Greetings from Scotland!
After very unpleasant experiences with another well-known fitness tracker brand (2 devices bricked in less than 12 months and many other users complaining about the same issues) I am now switching to Garmin. Having trawled the Web it looks like the Vivoactive 3 could be the device for me. My usual activities are
- 1 or 2 MTB rides per week (2.5 to 3.5 hours each)
- 2 runs per week (up to an hour each)
- Some treadmill running in gyms when travelling
- Skiing in the winter
- The odd hike
While I like to keep fit I am not a serious athlete and do it analyse detailed workout stats. But I want a device that is reliable in GPS tracking and - with the caveat that HR monitoring on the wrist is less accurate - measures the HR reliably so that I am getting some basic performance info like calories burned and fitness level. I am less into smart watch features, ie paying with my watch or tracking an Uber or even replying to messages. And of course the watch should not brick itself every few months and has to be replaced...
I also looked at the Fenix 5 for comparison but it may be a bit of an overkill in terms of data that is collected and is almost twice as expensive (but I would be willing to pay the extra price if it gives a more reliable performance). The Forerunner 735xt could be an alternative as it seems to be in-between the Vivoactive and Fenix.
Any thoughts on and experiences with the Vivoactive or alternatives are greatly appreciated.
