Fitbit Alta HR Versus Garmin Vivosmart HR+

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With its Alta HR, Fitbit has incorporated a continuous heart rate sensor into a compact, slim, stylish fitness tracker. The design looks less like a computer and more like a fashion accessory. The touchscreen turns on and off based on wrist movements, so you’ll need to learn not to accidentally activate your screen. The slightly curved screen sits comfortably on the wrist, and the automated activation means you aren’t constantly hitting buttons.

You can see your activity stats and the time on the screen, and personalize other information displays using portrait or landscape clock face options. It is missing some of the features of other fitness trackers, but if you can get through the day without them, the Fitbit Alta HR is a good choice.

How Does Fitbit Alta HR Work?

The Fitbit Alta HR uses SmartTrack™ technology to log your activities automatically. The heart rate sensor tracks your heart rate in peak, cardio and “fat burn” zones. The device allows you to see this information in real time on the display.

If you prefer, you can go about your life during the day, then sync the band with your phone to look at your Fitbit dashboard. The Fitbit app will chart your activities so you can see how you’re doing.

What Makes Fitbit Alta HR Stand Out?

While it may not appeal to everyone, the sleep monitoring feature of the Fitbit Alta HR could be a boon for an insomniac. It uses the Alta’s continuous monitoring of the heart rate to track sleep cycles. It’s like Santa Claus – it sees you when you’re sleeping and knows when you’re awake. It can even determine what stage of sleep you’re in, based on your heart rate.

When you sync the data, the Fitbit app will graph your sleep stages on your dashboard. It will display diagrams with percentages for each type of sleep you experienced. The app will also provide you information on what these percentages mean. It will tell you how your daily activities impact your sleep patterns.

Common Reviews of Fitbit Alta HR

The availability of various swappable bands is a popular feature with the Fitbit Alta HR. There are even stylish leather and metal options available. The Alta HR allows you to create fitness goals, such as boosting your daily step count or drinking more water. However, some users found it was less than reliable when it came to delivering the reminders to push them toward these goals.

The lack of an altimeter to track the number of stairs you take is a disappointment. The Alta HR is not water-resistant, presenting a problem for swimmers and those who sweat heavily when working out. Because it doesn’t recognize the difference in workout type, you’ll have to manually enter whether you’re doing a biking class or Zumba.

Is Fitbit Alta HR for Me?

Unless you’ve just got your heart set on tracking the floors you’ve climbed and a GPS locator when you’re running, the Fitbit Alta HR is a solid piece of fitness tracker technology that should take care of any health tracking needs you have. It is a stylish design that works well for men and women alike.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.

The Garmin Vivosmart HR+ is clearly geared toward those who have active lifestyles and are meticulous about their health. It could be quite useful for anyone who wants to keep track of their health-related activities each day. The Vivosmart HR+ allows these people to go about their active lives without thinking about the smartphone tucked into their pocket or stuffed into their bag. They simply use the Vivosmart HR+ to monitor their incoming calls and texts.

How Does Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Work?

The Vivosmart HR+ hits all the right bases as a fitness tracker. It will measure daily activities for you, such as number of steps, floors climbed, etc. It monitors your heart rate throughout the day and will automatically track your sleep patterns.

You can find these features on other fitness trackers. Others will do it at a lower price, too. It will also display iPhone or Android phone notifications, and you don’t have to panic if you jump in the pool with it on.

What Makes the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ Stand Out?

The obvious icing on the cake is the GPS built into this wearable device. But it also has subtle perks that garner it the “monster” moniker in fitness tracking circles. It has a dedicated training mode especially geared for running. This includes a run/walk mode and a virtual pacer mode.

You can get a 4-hour history of your activity in the form of a graph, including your heart rate. It is a smart looking device, but it could be a bit on the big size for anyone with a small wrist. The touch screen is large enough to allow you to access your stats and smartphone functions, including music controls, with ease.

Common Reviews of Garmin Vivosmart HR+

A review of reviews for the Vivosmart HR+ finds many users comparing the size of the device to comparable products. The HR+ is bigger and thicker than its competition, it seems. While the screen is low resolution, it is still highly responsive when swiped or touched. The anti-glare feature of the screen makes it easy to read under direct sunlight.

The water-resistance is a popular feature with the physically active crowd. The accuracy of the unit in measuring steps, floors climbed, heart rate and sleep is almost universally praised. Most report that they do like the inactivity alert and the Move bar feature.

Is the Garmin Vivosmart HR+ for Me?

You’ll find the Vivosmart HR+ on the wrists of people who are always on the go and active. This “monster” of the fitness trackers is for those who love intense activities – mountain climbing, swimming, running, etc. It lets them keep in touch with the normal world through calls and text while their phones are in their backpacks.

About the Author

Jeff Hindenach

Jeff Hindenach is the co-founder of Versus Reviews. He graduated from Bowling Green State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism. He has a long history of journalism, with a background writing for newspapers such as the San Jose Mercury News and San Francisco Examiner, as well as writing for The Huffington Post, New York Times, Business Insider, CNBC, Newsday and The Street. He believes in giving readers the tools they need to get out of debt.