I don’t know how to delete it, but FWIW, this is not my girl, it’s my bro before we went on a long swim along the Brighton Beach, with 735xt on my hand. This is one of the top straps I use daily for accuracy comparisons (the others Polar H9/H10 and Wahoo TICKR X). However where it really starts to get interesting is that you can create your own workout with Garmin Connect/Garmin Connect Mobile: Though, at present you don’t see the animations on the Vivoactive – but hopefully that’s where things end up. I am upgrading from my VA3 and I was aiming for a VA4 (which is probably the best fit for my needs). Venue and Vivoactive 4 all the time to high. In my experience the barometric altimeter is spotty at best (terrible a counting floors, OK on runs, not great in the mountains), so that one feature doesn’t seem to be worth it. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. Copyright Wareable Ltd. All rights reserved. Happy to take some hints form the audience, as it also amazing how much knowledge and experience is there. I’m definitely interested in the 4 if the GPS is on par accurate. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! Thanks! The approach series doesn’t have enough(or any) running/biking features. I am missing music in the gym and while running, but using the phone is not that bad. The name is changed to GarminActive/GarminActive S in China, maybe it’s a trademark issue. Trying to get the tap to register is so, so, SO frustrating! I’ve been using the golf function for quite a while on garmin devices, and will probably jump on the Vivoactive 4 because of how much I like it. I see the Samsung watch lists push-ups but have been unable to determine how accurately. I can only assume this is a firmware bug. That said, my watch is already starting to crap out after a year and I’m wondering whether buying another Garmin is really a good idea based on my experience. I like the more sports activities on the VA4 but what I have seen in the reviews that the trainings status on the 645 is something thats very nice and motivating and helping to improve and not overpace. 88bpm climbing a 15% mountain with my bike seems very low to me And my chest band says like 170. There's still limited customisation of the data faces, and you can't view workout history from the watch itself, but much of what makes Strava worthwhile is provided through the companion app, so we don't consider this a reason to avoid the smartwatch. I own the Fenix 3 and it is due for a replacement, but I do think the Fenix 6 is too expensive. – Battery life at 5 days standby, and 6 hours of GPS+Music. Thanks in advance! following a path)? For example I ordered a Vivoactive 4S (direct from Garmin) last night for my wife and it shipped this morning. You will, when over 50 . An odd thing for a consumer to complain about but maybe cause some paralysis by analysis. The high initial price is just so Garmin can make serious money when it goes on sale. Is there no gesture control, etc? En Garmin, nos asociamos con empresas realmente increíbles que nos ayudan a hacer realidad funciones avanzadas e innovadoras diseñadas para que disfrutes más de tus pasiones y conseguir que estés encantado con tu dispositivo Garmin. My Vivoactive 3 got worse over time with buggy software updates which killed HR performance. You'll support the site, and get ad-free DCR! What about an updated barometer? Thank you, Markus. I aim to leave no stone unturned. And of course – having music be part of the baseline is somewhat expected in this day and age at this price point. Reading some other comments I tried out PacePro. If you got any hands-on, did they fix the display issues? – Switched to Garmin Elevate V3 optical HR sensor I have built an extensive list of my most frequently asked questions. The route should be Vivoactive -> Garmin Connect phone app -> Garmin on the web -> Strava ... all segments etc. Purely a case of how much you like $50 for a prettier screen, that’s it. It's a … Pretty much all of Garmin's watches are built to play nice with Strava, from budget watches like the Garmin Forerunner 35 all the way up to the likes of the Fenix 6 (pictured above) and the Forerunner 945. Does it have an altimeter like the VA3m had? Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? Ahh yes, the good ol’ classic evening fall run chest strap lack of connectivity (despite wetting it). Additionally, it definitely seems like Ray is right that the firmware isn’t quite production ready yet. This means your workouts, daily activities, watch apps, and entire active ecosystem is on the proven Garmin platform. But it’s not like I’ll be a pro runner in any way, just focus a bit more than just “put my shoes on and leave the house 3 times a week”. This might seem like an odd question, but what is the vibration alarm like on these devices? My current Gear S3 Frontier has such a custom-made watchface, very useful for me. As part of your in-depth review, will you check on altitude capability? thanks a million for all the info here and everytime you do a review. ... You can get Live Strava segments on a couple of Polar bike computers (M460 and V650) but only one watch – the ageing V800. So what I like is having the music and gps to not carrying my mobile phone around with me. Yes! Linking your accounts. Other watches, most notably Fitbit, have been doing this for years in the strength and core workout realm. Yikes. I tried everything and no sucess. Which one do you suggest I should get? 18mm for the 40mm case version and 22mm for the 45mm version. The following devices can detect when you land on favorited Strava Segments and display live progress, most importantly telling you how far ahead/behind your PB you are. I like my VAHR, apart from the battery duration which is now down to 4 days, and was expecting the VA4 to be its replacement. I wonder if Garmin is having production problems… CleverTraining still doesn’t have the VA4 in stock that I ordered almost 2 weeks ago. Does anyone know if the Vivoactive 4 have support for power meters, like the garmin vector? Pressure sensor seems now much more reliable. then you can just upload the file (files) to the phone via usb connection. Beyond that one point however, it was pretty much spot-on the remainder of the time, matching where I ran each time. The fact that Running Power isn’t included with VA 3 though it has barometer is killing me, and I hope they corrected that mistake with 4/4S. Do they have an altimeter? I think the 4 has the new larger screen dimensions 1.3 inch, 260×260 as per fenix 6, compared to the 4S that has the original 1.2 inch 240×240 screen. Doesn’t work with Strava Live Segments I bought this to use for Strava Live Segments. Will the 645 compared to the VA4 be outdated soon? I can see the new PacePro feature in garmin connect (web) despite having an older watch model. That’s BS logic, its purposely disabling a basic feature that the hardware is perfectly capable of supporting just to force people to buy a more expensive version. Hello, While optical HR works on some newer Garmin watches, if you're looking for higher levels of accuracy, the HRM-TRI or HRM-SWIM are less expensive than the HRM-PRO, but lack the Bluetooth connectivity and a few other features. So anyone looking for a watch for daily wear with smartwatch features that wants reliable workout data should first try the vivoactive series. To pair the two services, just log into the Polar Flow web account, head to settings and opt to connect the Flow account with Strava. So price of FR945 is $500 and Vivoactive 4 is 350. link to firstbeat.com This is from CNET’s site. Garmin excels in making GPS functions. I am wondering if anyone has recommendations or suggestions; I found reviews of the APEX but not of the Pro version. We've listed our favourite Strava compatible watch brands below, and picked out the ones with special features. I have not even used it for anything other than a smartwatch yet and I was getting ~2 days battery. As you probably noticed by looking below, I also take time to answer all the questions posted in the comments – and there’s quite a bit of detail in there as well. Been looking at the 945 (the Fenix is just too much watch), but the Vivoactive 4 is what I want. So you know you are getting an accurate GPS when purchasing a Garmin watch. Today Garmin announced the new Vivoactive 4 & 4S watches, within a pile of different color/material variants. What a bad Elevation on the data set you published. It's dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, and in fact dual-Bluetooth Smart too, in case you need multiple connectons. . In my case, I just did a manual workout, though the Vivoactive 4 (like the Vivoactive 3) does support structured workouts. Does the Hydration feature sync with the water consumption data on MyFitnessPal? But the battery life really sucks (good for road runners). Uh, speak for yourself please. Wanna save some cash and support the site? My weather app stays in “waiting for data” and all my location services are on. Your email address will not be published. On the other hands I like the stylishness of the vivoactive a bit more which is also comfortable (and looking good) when not doing sports and has a lot of lifestyle features like stairs, sleep,…. Beyond that, it works just like any other Garmin watch in terms of showing you your running stats in customizable display pages: Let’s start though by looking at GPS accuracy. You say the venue will be on sale for $299. No power meter support in the Vivo product line. ... Strava Live Segments. So to get that premium feature you have to jump up to a higher end watch. Hence I will wait and see. Oh, and you can sign-up for the newsletter here! It’s not as swanky looking of a display as the Venu is, but it fits the bill for many while saving you $50 compared to the Venu. Stryd is compatible and works well with the VA3. Beneath the subdued styling that blends this watch into every outfit is a heart of circuitry and software made by Garmin. Max 112 despite 1500m of climbing. I wish they would take it out of all watches other than the Approach series (which are already golf specific) and strip it from having such a high prominence in the Connect app. The best way to get the two to play nice is to head into Suunto Movescount from the web application and choose the Connect with Strava option to get the ball rolling. The new features all strike me as gimmicks other than the extra button and the better heart rate sensor. If you click through using links on the site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Also, if the VA4 has a barometric altimeter like the VA3, did Garmin add a hiking widget to the sports list? Released along the Garmin Fenix 6 Series is the Vivoactive 4 Series, while the later is made up of 3 members; Vivoactive 4, 4S and Venu, the former is made up of 6 members; Fenix 6, 6S, 6 Pro, 6S Pro, 6X Pro, 6X Pro Solar.Each of these three features the latest of Garmin technology which includes more activity tracking and battery saver modes features. We’ll first look at these new features, and then from there dive into a quick accuracy check-up on some runs and such. I’ve been following them, and only almost them :-), the last week while trying around between different watches. I have the non-music 645, and while I see it in Garmin Connect (Training > PacePro Pacing Strategies), I get a “No compatible devices found” error if I try to send a strategy to my watch. Just got the 6X as my daily driver. We’ll dig into that too – this compared against the HRM-DUAL chest strap and the Polar OH1 Plus optical HR sensor. I still run with a strap, because the VA3 also failed there. And where does the Garmin Instinct fit in? I was sceptical at first as Garmin didnt have it on the list saying it couldnt. Thanks! We only use the watches to track effort in regards to heart rate/distance/pace; oh, true, and to keep an eye on the time. After you upload an activity to Garmin Connect it’ll show you the estimated sweat loss leveraging the known outside temperature, your weight, humidity, and general black magic. 2017 Vivoactive 3 $269 Looking for Live Segments on your Garmin Edge 1030? Elsewhere on the Wear front, there's a whole bunch of new options from the Fossil Group that include its Fossil Gen 5 smartwatch, Puma Smartwatch and Emporio Armani Smartwatch 3 which all include GPS (sans smartphone) and heart rate monitors. It wirk like a charm. And being awesome is what it’s all about! Strava does a lot of good analysis of your sessions based on heart rate – but there are data points it doesn't track. Ray has said previously that PacePro is not coming to the 645. Given that the vivoactive is brand new and probably a very high volume model, I wouldn’t read into this too much. are showing. Please be aware that Live Segments are only available for riding and running activities. This is first time I comment in here. )/pulseOx/sleep/activities data available from the watch will be used to create a total picture that is then available to view in the watch (via the 4 metrics it displays) and the edge 530 (via the 14ish metrics it display) and whatever you can see in Garmin Connect? I download this to my garmin watch and go workout. I think it looks nicer than the Fenix series. off on Black Friday/Cyber Monday on CT & Amazon. But first, one more thing: Yes, the Garmin Fenix 6 Series & Forerunner 945 will get *all* of the new features noted above. What are your least favorite countries/places? Thank you! Any specific reason you can share as to why the full review isn’t there yet? I am curious of the VA4 compares to the 245. Of course they’re early production but definitely not pre-production. Kate. (does the 645 music support spotifiy?). Within the breathing exercises you’ll also get respiration rate data. In my full in-depth review I’ll cover all the basics of using the watch that are more or less the same on every Garmin watch. – Training calendar support So really disappointed. In the UK/EU/Australia/New Zealand? Under What’s New in both the VA4 and Venu articles, there’s a bullet point that says “Workout tracking of range of sports including running, cycling, pool swimming, skiing, golf, gym and many more (full list down below)”, but then you never list them. That means while you can view any run or cycle recorded on a Fitbit in Strava, you will also get credit in Fitbit for any Strava workout, regardless of whether your Fitbit was there or not. After a week of struggling with its arcane documentation it still doesn’t work. – Switched to Sony GPS chipset like remainder of Garmin 2019 unit lineup You can also have sessions recorded in the Apple Workouts app synced to Strava, and this can be done by connecting Apple Health from within the Strava app. Will the FR 245 Music get the new features as well? Here, let me show you. I currently have an edge 530 bike computer that gets 14 firstbeat metrics (in theory, I feel like I actually haven’t seen all of them). For those trying to lose weight, one of the best ways to support that is drinking lots of water (for a variety of reasons that Google can help on). I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). ... You only need to pay for Strava to get live segments on your head unit. Though if memory serves me right, Garmin was quick to reduce VA3 prices after launch in a couple steps. If I get the V4, register it to my Garmin Connect account will all the data go to first beat and be used when generating metrics that are available to all my devices? Finally, the last new feature to touch on is sweat loss. Garmin lost me forever, because of this arrogant approach and spare me to talk about that technology inside, because their GPS is not accurate at all. But I agree with your sentiment and pricing these newer watches against the previous gen ones is strange. It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it! To sign up for a Strava membership, go to the segments widget in your Garmin Connect™ account. Have I understood correctly ? A couple of years ago I bought the Ozmo smart bottle to track my hydration, back then the bottle and Garmin connect would synch. I did a two hour mostly flat rollerski workout, 23 laps, minor change in elevation, and I checked with atmospheric pressure same time, it also dropped 1 mb, so if I take into account that, then it was perfectly precise! Why it is not available on Fenix 6? Here’s my most recent gadget recommendations guide and trainers here – covering almost every category of sports gadgets out there. And in fact, you’ll find it under the workouts section: It’s here you can choose a specific breathing technique: Once you’ve done that, it’s got all the steps listed. VA3 does not have a lap button, but you can enable manual lapping. It's a little too dated for us to recommend. Will be interesting to see whether they’re offering consumers too much choice. GARMIN Edge 520 [010-01368-00] Licznik rowerowy GPS, który pomaga rywalizować i porównywać wyniki Rywalizacja na żywo w ramach segmentów platformy Strava Po sparowaniu z czujnikiem mocy i c The whole point of this is largely water tracking. I got as far as setting up a race, but hadn’t tried to send it to my watch yet (my race isn’t until October). A real pity since this watch looks so much better than a Forerunner 245. Imagine if your swim workout said ‘Repeat set 23 times’. Seems $50 too dear. Strava really makes it easy to dive into looking at your performance levels, and in our experience, does a better job of showing improvement than many of its rivals. Nice line up from garmin thes last months but any rumors from suunto The VA4 takes the Vivoactive 3 of yesteryear and advanced it forward with a pile of new features, as well as including music as the baseline. Once you link your accounts, the data transfer is two-way. Alternatively, for everything else on the planet, simply buy your goods from Amazon via the link below and I get a tiny bit back as an Amazon Associate. Agreed on the pricing concern. Anyway, thanks, I’ll jump to the forerunner and Fenix reviews now. If you want an alternative to a chest strap, try a Polar OH1. However, I requested a refund anyway because I’m still planning to get the Venu instead. We do our fair quota of races and is therapy as well as lifestyle. In general, the above run roughly matches what I see for the Vivoactive 4 in terms of GPS tracks. Do you expect the new features (Hydration tracking, Estimated Sweat Loss post-workout, Respiration Rate for all-day and sleep metrics, and Breathwork Exercises) to appear on the other new models (FR945 and Phoenix 6) and old models (i have FR645)? I wasn’t exactly keeping track). One it would be lovely if you could a discount list for Europe! I love having a touch screen when it works properly, which stops me upgrading to a Fenix, but this is also really bloody annoying and I don’t want the same thing with the VA4/VA4S. Strava is a great place to store your workout data, and the good news is that most big-name sports watches work with the service, enabling you to have your workout data appear in the service. You can get a 645M on Amazon now for $20-$30 more than this new VA4, as well as other options in this price range. The Strava real-time Relative Effort app analyzes your heart rate during a workout and ranks your total activity effort. I’ve used several versions of it over the years and it’s still my go-to method of listening to music when running. sw issues have been ironed out and VA3M covers swim/bike/run and many other activities just fine. Vivoactive 4: €299 & €329 depending on bezels/buttons Hi, what’s the différence between color for watch face on VA3 and VA4. Vivoactive 4S: €279 & €299 depending on bezels/buttons Same. If you’re doing longer trail runs and such, you might want to consider the FR945 instead. DC Rainmaker 2019 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But first we’ve gotta talk animations. Vivoactive 3 Music), and one for non-music (Vivoactive 3) – plus Venu, now that’s all under a single umbrella with all units having music onboard. Garmin Vivoactive 4S 40mm: Opptil 7 dager i standby og 5 timer med GPS og musikk tilkoblet. Automatically Sync with Garmin Connect. Hi Ray, any update on the vivomove review? Do you expect the hydration related features to become available on older watches (i have the FR 645)? In contrast to an Apple watch, which seems to have a much gentler “onset” or initiation of the vibration. From the Coros app you can connect the two services together in the same manner as Garmin, Suunto and Polar watches letting you view your run, ride and swim data in Strava. Rather than having to click an extra time on … to enter the volume page. Though, from an optical heart rate standpoint, all the units were very close on the intervals. This speed sensor is unique in that it can record offline (sans-watch), making it perfect for a commuter bike quietly recording your rides. But other audiobooks providers like overdrive, rbdigital or borrowbox, via the web application will allow you to downlaod the book as a mp3 file. To start a run I simply tap the upper right button once, and select run from the list: The GPS status and heart rate lock will also show up top: You can also swipe up to choose a specific structured workout and do some ad-hoc intervals: Then, it’s off I went on my run. Is this designed for people who need to hide they walked to the the bar around the corner instead of a completing a workout? My VA3 says 170, this watch says 152 The Vivoactive 4, like most other 2019 watches from Garmin, are just so much better at music than older Garmin watches. We have been using a TomTom Spark 2 (with music) and a Garmin F235 for the last few years and these were fine. On the vivoactive 2 & 3 HR it is not possible to set the swimming pool size smaller than 17m…I have requested this feature change to garmin more than once to be able to set it to smaller swimming pool like 14m or even 12m….We not all have access to bigger swimming pools. If not, is there some way, perhaps through some other audiobook provider, to listen to audiobooks through the device? Are there ever issues with swiping through screens or ending workouts when you’re drenched? Also note that like the two Venu & Vivoactive 4 watches, my two posts on these watches at this point are incredibly similar. I know they held back Venu due to the software stability. Garmin Swim 2; Live Segments are only available for riding and running activities. I have a bit of a problem deciding which watch to go for. I guess as the 4 is more $$ than the S, the S is the smaller one? But this post is about the Vivoactive 4, not Venu. My needs are mainly for a multi sports tracker (I do a little bit of everything, but more frequently swimming) which also helps me track my overall health (e.g., reliable sleep tracking, HR and O2 during the day and sleep, auto tracking of walks etc). I wouldn’t even consider it a contender if golf wasn’t there. Note that I have had a unit for the last couple of weeks. Looking to upgrade from a Vivoactive HR which has served me well but is getting a bit long in the tooth after 3 years.