using Edge 520 & Vivoactive together

It depends ultimately what sort of non-cycling activities you want to do and whether the activity tracking and smart features of the Vivoactive HR are must-haves.

Are you likely to want to do structured training (such as following a running program)? If so, you could consider a 230 or 235 as an alternative because the Vivoactive HR won't do workouts. The 230/235 will also do activity tracking, just like the Vivoactive HR and it looks like a watch.

I didn't really think I would use the program feature, but I've just started a 5K program and am glad I went with the 230 as I can program the workouts and it beeps and vibrates when I change steps or go out of the limits for each step.

When I was looking I decided that whatever device I bought would be a GPS watch first and I didn't care so much for all the smart features as it wasn't going to be worn as a normal watch (I have a nicer one for that). Sure they're nice to have, but I've lived without it, so I don't see that it was necessary. I also don't use the activity tracking features as I have a Fitbit for that.

As far as sensors go, I have my heart rate, speed and cadence sensors paired to both devices and they will both pick them up at the same time, if I so choose. Heart rate from the strap is more accurate than the optical sensor, especially during exercise. I also have a foot pod. Only the Forerunner sees that. I am soon to add a power meter and only the Edge will see that.

I wouldn't use two devices at the same time for recording, there's just no point, unless you want to be DC Rainmaker. I use the Edge for cycling and the Forerunner for everything else. You can have both devices paired and connected to your phone at the same time and you will get call and text notifications for both at the same time. The 230/235 will give you notifications for more apps and they come through as well, just not on the Edge.

thanks

Thanks michaeljswann

I do not want structured training, but am interested in
- smart features : getting iOS alerts on Vivoactive
- I want to consolidate all activities in one place and I want to use Edge 520 for cycling
- other activities will be mostly walking (counting steps)

I don't want to turn off Vivoactive since
- I will keep forgetting to turn it off and on
- Vivoactive can be a back up when Edge's battery is out.

I was thinking old Vivoactive because it's cheaper and I have HRM strap for cycling. Is Vivoactive HR be a better choice for my purpose?

I do something similar to what you are looking into with my Edge 520 and my Fenix 3. The Fenix is my daily activity tracker and I also use it to record all non-cycling activities. For the time being while cycling I use both and have them both paired to my sensors and I delete one of the activities in Connect after upload to avoid having two records. It's hardly an ideal solution but it does work since I need the Edge for certain features but I want the Fenix to have a full record of my activities.

I did hear on the DCRainmaker podcast sometime earlier this year that Garmin is planning to roll out multiple device support sometime before the end of this year. Hopefully they do and it will be similar to what Fitbit does where the software will combine data from multiple devices and update all devices, so a ride on the edge would be pushed back to whatever Garmin device was being used for activity tracking.

I have a va-hr that I wear day to day and a 520. When I go for a ride, I usually only record the ride on the 520. If I record on both (if I want to compare something), I discarded the ride on the va-hr. Both are paired to the same phone and same account.

The va-hr stays turned on all the time. With it, it can broadcast the HR, and sometimes I'll use that.

Saving the activity on both and uploading from both does duplicate the activity.