Thoughts on Fitness Trackers
 

Been using a FIT bit last while just for general non cycling fitness. as i like to track my steps and sleep when not biking and not have to put on a strap when just doing every day stuff. Just recently. my Fitbit stopped working, this is 3rd time. thinking of getting a different brand.
what would be the best one to get? and reliable etc?

I am thinking the Garmin Vivofit as it can connect with my Garmin Connect etc.

looking for one that tracks sleep, general HRT, steps for sure.

All recommendations open. thanks

Just Google "fitness trackers" lots of reviews.

I know you didn't ask a general question but I'll offer a general answer. Unless you're training for the Tour de France and want equipment to monitor your training, I don't think there's much difference between fitness trackers. All of the possibilities in $100-$300 price range are imprecise, particularly with regard to HR monitoring. I would just focus on the features you want and find one that offers the most for the $$$.

They are cool for a week, then end up at the bottom of your junk drawer.

NOT TRUE! I use my fitbit one every day. When biking I put it on my shoe. One day I compared "cadence" from time and steps with average cadence from gps and they were dead on. While the calorie count isn't accurate, it's good for tracking daily or weekly trends. My friend was watching calories and entered "best effort" calorie count at every meal. When his daily input was exceeding the output, he would throttle back on the snacks.

I bike, hike and walk and find the fitbit one to be an excellent activity tracker. I've not done much sleep tracking, mostly because the best tracking requires wearing the device on your wrist and that won't work with my sleep positions.

I have a HRM strap that I use with my Garmin 520. Fitness trackers are generally pretty bad at tracking heart rate.

Stay away from the Samsung Gear Fit 2. I have one, and using it as a connected device, counting steps is fine. But as far fitness tracking it sucks. It has an "auto detect workout" feature. I have been on my lawnmower drinking a beer and it will detect bicycling. I have been on 40 mile bike rides and it never detected the ride. I was also using it when I first started riding my trainer last winter. It would tell me that I was at my resting HR for 30-35 minutes of the ride, then out of nowhere it would start tracking my actual HR. I have tried to live with it and deal with the issues. But now I mainly use it as a connected device for my phone.

I use apple watch. It has all statistics about movement and health.