Garmin vs Withings… Which One Is Better for Fitness?

I’m looking for a fitness tracker that looks like a regular watch. I want something that’s more focused on fitness, but still has a nice design. I’ve used smartwatches for 8 years, but recently my work banned Bluetooth devices. I could get an accommodation from my doctor, but I prefer finding something more fitness-focused instead of a smartwatch.

Garmin has the Instinct Crossover, and Withings has the ScanWatch 2.
https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/819761
https://www.withings.com/eu/en/scanwatch-2

Which one would be a better choice, and why?

The ScanWatch’s screen is pretty small, while Garmin has a larger one. I’d go with Garmin. Just know that both watches are a bit thick, so they might not fit well under a shirt or jacket.

Garmin is more health-focused, which sounds like what you’re after. They also have some watches that look more like regular watches (like the ScanWatch). You could look at their “vívomove” series, which has a bigger screen than the ScanWatch.

@Riley
I was thinking about the Vivomove, but the reviews aren’t great. Plus, I would be going from 30+ days of battery life to just 3-5 days. It’s more like a smartwatch with fitness features, which isn’t exactly what I’m looking for.

@Sawyer
Thanks for letting me know. I haven’t looked much into them myself, just based on size and look.

I prefer a thin and discreet watch, so I ended up with a cheap Chinese one that’s just 7mm thick. Sadly, there aren’t any hybrid smartwatches with real hands that are close to that size.

@Sawyer
You’re right, the Vivomove is more of a health/styling watch than a full fitness tracker.

Garmin is the better overall choice.

Smart features - The Withings is more of an ‘assisted smartwatch’ than a true smartwatch. You can’t see much of your data on the watch itself, and have to use the app for most things. Garmin shows almost all of your data right on the watch. You can customize it a lot through the app, plus it has NFC pay, message notifications, weather, alarms, and more. You can also change the watch face.

Health - Garmin has continuous heart rate monitoring, which seems to be more accurate than Withings, which checks it every 10 minutes. Withings does have an ECG, but unless you have a health issue, it might not be very useful. Garmin offers more fitness-focused metrics like Body Battery and Stress levels.

Fitness features - Garmin is far ahead. The Withings doesn’t have built-in GPS, and tracking heart rate during activities drains the battery quickly. Garmin’s Crossover has built-in GPS and more customizable tracking screens. It also has specialized metrics for activities like swimming, paddling, and running.

Training features - Withings doesn’t offer anything. Garmin includes full training tools, workout plans, and daily suggestions.

You can also turn off Bluetooth on the Garmin (not sure about Withings). It won’t make calls or messages, but you can still see notifications when it’s connected to your phone.

Battery life - Withings lasts up to 30 days, but adjusting heart rate frequency affects that. The Crossover lasts up to 28 days, and if you get the solar version, it can go up to 70 days. GPS activities drain battery a bit, but you can extend it by reducing GPS quality.

The Crossover looks way better in person than in pictures, so I suggest seeing it before deciding.

@Blayne
If I get the Garmin, I’ll probably go with the Solar version. I don’t do much outdoor stuff, but passive charging is really appealing. I also use a treadmill, so I could just turn off GPS to save battery.

I didn’t know you could disable Bluetooth through a hotkey, which could be useful for my work situation. I’ll bring it up with my doctor and HR so I can turn it off during my shift and turn it back on when I’m done.

@Sawyer
You don’t need to worry about deactivating GPS. Only activities you specifically track with GPS will use it, like saving locations or tracking a workout.

Blayne said:
@Sawyer
You don’t need to worry about deactivating GPS. Only activities you specifically track with GPS will use it, like saving locations or tracking a workout.

That’s awesome! What about bands for the Crossover? Is it just a standard 22mm, or do I need special bands from Garmin?

@Sawyer
It’s a 22mm QuickFit band. Garmin has a unique system with a thicker pin that clips on more securely, but you can find third-party options as well. Just search for ‘22mm QuickFit strap’ online to see what’s available.

@Blayne
Great, I just ordered the Instinct Crossover Solar! I also found a site that will sync my Wyze scale to Garmin Connect for a small fee.

I’ll probably order the scale via my HSA, though I’m not in a rush. People on this forum say the Garmin scale is pretty bad for the price.

Any advice for someone getting started with the Garmin ecosystem?

@Sawyer
I use a Renpho scale, which syncs directly with Garmin. I’ve been looking into that site since they also support Renpho, so I’d like to hear how well it works for you. I’d probably skip the Garmin scale unless you really need the direct connectivity.

If you’re tracking calories, you might want to try the MyFitnessPal app. The premium features are cheap and really useful. Depending on your fitness needs, there are other Garmin products that might interest you.

@Blayne
I’ve been using ‘Lose It’ instead of MyFitnessPal, and I’m not sure if I want to switch since I paid for a premium year on Black Friday.

I tried MyFitnessPal before, but it’s terrible without a paid subscription—no macros and no barcode scanner. :persevere:

Maybe I can expense it through my HSA.

I think I’ll hold off on a Garmin scale until they launch a new one, though. The current model is over 4 years old, and I think that’s why it gets bad reviews for connectivity and features.

@Sawyer
If your current tracker is working, you don’t need to switch. The MFP app just integrates with Garmin to show your calories and burned data. As long as you’re syncing your burned calories, you’re good to go with whatever app you’re using.