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2.4.2019

Updated July 2019 after 4 months of use - typically training 8+ times a week across multiple sports, including approx. 50km to 60km of running per week:I have long been a loyal user of running watches produced by Garmin and my most recent (and much loved) watch is this Garmin Vivo Active 3. I have also road tested the Polar Vantage M, also being a Multisport watch, is a good side by side competitor for the Vivo Active so in this review I also compare the Vivo Active 3 to this watch.Set Up:- You can set up the watch with or without the Garmin App. It is recommended to use the app and therefore I did (I also love analyising my fitness data so a watch which isn’t syncing with an app is no fun forme).- The watch was easy to set up and both the watch and App were intuitive to use.Charging- The watch was ready to charge on arrival. It comes with a USB charger (note: no mains plug, you will either need to charge via a laptop or a mains to USB charger). The watch attaches to the charger via an each magnetic connection.- The watch went from out of box to being 100% charged in less than 1 hour (via mains).- The charger is a small clip in which attaches to the back of the watch.Aesthetics, general wearability and day to day use- The Garmin looks very good on my wrist, it is a nice small size for day to day wear (it is slightly smaller than the Polar Vantage M)- It is light and as a result it was easy to forget I was wearing it.- The strap is soft and pliable (other running watches such as the Polar watches have quite stiff straps).Ease of Operation:- The watch is operated largely by touch screen (there is only one button on the side of the watch). I really like the intuitive and easy to use touch screen ability – it feels modern and up to date but more importantly it is very quick to navigate.- To start training you select the button on the device and then scroll to find the activity you want to start. You can set the watch up so your most frequently used (or favorite) activities are listed up front for a quick start. There are many pre-programmed activities but I have mainly used the running (outdoors), treadmill running, indoor cycling and strength training activities.- The activity is paused by pressing the same button and then the touch screen gives end and save options.GPS log on- There is nothing more frustrating then your watch taking a long time to log onto the GPS signal when you just want to start running, I was concerned about this having read other reviews of this watch.- I had no siginifcant issues with the GPS link up. I have used the watch in a small town, a city, at the start of many races and in the countryside when trail running and the GPS log on was adequate in all locations (usually almost immediate but on rare and more frustrating occasions up to 1 minute).- It is worth noting that the Polar watch I have road tested often found GPS signal before the Garmin.Activities/Running/Distance Accuracy/GPS- As a runner this is what is most important to me.- The outdoor running accuracy appears to be incredibly good. It has matched (with very small tolerances) with official race measured distances in anything from 5km to 30km races.- On set up I selected automatic pause so when I stop running, for example at traffic lights, the device automatically pauses and then restarts tracking once I am running again. This feature worked well.- I like the strength training rep counter although I don’t always use it (unless I am wanting to deliberately slow down my work rate)Data screens- Along side the accuracy of data the availability of data whilst running is important to me.- Each data screen can hold 4 pieces of data (e.g. pace, distance, time etc.).- You can customise what data you have via the app.- The data was easy to see whilst running and gave me the information I needed to monitor and improve my performance.Display- The display is graphics are not amazing but they didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the watch.- I really enjoy the fact that you can customise what data you have on your standard watch screen. I have mine set up to show digital time, date and step count.Interaction with other devices and apps- In common with all runners I know I like to be able to analyse my running data and look at details such as my heart rate, pace and so on over the course of a run.- The Garmin uses the Garmin Connect app to do this. The watch is quick to syncronise and does this itself after activities. It can also be forced via the app.- The have my Garmin App (and therefore the watch data) also syncronised to MyFitnessPal so that my calories burnt are sent over to MFP and calories consumed are sent from MFP to the Garmin (watch and app).As a training aide- Being able to pre-program workouts before setting off makes for much easier interval training.- I use the Garmin to write a training plan with specific work-outs (e.g. interval training) and these then become available in the watch on syncing the two together.- The data you get on the watch at the end of the run is not that extensive (the Polar watch may be better for you if you want this on the watch) but the data in the app is extensive and useful for a post race or run postmortem.Battery life- The battery life on the Garmin is very good, but outperformed by the Polar when both had the same features engaged (e.g. continuous heart rate monitoring).Garmin App- The Garmin Connect App is what takes this watch from a very good 4* product to a 5* watch for me.- It is a real life tracker. I track my weight (and my BMI which is automatically tracks), my steps, my menstrual cycle, my calories in (and out, via a link up with MFP), I analyse my run and race results, set and monitor step (and other activity) goals – I must look at the App on average 10 times per day.- The App is easy to use, intuitive and I honestly believe it has contributed to me developing an even healthier lifestyle.- The app is the reason why I can’t see myself moving away from Garmin when I need my next running watch/activity tracker.Other features- The ‘sleep’ feature isn’t very accurate as it seems to think I’m asleep from the minute I get into bed and start reading until I get up in the morning. All sleep trackers I have tried do however tend to have the same issue.- I had the watch paired with my phone all day via the Garmin Connect app so I could receive message etc. notifications – a useful function but it does drain the battery more quicklyIn summary the Garmin Vivo Active 3 is an amazing watch supported by a brilliant app and I would not hesitate to recommend it.Update May 2020: This watch is over a year old now. It is still being worn daily 24/7 (except when being recharged) and the battery life is still as good as it was when new and functioning fine with no damage and even the strap shows only very minor physical wear and tear.
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1.12.2018

I don’t usually write reviews but I read loads before buying this watch (Vívoactive 3) used from Amazon, so I thought I’d make the effort as lots of the reviews I read were misleading and unhelpful - personal disappointments about specific and probably individual niggles rather than an objective or helpful view on the watch.First off, the VA3 is, in my view, a sports watch. It does some smart watch stuff but if you want to buy coffee with it or send text messages then buy an Apple Watch (or a phone!) The VA3 tracks your heart rate (all day and all night), tells you where you are (GPS), lets you know when your phone is ringing, it’s waterproof, toughened, comfortable and the battery lasts 5/6 days.It is easy to use, if you read the instructions, pairs with your phone/iPad/computer and chest strap (if you need to - more about that later) and the Garmin Connect app breaks it all down into sensible metrics with stacks of detail.I am a normal, middle aged bloke and I’m serious but not obsessive about phys. I like wearing an HRM as it motivates me, lets me see if I’m getting better or not or just kidding myself and I find it interesting. Every now and then I try to train in heart rate zones but for me, it is more the info I like having. I run 5km with my dogs 5 times a week and lift weights/circuit train 5 days a week. I also swim probably once a week (more in summer) about 1.5km and I surf and snowboard. I’ve worn HRMs for all activities and have tried several types with varying degrees of success. I have had a Vivosmart, a Vivoactive (the old square one) a Mio, a Polar, a Fenix 3 and a Suunto. Bottom line - for me, the VA3 is by far the best all rounder for a “normal” person.The watch is “normal” sized, I’m not particularly big or small and have average sized wrists (I think). The VA3 looks right. It’s not flashy or eye-catching, the shape and strap are just there; meaning it doesn’t scream “look at me, I have this new thing...” and it’s not ugly or weird-looking. You can wear it to work and people won’t think you’re trying too hard or wonder why you have an electronic tag on your hand. It means you don’t have to wear a “band” type thing on your other wrist to your watch and it tells the time/date/day like wot a normal watch does. You don’t have to take it off in the shower (if you’re weird and enjoy having mouldy wrists - why would you not take your watch off in the shower!?) or worry about it getting wet in the rain/pool. So it looks fine and does everything you want when you aren’t wearing your trainers.Running/cycling/snowboarding/riding/surfing - all good. It picks up GPS in seconds and tracks heart rate and location as accurately as any other device, give or take. I know some other reviewers have had bad experiences but I’d guess these are one-offs rather than the norm. It’s a piece of tech kit and they aren’t all perfect: some people have had crappy iPhones and other people love them. Having had Garmin gear before and other brands I would say the chances of being disappointed by Garmin are much less than any other brand. So, assuming you don’t get a wonky item, you’ll have a machine that gives accurate readings (if you use it right) that you can then analyse on your phone sat on the loo to your heart’s content whilst your other half watches Top Gear/Pointless on telly.So for cardio, indoors or out, the VA3 is spot on. Every bit as good as the £500 Fenix, better in terms of consistency in fact (again, in my experience). HOWEVER... you need to read the instruction manual. If you don’t set the watch up properly, put it on properly, synch it properly then guess what? It doesn’t work properly! Take an hour to get it doing things the way you understand and place it on your wrist in the right place above the wrist bone. Do all that and you’ll get the best from the watch which means you’ll get the best from the available wrist-based HRM/GPS sports watches.Where it doesn’t work for me is in the gym. But then, no wrist-based HRM has yet: the technology just isn’t there yet no matter how much cash you throw at it (and I threw a LOT of cash at a Fenix!) it may just be me, though there is a theme of similar disappointments, but when you do an exercise where your wrists are bent, under stress or raised then the blood pumping through them (that the HRM detects) isn’t easily detected. Example: I do a 10 minute upper body circuit with virtually no rests, just 3x30 second breaks to avoid a coronary, when I’m working the wrist HRM says 90 bpm (eh?) but when I rest (and my arms are dangling zombie-loose by my sides) it jumps to 170 bpm. The wrist thingy is thrown off by the blood flow to my hands caused by the exercises in question. It is the same with every wrist-based HRM. So in the gym I have a cheap Wahoo tickr chest strap, synced to the VA3 and guess what? The watch tells me I’m too old to be doing that exercise at 170/180 bpm. Same in the pool, if you want your heart rate when you’re swimming, get a chest strap.Personally, I hate the things (chest straps) and I’m convinced they create fat-sausages that everyone can see, and they get sweaty and gopping and they’re uncomfortable and I don’t like them so they’re stupid. But until the wrist tech gets better or an alternative is invented or I can have my heart relocated to my left wrist I’m stuck with the chest strap for the gym. It is what it is.I like my VA3. I’m not a pro athlete who trains 6 hours a day with probes in uncomfortable places and a nutritionist who keeps me on a knife edge of dietary collapse, I do a fair amount of phys because I enjoy it and it helps me not want to commit Steven King-esque acts of rage after a challenging day. If I miss a run, I don’t get stressed because I might drop a place in the Ottery St Mary 5km fun run but I do like to know my heart is still beating and it makes me feel unjustifiably self-riteous when I see a whole month of targets met, I get a pat on the head (well, wrist actually) from my watch and yes, I will have another slice of cheesecake thanks. It cost £140 off Amazon, arrived in a day and does exactly what it says it will. I like that. I wish I was more like my watch.If you’re a pro athlete, buy a £700 Fenix5 (and a chest strap). If you’re a fruit loop that has to have a watch that tells you the time on Mars, adjusts the central heating and has a coffee waiting for you when you pass every Starbucks (and you want everyone to know it), get an Apple Watch or a hat with a sign saying so.If you’re a regular type person who does plenty of exercise and likes something to look at when you’re skiving work in the loo - get a VA3.I hope my boss isn’t reading this...
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17.11.2017

I'm coming from a Garmin Vivoactive HR which was my first sports watch and which I bought because it hit the sweet spot of having pretty much all the essential features of the Garmin Fenix watches without the hefty price tag. My impressions are...+ All the bells and whistles most users could want in features and sensors+ Round instead of rectangular... Unlike VAHR, I can use VA3 not only as a sports watch but also as a casual and even a dress watch+ The size of the watch is okey although even in my smaller wrists (for a large man) I could see it being a bit bigger from an aesthetical standpoint+ The stainless steel bezel looks better live than in pictures and is the smarter choice (slate looksmore sophisticated but there are already photo evidence of VA3 Slate having scratches that reveal the stainless under the coating making the scratch stand)+ Universal 20mm Quick Release bands... Quick to change with a larger, cheaper selection online (I bought Barton leather, Barton silicone and Trumirr silicone)+ Nice, clear screen that is a significant upgrade from VAHR (more information in a bigger, nicer presentation, easier to hit the on-screen buttons)+ No problems with connectivity (GPS/GLONASS connected although the first time took a few minutes, Bluetooth connected to my Sony smartphone with Android 7.0 inside without any problems, my Wahoo TICKR chest strap connected without any problems)+ Garmin Connect works great and there is a good selection of custom watch faces to be downloaded (I'm using Steam Gauge myself)+ Vibration strength is sufficient (not weak by any standard)+/- The price tag... I do get that many find the price of this watch high, especially when they compare the build to the Fenix series and even other watches (like the Apple Watch 3). However, I find it a bit conflicting that the price of the Fenix series isn't put to question as essentially in VA3 you get roughly all the features of a Fenix without the bulk for + £100 less. Moreover, many do not seem to understand that the VA3 isn't a smart watch or even a fitness watch. It's a sports watch. You shouldn't buy it if your primary concern is smart phone functionality or measuring your fitness activity with a nice-looking UI.+/- Battery drain. Granted I have disabled the activity tracking, lowered the screen brightness and screen timeout and enabled screen lock (as apparently the screen is so sensitive that it can have a life of its own in certain situations), but I haven't experienced any rapid battery drain. I've done some running and workouts plus spend a lot of time going through the menus and setting up custom watch faces and the battery is still +80% (and I didn't even do an initial full charge). I have switched the watch off during extended periods of not using it. I did wait for the FW2.6 and did a soft hard reset (pushed the button for 15 seconds) which apparently make the battery life better. It remains to be seen if I will get close to the promised seven days of battery life...+/- The non-rugged feel of the watch. There's no denying that VA3 is very light and back part of it is made of plastic that gives a feeling of being thin and hollow. I'm sure that the watch will not have any problems with durability but there are a lot of people who even at the cost of bulkiness want that heavy, premium feel. However, I do like the fact that not only does the non-bulkiness lead to the watch looking like a regular watch but also that it does not get in the way when exercising. For example, I do some crossfitting and there are certain movements with or without weights that require having my wrists bent in an angle. Especially in those situations it's nice to have a watch that is light and slim enough to not constantly remind me of its existence.- Some major and minor bugs that can differ from user to user. This is however expected of Garmin as is the fact that they steadily release firmware updates that will fix the bugs. As for my VA3 (I've changed watchfaces, done running with GPS+GLONASS and cardio), I haven't experienced any bugs.- The side swipe feature. While it does work and can be handy if you have wet/dirty hands and/or don't want to smudge the screen. However, it still feels like a somewhat unnecessary gimmick. Furthermore, as I've switched the orientation of the watch (button points at my arm instead of my hand), I've found that the side swipe activates backlight when it brushes against the back of my hand. I've since deactivated it.- The silicone watch band feels a bit cheap.Some pro tips* Use a (cheap) tempered glass protector for peace of mind (doesn't take away anything visually or in screen sensitivity). Do not get a Fenix 5 screen protector even though the screen size should be the same (it will be too big).* Consider buying a (compatible Fenix 5) silicone dust/rust plug for the charger port (but remember that, at least the one that I got) doesn't go all the way in* Read DC Rainmaker's review (he has some good tips regarding settings)* Before making judgements on the watch, read forums because it's likely that a recent firmware update, a temporary trick fix (like the hard reset) or a non-advertised feature might just fix what had bugged you. For example, a lot of people where complaining that you couldn't do manual laps with this watch whereas in reality you can.I do recommend this watch to those who are in need of a serious, all around sports watch but do not want to pay +£400. If you're not in a hurry (I sold my VAHR to get VA3 so that's why I bought it early), I do recommend waiting a bit as not only will the price go down (although there will be a long wait for £199) but the firmware will mature and you don't have to experience any bugs.
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12.6.2018

After owning an Ultrasport Navrun 500 GPS watch (which needed to be connected to a computer to be charged and download activities), I had been on the lookout for a watch with GPS and a heart rate sensor built in that I could use for running, cycling and hikes, which would also sync wirelessly to my phone (and in turn Strava) without having to use a cable or have a computer around. I had seen a number of watches that did some or all of this but were either really expensive, looked awful, or the battery didn't last long enough. I saw this as a treasure truck deal, had a read around, then threw caution to the wind and bought it!So far I've had it for about a month and a half which has given me time to learn about it and discover any niggles.The box contained the watch and a charging cable. Was fairly easy to set up once the app was installed on a smartphone and paired with the watch.What I love:- Step tracking, floors climbed tracking and continuous heart rate tracking. The floors climbed seems to be fairly accurate, I haven't measured actual steps vs those recorded but its not way off. The watch prompts you to move (via a subtle vibration) when it detects you haven't moved for a while.- Choice of watch faces which are configurable. I downloaded Actiface which displays loads of stats as well as time, so I can see how far I'm off my daily target. This is a really good motivator as there have been times when I have been a bit off my target, so I ended up walking around the house and garden to bank some more steps (how sad!), but its good having something to give you that nudge to get up!- Sleep tracking seems to be pretty accurate, I'm not sure about the detection of light/deep sleep but the amount of sleep recorded is pretty much bang-on.- The screen is always on (transflective) which is great for being able to tell the time :-) but also to quickly glance at step count etc without having to tap a button or the screen. A flick of the wrist switches on the backlight so you can see the screen in the dark. Its nice going out for a run in the sun and see your progress instantly and know that the display is not killing the battery.- Its not bad to look at, and is comfortable to wear. i.e. its not a bulky/hefty piece of kit like some smartwatches/fitness watches I've seen. I wear it 24-7 and don't notice I'm wearing it - its that light! The silicone strap is also comfortable.- Notifications (SMS/Email/Messenger etc, the list of which notifications you can receive is configurable). Nice being able to open an SMS or email without needing to get the phone out, unlock it etc. It isn't great for replying to messages though - that's something I'd use the phone for.- After the first GPS fix (which took a bit of time), every subsequent fix has literally taken a few seconds. Gone are the days of waiting around stretching some more and wandering around waiting for a GPS fix, this thing is almost instantaneous!- Very simple to start an activity - press the button, select which one via the touchscreen, and with a GPS fix you're good to go. Display during an activity is fairly good - time elapsed, heart rate, distance and pace - enough to see how you are doing with a quick glance. It also vibrates at every 'lap' (currently mine is set to miles) giving you a quick summary of how long that mile took - I can see that being useful for when I do the next half marathon - to allow you to mentally know if you're on pace for the target time.- The Garmin connect app (that you need to have installed on an Android/Apple phone) is fairly intuitive and after a while of use, contains a wealth of information that you can browse around. You can also logon to the Garmin connect website to view all the stats/trends/patterns/insights etc.Any downsides?The battery lasts about 3 days, which includes a 30 minute run using GPS. That is less than what I was led to believe by the marketing, but I am using the actiface watch face, which has a lot of information on display at once, so its possible that is causing the watch to use the battery faster than with the out-of-the-box face, and I'm still quite addicted to checking steps/floors and heart rate :-)The watch rebooted itself this week, possibly as a result of an auto-update, after I'd done 8 floors and about 2000 steps, but when it restarted it said 0 floors and 700 steps, which was a bit annoying! This has only happened once though, so I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt.You can't download any music to the watch and listen to it with a pair of wireless headphones - you need a phone with the music on, but I believe the watch can be used to control the music. This doesn't matter to me as I don't run or cycle with music on - I prefer to be aware of my surroundings and hear cars/cyclists/other runners!Garmin pay isn't yet available in the UK. I don't have android pay on my phone so I'm not used to using something other than my wallet to pay for things, but it would be really convenient to pay for things at times with a tap of the watch. Maybe Garmin pay will arrive in the UK at some point in the future.Overall I'm really happy with it - it has a level of 'smartness' about it, but is also a competent GPS watch that doesn't look out of place for day-to-day wear. I bought this when it was a treasure truck offer, so got it for a lot less (160) than it normally retails for (230+). I'm not sure I'd be prepared to pay more than the amount I did though.
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11.11.2017

This isn’t a watch, it’s a device. Technology these days seems to be a curious mix of divergence and convergence. The latest incarnation of my Smart phone has arrived at a point where I feel that a lot of the things I need have come together in useful fashion (phone, email, internet, camera); mind you it has taken X number of new models (there’s a clue as to the brand) to get there. By contrast, this piece of kit feels more divergent. It is a watch for those who want to monitor exercise either simply as a prompt (me) or the real exercise pros.Garmin have covered almost every base imaginable within its own software (walking, running, swimming, golf, all sorts of gym activities)and with a large choice of widgets that integrate. It also offers four different control mechanics (button, swipe, push, swipe sensitive Bezel) and lots of real time statistical data (active/passive calories, heart rate, steps walked, oxygen saturation) expressed on the watch face in various ways on different screens.Herein lies one of the issues when first starting to use it. There is so much there that it is a case of deleting functions to be able to see the wood for the trees on a 4cm diameter circle. Swiping up from the watch face (available in various formats) I get to the dialler widget, calendar, stress monitor, steps screen, music, notifications, weather data, swim screen, calories screen and a widget (Hue lighting) that I downloaded. For me at least, this is all too much and I would imagine that Garmin anticipate that the user will pare these down because there is a screen (I find occasionally) from which it is possible to delete extraneous applications.This isn’t a criticism but it does mean that I still need to spend time with the downloaded instruction manual to clear out what I don’t want and then understand how to use what I do need. For example, I have worn it swimming twice but I couldn’t figure out what input was required to inform it ‘I am swimming now’. No doubt all will become clear and just as with a PC or a Mac, I can’t expect everything to be obvious immediately. Eventually, I imagine that use will become intuitive but I am not there yet.Will it be useful. Yes. Already, I am finding that compared with my Smartphone, it is providing me with more useful prompts. I am pleased with my resting heart rate (61), it flashes up when I have reached my target number of steps for the day and records calories from an algorithm that I imagine cross references to the sensor measuring my pulse. I haven’t found anything about oxygen saturation yet, I simply read it in one of the web pages. The watch also vibrates every so often when I am at my desk with a message ‘move about’, a useful prompt given that I can find myself working at a screen for hours solid. Worn 24/7 it retains a running diary of calories, heart rate, stress level and probably several other parameters although some of these take time to understand. Currently I am low stress, 44 which I gather is a relative measure based on a scale to 100 but I have yet to grasp what it means because it has told me that I am high stress when I have been relaxed and almost nodding off.A few glitches. The GPS does not seem to lock in readily (surprising given this is Garmin) but I may find from the manual that I haven’t completed set up. Bluetooth connection to my Smartphone and the app which synchronises data (and provides it in an easier to read format) is proving very iffy and on several occasions the two have failed to talk to each other even after re-booting and my phone settings showing them as paired. This could correct with a software update but I haven’t got there yet.I can also inadvertently set off some measurement by touching the screen and then have difficulty in stopping it, unsure as to whether to use the press button, swipe, press or use the touch sensitive bezel.Thus, the title. When first using the device, it feels a bit like being on the flight deck of an Airbus (which I was once, in 2000, the year before the world changed). There are so many optional controls that this gadget can be anything and everything you want it to be. However, if you succeed in using it effectively for the fitness functions and music, dialler, calendar, notifications plus every other widget that is on offer you are a nimbler individual than me.The watch strap is very comfortable, although a clasp rather than a buckle would have made it easier to take on and off. It is living up to its suggested life of about a week between charges, although this will no doubt vary depending on how many different applications you use and for how long.Overall, I like it and I can grasp that once I have fully studied the manual I will be able to get a lot out of it. However, this is a piece of equipment that you need to train yourself how to use and there is something of a learning curve. From experience of other kit, the Bluetooth issue will correct itself with updates to either watch or phone or Mac (which I haven’t looked at seeing if I can link up, I imagine so) and when I have pared down the content it will become more obvious what’s what. The different input choices and permutations also seem confusing to start with but once I have de-cluttered these are likely to become more reflex.
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25.10.2017

I've had the watch now for a few days and have tracked two activities with it, one with issues and one without.The first was a run on Sunday which tracked well (I had GPS and Glonass on plus 1 second recording) and gave me all the usual information whilst I was out but when I came to stop the run, the touchscreen was unresponsive. I reset the watch (held down the side button for approx. 10 seconds) and when it came back on, it kept the run and allowed me to properly end and save it which was a bonus. I'm not sure if this was due to the amount of sweat I produced whilst running, but I've heard of other smart watches exhibiting similar behaviour after exercises so I will keep an eye on this andreport back if it continues to do this or not (I am planning on a run at the weekend so I should be able to confirm this then).I went for a 3 hour walk on Monday which I also tracked, and thankfully this time there were no issues with the touchscreen.The watch is light, lighter on the wrist than my Fitbit Surge which I have swapped from. The display is crisp and bright, so bright in fact I turned the brightness down to 20% which is more than plenty (and will help the battery life). It has an option to put the backlight on when you raise your wrist but it seems a bit flakey on this firmware (2.50) so I've turned it off. I'm quite happy just tapping the screen when required to see the details to be honest.Garmin connect works well and can be linked with the popular tracking apps like Strava and MyFitnessPal for seamless integration and it really is simple to setup so a big thumbs up for that. The information you can get in the app is great and easy to use as well.The notifications work well (even on iOS) and can be easily customisable from your phone settings. If you have an Android device you can reply to messages from the watch but this does not work on iOS. Garmin Pay is non existent at the moment but they have to liaise with every single bank in the world to make it work so it may or may not ever come to my bank but I'm not bothered about that.Battery life initially seemed very poor but I think that might have something to do with "new gadget syndrome" where you tend to simply mess about with it more than usual which kills the battery more than you'd expect. After the first day when it went from 100% to 20% (with a 3 hour run tracked in the middle) I've not had any more sudden drops and just using it as a fitness / sleep tracker means I'm using about 20 - 25% a day which is fairly average and should see it last approx. 4 - 5 days ish.The Barometer seems to track less accurately than my fitbit in day to day use. What the Surge classed as a flight of stairs seems to differ to the VA3 as if I pop up and down the stairs in my house, the VA3 doesn't register it but the FS always did ... a minor thing and when I'm out on a real hike i'll see if it performs better.Speaking of which, my one criticism is a minor one, of all the types of exercise you can log on this watch (skiing, golf, indoor bike, outdoor bike etc) a simple "Hike" option is missing. Yes I can do a "Walk" and then change the type in Garmin Connect afterwards, but its not the same. Hopefully this will be added via a firmware update in the future.All in all, a great watch and I'm sure Garmin will release some software updates to resolve the niggles that I and others have had. Even with the dodgy touchscreen I'm giving it an initial 5 star rating. If the touchscreen does the same thing over the weekend, I might come back and knock a point off.Edit: Touchscreen is still dodgy, and the side touch thing is hypersensitive. I have hairy arms and it is constantly activating it so it scrolls around like its possessed. I would like an option to disable this as I do not use it at all and rely on the touchscreen.Also, the touchscreen has failed to respond on me twice more now after exercises. I had to hard reset the watch to get control back. I have knocked it down a star to reflect this.Hopefully with future software updates these niggles are resolved.
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20.3.2018

Pros/cons and everything else:Pros:Tbh it has soo many pros, it’s hard to pinpoint them all. When using it against my chest strap it was typically on the same HR as my watch. The only time it does differ is when you weight train, but that’s expected as most watch’s are not 100% accurate when doing weights. It’s easy to use, and offers all your info you need in one simple swipe! It’s nice to not having to go onto the app to check data. When the watch offers mostly what you want. The internal apps are good too, offering data screens, widgets and watch faces to download. It’s not fiddly and everything is easily done. The watch itself is so light, I can hardly feel it. All of notifications come through aswell nearly,by all I mean all. For example my iPhone tells me roughly how long it will take me to get home and which route is faster (I don’t set this, it’s just an iPhone notification I occasionally get) and even that pops up. Which is nice, but then managing which notifications you actually want and don’t want is a hassle through the Notification Center. It’s also stylish, I’ve been comparing my watch with others on people’s wrist, and tbh....others look like smart watches. Whereas the Vivo3 looks like a watch. Charging takes an hour, if that to reach 100% from 18%. And it tracks sleeping perfectly, from what I gather. The edited screens you can make in exercises is great! Tbh, the watch is amazing and easily leading the market.Cons:All these cons are silly..but I still saw them as negatives.The most annoying thing ever, I did 2mile run on the treadmill when I had it. It asked to calibrate it, so I accident put the distance wrong. So 2:00:00 compared to 00:02:00.So any treadmill runs after that it was completely out of wack! And ruined my stats. After many hours searching, the best way was to in-fact Restore to Default. So I had to go back to square one to calibrate correctly! So frustrating, a simple internal option to recalibrate would solve that so fast!When I swim, my pool is only 13meters long. It offers so many different lengths to pick before you swim. And I saw a custom option! I thought I could input 13meters for my speed swims. However the lowest double digit was 17meters. I was unable to input 13. So, I had to kinda Work around that. I don’t know why 17meters was the lowest custom option.The app itself is still.....lacking info. It basically wants you to do the leg work, so all the info is there. But it doesn’t aid you into it. My heart rate, it’s great to see. And I can pinpoint. But it doesn’t show where my zones were, or how long in that zone (fat burn, cardiovascular). I found it giving enough info to pass..but not enough to rival fitbits. The weight training option is great, but it’s a miss sometimes. I love it mostly, but when the reps need editing it asks for what weight you used. Which is stupid, because I haven’t inputting the weight for the exercises before. So why only ask when I have to edit the reps. An option of n/a instead of inputting a weight would have been better.The reps count is normally accurate, maybe 1 or 2 off.Battery, the battery is advertised at .... 5/7days? I think. Okay, it would be 5/7 days if you had no notification, low backlight and a watch face with zero info on it.If you have a half decent watch face, get notifications and have 20% back light With using the sports functions daily you touch 3/4days. But, if you want to reach 5/7, be prepared to use it as an analog watch more than a smart watch.I can’t fault it tbh, apart from the odd things it’s fantastic. 4/5.5/5 would be offering replies to certain notification, watch re calibrations. And an updated app offering just that little bit more on heart rate zones
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22.11.2017

This is the third smart-watch/fitness-tracker I’ve tried and it’s the one I like the most so far. The others were the Series I Apple Watch and a simpler TomTom product.Battery life is a big issue for smart watches and the battery normally seems to last me about a week on this. Perfectly acceptable, and it charges in an hour or less. I say normally because if you use GPS battery life’s significantly affected. This is no surprise and 13 hours of GPS is still pretty good. You only need GPS to track walks or runs or bike rides when you want distances and directions.Day-to-day the watch keeps an eye on your general activity, with full-time heart-rate measurement, stress levels, sleep tracking,movement, hill/stair climbing, intensity – all kinds of stuff. You can customise the watch face to always show ‘completion circles’ for your main targets. You get visual rewards (a firework display for instance) and much vibrating when you reach your target!You can also start a specific activity (I use it for walks and bike rides mostly) by pressing the one button on the side and tapping the activity type. You can set all kinds of parameters for these if you want, like the size of your swimming pool so it tracks lengths properly. It’s worth having a proper look at all this in the online instruction book or the Garmin website. For such a simple to use watch it does a lot.That’s one of the things I like most about this watch – it’s simple to use. The touch screen is responsive and the menus and settings a doddle to change and work through. You can also swipe on the side of the watch to change some settings but I haven’t found myself using that because the touch screen works so well.The watch display is nice being in colour, but it only looks really good in bright light. The backlight (just touch the screen to activate it) washes the colours out quite a bit. It’s not a great display, but I suppose it’s one of the reasons battery life is good. You can have several different watch faces and customise the colours and data types.I really like getting messages and emails from my phone on my wrist with a discreet vibration alert. This works well. They’re easy to read too. If you have an Android phone you can even send simple replies to messages.I’m not a huge fan of the strap, which I find a bit clingy and occasionally irritating on my skin. You can change it for another if you don’t like it, but you will always have to wear the watch fairly snug or the heart-rate monitor won’t work properly. And the case of the watch, while unobtrusive and neat, lacks the expensive look of the Apple Watch, which surprisingly costs no more.So overall I’m pretty impressed and like this watch. The other two smart watches I’ve tried didn’t make the grade for me and after a couple of weeks they were back off my wrist for good. This one’s still on. It’s full of useful functions but somehow doesn’t shout about them and is therefore not annoying or fiddly. It fits quietly into your life and gives you a nudge to make sure you keep active. And if you want, if you’re into serious sport and fitness, you can do a whole lot more – a surprising amount more. It’s a really good all-rounder.
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3.2.2018

This watch is excellent despite a couple of flaws.It looks great in the slate colour compared with the previous version of the watch. No one is going to stop you on the street to congratulate you on an awesome timepiece but neither will they know your wearing an activity tracker. Watch faces look good enough and it's round, this makes all the difference.Screen : Garmin screens are always fairly low Res and dim compared with other watches until you go outside. When outdoors the screen is always legible and if anything gets better. It could be a bit higher in resolution but not something you notice after a few days of wearing it.Performance : Not had any issues, picks up GPS quickly and maps accurately .Counts steps well and measures your heart rate every second. Notifications are handled well and look good on the round screen. The only thing I really wanted to work was the weight lifting app. For my needs it works ok but is more of a faff than I would like. Until it automatically tracks everything I won't be using it.Battery : I'm getting about 4 to 5 days on my second charge and I'm hoping to get about 6. It is worse than the Vivoactive before it but the feature set is worth the trade off. It better than most other watches as it is.Overall : Really happy that it works as expected, no real bugs to speak of. It looks nice and fits comfortably. I was tempted by a Samsung Gear and Fitbit Ionic but decided on this and I am not disappointed. They all have their pros and cons.*****Update after a month or so use.Battery life is firmly in 4 to 5 day territory which is fine. There has been an update or 2 that have made some improvements, the main one being to the weights app. It now automatically tracks sets and reps. It isn't perfect and doesn't pick up all exercise but it works just about well enough to be useful. At the very least it's an excellent timer between sets.I have not had any issues with the watch and still love the look and features.I would still recommend this watch. Very impressed and for my usage case is almost the perfect smart watch.To address some of the negative reviews. The renaming of exercises was fixed and didn't affect English language devices. I haven't had any issues with a chest strap or the optical HRM. Battery life has always been average with no major drop offs.Everyone has a different usage case and there do seem to be some issues for them. I would call myself the average user that runs, walks and does weights and it works fine for me.Every device has niggles for some users, don't let that put you off. Compared to the competition this is a great option.Update 17.4.18I have had this watch a while now and it's a dependable piece of tech. Battery lasts well, it still looks great.I have read other reviews and people do seem to have some issues though these generally seem to be sorted by a return to Garmin.While not perfect it is close, it hasn't let me down once in the time I have been using it. It's not a 5 star product, I would say 4.5 but Amazon doesn't allow 1/2 stars.
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27.12.2017

This is a great fitness watch with basic smartphone notifications. I've tried android wear but the battery life is two days at best right now and the amount of notifications is annoying. I found myself turning off most of them and just had text, what's app, reminders and alarms. And vivoactive offers these and any other app you want on your wrist. Unlike android wear you can't reply with a keyboard or voice dictation but again I found myself reaching for my phone more often than not to action things on android wear so this again isn't any different.I find (after over 4 weeks of use) that I average 4-5 days of battery life between charges. It take approx 1hr to fully charge too.The screen is great,especially in bright light or sunlight. The transflective display actually becomes clearer the brighter the light in the room or outside is. This is great as my previous wearable devices were lcd screens and out in bright sunlight there were hard to view.The watching is super comfortable to wear. It's so light you barely feel it on. I've not change he'd the staple even though it's easy to find any replacement you want due to the generic quick release system and size. The stock strap is again super comfortable and the silicon is nice for sports wear as it won't absorb the sweat like a leather alternative would.Sports tracking is great, I do a mix of strength and cardio exercises. No it's not as precise as a chest strap but it's surprisingly not that far off. Strength training work is where I find the gap between chest strap and wrist appears more. When out for a jog/run I find it much more accurate. I don't do HIIT training and it's sudden spikes where wrist tracking is often less precise. That's a problem with wrist based tracking in general due to the location being further to the extremities from my understanding. And the flexing with strength training work and different bloody circulation within the muscles all has an affect on it. But overall the results seemed to even out about the same as the polar strap I have by then end of the workouts. So ??The Garmin companion app and website are great. There is an absolute shed load of data to digest after training but it's all great for understanding how your performance is changing. Some reviewers have complained saying there is too much data but more data allows for more insight. It's one of the reasons I swapped to Garmin. My old ms bans 2 used to give more data than the polar M600 but the band wasn't as accurate at tracking workouts or very comfortable.Garmins app also links brilliantly with MFP unlike anything else I've used before. It's so good I find I use it's calorie tracking interface more and just log my food in MFP. Previously I used to get all my exercise data into MFP to the work out the calories. Garmin connect makes its clearer and easier.I could bang on more but ultimately I'm super happy with my device and can't recommend it enough
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2.3.2018

I've grown to love this little watch. It replaced my original Garmin Vivoactive Mk 1, which was an awesome sports watch with separate chest HR monitor.I don't think the wrist based HR is anywhere near as accurate, on any of these watches, as a chest strap HR.I don't understand why the HR is switched off when you select "Pool Swiming", it works just fine in the shower?What doesn't work is the "Strength" program, this needs a lot of work Garmin. It rarely detects when I start and stop a strength based activity, Dumb.Whilst were on the "Needs more work" section, Garmin the "Auto Activity" is completely useless, just remove it, until it at least can tell the difference between skiing and cycling.Apparently I skied all the way to work on numerous days from Southampton to Hursley in the summer!The strap, Hmm yeah 5/10 for that one, it's way too skinny and thin for the watch and the first thing you'll want to do is replace it with something a little more meaty.Aside from those gripes the functionality is second to none, even when compared to other much more expensive Garmin watches.The screen is top quality and a massive improvement over my old Vivoactive Mk 1. It looks great and is the ideal size, for me anyway (19cm wrist). The Fenix 3/5 ranges are still as big as mantlepiece clocks and simply look ridiculus on any wrist smaller than that of a sumo wrestler.The battery life has taken a massive hit when compared to my old Vivoactive Mk1, only 4-5 days with my normal activities (Cycle to/from work 4 days, Gym 4 days, Couple of walks), as opposed to 2.5 weeks with the Vivoactive Mk1. That constantly on wrist HR really sucks the battery. The ANT+ chest based HR monitors all use CR2032 watch batteries and they last about 2 years and like I said are far more accurate.The sideswipe function, curious, works ok but never really found I needed it, that screen is just great.The other issue, I believe is nothing to do with any of the Garmin watches but afflicts most Garmin devices. Garmin Mobile Connect, yep paring and communicating over Bluetooth is not one of it's strengths :-( You'll need a lot of patients to get your watch paired connected and set-up initially. But once completed it will only screw up occasionaly, forcing you to go through the process over again. The stability of this phone app fluctuates with every new release. I suggest not updating it if it's currently working for you, why would you?Garmin: The one thing I have never understood about Garmin Mobile Connect is the absolut requirement for an internet connection in order to sync your device? Surely you should be able to sync your watch with the phone app and keep the data local until an internet connection is availible, then it gets uploaded automatically. This will prevent users loosing, or having activity data overwritten because the watch has run out of slots, or space? What were you thinking?
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27.9.2019

This is my second health monitor wristwatch. The first wristwatch was also a Garmin model but called a Vivosport and presented the now familiar 'slim & black' appearance to the World. The Vivoactive 3 has a different, circular appearance about 1.5" across, like that of most timepieces. Apart from recharging its battery every 5 or 6 days, there is nothing more to do. It is a quick charger. About 2hrs is all that is necessary using a social cable or dock (preferred). I found it useful to keep a few extra cables available in case one is misplaced or lost. Losing a cable is easily done but they are cheap to buy.I have worn the Vivoactive 3 more or less constantly since purchasing it and I recharge it when the battery charge falls below 30% (every 3 -4 days approximately)and preferably at night when I am least active.I have an Apple iPhone 7+/256 which I used in conjunction with the Vivoactive 3 and the technical readout of my health/performance is nothing short of exceptional. Monitoing of my pulse rate provides a huge amount of data, which is displayed graphically on my iPhone. Both Vivoactive 3 and iPhone update their operating software automatically.If I have one criticism of the Vivoactive 3 it is its control interface and how to set it up for ones personal needs. However, I could probably make this complaint of every health monitor wristwatch I have tried on. Many of the Vivoactive 3's display capabilities are still unfamiliar to me and I have to refer to its manual in order to change it.The Vivoactive 3 operates under touch control but therein lays another problem. I have found that the sleeves of my garments can rub against the touch screen, albeit lightly, and alter the settings of the Vivoactive 3. This happens often and can be annoying because it has to be reset to its original settings, which in my case often means referring to the manual. It can take quite some time to learn all the Vivoactive 3s operational capabilities.My Garmin VivoSport, my first health monitor wristwatch, was a very capable health monitor wristwatch too but it had one design flaw. Once the narrow, rubberised wristband becomes damaged, replacing it becomes either very difficult or impossible. This happened to my Vivosport and I replaced it with the Vivoactive 3, which has wristbands that can be replaced. The Vivoactive 3 has a larger circular display, which in my opinion represents a more natural and familiar interface to its owner. The Vivosport has a narrow, rectangular display. which requires a thin wristband and therein lys its weakness.The Vivoactive 3 is a very capable health monitor wristwatch and works well with the iPhone. It is expensive but subsequent models are slowly becoming cheaper as more people wear them. I expect it to have a long life. Recommended.
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6.6.2018

Received my watch yesterday lunchtime to use in UK in conjunction with my Sony Xperia Xz2. Surprised how easy and quick it was to set up. Comes with over 50% battery. Turn on, open garmin Connect app on your phone and it syncs via Bluetooth immediately. Took me less than 20mins to set up everything as I wanted even including changing watch face.Preloaded apps OK and cover various activities and you can customise easily. I don't require half of the tracking apps so have removed from watch / quick menu to make access to relevant apps quicker.Hr very accurate as is the sleep pattern. Steps counter is also accurate although can have extra steps added to tracking pending what activity /movement you make nonetheless its still one of the most accurate and best tracking devices I've used.Notifications for calls, texts and WhatsApp come through OK BUT just make sure you have set them up on both your phone, in the garmin connect app and on the watch itself as they don't automatically set up and sync! Also you may need to adjust phone/watch settings to be able to get notifications all the time as default is set to certain times / activities.Value measurements are defaulted to US non UK standards / metric but they are simple to change either on the watch or via Connect app i.e temp in Fahrenheit not Celsius, kilometres instead of miles etc.Synching is easy via app and iqconnect store which has a number of additional apps, widgets and watch faces so you can customise your watch. These can be downloaded in app and are downloaded to watch when it syncs. The connect app also allows you to see breakdown of daily stats and is easy to use and interpret the data.Overall the Vívoactive 3 is perfect watch for fitness tracking and to receive notifications on the move without having to muck around with your phone. The design and lack of full smartwatch capabilities such as replying to notifications, answering calls on the watch and having speaker to talk or play music to some may seem uninspiring but at the end of the day it's foremost a fitness tracker with perks of a normal smartwatch which for me is ideal. The watch is comfortable and doesn't irritate skin like previous watches I've had. It is well sized, the screen is clear and you can adjust brightness to suit. You can also turn off setting which causes watch to light up on movement which can be annoying and battery drain. The straps seem sturdy enough and comfortable on the wrist. I had to charge battery last night as went down to 35% from 58% when started but this is because I was mucking around with the watch loads as only just received. From other reviews expect battery life to be at or very near to what Garmin states and improve once used more.Will update after few months with any changes
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5.2.2020

My fitbit died in October, I got fed up with unreliable tech adding to a plastic mountain , so decided that I wanted a new tracker that would also replace my ancient Garmin forerunner 110 that still works (most of the time) but refuses to upload from Garmin Express to Garmin connect. Vivoactive 3 was my 1st choice but a) got distracted by a sexy Fossil sport watch (lovely watch but Google wear is awful got returned b) My friend loaned me a Fitbit Charge 3 until the one she was wearing died (no surprise there)I had 4 months to make my decision and I was slightly swayed by the Vivoactive 4s , which does appear to have certain upgrades from Vivoactive 3 , my main consideration was the 4s was smaller,but the model I wanted Dusk Rose , isn't available on Amazon and if spending best part of £300 on a watch I want to make sure it's returnable. The Vivoactive 3 at £109.00 cheaper was a better draw.FIRST IMPRESSIONS- firstly for a lady the watch face is HUGE and not going to lie this put me off a bit , the graphics certainly aren't up to phone standards , however it was easy to set up and after a bit of playing about you start to get to what you want easily. Garmin connect app is pretty impressive, on fitbit I joined challenges with vague aquaintences and invariably was either smashed to a pulp every week or I was in lead so much it was no challenge, with Garmin you can enter weekly Challenges and Garmin will place you with people who at a similar level . I went to bed with half a mind and return for 4s but thought I would see how run went following day.24 HOURS LATER- Woke up early and wasnt sure if I wanted to get up or snooze for a bit so checked Garmin connect , unlike fitbit which normally wont synch it told me straight away I'd had 7 hours 32 mins sleep so no need to keep snoozing . So got up and did a few more tasks before I took the watch for a run . 15 mins it flashed an update ACCURACY UPDATED , which took ages to go away in fact disaster I stopped my run in trying to clear it . Almost made me throw in towel but once I got over it I realised that the big watch face I had been complaining about the night before was actually pretty useful when you wear Glasses for everything but running and it was user error that stopped my run and for my (2) runs that I completed today there were oh so many lovely stats .In essence at the end of 1st 24 hours I have decided that it was not worth spending an extra £100 for a watch that plays music but I may not be able to see on a run , and I really hope that my new device matches it's predecessors longeveity
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6.7.2019

I deliberated for some time about which Garmin was going to be right for me. I had previously owned the forerunner 230, but had traded that for the Samsung watch.As a smart watch the Samsung wins hands down, however for me it annoyed me more than I liked it. I looked at the Garmin 645 and fenix range as I wanted a watch that could track my jogs, the occasional game of golf and a few laps of the pool, as well as get notifications.I realised I wasn't going to sell my kidney so the Fenix range soon got discounted, and the 645, at the time of writing didn't allow for golf, so the VA3 was the one I settled, and wanting music when I'm jogging I opted for the music version.When it first arrived I did think it was a joke watch due to it being so light.Setting it up and linking it to Spotify was easy. The Garmin app has been updated, it is easy to use and has a whole host of information.The running function is superb, you can change the data field to whatever you want and when you turn your wrist you can easily see the information. The connection to my Bose headphones has never failed or missed a beat. The only slight negative was when I was out in the rain wearing a long sleeved top the touchscreen was activated and would change the screen and give you the occasional vibrate which was off putting but easily rectified, and it couldn't stop the activity as this done on the one and only button.I was sceptical about the touchscreen but it worked well with sweaty fingers out jogging, wet fingers in the rain and gloved fingers when golfing.When playing golf the display was brilliant, as you can see from the photos very easy to see in direct sunlight and provides all the information I needed. From about 7 rounds the watch has been confused twice and put me on an incorrect hole. I changed this manually which was easy enough and didn't hold up play. The accuracy has always been spot matching the markers on the course (on the odd occasion I was on the fairway).Swimming is fine, select pool length and off you go, not loads of data but basic and enough for my needs.I wear formal shirts for work, this watch is slight enough that my sleeve can pass over it when checking the time, so no more looking like I'm trying to get out of a straight jacket.Overall I'm really happy with the watch and being back with the Garmin family.I'm sure the biking mode will be great but I haven't used it as I have a bike specific computer.I would definitely recommend this product.
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