Move from Garmin Instinct 2 to Series 10

[Isamilis]

I have been using Garmin for 2 years, and now planning to use series 10 due to health features (ECG, SPO2, etc). Does anyone in the same boat? How is your usage? Is it workable? Or do you keep both? I may missed “body battery” while it’s not really accurate though.

Thank you!

 

[MarkX]

Do you do any sport or activities? I’ve been between Garmin and Apple a few times and am currently on the Watch Ultra.

It’s workable but I do miss my Garmin for certain things and will more than likely switch back at some point.

 

[Indianwin2001]

I have been using Garmin for 2 years, and now planning to use series 10 due to health features (ECG, SPO2, etc). Does anyone in the same boat? How is your usage? Is it workable? Or do you keep both? I may missed “body battery” while it’s not really accurate though.

Thank you!

I just switched from Garmin epic pro back to Apple ultra two. My biggest complaint was Garmin was the inaccurate heart rate during activity. It had wild swings while the apple has a believable heart rate. I’ve had many Garmins over the years and the heart rate is unreliable. Also, there’s an app called Bevel that has a body battery that is much more accurate than Garmin

 

[PatrickNSF]

The Series 10 is a nice watch but I'd hold onto your Instinct for a while in case you're left wanting. If price is a factor you could consider a refurbished Ultra 2 since the price of those seems comparable to a new Series 10 w/ LTE.

 

[Significant1]

I just switched from Garmin epic pro back to Apple ultra two. My biggest complaint was Garmin was the inaccurate heart rate during activity. It had wild swings while the apple has a believable heart rate. I’ve had many Garmins over the years and the heart rate is unreliable. Also, there’s an app called Bevel that has a body battery that is much more accurate than Garmin

I agree and use Polar Verity sense on my upper arm. But even Apple Watch can struggle depending on the type of workout.

 

[deeddawg]

Haven't used a garmin watch for a while - for my meager needs AW has been sufficient and my FR235 sits on the shelf.

I do want to call attention to the RunGap app which allows syncing workout data to/from myriad platforms.

 

[Indianwin2001]

Haven't used a garmin watch for a while - for my meager needs AW has been sufficient and my FR235 sits on the shelf.

I do want to call attention to the RunGap app which allows syncing workout data to/from myriad platforms.

Yes. I use Rungap to sync all my workouts into Garmin. This way, I have all my history in Garmin also.

 

[Significant1]

Haven't used a garmin watch for a while - for my meager needs AW has been sufficient and my FR235 sits on the shelf.

I do want to call attention to the RunGap app which allows syncing workout data to/from myriad platforms.

There is also Health Sync, which is a new app I don’t have any experience with. Modern garmins produce a lot more analysis than 235 and you need one or more apps on Apple Watch with subscription if you want to match It.

 

[poofdadz]

There is also Health Sync, which is a new app I don’t have any experience with. Modern garmins produce a lot more analysis than 235 and you need one or more apps on Apple Watch with subscription if you want to match It.

But how many of those "metrics" are just Garmin marketing BS?
Can you provide links to well-done, reproduced research that supports Garmin's metrics?

 

[deeddawg]

But how many of those "metrics" are just Garmin marketing BS?
Can you provide links to well-done, reproduced research that supports Garmin's metrics?

I'd suggest the better question is what useful & actionable information is provided, and what does the person do with that information.

Having started with a Polar RS200sd, moving to Garmin in 2011 (FR610), using different models up to the FR235 and Edge 830 (currently used for cycling), I've observed the increasing amount of data recorded/provided. At least for me, as a casual non-competitive cyclist and occasional runner (now, used to be regular) much of it is just data, not information I find at all useful. Thus I'm curious what people actually do with stuff like ground-contact-time and vertical oscillation data, or stats like heat acclimatization %.

 

[poofdadz]

I'd suggest the better question is what useful & actionable information is provided, and what does the person do with that information.

Having started with a Polar RS200sd, moving to Garmin in 2011 (FR610), using different models up to the FR235 and Edge 830 (currently used for cycling), I've observed the increasing amount of data recorded/provided. At least for me, as a casual non-competitive cyclist and occasional runner (now, used to be regular) much of it is just data, not information I find at all useful. Thus I'm curious what people actually do with stuff like ground-contact-time and vertical oscillation data, or stats like heat acclimatization %.

Basically the same questions. Useful and actionable information of this type needs to be backed up by science. Almost none of it is. Marketing nonsense.

For example, Google "ground-contact-time research" and you'll find some poorly done studies with comically small sample sizes. Useless. But you'll also quickly find websites that cite these studies with no critique of the poor study design, small sample sizes, etc. Just accepting the results as facts. Then people who read these websites just accept what they read, and on it goes. Garmin isn't dumb. They know how to sell their products.

I'm a statistics professor and I spend 3/4 of my time doing research on the theoretical side but I'm lucky enough to be at a major research university so I'm able to do as much consulting across different fields as I and my grad students can handle. All applied research has limitations. Some more than others. But a lot of it is straight up bad. Like really bad. Some of the worst I see is in "exercise science." Social science too.

 

[turbineseaplane]

No clue why folks are arguing about metrics

I have news for ya .. they are of questionable accuracy on all the watches, Apple included

The most useful thing about all of them is trend tracking and paying a modicum of attention to staying active, for which they all serve admirably

Personally I'm a Garmin user for the phenomenal battery life and rugged design that is geared toward active uses (including all the buttons and UI design built around it)

I also appreciate their fully included ecosystem, with no additional Apps needed

 

[deeddawg]

I'm a statistics professor and I spend 3/4 of my time doing research on the theoretical side but I'm lucky enough to be at a major research university so I'm able to do as much consulting across different fields as I and my grad students can handle. All applied research has limitations. Some more than others. But a lot of it is straight up bad. Like really bad. Some of the worst I see is in "exercise science." Social science too.

If not already familiar with it, you should enjoy this study which found that "parachute use did not significantly reduce death or major injury" when jumping from an aircraft". Leading of course to headlines such as "Breakthrough research reveals parachutes don’t prevent death when jumping from a plane" or "Researchers Show Parachutes Don't Work"

They key being they could only find participants for the randomized controlled trial willing to jump from an aircraft if it were still on the ground.

 

[Significant1]

But how many of those "metrics" are just Garmin marketing BS?
Can you provide links to well-done, reproduced research that supports Garmin's metrics?

The algorithms are developed by Firstbeat, which garmin has bought years back.

Science - Firstbeat

Firstbeat science makes the benefits of digital physiological modeling available to everyone with near-laboratory accuracy

www.firstbeat.com

And for me,they are more trustworthy than any analysis I could find for apple watch before I gave in and put it in the drawer. That was before Bevel, which I have installed, but never used. I trust Fitgearhunter (youtuber) on this. According to him, it is the best solution for AW, but he still prefer Garmin overall everything plays together.

 

[Indianwin2001]

No clue why folks are arguing about metrics

I have news for ya .. they are of questionable accuracy on all the watches, Apple included

The most useful thing about all of them is trend tracking and paying a modicum of attention to staying active, for which they all serve admirably

Personally I'm a Garmin user for the phenomenal battery life and rugged design that is geared toward active uses (including all the buttons and UI design built around it)

I also appreciate their fully included ecosystem, with no additional Apps needed

Except I’ve been using Garmin since 2014 and Polar before that, when you needed a chest strap because OHR didn’t exist. I
Used Apple from 2019 to 2023. Bought a Garmin 965 and then an epic pro, their heart rate during activity was atrocious so you end up with garbage in and garbage out. Apples heart rate is much more accurate during activities at least

 

[Indianwin2001]

The algorithms are developed by Firstbeat, which garmin has bought years back.

Science - Firstbeat

Firstbeat science makes the benefits of digital physiological modeling available to everyone with near-laboratory accuracy

www.firstbeat.com

And for me,they are more trustworthy than any analysis I could find for apple watch before I gave in and put it in the drawer. That was before Bevel, which I have installed, but never used. I trust Fitgearhunter (youtuber) on this. According to him, it is the best solution for AW, but he still prefer Garmin overall everything plays together.

First off, Bevel is an awesome app for the AW. I find their body battery much more accurate to the way I feel..
Secondly, in my opinion, Firstbeat was a good company, but I feel they went downhill after Garmin bought them. take a look at the Garmin forums and see all the complaints on there with all the problems they have with their outdoor watches. The sports division is pretty good, but the outdoor division is not. You don’t see the problems on this page or Apple Reddit, that you see for Garmin. That tells me a lot and believe me I used to love Garmin.

 

[Pixels7]

I moved from Garmin to Apple Watch (S10) and I’m so glad I did. Way less bugs, i dont notice it on my arm. I hated the connect app, with all the bugs. And my Garmin HR monitor was always way off and body battery and all other metrics too, because HR tracking was off. I don’t miss that it tracked naps constantly throughout the day, that also threw all metrics off. I had so many bugs with my Garmin watch (like many other people on the Garmin forums!) I could write a book about it!

I don’t miss Garmin at all. So I can 100% recommend switching, unless you want to go on multiple day hikes or such things. Then Garmin is more convenient with its battery.

Oh and I thought I would miss body battery too, but no, it was so inaccurate, don’t miss it. And the continuous hr tracking is not something I miss either. I realised I don’t need to know my second to second heart rate and Garmin was not tracking my hr well anyway 😊

 

[Isamilis]

Thank you everyone. Do you know BodyState? It looks like good alternate to body battery (or Bevel?). I am looking for non-subscription app.

One thing that I really missed is Workout Timer. It actually simple app, that count (i.e. 5 seconds) and repeated automatically. This is very useful for my Yoga / meditation exercise. Does anyone know substitute app for the app?

 

[Doc_dee]

I have both a garmin and an Apple Watch. I still prefer the Garmin for running as I find the training plans and recommended workouts useful. I use a polar strap for heart rate so no concerns about accuracy on that front

The Garmin and heart rate strap works in winter as I can wear the watch over my sleeves. With the apple watch I have to disable wrist detectetion if not wearing in direct contact with skin

RunGap takes care of syncing between Garmin connect and apple heath

 

[BSG75]

I moved from Garmin to Apple Watch (S10) and I’m so glad I did. Way less bugs, i dont notice it on my arm. I hated the connect app, with all the bugs. And my Garmin HR monitor was always way off and body battery and all other metrics too, because HR tracking was off. I don’t miss that it tracked naps constantly throughout the day, that also threw all metrics off. I had so many bugs with my Garmin watch (like many other people on the Garmin forums!) I could write a book about it!

I don’t miss Garmin at all. So I can 100% recommend switching, unless you want to go on multiple day hikes or such things. Then Garmin is more convenient with its battery.

Oh and I thought I would miss body battery too, but no, it was so inaccurate, don’t miss it. And the continuous hr tracking is not something I miss either. I realised I don’t need to know my second to second heart rate and Garmin was not tracking my hr well anyway 😊

That's interesting. I wear a Garmin Epix 2 and Apple Watch Ultra on my treadmill runs and the HR tracking is almost identical on both watches. If anything, they might be one heartbeat off from each other.

 

[turbineseaplane]

That's interesting. I wear a Garmin Epix 2 and Apple Watch Ultra on my treadmill runs and the HR tracking is almost identical on both watches. If anything, they might be one heartbeat off from each other.

That's been my experience also when trying AW to compare with my Garmin

I've found no meaningful differences and honestly I use a HR strap when wanting better accuracy and data consistency during runs anyhow

 

[PatrickNSF]

I get much more consistent HR readings with my Garmin 965 than I ever did with my AWU 1/2. I attribute it to the shape and weight of the watches. But 95% of the time I wear a Polar armband with either watch.

 

[Pixels7]

That's interesting. I wear a Garmin Epix 2 and Apple Watch Ultra on my treadmill runs and the HR tracking is almost identical on both watches. If anything, they might be one heartbeat off from each other.

I had a vivoactive and a forerunner. There were problems for almost a year with the heart rate tracking, Garmin even said that and wrote a trouble shooting page about it. Only their tips didn’t work. If I remember correctly there were more affected models, not only vivoactive, forerunner and venu 3 but also some other watches for outdoor.

Edit to add: (apparently it’s still not fixed) https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fi...cally-useless-for-training#pifragment-1279=17

 

[Indianwin2001]

I had a vivoactive and a forerunner. There were problems for almost a year with the heart rate tracking, Garmin even said that and wrote a trouble shooting page about it. Only their tips didn’t work. If I remember correctly there were more affected models, not only vivoactive, forerunner and venu 3 but also some other watches for outdoor.

Edit to add: (apparently it’s still not fixed) https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fi...cally-useless-for-training#pifragment-1279=17

The Garmin Forums are full of complaints and replies from “ Garmin Sierra” just like this one.

 

[Pixels7]

The Garmin Forums are full of complaints and replies from “ Garmin Sierra” just like this one.

Yes indeed! And from Garmin Inder too 😅