Cheap Garmin advice
 

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[Closed] Cheap Garmin advice

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 hb70
Posts: 262
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My wife has just bought a Garmin forerunner 35. She gets a decent amount of data out of it, and I'm not sure what more I might want, that it doesn't do. It records rides, heartbeat, steps all for £75.

My mate also has a 235, and I could get a second hand one for a similar amount.

What am I missing here? Cheap budget activity tracker is all I really want. What do I get by spending more or can you just do the 35?

Any advices welcome


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 4:47 pm
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35 v 235


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 5:27 pm
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I went through this a while ago and really struggled to understand what each model did and what it would do for me. Ended up with a fenix3. It's an older model but seems to have most of the features of the newer ones. Very cheap on eBay, £75 will get you one. Having used it for a little while I'm still not sure but the tracking is very good.


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 5:34 pm
 Jerm
Posts: 160
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I feel the same. I have the 35 and it’s great. I get two weeks between charges which is a bonus. It’s also really comfortable as the strap has a small amount of stretch so you don’t notice you’re wearing it. The only thing I would spend more more for is music playback.


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 5:48 pm
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35 works really well for the price. My technophobe wife gets on fine with hers and my daughter now has my 35 after I upgraded to a Vivoactive 4.


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 7:43 pm
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I had a 35 and thought it was great. Then got a Vivoactive 4 in the Garmin sale last year and think it's even greaterer! It's just a bit better at everything and you get more functions in Garmin Connect which I like.

Saying all that, sounds like the 35 will do the job you want. They are decent bits of kit.


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 8:00 pm
 hb70
Posts: 262
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Excellent advices thanks


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 8:55 pm
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The basic Garmins do the vast majority of what I want, pace, distance etc, but I use the workout and navigation features quite a bit which are only available on the slightly more advanced models. I had a Fenix3, then Fenix5S now Fenix5+ which has full colour mapping. I've bought most of them 2nd hand, and they hold their value reasonably well.


 
Posted : 13/03/2021 8:57 pm
 hb70
Posts: 262
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Just to close the loop. I took @nickjb advice and bought a used Fenix3 from eBay for £80. Arrived today, looks ace, syncs straight away, loads of fun and motivating features. My point is that I'd never have considered the option had I not asked here. Thanks all much appreciated.


 
Posted : 16/03/2021 10:50 am