Tracker advice!

[Sparkin78]

Hi all..I'm looking for a fitness tracker and considering the Garmin Vivoactive 3...does anyone have one and are they any good?!

[Hidden]

Dont know about that specific one, but Garmin are generally good, accurate as far as a tracker can be and lots of useful statistics for runners.

[Lordi Graduate10]

The Garmin 235 is quite cheap now as it's about to be replaced with a new model.

[pinkaardvark Graduate10]

I have the fenix 5 and think it's a great device for running, but it's a bit pricey and I will probably never use a fraction of the functions. The Vivoactive seems to retain the important bits, GPS, HR etc but reduce the price to less than a half, so definitely worth it I think.

[Sparkin78 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Thanks! Yes I’ve been poring over stacks of reviews and it does look like a good one! The cheap one I have at the minute keeps not recording my runs which is most frustrating😣 Just need to justify spending £200 on myself now!

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Sparkin78]

I had a sony smartwatch 3 (one of the early android wear watches) and it was so frustrating, it never like to lock on to the gps so half the time I just wouldn't use it. The garmin is night and day different, the battery lasts an age in comparison ie 7 days plus but I suspect it may even last 2 weeks if you just run 3 times a week as i do, and it always locks on and just works. I can't stress the 'It just works' enough. I'm a software developer so used to dealing with tech but I also have a short tolerance for stuff that doesn't work fluidly, the garmins do the job well and I find I can wear it every day as a watch without missing a normal watch.

[Sparkin78 in reply to pinkaardvark]

Brilliant! Yes I understand ‘it just works’ very well...I’m usually pretty sane but tech that doesn’t do what it’s meant to, crazy lady appears!!🤣 Thanks for your advice...reckon I’m sold😊

[pinkaardvark Graduate10 in reply to Sparkin78]

Sweet, do let us know how you get on with it. I think my good lady may get one as a present at some point also :). What I find great about the fenix is you can buy straps in any colour off amazon for pennies, and it looks like the vivoactive 3 is similar. They pop on and off in seconds so you can have a sporty style for running and a more sombre colour for work.

[ju-ju- Graduate10]

I have a Garmin 225. Its Ok and does everything I need it to. I may go for something different next time though that looks nicer!!!!

[Sparkin78 in reply to ju-ju-]

They’re all a bit bulky aren’t they! The vivoactive is a bit smaller I think. The only really nice looking one I’ve seen is the fenix sapphire...a snip at £550!!😳Won’t be getting that one!😂

[Lordi Graduate10]

Sparky - checkout the dcrainmaker review website. The guy is a watch nerd and does fantastic in depth reviews!

dcrainmaker.com/tag/garmin-...

[HeleneCorsa Graduate10]

I have a Garmin (but not the one you mention - mine's a Vivoactive HR, one of the cheaper models). I love it and wouldn't be without it. It's usurped my lovely watch for everyday regular wear (which is a bit sad, but I quite like the way it tracks steps and floors climbed etc). It is reliable and doesn't let me down, plus I like the fact it offers possibilities for monitoring loads of other sports (HA! the loads of other sports I don't do. But might do one day...). It doesn't have some of the bells and whistles of the other Garmins but I'm entirely happy with it. Garmin Connect is a great platform, all very easy to use.

[Decker in reply to HeleneCorsa]

Ditto. I have the same Garmin and love mine too. Does exactly what I hoped for. Nothing more and nothing less. Love the pace alarms and auto stop features too. Plus the digits are huge so I don’t need my reading glasses