OnyxTiger

Hey all,

So I've been looking around for a solution that would replace my never-purchased Garmin for riding.

Right now, I'm using Strava to track my commute and training rides, and would love a smart watch that does just about as many functions that I could want, the more the better. Right now, here's some things I would like to have, some more than others:

- Strava compatibility
- HRM
- Integration with my bluetooth earbuds (track skipping)
- Decent battery life
- Compatible with Android

From what I understand, the Apple iWatch isn't compatible with Android, so that's out. I'm currently researching the LG Urbane 2nd Edition, Huawei, and Samsung Gear S2.

Are there any that you've come across that works well with both your commute and/or training, and is just a good smart watch in general? Thanks!

Seattle Forrest

Garmin Fenix 3. Next choice would be wait for Suunto's Ambit 4, followed by Garmin's Forerunner 920xt.

I bought my girlfriend the Huawei watch, which is the top of the line Android smart watch. It has an HRM built in. Apparently it's a limitation in all of Android Wear that smartwatch HRMs cannot be used for continuous heart monitoring during exercise. She had to go buy a chest strap (Polar H7 because it's comfortable and uses Bluetooth).

My Fenix 3 battery lasts weeks if I don't use the GPS much. It works flawlessly for cycling, talks to my power meter, shows me texts/emails/calendar appointments, tells me how long I need to rest after a workout, uploads automatically over the air (Bluetooth and wifi) and can push to Strava. Also does navigation. Great running and swimming data from it too. Has music controls but I don't listen to music while I ride so I can't comment on that.



They make one with an optical heart rate monitor (which can be used for exercise), too, but I prefer a chest strap because of limitations in the optical technology.

Alligator

Fenix 3, hands down. I have it, and it does everything.

OnyxTiger

Great information SF, and Alligator. Thanks for that. I just went to my local Best Buy and they didn't have the Garmin Fenix lines on their displays. After looking at their smart watch options (moto360, LG Urbane, Huawei, etc.) and their activity tracker options (Fitbit surge, vivoactive, Mio, etc.) I like what the Fenix has to offer, in that it could be a watch that is worn all day, and not just dedicated to workouts.

My biggest concern is the price though... It'll take some more mulling over to figure whether or not the value is there for me at $400 - $500. However, I did see a number of deals on the Fenix 2 online, for around $165, not including the HRM chest strap. Doing so would put me well under $250 for the system, which seems like a great deal for me. I suppose if there's a huge difference between the Fenix 3 and 2, I would have to weigh those out.

Will do some more research, hopefully pull the trigger this week should I feel confident enough.

Ravenwing

I love my Fenix 3, and have a new F3 HR on order. Realistically, the 920 is a more affordable and probably just as capable choice, but the F3 is just so darned beautiful!

Laurido92

I have a Garmin VivoActive smart watch and I really like it. It has all the features that I need (Run, Bike, Swim, Walk, Golf, Indoor Walk, Indoor Run, Indoor Bike). You can also add multiple ANT+ accessories (HRM, speed sensor, cadence, power meter, running pod, etc). It also has weather notifications, phone alerts and daily calories, step tracker. It also has a built in alarm and a find my phone feature. I like the fact that it vibrates so you don't have to worry about disrupting noises. I've had it for a few months and I really like it. It's about half the price of the 920 and the Fenix 3 and has all the same features.

https://buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/into...rod150767.html

OnyxTiger

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll look into the Vivoactive, I did watch a video rundown of its features, doesn't look bad at all. Still have to understand what Garmin Connect is and if it's compatible with Strava. I really do want to like the Fenix 2 and pull the trigger on it, but there's been a lot of durability issues per reviews, bugs and so forth. And because of the 12 month warranty, it seems that the reviews come after that point, which makes an even bigger concern.

CeeDotA

I just bought a 920XT and love it, but I'm envious that it doesn't have on-board temperature like the Fenix. But I prefer the 920XT's look to the Fenix.

Ravenwing

That on-board temperature on the F3 isn't really all that great. The default internal sensor gives you the internal temperature of the watch (influenced by electronics of the watch and your skin temp if worn and not attached to your bike). Pairing a Tempe sensor gives you air temp., but there are some issues with sampling rates and sensor dropouts with the tempe that result in some ugly graphs. Basically, what happens is when the tempe drops out or is not sampling, the watch defaults to the interior sensor. So if the outside temp. is, say, 65f, you might see jumps up and down from 65 to 85, back to 65, etc. Yeah, its good enough so that you can tell what the temperature is, but it ain't always pretty. There have been requests for Garmin to update firmware so that you can opt to use external sensor exclusively, but to my knowledge that hasn't happened. This may be because the watch needs the internal sensor in order to properly adjust the barometer/altimeter.

Lt Stonez

Garmin?s new Vivoactive HR & Vivofit 3: Hands-on & First Run | DC Rainmaker

its a new vivoactiv in town with built in HR sensor. You can broadcast HR from clock to garmin cyclecomputer also.

Look also at garmin 235HR who does the same thing but is a little pricyer

Garmin Forerunner 230 & 235 In-Depth Review | DC Rainmaker

Phil_gretz

That is some pretty impressive technology. I'd never use one, though. Neither would I spend $500 on something like that. Good for you guys, I guess...

OnyxTiger

Thanks so much for those resources, Lt! That's a very thorough review source, I'll be looking up that website from here on.

OnyxTiger

I agree, it's definitely impressive, and expected at this day and age I suppose. I think their utility has its place for certain people. Personally, I couldn't justify a cycle computer that has its only use on top my bike... at around the same price point of a Garmin Edge, I could get a timepiece that serves me well all day. I just so happen to be looking for a watch, and don't want a strict activity tracker and/or strict smart watch. The options I'm looking for would tick all those boxes, and do them well.

jfowler85

Timex from walmart.

Laurido92

The VivoActive and Garmin Express will sync with Strava, MapmyRide/Run, and others. I haven't had any issues syncing with any of them. Works great.

bakes1

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
But as far as an all day timepiece goes those watches are Fugly.

Seattle Forrest

Garmin Connect is their version of Strava. It will store a record of your exercise, has a calendar, etc. You can enter your daily weight and stuff like that too, or just use it for bike rides. Anyway, yes, it can push a copy of every ride you do to Strava immediately when it's uploaded.

The Fenix 2 has a reputation for bugginess and I would personally get a 920xt before I got an F2.

And if you look around you might find a deal. If you're an REI member their dividend is coming up soon.

corrado33

I've been told (by someone who sells/uses them) that the Fenix 3 isn't much better.

Besides, they're freaking HUGE. If you're a typical skinny cyclist, you can forget about wearing it on your wrist under your clothes. (It's not just large in diameter, it's very... very tall. (Sits off of your wrist.)) And yes, the battery life is OK... if you don't use the GPS. However you seem to want to use it constantly, so you'd have to recharge it often. (Often times in real life the battery life is... less than specified. My 910 is supposed to last 20 hours, there's no way in hell I'd actually get that over multiple rides/runs.)

Seems like you one one device to do too many things. I'd get a GPS/ant+ bike computer then a separate smartwatch personally.

(I personally have the fitbit HR and a garmin 910xt. They do all of the things you want except music control and text notifications, things I would never use. Call notifications is very nice though.) I'm mainly a runner, hence why I have a watch instead of a bike computer.

Seattle Forrest

Fenix 3 is worlds better. I can tell you from a year personal experience. And the watch really isn't that big, it's not an issue with a dress shirt or elastic-wristed down jacket.

Girlfriend has the $400 Huawei watch, it's a disappointment as an exercise device. The battery doesn't last a full day. It can't do much besides tell you what time it is when the phone is out of range. Really does not compare at all. The screen is beautiful, but ...

Battery life in my Fenix 3 in real life is about 1/3 more than in my Edge.

Also the Fenix does so much more than the Edge. Not just it can track swimming and whatnot, but even for cycling it has better and richer software features. The only downside is screen size.

OnyxTiger

Hey thanks man

Looks more and more like the F2 is out of the question, unfortunately. Been seeing some really attractive prices out there, too. Personally, I'm not a fan of the look of the 920xt so I haven't put if on my shortlist... yet.

Thanks for the input corrado. To be honest, I actually dislike the look of most smart watches out there. The touch screens for some reason don't do it for me. I think for the most part what I would be missing out on when comparing the F3 and an Edge for instance would be the screen size being more easily referenced for navigation and/or stat display.

Good to hear that, Seattle.


Being the nit that I am, I did look up a F3 w/ HRM on Craigslist, and am about 70-30 on pulling on that one. Guy says it's used, but there's no scratches on the screen. Says he got the watch a year ago, had problem with the GPS, was issued a new one from Garmin in September, and has used that one since. Hasn't told me why he doesn't want it anymore. I'm concerned about registration and warranty. $400. I think the deal is sweet, but I could get new on ebay for $469, not including shipping and taxes. Hmm, what to do what to do...

corrado33

I'm so confused. If the one he's selling is the old one with the GPS problem that required he get a new one, why would you want it? If he's selling the new one I'm guessing he's having the same problem that he had with the old one...

Seattle Forrest

I think if Garmin warranty-replaced his watch, he would have had to send the old one back? Sounds slightly fishy.

As far as "no scratches" goes, I got hit by a car doing 35 to 40 mph, impact on the side of my body I was wearing my watch on, I'm pretty sure the watch slammed into the hood of the car when it hit me. No scratches, sill works the same as the day I bought it. (I have the sapphire screen, obviously haven't tested this with the mineral glass one and don't plan to!)

Here's a picture of the F3 doing navigation. It vibrates on your wrist when you go off course. A friend and I left town at 3 am to go hiking last fall, we were on the trail a couple hours before sunrise. Every time we walked off the end of a switchback, the watch told me about it. Very impressive. Haven't tried it for cycling. I might be more tempted to use Google Maps for that and have the watch show me notifications from my phone ("turn left..."). The black line was the section I'd already done at that point, the green was the route I had yet to follow, the arrow at 10:30 is pointing toward north, and the arrow at 6 o'clock is pointing in the direction I need to go. Other screens have other nav fields like time and distance to go.

chrislee99777

You can just buy a smart bike~

OnyxTiger

I think I may be at D-1 right now, so any bike is out of the question.

OnyxTiger

This, and RizKnows review on YouTube, and the DCRainmaker links... as well as seeing one in person at a local shop from a salesperson who didn't have it available at a store but was raving about it...

And I just pulled the trigger on eBay. Can't wait to put it on. Thanks for your help guys.