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Garmin Vivoactive 3
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Few questions if any of you owners can help please as I'm considering getting one, if I can pick it up at the right price.
I do already have Garmin Forerunner 410, Approach G6 and an Edge 500. I will certainly keep using the Edge for cycling. As I have a laser for golf, I don't really use the Approach much anymore, although sometimes it does come in handy for blind shots. Problem is I always forget to have it charged. If I had this watch on my wrist at least it would be charged. I like the idea of tracking all my activities, the G6 does Track the golf, but as I say, I don't really use it much anymore.
Am I correct in saying that the Vivoactive series seems to be a step down from the Forerunner? I do realise that my Forerunner is a few years old now, so that step down might not really be a step down the way technology moves. But I would like to know how is compares.
So I do a bit of running and when I'm running I like to be able to see my pace, I have laps set up at 1km so it helps me pace my run. I also like the feature to set targets so I know if I am ahead or behind. Can the VivoActive 3 do this?
Re swimming, I go a couple of times a month, indoor pool, 25 meters long. How does it track indoor swimming?
I think this watch seems to be a complete tracking device and one to wear all the time. Couldn't do that with the Forerunner 410, it's huge. So what kind of size is this and how does it sit on the wrist? Would love to know how big it is compared to my citizen watch which I do wear pretty much all the time. Can anyone stick a pic up of it against a regular watch or better still beside a Forerunner 410
Music. How does that work? Download music to the watch and listen via Bluetooth headphones I take it? I'm unsure why people are asking about Spotify? How would that work, surely then it would link to your phone to get internet access and in that case you would surely just sync your earphones to your phone?
Syncing activities. How does that work? Bluetooth to your phone and Garmin connect App? Will it sync through a PC with Garmin Express, either cable or Bluetooth?
I'm sure I've more questions, but that's enough for now I'm sure
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Am I correct in saying that the Vivoactive series seems to be a step down from the Forerunner? I do realise that my Forerunner is a few years old now, so that step down might not really be a step down the way technology moves. But I would like to know how is compares.
Not sure about a step down, I had a 5 year old Forerunner 610 and I find it a big improvement on that. Much nicer to navigate between screens, much better touchscreen, built in wrist HRM, MUCH quicker to pick up satellite (15-30 seconds max). My forerunner was pretty old so I'm sure the more recent ones have better features but for me the Vivoactive is a big step up.So I do a bit of running and when I'm running I like to be able to see my pace, I have laps set up at 1km so it helps me pace my run. I also like the feature to set targets so I know if I am ahead or behind. Can the VivoActive 3 do this?
It doesn't have the Virtual Partner so that's one difference alright. It does track pace, customizable laps (default 1km/mile). The data screens are fully customizable depending on the sport with up to 4 sections. For me for running I have HRM, current pace, average pace and distance. When I'm playing football I have distance, time, pace & steps. All configurable from the watch itself.Re swimming, I go a couple of times a month, indoor pool, 25 meters long. How does it track indoor swimming?
Sorry, haven't taken mine swimming yet.I think this watch seems to be a complete tracking device and one to wear all the time. Couldn't do that with the Forerunner 410, it's huge. So what kind of size is this and how does it sit on the wrist? Would love to know how big it is compared to my citizen watch which I do wear pretty much all the time. Can anyone stick a pic up of it against a regular watch or better still beside a Forerunner 410
I reason I got this over a forerunner or anything else is because I want a single smart watch to track everything from steps to activities to sleep. This does it perfectly for me and it looks great to wear too. It's definitely smaller than the standard forerunner watches. To me it's no bigger than one of the Samsung gear smart watches and I'd suggest a good bit thinner. It definitely doesn't look out of place in the workplace. Also, you easily get customizable straps that just clip in & out so you can dress it up for a suit if you want.Music. How does that work? Download music to the watch and listen via Bluetooth headphones I take it? I'm unsure why people are asking about Spotify? How would that work, surely then it would link to your phone to get internet access and in that case you would surely just sync your earphones to your phone?
You can download offline music from Deezer directly to the watch I believe. I use it for audiobooks so I just connect the watch to my laptop & drag-and-drop the mp3 files onto the storage area. I listen via Bluetooth running headphones that pair instantly. This is really important for me as I love to listen to something when running to distract me from the pain! Having it built into the watch makes it really easy to go out consistently.Syncing activities. How does that work? Bluetooth to your phone and Garmin connect App? Will it sync through a PC with Garmin Express, either cable or Bluetooth?
The watch has wifi & Bluetooth so as soon as you come back within the wifi network (or your phone) it'll push the recent activity to Garmin. All done automatically within seconds. No need for the ANT USB thingy that my old forerunner had.
Finally, I charge mine very 4ish days on average. I picked up a spare couple of charging cables on amazon so I'm never stuck. When it goes to about 15-25% I charge it overnight.
Hope that helps. Overall it's a great buy and has certainly contributed to me being more active recently.0 -
WOW, great reply garion, may thanks, loads of great info in thereNot sure about a step down, I had a 5 year old Forerunner 610 and I find it a big improvement on that. Much nicer to navigate between screens, much better touchscreen, built in wrist HRM, MUCH quicker to pick up satellite (15-30 seconds max). My forerunner was pretty old so I'm sure the more recent ones have better features but for me the Vivoactive is a big step up.
Well I guess the 410 is probably of a similar era to the 610 and the 610 was a better spec than a 410... so if you felt the VivoActive was an improvement on the 610, that is great feedback and just what I wanted to hear. I hate the stupid bezel on the 410, it is grand for tapping but for scrolling it is pretty awful. So good to hear the screen is good to navigate.
I think the Forerunner series does seem to be a level above the VivoActive from what I'm reading. It's hard doing a comparison on the Garmin site because
this seems to do everything that the Forerunners do. Can anyone tell me why would anyone buy a forerunner over this?It doesn't have the Virtual Partner so that's one difference alright. It does track pace, customizable laps (default 1km/mile). The data screens are fully customizable depending on the sport with up to 4 sections. For me for running I have HRM, current pace, average pace and distance. When I'm playing football I have distance, time, pace & steps. All configurable from the watch itself.
Customisable screen sounds good, my Edge definitely has that, and I'm pretty sure my 410 does. I have it a few years now so can't remember, I would have just set it up the way I liked and left it at that.
So while you mention HRM. I do have a premium HR chest band. Does this watch pick that up? Is it any better to use that than the built in wrist based HR. I would imagine the chest band is better?
Ah virtual partner, that was the terminology which escaped me. Yes a very handy feature, but I guess if I have a screen with lap time and overall time I can live with that. Obviously won't be as good as the virtual partner, but I'm not a series runner. But then again, I am always striving to better my times and just by looking at times, you won't know if your overall run is ahead or behind. OK so that's one point for the Forerunner I guess.I reason I got this over a forerunner or anything else is because I want a single smart watch to track everything from steps to activities to sleep. This does it perfectly for me and it looks great to wear too. It's definitely smaller than the standard forerunner watches. To me it's no bigger than one of the Samsung gear smart watches and I'd suggest a good bit thinner. It definitely doesn't look out of place in the workplace. Also, you easily get customizable straps that just clip in & out so you can dress it up for a suit if you want.
I've never looked at any smart watches before, so doesn't help me with size. But it does sound appealing from your description. I don't really have any interest in smart watches to be honest. In fact, I'm loosing interest in my smart phone. They are great, but they are also a menace to society
Is this a smart watch? Or is it a fitness/sports watch? I'm thinking they are 2 different things? Customisable straps is just a fad I can do without. I think I got 3 with my Forerunner and they have never been swapped around.
The only jewellery I have ever worn is a watch and I've 4 good ones, which I rotate but mostly wear my citizen chrono. 20 year old now. Actually 2 of the other 3 are even a little older, got them all when I worked in a jewellers. The other is pretty new a Breitling, well at least that's what is says on the face beside the missing seconds hand
A few years ago I got a cheap step tracker, miband or something like that. It lasted a few months. Hence why I'm not sure how much I will end up using this, especially as I do like my real watches.
So from what you say, maybe the Forerunners don't do the whole tracking steps/sleep thing then?You can download offline music from Deezer directly to the watch I believe. I use it for audiobooks so I just connect the watch to my laptop & drag-and-drop the mp3 files onto the storage area. I listen via Bluetooth running headphones that pair instantly. This is really important for me as I love to listen to something when running to distract me from the pain! Having it built into the watch makes it really easy to go out consistently.
Would find it odd to be listening to audiobooks when out running/working out myself, but I do like the tunes. I'm old fashioned though. I bought all the music I own, mad looking things, CD's they are called. Little shiny Frisbies. They actually used to have shops which only sold these things believe it or not. Then one day I got this thing called an iPod and I was able to put all of my 4 or 5 hundred CD's on it. Then last year I got myself a mad set of headphones (Bose Soundsport) which don't even need to plug in to the iPod.
Ah in fairness I've had a few trial runs on spotfy but always just listen to the stuff I already own, so I just don't bother. Every now and again I'll pick up a few CD's on the cheap, much better value than 10 bucks a month to spotfy etc. I don't even use my phone to load tracks onto. Just use the iPod, prefer it as it is much better. So I really don't think I would have any need for the music version of the watch.
But I'm a bit curious as to why the music version would be much different. I read somewhere the watch can only track 7 activities. Is that right? I guess that's no big deal, I rarely review past activities on the Forerunner, mostly just look at them on Connect, and as you mention below it syncs all the time, so no real need for more space I guess. But I would have thought it all has to do with the memory on the device. So if you tracked longer activities such as a long bike ride, games of golf etc, does that limit the number of activities your watch can handle?
So is the music version then not really just the same watch with a larger memory capacity?
Can you put any tunes at all on the standard version or is it a different firmware? Guess I'll just throw that in there as a question for anyone who might be interested or indeed if I did change my mind or forget my iPod.The watch has wifi & Bluetooth so as soon as you come back within the wifi network (or your phone) it'll push the recent activity to Garmin. All done automatically within seconds. No need for the ANT USB thingy that my old forerunner had.
That sounds very handy, especially if indeed there is limited storage on the watch. Does it automatically delete the activities once they are uploaded to Connect? So you don't even need Garmin Express or your computer on. I guess you just pair your watch to your Garmin Connect account or something. The Ant stick does tend to disappear in my house from time to time
Finally, I charge mine very 4ish days on average. I picked up a spare couple of charging cables on amazon so I'm never stuck. When it goes to about 15-25% I charge it overnight.
One for the bedside locker so, one for the car and one for the office deskHope that helps. Overall it's a great buy and has certainly contributed to me being more active recently.
Yes indeed, really great feedback there garion. It's amazing how difficult it is to find out how the simple things actually work with all the different reviews out there. They all seem to just give feebcack on what the watch does and reports back to the user as opposed to just showing you how to operate it!
Final question for now, I read something about some kind of autotracking feature on it. Move IQ. Am I right in saying it automatically knows if you have gone running, cycling, swimming etc and tracks that activity in case you forget to yourself? How the hell does it know what you are doing, sounds pretty amazing. But again, not sure what I'm reading does it save as activities to go into your activity feed on connect? I don't think it does, so whats the point in the Move IQ then, or can you go in an manually pick out the activity somehow?
Whats True Up?0 -
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