Best fitness watch that outputs to google health?

[spinedoc77]

Any health nuts out there use a smartwatch specifically for fitness and use it with google health? I don't mean the traditional smartwatches like Huawei and LG, but the more fitness oriented ones from Garmin, Polar, etc. But I have no idea how they store workouts, do they have proprietary apps or do they connect to an Android phone and upload information to Google health? I'd MUCH prefer to have a centralized location for my health data like google health. Money is no object, I just want the best of the best. Main concerns are a decent heartrate monitor.

 

[ozaz]

Neither of the two main players (Garmin & Fitbit) interface with Google Fit. They both want to create lock in to their ecosystems by holding your fitness data rather than concede this privilege to Google.

Withings, Polar, Under Armour, Xioami, and Sony are among those that produce (non Android Wear) fitness watches that do sync with Google Fit. They will all have their own proprietary apps which store your data. It's up to you if you want to sync this with Google Fit.

 

[bopajuice]

I wear a Garmin Fenix 3 HR everyday. Interacts with my phone, has the Garmin App and My Fitness. I choose it over the iWatch. Also had a Fitbit Surge until the case cracked and was not waterproof.

My Garmin doesn't connect to Google health but the Apps I use give me everything I need.

The watch is big but surprisingly comfortable. Battery lasts two weeks with moderate use including GPS.

 

[Fireblade]

I wear a Garmin Fenix 3 HR everyday. Interacts with my phone, has the Garmin App and My Fitness. I choose it over the iWatch. Also had a Fitbit Surge until the case cracked and was not waterproof.

My Garmin doesn't connect to Google health but the Apps I use give me everything I need.

The watch is big but surprisingly comfortable. Battery lasts two weeks with moderate use including GPS.

As I wear a Garmin Fenix5 I would like to know if you use other apps beside Garmin Connect?

 

[daflake]

Neither of the two main players (Garmin & Fitbit) interface with Google Fit. They both want to create lock in to their ecosystems by holding your fitness data rather than concede this privilege to Google.

This is not really accurate... Garmin actually exports automatically to Strava with no issues. It may be more that Google Fit doesn't want to ingest automatically or nobody has sat down and worked the API. Either way, you can probably manually move your data as Garmin's is in a pretty standard format.

EDIT: I just looked at a post that Google Fit has the ability to pull from Garmin Connect, so that confirms that. Here is a list of Garmin partners:

• Addaero
• Beginner Triathlete
• Endomondo
• Endurance Tracker
• Fetcheveryone
• Final Surge
• Make YES! Happen
• MapMyFitness (MapMyRide, MapMyRun)
• MyFitnessPal1
• Nike+
• Runcoach
• Run Keeper
• Strava2
• TrainingPeaks

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As I wear a Garmin Fenix5 I would like to know if you use other apps beside Garmin Connect?

Garmin connect is used as the initial sync and then you can move the data from there. As I mentioned, Strava is on application that you can export too.
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As I wear a Garmin Fenix5 I would like to know if you use other apps beside Garmin Connect?

What app are you interested in using? I use Strava for my bike rides and pulls from Garmin connect just fine. If you are thinking that you are going to get a different app to sync with your watch, that is not going to happen.

 

[ozaz]

This is not really accurate... Garmin actually exports automatically to Strava with no issues. It may be more that Google Fit doesn't want to ingest automatically or nobody has sat down and worked the API. Either way, you can probably manually move your data as Garmin's is in a pretty standard format.

EDIT: I just looked at a post that Google Fit has the ability to pull from Garmin Connect, so that confirms that. Here is a list of Garmin partners:

I would say Strava is different to Google Fit. Strava does not seem to have ambitions to be a central hub of all health and fitness data (these are ambitions that I think Google and Garmin both share).

Where is the post that says Google Fit can pull data from Garmin Connect? I can't find it.

 

[daflake]

I would say Strava is different to Google Fit. Strava does not seem to have ambitions to be a central hub of all health and fitness data (these are ambitions that I think Google and Garmin both share).

Where is the post that says Google Fit can pull data from Garmin Connect? I can't find it.

Strava is continually adding to their system but it is tailored for more of a runner, swimmer and cyclist (which I am).

As for Google Fit, just google it. The information I posted was from Garmin's forums, but there is a Reddit thread on it as well.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/3budd3/google_welcomes_all_their_new_google_fit_partners/

Google Fit has been pulling data in from Garmin for a year + now according to what I have been reading.

To be fair, I think it is important to get the tools that work for you. Garmin makes high end tools for athletes. If you are buying a Fenix just to monitor your sleep habits that isn't going to work well for you. Each system is propritory is some fashion, so you have to find what is best for you.

 

[ozaz]

Strava is continually adding to their system but it is tailored for more of a runner, swimmer and cyclist (which I am).

As for Google Fit, just google it. The information I posted was from Garmin's forums, but there is a Reddit thread on it as well.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/3budd3/google_welcomes_all_their_new_google_fit_partners/

Google Fit has been pulling data in from Garmin for a year + now according to what I have been reading.

To be fair, I think it is important to get the tools that work for you. Garmin makes high end tools for athletes. If you are buying a Fenix just to monitor your sleep habits that isn't going to work well for you. Each system is propritory is some fashion, so you have to find what is best for you.

I have Googled it. I can't find any recent credible information of an interface between Garmin and Google Fit. You have linked to an almost 2-year old post. Once upon a time there might have been the seeds of a partnership between Garmin and Google Fit. I don't think that exists today. Neither my Garmin or Google Fit app suggest the possibility of a connection.

Garmin does not only make high end tools for athletes. They have a number of wearables that are geared towards those only interested in monitoring habitual activity and sleep patterns. Although I would agree that Fitbit, Withings, and others may be a better fit for this segment of the market.

 

[daflake]

I have Googled it. I can't find any recent credible information of an interface between Garmin and Google Fit. You have linked to an almost 2-year old post. Once upon a time there might have been the seeds of a partnership between Garmin and Google Fit. I don't think that exists today. Neither my Garmin or Google Fit app suggest the possibility of a connection.

Garmin does not only make high end tools for athletes. They have a number of wearables that are geared towards those only interested in measuring habitual activity and sleep patterns. Although I would agree that Fitbit, Withings, and others may be a better fit for this segment of the market.

Okay, we are talking about two different things here. Propritary apps are NOT going to sync with other devices (aka Strave phone app syncing directly with Garmin watch). You have to put the files on to the website of the vendor and then move them to another site. For instance, I sync my Garmin Fenix 3 via the Garmin App on my phone which puts the information on Garmin Connect (.com). It is then pushed automatically to Strava by Garmin. That last link is the partnership that allows me to use other tools over just Garmin Connect. Garmin is not going to allow some other app to sync with their device and I don't know any other vendor that will allow this either, not even Apple.

The Vivofit is their lowest personel fitness device and having had and sold them, I can tell you there are better devices out there. Garmin's bread and butter are the specialized devices that they sell and that is where they put their money. Yes, they do make something that a recreational user can use, but most of the time the focus is on the upper levels. We were even told this by their own rep during training.

EDIT: To be fair, I have not played with Google Fit. I will when I get home as my internet at the office blocks a lot of stuff with them.