Garmin - vívomove® HR

The only smart watch I wore for a while was the Garmin vivomove HR because it at the time was the closest thing I could see that resembled a traditional watch. It wasnt the worst thing, it looked and felt like a normal watch, notifications were not the greatest which was good because I didn't want it for tbat, I wanted something that measured steps and HR that looked ok. I used it on one trip and put it into non smart mode and one charge lasted me almost the entire trip which was 3 and a half weeks. Since I've got a ringconn V2 wearable ring, I'll never need to contemplate a smartwatch ever again. I wear my traditional watches and a ring. Easy. Sold the Garmin to some lady who then messaged me now happy she is because it doesn't spam you with notifications, so it went to a good place

I had another garmin years ago the vivomove hr and loved it too. Had a wait a few years to upgrade because they are pricey but definitely worth it.

It does not sound like you do running or other outdoor activities, so I d recommend a vivoactive 5 or 6 mate. However, something like a basic Forerunner could also give you all plus some running support for a share of the vivo price. I started my first one with a vivomove HR which only gave me steps and basic gym rep counting (that was 8 years ago) then vivoactive 3 and now a FR965 because I do hike a lot and started running recently plus all the gym.

This is why i have a vivomove. i don't need fancy stats - HR and ateps are fine for me and i love something that looks like a real watch

I have a Garmin viviomove it's the simplest of their watches. The gps only works if your phone is close. But I never walk without my phone so not a problem. Their other lines have more capabilities. I love the way it looks, it is an analog watch with a smart screen. It doesn't have all the features but the price was very reasonable under $150. I have had the watch for 3 years. I charge it about every other day but it would last nearly 3 full days without a charge. It has some smart features, I can get texts or alerts from my phone. It will auto log and guess my workout if I forget to start it. I can tell it if I am walking, running, cycling, on a treadmill, swimming, yoga, stretching, aerobics or strength training. I really love it. (I am an android user, with no desire to buy anything from Apple so an apple watch was not on my list). I wanted style first, fitness tracking second, and don't really care about having a smart watch outside of the fitness tracking. I think it is fairly accurate on my calories. I am using a TDEE calculator to compare the watch and my average tdee matches the watch's average calories out.

For awhile I wore a Garmin Vivomove as my main watch for this reason. It had everything I needed except GPS - I was running without my phone at that time because I didn't want to carry it, so I'd switch out to my older, but GPS-enabled, Garmin on runs. Now I run with my phone so a Vivomove would be fine (you can enable your phone's GPS to work with it). Mine looked very much like this one. They have a lot of different colorways. I only stopped wearing it because the early Vivomoves (like, 3rd gen.) had screens that died after two years. I'm sure that's been addressed by now. https://preview.redd.it/7j1ktwiglkdg1.png?width=362&format=png&auto=webp&s=a36d7e96414ae598d28e814fc203086b27d0a538

A lot depends on what you want out of it - but would also say that I think you probably aren't female based on your profile (but could be wrong) in which case would drop the Lily 2 variants (if want a hybrid then the instinct crossover is much more masculine and offers a lot more than the lily or could look at the vivomove series). Would also scratch the vivosmart as old and missing loads of features the others currently offer -and would say the same about the FR55. Would probably also drop out the inspire 3 due to its more basic nature (more a health/fitness tracker than smartwatch - technically so is the charge 6 but does offer more along smarwatch lines than tracker lines so fine to consider it more of smartwatch than tracker). And again would skip the FR945lte (as old, plus lte only usable for live track functionality - if you want lte for garmin then fenix 8 pro is the only garmin option --- none for fitbit unless you have an android phone and then get the pixel watch 3 or 4 lte versions). Do you want to make take/calls - then fitbit sense / vera; and garmin venu 3 / 4 / x1; fenix 8 series (and its variants) and FR570 and FR970 Do you want nfc pay - fitbit uses google wallet / garmin uses garmin pay and isn't as well supported as google wallet - but check on garmin pay support site to confirm what banks/financial services support it in your country (in most there is usually 1 digital financial service that is quick, easy and free to set up and use i.e. Curve/Revolt in most of Europe if you normal bank isn't supported. Do you want offline music as only the garmin's offer - fitbit doesn't. Do you want offline maps - Venu x1, fenix 7 (not worth it unless significantly cheaper than F7P - note that the epix 2 is the amoled version of the fenix 7), fenix 7 pro (not worth it unless significantly cheaper than F8), F8 variants; FR970 (and its prior gen FR965 (amoled) or FR955 (mip).). Fitbit health to match garmin health include fitbit premium sub for 2-3 years - then compare cost of products. If you want detailed fitness and training metrics and analytics then garmin - especially the F7 / F8 / FR265 /955/965/570/970. Venu / vivoactive are more health and lifestyle watches, and while they don't have the same level of training features, metrics and analytics than the Fenix/Forerunner/Instinct series offer - they do offer way more in this regards than fitbit does - so if that is important then would say venu/vivoactive over fitbit.

I've tried almost every fitness tracker under the sun and the sleep accuracy is as follows, best to worst: 1. Fitbit (Inspire HR, Charge 5, Charge 6) 2. Oura ring (gen 3) -- almost equal to Fitbit 3. Apple Watch (series 10 and SE2) -- only slightly less accurate than top 2 4. Garmin (fenix / venu / vivomove) -- a distant 4th up to 2023, 2024 onwards a close 4th 5. Whoop band (V4 work on bicep) -- garbage Just putting it out there.

The Garmin vivo line is really nice and light. After wearing an AW all the time for 10+ years, I’m really liking just having a watch that tracks my fitness when I want it to but it still just looks like a watch. Mine is more for cardio workouts and distance trail walks so don’t know how it compares for timed runs, laps, etc.

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂