Around January most people look back at the previous year and set goals for the next. For many people, losing weight or getting more active is a returning favorite on the goal list. And what better way to focus on reaching your goals than getting a new fitness tracker or smartwatch?
How I first got into smartwatches
As a gamer and a gadget freak, I try to keep up to date on the latest geeky gadgets. I first got into the smartwatches when the original Pebble got released. When the second edition got released, I immediately backed it on Kickstarter. Unfortunately, the product was bought by Fitbit. At first, I was upset, because one of my reasons to back Pebble was the open-source software. Which means that anyone could make apps for the watch. This resulted in quite a few cool apps and games. Soon after Fitbit announced that they wouldn’t continue the line. Which meant no replacements or repairs in the future. So when my Pebble 2 broke, it was time for me to dive into the world of smartwatches again.
Despite my initial instinct, I ended up buying a Fitbit Ionic. Before this Pebble 2 was a step up from the original Pebble with a color screen. However Fitbit Ionic was an even bigger upgrade. The Ionic had beautiful graphics and while you, of course, don’t need that on a watch, it’s still pretty cool and of course, that’s what counts.
After the GPS on my Ionic broke and I couldn’t use it to track my running anymore, I bought a Garmin Vivoactive 4s. I didn’t research much and mainly wanted a watch that was great at tracking runs and various sports. I wish I had researched it a little further because after I found out that Garmin has geeky watches that I would rather have bought. And I couldn’t help but feel a bit sad! So, to prevent you from making the same mistakes, I present a list of watches for you to buy to express your geekiness. There are even a few games you can play on those watches. Because why not?!
Legacy Hero series
The Legacy Hero series has two versions: The First Avenger and Captain Marvel. They both have the same specs and only differ in looks. Specs-wise, they are similar to the Vivoactive 4. I personally like the First Avenger watch more than the Captain Marvel one, because of the inscription on the back that says “I can do this all day”. Both watches have themes to customize the look of the watch face with, and based on your fitness efforts you can achieve theme-based goal stickers.
Legacy Saga series
The Legacy Saga series also has two versions: A ‘Rey’ version and a Darth Vader one. Similar to the Legacy Hero series, they are modeled after the Vivoactive 4, but with customizable watch faces. There are custom StarWars avatars for you to use in the Connect App and new watch faces are still being released. This line also has theme-based goal stickers you can achieve by reaching your fitness goals. Even if you didn’t like the new Star Wars movie, the watches are still cool.
Vivofit Jr. 2
The VivoFit Jr. 2, while targeting kids, is the geekiest gadget Garmin has. Technically not a smartwatch, but a mere fitness tracker: Garmin has three geek-inspired lines: Star Wars, Marvel Spiderman, and Marvel Avengers. It tracks your step count, sleep, and movement during the day. But the coolest feature this ‘smartwatch’ has, is the software that goes with it. By completing goals you can unlock activities you can play on your smartphone. The more physical activity you get, the more games you get to play. You can also collect colorful gems based on the number of steps you get. That’s all we want in life, right? Parents (or your friends) can also set goals in the app, which you can unlock by getting enough exercise.
If you want to look at the other watches Garmin has, then check their site.
So, what smartwatch will help you work towards your health-goals in 2020? Let us know in the comments!
