Garmin Vivofit 2 Review

There are many reasons why almost everyone wants to be in better shape. To lower the risk of heart disease, lower the risk of a stroke, to be firmer, fitter, to sleep better, and/or to help with depression and low energy. The list is long and the desire to get in shape may be there, but the motivation to either start or sustain a fitness routine isn’t. Activity trackers are neat little motivational bracelets that will hopefully keep you on the move and finally let you achieve your fitness goal.

Overview

The Garmin Vivofit 2 is an activity tracker similar to Fitbit and Jawbone. It is a wearable wristband that you never have to take off because it’s water resistant and the battery lasts for a year. The bands even come in different colors. While you wear it, it tracks your steps, calories, distance and time of day on its display so you are never far from your stats. It has an alert to remind you to get up and move after an hour of inactivity. In sleep mode it will monitor how well you sleep at night by tracking movement.  .

One feature the Vivofit 2 has that the Fitbit doesn’t, is the ability to learn your current activity level and then assign you a daily goal you can attain. The Vivofit 2 automatically adjusts your goals as you meet your milestones. It can be paired with a heart rate monitor during cardio exercises and will record your heart rate in order to provide more accurate calorie burn information.

Connect the Vivofit 2 to your PC and it will sync giving you a dashboard display of all your fitness information, including your steps, distance, as well as sleep stats.

Specifications and Features

·        Weight – 1 ounce

·        8.3x0.8x0.4 inches

·        2 lithium metal batteries

·        1 inch display

·        Battery life – 8760 hours

·        Move bar w/alert

·        Backlit display

·        Activity timer

·        Auto-sync

·        Water resistant

·        Step tracker

·        Automatically adjust fitness goal

·        Monitors sleep

The monochrome band has a small screen that displays the time by default, but with a series of presses will cycle through the relevant fitness information. The pedometer is sensitive and accurately measures steps taken. This is an entry-level activity tracker so don’t expect it to have the fancy bells and whistles like its more expensive counterparts. That being said, there are some Pro’s just as there are con’s. To sum it up:

Pro’s

·        Accurate step tracking

·        Backlit display always on

·        Interchangeable bands

·        Long batter life

·        Audible alerts

Con’s

·        No vibration

·        Doesn’t automatically sync

·        Lacks detailed information in the Garmin app

·        Lacks sleep alarm

·        No diet tracking

·        Non-touchscreen

What Others are Saying

The Garmin Vivofit 2 Activity Tracker has a 4 star rating on Amazon. It rates high in the looks department with its interchangeable bands as well as its backlit screen. Many customers have commented that being able to see the display in the dark and make adjustments if necessary is a huge help.  The fact that it doesn’t need to be recharged and the battery lasts for a year is a plus, as is its ability to withstand water up to 50 meters. This means it can be worn swimming, showering, doing dishes etc.

On the flip side, customers were unhappy with the low tone of the alerts and the alerts are difficult to see on the display. The display also appears “frosted” or “hazy” which detracts from its appearance and makes it look “cheap”. Another very common complaint was the fact that the Garmin says it syncs automatically but in fact it does not. It will sync when you have reached 2000 steps within an hour. Many customers have also complained that the Vivofit 2 has minimal sleep tracking that isn’t always accurate and sometimes doesn’t work.

Conclusion

The always on backlit display along with its long battery life make this an ideal activity tracker for those who prefer things low maintenance. It is unobtrusive as it monitors your activity and sleep and once you put it on you can forget it’s there while you go about your daily routine.

While it is an alternative to other activity trackers, it lacks some key features such as a wake up alarm and heart rate monitor.  Its main attraction seems to be the array of available wristbands.

It is perfect as a starter device but others in its class offer more features such as a better looking touchscreen, vibrating alerts, and notifications. 

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Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband Review

For some, exercising is an easy and even enjoyable part of the daily routine, and the reward is watching yourself evolve into a swimsuit ready body.  Then there’s the rest of us. Getting fit requires motivation and a lot of dedication and sometimes you just can’t reach down deep enough to hit the pavement.

Overview

The Fitbit Flex Activity + Sleep Tracker offers an answer for even the most sedentary folks. The Fitbit Flex tracks your activity all day. It counts your steps, tells you how many calories you burned and how many minutes you have been active. It also measures your sleep quality and wakes you with a silent vibrating alarm. This may be the motivation you need to become more active throughout your day.

The Fitbit Flex will track steps, sleep, and calories. The wristband is slim and available in 3 sizes and 8 colors and is water resistant. The wristband is thin, flexible, and sleek. The only information displayed is 5 LED lights on a thin display. Each light represents 20% of your goal. 

To see information about your daily activity, the Fitbit has to be synced with your computer or compatible smartphone. You then log into the Fitbit website and your dashboard appears showing your total steps for the day, the distance you traveled, how many calories you burned as well as how much quality sleep you got the night before. The Fitbit Flex has sensors that will detect how long it takes you to fall asleep and how many times you awaken during the night.

If you choose, you can also log your water intake and your food calories.

Specifications and Features

·        Imported

·        Rubber

·        Monitors length of time asleep

·        Monitors quality of sleep

·        Silent wake alarm

·        Slim

·        Syncs wirelessly to computer

·        Tracks steps taken

·        Tracks calories burned

·        Tracks distance travelled

·        Counts very active minutes

·        5 day battery life

·        Water resistant

Everywhere you go, your Fitbit goes too. Activity trackers are becoming increasingly popular, especially the wrist worn versions. The Fitbit Flex comes with the wristband, USB charging cable, and USB wireless sync dongle all packed neatly in a tight little box. Fitbit has a track record of providing quality fitness trackers. Like everything, it has it pro’s and con’s.

Pro’s:

n  The Fitbit Flex is simple to use and is an easy way to track your activity during the day and your sleep at night.

n  It will sync wirelessly to your computer and select mobile phones

n  It has both an iOS and Android application

n  It is light, flexible and comfortable to wear

n  It is water resistant

n  Lower price than similar exercise wristband products

Con’s

n  The band is difficult to put on

n  Doesn’t track stairs

n  Doesn’t show number of steps

n  Need USB dongle to sync

What Others are Saying

The Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity + Sleep Wristband has a 3 ½ star rating on Amazon. Those who like the Fitbit Flex like the lightweight feel of the wristband and the fact that it looks good on the wrist. It can be worn round the clock and only needs to be taken off to charge every 5-7 days. The fact that it comes in 8 colors is also a bonus for those that like to use it as an accessory. Another common feature that is brought up numerous times as a definite plus is the fact that it is water resistant. It can be worn swimming or in the shower.  Also high on the list of selling points was the solid TPU rubber of the wrist band. It is sturdy and holds up well to rough conditions.

The ease with which it synced with the computer and the simple interface of the Fitbit website kept people coming back often as they can connect with friends through the Fitbit app which provided an additional motivator.  Many people who bought the Fitbit Flex got a lot of use out of the silent alarm feature. It vibrates on your wrist to wake you without disturbing your partner.

But then there are those people that had specific dislikes about the Fitbit Flex. One of the biggest complaints seemed to be the lack of a physical manual that could act as a quick guide on set up and how it works. Also an issue was the fact that the band can be difficult to work with, making it hard to put on. This was a common complaint. The only other major complaint I could find was the lack of a visual telling you how many steps you had achieved toward your goal.

Conclusion

Overall the Fitbit Flex is a great product that beats out its competitors in the same price range. It is comfortable, stylish, accurate and doesn’t get in the way when working. The water resistant feature means that regardless of how much you sweat during your workout, your Fitbit will not be damaged. It’s easy to use and has a range of features and data available to you through the website.  Even with the con’s you really can’t go wrong with the Fitbit Flex.

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