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Garmin Vivofit Fitness Band - Black - Garmin
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Pivotal Living Band - Activity + Sleep Tracker - Pivotal Living

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Garmin Vivofit Fitness Band - Black - Garmin
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Pivotal Living http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41uBUVyBadL._SL160_.jpg
Pivotal Living Band - Activity + Sleep Tracker - Pivotal Living
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eComparisons ScoreThe "Comparison Score" Is calculated based on the average number of times this item was compared with other items in this category by our users
7.8
5.8
User Rating (Amazon)
User Rating (Amazon)

Five Star Reviews:

50%
VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VIVOFIT
June 16, 2017
I really like my Vivofit except for one thing. One bug thing. Actually, it's such s big thing that I don't really like my Vivofit anymore. After a lot of calculations and a lot of months of feeling very confused and demoralized about my own exercise routine, I finally borrowed a second pedometer to double check the step tracker on my Vivofit. Surprise! The second tracker gave me completely different results! Results more in line with the amount of steps and the distance I thought I was walking. For example, I would walk an hour at a good clip and my Vivofit would tell me I had walked, say, 2250 steps. Crazy. So, I measured with the second pedometer and determined that my Vivofit consistently undercounted my steps.I am fortunately a mathematician and was able to calculate a proportion so that I can figure out my true number of steps based on my Vivofit's count until I get around to buying a new fitness tracker, but it's an annoying problem. My Vivofit had always undercounted, since I bought it. My husband's undercounts his steps as well, though not as much as mine undercounts mine. I have a theory that it's related to the fact that we are both very short, since I am much shorter than him and mine undercounts a lot more than his does, but it's only a theory. Some kind of design flaw, maybe. I don't know.Anyway, so... yeah. It's an annoying problem
Love it!
December 10, 2016
This is actually my second garmin vivofit. I bought the first one and it lasted for two years before the battery died! It is not broken at all. I weighed the price of battery and new band against the price of a new garmin and believe I am coming out ahead with a new one and keeping the old as a back up.Pros:- Lasts a long time and I wore it everyday. (two year battery life on my old one)- Display listing so that you can use as a watch as well. Others you have to log on to see what you have done. Even provides the date!- easy syncing with the garmin app- the band has had its moments of coming undone but garmin has heard the feedback and now provides a clasp to keep it securely on your wrist.- Accurate tracking! I have tested this garmin a lot of ways by trying to shake my arm around and even trying to simulate a walk without actually walking. Yeah, I looked like a nut. It recorded nothing! This thing is pretty accurate! I have also counted my steps and tested it against what it recorded and it is spot on!- Affordable- I have worn my garmin in the pool while swimming and while in the shower just to test the waterproof ability and it keeps ticking.- Sleep tracking- Syncing directly with iPhone- Comfortable to wear- The app feeds data directly to my fitness pal to track level of activityCons:- Honestly I can't think of a single con to buying this product.Honestly I shopped around for a replacement thinking something else might fit my needs better. I circled back around to this one for the durability and reliability. Love this product and would rate it higher if the option existed.
Great tracker
September 22, 2016
I've had a couple of vivofits through the past couple of years. I ended up losing my original due to a clasp failure on a band that was not authentic garmin brand. Got another because I missed it so much and much preferred it to the fitbits I had tried.Pros:Battery life-doesn't require charging for a year or moreDisplay- always on and displays the number of steps, time of calories, as well as heart rate if you connect a monitor.Durability- I'm an Obstacle Course racer, haven't managed to break one yetWaterproof: I live on a lake, and this was important to meCons:Garmin connect software can be annoying sometimes and go down now and then (this has got far better as time these trackers have been out has gone on)It's not the most "fashionable" tracker out there, but that's something I've never particularly cared about, but some may.Summary:I would recommend the Garmin Vivofit to anyone looking nice for a simple fitness tracker they never have to worry about taking off and charging, so it really tracks every moment of your life. It's a good value and great alternative to a Fitbit.
I hate this F*ing thing
May 26, 2016
I hate this F*ing thing.It started out innocently enough. Track your steps, I thought. It'll be good, I thought. So I sprang for the Garmin. Low(ish) cost, counts steps and keeps track of stuff. Yeah. That'll work. What happens after you turn 50, see, is the weight can creep on. Slowly. Slowly. Silently. Until suddenly you weigh more than you did at the highest during pregnancy. Yikes! And since my girls are teens, I can no longer blame the youngest one for baby weight, which is what I did for years.So I get the thing and put it on. It innocently looks at you and says, "Yeah, you can do 5000 steps a day. That's not much, fatty." So I do. At the beginning, it was just for tracking steps. You can connect to this other app to track food intake if you want, but no, that's not for me. I just wanted to see how many steps I was doing every day in my rather sedentary life.Well. That first day I did nothing but watch. Um. 3584 steps. Really? So, I realized, yes, this is bad. After that I made it a point to AT LEAST make the minimum steps. After a couple of weeks, I noticed that the required count was sneaking up. Suddenly I had to step 5200 steps, and on an on, until finally it hit 7200. OMG. So, meanwhile I'm trucking along every day, meeting my steps. Who wants to sync up and see all those lovely orange step lines (goal met for the day) with horrifying blue mixed in (goal not met). It happened a couple of times, don't judge. Have I left it until 10:00 p.m. to find that I still need 4000 steps? Yes I have. Again, don't judge. I did the steps.So then to add insult to injury, the other thing this guy does is it blinks a red line at you if you sit on your butt too long. I'M WORKING. It doesn't care. So now I find myself leaping up and marching around so as to not piss it off with my inactivity.So then it starts playing mind games. "Geez, you're doing all the steps. Would it kill you to give up some of the sugar and carbs?" So then you decide okay, I can give up sugar one or two days a week. Hey, I really like ice cream, kill me. So after it looks at you and rolls it's eyes, you figure, okay. Sugar just one day a week. I can do this. The Garmin is like, "Yeah, piggy, you can. It's not going to get you the thanks from a grateful nation, but it's a start." So that happens. Next it's carbs. I mean, you're doing the work, right?Next thing I know, I'm not wasting any precious step-taking minutes. Waiting for water to boil on your scrap of dinner? WALK! Take the dog out a couple of extra times, it adds up. This thing is breathing down your neck, tracking every move you make. I have worn a track through my kitchen, living room, and family room waiting for stuff. By the way, books on tape are awesome.I find myself a month later. I have more energy (who knew?). My dog is thinner. I'M thinner. We're saving a fortune on rocky road ice cream. My girls and husband are happy because I have less time to hassle them.It's all this Garmin's fault.
A very satisfied user!
April 25, 2015
I bought this on a daily special at Amazon. It works exactly as described and I'm very happy with the unit, especially at the $60 purchase price! A big concern I did have at the time of purchase were the low ratings by those who complained about the wrist band clasp not holding closed which resulted in the loss of the watch. The ad at time of my purchase did say it was the latest model from Garmin. (March 2015) I'm not sure what that all implies BUT mine arrived with a safety ring that slides over the clasp to prevent the band from unclamping. It matches the band and appears that Garmin has responded to the earlier complaints. The photos on Amazon do not show this safety ring but mine had it and it will prevent the unclamping.I am also impressed with the accuracy. I try to fool the band by sitting still but move the watch in an attempt to fool it into registering steps I have not taken and it is smart enough to know the real thing. On my last walk, I actually counted several hundred of my actual steps and it registered exactly the number of steps taken. I only walk and do not jog or run so I do not know if this would be accurate for you joggers. As a walker it meets my needs perfectly.I have attached a photo of the safety ring that is not seen on ad photos that apparently were not included on the earlier models. I would agree with earlier complaints for those without the safety ring, that the band could unclamp and result in loss of the watch.My watch will sync perfectly every time and easily with my iMac, iPhone, and iPad. I simply hold the button on the watch until SYNC appears and I'm close to the Apple device. Everything is wireless. My iMac uses the included USB dongle and my phone and tablet use Bluetooth. I have not tried it but I suspect the iMac could also use the built in Bluetooth also.The included instructions are sufficient but tiny print on small pages. I downloaded the manual free on the Internet in PDF format and there were several YouTube videos to explain more of the watch operations. The software is downloaded at Garmin and works for all my Apple devices. The software on your device allows you to install firmware upgrades too. Mine arrived with the latest version 4.0 at time of purchase. All the software functions appear to work perfectly. I have not seen any software bugs or hiccups on my Apple devices.The watch came with two wrist bands. As a 6'3" adult I used the larger band and work well with room to both enlarge or decrease the diameter as needed. The smaller band looks as to fit most youth, smaller folks, or most female users. I see many aftermarket bands advertised in many colors and the unit will easily snap out of the band to change, no hardware is required.My model was without the heart monitor but can be added later if you like. I have only had mine a few days but very satisfied so far. I would not hesitate to repurchase if desired. I already plan to purchase one for my 17 year old son for his birthday.
Fantastic device, better than Fitibit and Polar competitors
March 11, 2014
I've been using an activity monitor for a couple of years now, and have owned the following in addition to the Vivofit: Fitbit One, Fitbit Flex, Fitbit Force, and Polar Loop. Since the Fitbit devices are very popular and widely used, I'll orient this review around a comparison to those (and the Polar Loop for good measure).First, my main activity is road biking: I average about 2,000 miles a year, mostly from March to November. In winter I try to regularly ride a trainer or a recumbent gym bike. I wear a heart monitor when riding or training because I like to see how I'm doing as a late middle-aged male. As you'll see, one of the advantages of the Vivofit is its ability to pair with a HR strap, something the Fitbit products lack. So here we go:The Vivofit is a bit reminiscent of the Fitbit Force as far as the form factor. They have similar bracelet styling, though the body part of the Vivofit is slightly thicker. The clasp design is similar to the Force, but locks more positively. The actual Vivofit unit is removable from the bracelet unlike the Force (more like the Flex), so you can replace the band (it comes with both large and small bands) and change to different colored ones.The biggest differences from the Force are these: 1) the Vivofit uses two small watch batteries that are purportedly good for at least a year versus the rechargeable battery used by the Force, and; 2) the Vivofit display doesn't light up like the Force (which has both positive and negative attributes; read on).I liked my Force - even though I think Fitbit's customer service is abysmal, perhaps rivaled only by Comcast among companies I've dealt with - but the Vivofit is ultimately what I wish the Force had been. Here's why.I didn't particularly mind having to recharge my Force periodically (about once a week), but the battery always seemed to go dead at the most inopportune times, i.e., when I didn't have my charger available (and remember it only charges with USB via a computer). So there were times where my activity tracking would be interrupted until I could get to a charging source, and then of course you can't use the device while it's charging. Not so with the Vivofit. I like the idea of using watch batteries: they add just a smidgen of bulk, but you don't have to worry about recharging. The batteries are the common 1632s, so they're easy to find if even if you don't keep spares on hand, and with a year of life, continuous operation is a given.As to the display, I actually prefer the Vivofit's overall even though it isn't lighted. With the Force you have to press the button when you want to read it, although you can then read it even in pitch darkness. The Vivofit displays continuously; you cycle through the different readings by pressing a button, just like on the Force. It's readable in all but near darkness (reminds of a Kindle), so the lack of lighting is a non-factor for me. It's also VERY sharp, with gold characters on a black background. I'll sacrifice a lighted display for the year-long battery life and continuous display of the Vivofit.The other nice thing about the Vivofit vs. the Force is that it pairs with a HR monitor strap. So if you like to keep track of your heart rate when doing vigorous exercise - like I do - then the Vivofit is the hands-down winner. In fact, I think it slightly beats the Force even without that feature, based on the better battery configuration, continuous display, interchangeable bracelet and more secure clasp.A word about the clasp. It's basically the same design as used on the Force and the Flex, but for some reason is more secure. The Fitbit bands have a tendency to uncouple, especially the Force, but the Vivofit is rock solid. I think the reason is that the Vivofit's material is slightly less neoprene-like than the Force's: it's a tad less springy, so when the clasp pins penetrate the holes they're held firmly.I'll finish the Fitibit comparison by mentioning the Flex and the One. The Force tried to integrate the best features of both of these: in effect it's a One incorporated into a Flex-like bracelet design (albeit a larger one). With the One you have a display that lights when the button is pushed (like the Force) and gives you a readout of various measures by cycling through with repeated button pushes. With the Flex the display only shows a series of dots that track your progress on a measure of your choosing (steps, calories burned, etc.). You can check your stats at any time by pairing the Flex with your smartphone (you can also pair the One and the Force to a smartphone) or by syncing it to your computer with a USB wireless dongle (also supplied for the One and the Force). I found the One too easy to lose, since it's not a bracelet, and found the battery life of the Flex to be a bit on the short side, probably because of its small size (which is why I upgraded to the Force).One of the best features of using a Fitibit is the excellent website. I haven't found a competitor's website that even comes close. Polar's site is in beta and tracks almost nothing. Garmin's site is good, but is mainly for tracking just activity from their various GPS devices for biking, running, etc., albeit in exhaustive detail. Fitbit's site is a full-featured health tracking and monitoring tool. It displays all activity measured by your tracker, allows you to log your food intake (huge food database), regularly record your heart rate, blood pressure, weight, and even custom measures of your own design. It's too comprehensive to describe here, but suffice to say it's reason enough to favor a Fitbit device over others. This is where the Vivofit has a leg up on other non-Fitbit devices: it will automatically sync to the Fitbit site using Garmin Connect software via an arrangement between Fitbit and Garmin.So now with my Vivofit, I get a device that to me that has all the advantages of the Fitbit Force with none of the disadvantages, allows for HR monitoring, AND syncs to the Fitbit website. It's the best of both worlds.On to the Polar Loop. It's a well made device that's roughly the same size as the Force and Vivofit, but has the most secure clasp of the bunch. It's a deployment buckle like you'd find on an upscale watch (think Breitling or Omega). Like the Vivofit, it allows for HR monitoring via a Polar HR strap (and its worth noting that Polar HR monitor straps auto sync to a lot of gym exercise equipment that is "Polar ready"). It has a brilliantly lit red display, activated by pushing a button that you then push repeatedly to cycle through different measures. However, unlike the button on the Vivofit or Force, the one on the Polar is very imprecise: you frequently have to push it two or three times before it does anything. That's because it's recessed so as to be almost flush with the strap and is very small, such that when you push most of your fingertip is pushing on the surrounding area. And as noted, the Polar website (beta) is pretty much useless at this point. If the Polar had a better button, and if the website were the equal of Fitbit's or could sync to it, then it would be slightly ahead of the Force (because of the HR feature) but still behind the Vivofit (because of the need to charge it periodically, and because when syncing to a computer it has to be connected to a dual-use charging/syncing cable rather than using a wireless dongle like the Force and Vivofit, though it will sync wirelessly to a smartphone using Polar's app).In summary:Form factor: basically a tie among the Vivofit, Force and Loop (Flex has a smaller form factor, which some may prefer; the One is basically a fob made to be clipped to a belt or carried in a pocket).Display: the Vivofit for its continuous (and very sharp) display and positive button feedback for cycling through data, although you may disagree if you plan to check your unit regularly in the dark.Accuracy: the Vivofit and all of the Fitbit units seemed to be very accurate (they yielded nearly identical measures when compared); the Loop seemed to overstate my steps, and - like the Vivofit - it doesn't measure flights of stairs climbed (all Fitbits do).Clasp: the Polar is most secure, very closely followed by the Vivofit. The Force and Flex tend to uncouple, and the One is a fob rather than a bracelet.HR monitoring: It's between the Vivofit and the Loop since Fitibit doesn't offer it. If you already use a Garmin HR strap with a Garmin bike or running computer, then you might prefer the Vivofit for that reason. If you want to auto connect your HR strap at the gym, then that might argue for a Polar strap, and the Loop (both the Loop and the gym bike or elliptical, etc. will simultaneously record HR activity).Smartphone software: all three offer good smartphone apps, but they specialize in different areas. The Fitbit app mimics its website, so most of what you'd upload, enter, sync or track at the website can also be done on its smartphone app. The Garmin app is set up to focus on bike rides, runs, etc. in conjunction with a GPS unit to record routes, route segments, etc. The Loop app is focused on heart rate activity.Website: Fitbit by a mile, though as noted you can sync all your Vivofit data to the Fitbit site automatically. Thus you can essentially treat the Vivofit as if it was a Fitbit device. Garmin's website has the same focus as it's smartphone app; it's not a full-fledged fitness site. Polar's site is useless, though it's only in beta...perhaps it will eventually be more competitive.I vote for the Vivofit. Note that the Force has been recalled and is no longer being sold.
30%

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Four Star Reviews:

18%
Good product at reasonable price
January 2, 2017
Good product at a reasonable price. Very good features. I have the basic Vivofit (not any of the newer models) Main negatives are that the watch band is very difficult to put on your wrist. Also I could not connect the Vivofit to my iPad 2 using Bluetooth. Maintained initial connection with my iPhone 5 but then lost the connection so I am unable to sync any daily data to my devices for later analysis. I was able to pair this device with my Dell PC using the Windows software for Garmin Express and the USB ANT. My daily data can now be synced and I can check my activities on any device as long as I have the CONNECT app installed. Other than the 2 negatives mentioned this is a great device to use to check on daily walking and exercising activities. Very comfortable to wear.
Pleased!
February 12, 2015
I bought the Garmin Vivofit to help me stay more active to help me lose weight and to count my steps to ensure I made over 10,000 a day. So far, I really enjoy this band and I am extremely happy that I bought it. It shows me everything that I want and need, from mileage to steps and time and date so I don't have to wear a watch alongside the band. In the beginning I had problems syncing with my phone and on my computer. For a while there Garmin Express had server problems, which caused me to go 3 days without the website. It's not necessary to have the website, but it's still nice to be able to back track to what you did a couple days ago, etc. I sent an email into Garmin and so far the server hasn't been unable to connect. I even managed to connect cleanly to my phone which is nice. I also noticed that I would get 'red lined' (what I call it when the red bar at the top appears to show you've been inactive) would appear when I was, indeed, being active. It wasn't heavy walking in place, but it was moving around the kitchen or playing with the dogs. That is a little frustrating because on the app it then says that I've been 'so much percentage inactive', when that's not the case.It's also waterproof, to the extent that the shower doesn't bother it (though I'm not going to swim in it just in case). I work outside at a garden center so I'll be getting it wet on a daily basis and I needed something that wouldn't have a problem with water, or have a skewed step count because of my constant hand motions. Thus far it's held up just fine and I'm pleased. I did a lot of research and this was definitely my best fit. That and my family has had Garmin products for a very long time and every single item we have purchased has been awesome. I definitely suggest it for someone who doesn't need it for more extensive activities who need a GPS, etc. I'm an active person and this works just fine!
The best fitness tracker out there, but of limited use if you're actually physically active
December 26, 2014
Fitness trackers are strange devices for me. On the one hand, the intended audience is meant for the people who aren't very fit trying to get fit. On the other hand, the casual folks aren't likely to pay the premium those devices charge over simpler pedometers such as the Ozeri Tri-axis. For instance, I can't imagine getting my parents to sync one of those fitness bands to a smartphone, assuming they even owned a smartphone that was compatible.On top of that, most of these devices either don't have displays, or aren't water-proof, or both! If you're actually fit, and swim, bike, or do anything interesting, none of the Fitbit or smartwatch products are really usable for you.Well, Garmin's an exception. Garmin's bike computers survive numerous bike tours, rainy rides, and all sorts of abuse I can heap on them. So I can trust Garmin. Indeed, when I first looked at the Garmin Vivofit a year ago, I was impressed. The device is rated for 5 ATM, which means that swimming or snorkeling (provided you're not diving deep) would be ok, but not diving. Yes, watch ratings are very misleading. What caused me to hold off was the insane price of $130. I'm reasonably confident that my daily activity level is high enough that any activity measurement for me falls into the "nice to have" category, rather than "must have."Fast forward a year, and the price is now much more reasonable, around $70 or so on Amazon. That's still about 5 times the cost of an Ozei pedometer, but unlike those, this can actually be used while swimming and cycling without going crazy. Also, I've already had to return one of the Ozeris which broke, while my track record with Garmin units is usually much better. I also considered the VivoSmart, which is nice in that it syncs with cycling sensors, but at $170, is a bit rich, and also has the problem that unlike the Vivofit, it needs to be charged.Getting the unit set up is easy enough. Select the strap (it comes in 2 sizes), put the device in, strap it on the wrist (don't forget the clasp protector!), and then put it into pairing mode with your phone after downloading the Garmin connect app. The device will only pair to one user at a time, and if you trade users it resets the device to zero. If you don't have a compatible smartphone, the device comes with a USB dongle that lets a PC sync with the Vivofit. I've tried syncing both on the PC and a smartphone and in both cases it's easy and fast.Now, you might expect the device to automatically sync, but rather, you need to manually sync your Vivofit every so often. Garmin claims that it'll store up to 2 weeks of data, so in theory you only need to do it every 2 weeks. Unfortunately, on my very second day of syncing I triggered a bug which lost an entire's day activity. Not a big deal as it hasn't happened yet, but my advice for you is to sync early and sync often. I'm not sure how frequent syncing would affect battery life, but even if it dropped from the projected 1 year to 6 months it still wouldn't be a major tragedy.The pedometer part of the device works well. For instance, it tracks steps even if you're pushing a stroller or a shopping cart, which I have expected it not to do. It does a reasonable job of eliminating false positives, though I have noticed it giving me about 20-100 extra steps while driving. The strangest thing is that swimming using the crawl and breast strokes doesn't register, while the backstroke and duck diving do register. Cycling on a smooth flat road with a smooth cadence doesn't register, while hammering with upper body motion or standing up on a climb do register steps. It would have been nice if Garmin would register step-equivalents while swimming, but as I said above, fitness trackers aren't really designed for those of you who are actually fit!The device pairs with the Garmin Heart Rate monitor, and one nice feature is that if you do have a Garmin bike computer, both the bike computer and the Vivofit will receive the data from the same HRM. This bodes well for the VivoSmart, since you would expect the same would be true of the speed and cadence sensors.By far the best feature of the Vivofit (and the VivoSmart has the same feature) is the red inactivity bar. If you don't move for an hour or so, the red bar would start to fill up, and you would have to get up and walk for about 200 steps to make that bar go away. This is very useful even for those of you who are already fit, since it eliminates blocks of inactivity during the day, which has been shown to be fairly harmful to your body. The difference between the Vivofit and the VivoSmart is that the latter will actually vibrate to let you know, while the former needs you to actually glance at it once in a while to notice the red bar. For the $90 difference between the unit and the occasional annoyance with a vibration waking you up in the middle of the night, I'd stay with the Vivofit.The other functions of the device is that it serves as a watch (but it's not a backlit screen, so you'd still be pulling out your phone at night), provides the date, shows you calories burned, and also provides a goal to keep you walking more and more each day. The goal-setting service is set up for a fairly inactive person, ramping up for 7500 steps per day. It also tracks sleep, but the software and website doesn't provide you with any help in interpreting the sleep data, and it's a bit of a bother to put the device into sleep mode before going to sleep, so my guess is in the long run, this feature wouldn't get used much.All in all, this (and the Vivosmart) is probably the only fitness tracker you should bother with if you swim, bike, or otherwise use a Garmin HRM. It's robust, waterproof, has ridiculously good battery life, and provides reasonably good functionality. If someone else came out with one that figured out what to do about swimming it'd be even better, but for the moment this is the device to beat. Unfortunately for me, it's not suitable for me (and I don't really need a fitness tracker anyway), so it's going back to Amazon.Recommended.
Recommended
October 17, 2014
Pros:1. No rechargeable battery. I wouldn't mind them so much, but the rechargeable battery in my Fitbit died and rendered it unusable, pretty much 1 day after the warranty expired.2. Red Inactivity bar. This doesn't make or break the product, but I do find myself getting up whenever I see it to get rid of the reminder bar. I think it's a much better method than a single vibrate or reminder every hour that you can ignore too easily.Cons:1. I dislike wrist-wearables. There are lots of products competing for spots on my wrist so I'd prefer one that goes in a pocket or cliips to pants.2. Heart-rate monitor integration is laughable. It 'tracks' your workout but doesn't integrate it into your daily burn at all. If you lift weights and when you go online to check, it might say you burned 2000 calories in that one workout(extreme example) but your calorie burn for the day might still only read 1500.3. Kind of a counter to previous point (it's good it doesn't take into account heart-rate burns) because it way overestimates how many calories you burn. I lifted weights for 30 minutes once and it told me I burned 1200 calories.4. The web-interface is pretty bad. They are working on it but I don't really think it's even a good interface to begin with. Compared to the Fitbit's website it's a joke. If you want to keep track of calories consumed, you have to use a partner site. All around it's pretty poor. You don't have the ability to add a workout after the fact either. Fitbit would let you say "Oh I lifted weights for an hour" and would update your calorie expenditure accordingly.5. Goes along with #4, but integration with other devices is non-existant. I bought a Garmin 620 Forerunner prior to this and part of the reason I went with a Garmin fitness band was because I was expecting some form of integration. However, the data from the two is kept almost completely separate; the best you can do is set up your Online Portal to contain data from both (so you can view your total steps from the vivofit and your most recent work out on the 620 on the same page).I know that was a lot of Cons, but overall I would still recommend it over the Fitbit and other comparable products. I think that hopefully in an iteration or two from now these different products will be able to see which features have worked best and adjust accordingly.
Better than my Fitbit One!
September 23, 2014
There have been some awesome reviews, so I'll just add a couple of things that were important to me:I really like the My Fitness Pal website - it has an awesome calorie database. I was REALLY PEEVED to find out that my Fitbit One would only sync with MFP *if* I paid a subscription fee. The Garmin Vivofit syncs nicely with My Fitness Pal with no additional cost and I appreciate that.I like that the Vivofit also acts as a watch, so I'm not forced into wearing TWO things strapped to my wrist.I'm hoping that it will pick up on paddling/kayaking exercise actions? I wore my Fitbit One on my bra: never had a problem with losing it, but I don't think it always picked up on motion. This evening I did a quick comparison by wearing both devices, and the Garmin Vivofit recorded more steps. It's nice to know I'm not quite the "slug" that the Fitbit shows me to be...LOL!I like the red "get off your butt and move" warning line. I'd like it better if it delivered a vibration to remind me to look at it - or better yet, a nice jolt that would launch me out of my chair? But then the battery probably wouldn't last near as long....I'm a Garmin fan - my 2 handheld GPS devices, plus my Nuvi car navigation system have all worked well through the years. I hope this fitness tracker lives up to the Garmin name?!But I subtracted a star for 2 reasons: - it WOULD be nice to read the watch face in the dark; and since I read so many reviews telling of losing the device, I've ordered the silly loops so I don't lose the thing. If my $20 Timex watch can stay firmly attached to my wrist - this hundred-plus dollar tracker should, too.One last disappointment: it doesn't "talk" to my BlueTooth-able Samsung Stratosphere android phone. But since that's probably a dinosaur in phone technology - I'll cut Garmin some slack on that :-)I'm not sure many will see this addendum - but after 5 months, I have good news and bad: the bad is that my Vivofit barely talks to my computer any more. Sometimes it "syncs" - most of the time it doesn't. Which renders any tracking over time, or calorie tracking, worthless :-( It's now basically a "pedometer" - if I don't check how many steps I've taken before I go to bed at night, I will have lost the data. Considering what I paid for it - it's a ridiculously-expensive wristwatch and pedometer.The good news is that it has survived being worn 24/7, including swimming and kayaking. And it DOES track "steps" while kayaking, which the Fitbit did not.I'm still happy with it, due to its ability to track motions others than actual footsteps; (and I still find the "Red line of Shame" to be motivational to get up and move) but its reluctance to sync with my computer makes it hard to recommend for anyone wanting to monitor calorie intake with calories burned.
What it does, it does well but there are issues
July 9, 2014
Ok, my cardinal health sin is sitting too long. So, I wanted a device that would remind me to get up. And that's the reason I picked the Vivofit over other devices. And I love that it is a watch, a step counter and a reminder. I also wanted something that would give me the number of steps I've taken without having to check another device. Overall I am happy with this but there are several issues.#1 If you have an older iPhone or iPad, it will not sync with them. Anything older than an iPhone 4S or an iPad 3 is out of luck. Which I unfortunately discovered after I had bought it. This means I have to log on to my computer last thing in the evening if I want my data to be recorded. Logging on the next morning means all the previous day's data is lost. If all you care about is whether you made your goal and not whether the data is saved, it's not an issue.#2. There is a delay between taking the steps and watching them show up on the Vivofit. Sometimes the delay is almost 1/2 a minute. So, there are times I think it's not recording my steps and then all of a sudden I'll see a big jump in the number. This may or may not bug you. But it does take some getting used to it.On the plus side, it's great to just put it on your wrist and forget it. I have enough trouble remembering to charge my phone, let alone a step counter. It is easy to switch between wrist bands, if color coordinating is your thing. (Different colored wrist bands can be bought separately.It's funny that it takes a device to remind me to move, but such is life. I have found that in just a few days, I've changed my routine from sitting to watch tv to walking in place while my shows are on. So, for right now, happier than not with the Vivofit.Update- I have since discovered that I do not have to log on last thing at night. The device will save the previous day's info. When you sync with your computer, you sometimes need to hit refresh twice for all the data to show up.
13%

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Three Star Reviews:

9%
I miss my FitBit, honestly.
May 9, 2017
I used to wear a FitBit Charge HR, but after 6 months the band on it warped and after 8 months the band no longer held the FitBit. The band was not replaceable and I had to toss my FitBit. The Garmin, on the other hand costs less and has replaceable bands, which is great. It also has a battery that lasts a whole year so it never needs to be charged. These are the reasons why I bought it.It does a good job keeping a count of my steps. But the app and website that track ones data is designed poorly compared to the FitBit's app. It is so bad I don't even bother syncing my data anymore. I just never look at it because I don't like it. I used the FitBit app all the time.Anyway, I use my Vivofit like a watch and pedometer. I don't use it to track my sleep or anything else I would need to look at the app for. Next time I buy one of these things, I'll pay more for a FitBit with a replaceable band.
Expect pairing and syncing problems
March 29, 2017
There are many features about this tracker I love compared to the Fitbit charge I had before it. However, it does not stay paired with my phone and often does not sync. I had to send the first one back to Garmin (at my own expense by the way) and the second device is actually worse with these issues than the first one. Not really getting anywhere with Garmin at this point, and I am about to give up on trying to sync it but will probably still use it since I really do like the watch, that it is waterproof and incredible battery life.
Planned obsolescence?
October 1, 2016
I loved it and I miss it. It broke just out of warranty and Garmin was kind enough to replace it with a refurbished unit which worked fine for another 15 months until it was time to change the batteries again. I'm not sure what went wrong, my husband and I got ours at the same time and his first is still going strong.Pros:- tells the time and shows steps right on the unit- reminder to get off my butt and walk around during the day- auto goal- long battery life, no need to charge every few days- can wear it in the shower, no real need to ever take it offCons:Can't really think of any, the Garmin does everything I need it to do.I definitely want another fitness tracker, but I won't be going with another Garmin. I want to be able to update/upgrade on my own terms without being forced to because the thing breaks.
Not designed for slim female wrists!
August 20, 2016
I went through all the reviews to pick this up - I really just wanted a reliable mileage counter for running. This seems like it may work for that - it showed up too late today to take it out - but there are already issues which were not apparent. For starters, this will NOT sync with my Samsung phone. It works fine with my laptop and the sync went fairly smoothly, but when I try with my phone, the Garmin stops flashing that it's pairing after a very short time (less than 8 seconds), which then causes the phone connection to fail. Also, my wrists are very small - slightly less than six inches around, with two inches of flat space, top and bottom. While the smaller Garmin band fits with four notches left, it leaves a big gap on the outer side of my wrist. I may see if the larger band fits around my ankle. I didn't realize the actual piece itself is so large, and it extends beyond my wrist. I'll use it for sure, but I'm sad this is clearly NOT designed for slim female wrists.Update: This is not what I need, as it can't even track splits, so I know how many minutes per mile I'm running. It seems accurate (it matches up fairly well with the Runkeeper app, which I have running at the same time), but I got this so I didn't have to run with the phone. Tracking movement during sleep is kind of cool, but I don't need to know how many steps in a day or whatever, I just need something which can help me get my best times running! Very disappointed, and I'll be waiting for the technology to improve where it is a REASONABLE price and not biased against women.
ONLY for walking in a straight line and with your arms free
July 19, 2016
This device does one thing, and only one thing: It will count your steps reasonably accurately if you are walking in a straight line and your arms are not encumbered. Other than that, it is useless.We have had two of them for three months now, and have had the opportunity to test them out doing a number of different activities. And to compare them with each other.For example, if you mow a lawn you will not get the steps credit you deserve. The red line telling you that you are lazy and need to get moving comes on full force--while walking around a yard mowing it! If you play ping pong you don't get steps credit for taking one or two steps to the side and back. As we have said, you only get credit for straight line walking with your arms free.Last weekend we took a hike along a beach, up along a bluff, and down on a trail. I got lots of steps credit, my wife got almost none. Why? Because she was using trekking poles. My arms, however, were free to swing, so I got the appropriate amount of distance and steps credit.That is why we rated it a Three Stars. For the one purpose it does well. But it is not a pedometer measuring steps. It is only for walking with your arms swinging.
Garmin
November 7, 2015
The Vivofit's been on the market for close to 2 years now so the drop in price reflects its current value. At the present price, this is genuinely an excellent tracker to consider if you can stomach the fundamental flaws; not backlight, vibrations. This is one of the rare fitness trackers out there which works without the need to be connected to a mobile device. It comes with a USB ANT+ dongle that allows syncing of data straight to Garmin Connect via the computer. That being said, Garmin's web and mobile platforms are superb and full of features.For ease of viewing, these are the features:PROS:Superb battery lifeTracks steps, distance, calories, auto tracks sleepNumber of steps to goalWater proof2 bands for different sizesReal time heart rate monitoring function (with HR monitoring strap)Dedicated heart rate displayApp available for both Android and iOSPit yourself against global usersClear display even in bright sunlightWatch and date functionSuperb mobile appConnects to ANT+ heart rate monitors.Works without smart phone device.CONS:Display can’t be seen in the nightLack of sound and vibrationInactivity red bar not of much use unless you constantly refer to the Vivofit.Manual syncing.
13%

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Two Star Reviews:

9%
Poor quality
August 18, 2017
At first I liked the idea of not having tomkeep charging a fitness band, however I've had a few issues with this. I have a small wrist so the given included bamds are way to wide on my wrist. Also the original I purchased stopped showing numbers for some reason months after I got it. Garmin offered to replace it since it was under warranty. Now the replacement I am currently using has problems with the pixels fading. It doesn't clearly display any number. It is past warranty now and I have given up since it'll cost me to get another replacement. It's not worth it especially knowing what potential problems the 3rd one may have. I do not recommend this.
No longer working after battery change.
July 12, 2017
I am writing this review after I have had this item for 8 months. It gets on my nerves that people write a review on items they just received and haven't even used.So I've had this Garmin fitness band for approximately 8 months (bought December of 2016. I had the Charge 2 fit bit prior (I only had the Charge 2 for 6 months, it broke after I tapped it on the sink faucet- it chipped -water got in and the rest is history.)The Garmin has worked very well for me until I had to change the battery (last month):It does do the following well1. It counts my steps accurately2. It is waterproof - so I can shower with it, wash my hands, wash dishes, & get in the pool with it.3. It is easy to sync, just open the app and push the sync button, there are challenges you can sign up for, it gives you badges when you complete challenge.4. Accurate time.5. Gives me calories burned- this is an estimate as it does not have a heart rate monitor.6. Sleep cycle monitoring- I don't use that- I know I don't get enough sleep- I have children...8. The band does not fall off - once on it is there to stay- sometimes my old fitbit would get hung up on something after a slight, the band would fall off. I was always worried I would lose it. Not the case with the Garmin- I have gotten it stuck on chairs, tables, nails, water hoses, cloths, children, our pets collars, etc, it does not fall off unless you deliberately push of the band ring and then separate it where the two slots are pushed in.***** I have recently replaced the battery - battery life was approx. 7 months. The display just got dimmer and dimmer, till it was gone. Replaced the battery and I thought it was broken because it did not light up immediately turns out the next morning it was back to normal- full display and properly working. However, I got in the shower with it and now it's not working. So after the battery change, the seal is not a strong and water has gotten in. its been about 2 weeks now and it is still NOT working.Over all I love this band, I got it for the waterproof reason, but it does eventually fail.
I wanted to check my Calorie Burnt.. but ...
May 11, 2017
I wanted to check my Calorie Burnt.. but it didn't work as expected. It counts the steps very well though. I had to return the product because it got a white spot within a week of using it. And soon it became large.. I was afraid it may cover the digits as it was coming closer to them. So I returned the product.
I didn't like this product
July 1, 2016
I didn't like this product. I found it uncomfortable to wear because of the plastic strap. On a hot day my wrist stayed wet. I am not sure that it is all that accurate, either. I normally walk the same trail and know how long it is. I got inconsistent readings from this unit. I gave it to my wife to try and she didn't like it either. I don't recommend this.
Their app is lousy
December 10, 2015
I had a fitbit but after talking to a pulmonary therapist decided to try this one. I like it better than the fitbit as it seems to be more accurate in recording my steps and sleep. I also like that you don't have to charge the battery evey couple days. However, the app sucks. The app they had when I first purchased it worked really great. Then they redesigned it and I have had nothing but trouble. For a while it wouldn't sync even though it said it was. I contacted customer service and they finally responded wanting to know what ios I wad running, what version of Garmin Connect I was running and what devices I was using it on. I had already told them I was using Apple products and had the latest versions of software. So I ended up removing the app and then downloading again and it started working again. Now it has stopped working again. It doesn't even show the blue bar at bottom of app that I an trying to sync. So I have gone without any information for the past 3 days. I have tried turning off my phone and deleting the app and redownloading it to no avail. An update wad available this morning so I updated before syncing and still no results. I am very disatified with this device and mistly with the app that they have for it. Get with it Garmin and make an easy to use app that won't stop working. The app that was available when I purchased my Vivo this summer worked great why you changed it is beyond me.
It's gonna be great...one day...maybe
April 18, 2014
I've had the vivofit for about a month and I generally like it. I do miss a backlight, but otherwise I love the display and I really like not having to take it off for anything--not to sleep, shower, swim, or whatever. I also really like the ability to connect up to a HRM to get accurate stats on a workout. I also tried the Basis band and it totally failed in that category. The vivofit definitely beats the Basis.My biggest concern is that it seems to be over-counting my steps, which means it's over counting everything related to steps, like calories. It's about 30-50% higher than my Nike Fit band (I've been wearing them together to give them the same 'experience' to work with, and I believe my Nike is more likely to be right. I just don't see how I could be walking all those miles without knowing it! Also, the web site is pretty minimal. Especially the "sleep" area, which just about says: you slept, you moved a little.My hope is that the step count and the web site can be fixed. Vivofit has a lot going for it, but I suspect they have some work to do on the step algorithm and they have to develop one for sleep. Both are software, so they will hopefully be available with an upgrade. If you're not champing at the bit, I'd hold off and see if they come up with something to fix both. Or wait for the Apple watch later this year.One more thing--the dashboard at Garmin Connect, which is one of the really nice things about the garmin system, only works with chrome if you have a mac. If you're using safari or firefox as a default browser, you have to fire up chrome just to see it. I understand that's another thing they're working on.Come to think of it, probably better to just wait and see what Apple comes up with. Vivofit seems a bit rushed to market.Update: The vivofit has one of those rubber bands with little pressure clips. It popped off my wrist at some point and I've lost it. Amex gave me a refund but I'm not going to replace it. The easy-pop wrist band is yet another problem with this design.
13%

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One Star Reviews:

14%
Didnt work for me sent it back
May 10, 2017
The item could not be sync'd to the internet with the dongle, though after going through the set up it stated it recognized my PC. I had the failure with my smartphone as well...it couldn't even find the band at all after downloading the app. I could and did set up the vivofit initially as per the instructions, soon after the button on the band stopped responding. It also was erratic about recording my steps. The function would stop midway on a walk or I would realize that my steps were not being recorded at all. I also think the wrist band is poorly designed. I don't think I could describe accurately how impossible it is to get this band on your wrist with sufficient tension without the help of another person.Its a shame this was a failure. I wanted a wrist type step counter that could easily be read in full sun that would measure my steps as well as distance traveled. This had potential sadly this needs more work.
Hate it!
September 10, 2016
Absolutely hate this and will go back to using my old pedometer that I can put in my pocket or clip to my waistband. I wish I would checked more reviews before purchasing. My biggest complaint - no stinking instructions!! So I go to the website - minimal instructions at best. It does not explain how to see your progress or daily activities except to go to garmin express - which comes up but shows nothing even after I have supposedly downloaded the information by "sync". So I tried contacting garmin help online - forget it, they never responded, some help. DO NOT PURCHASE!! My simple pedometer is so much more informative - it shows all I need - like aerobic steps, total steps, and steps for 5 days previous along with calories burned. One the vivofit you cannot check days before once it turns to midnight, you cannot check aerobic, you cannot see activities online either, garbage, absolute waste of money, nothing more than an ugly watch that shows some steps. Maybe I would like it more if I could actually get some tech support - but that didn't happen. So sorry I wasted my money.
Dosent sync more than once with my S7
July 13, 2016
So i got my Viviofit yesterday. Synced and started properly and did its job of counting steps accurately.However, I could not sync it ever again. Everytime it says failed. I tried more than 15 times. Restarted my phone, and waited to see if any software update was recommended. I am highly dissapointed as I think I might have got a faulty product on the AMAZON's Prime Day.Update: I even tried repairing it after reading FAQs. As seen in screenshot at different times, the pairing got stuck at 50% and never ended. I had to close the app, however the device reappeared as paired device when i reopened the app. However it again failed to sync. Its worth spending a bit more than falling in this sale trap.Hugely dissapointed.
Disappointing quality
June 20, 2016
It's a great product. I love the look of it and the functions it has to offer. I can only give it a 1 star though because after 1 week of using it a huge dot appeared on the screen below the minutes. Very disappointed.
Very disappointed
March 30, 2015
I am very disappointed in this product as i dont remeber anywhere in the purchase did it say i had to have at minimum an ipad 3 or anything else about compatibility......then the details online said a device with iOS 7 or above...i have an ipad2 with iOS 8.2 and it still wont connect...then after talking with your help desk, they say to download on a PC....welll that still isnt working....and i bought 2 of the vivofits...sooooo now i, doubly disapponted!!!!oh and the Kensignton key pad is worthless!!!!
Absolute waste of money
February 8, 2015
Let me start by saying, I expect some inaccuracy in a tracker that is designed for wrist wear. Now, with that said.... This is an absolute and complete waste of money UNLESS you are wearing it solely on days you are walking, running, hiking, etc. Everyday wear is a pointless attempt at tracking. I have had this tracker a few weeks now and have woken up, taken it out of sleep mode (before ever leaving the bed) and already tracked more than 80 steps on multiple occasions. Really? Driving my car has supplied me with 20+ steps on multiple occasions. I have counted my steps through my house, and as an example I counted 60 steps, and the Garmin logged over 100. I work in the medical field, so I don't even attempt to wear this on my wrist for tracking my movement through work because I'm constantly moving patients, which will cause it to track wrist movement even when I'm not walking. If you're a highly active individual who is looking for wrist wear to track steps and mileage for activities related to my above mentioned list, then I would certainly purchase this. If you're looking for everyday wear, I would look for a pedometer that can be easily clipped to a waistband or something similar.
31%

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Vote for Me
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Pricing info
Old Price
Old Price
$49.50
Price
Price
$139.99updated: Mar 9, 2020
from 8 sellers
$45.50updated: Mar 23, 2016
from 2 sellers
Features
Answered Questions
Answered Questions
Article Number
Article Number
0682055269535
0859861005026
Binding
Binding
Electronics
Electronics
Brand
Brand
Garmin
Pivotal Living
Color
Color
Black
Black
Currency
Currency
USD
USD
Department
Department
unisex-adult
womens, mens, unisex-adults, girls, boys
Formatted Price
Formatted Price
$129.99
$15.00
Height
Height
16.5 in
15.7 in
Length
Length
16.5 in
275.6 in
Manufacturer
Manufacturer
Garmin
Pivotal Living
Model
Model
010-01225-00
Activity + Sleep Band
MPN
MPN
010-01225-00
Activity + Sleep Band
Number of Parts
Number of Parts
010-01225-00
Activity + Sleep Band
Product Group
Product Group
GPS or Navigation System
Boost
Product Type
Product Type
GPS_OR_NAVIGATION_SYSTEM
CONSUMER_ELECTRONICS
Publisher
Publisher
Garmin
Pivotal Living
Quantity
Quantity
1
1
Reviews
Reviews
Score
Score
7.8
6.2
Studio
Studio
Garmin
Pivotal Living
Warranty
Warranty
1 year limited
Product warranty: for warranty information about this product, please click here [pdf]
Weight
Weight
0.2 oz
0.2 oz
Width
Width
32.7 in
19.7 in
Feature
Feature

Move Bar - Motivates you to be active throughout the day by displaying a red move bar after one hour of inactivity. Additional segments light up for every 15 minutes of inactivity. Just walk for a couple of minutes to reset.

24/7 Wearable - Stylish, comfortable and water resistant2 wristband that is always on and ready to go.

Long battery life - Stays on for more than a year without having to change the battery. Easy-to-read display - View the time of day and your stats right on your wrist.

Achieve your goals - Vivofit learns your activity level and assigns a personalized goal each morning. Count calories - Records calories burned throughout the day including base metabolic rate.

Monitor your sleep - Set the sleep mode when you go to bed to track the quality of your rest.

Activity Monitoring Pivotal Tracker

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