Garmin Vivosmart HR - $199 @ Rebel Sport

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ThePianoMan on 20/01/2016 - 13:54 search.rebelsport.com.au (672 clicks)
Last edited 20/01/2016 - 14:05 by 1 other user

Not as good as the deal for BUPA members, but for those who are looking for Garmin's Vivosmart HR in store, it's advertised at $199 (down from $229 which seems to be the regular price at other retailers?)
$226 Harvey Norman: http://www.harveynorman.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?q=Garmi…
$229 Amart Sports: http://www.amartsports.com.au/Product/Garmin-Vivosmart-HR-Fi…
$229 Sportsmans Warehouse: http://sw.com.au/garmin-vivosmart-hr-regular-activity-tracke…

Unfortunately not that many other stores seem to stock it, so price matching is difficult…

If you know of a better price (preferably in Adelaide), let me know!

Related Stores

rebel

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  RideCurbs on 20/01/2016 - 14:11

  +1

  I've nearly pulled the trigger on this deal many times,

  I just don't need it, hoping for something a bit cheaper…

  Don't forget cash rewards http://www.cashrewards.com.au/ bonus 7.5% cashback
  But will cost you maybe ~$7.95 for delivery.

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  kracken on 20/01/2016 - 14:12

  do you think this is better than Fitbit Charge HR?

  • 

    ThePianoMan on 20/01/2016 - 14:16

    +1

    That's probably up for debate.
    It has a few smartwatch features and you can wear it in the shower/pool. But might not be quite as good in other ways? A lot of comments and reviews indicate that the Garmin app is less user friendly than the Fitbit one.

    Plus the Fitbit Charge HR seems to be regularly on sale at around the $130 price mark, so this is a bit more expensive…

  • 

    atlas on 20/01/2016 - 14:36

    +2

    Five key differences imo.

    1. Notifications - the Garmin can show notifications from virtually any app on your phone (on Android at least). You can also read/dismiss the notifications. The Fitbit as far as I can tell only shows incoming calls.

    2. Waterproof - the Garmin is whereas the Fitbit definitely is not.

    3. App community - chances are your friends are using Fitbit devices and competing in terms of step count. If you use the Garmin you obviously won't participate in that online community. Personally, I don't really care for comparing my step count with others.

    4. Battery - I'm not sure about the new HR version, but my Garmin Vivosmart lasts a good 5-6 days between charges. My wife's Fitbit requires charging every 2-3 days.

    5. Form factor - the Fitbit looks like a watch whereas the Garmin is a more discrete band. I personally wear a normal watch on one wrist and the Garmin on the other, which works well.

    • 

      blueboy03 on 20/01/2016 - 18:46

      +1

      You nailed it bar two things:
      4. Battery - I get a week easily
      5. Garmin looks chunkier, the fitbit is a little more sleek.

      I'd say overall these two are the best options for the basic level. Go with what your friends have or what you like the look of more. Next step up = GPS and the step above that is the actual usable Android wear/iWatch level

    • 

      tyler.durden on 22/01/2016 - 10:58

      can this alert you to move every 1 hr?

  • 

    chudson on 21/01/2016 - 01:45

    +1

    The Garmin Vivofit 2 does everything useful this one does except the batteries last for a year. Waterproof (tested), audible alerts, no tiny numbers, don't have to swipe..

    In recent times you can buy them for under $99.. mine was $94 from Rebel Sport.

  • 

    kracken on 21/01/2016 - 18:01

    thanks guys i really appreciate your helpful descriptions!

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  guyvb on 20/01/2016 - 16:15

  +6

  A little bit of info about the Vivosmart HR (that I didn't know before I bought mine):

  I bought the Vivosmart HR to replace using a chest strap while cycling - the Vivosmart talks Ant+ and can connect to Garmin Edge devices. However the Vivosmart doesn't connect to an Edge during 'normal' operations - you can't just turn on the Edge and see your heartrate.

  You have to put the Vivosmart into heartrate 'broadcast' mode manually in order for it to connect to an Edge. This involves a button press, and half a dozen swipes & taps to get to the right menu.

  AND - while in broadcast mode, no other functions of the Vivosmart are accessible. You have to (manually) exit broadcast mode in order to see any other screen on the Vivosmart again.

  The reason for this is apparently down to battery life - putting the Vivosmart into broadcast mode sucks battery pretty quickly. I generally got about a week out of my (non-HR) Vivosmart, but with regular riding I have to charge the Vivosmart HR every 3 or 4 days.

  Hope this helps someone.

  Cheers,

  • 

    PlasticSpaceman on 20/01/2016 - 20:57

    Thanks for the info! How accurate do you think it is for heart rate readings? Doesn't have to be medical grade, but I know some people have found the sensor on the fitbit HR to be wildly inaccurate - is the garmin ok? I assume you have to have it fairly tight on the wrist, and maybe those complaining about the fitbit are wearing them too loose…. I am very happy with my older vivofit with +12 month battery, but am tempted to suffer the recharging to get the HR feature along with mobile notifications….

    • 

      guyvb on 20/01/2016 - 21:28

      +3

      Well, it's certainly not as accurate as a chest strap. Erratic might be an appropriate word :)

      I think it's generally reliable, but in the few weeks I've had time I've noticed numerous times that it's wrong. It tends to default to 72 bpm a lot, which I'm starting to realise means 'I don't know what's going on right now'. While cycling it seems mostly accurate but a couple of times I've looked down during a hill climb, it's indicating 90 bpm while my heart is pounding out of my chest…

      You don't have to have it tight on the wrist, I wouldn't put up with that, too uncomfortable. The manual says 'snug but comfortable, and should not move while running'. I've experimented with various tightness fittings, doesn't seem to make much difference to the accuracy.

      Notifications are cool. The inactivity reminder (Move Bar) is cool. Both worth putting up with regular recharging. The HR seems to be a more accurate pedometer than the non-HR. The screen on the HR is much much better than the non-HR. But the HR is a markedly larger unit than the non-HR.

      Cheers