Fitness Trackers vs. Apple Watch

[edtorious]

Will you be ditching your fitness trackers for Apple Watch? I pre-ordered Jawbone UP3 and so frustrated that they still haven't released it yet. And now with the Apple Watch, I'm thinking of canceling my UP3 pre-order. I'm sure UP3 is still better in a lot of ways but do I really need both the Apple Watch and the UP3? And maybe Jawbone will create an app for the Apple Watch so what do you guys think?

 

[codelode84]

Fitbit

I'm actually hoping Fitbit releases and app for the iPhone. I would even be willing to pay an annual fee for it. I liked the surge just want all the features of the apple watch.

 

[Cashmonee]

I guess I don't really have a fitness tracker, but no I will not be giving up my fenix 3. My wife also decided to keep her preorder of the Garmin vivoactive. The Watch has some cool features, and the app ecosystem means it has great potential, but there are a few showstoppers for endurance athletes. First and foremost is battery life. Tracking hikes is out. Marathons would be a stretch. 60+ mile bike rides are out. No swimming. Requires the phone for GPS, and it doesn't exactly have amazing battery life itself. That doesn't take into account we don't know it's ability to accurately track things like heart rate, pace, speed, cadence, etc. It may be very accurate, it may not. Honestly, as a sports watch the Watch has a long ways to go before it can be taken seriously.

I know those activities are not the activity tracking you are talking about, but that is the type of tracking I need. Honestly tracking steps is kind of a waste of time in my opinion. I know for some it is a useful motivator, but really, who doesn't know you should move around?

In the end, I would not buy an Watch for its sports/activity capabilities at this point. In the future, it may catch up, but it isn't there now. Not even close.

 

[Knowimagination]

I bought a fitbit charge for a little over a week and so far it is just not beneficial to me I am bringing it back soon and will be buying an apple watch asap.

 

[csixty4]

In the end, I would not buy an Watch for its sports/activity capabilities at this point. In the future, it may catch up, but it isn't there now. Not even close.

That Garmin is really tempting. I've also been considering picking up a cheap used Pebble and pairing it to iSmoothRun on my phone.

I have to agree that the Apple Watch doesn't seem to offer much for endurance runners. It could be cool for other parts of my life, but not that.

 

[dontwalkhand]

Different use cases here. I'll be wearing my Apple during the day and wearing a fitness tracker for sleep tracking at night. That will solve that pesky battery issue and I can still track my sleep in an app.

 

[taedouni]

I use a Fitbit charge (long story but basically got that to replace my UP24 for free) and I plan on keeping it. I don't want the Apple Watch for Fitness tracking. It'll probably have around 20-21 hours of usage (I'm getting the 42mm) which means that I will not be able to use it to track sleeping. Plus I read that Apple has blocked access to the accelerometer, HR monitor, gyroscope, and has limited access to force touch and the digital crown to developers so i'm pretty positive that we won't get any sleep tracking apps on the Apple Watch.

 

[dontwalkhand]

I use a Fitbit charge (long story but basically got that to replace my UP24 for free) and I plan on keeping it. I don't want the Apple Watch for Fitness tracking. It'll probably have around 20-21 hours of usage (I'm getting the 42mm) which means that I will not be able to use it to track sleeping. Plus I read that Apple has blocked access to the accelerometer, HR monitor, gyroscope, and has limited access to force touch and the digital crown to developers so i'm pretty positive that we won't get any sleep tracking apps on the Apple Watch.

I don't see the harm in wearing both something like a Fitbit and the Apple Watch at the same time, and I know a few people who will do just that already when it comes out.

 

[taedouni]

I don't see the harm in wearing both something like a Fitbit and the Apple Watch at the same time, and I know a few people who will do just that already when it comes out.

There shouldn't be any harm at all. And if you're into the Health App, Sync Solver will fix that for you. It even suggests how to set Sync Solver at a higher priority over your iPhone's step counter so that it can prevent duplicated data (I assume the process would be the same once you get an Apple Watch).

 

[tomo999]

I decided to get a Garmin Fenix 3 last month instead of waiting for the apple watch. The F3 just seemed (to me) to be the better choice for the money and nothing I've seen over the last 24hrs has made me change my mind.

 

[Martinlly]

Hm

smart watches are not for eveyone. Dictation when driving is a huge perk.

 

[RossMak]

I decided to get a Garmin Fenix 3 last month instead of waiting for the apple watch. The F3 just seemed (to me) to be the better choice for the money and nothing I've seen over the last 24hrs has made me change my mind.

Fenix 3 is definitely something I have been interested in. I have real small wrists though so was worried how big it would look.

 

[tomo999]

Fenix 3 is definitely something I have been interested in. I have real small wrists though so was worried how big it would look.

I have really small wrists too 6.1" and it fits really nicely

 

[MH01]

One requires and iphone to full functionality, so in certain circumstances a fitness tracker is much better.

Determine what you require and see which one fits your purposes.

For me, I have some excellent watches, so apple watch does little for me, though a fitness tracker on the other hand like a nike band, is the best compromise.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I returned my watch and went back to my Fitbit Surge! So nice to hear my phone's notification sounds again! I ended up having to take my phone out most the time anyway so the watch was doing little to help. I bought the 6+ because I love the screen.

 

[srshaw]

I guess I don't really have a fitness tracker, but no I will not be giving up my fenix 3. My wife also decided to keep her preorder of the Garmin vivoactive. The Watch has some cool features, and the app ecosystem means it has great potential, but there are a few showstoppers for endurance athletes. First and foremost is battery life. Tracking hikes is out. Marathons would be a stretch. 60+ mile bike rides are out. No swimming. Requires the phone for GPS, and it doesn't exactly have amazing battery life itself. That doesn't take into account we don't know it's ability to accurately track things like heart rate, pace, speed, cadence, etc. It may be very accurate, it may not. Honestly, as a sports watch the Watch has a long ways to go before it can be taken seriously.

I know those activities are not the activity tracking you are talking about, but that is the type of tracking I need. Honestly tracking steps is kind of a waste of time in my opinion. I know for some it is a useful motivator, but really, who doesn't know you should move around?

In the end, I would not buy an Watch for its sports/activity capabilities at this point. In the future, it may catch up, but it isn't there now. Not even close.

I agree. The Apple watch isn't really for Athletes. Not with the current apps. I'll stick to my Garmin/polar products.

 

[Julien]

I agree. The Apple watch isn't really for Athletes. Not with the current apps. I'll stick to my Garmin/polar products.

This is why when running/cardio I have a watch on each wrist.

Garmin 620 for 'official' running/cardio recording

Watch for comprehensive fitness monitoring

 

[lah]

Just got my SG Sport model and used it the first time on my morning bike ride. The distance recorded was the same as my Garmin 510, but the calories burned fell between Strava and the Garmin (Strava always on the lower side). I was surprised that the average heart rate recorded was the same as my Garmin strap. I think this will definitely replace my Fitbit but I will keep using my 510 w/ hr strap and cadence meter for my group rides.