Best wrist based fitness tracker for Crossfit or HIIT??

[DevonBritton]

Hey everyone.

My wife and I each got a Samsung Galaxy Watch through FNB with the intention of using them as everyday smart watches, but also intending on using them when we do our daily Crossfit workout and syncing with Discovery. However, the HR monitor on those devices is absolute garbage. It doesn't register consistently during high intensity workouts...it'll start reading the HR but then stop for 10-15 minutes or just stop until you reboot the device.

After some haggling I convinced FNB to refund us the amounts paid thus far and returned the devices...but now we need a reliably, consistent fitness tracker for our workout. I'm not too concerned about accuracy as I know they'll never be as accurate as a chest band, but I do want something that works consistently.

We used to have Fitbit Blaze devices and we were happy with them...but they were a little short on some of the more "smartwatch" features I'd like.

Anyone have any recommendations from personal experience??

Options are:

• Garmin Approach S60 (I know it's a golf watch which is a bonus as I play occasionally).
• Fitbit Verse (both the SE and vanilla).
• Garmin VivoActive 3.
• Fitbit Charge 3.

There are some other Samsung devices as well but I'm hesitant to go for them as it seems the HR monitor issue is the same with all their devices.

Thanks everyone.

 

[Sinbad]

In my experience, very few wrist based trackers do a decent job once you get sweaty and active. A chest band is probably a much better bet.

That being said, my huawei watch does a far better job than either my old fitbit or my tomtom spark3 did. Not perfect though...

 

[DevonBritton]

In my experience, very few wrist based trackers do a decent job once you get sweaty and active. A chest band is probably a much better bet.

That being said, my huawei watch does a far better job than either my old fitbit or my tomtom spark3 did. Not perfect though...

Yeah The chest bands are better...but more expensive and annoying if you have to do push-ups or burpees where your chest has to touch the floor...

Thanks though. Much appreciated.

 

[Sinbad]

huawei output (stationary bike only)

 

[mattrudlles]

Hey everyone.

My wife and I each got a Samsung Galaxy Watch through FNB with the intention of using them as everyday smart watches, but also intending on using them when we do our daily Crossfit workout and syncing with Discovery. However, the HR monitor on those devices is absolute garbage. It doesn't register consistently during high intensity workouts...it'll start reading the HR but then stop for 10-15 minutes or just stop until you reboot the device.

After some haggling I convinced FNB to refund us the amounts paid thus far and returned the devices...but now we need a reliably, consistent fitness tracker for our workout. I'm not too concerned about accuracy as I know they'll never be as accurate as a chest band, but I do want something that works consistently.

We used to have Fitbit Blaze devices and we were happy with them...but they were a little short on some of the more "smartwatch" features I'd like.

Anyone have any recommendations from personal experience??

Options are:

• Garmin Approach S60 (I know it's a golf watch which is a bonus as I play occasionally).
• Fitbit Verse (both the SE and vanilla).
• Garmin VivoActive 3.
• Fitbit Charge 3.

There are some other Samsung devices as well but I'm hesitant to go for them as it seems the HR monitor issue is the same with all their devices.

Thanks everyone.

Scratch the fitbits - my wife's is really inconsistent.

The Apple watch is spot on all the time. I've worn both, as has she, and the Apple just blows the fitbit away.

On a related note to yours, a colleague in the office also says his Galaxy Watch HR monitor is garbage. I think its unacceptable as it is advertised as a sports watch.

 

[DevonBritton]

Scratch the fitbits - my wife's is really inconsistent.

The Apple watch is spot on all the time. I've worn both, as has she, and the Apple just blows the fitbit away.

On a related note to yours, a colleague in the office also says his Galaxy Watch HR monitor is garbage. I think its unacceptable as it is advertised as a sports watch.

Yeah unfortunately the Apple watch isn't an option because we're Android users... I returned mine to FNB under the CPA stipulation that you have 6 months to return a product for a full refund if it doesn't work as advertised.

 

[mattrudlles]

Yeah unfortunately the Apple watch isn't an option because we're Android users... I returned mine to FNB under the CPA stipulation that you have 6 months to return a product for a full refund if it doesn't work as advertised.

Really good going!

 

[DevonBritton]

Really good going!

It took weeks of arguing because they sent it for assessments etc...but I provided proof that it's a known issue, acknowledged by Samsung with no commitment to fix it...and eventually they caved.

 

[dabean]

https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/chest-strap-vs-wristband-heart-rate-monitors

The chest strap proved the most accurate of the heartrate-measuring devices, with a 99.6% accuracy. The wrist-worn devices, however, proved to be far less accurate. The highest accuracy was 92%, but some devices scored as low as 67%. The errors ranged anywhere from 15 to 34 BPMs, depending on the intensity of the activity. The Apple watch proved the most accurate of all the wrist-worn devices, regardless of the type of exercise. The higher the intensity, the less accurate the rest of the devices become.

Optical sensors have a much harder job to do than electrical sensors at higher heart rates.

Chest strap may have drawbacks but it's better than losing the hardest parts of your workouts.

 

[mattrudlles]

It took weeks of arguing because they sent it for assessments etc...but I provided proof that it's a known issue, acknowledged by Samsung with no commitment to fix it...and eventually they caved.

It's so misleading. Anyway, my suggestion would be a garmin forerunner - based on youtube reviews - if on the lower end of the price range. Fenix is just too expensive.

 

[DevonBritton]

https://breakingmuscle.com/fitness/chest-strap-vs-wristband-heart-rate-monitors

Optical sensors have a much harder job to do than electrical sensors at higher heart rates.

Chest strap may have drawbacks but it's better than losing the hardest parts of your workouts.

Thanks for this.

I think I still have my old Garmin chest strap from ages ago. It's an ANT+ strap if I remember correctly, so perhaps the VivoActive is the way to go, and then just pair that strap with it? I really don't want to have to pay an extra R1k for a decent chest strap.

 

[Barbarian Conan]

In my experience, very few wrist based trackers do a decent job once you get sweaty and active. A chest band is probably a much better bet.

That being said, my huawei watch does a far better job than either my old fitbit or my tomtom spark3 did. Not perfect though...

It has been a while since I did my research, but the consensus a couple of years ago was that as soon as you do something involving arm movements, wrist based trackers are garbage.

 

[ViciousClone]

Thread jumping here.
Fellow crossfitter here, i've been searching as well and saw the options FNB have, but so scared i get my first decent watch and i'm disappointed with it. ( Android user)

 

[ViciousClone]

With what i could gather so far, the Garmin forerunner 935 is a good all rounder , price is just quite steep at R7000-R9000

 

[DevonBritton]

With what i could gather so far, the Garmin forerunner 935 is a good all rounder , price is just quite steep at R7000-R9000

Yeah it seems like a fantastic device...but it is pricey...

I'm not in it for the accuracy of the tracker, more for the vitality points...lol...but I obviously don't want to feel like it's a waste of money like I felt with the Samsung...

 

[ViciousClone]

Yeah it seems like a fantastic device...but it is pricey...

I'm not in it for the accuracy of the tracker, more for the vitality points...lol...but I obviously don't want to feel like it's a waste of money like I felt with the Samsung...

i'm more for the tracking .. but yeah the price is heavy. Even if you go for the 2 year deal at R379 pm, which locks you into a contract. I don't think it's the route i'd want to go.

 

[ViciousClone]

Maybe you can help me @DevonBritton
How does it work when getting something from FNB, let's say a smartwatch, x24 payment window. Is this a locked in contract you pay like a cellphone or is it just month to month that you can pay off in 6 months if you'd like to? The lady at FNB told me no interest is attached to these deals ( which i highly doubt, gotta make money somehow right )

 

[wonduhboy]

I would also recommend the Apple watch - use mine for every workout (CF) and it's pretty accurate. Obviously it struggles on movements where your wrist flexes a lot i.e HSPU, thrusters etc . But for the most part I'm very happy.

But you said Apple isn't an option - in that case I was go for a Garmin watch (within) your budget, paired with an optical HR monitor, something like a Scosche that you can wear on your forearm - supposedly they have great accuracy. Checkout DCRainmaker for his recommendation on which one.

 

[Sinbad]

Maybe you can help me @DevonBritton
How does it work when getting something from FNB, let's say a smartwatch, x24 payment window. Is this a locked in contract you pay like a cellphone or is it just month to month that you can pay off in 6 months if you'd like to? The lady at FNB told me no interest is attached to these deals ( which i highly doubt, gotta make money somehow right )

There's no interest but if you settle early you pay their full retail price.

 

[ViciousClone]

There's no interest but if you settle early you pay their full retail price.

So there's no "contract" really. More like a month to month until final payment.
Rather FNB than credit card then?