Is Garmin the Best Outdoor Smart device for fitness tracking?

Pebble lacks sensors

Asteroidos watches lack sensors

I don’t like Banglejs

Apple watch with ADP is okish but needs an iPhone companion, but I daily drive Graphene OS only

Only option seems to be Garmin with Gadgetbridge, but which model?

I still think Apple is the best option here. If course, us GOS users are left in a pickle since it requires iPhone.

Tbh I think any Garmin will do. I like my Instinct 2 because of the MIP display, 30d battery, and lack of a “smartwatch feel” (feels more like a GShock)

If you look at Mozilla’s Privacy Not Included privacy reviews of fitness trackers, Garmin and Apple are listed as “less creepy”. You can use a Garmin without an account (everything stays on your watch), or you can have granular control over what is sent to Garmin.

I’ve used both Apple Watch and Garmin. Both are great as fitness trackers, but I’m happy with Garmin at the moment, especially that it means I’m not tied to Apple (and that I don’t have to charge my watch every night…).

Polar seems to collect even less data, but some recent research comparing Garmin Connect with other fitness apps has shown Garmin doesn’t collect any nonessential data nor do they share data with third parties. Garmin’s transparent about what they collect data types for.

Also I’ve used my Garmin with GOS. I installed Connect via Aurora store, though I can’t comment too much on it because I only sync workout data. I don’t use it for Bluetooth notifications.

You can also sync your workout data via WiFi and don’t need Bluetooth at all after initial setup.

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when it comes to privacy, garmin follows the “You give it to them, they have it, anything third party integration is beyond our control and we’ll only share what you consent to them” type of approach.

I think almost any garmin watch is decent, would you like garmin pay or not?

Garmin sells a bewildering number of watches at various price points with overlapping features. There are likely many watches that meet your needs. There are YouTube channels dedicated to reviewing them. You need to give more specifics on what you want. There are other fitness brands to consider, too.

Not on my Instinct 2. It doesn’t have built-in Wi-Fi, so I have to use Bluetooth. I guess other models can?

I have the Vivoactive 5, which has WIFI.

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Sensors, I need all the sensors, there can be on a wrist.

Some of their newer more expensive watches have an upgraded heart rate sensor that does ECG. Not all of their watches do stair counts. Their watches are cool but the product lines are a confusing mess of brands and features. Good luck sorting through all of that.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1g8u4ai/simple_guideexplainer_for_all_the_watches_which/

https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1c5m2j4/can_someone_explain_garmins_watch_lineup_to_me/

You know that those sensors are at best: an approximation and not to be taken too seriously?
Not a precise tool for anything, can even be a scary placebo if being honest.

https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=T58o49xcZE4

People get too worked up if their wearable says that they had a good/bad night.

I had an Apple Watch Ultra myself for 15 months. Gave it back because of the metrics not being that critical while the ecosystem sucking big time.

I’d focus on something open, with a decent battery and potentially hackable so that you could integrate HomeAssistant or other things to it. Hence I still vouch for Pebble on my side.

So real. Every couple of months, I’ll wear my Garmin 24/7 just to get an idea of where my metrics are at (I prefer wearing “dumb” watches). One night, I couldn’t sleep from about 12-3. Woke up and my Garmin said I had a full 8.5 hours of sleep—straight through when I was up, moving around, and reading.

Another example is how pathetic treadmill running tracking is (I know it’s difficult but still). Heart rate monitoring has gotten better.

I think the appeal is how it gamifies fitness. If it makes you move more, eat healthier, sleep more, that’s awesome and translates to better quality of living.

But the metrics are AT BEST gross estimations. The most I use my Garmin for is outdoor runs (distance and heartrate).

I’d love to get my hands on a Pebble…

The Quantified Scientist channel offers the best metrics. The best smartwatches are Apple’s and then Google’s.

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I did exactly that. Can get toxic very quickly when the metric becomes a goal.
Now I don’t track my steps (manual treadmill) and it is a breath of fresh air to not be obsessed with it.

Yes, very gross estimations indeed. :slight_smile:

I watched this one too yes. Differences are marginal and still very approximate overall.
It’s not like you’re in a controlled lab environment with actual professional gear tracking your vitals like this one.

All Garmin devices get a decent score on Mozilla’s “Privacy Not Included” Reviews. Honestly even if they were more privacy-invasive, I would still consider keeping my watch because I absolutely love my Garmin Epix. I mostly use the watch itself to check out my data; if I need more information I check out the Garmin Connect webpage that my watch uploads to via WiFi. I don’t have the Garmin Connect app on my phone due to privacy concerns and I like to keep my phone as barebone as possible.

better than the mobile app for sure, but you still are sending metrics elsewhere. :sweat_smile:

Overall, I guess that it’s clear that Garmin is the best trail watch if you want something sturdy, long-lasting and dumb in terms of apps.

Not sure if OP wants a smart watch (with a proper apps ecosystem and fancy bells) or if they meant wearables as a whole without needing the extra fluff.

The smart ecosystem doesn’t have a clear winner as of today besides an Apple Watch Utra or early-stage hobbyists projects that are very DIY. :sweat_smile:

Yeah I debated in my mind website vs app (don’t need both) and settled on the website, but I’m totally open to having my mind changed. The watch itself already provides plenty of information but I definitely need either the website or the app to look at more details and edit some data.