Apple Watch for Workouts

[jk1002]

I actually do not find it that useful, am wondering what all the good reviewers are doing, biggest struggle is that the display is not consistently on.

If I run I like to see my heart race and pace, doing the wrist motion switches the display on but then it senses motion and switches it off again, most of the time switching off so quickly that I cant see the information I want. I switched it to stay on for 70 seconds upon tap, but even there, if you wiggle your arm a bit it sense motion and switches the display off.

For indoors I used to be OK until I was doing a plank and wanted a stopwatch or something like that. Middle of it, the little sucker goes off again.

Having the wrist motion off is annoying when you wear it normally, in many situations its considered rude to visibly checking your watch so am ending up constantly switching the wrist setting.

Somehow they didn't get this right for me ....

 

[Julien]

I use a Garmin on my right wrist for my cardio type workouts. My Watch is my general overall fitness monitor and not a serious cardio device.

 

[44267547]

I use a Garmin on my right wrist for my cardio type workouts. My Watch is my general overall fitness monitor and not a serious cardio device.

In terms of fitness, Garmin would be the more serious option, where The Apple Watch is more of a monitoring device. Agreed.

 

[Bbafett]

I actually do not find it that useful, am wondering what all the good reviewers are doing, biggest struggle is that the display is not consistently on.

If I run I like to see my heart race and pace, doing the wrist motion switches the display on but then it senses motion and switches it off again, most of the time switching off so quickly that I cant see the information I want. I switched it to stay on for 70 seconds upon tap, but even there, if you wiggle your arm a bit it sense motion and switches the display off.

For indoors I used to be OK until I was doing a plank and wanted a stopwatch or something like that. Middle of it, the little sucker goes off again.

Having the wrist motion off is annoying when you wear it normally, in many situations its considered rude to visibly checking your watch so am ending up constantly switching the wrist setting.

Somehow they didn't get this right for me ....

I used it for the first time running the other day since I just got my Series 2. I use a different app that is on watch and phone as the 3rd party app isn't set for using the GPS yet. I loved being able to raise my wrist to see how much time I had left in this segment of running. That was the most useful thing so I can push myself to finish strong on the run. It reacts very well.

 

[isanka]

Since i have the Apple Watch it help me a lot to do my 1000 Calories par day exercices. It's a real motivation for me and i have lost since i have it 5Kg. So it make me walk much more. Example last week i walked more than 100km.

 

[xDKP]

Working out and running with my watch is one of the best aspects of wearing the watch. It has me going out a late night with a jumping rope in the garden if I'm not quite there... but agree there could be some kind of always on, but guess its battery concerns. I use a rowing machine quite a lot and there it's a bit tough sometimes

 

[Tibits]

I use a Garmin on my right wrist for my cardio type workouts. My Watch is my general overall fitness monitor and not a serious cardio device.

What generation Apple Watch do you own?

 

[Julien]

What generation Apple Watch do you own?

S0 (gen 1) and always carry iPhone on runs/bike rides and a Garmin 620. May get a S2 sometime but since I always carry my iPhone the only draw is the battery.

 

[el-John-o]

I'm an avid cyclist, so my data is all up on the handlebars on a Garmin cycling computer / GPS. Including heart rate data from a chest strap and power from a crank mounted power meter.

I keep my watch on, I guess that way I get "credit" in my "rings". But, my Apple Watch for me is mostly an extension of my iPhone and a more functional accessory than my trusty old watch (you know, that just tells time and the battery lasts a couple years). Calendar info, reminders, etc., all very useful. And although I'm athletic, I work a sedentary job and like that my watch reminds me if I haven't stood up in the last hour.

At the end of the day, as a fitness product? It really isn't. Those are just nice add-ons for what it really is. A cheap fitbit can track your activity for the day and a Garmin running watch out-performs the Apple watch as a GPS running watch. For me? The fitness features are just a nice add-on.

 

[fanchee]

I use a Garmin on my right wrist for my cardio type workouts. My Watch is my general overall fitness monitor and not a serious cardio device.

Exactly what I do. Best practice for me has been to turn Bluetooth off on my iPhone prior to running. But even still the Apple Watch is off (from my trusty Garmin 235) by .02 per mile on average. Not a huge deal. I ran 10 miles on Saturday and my Garmin said 10.1 and my Apple Watch said 10.28.

Like I said, not a huge deal to me, but I'll keep wearing my Garmin.

 

[8CoreWhore]

One of the most useful functions of a HRM for fitness is for you to choose a rate zone you want to work in, and have the monitor warn you if you drop below that or go over so you can adjust. The Apple Watch HRM doesn't do this because it doesn't monitor continuously. Now you could get a Polar H7 Bluetooth strap (~$60) and pair it with the Watch (or iPhone) using one of the many fitness apps for this purpose.

I have that strap, it works great, but I got used to just letting Watch HRM monitor me, and I know I'm in the zone anyway by how fast I'm running - and I just got used to not looking at the Watch as I exercise - and I just check all the data it stores later.

Of course with a new Watch we want to interact with it, but just let it do it's thing while you run (or whatever) listen to music, and don't worry about the data until later - this advice is good for most of us. For those that want to know everything in real time, you can adjust accordingly - get the Polar H7 strap, use a fitness app - if you are cycling mount the Watch or iPhone to your handle bars so you can see data, etc.

For most people Watch does a good job. For more serious athletes and data junkies go to dcrainmaker.com for additional options.

 

[Tibits]

my Apple Watch for me is mostly an extension of my iPhone and a more functional accessory than my trusty old watch (you know, that just tells time and the battery lasts a couple years). Calendar info, reminders, etc., all very useful. And although I'm athletic, I work a sedentary job and like that my watch reminds me if I haven't stood up in the last hour.

At the end of the day, as a fitness product? It really isn't.

same question as above. what series Apple watch do you own?

 

[el-John-o]

same question as above. what series Apple watch do you own?

It's in my signature. I have a Series 2 in Stainless Steel. I use the leather classic buckle band during the day and the sport band when working out or in water.