Garmin Vivoactive 3 - Full Hands on REVIEW!

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 can be purchased from the following locations:
Amazon:
geni.us/qNMV6
Clever Training:
www.clevertrain...
The fitness trackers and products I use:
Garmin Fenix 5X
US amzn.to/2tb7MyF
UK amzn.to/2vbLsSe
CAN amzn.to/2wkQmQA
Garmin Vivoactive HR
US amzn.to/2tQlxRO
UK amzn.to/2xpn6oW
CAN amzn.to/2inVSwk
Scosche RHYTHM+ Heart Rate Monitor
US amzn.to/2umbAwk
UK amzn.to/2x9raKJ
CAN amzn.to/2wjPwny
Polar H7 Bluetooth Chest Strap HR monitor
US amzn.to/2taHM6w
UK amzn.to/2g2BNKZ
CAN amzn.to/2w0U3IU
Yunmai Smart Scale - Body Fat Scale
US amzn.to/2ugMBLc
UK amzn.to/2wvHlF7
CAN amzn.to/2g3aCQq
The Skulpt Scanner - Body Fat Percentage and Muscle Quality
US amzn.to/2sYxtOA
UK amzn.to/2xa5ONe
CAN amzn.to/2v3fdZo
My All Purpose Gym Shoes - Saucony Jazz Low Pro
US amzn.to/2umrLtE
UK amzn.to/2vbmXEU
CAN amzn.to/2inUcCL
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[@ashleykbarks]

You are possibly the only reviewer who would recommend the VA3 over the fenix 5, and for that, I thank you. I think it was this video that convinced me to save my money on the fenix 5s, and buy the VA3. I'm glad, because from what I've seen, this watch is capable of almost just as much as their flagship. I'm well aware that next year their fenix model can only get better, but for me, I just don't wear watches all that often, and it has been an uphill battle getting used to having my VA3 on my wrist. One thing I think you might have forgot to mention is that the fenix 5 is really more for marathon or triathlon training, which some people just don't do. Fenix 5 is great for very outdoorsy people who go hiking for over a week, too, but I think with the specs on the VA3, this watch will work perfect for that as well. Very great video. Too bad you had to return the VA3. But if you didn't already buy it, maybe the next version will come with internal music storage and a snazzier look. One can be hopeful...!

[@JensHove]

Yup, Vivoactive 3 Music is out :-)

[@roningordon2955]

you probably dont give a damn but does any of you know of a trick to log back into an Instagram account? I stupidly lost the password. I would love any help you can offer me.

[@leonidasmarlon676]

@Ronin Gordon Instablaster :)

[@roningordon2955]

@Leonidas Marlon i really appreciate your reply. I found the site thru google and im trying it out now. I see it takes quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@roningordon2955]

@Leonidas Marlon It worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you really help me out :D

[@Scarbir]

Now THIS is a review. Thank you.

[@ryanw1284ryansrants]

I just upgraded from my Vivoactive HR to the Vivoactive 3. I was looking into the Fenix 3/5 and just couldn't find enough features to pull me away from the 3. I watched all of your reviews and comparisons and made the best decision I thought was right for my situation and as always your information is CLUTCH. I am a body builder / power lifter who also does a lot of mountain biking. Pairing to a Scosche Rhythm heart rate monitor I find the absolute best combination of ease of use, smart features, data and battery life. While I miss the android experience of a full smart watch, I couldn't take the lack of battery life most exhibit. The vivoactive 3 is pretty good and pretty close to the Vivoactive HR. Thanks for all your videos and for the hard work it takes to just to be able to test all this stuff for our viewing pleasure!! :D :D Keep it up!

[@TechyAgent]

Thanks, that’s a huge compliment and it’s Comments like these that keep me going!

[@joaoshenga]

I bought my Garmin vivoactive in 2018 on Amazon Spain, I like the features, unfortunately my watch was unable to update the software which ended up affecting getting the watch faces and other apps (software version 6.3). I got in touch with Garmin Iberia and they are super friendly, however they don't solve your problem. So my opinion is that this watch is good and keeps its promises, however after the year of warranty you will no longer have "technical support (you have to pay half of price to fix it)" and you will have problems with software updates.

[@4tesQ]

Thank you! Most comprehensive and intelligent review I have seen on this watch. I’ve been trying to discover details on the specific gym exercise tracking abilities, particularly strength training and rep counting, and hadn’t been successful until your review showed up. Most reviews seem to focus on running. I also especially liked that you showed the Vivoactive 3 next to the Vivoactive HR, which I also own, and wondered how the 3 stacked up and whether it was worth the upgrade. I’ve been very happy with the HR, so needed good arguments to upgrade. Your video was also super helpful as you quickly showed a broad range of exercises in a gym setting (as well as the traditional running), rather than lengthy shots of you talking. As a result, I found myself going “Yes! Yes! Yes!” each time you showed something I already include in my routine and wanted to track. Superior analysis and truly appreciated. Keep up the great work! Garmin just sold another 3, thanks to you.

[@TechyAgent]

Thank you so much, I try to keep my reviews as comprehensive as possible and really appreciate feedback like this. Best compliment I could possibly receive!

[@andrew8604]

Techy Agent what do you think of the durability of the vivoactive 3? I’m looking at this, having had a 2 vivosmart 3 devices. Like the device, but I hate the durability of the strap. Also what do you think of the gear s3 in terms of durability?? Good review, made me seriously consider buying the watch. Thanks.

[@thisandthat5757]

You deserve a million subscribers. Great review.

[@TechyAgent]

+Kansokusha Kamui I wish! Thanks!

[@petemorbius3936]

well said

[@kendraorndorff7642]

I bought this yesterday. My Apple Watch is being replaced. I needed something to wear for the 4 weeks I will be without my Apple Watch. I am in school for exercise science and I have to have a tracker for my classes. So far this seems like a pretty good device. I like it, but prefer my Apple Watch. Apple is giving me an Apple Watch series 3. Very excited for that. I do believe Garmin is one of the best brands for activity tracking.

[@TechyAgent]

+Kendra Orndorff awesome, you’ll have to let me know how you like both. The Apple Watch 3 is one of the next watch is on my list of upcoming reviews. Based on a very unscientific poll that I had on Twitter, it seems most people are going to go for the Vivoactive 3 or Fitbit Ionic over the Suunto and Samsung offers.

[@costasconstantinou8804]

A brilliant review. You explained everything I needed to know. Was in the process of getting the fenix 5 but with your excellent insight on the vivo 3 I will be buying it. And the price right now is 149euros. Thanks very much.

[@highlyattuned1744]

I just bought and returned this watch because the display is not bright enough and the brightness level only changed the backlight which became active only when I turned my wrist. The settings for the backlight could not be changed to always-on only "Very long" which was around 15 seconds. Outside of that, it wasn't intuitive for me. Hopefully this helps those considering it.

[@giobikefans]

I'm quite happy with this. I use it basically as an activity tracker, not as a smart watch. I get 7 days of battery life, but I turned off the backlight unless I hit the button (like using an old Indiglo), always keep the touch screen locked and turned off notifications from my phone (as they annoy me). I let it automatically track my activities with Move IQ and it's relatively accurate and deciding when I'm active. I haven't been using GPS yet as all of my runs have been indoors with the snow, I suspect GPS will crater the battery life as I do more outdoor runs in the spring. This was specifically what I wanted in an activity tracking watch, but if you're more into using it as a smart watch you will lose days of battery. I found with a custom watch face I can see everything that I need to see on a single screen and I like it for my intended purpose.

[@TechyAgent]

Awesome, thanks for sharing your experience!

[@PepperChess]

Not quite sure what you did differently in this video. But I've watched alot of your videos and been subbed for a very long time and this is one of your best videos by far. Excellent job and review, the camera shots/angles and way it was structured really worked. Top video.

[@TechyAgent]

+Pepper544 thanks man! That means a lot coming from someone who has seen a lot of my videos, thanks!

[@yyg711]

Purchased! 😍😍😍 cannot wait to get it, ordered the white version of it...

[@TechyAgent]

+Yesenia Guevara Congrats! I think you will love it! Also, if I end up purchasing this I think I will get the white version as well

[@PierreWilliams35]

I love mine. Way better than the Fitbit Ionic.

[@matrhein]

exactly my decision, @Perry. Looking forward to receiving the device sometime this week, hopefully.

[@PierreWilliams35]

Mathias Rhein Absolutely wonderful device.

[@richardhusarcik9689]

Comparsion between Garmin Vivoactive 3 - Samsung Gear Sport - Suunto Spartan Trainer Wrist HR would be great!

[@TechyAgent]

+Richard Husarčík 👍

[@brianbrian5705]

yes comparison between Garmin VA3 and Suunto Spartan Trainer will be great

[@nataljamakova]

Yes yes yes

[@jamesjetmar5475]

Thank you Eric. I'm going for the VA 3 for comfort. Appreciate the review and all the help!

[@TechyAgent]

+james jetmar You bet, glad I could help!

[@syafiqkhairuddin3776]

Is this still reliable in 2020?im running for 3 years already and dont want to break the bank for latest garmin

[@GwilymJames]

If this had onboard storage for music it would be the king of all devices. Opted for the Apple Watch 3 this year but already miss my vivoactive HR

[@TechyAgent]

+Gwilym James AW3 is still a great choice though!

[@HeartratemonitorCoUk1]

Cheers Eric. We're still waiting for these in the UK, but I've ordered one anyhow. Thanks for the review.

[@TechyAgent]

+Cardio Critic 👍 hope they get to you quick!

[@sanchitvarma1282]

This looks like a good upgrade over my Vivomove HR whose screen has started dying 3 years in. Why pay so much more for the Venu/Vivoactive 4 when this covers all the basics.

[@SilverBullet-wg7bo]

Hey man, what’s the watch face you use on the Vivoactive 3 at 1:52

[@nichobrooks]

Hey Eric, what's the watch face you're using? Thank you

[@Kit2KatBar]

Great review! I love how in depth you went into. You were able to answer a lot of the questions i still had about the product after watching other reviews. I hope you will be able to review the Vivomove HR as well. Im on the fence between the two, but i still need more info on the Move HR.

[@TechyAgent]

+PFenixTX Yes, I have a review unit of the vivomove hr coming in 2-3 weeks after I get a couple other reviews wrapped up! So many reviews, so little time!

[@hippienizz]

I had a feeling I would want this since I love my Vivoactive HR so much, this review has put me over the edge. I have to scrape that $300 together and get one of these ASAP! Thanks for the great video(s) as always!

[@TechyAgent]

+Dave McQueary 👍 Thanks for the comment, hope you get some overtime or whatever you need to scrape together that extra $300!

[@petermitchell6348]

Had mine for two months now and have a rash on my wrist from wearing it. The sleep thing no longer works and the running, weights, etc never has worked. Only useful as a watch!

[@jamesjetmar5475]

Best review yet! Keep up the great work, thank you!

[@TechyAgent]

+james jetmar 😀👍

[@soopayacarpen3735]

Great watch..Bought one in The US..

[@amykolbe9837]

the big issue is no sound! had it and returned it- i need those beeps and boops when I fit a mile or run/walk intervals! can't wait for the 645!

[@markedwards7109]

Does it not vibrate every mile?

[@willfudge8131]

hey, what is the name of the watch face on the vivoactive, it’s looks pretty cool!

[@joseeduardotschen9186]

Excelent review! It was really detailed! Definately, this Is a game changer for the wearable industry! I am a Fitbit fan and long time user, but with this watch, I am thinking of changing to this one, although I am waiting for the Fitbit Ionic review and comparison between the two watches. Keep on going with these great reviews!

[@TechyAgent]

+Jose Eduardo Tschen I think it’s going to be VERY close between this and the Fitbit Ionic. Fitbit has a smoother user experience, and their app is simply better. But if they can catch up to Garmin in terms of hardware, both of them will be contenders for the top spot, in my opinion. Either way, both are going to be fantastic devices

[@jwalkerj28]

Very good review I am looking because my app on phone does not work anymore what I want is how far I walked and how many cals walked and can you start a walk or is this all day long

[@michaelortega7511]

Great detail on everything! Thanks

[@ScooteX]

Can't wait for the Fitbit Ionic vs Garmin VA3 video. Please do a swimming profile comparison between the two.

[@TechyAgent]

+Sc00teX 👍

[@ekscorp]

It'll be mine for sure! :) Thank you for review!

[@TechyAgent]

+Ekaterina Rusanova 👍

[@iatkinson00]

4 days battery life on moderate use is good. I have the Pebble and I get 4 days but not much more. The only thing I like about this watch vs the Misfit Vapor is, it's available now and misfit has yet to release a date.

[@TechyAgent]

+Ian Atkinson yes, I’ve been really disappointed in how long it has taken misfit to get the vapor to us!

[@etforde]

Great review! You made up my mind for this vs the Ionic.

[@TechyAgent]

+Tordal 👍 i’m hoping to have a review of the Fitbit Ionic soon!

[@etforde]

Cool. I would love to hear how you would compare these two.

[@TutonicKnight]

I was considering getting this to replace my Polar A360. I think your review convinced me that it's worth it.

[@TechyAgent]

+Paul F Definitely is, I think you’ll be very pleased

[@newtonty]

Great review Eric as always!

[@TechyAgent]

+Garrett Russell Thank you!

[@lorrainecray3965]

Hi Techy Agent , I really would love some help, I’m a senior I do lots of walking & low hiking but in winter I love doing my treadmill, but with the treadmill I would love to know how do I get to see my steps & how to setup my pace distance. Thank you for your time. Really do hope for a reply.

[@riez1150]

Can't wait to watch your review on Fitbit Ionic soon. I have to make a choice between these 2 smartwatches. Your review will definitely help :)

[@TechyAgent]

+Riezman Iskandar yes, both of these watches will be the number one choices for many!

[@debcarter563]

Hubs bought me the Garmin 235 for Christmas. Really think I'd like the swipe feature of this better. Mostly using for activity tracking, wellness monitors, running... Thoughts?

[@lilianf73]

What a thorough review, thanks!

[@TechyAgent]

👍

[@arcadeparty4946]

Exceptional review, that was amazing!

[@TechyAgent]

+Arcade Party Thanks 👍

[@ja55e]

Would it be possible to get a photo comparison of Fenix 5, Vivoactive 3 and Fitbit Ionic, and maybe even AW3? The last one looks huge in some pictures.

[@carolinecoombs5962]

You reviews are the best. Great job and super professionals. Me too would have like the music and call options and more styles versions.

[@TechyAgent]

+Caroline Coombs Thank you very much!

[@gliderrider]

Does it allow multiple bikes? Does it show odometer for each bike? Total odometer for all bikes combined? Sensors for each bike?

[@mantiscity]

I just found your channel, and it’s great. I would just like to see how the products also work with smartphones (like iPhone) since most sw are made for Android. You should have a lot more subscribers

[@TechyAgent]

Thanks! I appreciate the comment and welcome to the channel! Also appreciate your suggestions and feedback as I’m always striving to improve!

[@garywoodward6750]

Excellent review! How does the GPS accuracy compare to the Fenix 5?

[@TechyAgent]

+Gary Woodward it uses the exact same GPS chip, so it’s right on par with the Fenix

[@danwohlslagel1277]

Great review! Lots of info and very helpful. Thank you!

[@kendraorndorff7642]

Great and detailed review Eric!!

[@TechyAgent]

+Kendra Orndorff thanks Kendra!

[@user-rl5jo1tt2g]

You mentioned ambient temperature. How do you set it up on the Vivoactive 3 so you can see the temp. During exercise. Thank you!

[@evelynriffenburg1881]

This a great review; however, for those of us that use the treadmill, I found that it doesn't work as well. For example, I ran 9.11 mile and my vivoactive3 logged 5.91 miles; today I did 5.13 and it logged .25. Now, I think I have a defective watch and am getting a replacement from Garmin, but do you have metric for indoor running and indoor biking (I am also a Spinning Instructor)?

[@lisakotouch1717]

It says it is bluetooth and ant+ so does that mean we can use any heart rate chest monitor strap ?

[@arcadeparty4946]

So for storage, I've now read more than once that the VA3 comes with 12 free "memory slots". Does each slot equal an app or watchface? I'm just trying to figure out if the maximum number of connect iq apps that could be installed. Also if you fill all 12 memory slots does it cause the watch to slow down or lag in anyway? Anyone know how many "slots" the Fenix3 or 5 have available?

[@TechyAgent]

+Arcade Party That’s a good question, I have not seen an answer for this anywhere online

[@tvenoyutubis]

I have one VivoActive 3.. My doubt is about how to use thermometer function??

[@RickyTy1]

Great review. So pleased with Garmin and this quality upgrade to the vivoactive series. Now what to do with my retro vivoactive HR???(

[@TechyAgent]

+RickyTy1 time to upgrade? The VAHR is still a great device

[@brianmacful]

In this video you state that the Vivoactive 3 has decent accuracy in the gym as far as wrist based heart rate monitors go. In your review of the Vivoactive 3 Music, you state the the Vivoactive 3 Music is far from accurate in the gym. Does the Vivoactive 3 Music have different algorithms or software that would affect this, or is it an inconsistency, is the Vivoactive 3 accurate whereas the Vivoactive 3 Music is not? I love your reviews and find them so helpful when evaluating different devices! It is so hard to sift through all of the devices that are available.

[@TechyAgent]

It’s probably an inconsistency as I am just one test subject putting it through a very limited amount of exercise: The reality is that they have the exact same heart rate sensor and likely the exact same algorithm. Here is what I’d say: for strength training, High intensity interval training, and other gym exercises, optical heart rate sensors are pretty limited. I would always recommend using some sort of external heart rate sensor paired with the wearable for those exercises. But if that’s not possible for you: you will still get a rough idea of how many calories you burn during the gym exercises, but probably not an accurate portrayal of your heart rate data.

[@brianmacful]

Techy Agent thank you so much for your quick and thoughtful reply! I appreciate all of the hard work you put into reviewing these products! Your insights are invaluable.

[@mard192837]

Do you recommend this watch over the Samsung one (or the new upcoming Galaxy Active)?

[@hermsz2804]

Great F REVIEW as always!!! I dont see a point on a premium all metal coz they already got the phoenix 5.

[@MetaGuacha]

Hi Eric, Awesome review, keep up the good work Bro...!!! Q: I understand that the VA3 comes with 15 pre loaded sports profiles, but I was wondering which one is the sport profile that you use for Bootcamp and HIIT trainings ?? Can you add more profiles from Garmin Connect app ?? Cheers,

[@TechyAgent]

+Meta Guacha I use the “cardio” profile for HIIT and boot camp. You can create and add profiles using the watch itself, if you aren’t happy with the cardio profile.

[@PasqualeDeMedio]

Hi techy agent, thank you for your accurate reviews! I need to replace my vivoactive HR and I have the following options to consider: - vivoactive 3: is my favourite, but is it comparable with Fitbit versa about HR reliability? - Fitbit ionic (I know the HR is not so reliable, but may with a sw update...) - Fitbit versa: almost perfect (GPS a part... I'm very disappointed about that) - amazfit bip/pace... are they so unsupported by 3rd apps and inaccurate in sports? (I love specially bip form factor) I normally doing workout in gym (functional training) and some running and inline skating (where GPS is important to me). Can you do a review comparison of these 3 devices with updated firmware?

[@bulcohmix]

8:24 I want to switch sets by botton, but mine have to double tap a screen to do that. How can you do that by botton?

[@verzusVenus]

Its not gorilla glass (no info on this on the website), as garmin says its just some sort of chemically strengthened glass.

[@TechyAgent]

My bad, thanks for the correction

[@luvdiyalaut]

Hi good review! However, can u kindly suggest fitness wristband or smaller smartwatch that suits a person with slim wrist?

[@walid7885]

Hi Eric, I wonder if we can add the options of Aerobic and anaerobic effects like the Fenix 5. These options are provided by firstbeat inc. They would have been wonderful additions since this watch is apparently able to get HRV from a PPG sensor. Firstbeat algorithms are just insane.

[@TechyAgent]

+Walid Hammami I could be wrong, but when I compared it against the Fénix 5X, those metrics only appeared for the Fenix, but not the Vivoactive. So I wonder if Garmin is locking out that feature to keep it for only the top-tier watches.

[@underamoon]

Garmin needs to update the 5x with some of the improvements on the Vivoactive 3

[@TechyAgent]

+Jonathan Cohen So actually they have been rolling out some firmware updates to include a stress score and the automatic weightlifting detection, hopefully those firmware updates rollout universally soon, apparently some already have them in beta

[@rociobelenmartinezraimundo1082]

Inicio de la conversación Hi good day! Why Garmin sells a heart rate monitor as accessory if the watch measures along the pulsations? Can you see the pulsations while swimming?

[@ofrisela9205]

Great review. You have convinced me. Im buying. THANKS

[@TechyAgent]

+Ofri Sela Glad it was helpful, thanks for watching!

[@lisapeck8053]

Fantastic review. Trying to decide between the Iconic or Vivoactive 3 for husband. He's not a runner but loves to do elliptical, swim, cycle, hike, and kayak. Wants the HR function.....music not important----what do you suggest?

[@TechyAgent]

For anything outdoor related like cycling, kayak, or hiking I always recommend Garmin products. Plus Garmin has great swim tracking. I would definitely go with the Vivoactive 3 even though it isn’t as “pretty” as the Fitbit.

[@juliecronin2213]

Thanks for the reviews!!! I have been wanting to switch back to Garmin (had the VivoSmart HR but too bulky) and this Garmin Vivoactive 3 looks awesome however, I have become addicted to FitBit sleep stages and it seems Garmin is seriously lacking in the sleep tracking department :( I guess it's to be expected since they are more about the fitness side? but one can hope that they would make a *huge* update to sleep tracking!!!! I would buy it in a heartbeat!

[@TechyAgent]

+Julie Cronin Yes, Garmin has been slow and prioritizing sleep tracking, which has been frustrating for me. Sleep is enormously important! If you are not sleeping well, you will not perform well, simple as that. Fitbit tends to put a priority on all-day metrics while Garmin focuses on activity metrics, like you mentioned.

[@janmacku4633]

Thank you! Great Review!! Now I know, that vivoactive 3 is beter for me, than fenix5.

[@TechyAgent]

+Jan Macků 👍

[@RodneyJack]

Excellent review!

[@brennabyerly4766]

Does it take long to connect when starting an activity?

[@Michael-tt6cg]

Which do you prefer between this vivoactive 3 and the forerunner 235? Thank you

[@moranmono]

Great review, thank you

[@user-ph3dq5in8j]

I concur, A great review 👍

[@haidensmith3843]

I love you

[@davielikesrush]

Clear and informative.... Good job

[@SuperEspaniard]

i just bought this watch where is the screen display minute 0:59 the exact one ???

[@sahasrangshuutube]

Could you share how to setup VA3 for Gym like how to setup it for a training for arms or chest or back or legs like that

[@jacoblevenstein2864]

Thank you for the review. At 10:12, you mention that you get cadence information from the Vivoactive 3. Is this because you synced a cadence sensor from your bike to the watch, or does the watch some how recognize your cadence?

[@TechyAgent]

You get cadence information while running, but not cycling. It does it automatically from the wrist.

[@yogaprabawa1080]

I've bought this watch 2 days ago and I just realized this watch can't show me notification. I've read some reviews showed that they had same problems too, can you help me how to activate the notification? Because it seems expensive if this watch doesn't have that feature based on garmin promotion. Anyway I'm using Xiaomi redmi note 5 to connect onto this watch. Thx eric!

[@catherinepowers61]

1) Do you have thoughts on this vs. the up and coming Samsung Gear Sport? I'm having trouble deciding between the two. 2) Can you turn off auto-hr and choose to just measure it manually at your will?

[@TechyAgent]

+Catherine Powers Yes, you can turn off the automatic heart rate. I have not reviewed the new Samsung watches yet, so I’m not sure how they will stack up yet. My guess is that they will be great options too, especially for Android users. In the past, I’ve been impressed with Samsung’s smart features, they tend to not do quite as well as Garmin or Fitbit for health related metrics, but that could change with the newest releases

[@catherinepowers61]

Thanks for the response! Garmin is fantastic (I have a Vivofit 3 and a Garmin Swim) but I'm disappointed in the lack of music storage on the Vivoactive 3 itself, especially for the price it's at. Hopefully it's something to come in the future!

[@RickyTy1]

Catherine Powers I have the gear s3 along with the vivoactive HR. Gear wins for smart features but sadly no ext HRM support makes it unreliable for fitness. If fitness is more important for you go with the vivoactive 3 all the way.

[@revvrav]

Would you say the Gear S3 is as reliable for strength training and rep counting as the Vivoactive 3(as explained in this vid)?

[@garywoodward6750]

I have the Gear S3, and while I love the onboard music storage and sharp display the GPS is just too unreliable. If you're serious about your sports then it's Garmin all the way

[@rebekahmarrero8279]

Hi Great review! I am looking to buy my first fitness watch. Would you recommend Vivoactive 3? I want it to track my running and strength training. Do you know if it would connect to the Peloton app to track heart rate?

[@anthonyrampino7734]

If you had to choose between this watch and the fenix 3hr which would you prefer?

[@TechyAgent]

I would probably go with the new Vivoactive 3 Music!

[@milele7703]

Thanks for the detailed review. I love your bike, mind sharing the make please? Thanks.

[@saum]

Great review man... keep up the good work.

[@TechyAgent]

+Nike Nikes Thanks!

[@sharonchoong4678]

Pls do a review for the swim function?

[@JulienHoudayer]

Great review, watched also the vivosport. Can't really decide which orders (come from Fenix 3, a bit too bulky for me and outdated, use for run, SUP, bike and cross-fit mostly). Would you recommend one over the other?

[@TechyAgent]

+Julien Houdayer my opinion is that the Vivoactive 3 is best in class for tracking all things fitness related, the Fenix series is best in class for tracking all things gps/outdoors related. The Vivosport is kind of like a mini-Vivoactive 3

[@francesfern5054]

Pls make review about sleeptracking on garmin and fitbit both comparing just sleep tracking indepth

[@36ELGALAN]

Who sings the song in the commercial where the guy's doing yoga, then starts his vivo active to a sick rap hook? Anyone ?

[@yelah]

Hi Eric Long term subscriber, the quality of your videos is astounding. Quick question though - i recently ordered and have been trying out a new product from Polar called the OH1, basically something akin to the Rhythm +. What makes using an arm band just as accurate as a chest strap? I’ve kind of ditched my H7 for it!

[@TechyAgent]

+Haley Hammonds it’s technically not quite as accurate as an armband for certain sports: for steady state cardio like jogging and cycling, it will be as accurate. For gym based exercise (lifting, hiit, CrossFit, etc) it won’t be quite as accurate as a chest strap, but close enough, and it will be a significant improvement over a wrist based sensor. Chest straps are extremely accurate because they measure electrical activity from the heart. Optical sensors (the ones that have lights) measure blood pulsation under the skin, so they can get thrown off a little on certain exercises where the muscles are contracting a lot.

[@MrJPineda13]

Haley Hammonds how do you like the oh1? Mine just shipped from clever training. I've never used an arm band. I was going to go with the scosche but I like that the oh1 is smaller and it can store hours of data on the unit itself. Based on Eric's Scosche review and others it seems like the arm bands are really accurate because you don't have nearly as much flexing on the forearm or upper arm as you do on your wrist. So its not necessarily that the heart rate sensor on the Garmin wrist watches is bad, but because you move your wrist so much during gym training it has trouble getting accurate readings. On the flip side, when doing something like running where your wrist is generally not flexing the wrist heart rate sensor is very accurate. I apologize in advance if I'm wrong on whay I just wrote.

[@yelah]

Interesting information. Glad you introduced me to the world of armbands though, they are far more comfortable than a chest strap and they seem to be on par (from my experience) with electrode technology. Thanks for the reply! :-)

[@yelah]

I absolutely love the OH1! I bought it as a preorder and was regretting it because I usually wait for reviews to come out for almost anything, I'm not an impulsive buyer whatsoever. Although, i've had 3 devices from Polar so I somewhat trusted them to make yet another great product. I've been nothing but impressed. To give you some context, I am an avid gym goer and exercise around 5 days a week. I do circuit training/hiit, muay thai training for fun, and occasional lifting at around two times per week. I've used the OH1 for every one of the kinds of workouts I mentioned and I don't think it skipped a beat with any of them. I wore both my H7 and OH1 just to compare and the graphs looked remarkably similar. I don't think you would be disappointed at all. I also opted for this because of the ability to save workouts directly on the device, a feature which I've enjoyed. Let me know how it works out for you should you decide to buy!

[@edgecrush3r]

Another awesome review! Thanks.

[@TechyAgent]

+tony tromp 👍

[@sg1ds919]

What does Eric the Techy Agent use 7 days a week 365 days a year? I'm just looking for honest no BS opinion. Thanks, Eric..

[@TechyAgent]

I use my Scosche Rhythm Plus external sensor paired with my Garmin Fénix 5X or Apple Watch 3. I also occasionally use my old Vivoactive HR. Those 3 are what I’ve been using this last 3-6 months.

[@MrJPineda13]

Another great review. Pre ordered mine in the Slate Grey. Checks every box except the music although it seems like we're headed towards headphones with native storage so that may become a non factor in the near future. My first Garmin device. I just downloaded Garmin Connect and the Google play store said one of the new features is creating routes. Do you know if these routes can be synced with the vivoactive 3 or is this feature only for the higher end watches?

[@TechyAgent]

+Jimmy Pineda that’s a good question! I do not know if Garmin has a native feature to allow you use routes on the Vivoactive 3 like they do their higher end watches, HOWEVER, you can use ConnectIQ to download dwMap (A third-party developer) which does allow you to create a route and then put it on the watch for navigation purposes. That app is compatible with the Vivoactive 3, so you are good to go there!

[@yu175372]

Great review, I am interested in the Vivoactive 3 but also came across the announcement for the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music. Considering it will be released next month is it still worth going ahead with the vivoactive3 since Forerunner 645 music's list of features is positioned as an upgrade to the vivoactive 3 ?

[@TechyAgent]

To me it comes down to the one main feature of the 645: the music. If you want the ability to stream music then you’ll want to wait. If you are fine with only having music controls (instead of music storage), the Vivoactive 3 is possibly a better choice (because it has the added ease of a touchscreen).

[@yu175372]

Thank you for your feedback, I bought the VA 3 and I can see what you mean. The sideswipe and touchscreen does make it easy to interact with. Loving it.

[@azmirahman6387]

How many GarminIQ datafield can be inserted into a single activity? VAHR can only support 2 GarminIQ datafield.

[@TechyAgent]

+Azmi Rahman that’s a great question, unfortunately I have not had the chance to test that feature yet, sorry.

[@mpclit]

Great option! Do you know how it performs in open water or pool swimming?

[@TechyAgent]

+María Claudia Gutierrez Riega it does great: gives some of the most detailed information of any fitness tracker you can by including, total strokes, strokes per minute, strokes per lap, total distance, lap times, SWOLF score, and much more

[@sarapassaniti3062]

Hi, can u suggest me the right watch for me? I have some issues and can't decide, at same price, between Garmin Vivoactive 3 and new Suunto fitness 3. What do u suggest?

[@nicoagressor]

What about Garmin Couch? Is is supported on these watches, please?

[@darrenscaysbrook6038]

Great review. Thanks.

[@jham006]

I just.got.one and still figuring it out. Not sure.how the gps works exactly.. It seems to take so long waiting for the gps.. It took me hours to figure out how to change the date! And the pairing on garmin connect is also a pain!!

[@TechyAgent]

+jam de la rama if this is your first experience with a Garmin watch, They can be overwhelming and there is definitely a learning curve, hang in there! You’ll get the hang of it in a month from now you’ll be loving it

[@paulie5325]

Great review, thank you🙂

[@alec6280]

Hey Eric, great review as always. Have a few questions on your thoughts about the 735XT vs VA3? I can get either for the same price right now, so which do you think would be better bang for your buck considering the 735 can do almost everything the VA3 can do?

[@TechyAgent]

+Any Random I think it depends on what you intend to use it for: if you were looking for and all-around fitness experience, the VA3 is best. If you are looking for a targeted GPS distance watch for things like running and cycling, the 735XT is the better choice.

[@alec6280]

Thanks for the reply, so would you say the oHRM on the VA3 is more accurate than the 735XT?

[@apackagedriver4536]

Fantastic review!

[@TechyAgent]

+Zakariah I Shaw thanks!