What I miss on the VA3 is the possibly to have a sound or beep alert and not only vibrating alerts. For me it would have been the perfect sports/running watch but just realized it doesn't have sound, I will return it and keep on using my good old FR620.
That I understand, but adding the possibility to upload running workouts but not having a proper way to alert while using such a workout is a big misser. It reduces the watch capability to an expensive step counter. They'd better kept out completely the workout and alert feature.
The only real difference between using the VA3 or my 735 is the beeps letting me know that the current step is about to end, or the next is about start, however you want to look at it.
I agree. I didn't realize that there is no sound for the alert. I bought the watch to replace my Forerunner, which I loved, but wanted to upgrade to a watch that tracked my heart rate. It is next to impossible to feel the vibration to alert me to my run/walk intervals. Not a deal breaker, for sure, but, the sound alert would put this over the top!
Often I hear the vibration rather than feeling it. I did take my original back and the 2nd one is a little stronger but not enough and it certainly won't wake me. When I am power walking or running the alerts are impossible for me to detect. This makes interval impossible. A beep or a much stronger vibration would help. Perhaps a pulsating vibration option.
I agree this is a feature that should be included and was quite shocked to learn it wasn't. Perhaps it should be advertised or talked about more as most people probably assume it is an included feature due to the fact that garmin watches in the under $100 price range do include sound notifications. A $5 stop watch from Walmart beeps, why can't a $250 smart watch beep? Must not be an expensive fearure. Its hard to feel the notifications when running, especially if you're not running alone and staring at your watch every second.
I think the vibration level is adjustable on the VA3; but I guess it's a problem if it isn't even detectable on the strongest setting. For my part, I prefer the vibration alerts to a simple beeper. I usually run with headphones on, so I wouldn't hear the beeper anyway. A better solution would be to alert through the headphones, as my Android running app does. But I understand that this is difficult to implement on Garmin's devices.
