Activity Watch_Whatcha' Got?

[vailpass]

Looking at a fitness/outdoors watch. Never owned one. Want it to track steps and bike rides, GPS routes on hikes/ATV rides, not have to worry about getting it wet or dirty.

Basic Features desired:
Step/Distance Tracking
Accelerometer
GPS
Water resistant up to 60/Shock resistant
User friendly phone app that will sync with JEFIT if possible
Not too big/heavy
Not Apple

I've looked at FitBit watch, Samsung watch, Garmin. Best one I've found for my wants is the Garmin Instinct.

Anybody have any experience with these things? What to look for, what to look out for?
TIA.

[LoneWolf]

Apple watch because fuck you.

[ModSocks]

My wife and I both use the Fitbit Charge 2 (probably a newer version out there now).

No complaints. The fitbit app is outstanding. I have no idea how water resistant it is, but ive completely forgotten about it and (hand) washed my cars, dishes, work w/e and had no issues. I've never submerged it, but at the very least its incidental water resistant.

And i don't wear watches (or jewlery) and dont like anything on my wrists so the minimal design is nice. Took me awhile to get use to still.

[ChiefBlueCFC]

I have a FitBit Blaze. I've had it for 4 years now. It's pretty good. I wish it had a GPS function on it, otherwise I have to connect it to my phone if I bike or run. Otherwise I like it well enough. It's pretty basic, but it does everything I need/want.

[mr. tegu]

I can’t speak to the others you mentioned but the Fitbit works great. I have the previous version of the Versa which I believe is the Blaze. It just does everything it’s supposed to do and does it well. It is consistent with regards to calorie burn while exercising and gives accurate heart rate readings.

For instance, when I run, it is very accurate with the distances. So it always knows where the mile is regardless if I’m on a good pace or not so you can trust your results. It’s the same with a bike ride.

The app is simple and easy to use and stores all of your exercises to see your progress, calories burned, heart rate, steps, etc. One thing I really like is that it automatically senses walks over like 10 minutes do you don’t have to set the watch to an exercise mode but it will still store the information about that walk in the app.

It has GPS tracking in the app as well but I believe your phone needs to be with you so I don’t really have any experience utilizing that function.

[Pitt Gorilla]

Fitbit>>>>>>>>>Garmin.

[Beef Supreme]

Say Irish Wristwatch three times fast.

[vailpass]

Apple watch because **** you.

:D

[vailpass]

Wow, big pull for FitBit so far. Thanks all.

I'd read good reviews about the Charge 3 but when you go to the FitBit Community board there is endless complaining about how shitty the software is. They do say the FitBit 2 is god-like which seems to match up with Detox's experience.

I want more of a watch than a device. Going to check out the FitBit Versa an Ionic on the strength of the recommends here.

FitBit doesn't have GPS though.What's up with that?

[vailpass]

Fitbit>>>>>>>>>Garmin.

What makes you say so?

[mr. tegu]

Wow, big pull for FitBit so far. Thanks all.



I'd read good reviews about the Charge 3 but when you go to the FitBit Community board there is endless complaining about how shitty the software is. They do say the FitBit 2 is god-like which seems to match up with Detox's experience.



I want more of a watch than a device. Going to check out the FitBit Versa an Ionic on the strength of the recommends here.



FitBit doesn't have GPS though.What's up with that?


It doesn’t have it self contained but if you have your phone on you I believe it then uses your phone GPS to give you that information in the app. I know I have seen something in the past on my app like that.

But I’m guessing a lack of a fully function GPS is part of being able to sell at the price point they do. Costco generally has them about $30 cheaper on the new models which will also come with an extra band.

My wife has the Charge 2 and she likes it. I haven’t really seen that my slightly larger screen on the Blaze makes much difference.

One thing I have noticed is the phone connectivity to the watches seems to come and go in their old age. Syncing with the app is fine but getting messages and calls on the watch isn’t reliable anymore. That was actually a very nice feature so you don’t have to find your phone to check it while exercising or even really doing anything else.

[vailpass]

It doesn’t have it self contained but if you have your phone on you I believe it then uses your phone GPS to give you that information in the app. I know I have seen something in the past on my app like that.

But I’m guessing a lack of a fully function GPS is part of being able to sell at the price point they do. Costco generally has them about $30 cheaper on the new models which will also come with an extra band.

My wife has the Charge 2 and she likes it. I haven’t really seen that my slightly larger screen on the Blaze makes much difference.

One thing I have noticed is the phone connectivity to the watches seems to come and go in their old age. Syncing with the app is fine but getting messages and calls on the watch isn’t reliable anymore. That was actually a very nice feature so you don’t have to find your phone to check it while exercising or even really doing anything else.

Interesting to know, thanks.

[vailpass]

Well looky here, the fitbit Ionic watch has GPS/GLONASS built in.

*edit* but it's getting killed in the Amazon reviews

[Graystoke]

There is a pub down the street from me that is right next to a bike trail.
Step 1: Order a nice Lager
Step 2: Park my ass on table nearest trail
Step 3: Watch the activity roll by on the trail

Your welcome

[mr. tegu]

Interesting to know, thanks.


It’s the same with both my wife’s watch and mine so it’s likely a software issue, as you hinted at before with others complaining about. I wonder if anyone else no longer gets calls or text messages on their older Fitbits?

Well looky here, the fitbit Ionic watch has GPS/GLONASS built in.


That’s good to know. I know it’s getting up there in price beyond what I’ve been used to on Fitbits but I guess that’s why. Is it the only model with that option? Might have to consider it with my next purchase.

[vailpass]

There is a pub down the street from me that is right next to a bike trail.
Step 1: Order a nice Lager
Step 2: Park my ass on table nearest trail
Step 3: Watch the activity roll by on the trail

Your welcome

Cheers.

[lewdog]

Do you even lift, bro?

[loochy]

I have a garmin vivoactive 3 that I enjoy. I'm sure I don't use all of the available features, but it hasn't failed me yet. The best feature is that it's not apple.

[Simply Red]

I have a casio - it's got the blue light and a timer PLUS and alarm!

http://i68.tinypic.com/2i6jimg.jpg

[Rain Man]

I have a Garmin 235.

Basic Features desired:
Step/Distance Tracking - Yep, and pretty good.
Accelerometer - No, but I'm not sure what this is used for.
GPS - It tracks runs with GPS, but it doesn't navigate with GPS.
So you get stuff like elevation change and a course map afterwards.
Water resistant up to 60/Shock resistant - I don't know the rating, but I've worn mine in the shower daily and inadvertently into a hot spring without problems.
User friendly phone app that will sync with JEFIT if possible - Don't know what JEFIT is, but the phone app is pretty good. I have quibbles, but overall it meets my needs.
Not too big/heavy - Not big and bulky at all. Kind of an oversized watch.
Not Apple - Meets this criterion.

Overall, I like it. I had a Nike GPS watch before this, and while it was good, it sometimes had problems activating the GPS. The Garmin does it very quickly and reliably. Occasionally they'll do updates that stink and it'll stop syncing or stop recording steps for a couple of days, which is annoying. That happens once or twice per year. But they eventually fix it.

I would recommend the Garmin 235.