Garmin watch for tracking?

I have had one for about three years. The viviomove 3S. Love it. Tracks my activities well and studies indicate they are one if the better options for calories burned, etc. That version I do not think would hold up well as a heavy equipment mechanic but they have others I think would.

I've been using Garmin Forerunner / Fenix watches for years and connecting with MFP through Garmin connect.

My current watch is an older Fenix 5X and I find that the calories running are pretty much spot on (compared to using 63 cal per 100 lbs of bodyweight per mile run) when I use the chest strap. On my bike I use a power meter so I'm pretty confident in those numbers (I did find that they dropped when I started using a power meter but it's hard to argue with watts).

It tends to overestimate walks (I don't use my chest strap for those) and I don't really have a basis for checking swimming calories.

It's pretty good at guessing what you're doing with weights (confuses shoulder presses with bench presses and misses leg day - but you can edit the exercises in Garmin Connect).

Another Garmin forerunner/Fenix user here. Both devices have been rock solid for me. I wore my old 920xt for six years before upgrading to a Fenix 6 pictured below. I am a heavy data user for multi sport activities. My device tracks swims, bike rides and runs very well and integrates with other platforms such as MyFitnessPal and Training Peaks. The data captured by the device is automatically synced to other platforms from Garmin Connect.
As far as durability, I’ve worn both devices daily and they are submerged in both fresh and salt water regularly when I swim. No issues. As you can see, the Fenix 6 has a stainless steel housing, so I’m not worried about any bumps causing it to break.
These aren’t inexpensive devices, but the quality has been great for me. Hope that helps.

I have a Forerunner 745 multisport watch. I upgraded from my 345 last year simply because I wanted a new look. My old watch lasted for 5 years and I gave it to a friend who still uses it today.

I have had a 735xt for the past 7 years. good for running, pool & open swimming & some cycling (though I have a edge530 for that now). I don't wear it sleeping, but it still does a good job for counting calories burnt during the day. Cracked the screen a year ago in the gym, and garmin replaced it for $au 120 ($77 usd) with new-old-stock, which I was happy with. Syncs with Strava and MFP fine, some of the garmin connect reports improve on the free MFP ones.

Love my forerunner 45 and I also have the vivofit 4. Vivofit 4 is hard to see so I use it now for kayaking just as a watch. Forerunner 45 was inexpensive and for running and walks it is awesome.

Farnorthfarmer wrote: »

Hi everyone,

I have been considering getting a Garmin watch to replace my fitbit bit but I have a couple questions.

If you have a garmin watch, how has it been for tracking your running and other fitness activities?

Have you had issues connecting it to my fitness pal?

How has your watch held up? I am a heavy equipment mechanic and I am concerned about it holding up with oils, brakeclean etc.

I used to have a FitBit. Loved it, but too expensive.

I now have a fit watch Chinese knock-off for $24 bucks--and it has been great. It takes a beating, keeps a good battery life, and has an app. The only real drawback is the lack of a 'date' feature.

Bought on Amazon.

I don't know how useful this info is. I only use it to count steps--not running. It does a decent job on steps. It has a run feature but I don't use it.

T

Djproulx wrote: »

Another Garmin forerunner/Fenix user here. Both devices have been rock solid for me. I wore my old 920xt for six years before upgrading to a Fenix 6 pictured below. I am a heavy data user for multi sport activities. My device tracks swims, bike rides and runs very well and integrates with other platforms such as MyFitnessPal and Training Peaks. The data captured by the device is automatically synced to other platforms from Garmin Connect.
As far as durability, I’ve worn both devices daily and they are submerged in both fresh and salt water regularly when I swim. No issues. As you can see, the Fenix 6 has a stainless steel housing, so I’m not worried about any bumps causing it to break.
These aren’t inexpensive devices, but the quality has been great for me. Hope that helps.

Ditto. I'm still using my 920XT that I bought in 2014, and has been worn daily, knocked about on rock faces, gone swimming, survived a bike crash, etc. I think these things are pretty much indestructible. Faint scratches on the face is the only result of its frequent torture. I have replaced the watch band a bunch of times (most of them 3rd party though..not a fan of the rubber strap). Garmin's are pretty ubiquitous in the athletic world, so pretty much every site out there for analyzing sessions can be set to automatically get the data from the Garmin server (who automatically gets it from your watch via your phone and bluetooth). The watchface in his photo, FYI, is one of the many custom ones uploaded to connectIQ by various developers.

I've been wanting to upgrade to a Fenix since the first gen came out (for the base mapping ability and compatibility with more cIQ apps), but can't justify replacing this perfectly fine-working device. (ok- I *do* occasionally check the current refurb unit prices and availability on the smaller units with base mapping/nav).

dcrainmaker's site has very detailed reviews on various units. You'll want to figure out what features are important to you. (Garmin devices have a wide range in pricing). I wanted to have turn cues while following a running/riding course and be able to program detailed interval training workouts, which required their top-of-the-running-line-at-the-time 920XT.

ETA: I can't speak much to the calorie/step tracking features, since I don't really use it for that.
ETA2: They also have a variety in housing and facing materials now... so solvent compatibility may vary for different submodels in the same line. You might be able to ask Garmin the specific plastic type for the plastic ones and check against a chemical compatibility table for the main solvents in the brakecleaner, etc.