I though I might be writing my Garmin 225 review this week, but apparently it couldn’t handle all the workouts I did at Fitbloggin’. As we headed out for the 5K fun run, the GPS worked fine, but it wouldn’t read my heart rate.
Hello calorie burn after my sweaty Fitbloggin’ workouts!
I spent an hour trying to update the software, but to no avail. On Monday, I spent an hour on the phone with customer support, checking the software, doing hard and soft resets, restoring factory settings, again to no avail. After an hour–and after we realized that the green lights of the heart rate sensor weren’t coming on–we gave up. (While I’m disappointed that customer support was not able to help me, I appreciate their patience and efforts to try whatever they could think of to get it working.) Since the Garmin 225 is so new, even Garmin doesn’t have any in stock right now, so I decided to return it and wait and see if anyone else has the same problem with the heart rate monitor, or if I just was unlucky.
Ah, the good old days–10,000 steps before 8:00 am after a run.
As if that weren’t tragic enough, I lost my Garmin Vivosmart on Friday. (See why I love this fitness tracker in my review post here.) I had been doing housework getting ready for our July 4th guests when I realized that it wasn’t on my wrist. It has never fallen off so I was surprised. And then when I couldn’t find it I was frustrated. And sad. I know it was on my wrist when I was making banana bread because it told me I had reached my steps ***Goal!*** for the day with my vigorous stirring (on the other hand, it told me I needed to Move! as I finished my 40 mile bike ride ….) but after searching high and low and going through the nasty kitchen trash twice, I wasn’t able to find it. 🙁
At least I still have my Garmin 405 for cycling and heart rate monitoring (with the chest strap) and my Forerunner 10 for running–when I’m able to do that again.
Garmin Forerunner 10 vs. Garmin 405
Speaking of which, it probably comes as no surprise that my foot was bothering me after Fitbloggin’. I called the orthopedist, but they took one look at my chart and told me that it’s way to soon to worry–I need to suck it up and be patient. (My words, not theirs!)
I decided to start wearing an ankle brace to help stabilize it, and it seems to be helping. Now I think I should have been wearing one all along, but the doctor never suggested it since I have been able to walk without pain or limping.
[Tweet “A week of Garmin Fails #fitness #fittech “]
Do you have a Garmin 225?
Are you as addicted to wearable technology as I am?
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OH YOU KNOW I AM
and I have the vicarious sads you lost your vivo I coveted.
no
to be clear
I did not steal it 🙂
I wish you had – then I could come get it!
My, you do have a lot of Garmins! I just have the 110, but have been considering the 225. Trying to decide between that & the vivoactive. Or maybe a tomtom . . . I do want to swim with whatever . . .
They each serve their own purpose! I think the 910 (?) is good for swimming.
OH no!! I didn’t realize you had to return it, I thought you said that the HRM just wasn’t turned on! I haven’t had any problems with mine at all! Bummer!
It wouldn’t turn on! I’m glad yours is working because I really want this to be a good product!
I had to call customer service for something recently and the guy could not figure out my issue. Meanwhile, I worked it out myself. Boo to not helpful customer service folks. Altho he was really nice…
I have a Garmin 405CX and a 210 (because my 405 died but then came back to life after I got a new watch!). I also wear a FitBit. I would love to get the Vivosmart but I like that I can clip the FitBit one on my bra. I like to wear fancy watches and I don’t think a big black band would go well. Maybe one day they will come out with a clip version for me!
I got used to wearing my Vivosmart with several other bracelets. It is thinner than many other trackers.
Ugh, I have a Garmin 610 and I kind of hate it. I’ve had to replace it once after it completely died b/c I ran when it rained. Not so rain proof according to them. They have sent 2 different HR straps and 1 replacement charger. Just recently it crapped out again and they wanted to replace AGAIN and it’d only been a year. Randomly it finally started working after 24 hours. Seriously, gray screen, then out of the blue it came on. The other day I was running and it beeped that I’d hit another mile when I knew that wasn’t remotely possible. Then it actually started going backwards in miles before going forward again. Apparently I was running a 6:10 pace. Um, not hardly! Technology …. humph.
Oh, wow, that sounds like a disaster!
oh man that sucks. I have a fitbit that has been really good to me for 3 years (the clip on variety) and I also have a garmin 220 that I don’t use a ton because half of my runs are done on a treadmill. I am VERY much addicted to wearble technology…I am now trying MiraFit and I absolutely love it!
I’ve heard good things about the Mira!
Oh man, sorry to hear about your watch! My Garmin just tanked a few weeks ago. It’s about 3 years old though, so nothing much I can do about it now. It just stopped holding a charge and so now it only works about 20 minutes before the battery dies again. I’m looking at new watch options now!
I would buy a 225 again if I could ….
My Garmin 910 won’t sync workouts to Garmin Connect. It’s a pricey piece of gear with all kinds of data to help me better understand what’s going on in my workouts, but I don’t get that data. Very frustrating!
I was a FitBit junkie, but same thing, I’m too rough on them! Oh well. Tehcnology.
Oh, that sucks. Have you tried creating a new Garmin Connect account? My 225 wouldn’t synch through my phone because I had the Vivosmart set up that way but it would synch through the computer.
Wow you are addicted to your technology!!
I have an old 110 that has been awesome. I vow to wear it until it dies. Then I’ll see what the latest greatest is. And, I wear a Fitbit Charge HR on the same arm. Love it too.
Funny, my question today was does anyone have a 225? I am sad it malfunctioned on you 🙁 That is terribly irritating when you get done a work out and realize something didn’t work. I love my 110, I wear for every activity with the strap. I just recently switched and got a Mio Link and I love it! It has worked perfectly so far.
I am surprised the Doc didn’t suggest anything like a brace. That’s great it feels a better with it on.
yes I am a bit addicted to technology, I love all those numbers and I feel like I just need to know them 🙂 sorry about your luck, sounds very frustrating and then to loose one, UGG 🙁
I’m sorry you lost your vivo – such a bummer! I have to go back and read your review cause I’ve been eyeing the FitBit ChargeHR.
Yikes, that is a lot of Garmins and a lot of Garmin drama.
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