Choices, choices!!!!!

[Kaydenmummy]

I want to invest in a fit bit or a jaw up or something similar. Don't wanna spend millions. What's the best out at the moment. Anyone advise me please

[jt24 Graduate]

There are SO many things to choose from, I'm still unsure and interested in others experiences. Main choice is whether you want a general fitness device counting steps and sleep etc. or a slightly more specific running watch etc.

The majority of people swear by the gadget they have. Fitbit owners seem to love Fitbit, Garmin owners love Garmin. Think I'm leaning towards a gps watch, probably a Garmin.

[B0bP Graduate]

Hi,

It all depends what you want out of it.

I have a Fitbit HR and I thinks it's great for what I does. It helps you focus on your fitness, sleep and hydration (you log water intake manually). I use the app on my phone to track my runs too. I've had it since Xmas. I wou.d point out the heart rate monitor isn't that accurate for rowing type xcercise for some reason but seems fairly accurate for other stuff.

I recently just bought a dedicated GPS running watch too and as you would expect it focuses on running and has a raft of features all geared towards running.

[yatesco Graduate]

TLDR - for just north of a £100 get the VivoActive (last year), VivoSmart HR or Polar M400.

Ooooh -gadgets, I know this!

A helpful question is: do you want:

a - an activity tracking that can handle running?

b - a running watch that can do activity tracking?

c - a multi-sports watch that can do activity tracking?

Also, what is your maximum budget and do you want heart rate monitoring via chest strap, wrist, or none?

Almost all the sports watches nowadays will do activity tracking although some take different takes on it.

I really should do a flow chart/decision tree for this, but here are some random thoughts:

[activity tracking]

Almost all sports watches do activity tracking, although some have their own take. Some count steps, some count 'activity' and others just show the delta from the previous day/week.

Although I started looking for Activity Tracking I realised that I just don't care about it. I am either sitting at a desk or I am going for a run so counting steps just isn't interesting or helpful.

[Optical heart rate monitoring]

The consensus seems to be that optical heart rate tracking is great for monitoring 24/7 and steady runs but not great for significant variability (e.g. intervals or sprints). Because they are on the wrist they are also pretty poor for tracking weight lifting/cycling/rowing etc.

[Chest strap HRM]

These are the most accurate but do require a chest. I thought I would hate it but I sometimes forget to take it off after a run!

[GPS]

The consensus again seems to be that dedicated GPS watches are more accurate than your Android/iPhone.

[Smartphone notifications]

This is actually more useful than I thought. It shows texts, calls and allows you to control your music from your device. You still need the phone but it saves getting it out of the pocket on a run.

So, recommendations of devices for just north of £100:

[Garmin vivoactive (last years model)]

Excellent GPS sports watch, does GPS based activities well (running and cycling). Doesn't have an optical heart rate monitor but can pair with an ANT+ chest strap). Touchscreen works very well and GPS is accurate. Also includes vibration alerts to notify you every 1KM or mile etc.

amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Vivoact...

[Garmin VivoSmart]

NO GPS but does include a fairly accurate wrist based HRM (although see above caveats). It does track running fairly well but not as accurately as a dedicated GPS watch. Touchscreen works well. Also includes vibration alerts to notify you every 1KM or mile etc.

amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Vivosma...

[Polar M400 (I haven't owned this)]

This is an absolute bargain. GPS but no vibrations. You can get an optional heart rate chest strap. Very highly rated. I was very tempted by this.

amazon.co.uk/Polar-M400-Wat...

[TomTom Spark (I haven't owned this)]

I was very interested in the TomTom because it promised the optical HRM and on device music. After reviewing it I went elsewhere because the oHRM wasn't accurate and the music playback seemed to be awkward. No streaming from Spotify etc.

amazon.co.uk/dp/B0158KT9WQ/...

Some thoughts on manufacturers/eco-systems:

[Garmin]

Garmin are the kings of Sports watches. Never buy a new release as they are full of bugs. Garmin however, do seem to fix these things quickly and continue to support their devices for a while. They also release new devices very regularly which means last year's model deprecate very quickly. Great for a bargain hunter!

Forums are fall of complaints. However, bear in mind that people only register to moan and the number of people moaning is trivially small compared to the number of devices sold.

GarminConnect is awesome, if a bit intimidating. It exports to most of the other sites (TrainingPeaks, Strava, MapMyRun etc.)

Garmin also have the IQ connect 'app' store which shows a lot of promise if you have a compatible device (VivoActive is, VivoSmart isn't)

[Suunto]

If Garmin are the Kings then Suunto must be the Queens. I don't have any experience with these other than their devices just seem to work. I know the awesome @rignold moved away from Garmin to Suuno. For something that just works, these (albeit without vibration).

[Polar]

Run out of Kings and Queens, so not sure where these are, but like Suunto they seem to have a rock solid reputation. The support their devices very well and their ecosystem seem great.

[TomTom]

They seem to issue their devices as 'sold as seen' and don't update them after release.

[FitBit]

The marketing Kings and Queens of fitness devices :-). I did look at the FitBit Charge HR first of all but then moved quickly onto the VivoSmart HR. I then researched the FitBit Surge but was put off with the reports of skin irritation. It seemed they did Activity Tracking with some Sports whereas I wanted Sports with optional Activity Tracking.

HTH - let me know if I can help more.

If you want to do your own research then dcrainmaker.com is an absolute gem for these sorts of things.

[Kaydenmummy Graduate in reply to yatesco]

What brilliant information thank you so much. I will have a proper look later but liking the garmin at first glance. Thanks a lot x x

[Kaydenmummy Graduate in reply to yatesco]

I've got for the fit bit hr. I liked the look of it and the spec does everything I want. Thanks again for your help. Very much appreciated x x

[JaySeeSkinny Graduate in reply to yatesco]

yatesco is back - as we know and love him! Now official expert on this forum for all things technical!

[sparky66 Graduate in reply to yatesco]

Wow yetesco.. you are very informative and very helpful with your input

[yatesco Graduate]

The other thing I should say is search here for 'Garmin', 'fitness device', 'heart rate' etc.

[Ullyrunner Graduate in reply to yatesco]

Wow Yatesy! What a scholarly answer!