wrote: »

moyer566 wrote: »

also, many garmin products are waterproof.
i love my Vivosmart.

I got a Vivosmart! Is there any way to display only active calories not all of them?

you can choose what you'd like to display. options are under device>settings

ok I am having issues with my calories that my VIVOSMART HR reads and then inputting to the exercise log. I have looked under settings and can't figure it out

DEPMOM wrote: »

ok I am having issues with my calories that my VIVOSMART HR reads and then inputting to the exercise log. I have looked under settings and can't figure it out

What's the problem?

earlnabby wrote: »

20yearsyounger wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

20yearsyounger wrote: »

earlnabby wrote: »

I had a Fitbit Flex for 2 years and recently replaced it with a Garmin Vivofit2 when the battery started to need charging every day.

My thoughts:

• Any tracker with a wrist HRM will not be very accurate. Not worth the extra money IMHO
• Garmin has an optional chest strap HRM for when you are doing cardio
• Both appear to be reasonably accurate with their calories burned estimations
• Both are comfortable to wear
• Vivofit is a bit bigger and clunkier
• Vivofit runs on a watch battery. No charging needed
• No Fitbit models are water resistant (the older Flex's were). I spend a lot of time in the pool. Garmin is water resistant to 50 meters
• Both websites give the info you need, but I find Fitbit to be a bit more user friendly
• Fitbit syncs with MFP better than Garmin, but both are decent
• I like the info on the Vivofit2 unit itself. Steps, miles, calories burned, time, and date. You can also set it like a stopwatch. Flex only showed a little light for each 20% of step goal completed
• Flex vibrates when you reach your step goal. Garmin beeps which I rarely hear.
• Fitbit will sync with any smartphone. Garmin will with any IOS but only some Android. It does not work with my Nokia

I have been happy with both, for different reasons.

When I first asked about the Windows OS, Garmin said they had no plans to support it. However, I just saw that they have a release for Windows 10, so maybe in the future.

It works with many android phones (Samsug Galaxy, LG, Motorola), just not Nokia

I know, what I am saying is that they just now released it for Windows 10 so it works with Nokia windows 10 phones.

No it doesn't. That is the phone I have and it does not work with it. I contacted Garmin and they said that no Nokia phones work with their app.

Then they dont know what they are talking about. I just updated my Nokia phone to Windows 10 from Windows 8, installed Garmin Connect and synched.