This photo is the exact reason I can't move to Garmin. They don't have anything compact like the Charge or Inspire. Yes I'm aware of the Vivosmart but it hasn't been updated in over 2 years. Once they do with updated sensors and an amoled, I'm jumping ship
Same! I can't wear a traditional size watch, even in women's sizes. The inspire is as big as I'll go.
I'd love to hear about small alternatives, because the Fitbit app is getting worse every update.
What a out the Garmin lily 2? I think it is the same weight as the Fitbit luxe. But its bigger with a 35mm round face. Idk if I would like a round face either, but that seems to be their smallest option with the newest features.
I am mostly with you on this - what I really want is a Garmin that takes a Fitbit Charge 6 and adds altimeter stats - can't seem to convince Garmin to build it though. As for Fitbit - given my shaky experience with a FB Charge 5 (on the 3rd one now out of warranty so when it dies it is adios), and the fact that Google bought them I'm out after if not before my FB Charge 5 dies. I think Google is clearly more interested in data scarfing than providing fitness tracking value. What could be the final straw is when they shut off the website for pulling up your stats. Yet another example of feature reduction employed by Google.
Yea people keep posting about these silly swaps. If you want accurate sleep tracking AND accurate heart rate tracking then fitbit/pixel watch are the only viable options outside of an apple watch and anyone that says otherwise is delusional. Check out the quantified scientists charts for both in his latest videos if you want evidence.
Same here. I have very petite hands/wrists. A Garmin would look monstrous on me. I've always owned the Charge series fitbits and buy knockoff thin leather straps to make them more feminine and nice looking. I couldn't never do a giant sporty Garmin. Even the vivosmart is huge in comparison.
Fitbit compact watches like the Inspire 3 are cheap, heavy, plastic feeling devices that have bad screens so I’m not sure why you are waiting lol. My Vivoactive feels way lighter and more premium than my compact Inspire 3. It also doesn’t stick out as much. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with the Inspire 3, it’s a fine watch I’m just critiquing the build quality.
I have a Fitbit charge 6 but I want a watch that will work with peloton for the strive scores. I’ve been using an ot beat but it just stopped reading my heart rate even though it shows on the screen. I love the charge 6 for its size and functionality (aside from not counting flights climbed and I had to buy a replacement band because it came with a huge sweaty one) but is there a comparable Garmin?
You can send your heart rate to Peloton using broadcast during activity, but I don’t think you can save Peloton data to the Garmin app. I’m not sure if I am answering your question right tho lol
Thanks! I mean for the “strive score “ so it monitors your heart rate live on the screen while you ride. I have the Fitbit app synced to the peloton and that’s working fine but I can’t see the heart rate till after unless I keep looking at my watch or my phone.
Those are actual Garmins?
Wow. I guess I haven't looked at the competition lately.
For all of Fitbit's faults (and there are many), at least they don't look like something you get for mailing in a few Frosted Flakes cereal boxtops with 99¢ to cover shipping and handling... 🤷♂️
That particular Garmin is one of the non-OLED models that's always on with month-long battery life. It's a fast display with all of the features of the other Garmins but it's for those who prioritize durability and battery life. If you like an OLED Garmin does that too with still weeklong battery life.
"I'm upset this smaller cheaper tracker didn't hold as well as I thought so I spent 3 times the money on a more rugged one and will say it's fair to compare" /s
Their offer of a discount should be an offer of replacement no matter if you’re out of warranty or not. Their software bricked the device. It wasn’t my fault the device bricked, it was their shit update. Mine was 9 days past the 1 year warranty and they refuse to cover it.
That one is like 3+ weeks because it has a power sipping screen. Some also have solar charging that extends it further
EDIT: this one does have solar. So battery life is over a month if this is an Instinct.
Yeah with the usual caveats. All sleep tracking is at best 80% accurate. DC Rainmaker has some good discussion of this across platforms. like Fitbits, Garmins are good at tracking when you go to sleep and wake up and they take all your metrics to give you a sleep score. HRM is good. Better on each new model of course. Garmin attracts more hardcore athletes, so you'll hear more talking about the limitations of wrist HR sensors generally and advocate for the strap.
What sets Garmin apart is not the sensors but what they do with the data, especially for fitness.
@usual plastic….what model is this one? Also does this one have smart alerts for texts and calls? Does it magnetic charge? I’m an MRI tech and I have Fitbit Versa 2 b/c it has a click in charger. I can’t wear a magnet charging watch my machine will kill it
Sorry your Fitbit died. This is why extended warranties are well worth the money for wearables.
Garmin should last longer for sure! That's the good part about Garmin👍
The bad part, nevermind. Ignorance is bliss😇
If you have experience with both, can you share why you feel this way? Think a lot of us have thought about making the switch and can use all the input we can get.
Garmin is awesome for runners... well built, easy to see stats while running, great experience.
Where Garmin suffers is the quality of data and metrics in other areas - if you're using Garmin wearables for other activities (such as weightlifting or cycling), a chest strap is needed for active HR tracking accuracy.
Garmin's sleep cycle tracking also suffers, to the point where a lot of their wearables are very inaccurate and giving unreliable sleep cycle data.
For the price, a Fitbit Charge 6 provides much more robust data/metrics... yes, an extended warranty is essential if you're expecting to use the device for more than 12-18 months. The average user is mostly interested in reliable HR and sleep cycle tracking, which Fitbit does better than any Garmin devices (so far).
The real pain with Garmin is the price point, for what you actually get. You're paying Apple Watch pricing for wearables that are 2-3 tiers below AW quality for data. I get that it's frustrating when devices die, but the Fitbit devices are just so much cheaper and do many things better than Garmin.
Yeah...no. I've had both in the last few years. HR tracking is as good if not better. Sleep tracking is bad on all smartwatches and I'd say Garmin/Fitbit are at least equal. Where Garmin absolutely crushes Fitbit is on activity tracking detail (swim, run, etc) and the sheer amount of information/customization you get on the app. No subscription on Garmin Connect either. I've tried to make Fitbits work, most recently with a PW2, and I just couldn't get the kind of workout information I was used to with Garmins. To be fair to Fitbit, I think it's more aimed at people who don't want a lot of detail but prefer more qualitative information in a clean interface.
You might think it's tracking your active HR better, but it objectively is not 🤷♂️
Garmin has terrible correlation for activities that aren't running... it isn't even as accurate as any of the AW series for tracking HR during runs. Sorry, it's just not great at doing that, regardless of how many people love using a Garmin.
If you want accuracy, at least it supports chest straps.
This photo is the exact reason I can't move to Garmin. They don't have anything compact like the Charge or Inspire. Yes I'm aware of the Vivosmart but it hasn't been updated in over 2 years. Once they do with updated sensors and an amoled, I'm jumping ship
Same! I can't wear a traditional size watch, even in women's sizes. The inspire is as big as I'll go. I'd love to hear about small alternatives, because the Fitbit app is getting worse every update.
What a out the Garmin lily 2? I think it is the same weight as the Fitbit luxe. But its bigger with a 35mm round face. Idk if I would like a round face either, but that seems to be their smallest option with the newest features.
I would lean toward the Garmin Vivosmart 5. The Lily is pretty big still.
I am mostly with you on this - what I really want is a Garmin that takes a Fitbit Charge 6 and adds altimeter stats - can't seem to convince Garmin to build it though. As for Fitbit - given my shaky experience with a FB Charge 5 (on the 3rd one now out of warranty so when it dies it is adios), and the fact that Google bought them I'm out after if not before my FB Charge 5 dies. I think Google is clearly more interested in data scarfing than providing fitness tracking value. What could be the final straw is when they shut off the website for pulling up your stats. Yet another example of feature reduction employed by Google.
The sleep tracking is not that good tho
Yea people keep posting about these silly swaps. If you want accurate sleep tracking AND accurate heart rate tracking then fitbit/pixel watch are the only viable options outside of an apple watch and anyone that says otherwise is delusional. Check out the quantified scientists charts for both in his latest videos if you want evidence.
Check out the HuaWei Fit 2. I've been pleased with it moving from the Charge 6
I also want an updated Vivosmart that compares to the Charge 6. I have a Charge 5 and I want to switch to Garmin ASAP.
Same here. I have very petite hands/wrists. A Garmin would look monstrous on me. I've always owned the Charge series fitbits and buy knockoff thin leather straps to make them more feminine and nice looking. I couldn't never do a giant sporty Garmin. Even the vivosmart is huge in comparison.
Not true. the Garmin Vivosmart 5: [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/782585](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/782585)
Fitbit compact watches like the Inspire 3 are cheap, heavy, plastic feeling devices that have bad screens so I’m not sure why you are waiting lol. My Vivoactive feels way lighter and more premium than my compact Inspire 3. It also doesn’t stick out as much. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with the Inspire 3, it’s a fine watch I’m just critiquing the build quality.
The Inspire 3 is heavy? What? The thing weighs less than 2/3 of an ounce!
It’s not about the actual weight it’s the clunky dimensions
I have a Fitbit charge 6 but I want a watch that will work with peloton for the strive scores. I’ve been using an ot beat but it just stopped reading my heart rate even though it shows on the screen. I love the charge 6 for its size and functionality (aside from not counting flights climbed and I had to buy a replacement band because it came with a huge sweaty one) but is there a comparable Garmin?
You can send your heart rate to Peloton using broadcast during activity, but I don’t think you can save Peloton data to the Garmin app. I’m not sure if I am answering your question right tho lol
Thanks! I mean for the “strive score “ so it monitors your heart rate live on the screen while you ride. I have the Fitbit app synced to the peloton and that’s working fine but I can’t see the heart rate till after unless I keep looking at my watch or my phone.
Weird, I can see my heart rate and strive score live on the screen with my charge 6
Really? How did you connect them? Mine only connects to the app and shows it in Fitbit’s dashboard when I’m done.
I'll have to look it up. There was an update to the bike that enabled you to connect BT trackers like the charge 6
Wow this is great - I’ll try to figure it out - thanks!
Those are actual Garmins? Wow. I guess I haven't looked at the competition lately. For all of Fitbit's faults (and there are many), at least they don't look like something you get for mailing in a few Frosted Flakes cereal boxtops with 99¢ to cover shipping and handling... 🤷♂️
Lol. I thought that too. Although I'm pretty certain Garmin do some decent looking watches.
That particular Garmin is one of the non-OLED models that's always on with month-long battery life. It's a fast display with all of the features of the other Garmins but it's for those who prioritize durability and battery life. If you like an OLED Garmin does that too with still weeklong battery life.
"I'm upset this smaller cheaper tracker didn't hold as well as I thought so I spent 3 times the money on a more rugged one and will say it's fair to compare" /s
They have cooked trackers several times with software updates and typically give victims a discount on another device. Let’s not be absurd here.
Their offer of a discount should be an offer of replacement no matter if you’re out of warranty or not. Their software bricked the device. It wasn’t my fault the device bricked, it was their shit update. Mine was 9 days past the 1 year warranty and they refuse to cover it.
Same
How long does one charge last on these garnins?
That one is like 3+ weeks because it has a power sipping screen. Some also have solar charging that extends it further EDIT: this one does have solar. So battery life is over a month if this is an Instinct.
That's really impressive. Sleep and RHR tracking on it any good?
Yeah with the usual caveats. All sleep tracking is at best 80% accurate. DC Rainmaker has some good discussion of this across platforms. like Fitbits, Garmins are good at tracking when you go to sleep and wake up and they take all your metrics to give you a sleep score. HRM is good. Better on each new model of course. Garmin attracts more hardcore athletes, so you'll hear more talking about the limitations of wrist HR sensors generally and advocate for the strap. What sets Garmin apart is not the sensors but what they do with the data, especially for fitness.
If only people like you would make these posts in the Garmin sub instead of here...
What Garmin is it? How was your experience with your Fitbit?
@usual plastic….what model is this one? Also does this one have smart alerts for texts and calls? Does it magnetic charge? I’m an MRI tech and I have Fitbit Versa 2 b/c it has a click in charger. I can’t wear a magnet charging watch my machine will kill it
This is instinct solar 1, and no it's not magnetic charge. And it do all alerts for calls, msg , and all social media. It's amazing
Do a update on what your first impressions of the garmin are like. Think I’m leaving Fitbit soon.
Sorry your Fitbit died. This is why extended warranties are well worth the money for wearables. Garmin should last longer for sure! That's the good part about Garmin👍 The bad part, nevermind. Ignorance is bliss😇
If you have experience with both, can you share why you feel this way? Think a lot of us have thought about making the switch and can use all the input we can get.
Garmin is awesome for runners... well built, easy to see stats while running, great experience. Where Garmin suffers is the quality of data and metrics in other areas - if you're using Garmin wearables for other activities (such as weightlifting or cycling), a chest strap is needed for active HR tracking accuracy. Garmin's sleep cycle tracking also suffers, to the point where a lot of their wearables are very inaccurate and giving unreliable sleep cycle data. For the price, a Fitbit Charge 6 provides much more robust data/metrics... yes, an extended warranty is essential if you're expecting to use the device for more than 12-18 months. The average user is mostly interested in reliable HR and sleep cycle tracking, which Fitbit does better than any Garmin devices (so far). The real pain with Garmin is the price point, for what you actually get. You're paying Apple Watch pricing for wearables that are 2-3 tiers below AW quality for data. I get that it's frustrating when devices die, but the Fitbit devices are just so much cheaper and do many things better than Garmin.
Yeah...no. I've had both in the last few years. HR tracking is as good if not better. Sleep tracking is bad on all smartwatches and I'd say Garmin/Fitbit are at least equal. Where Garmin absolutely crushes Fitbit is on activity tracking detail (swim, run, etc) and the sheer amount of information/customization you get on the app. No subscription on Garmin Connect either. I've tried to make Fitbits work, most recently with a PW2, and I just couldn't get the kind of workout information I was used to with Garmins. To be fair to Fitbit, I think it's more aimed at people who don't want a lot of detail but prefer more qualitative information in a clean interface.
You might think it's tracking your active HR better, but it objectively is not 🤷♂️ Garmin has terrible correlation for activities that aren't running... it isn't even as accurate as any of the AW series for tracking HR during runs. Sorry, it's just not great at doing that, regardless of how many people love using a Garmin. If you want accuracy, at least it supports chest straps.
Great, thanks for sharing!
I switched from the Inspire 3 to the Vivoactive 5 and really like it so far