Best Fitness Band/Watch

cypher67 on 10/02/2015 - 13:39

Hi All,

Looking to buy a fitness band and I am torn between what to buy.

My Requirements are:
- Accurate Heart Rate
- GPS tracking
- Readout screen
- Comfortable
- Wireless Sync to Mobile
- Ability to skip songs on my smart phone
- General fitness band stuff like sleep quality & steps etc
- Good App Features

Nice to have
- Tell the time
- Read texts / caller ID
- Silent Alarm

So far the best option I have been able to find is the Fitbit Surge & Polar M400.

Can anyone point me in the right direction and where to find the best prices?

Sports & Outdoors

Comments

  • Hotpotcorn on 10/02/2015 - 14:28

    fitbit surge, firbit charge and fitbit charge hr are all good choices and popular

    • powerhead on 10/02/2015 - 20:06

      does fitbit surge have an alarm function where it wakes you up during the appropriate phase of sleep? i know jawbone bands have it, but UP3 is taking too long to get released

  • elektron on 10/02/2015 - 15:13

    Sony Smartwatch 3 - does everything including the nice-to-haves. It's also the only smartwatch with a built-in GPS.

    It can be had for around $280 delivered (check out staticice and shopbot).

    • hithere2341 on 10/02/2015 - 16:25

      Not the only one with a built-in GPS. Check out the Fitbit Surge

      • Kozhutki on 10/02/2015 - 18:51
        +1

        Fitbit Surge isn't a smartwatch. Only similarity would be the notifications, no third party apps etc.

        • hithere2341 on 10/02/2015 - 21:42

          My bad. Fitbit calls it a 'Super Watch'

  • uzz30 on 10/02/2015 - 15:19
    +2

    If you carry your iPhone / Android with you everywhere but swimming then the Pebble watch and a bluetooth HR monitor like the Wahoo TICKR HR tick all the boxes for minimum $$$. I use them for cycling, running and swimming and I'm very satisfied.

    On the Pebble iSmoothRun and swim.com are the killer iOS apps for fitness.

    You also get GPS navigation directions on the watch, plus volume control for music and a massive app store to choose from.

    http://getpebble.com
    http://www.ismoothrun.com
    http://www.swim.com

    http://au.wahoofitness.com/devices/wahoo-tickr-heart-rate-st…

    As an OzBargainer I want maximum bang for buck and I think this combo is unbeatable.

    • cypher67 on 10/02/2015 - 15:32

      Interesting concept, I was concerned about getting an all in one that is good, as opposed to getting seperate piece that are dedicated at a job and do it well.

      If I use my phone for the GPS tracking, does that chew through your data?

      • uzz30 on 16/02/2015 - 16:32

        iSmoothRun doesn't chew through the data unless you view the live map screen, which I don't and isn't on by default. It just logs the GPS data points to the phone and uploads them when you choose.

        • cypher67 on 16/02/2015 - 17:04

          So I took a leap of faith and purchased the Wahoo TICKR HRM like suggested. Works well and I'm happy with the accuracy of the read outs. I am now considering my Pebble options, if I got the old cheap one, the steel or wait and see what Pebble release this year to combat the coming Apple Watch. Just to confirm - On the watch I can view my HR in real time & control my music, maybe even track my distance and pace?

        • uzz30 on 16/02/2015 - 17:46

          @cypher67:

          I think the cheaper original is a better sports watch than the Steel, it's smaller lighter and 'sportier'.

          The band is also fine with water, whereas the Steel's default leather band is not 'waterproof'.

          Here is a shot of a typical iSmoothrun screen on a Pebble showing Time, Distance and Heart Rate.

          https://www.flickr.com/photos/curiouslee/15970779715/

          A screen display three metrics and you can have as many screens to page through as you like, there are a lot of metrics (rough count - 37) to choose from including pace. I have four screens, that's about as much as my brain can handle.

          Typically for running I have:
          1) Distance, Time, HR
          2) Distance, Pace min/km, HR
          3) Distance, Time Ahead/Behind Target, HR

          Cycling:
          4) Distance, Speed km/h, HR

          I find that by keeping distance on the top and HR on the bottom consistently my exercise addled brain doesn't become too confused.

        • cypher67 on 16/02/2015 - 17:48
          +1

          @uzz30:
          Legend, thanks mate, now I just need DickSmith to sell them for $73 again …

        • uzz30 on 16/02/2015 - 17:50

          @cypher67:
          No worries, it's a cracker buy for $73, but still feels like good value at twice the price.

    • elektron on 12/02/2015 - 17:46

      @uzz30

      Just curious which app you use to control music volume? I can only play/pause/prev/next (using Pebble's built-in functionality).

      • uzz30 on 16/02/2015 - 16:43
        +1

        If you flip into the iOS Pebble app itself, you'll find that pressing and holding the centre button changes the up/down button icons to volume up/down when on the built in Music screen on the Pebble watch.

        I find that I can then jump out of the Pebble app and the function works okay for hours afterwards, but there must be something that iOS does eventually that stops the volume control from working. Easy fixed by bringing up the Pebble app again.

        • NigelTufnel on 16/02/2015 - 17:15
          +2

          Yes, true on Android as well. Hold down play/pause to change button actions.

          If you're using Android you also have the option of Music Boss which gives you a lot of different media controls.

        • elektron on 17/02/2015 - 11:41

          Thanks guys, I've just learnt something new!

        • elektron on 18/02/2015 - 14:41

          @Jonaseymour:

          I have installed Music Boss but, unfortunately, have found that the play/pause control doesn't work with Google Play Music All Access, even though it works fine in the native PebbleOS music app.

        • NigelTufnel on 18/02/2015 - 15:11

          @elektron:
          Hmm… that's odd I haven't found it an issue. I assume that you've added Google Play Music as a media app in the Music Boss app on Android?
          Have you provided Music Boss with notification access?

  • elektron on 18/02/2015 - 17:04

    Yes, I have. I've also set Music Boss as the default music app on Pebble.

    I am able to launch GPMAA from Music Boss and change the volume, but when I toggle the Play/Pause on the watch it doesn't do it on the phone. And yet, the stock Pebble music app does the same with no issues.

    I emailed the dev who seems pretty active judging from the review section so we'll what happens.

    • NigelTufnel on 19/02/2015 - 10:36
      +1

      Weird. Yeah, the dev is pretty good. You can get him on Google+ too, Jonathan L. plus.google.com/+RebootsRamblings

      • elektron on 19/02/2015 - 11:14

        Cool, thanks for the help.

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