Smart watch/Fitness tracker

lurganblue · March 01, 2018, 09:55:55 AM

Quote from: Karl Kennedy on March 01, 2018, 09:28:26 AM
Another try for this lads..

A GPS watch with a separate stop watch function? Anyone know of any?

Have a look at the amazfit pace. I'm not 100% sure it has the stopwatch function but i think it does (i dont own it).

Karl Kennedy · March 01, 2018, 08:55:20 PM

Quote from: lurganblue on March 01, 2018, 09:55:55 AM
Quote from: Karl Kennedy on March 01, 2018, 09:28:26 AM
Another try for this lads..

A GPS watch with a separate stop watch function? Anyone know of any?

Have a look at the amazfit pace. I'm not 100% sure it has the stopwatch function but i think it does (i dont own it).

Thanks, will have a look!

Rufus T Firefly · May 22, 2023, 03:58:05 PM

Bumping this thread after a few years.

Thinking of getting myself a new smartwatch, for doing a bit of walking. Given my price range, the two I have narrowed it down to are the Garmin Vivoactive 4 (£199) and the Samsung Galaxy 5 watch (£239).

The Samsung appears to have the much better spec but I've read reviews where people are complaining about the accuracy of the info it gives, e.g. steps, heart monitor etc.

Anyone with first hand experience?

lurganblue · May 22, 2023, 04:44:38 PM

Not completely helpful here but i have the Samsung Galaxy Active 2. So certainly not the 5, but i find the steps are completely different than fitbit for example. Now, i dont know which is accurate, but there is a large disparity with Samsung on the lower side. I dont mind though, as you know yourself if youve had a good day or not with your own average step count.

Never had a problem with GPS accuracy.

Rufus T Firefly · May 22, 2023, 04:55:35 PM

Quote from: lurganblue on May 22, 2023, 04:44:38 PM
No completely helpful here but i have the Samsung Galaxy Active 2. So certainly not the 5, but i find the steps are completely different that fitbit for example. Now, i dont know which is accurate, but there is a large disparity with Samsung on the lower side. I dont mind though, as you know yourself if youve had a good day or not with your own average step count.

Never had a problem with GPS accuracy.

Thanks for that.

trueblue1234 · May 22, 2023, 08:25:00 PM

Quote from: Rufus T Firefly on May 22, 2023, 03:58:05 PM
Bumping this thread after a few years.

Thinking of getting myself a new smartwatch, for doing a bit of walking. Given my price range, the two I have narrowed it down to are the Garmin Vivoactive 4 (£199) and the Samsung Galaxy 5 watch (£239).

The Samsung appears to have the much better spec but I've read reviews where people are complaining about the accuracy of the info it gives, e.g. steps, heart monitor etc.

Anyone with first hand experience?

Had the vivioactive 4. Good watch. Heart and steps all spot on as you'd expect for a garmin. Doesn't have all the fancy bells and whistles for running like you get in a forerunner. But covers all the main things. Also got contactless etc as well which is handy. Charge is grand if you're not using gps for running. I found it needed charging every couple of days if doing runs. But decent watch.

Rufus T Firefly · May 23, 2023, 10:16:06 AM

Quote from: trueblue1234 on May 22, 2023, 08:25:00 PM
Had the vivioactive 4. Good watch. Heart and steps all spot on as you'd expect for a garmin. Doesn't have all the fancy bells and whistles for running like you get in a forerunner. But covers all the main things. Also got contactless etc as well which is handy. Charge is grand if you're not using gps for running. I found it needed charging every couple of days if doing runs. But decent watch.

Thanks very much. Very useful.

lurganblue · May 27, 2025, 12:17:59 PM

The young lad was talking about getting some sort of fitness tracker. But he isnt keen on a smartwatch. He is looking something that he can wear while playing GAA and maybe for some distance running (but posibly not the vest type thing either).

Any recommendations folks? Maybe one of those whoop bands? I see they also need a subscription though

gerrykeegan · May 27, 2025, 02:07:20 PM

I'd recommend those Xiaomi bands, my lads have had them for years. The have gotten better and better. Lads lose these things. Those whoop are serious money.

bennydorano · May 27, 2025, 02:39:25 PM

I bought a Polar Pacer watch (£160 odd I think) a year or 2 ago, specifically for HRM Function / cycling recording - as I've burned through a few HRM Chest straps. It was a great investment. I notice there's a Polar runner (multi Function tho) watch available for £65 odd there online.

Mourne Red · May 27, 2025, 02:55:52 PM

Quote from: lurganblue on May 27, 2025, 12:17:59 PMThe young lad was talking about getting some sort of fitness tracker. But he isnt keen on a smartwatch. He is looking something that he can wear while playing GAA and maybe for some distance running (but posibly not the vest type thing either).

Any recommendations folks? Maybe one of those whoop bands? I see they also need a subscription though

I was using a whoop (4.0 there's 5.0 now) for the past year and it was good but felt some of the tracking was a bit off. (Steps massively, calories and haptic alarm wouldn't work half the time)

Recently got a Garmin Forerunner 265 and wouldn't look back, easier track workouts, steps, runs, pacing etc. and I like the Garmin connect thing where you can collect badges for doing activities but that's just the child in me.

If it's just for GAA WHOOP would probably do the job, you wouldn't know you where wearing it - Need to charge it every 3 days.

J70 · May 28, 2025, 06:09:52 PM

I didn't want to fork out for a new Apple watch last summer, so I went with an Amazfit T-rex, which was a good bit cheaper.

It's not quite as seamlessly compatible with an iPhone, but not bad overall for texts and fitness and sleep tracking.

My biggest complaint is keying in the password is a pain in the arse.

lurganblue · May 28, 2025, 11:15:42 PM

Quote from: Mourne Red on May 27, 2025, 02:55:52 PM
Quote from: lurganblue on May 27, 2025, 12:17:59 PMThe young lad was talking about getting some sort of fitness tracker. But he isnt keen on a smartwatch. He is looking something that he can wear while playing GAA and maybe for some distance running (but posibly not the vest type thing either).

Any recommendations folks? Maybe one of those whoop bands? I see they also need a subscription though

I was using a whoop (4.0 there's 5.0 now) for the past year and it was good but felt some of the tracking was a bit off. (Steps massively, calories and haptic alarm wouldn't work half the time)

Recently got a Garmin Forerunner 265 and wouldn't look back, easier track workouts, steps, runs, pacing etc. and I like the Garmin connect thing where you can collect badges for doing activities but that's just the child in me.

If it's just for GAA WHOOP would probably do the job, you wouldn't know you where wearing it - Need to charge it every 3 days.

Yeah it looks like this might be best considering the potential contact.

outinfront · May 30, 2025, 10:08:13 AM

I am not an expert by any means however I am aware that users have felt that whoop's steps data and heart rate data is questionable, but sleep data is supposed to be good. Also whoop does not provide GPS data, heat maps and playing stats (total distance, high paced running data, max speed data, player load, etc) for during games. If these are the sort of things you're wanting insight into then whoop wouldn't be my choice.
In order to get GPS for say an outdoor run you need your phone as well for location...you may aswell just use strava!
Whoop has no screen so real-time feedback isn't really going to be available.
Whoop good for tracking your wellness, body stress and recovery, etc but not so good for match data analysis or real time feedback.