Heads up – Massive Black Friday Deals List is Live!!! The Garmin Fenix 8 is $250 off (even the Fenix 8 Pro is $100 off!), the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is on sale, the Garmin inReach Mini 2 is $249, the GoPro Hero 13 Black, DJI NEO, and a ton of other brands/deals, including Wahoo, Oura, Whoop, Polar, Samsung, Google, and more than 100 sports tech deals here!
Every once in a while the sports tech sales world syncs up. Kinda like one of those crazy synchronized spin bike performances (yes, you need to check that out if you haven’t). For whatever reason, today kicked off a wide swath of sales from numerous folks: Garmin, GoPro, Fitbit, TomTom, and Scosche.
So why the sales? Well, I think we’re seeing some of those companies adopt slightly different sales strategies for 2017 – aiming for less ‘big bang’ type sales, and more frequent smaller sales. If you look, for example, at these deals, they virtually identically match what was offered over the Black Friday-Christmas sales just two months two. Like Groundhog Day. And then there’s TomTom, which is basically perpetually putting products on sale. They’ve conditioned all of us to never buy their stuff unless it’s on sale (to be clear though, the Spark 3 watch series is a great lineup).
None of these products are considered old, and nobody would expect any replacements of these specific products anytime soon. This is purely drawing in interest in the traditionally quiet February time period.
In any case, here’s the listing of active sales over the next few weeks – all of which started earlier today. Note that different companies have different end dates, with the Scosche sale ending soonest, on Wednesday.
Product
Sale Price
Amazon
Other site
Sale Notes
Adobe Creative Cloud Pro (12 Months) - $389 off (50% off!)
As a side note, you can cancel and take advantage of this. Which, is precisely what I did when I realized my existing plan was gonna be stupid expensive. In any case, I use the Adobe Creative Cloud Pro suite for a lot of what I do.
We did see lower just back in July, at $199. So I'd probably hold out a bit more here. Assuming that happens, you can't beat this watch at this price point (heck,not even at $226 either).
Perhaps this deal will get better, but right now at $20 off...nah. Given the price of the Garmin Epix Pro has flirted into the $429 range a bit over the past few days (and is a vastly better watch), this needs to drop down closer to $299 to be worth picking up during Black Friday pricing.
⚡ This is an awesome deal. I use my iPad primarily for TrainerRoad as well as Zwift when not with a larger display. I also occasionally use it for other apps, namely Indievelo, Kinomap, Rouvy, and Peloton. But I pretty much test every smart trainer app on it. For all these cycling apps, the graphics capabilities is really pretty irrelevant, so having the absolute top-end/latest model won't make any difference. I prefer the budget options.
These are the just-released AirPod Pro 3, with optical heart rate sensors in them. These are my daily-driver headphones these days, and even more notably, the heart rate accuracy is incredibly good in these.
This is the first major sale for the Apple Watch SE 3, which came out just 2 months ago. It's essentially Apple's 'budget' offering, yet it still has all the same software features as a higher-end Apple Watch Series 11, as long as the hardware permits.
This is the first time we've seen the Apple Watch Ultra 3 on sale, and given it's $100 off, that tends to be the typical sale price for the holidays/Black Friday for the current/just-released version.
This is the singular piece of apparel that's lasted the longest in my collection - some 15-16 years of buying the same socks. Heck, some of them are probably half that old. EIther way, this be the ones I use. Love them (well, except for hiking and trail running, then I use other stuff that goes higher). I'm wearring them as I wrote this post too.
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
This is a great price for this watch. Note though that technically speaking, this is a price reduction (took effect Nov 14th following the launch of the Pace 4). Most companies would first call it a sale, then make that sale price the new price as a price reduction. But COROS often beats to a different drum. Kudos on being upfront about the reduction though!
This is last year's model. And sure, the Action 6 came out 48 hours ago, but honestly, the initial rection hasn't been kind there. I just started testing it, so more to come very shortly.
Look, don't buy this drone. This is the drone that never should have left the napkin at the lunch table at DJI's HQ. The unit breaks easily (as I, and many others found out), and doesn't really do anything super well. Literally, buy any other DJI drone except htis one...you're welcome.
⚡ This is a great little drone as your first drone, especially for sports usage, where it'll do an astonishing job following you (running, cycling, etc...). And, you can crash it a gazillion times without any problem.
NOTE: This is not sold by DJI directly via Amazon. DJI itself is NOT selling the OSMO 360 in the US, and WILL NOT support/repair it in the US. That said, it's a solid deal if you're ok with those risks.
This is Elite's previous-gen trainer, but it's still a reliable workhorse. This bundle is paired with the Zwift Cog/Click, though, you can also buy it without a cassette for the same price.
These is the new model just released this past summer with stronger anti-scratch resistance (I even dragged it down a textured concrete pool desk, lens-down, to show this).
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro MX dual-sided power meter pedals deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing constantly along with the PRO RS pedals. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
⚡The Favero Assioma Pro RS dual-sided power meter pedals having their first sale yet. This deal is a no brainer. I use them in my testing, and will likely pick up another set in this sale. Note for US folks: Favero does include all taxes and tarrifs in the price.
FeedBack Sports Pro Mechanic Bike Repair Stand - $50 Off
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price we've seen on this watch to date. This is their first full smartwatch focused on kids activity tracking and gamification.
⚡ This is the go-to sale price for the Fitbit Charge 6. It happens often, but it still doesn't take away from the fast that it's argueably the best bang for your buck fitness tracker out there.
If you're looking for a simple and inexpensive activity tracker, you won't go wrong with a Fitbit (or this Inspire 3). It's got literally all the same software features in the Fitbit app as a higher-end Google Pixel Watch or other Fitbit device, except...just tiny.
⚡ This is Garmin's newest kids-focused and LTE connected smart watch. Our three daughters have been using it for about two months now, after using the original Bounce 1 for years. This is a *massive* upgrade over the Bounce 1, both in features/hardware, but frankly also battery life. My review should be up next week, but if you've got any questions drop them in the comments below.
This is the activity tracker that both of our oldest daughters have used for years (age 8 & 9), as well as most of their friends now. They/we all like it. Check out my full in-depth review for all my thoughts. That said, the new Bounce 2 came out two months ago, and while my review isn't out yet, it's a far better product. But, quite a bit more too. The TLDR on that review will be that it's the best kids smartwatch/tracker to date (for both parents and kids), but obviously will cost you $100 more.
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market.
Garmin Descent MK3i (Dive watch with air integration) - $250 off!
This is Garmin's premier line of diving watches, which is based on the Fenix 7 seies, rather than the Fenix 8 series. Still, it's by far one of the most capable dive+everything else watches on the market. The 'i' version (MK3i) means that you can connect it to an air tank monitor transmitter pod.
⚡This is a very solid deal, and is still one of the best bike computers Garmin has ever made, especially when you look at the battery side of things (it lasts far longer than the Edge 1050).
⚡At $249, it's pretty much impossible to beat this deal in terms of bike computers. There's no competitive option that beats it on features/battery/etc at this price, or frankly anywhere near it. Sure, it doesn't have a touchscreen, but it's not as bad as it used to be (I did a stint on it this winter for a week or so, and was fine).
⚡⚡This is the lowest price we've seen on the Garmin Edge 540 Solar to date, which has gained virtually all of the new Garmin Edge 1050 features as well. And notably, lower than the Edge 540 without solar (which is kinda silly, but hey, win for us!).
This is the lowest price we've seen on this to date. The Enduro 3 is simply the Fenix 8 with a MIP/Solar display (but without the scuba or voice calling features). It gets all the Fenix 8 features and updates otherwise.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support.
⚡⚡⚡ This is a fantastic deal. By far the lowest price we've seen this! The Epix Pro has a flashlight which the regular Epix lacks, plus the newer Garmin Elevate Gen5 optical HR sensor with ECG support. Note: Availability on this deal fluctuates, just keep checking back, I'm sure it'll pop back again (it always does).
⚡⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡ If you wanted the battery life of a Fenix MIP series without the cost of a Fenix 8, this is basically your best deal. Plus, unlike the base Fenix 7 series, the Pro series includes the flashlight and Gen5 HR sensor with ECG.
⚡⚡ This is very unexpected, and is an Amazon-specific deal, not a Garmin-supported one. Thus, I expect it won't last more than minutes/hours. Grab it while you can! [Update: This keeps fluttering back and forth, just keep checking!]
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
⚡ The Fenix 8 keeps getting all the new software features of the Fenix 8 Pro that was launched two months ago. Setting aside that Fenix 8 Pro which gained LTE & Satellite Messaging, this is otherwise the most capable sports watch on the market.
As a general rule, the Fenix E is the watch that literally nobody is buying, and makes no sense at higher prices. The hardware is simply the Epix Gen 2 with Fenix stamped on it. That watch is going for $400, though I expect we'll see it down to $300 over Black Friday. However, one *KEY* difference with the Fenix E, is that it includes all of the software features of the newer Fenix 8, whereas the Epix Gen 2 doesn't get all the new software features. Otherwise, save your $200.
⚡ This is (by far) the lowest price on the Forerunner 265, which was recently replaced by the Forerunner 570 (but at nearly twice this price). What's fascinating about this sale price, is it's well beyond the usual sale prices for Garmin for this product. This pricing is 100% an Kansas-themed 'Hello!' to COROS and their just released COROS Pace 4 at $249.
The Foreurnner 55 is a great option if you simply don't want to spend a ton, but still want a super-capable runners watch (and general activity/sleep tracking watch). I've heard a lot of you get it for teenagers that run, as a great/inexpensive way to track their runs, and still be a good everyday watch.
⚡ This is the lowest price to date on the Forerunner 965, which is logical given the Forerunner 970 came out this past spring (which essentialy adds a flashlight and some other running metrics/features).
⚡ This is a very unexpected sale, just launched, on this very new watch, which is Garmin's top of the line Forerunner watch with virtually all the same software features as the Fenix 8 (but in a plastic case and without the diving features).
The Garmin Inded BPM is Garmin's medically certified blood pressure monitor. It integrates directly into your Garmin Connect account. I use it on occasion as a comparison for wearables, and it works just fine (obviously it's already medically certified by the FDA, so I say 'works' here in the sense of usability/functionality/etc...).
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, with both an AMOLED and Solar variants. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
The Instinct 3 series came out earlier this year, and the Solar edition in particular has 'unlimited' battery life in certain scenarios. The big upgrade over the previous editions is the inclusion of the flashlight in all sizes, and a massive ugprade of sports features.
This is Garmin's radar without the light, so it's a bit smaller as a result. Same radar tech though, and compatible with Garmin/COROS/Hammerhead/Wahoo bike computers.
This is Garmin's standalone radar+taillight option, and $149 is pretty much the standard sale-price. Even despite all the new radars out there, this remains the most accurate option on the market. Now, only if Garmin would just re-release it with USB-C. C'Mon Garmin...maybe next year?
This is the first time this product has been on sale, since launching last spring. I'd argue it could have used a $100 off sale...but hey...they don't consult me.
⚡ The Garmin Venu 4 just came out two months ago, and one of the big ticket features is the LED flashlight built-in. However, it's also got a ton of other new features, as Garmin merged the codebase with the Forerunner/Fenix series, resulting in a boatload of added things like Training Readiness, Acute Load, and more.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen on the newest product in the entire Garmin Holiday 2025 sale lineup. This is basically a blend of a Forerunner 970, Venu 4, and Fenix 8...but super thin. It's argueably one of the best deals here at $599, though, Garmin is still clearly trying to figure out the right pricing to drive purchases.
⚡ This is the first time we've seen the Vivoactive 6 on sale, which is essentially a Venu 4, but without the voice/calling/ECG features (and a few other tidbits). It's probably one of the best deals in Garmin's lineup (sale or otherwise).
⚡ This is the lowest price we've ever seen for this. This is my defacto satellite communicator when out of coverage area, and I've used it on a number of major treks over the past two years when well outside of cellular service, both in a 24x7 tracking mode for friends and family, but also there in case of emergency. Would strongly recommend for anyone doing anything in the wilderness.
This came out last fall, and is the second time this has been discounted, but now to the lowest price to date. The key difference with the new Plus model is that it adds the ability to send photos and voice messenges via satellite. I've used it a bit, and it's pretty cool because it makes it a lot faster to just say something rather than type it out, but the $499 price seemed excessive. $399 makes it slightly more palatable.
This is GoPro's budget option, which includes a full color touchscreen on the back as well. The main benefit is it's super small, but note it's not quite in the same quality ballpark as their higher-end cameras. If you want size and GoPro ecosystem on a budget, this is an option. But with the DJI Action 4 just $20 more than $199, that offers notably better quality.
We have more Nest cam's than I can count. No really, we have half a dozen at the DCR Cave alone, plus more at home. We love them. Nest Cam's really only go on sale about 1-2x per year.
The newer Pixel Watch 4 came out back in October. I see the Pixel Watch 4 as a pretty substantial hardware upgrade over the Pixel Watch 3, notably due to satellite SOS, as well as a user-replaceable battery.
This has become one of my favorite drones, given it's tiny size (fits in my running shorts pockets) and ease of use. Plus, you can crash the crap out of it (hundreds of times for me and my wife) without any issues. This combo includes an extra battery and fast charger.
⚡ This is a solid deal on a solid drone, and one of the two main ones I use when taking videos of myself hiking or running. This includes the two extra batteries as well as the fast charger (so 3 batteries total).
This is one of the other more popular display-laden rowing machines. I haven't tried this, but my sports-tech reviewing buddy DesFit has (linked at side) and liked it.
⚡ This just came out this past August, and is a great little unit. The pod isn't quite as tiny as the Go 3S, but the features and quality are a huge step up (especially the removable MicroSD card).
This is one of the best 360 action cams on the market, alongside the GoPro Max 2 (both have their pros and cons, check out my full comparison guide linked).
This is one of the most popular indoor trainer fan companies out there, which rivals the Wahoo Headwind fan but cost a fraction of the price. Of course, it lacks ANT+/Bluetooth integration, but realistically if you really want that you can add a smart outlet for $10 to toggle it on/off from your phone if need be. It's one of the ones in my rotation.
⚡ Let's be honest: This place runs on Nespresso (or, well, the knock-off pods we buy). But, the machine is Nespresso. Without it, reviews most definitely would not get done (and certainly not on time). This is a pretty sweet deal if you ask me!
Ooni Karu 12 Multi-Fuel Outdoor Pizza Oven - $120 off
I use the Fyra 12 (with wood pellets), and love it. The Karu 12 is essentialyl the newer version of that, and there's both a gas-only version, and a multi-fuel option (gas or wood). Love it!
⚡The Pixel Watch 4 LTE includes satellite SOS connectivity, even if you don't activate a cellular plan on it. I'd strongly recommend getting the LTE version for $50 more, to future-proof you a bit there (or, to save your bacon in the woods).
This is a great dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart (with two Bluetooth Smart connections) chest strap that you'll often find me using as a reference strap in heart rate sensor testing. We only tend to see deals on it around Black Friday, always topping out around 20%.
If you're looking for a good solid high-quality strap, that does both ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart, for a reasonable price...look no further than the Polar H9
⚡This is one of the two the high speed drives types I use to store the footage I'm actively video editing. I typically buy the 2TB and 4TB ones, and then eventually offload the footage onto a NAS array when I'm done.
Sony Alpha 7 IV Full-frame Mirrorless Camera w/ 28-70mm Zoom - $400 offThis is the main camera I use for still photography and video b-roll. I semi-recently wrote about all the photography gear I use, linked at side here.
Suunto Aqua Swimming Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones - 22% off!
This is a very solid deal. It's got virtually all the software features of Suunto's higher-end watches (minus the app store), and just came out this past May.
While the new Suunto Vertical 2 just came out a month ago, if you wanted to stock-up on MIP-based display watches before they disappear, here's your chance. This is also the lowest price we've ever seen on the Vertical 1, which is otherwise still a very soild watch.
I have bigger Synology NAS units at the DCR Studio/Office, but I also have a smaller unit (this one) that I use to keep various piles of data here too. I like the Synology stuff, as it's generally quite dependable.
This is the go-to sales price for the NEO 2T, though has become more frequent over the past year. It's still an incredible trainer, and is the top-end non-moving trainer from Garmin/Tacx.
⚡ This is the lowest price we've seen to date on the Tacx NEO 3M, and finally takes it down to a semi-logical price (compared to it's competitors). This is a good buy, and obviously, given it's only a year old, I definitely don't expectany sort of new version of this anytime soon (the last NEO series unit was about 5 years between versions).
This is another very popular fan that people use for indoor training/cycling, especially due to inclusion of the remote and remote holder to clasp on your handlebars.
This simulates the up and down motion on Wahoo KICKR trainers moving your bike up and down. Also, there's virtually no product except SNAP, that Wahoo likes to put on sale more. Wouldn't be a sale around here unless this thing was discounted.
⚡ This is a very solid deal for this bike, and the lowest price to date. I actually like the KICKR BIKE SHIFT more than the higher-end KICKR BIKE V2/Pro, mainly because it's both quiter, and seems to be more resillient to issues (less complex design).
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡ ⚡ This is a very very good deal, for the KICKR CORE 2 that just came out two months ago. My full review was just published last week after an absolute boatlod of riding, and even buying an extra unit to validate things. This model is the one with the Zwift Cog/Click, whereas the 11sp cassette model is also the same price.
⚡This is actually the lowest price we've ever seen on the KICKR V6. Wahoo says we won't see a new top-end KICKR this fall, with them instead focusing on the new KICKR Bike Pro, KICKR CORE 2, and all their new bike computers/radar/etc...
So basically – consider the above some Valentine’s Day sales or something. Just to provide some brief insights on a few of these products:
Garmin: This sale is somewhat modest, though does touch on more of the broader reaching products for them. The Vivofit 3 being the baseline Garmin activity tracker, whereas the Vivosmart HR+ is their GPS-enabled activity tracker band with full smartphone notifications, music control, etc…. The Vivofit Jr. is the kids variant, which is surprisingly cool (and the feedback I’ve been getting from parents with kids old enough is also surprisingly strong). Unfortunately, The Peanut is still a bit too young at 7 months to be using it. The best deal here, in my opinion, being the Vivosmart HR+.
TomTom: I wrapped up testing of the Spark 3 over the last few weeks, and just need to write up my thoughts and take some pretty pictures. But overall I’m pretty happy with the usage of it. The new 24×7 HR pieces added with a firmware update last year are much cleaner now with the updated app. The optical HR seemed OK at a glance, but I haven’t run the numbers through the analyzer yet to dig into any nuanced issues. More on that in my in-depth review. Still, the baseline watch especially is really the best deal out there in sports tech at $99.
GoPro: These deals are ‘credit’ deals, meaning you get back credit at a retailer. GoPro isn’t a fan of straight-up discounts on their products. Out of the three cams on offer, my favorite here being the Hero5 Black. It’s more or less my day to day action camera, except when I’m shooting something with data overlays (in which case I use the Garmin VIRB Ultra 30). The reason for siding with GoPro as my daily driver? Simple: Fully waterproofed without a case. I just don’t have to think about it. Though, from a sports-focused standpoint, the VIRB Ultra 30 pretty much slaughters it in functionality. In any case, you could pick up that Hero5 Black and then with the $60 credit you’d only be a couple of dollars short in picking up my favorite GoPro 3-way Pole, or three extra Hero5 batteries. Not too shabby.
Fitbit:The Blaze got some nice updates over the past little while, including legit smartphone notifications (finally!), as well as a pretty solid update on the mobile app side. Both of which are worth noting. Of course with the Blaze you’re really buying into the Fitbit social ecosystem more than anything else. Do keep in mind the Fitbit Blaze doesn’t have GPS built-in, but rather uses your phone’s GPS (which Fitbit cleverly calls ‘Connected GPS’). In either case, if you pick up a Fitbit unit, the winner deal here is that accessories are 50% off for both the Blaze and Alta.
Scosche: This is simple – it’s $20 off, and remains my ‘most favored nation’ status for an optical HR sensor. The fact that it’s dual ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart means it works with basically everything out there these days. And the accuracy is unbeatable from an optical HR standpoint (in part because it’s typically strapped on your upper arm).
So there ya go – just a quick bit of coverage on these sales, in case folks are looking to pick things up following the frenzy of the holidays. And for everyone else, I return you to your normally scheduled postings. Except, you know, minus any actual schedule. I mostly just float with the wind.
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I’m looking at the New Balance RUNIQ android watch . Looks interesting . I would be coming from the basic To Tom runner . I was going to grab the Garmin 235 as it would be a great upgrade for me for marathon training . The only reason I held off was because of this New Balance watch . Have you had a chance to see it in Las Vegas ? Any thoughts ? Are you considering reviewing it ? Thanks .
Ray: is it your feeling that the Vivofit and Vivosmart line is an “update every year” line or since we saw the HR+ and Vivofit 3 we won’t be seeing updates any soon… wondering if this is just clearing inventory for new models…
I don’t think we’ll see a new Vivofit variant soon. I could see something like end of year (September timeframe). And probably the same for Vivosmart HR+. Basically, at this point they’ve got a pretty competitive product, so waiting a bit makes sense.
Still rocking my Garmin 910xt (although the altimeter has gone out on it.) I do use it to race with an because of that I have the quick release kit. I know the 920xt has that same kit but the 735 doesn’t. My question is do you see a replacement coming out for the 920xt that I should wait for or do you think there will be a quick release coming for the 735? Don’t want to put money into something that is just going to be replaced in a couple months. But really like the quick release.
The quick release is the tricky part, since it took them forever to create one for the Fenix3, and there’s still no current plans for the Fenix5 (illogical to me, given tri is a big target market).
I think the bigger question is where/how a FR920XT would fit into the overall landscape.
Since Ray doesn’t like to talk about rumors, or he’s under an Non disclosure agreement, let me refer you to some early rumor talk about the 935 (replacing the 920) link to appelmoessite.wordpress.com Mind you, this isn’t official news but it’s likely that an announcement will be coming, seeing this ‘appelmoessite’ had the same early intel about the fenix 5.
PS. With your altimeter problem … try washing/soaking in warm water with soap, and a brush with a toothbrush, the two small holes for the altimeter on the back of the watch. Worked a treat for mine.
Thanks Craig I have tried just about everything including contacting garmin and they said I could send it in an have it fixed or received a refurb for $100. The watch still works just don’t get my elevation info and here in MN that isn’t a complete deal breaker…Thanks for the suggestion though.
Every time I come to your site, I learn a little something or other, but your link to the synchronised spin bike thingy…awesome, It made me laugh out loud and I thank you very much for this tidbit :)
minor rant on/ regional sales suck! / minor rant off
I haven’t seen anything there. I’d agree that a well-designed VIRB promo could go a long ways. I can’t think of the last time we’ve ever seen any VIRB promo. Maybe in that very first year there was one. In the second year, there were cases where once the products left MAP Policy (Minimum Advertised Price), we saw some crazy good deals. But that’s more on the retailer than Garmin at that point.
I’d think something like a $299 for 7 day sale would go bonkers. But…what do I know. ;)
Few hours ago our 11,5mo old baby girl Nina made first 10 steps alone.
As we are Garmin positive family, I think it should be cool to be able to track her progress …
Do you think buying Vivofit Jr is for birthday is a totally stranbe idea of fanatic Dad? :)
I had the Scosche in my cart… at Clever Training no less (Amazon doesn’t offer the $59 price anymore), and then I hit the shipping cost wall. It has happened more often, but after a while, I forget, and I try again, and I cancel again. A 50% shipping fee, which is what the flat rate amounts to this time, is just silly for such a light item. That is the one thing preventing me from ordering at Clever Training – wish they would do something about it. I don’t mind paying actual shipping costs, but this is nonsense.
Sounds like you’re trying to ship from US to Europe or similar. I do agree the shipping fee is a bit wonky for the size of this particular item. Most times the flat-rate works out, but in this case for such an inexpensive and small item…not so much. I’ll poke them about seeing what can be done longer term.
Note that you can also purchase from CT UK though, which may help a bit. Though no sale there unfortunately right now (but there is still the 10% deal).
I bought the Scosche but find it horribly unreliable. In the 6-7 months I’ve been using my Garmin HR chest strap I’ve only had one ride ruined (from a HR measurement standpoint anyway) by it. In a couple weeks on the Scosche, I’ve lost 3-4 times as many. I let my wife use it, but it literally only works half the time. Thinking of getting a Tickr in order to get ANT+/BLE. Here’s one of the rides my wife did with the Scosche on. It defaults to 72 when the connection drops.
Hi;
I am not what one would call a young runner and I like simple-to-use gadgets. I had a Garmin runners watch which I may have used 40 times and now the battery dies after 45 minutes and that is after a full charge. I would like to buy a very simple user friendly watch that has distance, time and pace per mile. Heart monitor would be a bonus but not necessary. Any suggestions. Thanks so much.
Nancy
I swim, bike and run. Then, I come here and write about my adventures. It’s as simple as that. Most of the time. If you’re new around these parts, here’s the long version of my story.
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Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. So here is the most up to date list of products I like and fit the bill for me and my training needs best! DC Rainmaker 2024 swim, bike, run, and general gear list. But wait, are you a female and feel like these things might not apply to you? If that’s the case (but certainly not saying my choices aren’t good for women), and you just want to see a different gear junkies “picks”, check out The Girl’s Gear Guide too.
I’m looking at the New Balance RUNIQ android watch . Looks interesting . I would be coming from the basic To Tom runner . I was going to grab the Garmin 235 as it would be a great upgrade for me for marathon training . The only reason I held off was because of this New Balance watch . Have you had a chance to see it in Las Vegas ? Any thoughts ? Are you considering reviewing it ? Thanks .
Yup, I played with it a bit at CES. And I’ve got a unit shipping out today from my US forwarding mailbox, that will arrive here Wednesday.
Ray: is it your feeling that the Vivofit and Vivosmart line is an “update every year” line or since we saw the HR+ and Vivofit 3 we won’t be seeing updates any soon… wondering if this is just clearing inventory for new models…
I don’t think we’ll see a new Vivofit variant soon. I could see something like end of year (September timeframe). And probably the same for Vivosmart HR+. Basically, at this point they’ve got a pretty competitive product, so waiting a bit makes sense.
Target.com is selling the Vivoactive HR+ for $149
link to target.com
This is a US-only sale?
Thanks!
Regrettably so. Though, some items can be shipped overseas for a flat-rate $29USD.
Still rocking my Garmin 910xt (although the altimeter has gone out on it.) I do use it to race with an because of that I have the quick release kit. I know the 920xt has that same kit but the 735 doesn’t. My question is do you see a replacement coming out for the 920xt that I should wait for or do you think there will be a quick release coming for the 735? Don’t want to put money into something that is just going to be replaced in a couple months. But really like the quick release.
The quick release is the tricky part, since it took them forever to create one for the Fenix3, and there’s still no current plans for the Fenix5 (illogical to me, given tri is a big target market).
I think the bigger question is where/how a FR920XT would fit into the overall landscape.
Since Ray doesn’t like to talk about rumors, or he’s under an Non disclosure agreement, let me refer you to some early rumor talk about the 935 (replacing the 920) link to appelmoessite.wordpress.com Mind you, this isn’t official news but it’s likely that an announcement will be coming, seeing this ‘appelmoessite’ had the same early intel about the fenix 5.
PS. With your altimeter problem … try washing/soaking in warm water with soap, and a brush with a toothbrush, the two small holes for the altimeter on the back of the watch. Worked a treat for mine.
yeah the quick release is a killer for me. I may have already been into the 735 otherwise…
Interesting Patrick…thanks
Thanks Craig I have tried just about everything including contacting garmin and they said I could send it in an have it fixed or received a refurb for $100. The watch still works just don’t get my elevation info and here in MN that isn’t a complete deal breaker…Thanks for the suggestion though.
Every time I come to your site, I learn a little something or other, but your link to the synchronised spin bike thingy…awesome, It made me laugh out loud and I thank you very much for this tidbit :)
minor rant on/ regional sales suck! / minor rant off
Does the Rythm+ work as a Bridge?
No, unfortunately not.
Any indication from Garmin they might match GoPro’s promotion with the Virb Ultra 30?
I haven’t seen anything there. I’d agree that a well-designed VIRB promo could go a long ways. I can’t think of the last time we’ve ever seen any VIRB promo. Maybe in that very first year there was one. In the second year, there were cases where once the products left MAP Policy (Minimum Advertised Price), we saw some crazy good deals. But that’s more on the retailer than Garmin at that point.
I’d think something like a $299 for 7 day sale would go bonkers. But…what do I know. ;)
Few hours ago our 11,5mo old baby girl Nina made first 10 steps alone.
As we are Garmin positive family, I think it should be cool to be able to track her progress …
Do you think buying Vivofit Jr is for birthday is a totally stranbe idea of fanatic Dad? :)
The Vivofit Jr is designed for kids aged 4-9 and the band is not adjustable. I would not recommend buying this for a 1 yr old.
I had the Scosche in my cart… at Clever Training no less (Amazon doesn’t offer the $59 price anymore), and then I hit the shipping cost wall. It has happened more often, but after a while, I forget, and I try again, and I cancel again. A 50% shipping fee, which is what the flat rate amounts to this time, is just silly for such a light item. That is the one thing preventing me from ordering at Clever Training – wish they would do something about it. I don’t mind paying actual shipping costs, but this is nonsense.
Hi Marcel-
Sounds like you’re trying to ship from US to Europe or similar. I do agree the shipping fee is a bit wonky for the size of this particular item. Most times the flat-rate works out, but in this case for such an inexpensive and small item…not so much. I’ll poke them about seeing what can be done longer term.
Note that you can also purchase from CT UK though, which may help a bit. Though no sale there unfortunately right now (but there is still the 10% deal).
Thanks!
I bought the Scosche but find it horribly unreliable. In the 6-7 months I’ve been using my Garmin HR chest strap I’ve only had one ride ruined (from a HR measurement standpoint anyway) by it. In a couple weeks on the Scosche, I’ve lost 3-4 times as many. I let my wife use it, but it literally only works half the time. Thinking of getting a Tickr in order to get ANT+/BLE. Here’s one of the rides my wife did with the Scosche on. It defaults to 72 when the connection drops.
Any idea if the Fenix 3 or Fenix 3 HR will drop in price with the Fenix 5 hitting shelves soon?
It actually has. It saw a $50 price drop around the New Year. And then I think we saw a brief sale for slightly more.
Personally, I wouldn’t do it for less than $100-$125.
Best deal currently on a regular F3 – $220
link to ebay.com
Best deal currently on a F3 HR – $391
link to amazon.com
Both are refurbs but come with 1 year Garmin warranties, so I wouldn’t blink at them.
The truly hottest deal right now though is the refurb Vivoactive HR at $149
link to ebay.com
Hi;
I am not what one would call a young runner and I like simple-to-use gadgets. I had a Garmin runners watch which I may have used 40 times and now the battery dies after 45 minutes and that is after a full charge. I would like to buy a very simple user friendly watch that has distance, time and pace per mile. Heart monitor would be a bonus but not necessary. Any suggestions. Thanks so much.
Nancy
I’d look at something like the Garmin FR25 or 35 as your best bet, or the Polar M400.
My full recommendations guide is here: link to dcrainmaker.com
Just noticed Amazon has the Garmin 235 (Black) on sale for $269 (marked down from the usual $329). Maybe this is old news… but I just noticed it.
Nice catch!
Looks like it’s an Amazon only sale that they’re doing solo. Great price though. Added it into the sales table. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your suggestions. Also wondering what you think of the new $99 Timex GPS watch.
There is a better deal on the Scosche Rhythm+ on their website, I think the best deal so far $50.39 using coupon SCOSCHE37
link to scosche.com
I just tried that coupon code on the Scosche website you linked to, and it says it’s invalid:
link to i.imgur.com