Current VivoActive 3 Owner

[Airborne22]

Hey all...I just purchased a Garmin VivoActive 3 after having a FitBit Surge for 2 years.  Some of the issues I am having with it are:

Battery Life-I have to charge it every 3 days (no GPS usage)

Button placement- When doing excercises that require my wrist be bent, ie: pushups, the button activates and disrupts the current activity/rep ect...

I am considering switching to the Ionic but I have read some terrible reviews and forum articles.  Has anyone had both devices?  Help me figure this out...

[JoeTH]

I do not have an Ionic. I chose the Vivoactive 3 instead. I do not have an issue with the button (battery life yes).

On Garmin's mobile app or website, you can choose which side the button is on, so you can turn the watch around.

On the Garmin app, choose More (at the bottom right), Garmin Devices, vivoactive 3, Device Settings and Orientation. Then, choose the side the button is on.

[iMacMart]

I looked at the VA3 but ended up going with the FB Ionic

I tested a Samsung Gear S3 but the fitness side was poor, Samsung fitness app crashed half way round my run and the pace per mile was way off, heart rate monitor was hit and miss

I really like the FB Ionic, battery life last about 4 days and that with 3 lots of runs in the week around 45mins each

I can't comment on push ups but as long as its slightly away from the wrist the only button would be the "Back" button which I wouldn't see as an issue

Martin

[Airborne22]

Yeah, I did this and then the slide pad did the same thing.

[WavyDavey]

If you search Amazon for ionic tpu case, get one of those. It protects the Ionic, but also eliminates accidental button pressing.

[Airborne22]

I tried that, but then the slide pad was an issue.  I have large forearms and the watch can be a bit uncomfortable if I move it further up my wrist.

[WavyDavey]

I understand. My forearms taper quite a bit and it took a while to find a band that was flexible and tight enough.

Here's a thread that discusses the two trackers:

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Ionic/Fit-Bit-ionic-or-Garmin-Vivoactive-3/m-p/2296902/