What fitness tracker/watch do you use?

Deathberryhime
Deathberryhime Posts: 1 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I currently have a Fitbit Alta, and while I love it, I have realized I don't know anything about the other fit gear out there!
The Alta is slim, and light, and comfortable on my skin. I find the steps tracker accurate, and the reminders to "get up and move" surprisingly helpful!
But even so, I'd like to upgrade to something with a few more features!

What do you use?
What are it's features?
How do you like it?

Replies

  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    Only Garmin are useful for people like me who swim a lot.
    I finally Gave in and bought a Fenix 5X.
    This watch also has useful features for hikers. Topographical maps built in, and greets you back to your starting point if you should Wander off the trail.
    Butt like all "step trackers" it tracks wrist movement. So if you're day job involves a lot of worst movement, your step count will be easy off.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,596 Member
    Strava.

    And occasionally a pedometer.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,596 Member
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    Butt like all "step trackers" it tracks wrist movement. So if you're day job involves a lot of worst movement, your step count will be easy off.

    Yeah, I've heard that knitters can log a whole lot of steps when they get going on a pair of socks or a scarf. :)

  • aliyusaf
    aliyusaf Posts: 20 Member
    Fenix 3. I looked into buying the Fenix 5 but couldn't justify the cost as I already owned the 3.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    fitbit charge 2, love it
  • dkewatson
    dkewatson Posts: 1,415 Member
    Fenix 3HR
  • andymillne
    andymillne Posts: 4 Member
    Fenix 5
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    For me,

    I use

    Garmin Vivoactive(gen 1) with a Wahoo TICKR basic chest strap.

    https://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Vivoactive-Black-Certified-Refurbished/dp/B014MO61ES/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1510575158&sr=8-7&keywords=Vivoactive

    https://www.amazon.com/Wahoo-TICKR-Monitor-iPhone-Android/dp/B00INQVYZ8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510575219&sr=8-1&keywords=wahoo+HRM


    Step tracking
    GPS
    Garmin Connect
    HR Tracking(BLE and ANT+)
    Fancy watch face options.
    Long Battery life

    I recommend it to friends, and Absolutely love it.

    Budget permitting, I'll be moving to one of the premium Garmin trackers eventually
  • tlpina82
    tlpina82 Posts: 229 Member
    I have a Fenix 5x (Garmin) and it's cool, but I would not buy it today. It's very expensive and the wrist HR is very inaccurate in HIIT and other impact training.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    I love my Tom Tom Spark 3 with Cardio and Music...it's GPS Enabled, Bluetooth headset compatible, and holds music independently. If it would unlock my doors, it would be the only thing I had to carry on a run. I specifically like it for trail running, with the tracking and GPS ability.
  • lilithsrose
    lilithsrose Posts: 752 Member
    edited November 2017
    I use the Fitbit Flex 2.

    I like that it is fairly small, waterproof and has a decent battery life. It was also fairly cheap. Its not super fancy, but it does what I want it to do, which is track my steps and remind me to get up and movie.
  • Bry_Fitness70
    Bry_Fitness70 Posts: 2,480 Member
    I have a Garmin Fenix 3 HR and love it. It has a continuous HRM and calculates calories burned 24 hours per day and calculates performance metrics, counts steps and stairs ascended, has GPS, tracks sleep, has an altimeter, barometer, and temp sensor, is waterproof to 100m so you can track swims, integrates with your phone through Bluetooth, and a lot of other functions. It has a long battery life and the associated phone app is easy to use. It also has customizable watch faces and you can change watch bands so it can coordinate with pretty much anything you wear (at work, social events, etc.)
  • spiriteagle99
    spiriteagle99 Posts: 3,740 Member
    I have been using a Garmin Forerunner 15 and plan to upgrade to a 35 so I can have longer battery life. It does steps, HR, GPS and various running functions.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    tlpina82 wrote: »
    ... and the wrist HR is very inaccurate in HIIT and other impact training.

    Shock, horror. Device being used for something it's not designed for, doesn't do thing it's not designed for...
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Deathberryhime wrote: »

    What do you use?
    What are it's features?
    How do you like it?

    Forerunner 735XT and a Garmin HRM Tri or HRM Swim. And for cycling an Edge 520.

    The 735XT gives me all the routine activity tracking, GPS for running and open water swimming, pool swimming and cycling.

    My main issue is that the 12 hour GPS life is a little short for middle distance ultra running so I need to charge it on the fly.
  • tess5036
    tess5036 Posts: 942 Member
    Alta for everyday day use, then a flex 2 for swimming.
  • xrunlukerunx
    xrunlukerunx Posts: 37 Member
    Suunto Ambit 2R. Use for all my running, GPS is accurate, I can charge it on the go on my long long runs, hooks up with Strava/Movescount, can upload routes to it and see where I am at any given moment & gives me the altitude
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    Only Garmin are useful for people like me who swim a lot.
    I finally Gave in and bought a Fenix 5X.
    This watch also has useful features for hikers. Topographical maps built in, and greets you back to your starting point if you should Wander off the trail.
    Butt like all "step trackers" it tracks wrist movement. So if you're day job involves a lot of worst movement, your step count will be easy off.

    Garmin is good for people like me who run a lot as well. Not just swimming.

    As for step trackers... that's why they invented ones that sit on your hip. But then I wear my garmin 235, my fitbit one & my fitbit flex. Guess what one on my non-dominant hand tracks better?
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    spiriteagle99 wrote: »
    I have been using a Garmin Forerunner 15 and plan to upgrade to a 35 so I can have longer battery life. It does steps, HR, GPS and various running functions.

    Go right fr something like the 735XT. The 35 does not have great battery life, Or go for the 235....
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    tlpina82 wrote: »
    I have a Fenix 5x (Garmin) and it's cool, but I would not buy it today. It's very expensive and the wrist HR is very inaccurate in HIIT and other impact training.

    The accessory cuffed strap HR transmitter is said to be more actuate for that. Manny HRM's have trouble with HIIT or other exercises that intermittently spike the heart rate.
    I love mine. But i mostly swim. And for that it is accurate.
    When i get home from this China trip ill check out the hiking function.
  • fishgutzy
    fishgutzy Posts: 2,807 Member
    pinkraynedropjacki wrote: »
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    Only Garmin are useful for people like me who swim a lot.
    I finally Gave in and bought a Fenix 5X.
    This watch also has useful features for hikers. Topographical maps built in, and greets you back to your starting point if you should Wander off the trail.
    Butt like all "step trackers" it tracks wrist movement. So if you're day job involves a lot of worst movement, your step count will be easy off.

    Garmin is good for people like me who run a lot as well. Not just swimming.

    As for step trackers... that's why they invented ones that sit on your hip. But then I wear my garmin 235, my fitbit one & my fitbit flex. Guess what one on my non-dominant hand tracks better?

    I was aware of that. I can't run due to arthritis in my feet.
    The GPS function makes tracking outdoor activity more accurate.
    I've mapped my learn mowing. Looks pretty funny.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Garmin 935 here.

    Daily activity tracker (steps, heart rate, calories, stairs climbed, stress, sleep hours/quality, etc.), has GPS, tracks many different types of workouts (walking, hiking, running, cycling, swimming, paddleboarding, strength training, triathlons, etc.). Keeps tabs on your training status, VO2max, FTP (if you're using a power meter on your bike), lactate threshold, personal records, race time predictor, and a few other performance metrics. Waterproof to 50M and battery life up to two weeks (depending on how much you're using the GPS). Also has some smartwatch features (ability to view texts, phone calls, app notifications, calendar, etc. from the phone you have it paired to). It also has WiFi autosync capability.

    The optical heart rate works very well for daily 24/7 HR tracking, but sometimes gets wonky during bike rides, occasionally gets weird during runs and is all over the place and basically useless for strength training (but in fairness, all fitness trackers are basically useless for strength training). I usually pair a Scosche Rhythm+ HR strap with it for running or cycling. It can also use the accelerometer to track reps/sets during strength training, but I've never even tried it because I don't want to bother with sitting there fiddling with my watch in between sets. I log my strength workouts with a pen and paper.

    I started out with a Fitbit Ultra, then two years with an Apple Watch before switching to the 935 two months ago. The Garmin is by far the best fitness/activity tracker I've used. Their app/website (Garmin Connect) is also far more useful than either Apple or Fitbit (at least in my opinion).
  • jennydelgado09
    jennydelgado09 Posts: 119 Member
    Samsung gear fit 2

    I love it. The step tracker is so much better than my garmin. I like the way it looks and all the neat things it has. I'm not sure how i feel about the calorie burn though. I feel like it's either overestimating or under estimating. But oh well, it's gives me a General idea.
  • shanehackney
    shanehackney Posts: 22 Member
    Apple Watch Series 2 for me. I was in the Garmin family prior to making the switch a few months ago. I am really happy with it. I do miss the Garmin website, however I get everything and more with the Apple Watch.
  • maryannprt
    maryannprt Posts: 152 Member
    edited November 2017
    Machka9 wrote: »
    fishgutzy wrote: »
    Butt like all "step trackers" it tracks wrist movement. So if you're day job involves a lot of worst movement, your step count will be easy off.

    Yeah, I've heard that knitters can log a whole lot of steps when they get going on a pair of socks or a scarf. :)

    I knit, I have a fitbit, (an Alta HR) and I haven't had that problem. It does count steps if I'm not really careful just sitting on my exercise ball, though. Even a little bounce will count as a step.
    Mine was a gift, so I didn't even look at other trackers and don't really have anything to contribute to the original question.
  • HermanLily
    HermanLily Posts: 217 Member
    Atlas Wearables and Atlas Shape
  • msdemmie
    msdemmie Posts: 14 Member
    Apple Watch Series 2 for me, just fine for a novice.
  • jamespatten3576
    jamespatten3576 Posts: 71 Member
    Samsung Gear fit 2, started with a fitbit Charge, but it fell apart so fast. Fitbit replaced it 5 or 6 times in less then a year. It just wasn't worth the hassle. The gear fit has held up really well and has a few more bells and whistles.
  • scrapjen
    scrapjen Posts: 387 Member
    The Alta is a good little device. I just upgraded from the Charge to the Charge 2, which is just a tiny step up from the Alta. The Blaze and Surge have GPS too, but as I'm an indoor exerciser, that wouldn't really be anything I'd pay extra for, plus I like the smaller size.

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