I am trying to get some more measurable results while training, and I would like to get a watch that can measure my pulse during workouts. I see that the market is HUGE for watches meant for this, but I am a bit lost. Here are some things that are relevant to finding a good watch for me:

  • I have smallish wrists.
  • I would like to wear it also while swimming or showering
  • I need it to work really well independently of any phone, as I don’t use iOS or any Android variant. This also means that the watch needs to be good at keeping the time without syncing with a phone.
  • I need the watch to be privacy respecting. Even though I don’t plan on using it with a phone at the moment, I do not wish to support a scummy company.

Do you have a favorite watch that could fit some of these points?

  • cyrl@lemmy.world
    1·
    1 day ago

    My answer for this has been to use Gadgetbridge - its an open source app which can replace the e.g. Garmin app, connecting to the device and gathering activity and sensor data plus forwarding notifications etc as you’d expect the first party app to do. The data remains exclusively on your phone, no servers involved.

    Its not perfect, the Garmin UI is slicker and some minor features may not be supported but overall it’s really impressed me for a community effort.

    I’ve been using this since March 2025 with a Farming Forerunner 265 without any issues.

    There are a wide range of supported devices, so you can buy the hardware you like/find a good deal and not worry about privacy based on the vendor.

    Gadgetbridge Site Supported Watches

    Hah, as of today there at 666 supported devices!

  • lentildrop@lemmy.world
    1·
    2 days ago

    I was under the impression that Garmin has a decent privacy policy for their smartwatches-- I have a Forerunner watch that I’ve worn almost daily for the last six years and it’s still working great, I’m quite happy with it. Obviously if you want true privacy and lack of tracking a traditional digital watch is the way to go but those don’t generally have HR tracking.

  • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
    7·
    3 days ago

    From a quick lookup, either Garmin watch without Garmin Connect but Gadgetbridge (fdroid) instead. Or a Casio.

    Though the EFF also laments the lack of sensible options, so your mileage may vary. Maybe a diy with a ESP32 S3? I think there are already some surprisingly small projects around, if i remember right.

    • uKale@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      3 days ago

      I’ll look into the ESP32s! That could be an interesting project.

      It’s weird how techies seem to accept leaking wearables. Even the new Pebbles seem to have real privacy issues.

      • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
        3·
        3 days ago

        More like resignation. It’s the current state of the industry, it’s not rea-lly neccessary, so we don’t get one. And the phone can be good enough.

  • Hugh@programming.dev
    2·
    3 days ago

    I dont know if they still sell them but all the old polar watches used to do this. Downside is you need a chest strap and you can’t download the data from the watch.

    You can get cheap second hand ones online. I would have recommended the rcx5 except the straps break and it’s impossible to buy new ones…

  • CobraChicken3000@lemmy.caEnglish
    6·
    3 days ago

    Why not just wear a Casio? They’re durable, waterproof, and come in different colours. I measure my HR by placing my fingers on the carotid artery and timing with the wrist watch. Also, doesn’t get any more effective in terms of privacy.

    • uKale@lemmy.worldOP
      3·
      3 days ago

      Another vote for the Casios! Privacy wise the manual way of doing it does seem superior.

    • BruisedMoose@piefed.socialEnglish
      3·
      3 days ago

      I recently ditched my Galaxy watch for a few cheap Casio’s. Between $15-30 each. So much better. There’s a Bluetooth enabled one for around $100 that has a step counter if that’s important.

  • nehal3m@lemmy.zip
    4·
    3 days ago

    A lot of smart watches require some form of cloud API through a major mobile OS, and I can’t think of any that don’t. Direct local sync is possible with Gadgetbridge though.

    There’s also this guy who modded the ubiquitous cult classic Casio F91W: https://n-o-d-e.net/datarunner.html

    Personally I like the Apple Watch, I have the LTE model because I like to leave my distraction rectangle at home when I can and still be available for calls. I do have a few Casio’s as well though, an A168 which is basically an F91W clad in metal and with a better back light, and also a Casio CA53W, the calculator wrist watch.

  • OhVenus_Baby@lemmy.ml
    2·
    3 days ago

    I have had, multiple Garmin venu models as well a family members. They are fantastic. I spend a ton of time in the hospital, pulse, pulse ox, and HRV have always been on point. The step counter and stair counter less so. Everything else is solid. 2 week battery life. And the Garmin venu 3 is one of the best health trackers. They’re now making a Venu 4. Don’t fall for it. The same elevate 5 sensor and no major upgrade. Stick with a new Venu 3 and save some dollars.

  • Estebiu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    3·
    3 days ago

    I was searching for the same thing like you and decided to get a Garmin, as they seem to work with Gadgetbridge without needing to fair with their app first. It’ll arrive tomorrow, so I could give you some more insights then. But from what I’ve read online, Garmin watches are the top for sporty activities.

    • uKale@lemmy.worldOP
      2·
      3 days ago

      I’m very interested in hearing about your experience with your new Garmin. They do seem like great watches.

      • Estebiu@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1·
        1 day ago

        So, I received it yesterday, and I’m absolutely enamored with it: it’s perfect. No need to download some crappy app that god know where sends your data, and thankfully it’s possible to first pair it directly with gadgetbridge. Absolutely peak. Then it acts like a normal smartwatch, I guess. I’m not much interested by the notifications/smart aspects of it; I mainly got it so I could consult maps when going hiking without having to have my phone in my hand all the time. In that aspect, this garmin watch I have (vivoactive 6) let’s you have a line of your course on the display on at all times, so not really a very colorful map with lots of stuff, but exactly what I needed. For the maps themselves, you can select whatever gpx file from your phone and ‘share’ it via the android menu to gadgetbridge, it’ll send the file to the watch that way and you can then open it on the watch. Another thing i want to do with it is use it as a heartbeat sensor while riding my indoor trainer; I haven’t had the time to try that yet tho. A very cool thing is that this watch supports music on device!! It has 8gb onboard, and you can download music from amazon music, spotify, deezer, and others, idk. But as I download my music from bandcamp I found no use for those. Thankfully by plugging the watch in a pc with their cable it acts as a media storage device, and then you can upload your own mp3 files. Looks like it doesn’t support flac, so you’ll need to transcode those if you have you music in that format. Navidrome’s UI let’s you do that easily when downloading an album. Ah, the watch itself doesn’t have a speaker, but you can connect headphones, up to LDAC it seems? Mine have the aac/sbc codecs disabled, only LDAC is enabled, and it still works, so cool ig? Ah, I found that to setup garmin pay you need the official app, but after the initial setup you can uninstall it. Anyway, my bank isn’t supported so idc.

        I hope i have been exhaustive, and that this rant of mine could maybe help you make your decision. Overall, i’m pretty happy: works pretty well for what I need, and is totally private. My data isn’t feeding god knows what algorithm, and there are no important features locked behind a paywall (their garmin trainer or whatever is, but who tf cares about that)

        Ah, and the alarms on the watch seem to wake you up just fine.

    • dieTasse@feddit.orgEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      I am using Garmin venu 2 with gadgetbridge and I can confidently say the sync got so much better lately, it even integrates now with endurain and auto upload my workouts. The only thing that I think is less then ideal is agps (assisted gps), basically I had to setup cron job that downloads the agps file every day and stores it where gadgetbridge sees it (smb share) and can provide it to the watch on request. Without this it took 15+ minutes to lock gps…

  • abominable_panda@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    3 days ago

    I know you said watch and time so I’m speaking out of line.

    I use a Polar Chest Strap for HR measurement. More accurate