A message to the person/people in charge of levels, challenges, and badges at Garmin.

7944137 said:

I believe that under the current system, the average user will never reach level 7 and will therefore lose interest and motivation.

I tend to disagree. I am an average old guy running no marathons, too, but I went to the level 7 within some four years since using Garmin, and am still well motivated to get to the level 8, regardless how long it takes. The motivation is seeing the gap to the next level closing almost every day, as the new badges drop down, and the points rise. If it were as easy as you suggest to get to the level 10, most of us would be there within a short time, and would lose the motivation completely. And also I see no reason why an average old guy like me should have the level 10 after a few years of activity. That should stay reserved for the very top athletes after decades of activity.

7944137 said:

Why not award 4 points for every 50 activities of yoga, walking, running, hiit, swimming, weight training.

You get every month the Challenge Badges for most of those disciplines, and can accumulate a nice doze of points every month for these activities.

7944137 said:

However level 7 appears to be out of my reach forever.

BTW, one of the fastest ways to progress is doing 10k steps every day. That alone will bring you 96 points every year with the badges "60-Day Goal Getter" (8 points every two months) and "10K a Day Challenge" (4 points every month). In reality rather some 200 points per year, because you will get also plenty of monthly Steps, Walk, and Run challenge badges, and also all the Expedition badges. So alone with 10k steps every day (very well achievable for an average bloke) can bring you from level 6 to level 7 within 3 years. Add some more easily achievable repeatable badges, like the "Challenge Champ" and a few others, and you can do it in a year or two.

I definitely agree with the badges game being limited and would also love to see those types of challenges. trux is right about taking the steps towards more points, and there are other ways to level-up with Garmin, too, including farm of yoga and strength trainings. They require special watches, tho.

I agree, I'm glad to see they added some variety with the monthly challenges. But, if you don't run or cycle, the options are more limited. Adding badges for more activities in general and to the monthly ones would help a lot. (ie: hiking, team sports, HIIT, stair stepper, elliptical, martial arts, etc) Grouping activities for badges would be nice too. For instance Hiking could count towards walking badges. 

How long do I have to sleep well to reach level 7?

True, I reached level 6 in 2-1/2 years, working on level 7 now, probably a couple more years if I live that long.

I take all the Walking, Hiking, Cycling challenges every month, that I see. I don't change my country location to take other badges. To me the badge system keeps me on track with a little motovation.

And btw I'm 81, pretty soon 82 and I'll keep doing what I can for as long as I can.. I did it without a badge system or a watch for many many years and I don't really see why people are always complaing the system does not fit their lifestyle and it should be changed. Maybe they need to change and get more active if they want these badges. And Garmin seems to making more of an effort to "better" the system for those that don't want to change.

Is anyone else confused as to why swimming gets so few points?

At the moment each month I get points for swimming 4k (I can do that in a week) and for 4hrs (might take me 5 sessions to hit that). Why no challenges? Swim the equivalent of the English Channel or across each of the Great Lakes. There are numerous obvious options available. 

Add quarterly targets, like there are for running and cycling. 20k and 10 hours?

And while I’m complaining, why nothing for open water swimming?

Come on Garmin, get your act together!

1. Completely agree with these comments and would add that commercial points are being added to obtain discounts or if you purchase an avenger watch.  My respect to those whom reach the higher badges - for me I have opted out the regime and will look elsewhere when a new watch is purchased.    62 yr old male - regular walker and part time cyclist.   

Nothing worth doing in regards to health, should be easy, or quickly obtainable. If you got to level 10, THAT would be the motivation to not do as much anymore. Getting to level 10 will take the average person decades, and thats their goal, get you to do activities for decades