Wearable fitness tracker???

I recently bought a Withings Activite. I originally got a Garmin Vivomove but it wouldn't connect to my smartphone. I didn't want that fitness tracker look to my fitness tracker and these two look like analog watches. The app is nice and you can connect it with mfp to view your calories on the apps dashboard. It doesn't subtract calories from your daily activity on mfp (not that I wanted that feature and would have disabled it if it did).

I have a Fitbit Charge HR and a new Flex 2. Love the charge HR, got the Flex 2 because it's the only Fitbit that is waterproof and will provide swim metrics. I really want a Fitbit with all the features of the Charge HR or the Charge 2, but with the swim features of the Flex.

I have a Misfit Shine and I love it. For me, the big thing was I didn't want to have to charge it. This uses a 2032 battery that lasts for a good 3 months or longer before I have to change it out. Been very very happy with mine and it was half the cost of a fitbit. It says it's waterproof but I never wear mine in the shower. I really don't care about tracking anything during my shower. I can wear it like a watch or I can wear it attached to a belt loop. Both ways work well (belt loop only for grocery shopping). Thus far, it seems to be very accurate with calories burned for exercise when I compare to a treadmill I'm within 50-100 calories or less. Since I only eat back half of my cardio calories this works fine for me. Syncs well with my iphone.

I'm one month into using my Polar M400 and I used to have a Polar FT4. I think it's really good value for money for a watch that combines GPS, step tracking, sleep monitoring and links to the Polar chest strap and online tracking options. It syncs easily with the MFP app on my phone too (so it can update my calorie allowance for the day) and you can charge it by mini USB once every few weeks if you don't use the GPS. With GPS on, I think it lasts about 8 hours. It has an alarm also.

The M400 tracks steps, estimates distance walked and calories burned per day and gives you an activity target you're expected to work towards each week depending on your self-reported activity level. It doesn't track calories through heart rate at the wrist but I wear the chest heart strap when I'm doing cardio to get a reading of calories burned per workout. People say the chest straps are the most accurate for calorie burn calculations and it's really not that uncomfy, even with a sports bra.

The best thing about it is the mobile phone Flow app and website which it connects to. I can see what times in the day I was sleeping, sitting, walking or running. Each day comes with a readout of calories burned, steps, distance covered, hours slept (including % restful sleep). I can compare these stats on a daily, weekly or monthly basis and the readout gives an average of the stats by week or month. The workout information is pretty helpful too- total calorie burn, average heart rate, time spent in each of the five heart rate zones and a graphic of the heart rate from workout start to end so I can see where I was really going for it and where I was slacking (you can track this to a GPS map if you're running so you can see which stretch was challenging etc). You can select from about a hundred sports 'profiles' which include things like treadmill running, cross trainer, indoor bike, field hockey, yoga.

I've got the white one. It's very obviously a sports watch because of the size but it's a stylish one as far as they go, with different options for the watchface readings.

I'm waiting for my Apple Watch. It's finally waterproof. I just use my phone for step tracking, so I'll probably switch to the watch. I just hope I get in the habit of wearing it.

The average amount of time people use a tracker is six months,I've read.

gojaqs wrote: »

I'm waiting for my Apple Watch. It's finally waterproof. I just use my phone for step tracking, so I'll probably switch to the watch.

I use my phone too, but if you walk off and leave it at your desk, it doesn't track anything! My problem is I don't like the look of many of the devices. I may end up with a model I can clip on (my pajamas!) or carry in my pocket.

Xiaomi Band for me, too bad MFP doesn't work with it. It's cheap, works well and the battery lasts for months without a charge.

Anyone using a UA Band?

I have a Moov, and I really liked it, but it started disconnecting during runs a lot, plus it does not sync with MFP directly. I got a full Endomondo subscription, and I like all of the stats and auto syncing with MFP. Thinking the UA Band and UA Record may be a better option.

tress29 wrote: »

U2R2 wrote: »

For anyone attempting to transition from a sedentary lifestyle, a tracker can be helpful just by bringing "move more" thoughts to the forefront.
ENJOY

THIS!!

or if you are semi active like I was it's a good motivator when you are "tired" or "it's cold" etc...

I have a Garmin Vivosmart HR and am extremely frustrated by it. The unit is nice but it has software issues that mean some of it's advertised functions don't work. Worst is if you turn on an activity (say walking) it tracks calories for that activity and calories for your steps. So you end up double counting the calories. It's been over a year and several firmware updates and the problem is still there.
See https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?556-vivosmart-HR-HR for more discussion
I'm looking for a replacement but need HR, waterproof and may want GPS. I plan to snowshoe this winter and would like to not to have to carry my phone.

grmckenzie wrote: »

I have a Garmin Vivosmart HR and am extremely frustrated by it. The unit is nice but it has software issues that mean some of it's advertised functions don't work. Worst is if you turn on an activity (say walking) it tracks calories for that activity and calories for your steps. So you end up double counting the calories. It's been over a year and several firmware updates and the problem is still there.
See https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?556-vivosmart-HR-HR for more discussion
I'm looking for a replacement but need HR, waterproof and may want GPS. I plan to snowshoe this winter and would like to not to have to carry my phone.

Garmin does not give you calories for the calculated steps you get for the exercise. It gives you a step count yes, but the calories are not added (or doubled).. You can work with your activity level in Garmin.

Garmin does have a convoluted method of calculating BMR and total calories burned, but it does not double count steps and double your calories.

If you have an Android, Google Fit is free. It will track you automatically without being in, with your permission. Just make it your step source under Steps to track service calories.

I have a Charge HR (got for my bday in Feb) and have had zero issues with it. No bad data issues, no band issues. My Charge has been as close to 100% as its probably possible for a wearable to get lol. Lost 40+ lbs since I got it and maintained my current weight for the last 6 wks with it.

Just ordered the Charge 2 and hope it's as accurate and reliable as my Charge has been.