Trying to find a good watch for workouts and everyday use
from uKale@lemmy.world to privacy@lemmy.ml on 28 Oct 15:30
https://lemmy.world/post/53694515
from uKale@lemmy.world to privacy@lemmy.ml on 28 Oct 15:30
https://lemmy.world/post/53694515
I am trying to get some more measurable results while training, and I would like to get a watch that can measure my pulse during workouts. I see that the market is HUGE for watches meant for this, but I am a bit lost. Here are some things that are relevant to finding a good watch for me:
- I have smallish wrists.
- I would like to wear it also while swimming or showering
- I need it to work really well independently of any phone, as I don’t use iOS or any Android variant. This also means that the watch needs to be good at keeping the time without syncing with a phone.
- I need the watch to be privacy respecting. Even though I don’t plan on using it with a phone at the moment, I do not wish to support a scummy company.
Do you have a favorite watch that could fit some of these points?
threaded - newest
No specific suggestion but I bet Casio has something that’d work for you
I’ll look into Casio, thank you for suggesting them!
I recently ditched my Galaxy watch for a few cheap Casio’s. Between $15-30 each. So much better. There’s a Bluetooth enabled one for around $100 that has a step counter if that’s important.
I know you said watch and time so I’m speaking out of line.
I use a Polar Chest Strap for HR measurement. More accurate
I’m open to other solutions! Do you know if the chest straps can sync with a Linux computer?
I like this “can sync with a Linux computer?” way of thinking 💪
Honestly I’ve not tried but it is bluetooth
I have one of these and it’s awesome.
Why not just wear a Casio? They’re durable, waterproof, and come in different colours. I measure my HR by placing my fingers on the carotid artery and timing with the wrist watch. Also, doesn’t get any more effective in terms of privacy.
Another vote for the Casios! Privacy wise the manual way of doing it does seem superior.
I was searching for the same thing like you and decided to get a Garmin, as they seem to work with Gadgetbridge without needing to fair with their app first. It’ll arrive tomorrow, so I could give you some more insights then. But from what I’ve read online, Garmin watches are the top for sporty activities.
I’m very interested in hearing about your experience with your new Garmin. They do seem like great watches.
So, I received it yesterday, and I’m absolutely enamored with it: it’s perfect. No need to download some crappy app that god know where sends your data, and thankfully it’s possible to first pair it directly with gadgetbridge. Absolutely peak. Then it acts like a normal smartwatch, I guess. I’m not much interested by the notifications/smart aspects of it; I mainly got it so I could consult maps when going hiking without having to have my phone in my hand all the time. In that aspect, this garmin watch I have (vivoactive 6) let’s you have a line of your course on the display on at all times, so not really a very colorful map with lots of stuff, but exactly what I needed. For the maps themselves, you can select whatever gpx file from your phone and ‘share’ it via the android menu to gadgetbridge, it’ll send the file to the watch that way and you can then open it on the watch. Another thing i want to do with it is use it as a heartbeat sensor while riding my indoor trainer; I haven’t had the time to try that yet tho. A very cool thing is that this watch supports music on device!! It has 8gb onboard, and you can download music from amazon music, spotify, deezer, and others, idk. But as I download my music from bandcamp I found no use for those. Thankfully by plugging the watch in a pc with their cable it acts as a media storage device, and then you can upload your own mp3 files. Looks like it doesn’t support flac, so you’ll need to transcode those if you have you music in that format. Navidrome’s UI let’s you do that easily when downloading an album. Ah, the watch itself doesn’t have a speaker, but you can connect headphones, up to LDAC it seems? Mine have the aac/sbc codecs disabled, only LDAC is enabled, and it still works, so cool ig? Ah, I found that to setup garmin pay you need the official app, but after the initial setup you can uninstall it. Anyway, my bank isn’t supported so idc.
I hope i have been exhaustive, and that this rant of mine could maybe help you make your decision. Overall, i’m pretty happy: works pretty well for what I need, and is totally private. My data isn’t feeding god knows what algorithm, and there are no important features locked behind a paywall (their garmin trainer or whatever is, but who tf cares about that)
Ah, and the alarms on the watch seem to wake you up just fine.
That watch sounds like something I could really like! Glad it works so well for you with Gadgetbridge. I’ll see if I can find a Linux alternative, maybe a Garmin could be the right fit. Thank you for your thoughtful post.
A linux smartwatch ? Then definetly look into asteroid OS ! The devices they support can be bought for very cheap on vinted. I opted for a garmin because of the battery life : i do not want to plug my watch in everynight.
I am using Garmin venu 2 with gadgetbridge and I can confidently say the sync got so much better lately, it even integrates now with endurain and auto upload my workouts. The only thing that I think is less then ideal is agps (assisted gps), basically I had to setup cron job that downloads the agps file every day and stores it where gadgetbridge sees it (smb share) and can provide it to the watch on request. Without this it took 15+ minutes to lock gps…
From a quick lookup, either Garmin watch without Garmin Connect but Gadgetbridge (fdroid) instead. Or a Casio.
Though the EFF also laments the lack of sensible options, so your mileage may vary. Maybe a diy with a ESP32 S3? I think there are already some surprisingly small projects around, if i remember right.
I’ll look into the ESP32s! That could be an interesting project.
It’s weird how techies seem to accept leaking wearables. Even the new Pebbles seem to have real privacy issues.
More like resignation. It’s the current state of the industry, it’s not rea-lly neccessary, so we don’t get one. And the phone can be good enough.
I hope there comes a privacy wave to wearables soon!
I have had, multiple Garmin venu models as well a family members. They are fantastic. I spend a ton of time in the hospital, pulse, pulse ox, and HRV have always been on point. The step counter and stair counter less so. Everything else is solid. 2 week battery life. And the Garmin venu 3 is one of the best health trackers. They’re now making a Venu 4. Don’t fall for it. The same elevate 5 sensor and no major upgrade. Stick with a new Venu 3 and save some dollars.
Nice to know the sensors are good, the Venu 4 could be a candidate if I find a way to sync it with any of my devices.
Pebble time 2
This is what I use and it is outstanding. Anything you could want on a watch with none of the privacy violation. Also can recommend Pebble.
I already have a couple of Pebbles, but they drift too badly without constant sync with a phone, unfortunately. Fun watches, though!
I was under the impression that Garmin has a decent privacy policy for theirs martwatches-- I have a Forerunner watch that I’ve worn almost daily for the last six years and it’s still working great, I’m quite happy with it. Obviously if you want true privacy and lack of tracking a traditional digital watch is the way to go but those don’t generally have HR tracking.
Huh, maybe I’ve been looking at the wrong watch segment. In stead of the semi smart, I’ll try looking at regular digital watches but with some extra features. Thank you for giving me that idea!
My answer for this has been to use Gadgetbridge - its an open source app which can replace the e.g. Garmin app, connecting to the device and gathering activity and sensor data plus forwarding notifications etc as you’d expect the first party app to do. The data remains exclusively on your phone, no servers involved.
Its not perfect, the Garmin UI is slicker and some minor features may not be supported but overall it’s really impressed me for a community effort.
I’ve been using this since March 2025 with a Farming Forerunner 265 without any issues.
There are a wide range of supported devices, so you can buy the hardware you like/find a good deal and not worry about privacy based on the vendor.
Gadgetbridge Site Supported Watches
Hah, as of today there at 666 supported devices!
<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/d9214e98-7068-4037-9733-cd1c2c30d4bd.png">
I can’t suggest one for swimming, but this one is intriguing. Wanted to support it, but I hardly wear my own watch.
unawatch.com
It’s modular and open source.
Interesting project that I’ll follow! This could become something great one day.