Related

Deeply disappointing experience with the Index Sleep Monitor

MaciekMacak

I’m heavily invested in the Garmin ecosystem — Index BPM, Index S2, EPIX Pro 51 — and the Index Sleep Monitor is the first device that genuinely feels like a mistake.

The core issue is simple: it just doesn’t work reliably. It fails to record often enough that it can’t replace sleep tracking on the watch. Syncing is inconsistent, the battery drains far faster than expected, and the whole experience feels unfinished. When it does function, the data is fine, but that’s not enough to justify the frustration.

The only minor positive is giving my wrist a break from wearing the watch overnight. Beyond that, I regret buying it. If returns were an option, I’d send it back immediately.

I can’t recommend this device in its current state.

  • 0

    Interesting.  My experience with the ISM is completely the opposite.  Similar to you I am deeply in the Garmin ecosystem.  But once I figured out how the ISM works, getting it to sync, etc. has been great.  The ISM reliably reports my sleep information, recovery, etc.

    I do agree with you on battery life though.  I think I am getting five, maybe six days?  Not sure if that is because when I take the ISM off and turn the band inside out, I leave the band in a darkened room.  So perhaps the ISM thinks it still needs to work and stays on longer than it should?  I do not know.

    But battery issues aside, no complaints here.

  • 0

    I wear a Garmin Epix during the day, power off and wear the Index Sleep Monitor at night.  Some mornings I have no sleep data recorded, some days syncs while I am getting ready for the morning and other times I have to prod it to sync and then only sometimes will there be data recorded.  Until I reached out to support I didn't realize that HR data is still getting recorded and sync but no sleep data.  I thought it being a possible conflict with my Epix but I try to make sure the sync with the band happens before powering up the watch - but in reality it shoud just work.  I don't know why the experience is so unreliable.  With the request of support I have removed and reconnected the device to my app but I don't think that will resolve the issue.  I'm hoping that a software fix will come soon.

  • 0

    100% Agreed! Had high hopes for the ISM but it’s such a disappointment.

  • 0

    Same here and didn't work for me either. I bought it direct, Garmin sent me a replacement sensor to try but that didn't improve things. Eventually took a refund. I'd still like to have one, if there's a v2 which states that it addresses these problems I'd try again. 

  • 0

    Thanks for letting me know. The Index is a lot cheaper than subscription fees, so I was interested. The other question I had was about the sizing; I need a large and my wife would need a small and I didn't want to buy 2. I wondered if we could DIY adjust somehow. 

  • 0 in reply to 9339637

    I don’t use the strap, it’s quite wide and has a ridged plastic buckle which it threads trough back on itself which I find uncomfortable, although better than wearing my Epix 51mm. I use a piece of elasticated tubular support bandage, cut to a width to cover the module, and just tight enough to hold the module in place. It doesn’t take much to hold it. A also wear it on the back of my arm, or round my ankle where I hardly notice it.

    The bandage is cheap here it the UK, and available in various sizes to suit so that’s an option.

    What you can also do is buy the large strap. When your wife uses it don’t thread it through the buckle, just wrap it round your arm, at the end flip the Velcro connector back on itself to connect it. You doesn’t need it tight so it will hold. Works a treat. This way a large strap will go as small as you like. 

  • 0 in reply to 9339637

    I find the strap to be quite comfortable and once I have it on I do not notice it.  Garmin does sell the strap on its own w/o the ISM hardware.  So you could possibly buy the ISM with the small/medium band, and then buy the large band on its own.  You could then share the hardware between the two bands.

    If you do not want to spend the money on a second arm band, there is a YouTube video floating around of a woman who used on of children's socks to create an ISM band.  That might be one avenue for you.

    Good luck.