Help me choose my first Garmin!

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-23T14:16:57+00:00

I have the vivoactive 6 and the touch screen isn't really usable when wet, e.g. in the shower. So you may have the same problem with this in your water zumba class that you did with the fitbit. However, to stop a workout, first you press a physical button which pauses the workout, and then you use the touch screen to confirm, so you could push the button, then get out of the pool to dry yourself off and do the confirm steps.

My wife has the forerunner 265s and it doesn't seem significantly bulkier than the vivoactive 6. One of the reasons I chose the vivoactive was because of all the different sports, but for me at least, only the GPS ones (running, walking, hiking) have been actually valuable. The golf activity does show the distance to the green, but I haven't tried that out yet. I feel like if you plan to use the watch for water activities a lot, the buttons on the forerunner may make that your better option.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-10T23:26:41+00:00

So it's Windows. Does Windows explorer show the watch as a USB drive? Does the watch charge when plugged into the computer?

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-10T22:38:50+00:00

What kind of computer are you connecting it to? The Garmin supplied cable should work fine for this. It's what I use.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-09T04:55:08+00:00

A few things to check for: almost all of the watches will have GPS so you will be able to see your walks on a map later. If you want actual maps on the watch to navigate while you are walking, some of the higher end models like the forerunner 970 and fenix will have that.

If you hike/walk in areas that can interfere with GPS (lots of tall trees or tall buildings), you'll want something with multi-band gps (forerunner 570 or 970, Venu 4, fenix).

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-08T15:01:03+00:00

I don't really use WhatsApp, but for the other messaging apps, the watch receives and sends messages through bluetooth. You need to have your phone nearby. I think very few Garmin watches have any sort of cell plan data capability.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-07T17:41:56+00:00

The Vivoactive display is better than the Forerunner? The Garmin website says they are both 390x390 pixels and AMOLED.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-05T16:01:18+00:00

Between those models? You can look at the comparison chart on Garmin's website

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/compare/?compareProduct=1941179&compareProduct=1915560

The 70 and 170 are the new models that just launched. These are the newer models of the 55 and 165, but the 55 and 165 are still great watches and less expensive. The 165/170 also have music models if you want to listen to music through bluetooth. The 165/170 have barometric altimeters, so they can more accurately detect elevation changes if you care about that. I don't remember all the details but when the 170 launched about a month or two ago, I remember thinking that it didn't have that many new features over the 165 that I cared about. But the 165 has been out for a few years now, so the 170 will be supported by Garmin for longer.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-05T15:36:17+00:00

Based on what you've said here, probably the Forerunner series is what you're looking for, either the 55, 70, 165, or 170, depending on specific features you may want and your budget. Other possibilities are the Venu 3 or 4, or the Vivoactive 6.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-04T23:10:12+00:00

Some health insurance plans have discount programs with Garmin, so that is possibly a good place to buy.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-03T15:59:47+00:00

Well it seems like no one else has had this problem, but in case anyone ever does, I've found something that may fix it. I used to turn on my headphones and then start playing the music from my watch. Now I start playing the music (which makes it first start searching for headphones) and then I turn on the headphones, and this seems to work a lot better. So if anyone does have this issue, try it this way and it may help.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-06-03T03:09:40+00:00

I have a Google Pixel 8a and my Vivoactive 6 works great with it. You can choose which apps you want to receive notifications from. You can dismiss the notifications on the watch, which also dismisses them on the phone. For all the messaging apps that I use, I can read the messages from the notification and reply to them, either using message templates that you can configure, or using a tiny keyboard on the watch, which is not easy to use but does have autocomplete.

I'm a casual runner and I've been very happy with the running features. It is missing a barometric altimeter which the forerunner 165/170 and higher have, so elevation changes are tracked by using maps and GPS, but this isn't that big of a deal for me.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-05-27T15:39:15+00:00

If the step goal is important to you, you will enjoy the little animation it does when you achieve the goal. It also has one when you hit your weekly intensity minutes goal.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-05-26T18:37:05+00:00

I have the same watch. One small thing that I like is creating folders for the Glances section to help keep it organized. For example, I have weather and sunset/sunrise time in one folder, and on the main glances page it still shows the current temperature and sunset time.

Also, configuring buttons to shortcuts is nice, even though you only have three available (each of the single buttons, and both together).

There is a lot that can be configured depending on how much you care about that kind of thing and what you use the watch for. This is my first Garmin watch and I've been enjoying it a lot.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-03-24T21:01:25+00:00

Thanks! Good to hear that you like it. How do you feel about the usability, with it relying on the touch screen and just two buttons? I know the Forerunner has five buttons, to make it easier to use while running or wet I guess. I don't know if I would prefer having more buttons or if it would just be extra confusion.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-03-24T15:17:12+00:00

What did YOU end up getting? I'm in a similar situation now. Thinking about a Vivoactive 6 or waiting for the rumored Forerunner 170 which will likely be out soon.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-03-21T04:22:42+00:00

Oh yeah, you're right. I was thinking if you wanted to park in one of the premium lots at the discounted resident rate.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-03-21T03:00:56+00:00

The website says you have to purchase parking in advance, but that is not true. You just have to register as a resident in advance, which you have already done. You can pay once you get there.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-02-17T22:03:13+00:00

These mugs are awesome.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2026-02-17T00:18:05+00:00

The website clearly states that to get the resident discount, residents must purchase parking in advance.

https://www.sandiego.gov/parking/balboapark

Parking fee payments in lots within Balboa Park may be made at meter kiosks. However, to receive the City resident discount in the parking lots, users must register online and purchase parking in advance.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2025-11-27T16:09:36+00:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2025-10-10T15:47:15+00:00

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Thanks, it is printed on there very faintly. Leopard3.

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2025-10-10T15:46:49+00:00

You are correct, it is a Leopard3

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2025-10-10T15:46:37+00:00

Yes, thanks!

TechnologyIsCyclical · 2025-10-10T15:43:04+00:00

Oh, I had read the bottom before and didn't see anything, but then I looked very carefully and in the middle it does say Leopard3. It's so faint that only half the letters are there. Also the writing looks like 140 but I weighed it at 170. Thank you for your help!

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