Talk me through this - Garmin Gizmos

[pixy0stix]

Garmin just released their answer to the fitness tracker - sites.garmin.com/vivo/

I like what I'm seeing because it's the first one of the bands that I've seen that you can connect a heartrate monitor to.

Previously I was going to purchase a Garmin gps watch with a heartrate monitor. Now I'm thinking of buying the vivo and a cheaper garmin gps, maybe the forerunner 10?

What do you think?

I like the vivo option because it would track everything (well, as much as a glorified pedometer could track) with more accurate results when I work out. Just getting a heartrate watch wouldn't do that, right?

The downside is that it's new and there aren't a lot of reviews out there for it. All together it would be $200ish, plus a 5-8 week wait time.

Is the forerunner 10 worth it?

[elletr13]

Hmmm...this is interesting. I was thinking of getting a fitbit, but I like the HRM portion here. However, my HRM is a Polar, so I guess I would need to buy a Garmin one as well? That will run the cost up a lot. I may hold on the fitbit until some more reviews come in for this.

[taratru]

What exactly do you need from a device? I think that's the first question.

For example, it would be fun to know how much I walk a day, but I don't need that in my overall fitness goal planning. I need a running watch, because that's the data I need. The rest I can use MFP for, ya know? Also, I've never even used my heart rate monitor, so unless you plan to do heart rate training, why would you need one? (I kick it old school and count)

And fwiw, my sister has the 10 and she loves it. I have the 210 and 310. I wish the 310 features were the size of the 210 watch.

[pixy0stix]

I would like a heartrate monitor to calculate the burn during my non-running workouts. The class is all over the place with activities, and as such it's hard for me to go back and track what I did and then estimate calories.

In general, I think fitness trackers are fun.

For the gps watch, I need something that accurately keeps track of pace and route/distance. That's it.

[katinthehat]

So the problem with using a HRM to calculate your calorie burn doing the day is, well, you have to wear a monitor all day.

I did that once with my Garmin 405cx just to see what it said and it was annoying to wear for 24 hours.

I have a bodymedia band and often I would run with my Garmin + HRM and the BM band on at the same time. The calorie burns were very similar FWIW.

[taratru]

How much is the 10 these days? Have you been looking on that FB group that sells things? I see them on there every so often.

Can you not just wear the heartrate monitor and watch during class? It won't figure time, but it's still measuring your heartrate, which is what gives the calories, right?

eta: I'm just being super cheap and trying to save you cash. 

[mrs.jacinthe]

Ohhhhh, this looks good! It's water resistant and connects with HRM, so that means, theoretically, it's the first fitness tracker I could wear into the pool (fitbit can't get wet). Does that seem right?

If so, sign me up, right now! I've been *waiting* for a tracker I could wear while I swim.

[pixy0stix]

I think I'm going to get a 210, with monitor and call it a day. If in a few months I feel like I need an activity tracker I'll re-evaluate.

ETA: Purchased. I got the white version. oooooo... fancy...

[pixy0stix]

Jan 9, 2014 12:12:10 GMT -5 elletr13 said:

Hmmm...this is interesting. I was thinking of getting a fitbit, but I like the HRM portion here. However, my HRM is a Polar, so I guess I would need to buy a Garmin one as well? That will run the cost up a lot. I may hold on the fitbit until some more reviews come in for this.

Polar apparently has their own version of this. www.polarloop.com/us-en/

[katinthehat]

Jan 9, 2014 13:07:58 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Ohhhhh, this looks good! It's water resistant and connects with HRM, so that means, theoretically, it's the first fitness tracker I could wear into the pool (fitbit can't get wet). Does that seem right?

If so, sign me up, right now! I've been *waiting* for a tracker I could wear while I swim.

I still don't think the HRM transmits data through the water though.  Because you can wear your Garmin in the pool but it only picks up the HR sporadically.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Jan 9, 2014 17:30:04 GMT -5 katinthehat said:

Jan 9, 2014 13:07:58 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Ohhhhh, this looks good! It's water resistant and connects with HRM, so that means, theoretically, it's the first fitness tracker I could wear into the pool (fitbit can't get wet). Does that seem right?

If so, sign me up, right now! I've been *waiting* for a tracker I could wear while I swim.

I still don't think the HRM transmits data through the water though.  Because you can wear your Garmin in the pool but it only picks up the HR sporadically.

Huh.  I can wear my polar-compatible monitor in the pool (with its accompanying watch) and it works great.  Maybe it's however Garmin transmits data?  Dagnabbit, I was hoping this would be a good solution.

[elletr13]

Jan 9, 2014 15:48:00 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Jan 9, 2014 12:12:10 GMT -5 elletr13 said:

Hmmm...this is interesting. I was thinking of getting a fitbit, but I like the HRM portion here. However, my HRM is a Polar, so I guess I would need to buy a Garmin one as well? That will run the cost up a lot. I may hold on the fitbit until some more reviews come in for this.

Polar apparently has their own version of this. www.polarloop.com/us-en/

Thanks--I'll check it out too!