Since I've started running, I've been using cheap, simple devices with stopwatch function, costing up to 10 €. It was enough to keep track of my performances, but I always felt the need of something advanced, capable to provide extra details, such us calories burned during the run, GPS, altitude, heart beat and so on. Yes, out there there were many fitness trackers that would have met my needs, but I wanted a full-optional device. And finally I found it: the Garmin Vivoactive 4s, bought online at a cost of 179 € (actually I had a 100 € Decathlon voucher, but the French retailer sold it at 335 €!).
Here is a list of the good and not-that-good sides of my choice.
VERY GOOD
The Vivoactive 4s is also a MP3 player! I love running free, without carrying devices in my pockets and without feeling the uncomfortable wires of the earbuds around my arms. It's true, the setting of the wireless earphones gave me a hard time (I learned that I must disconnect the watch when I want to pair it with my earphones), but the game is worth the candle.
Another useful feature is the possibility to pay using the watch through Garmin Pay, without carrying the smartphone. I've never used it so far, but it is a great option in case of need or emergency (paying a taxi when injured, for example).
GOOD
Very comfortable. After one week of "adaptation", now I wear it during the night and I feel as I have nothing on my wrist. It's indeed very light and the armband is soft. I am particularly happy of having chosen the small version, as it perfectly fits my wrist and the larger one would have looked "out of size" for sure.
One of the features I like most is the possibility to watch videos with the training (including fitnees and yoga sessions). This allows me to practice exercises without using a tutorial on a laptop, smartphone or tablet screen. The videos are clear, their definition is good and a gentle vibration informs you about the beginning and the end of a session. In addition to that, it is possible to customise your training sessions, including the running ones. I set a couple of training sessions which I am using constantly and I have to say that I am very satisfied.
It is possible to upload several additional widgets, watchfaces and apps. Some of them are for free and can be first downloaded on the laptop or smartphone, and then redirected to the smartwatch. So far, I've downloaded a couple of watchfaces (but I still prefer the standard one), a calculator and a very useful "emergency info" app, where I registered my name, phone number, emergency number and blood type.
The smartwatch can be paired with a smartphone, so I can receive notifications directly on the screen on my watch.
NOT SO GOOD
Honestly, I am a bit disappointed about the GPS, but this probably depends on the fact that my expectations were too high. I use to run around a ring near where I live, which is exactly 500 meters long (at least, this is what internet distance calculators say). Now, when I run slowly, the GPS (no matter which combination: Glonass or Galileo) confirms that distance, but when I run faster, it measures 20 or 30 meters more for each lap. If I run 5K, this means a 300-meter difference which messes up my potential records. I tried to install an application which counts each lap, detecting the exact starting spot, but 2 big drawbacks make it useless: the data of each lap (speed, time) are not displayed and stored; and often the lap is not counted! I will try different combinations and strategies, but at the end of the day I think I will resort to use the "lap button" manually.
All in all, the GPS is not that useful and reliable in a ring, but it can be handy if used for the "Sunday long run", especially in unexplored territories: at the end of the run, the smartwatch will display the total distance (although not completely reliable, I guess) and many useful details, plus a very simple map of the path. By pairing the watch to a smartphone, the Garmin Connect app will show extra infos.
I had hoped that with this watch it would be possible to contact an emergency number without having the smartphone in your proximity, but this option is not available with this watch (and with any Garmin, I think).
