Garmin Vivosmart 5 // In-Depth Review & Tutorial

I cannot figure out how to access setting on the device, and this video did not address that issue.

I want to use it as a wake up alarm on my wrist. Can you set a morning alarm with vibrate only -if yes how did it work for you?

Looking for a small band to sleep with... How is the vibration alarm strength?

I feel like a sucker- bought this the other day and now I realise it’s tracking steps while I drive a car. And a lot. Totally inaccurate. Now I just need to turn it off during my work hours and … wear it. Just great. Anyone has any solutions?

Just got mine and i loooove it!! So sleek and light. I forget its there!! Excited to use it!

I don’t have the settings icon on mine

Probably won't get a response as this is a bit old now, but does it monitor REM sleep? I see there's a light and deep phase, but the video transitioned away before showing more.

Such a crisp and to the point review 👍..keep up the good work 👍

Great Review !!!. Does Vivosmart 5 has the same HR sensor as in Vennu Sq 2?

The amount of stats Garmin is giving is amazing. After 2 Samsung watches over the last 6 years, I've finally realised that I just need an unobstructive fitness tracker to be on my wrist all day, while working out and while sleeping as well. Fitbit is out of question just for the fact that you have to buy a subscription to get detailed stats.

i have a nickel allergy - it looks like this watch should work out for me, as all the sensors seem to be behin glass? it looks like the charging port is the only area that might cause a problem, and it doesn´t seem to have direct skin contact?

It's weird it can broadcast your heartrate but not receive it from a chest strap

you are talking extremely fast!!!

Ty very much for this review and clarity ..to make decision

I do Les Mills Body Pump. The weight training on Garmin Vivosmart 5 seems so complicated. Should I record Body Pump as aerobics? It's lighter weights with many reps. Thanks!

Garmin customer care is non-existent, in my honest opinion.

After 9 months of trouble free use, the vivosmart 5 unit popped out of the strap unnoticed and was lost. This was the second time this had happened; the first, some six weeks beforehand, I found it in my car.

After some 5k hours of wear, the strap was not fit for purpose, in my experience. Garmon offered a 30% reduction on anew watch, but absolutely refused to adhere to the 24 month warranty in the EU and replace it. The strap should hold the watch in place.

I have bought Fitbit's previously and suffered a number of technical failings with them and getting a replacement was never a problem. The difference between the way the two companies care about their customers and their brand, couldn't be much wider, in my experience.

Avoid Garmin. They just don't care about their customers.

Sold! Thank you!!! Brilliant review!

Is it possible to keep the heart rate visible continuously?

Does anyone know if this device is recognized by MyFitnessPal?

Does this garmin include a smart wake up alarm?

For us older folks this video is frustrating, it is like he has had 5 cups of coffee and is speaking as fast as he can...can't keep up. 😢

Wich band/small watch do you think have the best heartbeat sensor accuracy?

Hi Des and thank you for the vid.

Quick comment for those wanting to use in the gym to track workouts, be e aware that the Vivosmart does NOT sync with the Garmin Connect workouts. Meaning you will have to fiddle and adjust every single time you hit the gym.

I just bought the device for this purpose but now I cannot recommend it, because it lacks this basic feature.

Cheers,

Minus barometer

Is the step counter continuous or does it update on an occasional basis?

Hey man, thanks for the review, super helpful. I thought you might be able to help - how to set exercises in HIIT setting? E.g. when I did a boxing tabata it got all 4 movements wrong. Inputting x8 sets per movement is a pain in the dark side, do you know a better way? Thanks a million! Antoni

Any music information?

got mine a week ago love it! didn't know about the fit bit subscriptions glad i stuck with Garmin

Very helpful. but I already had a garmin device and now when I want to see the app, it only goes to the golf gps app (approach 30). what is the app called for the Garmin vivosmart 5?

💥💥💥 People, before buing Garmin product, please read the Garmin forum - you will see how many complains the users have.
My Vivosmart 5 periodically "goes wrong" and displays crazy distance data: GPS is working well, the track on the map looks fine, Xiaomi (Zepp life) is working well (at the same time!). F.e. after running 1km outdoor I have got 77km on the Garmin device (6sec/km lol). Sometimes it just stuck on some number, doesn't matter how far you will run.
Garmin support center takes no action, just talking "soft words" but not giving a solution. So I don't recommend you to waste your time on Garmin!
P.S. And I am going to post this message in many Garmin reviews - people must know the truth!

I recommend not to buy the vivosmart 5. I have 3 different vivosmart 5 watches in 1 year. All 3 suffer the same issue , the screen gets frozen after a while.

Does this show heart rate variability

Thank you for this video, I loved your effort and honesty. Will be getting one

Garmin should just release a non display wearable with all this fitness tracking and sleeping features plus 1 month battery life.

Thorough review! Thankyou for this. Can't wait to start using mine!

Would you recommend this over the inspire 3?

Nice video. May I ask if this unit allow you to display the heart rate display. While continuously monitoring heart beat during a workout? Thanks ao much

Thanks Des

Biggest difference between this and the Fitbit Charge 5 is the Fitbit has ECG function and colour display. However, Fitbit products I have over the years usually die in 2-3 years useage. They always give you a out of warranty discount of 25-35 % discount on a new Fitbit product but thats still not good enough in my opinion.

Do the activities also upload to strava right away?
For example...i use the garmin edge 1040 for cycling..
My activities automattixly upload to strava
Does the vivosmart aldo do this for example lile power training? Or running on a treadhmill?

Dear Des - Does the Garmin Vivosmart 5 track stairs climbed during the day. I'm not referring to a stair climber machine, but tracking the stairs climbed in one's office, home, etc.

Don't purchase. It goes wacky and starts believing your activities are 10s or 100s of miles longer then they actually were, with GPS.

I’ve had this for some time now. I’ll be on a hike and it’ll randomly stop my walk when I have been maintaining a constant pace. It’ll not vibrate or tell me. I’ll be walking for over an hour and it’ll tell me I’ve only been gone for 30 mins or so.
If I manually start a walk, it’ll prepopulate the distance with an outlandish number around 40miles before I’ve taken a single step!
It’ll also miscalculate distance/steps I have 3 walking routes with the dog of longer distances and it’ll get the steps right but give me the wrong distance, showing 10k steps as 3km, 7k steps as 3km, and 4k steps as 3km. I don’t have a 30cm stride!!

just bought mine - I have an apple watch 7 but i want something light and small to track my sleep and fitness. My apple watch can do this, but i want a health/fitness band that has long battery time and are comfortable to wear during sleep. Although i was a little dissapointed about vibration when setting an morning alarm. It is not that vibrant. and the price is pretty high for the device.

Can you turn off Bluetooth on this tracker?

Hey i have one question since you mentioned that this one does not have built in GPS. Do i need to have my phone with me while running?

Garmin vivid smart 4

Just got mines today Love it . will consider to get Venu Sq for my 2nd watch lol. Wanted to get fitbit was too late coz google took over

I just want something to wear with my analog watch, I wish there was something without display

🚨 *** Hey folks, looks like a phishing account posted something about a giveaway in the comments section. I did not post those messages and please ignore if you received that reply.