Either you are in a swimming pool, race tracks, on a bike, or preparing for Tour dé France, the smartwatch that you will need is the Garmin Vivoactive HR. I was called “Mr. Fit” in my graduating class, and I still keep doing things that got me the nickname. I never stopped keeping fit, and I needed the full utilisation of technology in bringing out the best out of my muscles without hurting my other essential organs. I finally found a means to ditch the hindering chest strap by benefiting from the Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology that my new smartwatch offers.
It measures my heart rate from my wrist, providing me with calories burned information and measures the intensity of my fitness activities, and provides better credit for my efforts.
The Garmin Vivoactive HR is a GPS-enabled device; it is installed with built-in sports applications that track stats while smart notifications and allows me to stay connected to keep my life balanced. All my daily activities are monitored throughout, counting steps and floors climbed. I can also know how long I sleep and the intensity of my sleep after a hard day.
Garmin Vivoactive HR Smartwatch Specifications
- 1.19 * 2.24 * 0.45 inches physical dimension.
- 0.80″ * 1.13″ screen display size.
- 205 * 148 pixels display resolution.
- Touchscreen and Colour display.
- Regular bands weigh 47.6 g and extra large bands 48.2 g.
- Rechargeable lithium battery, eight days in smartwatch mode (with 24/7 heart rate monitoring and No-GPS), 13 hours in GPS mode.
- GPS enabled, GLONASS, High-sensitivity receiver, Barometric altimeter, and Electronic compass.
- Wireless Connectivity enabled, ANT+™ and Bluetooth Smart.
Garmin Vivoactive HR Review: Worthy to succeed the Garmin Forerunner Series?
PACKAGING
If you love simple packaging, that’s what Garmin did with this; Inside a black block adorned with the image of the watch, Garmin logo and the specs, you’ll find just three items;
- The Garmin Vivoactive HR smartwatch.
- A charging and Syncing Cable.
- The user manual.
The watch is fixed into a black guarding foam with several activities the device can perform designed onto it, and the Garmin signature heart rate monitor logo also drawn in white.
DESIGN
It shares a name with an earlier version from Garmin; the Vivoactive HR comes in an entirely different design. Built in a rectangular shape like Fitbit smartwatches, at 0.45 inches it is rather too thick in the direction of the Microsoft band. It stands out obviously as some fitness and sports gadget on your wrist.
Underneath the touchscreen of vivoactive HR are two buttons used to start and stop activities, and navigate across a couple of menus. I love the buttons as new additions; the Vivoactive HR would have been impossible to use due to my always wet palms and fingers. It will have been my joy if the buttons have access every menu on the vivoactive HR.
The traditional watch clasp and the band are a relief; it is also designed to resist water up to 165 feet deep.
DISPLAY AND INTERFACE
The engineers at Garmin are sagacious for designing the screen display to being on at all times. I cannot imagine having to press a button or flick my wrist on a smartwatch or other wearable all in the bid to ascertain the time. There are five pre-loaded faces available for the device, and if you are not satisfied with any of this, from the Connect IQ store you can download more in the Garmin Connect app.
The screen size is measured at 1.13 inches long and 0.80 inches high; the screen resolution is 205 * 148 pixels, unlike other smart watches, you won’t have to twist your wrist in checking the time. For a time conscious person, it’s not a trivial element.
Changing the applications called widgets is through the swiping of the screen, Vivoactive HR allow you to cycle around the widgets easily. The widgets are Daily Steps, the Weather, Intensity minutes, Notifications, and Heart Rate. All which I find very useful and easily accessible.
A quick press of the screen by the right opens the activity menu. From the activity menu, you can select the type of activity you’ll like to make use of. The activity menu also houses the applications you might have installed. A long press of the button will reveal the Vivoactive HR’s settings menu from where you can tweak the watch face, apps, and widgets.
PERFORMANCE
The Garmin Vivoactive HR tracks several activities. Apart from the usual activities such as steps, sleep, and stairs, the device can also be used for golfing, swimming, skiing, biking and even paddleboarding. Just like other Garmin products that monitor heart rate, the Vivoactive HR tracks so-called “intensity minutes,” a measurement motion detection that brings about an elevation in heart rate.
During one of my early morning jogs, the Garmin Vivoactive HR’s GPS signalled in less than 20 seconds; it was slower than other Garmin products (Garmin Forerunner 235 GPS running watch) that I have used in the past. I am a bit impressed with the reaction and swift response, though. The Heart rate monitor in association with the GPS is as accurate as they are fast.
BATTERY LIFE
Garmin’s estimation of the battery life as being able to spend eight days after a full charge or thirteen hours at full use of GPS is proven to be accurate. It is possible you can even get more than that; I fully charged the watch on Sunday night and it was still on 60% by the following Saturday. This is no mean feat as the screen is always bright and on at all times.
Charging with the proprietary USB charging cable makes it feel less bulky and attached securely to the watch.
PROs
- Can be used to track several activities.
- The battery last long.
- You can read the screen even in daylight.
- The user interface is customizable.
CONs
- The device is a bit bulky.
- Sleep tracking is not entirely accurate.
VERDICT
This is the best multi-purpose fitness tracker for you. It follows and track a broad range of activities and still delivers some smartwatch-like functions. Most fitness-minded users won’t mind, but I wish the design were less clumsy. If you are in need of a fitness tracker primarily for running, I suggest you consider other devices, but at $249, this is a jack of all trade tracker that excellently delivers. With a heart rate monitor, GPS and access to third-party apps, this is the right fitness tracker for you.
Buy Garmin Vivoactive HR Smartwatch from Gearbest for $272.16
Garmin Vivoactive HR Smartwatch Rating
- Packaging – 9/10
- Design – 9/10
- Dimensions & Weight – 7.5/10
- Display – 9/10
- Functions – 9.5/10
- Sleep Tracking – 8/10
- Smartphone Integration – 9.5/10
- Performance – 9/10
- Battery – 9.5/10
