Garmin Smart/Fitness Watch

[Riot]

Anyone use one? My buddy, some of you know him as Thicc, recently got one. Seems really awesome. Super motivational. Plus, we’re all so competitive.

Im torn between the Instinct 2 because of its ruggedness and looks (hiking, paintball, snowboarding) and the Vivo for its touch screen, maps (the instinct maps look terrible- no touch screen).. but fear it looks too sleek and fragile.

Obviously, the Fenix7 is the best option for me, as it offers both. But it’s out of my price range, unless I can find it used and even still… expensive.


Anyone use? Thoughts? Model? Etc etc

[Jonnydread]

A couple months ago my Fitbit tracker crapped the bed and I decided I wanted something better so I purchased a pre-owned Garmin Forerunner 255 Music and, so far,I love it.

It doesn't have as many of the fancy features as some of the higher end models, but as I'm primarily just using it to get back into distance running shape I don't feel like I need them. The music function is great and once you get a basic understanding of the watch it's easy to navigate. The battery life is insane, it lasts for days on end. This model doesn't use a touch screen, but I didn't want one since it feels like it's just one more thing that can break.

[BLachance75]

In the past I've use the Vivofit and Vivosmart. They worked good but I didn't like the durability of them. I broke several bands as well as the trackers themselves. Garmin did replace them a few times as they broke in the warranty period. I originally went with Garmin as I was already using a Garmin bike computer so I was in their ecosystem. I didn't like the Garmin app but I haven't used it in years so it may have improved since then.

After my last one broke I went with an Apple watch as I have an iPhone. The fitness app works great and you are able to share your activities with friends and have competitions if you want. It is nice to be able to go out on my bike without a phone and still be able to make and receive calls and text messages if needed.

[Trbo323]

Let's see, I've had a forunner, I think 65? On my wrist for the last 4 years. It's a budget model it was under $100 but it has done fine no scratches on the screen even so unless you're doing like heavy mountaineering or construction work I wouldn't let the ruggedness really be a factor

My wife used to run a 4Runner 9 series I don't remember exactly which one but it was before they had touch screens, last year she got a fenix 7 solar and it has been an absolutely fantastic watch so far. Way more features than she's ever going to use

I've been heavily looking at the vivoactive (unless I'm mistaken I don't see a watch called the vivo so I assume that's what you're looking at) as an upgrade. To me it looks like 80% of the Fenix for 50% of the price.

My mother also just got a garmin but I don't remember which model

My sister-in-law got a venue not too long ago and it seems happy with it. I've looked into the venue and if you're a super heavy music person it seems like it will make sense but beyond that price tag is a lot more than the vivoactive and to me it looks like just different features not more

I guess my recommendation while I don't own it the vivoactive 5 it actually released about 2 months ago and and is somehow cheaper than the 4.

Sent from my motorola edge 5G UW (2021) using Tapatalk

[flyweightnate]

I have a Venu Sq Music... it does the job. When I was running, I could download interval training plans (it vibrates to cue interval/ rest) and I sync my Spotify playlists then pop in earbuds, so I can leave my phone at home. The GPS works well to review route and pace afterwards, but is nearly useless for "orienteering" purposes. Plus heart rate, step counts, push notifications from my phone, a wallet app (that's hit or miss on which cards it likes), all the normal stuff. Forgot my wallet once at a restaurant and the watch saved me.

For $120 it's a good set of features. I wouldn't mind upgrading to something with waypoint navigation for long hikes, though.

[Riot]

Follow up question:

does anyone use a Garmin watch with the iPhone? Seems to be droid focused and I’m not a green bubbled monster.

[Jonnydread]

I do, it's fine.

[powpowpaintball]

Lots of good info in here. I'll chime in as a Fenix 5 user: I've worn my watch daily for 4-5 years and love it. My only gripes are that I have to connect to my laptop to update and that my battery life is highly influenced by temperature. I think the battery issue is a problem unique to my watch, as my sister just got a Fenix7 and it is lasting 10+ days on a charge in a Wisconsin winter.

Whenever I decide to upgrade, my next watch will be another Fenix. Garmin sends out flash sales occasionally to try and clear out for new models, and the last one hade the Fenix7 discounted under $400. You can also find new Fenix 6s for around that price. (Not trying to push the Fenix, it's just what I have experience with). If you go the Fenix route, I like the middle size as a 6', 200 LB man. I tried on the largest size of the 7x and found it too large, but that is personal preference. Besides my Fenix, my mom and sister have both used Forerunners for 5+ years and like them. Like others have mentioned, the Fenix is probably overkill and certainly does more than I will ever fully utilize, but it is also the best looking in my opinion and that does count for something.

Ninja edit: Over 4-5 years, I and the rest of my family have all replaced the bands on our Garmins due to failure (each once, respectively). For a rubber watchband with daily use, I find that reasonable. A couple were replaced for free and I think I paid for mine. All depends on how the rep you get is feeling that day. I've had my best luck using the online chat as finding things on Garmin's site can be a headache.

[Riot]

Thanks for the input. I didn’t really consider the size. I have pretty girlish wrists. Still, the bigger the size, the more features it seems to carry. Hmm. Not too sure now.

[Riot]

This is what it says when I select “spank it” as an activity.

[Riot]

Welllppp.

My sleep wasn’t working. I finally reached out the Garmin and the watch is linked to an original owners account. Problem is, I bought it off of an eBay shop, that I’m 99% sure is a pawn shop. When I told the Garmin employee, he literally said, “I would just get my money back if I were you.”

I’m so bummed!

[WilD]

That's interesting. I kind of thought there would be a way to factory reset a used watch. I guess the owner may have needed to disconnect it before pawning/selling and I wonder if an antitheft "feature" is at play. I have been wearing various versions of the Forerunner model for years and the one currently on my wrist was originally my wife's. Granted, we had full access to the watch and app being the original owners, but it was trivial to disconnect it from her account and move it to mine.

[Jonnydread]

Same, I bought my Forerunner used and the previous owner wiped it before sending it to me.

[Riot]

I guess I never updated this.
The Garmin rep emailed me after the chat had been closed for about an hour. Said he made a mistake and was looking at a user number very close mine, told me to give it a few more days to register me.

It’s weird, because as mentioned, it had worked that first day, however, the next night or two went by and it started working wonderfully. Been on ever since.