Fitness Watch advice

Apple Watch

What exercise do you do?

One size does not fit all here. Garmin, Fitbit, Coros, Apple, and Samsung all do similar things but I’d buy very different watches based on my goals. All offer a heart rate option and all should track sleep.

Sleep cycles are tricky and not all watches handle them well. If you care more about that than whether it is tracking your steps, workout, etc you may want to look at the Oura ring. My wife has one and it tracks sleep, heart rate and heart rate variability as well as makes recommendations for improvement. However, it is not a fitness tracker and has to be taken off to workout, especially weights, to prevent damage.

Just lifting, and cycling. Not trying to crush some super goals. Just staying in shape in my 40's.

So based on that you’d probably be fine with a Fitbit. It’ll get you everything you need for less than an Apple Watch. AW has more features but if you’re just wanting some sleep metrics and heart rate during a workout, they have good choices.

Garmin, TomTom, and Curos are going to get into training effort, GAP, V02max, etc. that would be more towards goal obtaining. Not bad or necessarily too much but maybe more than what you’re looking for.

Fitbit Versa or Inspire will get you there for under $200. Garmin has a vivosport that is a less aesthetically pleasing option but perfectly fine for what you’re looking for.

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What do you use the Apple Watch for fitness wise?

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It’s the best fitness / health watch on the market. You can do everything with it. Health wise it’s the absolute best watch there is. Fitness wise it’s top 3.

I have the Garmin vivoactive 3. I did a lot of research and also asked on this board for recommendations. Inevitably it comes down to what you want to do with it. My wife has the Apple Watch so i know a bit about what that offers. They are both great devices but each is perfectly suited to us.

The Garmin is a true fitness watch. Monitors heart rate and sleep as you suggested. With sleep it will tell you when you are in light sleep, deep sleep, REM, and when you wake. Also great for running, swimming as it counts your laps, bike riding and walking. As I said, a true fitness watch.

Where the Apple Watch beats the Garmin is in communication. While the Garmin will show calls and texts it is not nearly as efficient of a communication tool.

Both are great but if you want a true fitness watch the Garmin is the better option. If you want something for communication with the ability to handle some fitness functions the Apple is the better choice.

Thanks I will try that one.

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Garmin vivoactive 3

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