Sorry, I'm sure it has been covered but I'm buggered if I can figure out how to search on here any more!
Anyways, need a new watch - is there anything that smar****ches do that is vaguely usefully? I can see notifications being useful and also GPS run/ride tracking but thats about it.
Only real requirements are to be waterproof, tell the time, take a beating and not be excessively expensive.
I don't like big flash watches and would rather it looked like a watch rather than mini phone - quite like the look of the Garmin Vivoactive 3, I've been recommended the Fenix 3 but that looks a bit big to me...
Any happy customers want to give their 10p worth?
I think you're on the right track with the Garmin watches.
I wouldn't worry too much about the size, it is worth going to try some on, especially if you don't wear a watch normally.
I recently went from an Apple Watch to a Fenix 5 and love it. Not having to charge it every night is a massive plus.
I've just ordered a Xiaomi / Huami Amazfit (the branding is confusing) Bip from Gearbest, but it's not arrived so I can't tell you if it's any good yet.
£40 and it does all the stuff you mention (standalone GPS so you don't need a phone, and HRM too) though it's a proprietary OS rather than Android Wear so not super flexible. Looks a bit like a poggy Apply Watch though, but it has an always on screen so you can pretend it's a normal digital watch.
It's reviewed well enough and at the price it could be a good intro... I'll let you know when mine turns up.
Should also mention it'd need to work with an iPhone and not need charging every night.
Good to hear positive things about the Garmin watches, though the Fenix 5 is a bit out of my price range - though if it means I can ditch my Edge 25 that'd be a bonus.
No idea if the Xiaomi would work with an iPhone, I would imagine it would. 40 odd day battery life (if you're not using the GPS) though which is pretty good.
What phone you got
Edit: Took too long to click submit. Right, I'd go for an iWatch 3 if wanting more mart features. Paying for stuff etc, and Garmin Vivoactive/ Fenix 5/5s for more sports/battery life with basic no customisable alerts.
I've had the Xiaomi Amazfit Pace similar to the above and can recommend it for what you need.
I'm android and works very well, linking direct to Strava if required. Think Apple are covered too by the app (look for Amazfit app).
Can hold music and Bluetooth so running is sorted without phone and takes HR etc.
Also has some cool running programs over 8 weeks which strangely motivate you to get out and taught me how to vary my training.
Recommended, suggest purchase through gearbest. Just try to resist buying other stuff you don't need (Yeelights etc).
not need charging every night.
Realistically if you are going to be using the smart functions a lot during the day then not matter what watch you buy, you're going to have to charge it pretty much every night. You might get away with every couple of days if you go for massive watch but to be honest it doesn't actually take very long to charge a watch.
Realistically if you are going to be using the smart functions a lot during the day then not matter what watch you buy, you’re going to have to charge it pretty much every night. You might get away with every couple of days if you go for massive watch but to be honest it doesn’t actually take very long to charge a watch.
I charge my Garmin Fenix 5 every two weeks in normal life including some GPS usage. If I'm away using the GPS every day to track activities then I charge it once a week.
My Vivoactive 3 lasts around a week with light GPS use. I'm very pleased with it although the HR monitor is hopeless. It managed to be 90 bpm out compared to my chest strap yesterday .
I've got a Vivoactive 3 and it's excellent. I had a Vivoactive HR before which was also excellent but no-where near as good looking. Battery life is very good - I get about a week between re-charges, which appears to be a lot better than colleagues with iWatches can manage as those seemed to need charging every day.
Cheers for all the replies guys, sort of confirmed my thoughts re the Garmin watches probably being along the right lines. Think I'll try and find somewhere with a Fenix 3 and Vivoactive 3 to compare.
We have a FitBit Blaze in the cupboard that I keep meaning to stick on the Classifieds if you're interested.
Be careful with the smart requirements as not all smar****ches are actually that smart!
I've had a couple and in traditional STW style is recommend what I now have the Huawei watch 2 for £200 Charge lasts 3 days, works on iPhone (not that I have one) and android and has been a cracking bit of kit.
I don't swim so not sure what ip rating it has but you can make (yes make! If you want to look like a tw#t) calls, notifications of emails and reply eta, I use Endomondo / viewranger and both perfect.
Best thing for me has been Google map on the wrist so I don't look like a tourist and the capacity to delete / reply / decline so much without touching the phone but your needs might be different so think long and hard about what you need or want it to do.
James
If you are comparing the Fenix to the Vivoactive you will probably end up buying the Fenix, the Vivoactive feels like a cheap, kids watch by comparison.
I went from a Fenix 3 to 5 but via a Vivoactive 3 which I sent back for a refund after 24hrs. It was flimsy, felt cheap and the HRM was rubbish - it missed out big chunks of activity and was slow to respond.
The Fenix 5 is as expected, a better version of the 3 🙂
Blacks had some good deals on the Fenix 3 HR recently which is what I eventually went for having been through the same process. As a long term Suunto fan I’m glad to have tried a Garmin. Not cheap but worth the money and the 3 HR does pretty much the same job as a 5 for a lot less money.
I have a Fenix 5. Great size as i have small wrists. way too much watch for me so ill be selling on but i have to admit i like what Garmin have dome with this one. Very easy to use. No end of customisation.
I wish i could say that i needed a watch with as much functionality but i really don't.
I have a vivoactive 3 (to replace the previous version I had) - it's great!
Unlike Hob Nob, I don't have any issues with mine re: responsiveness or build quality, but if you can stretch to the fenix line - they are obviously better (and are supposed to be), but more expensive. But I have a nice watch too - so I guess I wasn't too build quality focused for this one.
The only thing I didn't like was the silicone strap, which caused irritation if I wore it for a whole day. It's something that all smart watches (with silicone straps) suffer from - I think fitbit even got taken to court over it? Anyway - I bought one of those stainless steel mesh straps (milanese loop) for a tenner from ebay - problem solved, very comfortable and looks great.
Worth looking at the new forerunner line as well - I think they have the ability to store music, and play it back on Bluetooth headphones - quite useful if you don't want to take your phone out running.
I have the Apple Watch 2, bought last year on a whim, it tells the time quite well, lasts at least 3 days between charges but then again I have it on theatre mode/silent and to wake it up I tap the screen which is scratched up to ****, don’t really use it for anything else other than a watch, never used Siri, never bother with the fitness/health functions so I’m not exactly sure why I thought I wanted one. I do have some of fav pics on the face though which alternate every time I wake it up to see the time, pics include Toby dog, mum, dad, friends, fav places , fav views etc so thats nice. Its good for viewing txt messages to see if they need replying too (scribble is bloody useless on a scratched screen) or if I should bother to find my phone to answer calls or just answer on the watch.
I guess for the pics and messages/call function it’s ok but I was just as happy with my old (but smashed glass) yobokies seiko 5. Not had a txt message or phone call since Sunday morning so I’m not exactly a power user.
Another Vote here for the Fenix 3HR if they can still be found. A couple of months ago it was usefully cheaper that a 5. HR tracking is good and it pairs with all my bike sensors so I now have a Edge 510 doing nothing.
I particularly like being able customise it via Garmin connect - you can get rid of features you don't use or add additional apps for different sports. Works just fine with my iPhone and I get about a week of use which includes 3-4 hours of GPS use per charge.
It is big on the wrist, but its a lot better built than the Vivoactive.
I'm another Vivoactive 3 user who hasn't encountered the issues that Hob Nob has (in fact I don't think I've seen anything other than positive reports of it so far). The HR and GPS on mine has proved pretty accurate (compared to my usual Forerunner 220 with HR strap), the battery life is very good and responsiveness etc. has been great.
Thanks for all the replies, some very helpful info.
I’m leaning towards the Vivoactive 3, the Fenix 5 is too expensive, then Fenix 3 too old, both of them too big and the iWatch too fragile.
Anyone able say if you can skip tracks on music you’re listening to on you phone with the v3?
Anyone able say if you can skip tracks on music you’re listening to on you phone with the v3?
I've only done it with Spotify so far but it definitely works for that.
That was actually going to be my next question! Cheers for the info.
Vivoactive3 here. Had it for 4 weeks and it's great.
Can skip, play, pause and adjust volume in Google Play Music (on a Nexus 5X), and can also customise which apps send notifications.
No issues so far with recording HR, and the 24/7 is useful - not sure the Fenix 3 can do that. As above, a bit of irritation on the outside of my wrist from the silicone strap. Never had that from 20+ years of an Animal strap, but that won't work with the V3.
Paid £230 at Cotswold Outdoors, price-matched with John Lewis online. Have seen the Fenix 3 for £275 at Millets online, but it wasn't in stock when I got my V3
Have a Watch Nike series 2 - a perfectly adequate Strava logger (great for running as has HR and no phone to carry) - can usually go a couple of days between charges. Was awarded it in some cockameenie work award so it's absolutely ideal in my book 😀
For anyone interested I picked up a Vivoactive 3 last week following the recommendations on here.
Does exactly what I need, not too big, comfortable, battery lasts well and has some clever features. Think I've made the right choice - will see what it's like to live with after not wearing a watch for the last 20 years!
Has anyone used the Samsung gear sport here?
I'm not that big into smart watches... but i'm also a bit of the opinion they are not really at a point where one is going to do what you want and not annoy you with what you don't and ultimately I have enough things that need charging and charges to carry about.
Either they are jack of all trades or they have a heavy leaning to a certain lifestyle/application (IMHO)
Also its heavily dependent for somethings on your time investment in a digital lifestyle... that is if you have subscriptions to things you then need to manage. A example is that I have a met office app... in itself its useful but then I need to configure it for the right alerts. I haven't so during the recent snow I was flooded by alerts... I'm not sure of I can turn them off at what granular level because if something like that annoys me enough I tend to delete it.
That said I got an original iWatch as a present and have an apple phone and my automatic is broken so I've been using the iWatch more. The charging is very quick and it will do a couple of days of not stressed but when I travel that means an extra charger to both remember and carry about.
Actually having a proper conversation via the watch is not realistic in most places but being able to see emails and SMS without taking out the phone is.
In many ways if I wanted a specific thing like GPS or heart monitoring I'd be inclined towards a specialist watch/fitness tracker ... however for casual use for example my apple watch heart rate is moderately interesting
I also think in many ways you could get more than one watch cheaper and use them for different purposes.