Fitness trackers / smart watch that actually work?
dave_in_ni
Posts: 533 Member
OK I know these things aren't gonna be 100% reliable but I find them great for motivating me.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
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Replies
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What are you trying to track?0
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Fitbit is the best one out there and is most accurate and advanced. I'm using fitbit surge for over 2 years already. Heart rate detection is very nice. I'm assuming newer ones are even better.3
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dave_in_ni wrote: »OK I know these things aren't gonna be 100% reliable but I find them great for motivating me.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
Fitbit has GPS?? How/where do I find this I've had mine a year and never knew0 -
dave_in_ni wrote: »OK I know these things aren't gonna be 100% reliable but I find them great for motivating me.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
Fitbit has GPS?? How/where do I find this I've had mine a year and never knew
Connected GPS, it uses the phone's GPS, go into run cycle or walk it connects to the phone to map your route.0 -
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dave_in_ni wrote: »dave_in_ni wrote: »OK I know these things aren't gonna be 100% reliable but I find them great for motivating me.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
Fitbit has GPS?? How/where do I find this I've had mine a year and never knew
Connected GPS, it uses the phone's GPS, go into run cycle or walk it connects to the phone to map your route.
Yeah...no still no idea how to do it -_- ah well0 -
I have the Fitbit Blaze HR, I have tried many and find this to be the best. The screen is a decent size too.. You can sync it with MFP and not worry about it
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dave_in_ni wrote: »
Some of that I track with Strava.0 -
The newest models from Fitbit seem to be plagued with issues. Not sure if they are going to sort them out or not. They have been very slow to fix issues with the Ionic (some issues took them a year to fix and others still haven’t been addressed).
I have tried a bunch of different devices over the years.
You might want to consider:
Garmin
Samsung Gear*
Apple Watch
Styr**
*I had a Samsung Gear S2 at one point. The only issue I had with it was that it severely underestimated calories burned (my weekly reports always said I was in a surplus despite losing 1lb per week).
** I got one of these with my Bulu Box. It’s a very basic tracker, but also affordable. It doesn’t track sleep or HR, but it’s under $50.0 -
Fitbit is the best one out there and is most accurate and advanced. I'm using fitbit surge for over 2 years already. Heart rate detection is very nice. I'm assuming newer ones are even better.
The newer ones have a lot of issues. My Ionic had an issue with reporting distance travelled for 11 months (firmware update last month fixed it). The smart watch apps don’t like to work and require I reset it constantly. It recently stopped syncing and it took 3 factory resets to get it to work again. It even got stuck during one of the factory resets. I switched from the Blaze which I had happily used for 2 years (before that I had the Surge) and it has been a huge disappointment.0 -
I have had really good luck with my Garmin Fenix. More of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch in my opinion, but after a smart watch I really do not want to be that connected all the time to the world! Pretty good at tracking bike rides (even off trail), long walks, steps and stairs thru out the day etc. Just like most it comes preset with activities and then you can load and track custom work outs, lap splits, heart zones. Learning to use some of it, but most a lot of it is too much if you are jut casual on it all. Great battery life too vs my Samsung Gear 2 I had. Goes all week easily. Interesting info, but I am not training for the Olympics just old age in the next 25 or 30 years. Ha0
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Just upgraded to a Garmin from my Fitbit Ionic. Ionic was constantly losing GPS during my runs. Haven't had a single issue with my Garmin and it does everything my Ionic does except store music (I don't use that feature anyway).2
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Have Fitbit charge 3.. it works for my need.. sleep, steps and hr0
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I use the Samsung Gear Sport, works great, I kept my Fitbit Blaze, I keep it in my watch pocket. I find the numbers vary greatly. Samsung tracks any active minutes whereas Fitbit only measures when your active after 10 mins or more. Fitbit will count more steps and floors......way more floors(3 to 1). Samsung is more accurate and I rely on its information more than Fitbit.1
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dave_in_ni wrote: »
I like my Garmin Vivoactive 3. It theoretically tracks all these things**. The GPS tracking seems pretty accurate outdoors, based on comparing distances to a map, and to previous devices estimates on my river. I needn't have my phone with me in order for it to track. (This model doesn't do turn by turn routing; I don't much get lost on my river.
).
Heart rate measurements are consistent with Polar chest-belt readings I used previously, and with occasional spot-checks at doctor's offices. (I still use a chest belt for rowing, because wrist-based HR monitoring works poorly in that context. It connects to the watch via Ant+.) Active minutes seem reasonably accurate (it calculates active goal minutes as (1 x moderate minutes) + (2 x vigorous minutes), BTW.)
** None of these are perfect for calorie estimating; they don't have a way to measure burn, they can only estimate it. They seem to be close in practice for a lot of people, but further off for some (I'm one) . . . but that's the nature of statistical estimates.
From what I've read, they're all pretty bad at sleep tracking. I've found mine to be . . . imaginative, when it comes to sleep tracking. It regularly thinks I'm asleep when I'm lying in bed reading, for example.
Have you looked at https://www.dcrainmaker.com/ ?1 -
@AnnPT77 had some great advice. I am very much Team Garmin. I have a Forerunner 235 that I happen to wear all the time because I love the data it tracks, but it is specifically a running watch. My husband has the Vivoactive and it tracks a lot more activities than mine (like flights of stairs, various activity modes, etc) and is very happy with it as well.
I used the DC Rainmaker reviews when I bought my 235 and it was super helpful!1 -
Fitbit is the best one out there and is most accurate and advanced. I'm using fitbit surge for over 2 years already. Heart rate detection is very nice. I'm assuming newer ones are even better.
Fitbit is the most advanced? Garmin watches have maps and turn by turn navigation. They can do rear view radar for cyclists, and send messages from anywhere on Earth without wifi or lte, if you pair then with the right devices.5 -
Fitbit is the best one out there and is most accurate and advanced. I'm using fitbit surge for over 2 years already. Heart rate detection is very nice. I'm assuming newer ones are even better.
From all of the reviews of read, that is far from the truth. See NorthCascades' post, or for a number of unbiased reviews (as unbiased as any of us can be) read DCRainmaker or watch Des Fit's reviews.2 -
I just ordered the Fitbit Charge 3 Friday. I've been looking at that or the Versa for the last month. I wish I had seen a thread like this before my purchase. I never even thought of Garmin. Anyway, I went with the Charge 3 because I couldn't justify the extra $ for music storage and it came recommended from a few people I know IRL. I want to use it mainly to get information on my heart rate, running and calorie burn information.0
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I bought a Garmin Fenix 5X and I have been completely satisfied with the way it performs.1
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i prefer garmin. waterproof. mostly accurate gps and calories and heart rate.
some have the ability to stream music.
they have basic to luxury.
you can try others too. apple, samsung, suunto
you can look at dc rainmakers reviews. i find them in depth and very easy to understand0 -
ditto on dcrainmaker. I don't know how much detail he does on the step-tracker devices/feature though - but definitely great detailed reviews for running, cycling, swimming watches.0
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I have had an Apple Watch for just over a week now, and it is phenomenal. I use it for my morning fasted cardio and it will detect my walks to/from the train station for work. It's pretty accurate from what I know from wearing a polar chest strap HR monitor.
MFP works nicely on the screen too. For me, personally, it's the best because it seamlessly integrates with my iPhone!1 -
ditto on dcrainmaker. I don't know how much detail he does on the step-tracker devices/feature though - but definitely great detailed reviews for running, cycling, swimming watches.
Sometimes he'll mention it but I'm pretty sure it's typically in the context of, "the companies are all estimating steps with varying levels of accuracy". That said, DCR is one of the few websites where taking time to read the comments is really helpful.0 -
garystrickland357 wrote: »I bought a Garmin Fenix 5X and I have been completely satisfied with the way it performs.
I'd love a 5X, but can't justify the price for my use. I have a Fenix 3HR that does all I need, just missing some specific stats and the turn by turn stuff, but was less than half the price of the 5X.
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I've given Fitbit some props on the boards here, but after the last firmware update I'm tempted to search every one out and update my thoughts in that thread.
if *IF* fitbit fixes the connectivity and app issues, the Versa will be a decent tracker. To date though, I can't find a single place fitbit is even acknowledging the problems even though their forums are blowing up with the same issues across all product lines. They're sending out lots of new watches through their RMA system though, and users are reporting that the new watches still suffer the same problems.
I even posted a photo of my fitbit laying on the concrete next to my hammer this morning (It's still a maybe at this point) but I just wanted to say, do not get a Fitbit at this time.
I can't speak to Garmin other than to say the majority of users I know/have chatted with that have them seem pretty content with their purchases. That will be my next one if I even continue to use a tracker.2 -
Fitbit are NOT the best, that are affordable and decent, and that's nothing to sniff at but "best" is just not true and in any case subjective.
OP there are many that work fine. If your Fitbits didn't work properly, did you ask to return or exchange? A faulty device doesn't mean that fitness tracker as a whole goes out the window.
Happy Apple Watch user here, FWIW.3 -
Tacklewasher wrote: »garystrickland357 wrote: »I bought a Garmin Fenix 5X and I have been completely satisfied with the way it performs.
I'd love a 5X, but can't justify the price for my use. I have a Fenix 3HR that does all I need, just missing some specific stats and the turn by turn stuff, but was less than half the price of the 5X.
Yeah, it is steep. I got it because I needed a cycling computer also. The watch was cheaper for me than a wrist tracker and a cycling computer bought separately. Edit: with the features I wanted...0 -
MelanieCN77 wrote: »Fitbit are NOT the best, that are affordable and decent, and that's nothing to sniff at but "best" is just not true and in any case subjective.
OP there are many that work fine. If your Fitbits didn't work properly, did you ask to return or exchange? A faulty device doesn't mean that fitness tracker as a whole goes out the window.
Happy Apple Watch user here, FWIW.
I loved my Apple watch. It's too bad they won't open the door to use on Android though.1 -
dave_in_ni wrote: »OK I know these things aren't gonna be 100% reliable but I find them great for motivating me.
I had a Charge 2, It was OK but I found the GPS to be hit and miss, I then upgraded to a Versa, GPS wouldn't work at all, just constantly connecting, seems to be an ongoing issue with the Versa as there is a large thread about it on the fitbit forums. Then we have notification issues and all the rest I looked at the Charge 3, it seems to be plagued with problems also, seems fitbit has gone to *kitten*.
I bought an Huawei watch GT, Its another disaster, undercounts everything, step count from app and watch totally different, doesn't link with any other services.
As I say I know these things arent gonna be 100% accurate but I just want one that actually works correctly. Am I asking to much? I don't really want to but I think I might have to go Apple as I know they do things right.
Recommendation will depend on what you use it for and what features you want.
Running watches will usually have their own (very good) GPS. Step trackers and smartwatches may or may not have their own or use your phone's GPS (which may or may not suck). (I have no idea if the Versa or Charge have an onboard GPS or not.). Also related to whether you need the phone in tow: as mentioned previously, a few devices allow music storage.
Which sites are you trying to link to? Garmin is pretty ubiquitious in the running, cycling world - so pretty much every training web site can be set to auto-pull your data from the Garmin servers. (Moot point if you are only linking it to MFP).
Are you looking more for a smartwatch with training features, smartwatch with step tracking, step tracker with smartwatch features, training watch with smartwatch features,..? I think the Versa/Charge would ~fall in the 3rd category, Apple ~in the 2nd, and most Garmin offerings would be ~the 4th.
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