Garmin
Forerunner 255 Series
Long battery; but wrist HR tracking is inconsistent.

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Eh, I’m not so sure honestly. Everything is so interconnected now. Take Whoop for example - Whoop uses AWS for their servers - in most AWS cloud services contracts there are clauses in there that outline data usage (AWS and Amazon can basically get unfettered access to the data from Whoop and use it for “product improvement and reporting”). So even with the product that we all presumably have, that data is out there and accessible by Amazon, even if indirectly via AWS.
I’m not one of the haters, and it’s helped me a lot, but I’m not going to renew once my membership is up. The MG in particular is not worth the price in the slightest! If it was cheaper, I’d probably renew but there are so many options that are just as good (if not better) for a lot cheaper. All of my friends have now left Whoop for alternatives and none of them regret it. Whoop has served me very well but it’s time for me to move on. It was innovative 3+ years ago, but not anymore.
Idk about easily but yeah if there are screenless trackers with no subscription and actually good UI they definitely have a chance to eat into Whoops space. But so far no one has come close yet. Amazfit is maybe closest but the user experience is not nearly as nice as whoop. The Fitbit app has a long long way to go to get near whoop.
Maybe. Maybe not. The polar loop is a one time $200 and the helio strap is only $100 as well but neither has the software to back it up really. Plus Garmin is coming out with something too at some point. Will whoop lower prices or will they try to differentiate on features? Maybe they will lower core prices but push add ons like whoop labs even more aggressively.
I had a Garmin Venu 3S once, but it didn’t quite click with me after a few tries. I was also using an Apple Watch Series 10 at the time. I eventually went back to my Apple Watch and stopped using Garmin. Why? Because there are some things about iPhone and Apple Watch that just don’t quite work the same way for Garmin. As you mentioned, the Apple Watch experience is truly unique and can’t be beat. If you’re serious about fitness, I think you could use an Apple Watch and be perfectly happy with its features. On a side note, I also wear a [WHOOP](https://join.whoop.com/crismfitfoodie) to get a deeper look into fitness, sleep, and other metrics. I’ve been using one for the past five years and wouldn’t change a thing. Just a heads-up, I wouldn’t recommend an Oura Ring. I know you didn’t mention it, but it feels like a bit of a waste of materials.
I’m a huge fan of WHOOP, and I’d definitely suggest it to anyone, whether they’re an athlete or not! One of the standout features is the daily sleep, recovery, and strain score. HRV is a key factor in your recovery, and it can differ from person to person. The strain metric shows how hard your body is working throughout the day and how well you’re managing stress. Another great feature is the journal. You can track various behaviors, like melatonin use, connecting with family and friends, caffeine consumption, alcohol, and over 20 others to gain insights. I usually keep it to about 10. From my own experience, I’ve noticed that taking melatonin daily has a positive impact on my recovery, adding about 10% to it. This might not be the same for everyone. The list is endless, but it’s highly customizable. The WHOOP battery is fantastic. I can go almost 14 days without needing to charge it. The battery is wearable, and all you have to do is slide it onto your wrist, and it charges wirelessly. Charging is super quick, and I’ve never had any battery issues.
I was a Fitbit user since FB2 (about 2016). When my band broke in about 2023, FB told me they would / could not sell me a replacement band--FB told me I had to buy a new device. That's when I learned that Google bought or acquired Fitbit. Hence, the change in customer support. I was at a Scheels looking for another health tracker--that's when about 2023--I learned about Whoop. Scheels had a full display about Whoop. About me: I'm a Army Veteran with PTSD and multiple head trauma. I wore Fitbit 4.0, and when notified of the 5.0 upgrade, I went with the 5.0 MG. The AI built into the software takes into consideration everything that I am struggling with on a daily basis to recommend daily activity level, and end of day review. This Whoop 5.0 is amazingly intuitive to my sleep as well as good brain day vs. bad brain day. In short / TLDR: Whoop has health insight (sleeping, naps, and daily stress levels) that Fitbit will never achieve. That is my insight and experience. I've been on Whoop now for about three years.
Hi everyone, I’m currently in a parallel mode with my Whoop Mg (and H10 during workouts). I just received the notification for a 3.0.31 -> 3.0.49 firmware update but can’t find any notes about this. Any experience from other users? I will likely do it this afternoon (EU) and report here.
Garmin
Forerunner 255 Series
Long battery; but wrist HR tracking is inconsistent.

Garmin
Forerunner 955 Series
Best value, clear MIP screen; limited smartwatch features.

Garmin
Fenix 7 Series
Durable, multi-week battery, flashlight; high price, buggy software.
Garmin
Instinct 2 Series
Rugged, solar multi-week battery; bulky, small screen readability issues.

Garmin
Enduro 3
Multi-week solar battery, lightweight; but bulky form factor.

Ranked #1
Oura - Oura Ring Series

Ranked #1
Apple - Ultra Series

Ranked #1
Garmin - Enduro 3

Ranked #1
Garmin - Fenix 7 Series

Ranked #1
Garmin - Forerunner 255 Series

Ranked #1
Oura - Oura Ring Series