“The Elephant”
Okay folks, it’s time to address the oversized elephant in the room. Smartwatches! Many of our favorite’s have bent their knees to the smartwatch trend and we’ve remained silent on the matter. So, it’s time to ask ourselves an admittedly uncomfortable question. What do we think about smartwatches? My wife recently let me know it’s time to start working out and monitoring my health. She wants me to get a smartwatch to count steps, monitor workouts, and track health data and I (As any good husband would) said “Okay.” As a good watch enthusiast would though, I’m intrinsically torn between principle, and progression. Do I buy an Apple Watch, do I look for what would be perceived as an “inferior” alternative, do I obstante? As a mild compromise, I’m sitting between the citizen CZ Smart hybrid smartwatch and the Frédérique constant Horological Smartwatch trying to make sense of it all. So where do we land on what seems like it’s not going anywhere anytime soon? Will we accept it? Will Nico think less of us? Are we letting the hobby/community down by adapting? Will we think less of a person because they wear one? Where do we stand on smartwatches???
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Get a stand along strap or ring for health monitoring, and stick to normal watches.
That said, buy a smart watch if it makes you/your wife feel better.
One, who cares about anything Nico thinks? Two, we have about 100 threads this year on smart watches, so I think we have been quite vocal. :-)
In all seriousness, many of us have embraced smart watches for health, working out, etc. Some like Garmin, others like Apple, Samsung, etc. Now, would I spend a cent on a traditional watch maker‘s smart watch? Firm no. They do not develop software, nor would they have the resources to keep up. In addition, smart watches have planned obsolescence. I cannot imagine spending thousands on a watch that is outdated before it even hits the market (looking at you Tag). A couple hundred, perhaps up to $500+ for a well done smart watch sure. Gets me a few years, great.
TLDR, Smart watches are great tool watches, but stick with brands that actually make smart watches.
Apple Watch on the left wrist, something for the Crunch on the right, and Bob’s your uncle.
Apple Watch on the left wrist, something for the Crunch on the right, and Bob’s your uncle.
Been doing this for months
Been doing this for months
Me too. Not popular on the homefront, but I gotta be me.
I’ve been double-wristing with an Apple watch on my right for about a year. I don’t glance at it for time but very often for alerts, etc. And all the tracking. No issues wearing both since I’m honest with myself that wearing a wristwatch is an emotional decision at this point. 😛
But yeah, I wouldn’t get anything from the legacy brands - they simply don’t have any incentive to support the software long-term. Apple or google. Or the few active-type brands.
Me too. Not popular on the homefront, but I gotta be me.
Every time I say to the fam, "Hold up. This would make a GREAT wrist shot..." here come the eye rolls. 😂😂
If I felt the need for a smartwatch, I’d go with Apple. Anything else will probably end up being a compromise. Since the Apple people weren’t trying to make a watch, they didn’t compromise its usefulness in the name of making it more “watchy”.
But, as previously mentioned, why not go with a ring or one of those band things? You could still wear a legit watch and keep your wife happy. In as much as wives are people who are capable of being truly happy😂
If I felt the need for a smartwatch, I’d go with Apple. Anything else will probably end up being a compromise. Since the Apple people weren’t trying to make a watch, they didn’t compromise its usefulness in the name of making it more “watchy”.
But, as previously mentioned, why not go with a ring or one of those band things? You could still wear a legit watch and keep your wife happy. In as much as wives are people who are capable of being truly happy😂
As someone who has worn the Oura the last year, there are some things it just does not do. The GPS and other functionality of a larger device certainly has its benefits.
As someone who has worn the Oura the last year, there are some things it just does not do. The GPS and other functionality of a larger device certainly has its benefits.
No doubt. But as somebody who can’t be bothered to keep their Oura charged half the time, it’s easy to forget such things. Basically, I should stay out of these conversations as I just don’t get the need to monitor my activity in the way modern folks do.
No doubt. But as somebody who can’t be bothered to keep their Oura charged half the time, it’s easy to forget such things. Basically, I should stay out of these conversations as I just don’t get the need to monitor my activity in the way modern folks do.
Yeah, the inconsistency with how often to charge it is a total pain and I have to make a point to check the always slow to load app. I usually avoid most monitoring, but I do enjoy running outdoors and I like the GPS tracking functionality to help with progress more so than monitor. Though last year, for the first time, I found myself using the heart rate functionality while running more than years past. Perhaps I am just getting old and want to make sure it will still work when I am done!
Personally, I really like the fitness tracking capabilities and enjoy wearing my Garmin runners watch, however I sorely miss a nice-looking watch that just tracks my data and doesn’t incorporate a screen on the watch face. I just want a watch that looks like nothing more than a watch, and then I can watch the data on my phone when I want to.
Not having found any solution to my liking, I have considered buying a cheap fitness tracker to wear on my opposite wrist when I wear my "Dumb"-watches. Have been considering the Garmin Vivofit 4 as it is cheap and small.
Personally, I really like the fitness tracking capabilities and enjoy wearing my Garmin runners watch, however I sorely miss a nice-looking watch that just tracks my data and doesn’t incorporate a screen on the watch face. I just want a watch that looks like nothing more than a watch, and then I can watch the data on my phone when I want to.
Not having found any solution to my liking, I have considered buying a cheap fitness tracker to wear on my opposite wrist when I wear my "Dumb"-watches. Have been considering the Garmin Vivofit 4 as it is cheap and small.
I have a Samsung Fit2 that I use that way, it looks silly but works.
I’ve been double-wristing with an Apple watch on my right for about a year. I don’t glance at it for time but very often for alerts, etc. And all the tracking. No issues wearing both since I’m honest with myself that wearing a wristwatch is an emotional decision at this point. 😛
But yeah, I wouldn’t get anything from the legacy brands - they simply don’t have any incentive to support the software long-term. Apple or google. Or the few active-type brands.
The usefulness of an Apple Watch is unmatched and hard to deny once you’ve gotten used to it. I’ve been in the pool & enjoying party when the Traeger tells me the tri tip/brisket has reached temp, or get immediate alert my gate was just changed, tell Siri to set a timer for kid’s timeout haha, etc.
If you keep them separate style wise ppl won’t ask too many questions, and in summer or headed into a meeting I think I’ll go down to one #doublewristing
possibly big brother wants “ the doors of perception “ open to their frequencies 24/7 trackable biorhythms serve only insurance companies. I don’t trust the possibilities of stealth tech built into said devices . I know its in my apple phone but like in Enemy of the State “ I can ditch the phone for a litephone if tech gets too invasive, the electronicus umbilicus is bad enough. Showing my age here ….
One, who cares about anything Nico thinks? Two, we have about 100 threads this year on smart watches, so I think we have been quite vocal. :-)
In all seriousness, many of us have embraced smart watches for health, working out, etc. Some like Garmin, others like Apple, Samsung, etc. Now, would I spend a cent on a traditional watch maker‘s smart watch? Firm no. They do not develop software, nor would they have the resources to keep up. In addition, smart watches have planned obsolescence. I cannot imagine spending thousands on a watch that is outdated before it even hits the market (looking at you Tag). A couple hundred, perhaps up to $500+ for a well done smart watch sure. Gets me a few years, great.
TLDR, Smart watches are great tool watches, but stick with brands that actually make smart watches.
Never teach enlightenment permanently plugged into the matrix but shit… I actually like the new apple rugged wrist worn eltronicus umbilicus its great if your a geriatric having difficulty standing upright on two feet . I go to the gym and I DONT NEED to take selfies , monitor my heart rate or steps … foxtrot me …..
The usefulness of an Apple Watch is unmatched and hard to deny once you’ve gotten used to it. I’ve been in the pool & enjoying party when the Traeger tells me the tri tip/brisket has reached temp, or get immediate alert my gate was just changed, tell Siri to set a timer for kid’s timeout haha, etc.
If you keep them separate style wise ppl won’t ask too many questions, and in summer or headed into a meeting I think I’ll go down to one #doublewristing
Chains chains chains . Reminds me of that Rumi quote , a man sits in a cell of his own devising and holds the key from the cell in his own two hands . the implications of these devises aren’t thought through by many . I am in the Jack Kerouac school and Jack London school of though though also Aldus Huxley .
Personally, I really like the fitness tracking capabilities and enjoy wearing my Garmin runners watch, however I sorely miss a nice-looking watch that just tracks my data and doesn’t incorporate a screen on the watch face. I just want a watch that looks like nothing more than a watch, and then I can watch the data on my phone when I want to.
Not having found any solution to my liking, I have considered buying a cheap fitness tracker to wear on my opposite wrist when I wear my "Dumb"-watches. Have been considering the Garmin Vivofit 4 as it is cheap and small.
Chains chains chains . Reminds me of that Rumi quote , a man sits in a cell of his own devising and holds the key from the cell in his own two hands . the implications of these devises aren’t thought through by many . I am in the Jack Kerouac school and Jack London school of though though also Aldus Huxley .
If you use technology right, it can have the opposite effect of “chains”. I’m in the pool and can change the temperature on the Traeger or volume on the speaker without getting out of the raft. If I could use it to bring me a beer I’d do that too... hope an Apple engineer is working on that 😂
Fantastic for becoming less athletic yessssss :)