*Activity/Fitness trackers*

sprite1275

sprite1275

sprite1275

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I'm looking at getting a couple of these for me and the Mrs. Because I'm getting 2 I want to try make sure I get the best bang for buck.

After a bit of reading Fitbit charge HR seem to do most things at a decent price but Fitbits quality seems to be pants with the band's degrading and falling apart.

I suppose the fitbit Blaze is an option as the band's are interchangeable but I don't really want anything that looks or is as fat as a watch. I just want a band on one arm and a normal watch on the other.

Seem to be leaning towards the Garmin vivosmart HR at the moment. Looks pretty robust.

I want something that tracks my sleep, also I cycle to work every day and do a fair bit of walking.

Anyone have any experience/recommendations?
 
I have no experience with fitbit but I currently wear pretty much 24/7 a Microsoft Band 2 which can be picked up for about £150 these days.

The quality/design has improved from the Band 1,it is a lot more comfortable and stylish with its all curved design.
From a tech point of view it can do all the things you have listed below and others. I am not sure if you have considered these but I love mine.

It is robust enough for normal use, I have put a screen protector on it as my Band 1 did scratch a little. I use it for running, cycling, hockey and general fitness.

Battery is pretty good, I have Bluetooth on during the day so it notifies me of calls, messages etc to my phone. It gets charged during my commute to work which is about 20 minutes and have no problems with it dying. If I am going to use the GPS for a long activity I will boost the charge and turn Bluetooth off.

Speaking of the GPS, it is not the quickest in finding the signal, it can take a minute or so, but you can start the activity and it will keep looking or alternatively, "start" the activity and wait for GPS. Once you have a signal you can then commence and it will start the timer from then.


sprite1275 said:
I'm looking at getting a couple of these for me and the Mrs. Because I'm getting 2 I want to try make sure I get the best bang for buck.

After a bit of reading Fitbit charge HR seem to do most things at a decent price but Fitbits quality seems to be pants with the band's degrading and falling apart.

I suppose the fitbit Blaze is an option as the band's are interchangeable but I don't really want anything that looks or is as fat as a watch. I just want a band on one arm and a normal watch on the other.

Seem to be leaning towards the Garmin vivosmart HR at the moment. Looks pretty robust.

I want something that tracks my sleep, also I cycle to work every day and do a fair bit of walking.

Anyone have any experience/recommendations?
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I am currently using a polar M400. I mainly use it for running and some cycling.. GPS is snappy and they have a great interface online. GPS mode lasts 4-5 hours max. It can track sleep but i do not personally use it.
 
That depends how you use it. If you just have it passively monitoring, so no GPS, no Bluetooth then it lasts for days from a full charge. The site states 48 hours.

If you leave Bluetooth on then it will last over a day. If you tell the band you are going to sleep it turns Bluetooth off so you get a nice nap nap.

If you have GPS on and Bluetooth off then long enough for a decent activity, about 6 hours. I have been out for half the day on the bike and it lasted, just don't expect a day from it.

Bluetooth and GPS and screen on, well a few hours at least.

When I use it for activity, it is GPS on, Bluetooth and Screen off. You can set it to be even more stringent with the juice but turning off the continuous heart monitoring, this helps work out the calories burnt during the day. It still monitors when using it in an activity.

It charges pretty quick from empty and the two 20 minute bursts mine gets in the car keep it pretty much topped up.

I don't think the battery life should put you off but the price thing is something you will need to justify for yourself but you can buy one for £140.

sprite1275 said:
Yes I've looked at the MS band 2 but the price and battery life has put me off a little. What is the battery life like after full charge?
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nine_tails said:
I am currently using a polar M400. I mainly use it for running and some cycling.. GPS is snappy and they have a great interface online. GPS mode lasts 4-5 hours max. It can track sleep but i do not personally use it.
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I use the M400 too, mainly for gym but also outdoor jogging/long walks. I also only really use mine whilst exercising as I'm not going to be wearing the strap all day long. Being Polar, it send analogue signal to the Life Fitness machines in the gym too which is pretty handy as you don't have to keep looking down at the watch to keep an eye on heart rate if you're needing to. I like the fact you can customise the display for each activity so you can have the 4 fields of your choosing on display at any one time rather than scrolling through to find other data.

It'd be nice if it had a vibrating alert which is probably its biggest downfall but apart from that, extremely happy with it. The Polar Flow info is excellent even though it sometimes takes two or three times and a few minutes to complete a sync via bluetooth.
 
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sprite1275 said:
I'm looking at getting a couple of these for me and the Mrs. Because I'm getting 2 I want to try make sure I get the best bang for buck.

After a bit of reading Fitbit charge HR seem to do most things at a decent price but Fitbits quality seems to be pants with the band's degrading and falling apart.

I suppose the fitbit Blaze is an option as the band's are interchangeable but I don't really want anything that looks or is as fat as a watch. I just want a band on one arm and a normal watch on the other.

Seem to be leaning towards the Garmin vivosmart HR at the moment. Looks pretty robust.

I want something that tracks my sleep, also I cycle to work every day and do a fair bit of walking.

Anyone have any experience/recommendations?
Click to expand...

Do not order a Fitbit Charge HR! They're junk. The band bubbles after 2 - 3 months use. People have had up to 3 - 5 replacements from Fitbit and have all bubbled. It is all over their forums. Let alone the poor battery performance.

Some have become so bad the charger port/clasp came apart therefor the button falls out. After the one year warranty going through many replacements and scripted responses they offer a 25% discount on a new product.

Stay away from the Fitbit Charge as well since also bubbles.

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Charge-HR/Wristband-damage-concerns/td-p/1406610

Fitbit came out with a Charge 2 with replaceable bands for their answer to it.

I'd look at Garmin. I'm personally going for the Vivoactive HR as they say it has the best heart monitor.

 
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I've had no issues with charge hrandgot it release day they also released charge hr 2 the other day, and the screen is a big improvment and can use your phones gps, so you wouldn't pick up the first gen anyway. Or placeable ba dsjsnt a fix for that's issue, its so yohcanchange the look, they had a lot of complaints about lack of customisability.

I'm hoping MS release a band3. Band 2 IMO was close but still not quitewherei want it to be.

Also when my old fitbitstopped charging 2mins on internet hat and they sent a new one out that day,so great service.
 
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I've got the Vivoactive HR from Garmin. I have had it for about 6 weeks and I am really impressed.Don't have time to do a review but here are a few bits i like.

1. Battery lasts for a week and charges in an hour or less
2. Its not overpowering my puny wrist.
3. GPS and HRM work very well. Not as accurate as a chest strap but pretty close and not much evidence of a rogue reading.
4. Garmin connect phone app is actually pretty good and you can auto sync with Strava which is good for me.
5. you can control music from your phone!
6. you get messages to your wrist inc sms, whatsapp, twitter, email, facebook
7. Its waterproof and you can swim with it

All in all I reckon its as good as there is for the price. I would recommend.
 
I have the Garmin Forerunner 235.

More of a running watch than an activity tracker but it tracks sleep, running, cycling and has an optical heart rate monitor so you can have 24/7 mapping if you want. Definitely an investment but I couldn't be happier :)

Also has all the positives listed in the post above ^
 
Calpol said:
I've got the Vivoactive HR from Garmin. I have had it for about 6 weeks and I am really impressed.Don't have time to do a review but here are a few bits i like.

1. Battery lasts for a week and charges in an hour or less
2. Its not overpowering my puny wrist.
3. GPS and HRM work very well. Not as accurate as a chest strap but pretty close and not much evidence of a rogue reading.
4. Garmin connect phone app is actually pretty good and you can auto sync with Strava which is good for me.
5. you can control music from your phone!
6. you get messages to your wrist inc sms, whatsapp, twitter, email, facebook
7. Its waterproof and you can swim with it

All in all I reckon its as good as there is for the price. I would recommend.
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Very tempted to get one of these soon. Reading lots of reviews it's definitely something I want to get.

I'm going through Gatwick next week and wondering if buying Duty Free would be cheaper but can't find any prices or anything. Anyone got any ideas if they sell these in the airport and for cheaper than 'the rainforest' currently who are selling it at £179.99
 
I had a fitbit flex, then the top of the range Surge which was good. Its the only fitbit model with its own GPS.
I now have the Blaze because i really like the look of it and wanted to use it as a watch too. Its works fine for me. Battery lasts 3-4 days i guess, and does everything i want it to do.
 
I have a fitbit charge hr, ony third one soon to be fourth probably. The build quality is awful, not even close to suitable for something in constant use. Screen scratches easily, band falls apary, random lock ups etc. Though in fairness they send me a brand new one each time I complain, will see if it happens again now the band is coming away from it
 
Fitbit charge hr here. I'm on my 3rd. I'm glad I only paid 50% for it. The heart rate monitor is crap too.

If you are serious about fitness tracker find one with a chest strap. Wrist strap based ones are crap. That said, the Fitbit interface is good, and works well enough.
 
I tested my fitbit Surge and Blaze them against a polar heart strap. I'd say they were pretty accurate. I did find that when they DID read differently to the strap then it was always out by the same tolerance, so if you are aware of that then its still a useful tool.
 
Banzai_Joe said:
I tested my fitbit Surge and Blaze them against a polar heart strap. I'd say they were pretty accurate. I did find that when they DID read differently to the strap then it was always out by the same tolerance, so if you are aware of that then its still a useful tool.
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The 2 replacements I've had must be faulty then, because they are way off, by a magnitude of around 15%.
 
When compared to blood pressure monitors and various machines they always match with in 1 or two beats. How have you guys gone through so many. Year and 3/4s and apart from a scratched screen its in perfect condition.
 
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