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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.

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    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.

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    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.

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

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    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. 

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    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.