I watch or fitbit

[Nemota]

Hi have decided that my I phone is not what I want when excerise is.

I fancy buying the new I watch 3 cellular model but don’t know if the Fitbit would be better.

Any advice/ experience of either would be handy. Thanks

[Doodle_]

Hello I only have experience with a Fitbit (Alta I think?). It's the waterproof one! I love it. As a swimmer and someone that works outside a lot it's great to keep me motivated and on track 😊

[Realfoodieclub Graduate]

I'm a big fan of the Garmin devices that do the daily step count as well, some of them do a gps running feature within the activity monitor. I cant comment of fitbit or iphone as I have never used one. I know the features are changing all the time. I went with Garmin as I needed it to be waterproof as swimming is my other exercise.

[MrsT82]

I have the Fitbit Blaze and this replaced the Alta. I liked the Alta but love the Blaze. It does everything I need it too. Daily step count, sleep monitor, heart rate, auto tracks exercise. Also runs on GPS when you link to your phone for a run. I then link this to Strava for extra stats but the data itself all comes from the Fitbit. Data such as distance, pace, intervals, a track of your run on a map, meter gains, incline graphs, calorie burn graphs.

[LeeU Graduate]

At the minute I have neither, I'm not a lover of Apple devices, I've looked at fitbit but my wrist falls into the XL category which means I can only buy from Fitbit themselves.

I tried a Garmin 735xt and it fit lovely and it will be my Graduation present to me, from me (and Mrs LeeU but I haven't told her that bit yet ). Pricey but feature packed.

[DawnRun]

I can only recommend a garmin, which I am really impressed with and which wasn't on your preferred list I know - The garmin seems to me more discrete than a fit bit (Don't know about the I watch 3 cellular)

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Garmin for me

[dandydemon Graduate]

Tomtom runner gps + music for me, it is simple to use, syncs straightforwardly to the app on my phone/pc automatically, has lots of space for music and podcasts. App shows runs in a clear format, data can be exported onto strava etc. Came with free bluetooth headphones too, couldn't cope without these.

Now I just need an advanced feature that can stop me singing random bits whilst running. Furtively eyeing a garmin, due out in october I believe.

[dubnde]

I have just ordered Apple Watch 3 as my C25K graduation treat. I am made to understand there is going to be a lot of daily charging of the watch.

[Blitzy Graduate in reply to dubnde]

I have an Apple Watch and it's brilliant for monitoring all exercise, but I use an iPhone for the podcast. You can get a nightstand from Amazon/Apple which charges the watch and two other Apple devices at the same time; great when travelling as only one socket needed.

[dubnde in reply to Blitzy]

Thanks. Will consider the nightstand at some point

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

If you do a search in respect of accuracy of Fitbits, most unbiased reports are not very flattering, although the technology is constantly on the move.

You need to ask yourself what you want from your tracking device and consider what you think you might want from your device in a few years time ( unless you have a lot more disposable income than me).

For running, a dedicated running watch is going to the answer, but maybe you want a multi purpose device in which case the iwatch is a likely contender.

[Thecko Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

I've read similar things about the accuracy of fitbits but the reviews I read made it sound like pretty much the whole "optical wrist" devices suffer the same problems - I actually use a wahoo Trackr device linked to my phone for tracking with Strava, and while not giving exactly the same readings my Garmin device is within a few BPM readings of the chest strap so I can vouch for Garmin's technology being very good.

*all these devices do come with disclaimers that they're not medical devices and should be used as a guide only, thus not 100% accurate.

[Thecko Graduate]

I'd say the best way to choose is to decide what you want from any device you might buy. You need to consider (as a minimum) these things:

Do you want it to track GPS (so you can track your runs on strava/other)

Do you want it to track heart rate

Do you want it to be an every day device (an actual watch, rather than a fitness device)

Do you care about the ability to go swimming with it?

Do you want to leave your phone at home but use the watch with bluetooth headphones? (watch needs a lot more memory or cellular connectivity for that)

Do you feel the price tag is something you're willing to pay for what you want out of it?

In the case of the Apple Watch - Do you want it to tie in with the other Apple fitness stuff you have on your iPhone (are you likely to switch to Android at any point?)

When it comes to these kinds of devices there's really no such thing as one being "better" than the other, it's really about whether the features/functionality fit your requirements and whether you "like" it (which is the most subjective but also the most important consideration)

Personally I have a Garmin Vivosmart3 for tracking every day activity, walks, stress levels and so on - but it's really not very useful for tracking runs due to no GPS. For runs I use Strava on my phone (in an armband) and a cheap bluetooth HR strap. This allows me to (alongside strava) play all my music from my phone, with the couch to 5k android app playing audio queues over the music. It works for me but I totally understand why people prefer to have a simple wrist based solution

[MarkyD Graduate in reply to Thecko]

I want to see my pace, HR and splits whilst I am running. My Garmin watch displays these in a convenient way - on my wrist - and even though I have my iPhone with me it is just too much hassle to get the same information.

[Thecko Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

If you want to see your pace information while you're going then yes a full featured watch is the way to go. Sadly Strava's Android Wear 2.0 app wants to work completely independently of the phone, where-as the wear 1.0 app worked as a remote control. Had I known that was going to happen I wouldn't have let my watch (which doesn't have HR or GPS) update to Wear 2

I've also considered getting a forerunner 25 (to wear instead of normal wristwatch) which, in theory, should be able to get the HR from my vivosmart via ANT+ ... it could mean a bit less faffing around when heading out for a run but given it's just a convenience thing I haven't thrown any more money at it yet.

[MarkyD Graduate]

Personally I would not get either the iWatch or a FitBit. And I strongly recommend that you take your iPhone out running. Even if it is hidden in a running belt and you do not use it. I have one distant friend and another work colleague, both of whom did not make it home from a run. One was hit by a car and the other had a heart attack in his early 40s. The ability to call for help is greatly overlooked.

Garmin are the brand leaders for running watches. You could consider ForeRunner 235 and their online data repository is excellent. GPS, optical heartrate, BT, sleep, steps, even notifications from my iPhone. Couldn't wish for anything better AND 5-6 day battery life. I had a FitBit, and a tomtom Nike+ sportwatch. Now I have a FR235 and it is so much better.

[Thecko Graduate in reply to MarkyD]

Being able to call for help should you get in to trouble is actually a very good point - now I feel less silly about making sure my phone is fully charged before heading out with it

Garmin are definitely the defacto brand for running watches (I'm impressed with the vivosmart3 I have, it tracks HR very closely to the more accurate chest strap style I use which surprised me given how much I've read about the inaccuracy of wrist-based optical devices)

I'm lead to believe that the Polar devices are also very good but I have no experience of them to say either way for sure.

[SC1472 Graduate]

If you want unbiased but long reviews go to dcrainmaker.com

Fitbit are literally just launching the ionic which is supposedly much improved and competes in the Apple Watch market.

Whichever you get there are pros and cons....garmin will last longer on gps than either Apple Watch or the ionic from what I gather but unless you are going to compete in Ironman triathlons that may not be relevant to you.

[LiisaM Graduate]

I am using an old iPhone for the NHS C25k+ app plus Endomondo to track route and distance. What I don't like, and maybe I don't know how to manage it, is that after the warm-up walk, I have to finagle the iPhone to get Endomondo started while I am just ending my walk and starting my run--and do the same in reverse when finishing the run and starting the cool-down. What a drag trying to move from app to app while moving. Thoughts?

[KOwens Graduate]

I bought the Apple Sports watch (series 2) as my graduation treat and I love it. It was the same price as the normal Apple Watch but includes additional features including the Nike running App. Not tried playing my music through the watch yet and using wireless headphones but planning on doing that soon as my arm band holding my phone (which I currently use to listen to music) is starting to rub and I'm getting a few sores. Watch is a costly gimmick but I wouldn't be without mine now.

[Nemota Graduate in reply to KOwens]

Thanks for that. I have ordered the I watch 3 cellular, unfortunately can’t get until the end of October 😁

[KOwens Graduate in reply to Nemota]

You'll love it! Enjoy!

[Nemota Graduate in reply to KOwens]

Turned out very expensive,as was ordering the watch when my daughter came in to pick her washing ( apparently leaving home does not mean doing your own washing). It’s her 25th birthday on Friday, she decided she wanted an I watch for her birthday . So ended ordering two I watch 3s .

Hers is none cellular though as she can’t wait 😊

[KOwens Graduate in reply to Nemota]

Oh don't😄😄😄, I have 3 daughters, a bit younger but still cost me a fortune. I go out running to get some peace😜

[Nemota Graduate]

I just have the one . She moved back home after university but decide to move out in December last year. She Was gone a fortnight the moved back home for 2 weeks over Christmas because and I quote " I want to enjoy Christmas and be looked after and it's all free in your house dad" . So it doesn't get any cheaper ever it seems