Stand alone fitness tracker/wearable GPS? *SOLVED*

[stinkwheel]

Mrs stinkwheel is training for an Iron Man and would like a fitness tracker of some sort.

So one that maps and times her route and perhaps also monitors heart rate.

Here's the tricky bit (see who actually reads the post instead of diving in with "My appletastic dersirathingy is the best applethingy evar"). Neither of us has a smartphone. We do not own any form of tablet PC. We do not own any PCs runing apple or windows.

I'm not buying a smartphone just to do this. I hate smartphones and Mrs stinkwheel would have one broken within days and a permanantly flat battery.

I MIGHT get a basic android tablet to run it with if that was the only way to do it but I'd rather not if I can avoid it. I'm definately not buying a new PC just to do this.

The ideal would be a stand alone, waearable GPSdatalogging device which can upload data via bluetooth or USB to a browser configurator or by dumping a data file on a flash card.

So looking for a wearable GPS which is either standalone (preferred) or can be paired with a cheap tablet. There may be no such thing?

*UPDATE* A Garmin fenix 3 can be used with linux by synching it using wifi. (needs setting up on a windows/mac/android device as a one-off). 20h battery in full GPS mode.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Pjay]

https://www.endomondo.com/

I've used this in the past.

It's good, but obviously needs a device.

[Pjay]

Failing that (but you should bite the device bullet) anything by Fitbit, they are pretty much the best overall.

They all come alive with external software though, so you may as well just get a cheap ass android device and use that with Endomondo.

[Im-a-Ridah]

Wearables are basically smartphone accessories. The arguments you make against smartphones like breaking easily or having a short battery life apply even more so to wearables. Android phone + decent case + runkeeper or similar is my recommendation. It also makes calls, goes on the internet, plays music, takes photos and videos etc. Failing that, get a pedometer or use one built into an ipod.

[c_dug]

Reddit suggests using Galileo and a fitbit - see the last post: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/1ztubj/linux_compatible_fitness_bandtrinket/
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I am a bellend, I am a man of constant sorrow, I am a gummy bear, I am a rock.

[stinkwheel]

Let's get this straight.

I'm NOT buying a smartphone just to do fitness tracking so please stop suggesting things that require a smartphone. Among other considerations, between the two of us, we use less than a fivers worth of calls and texts on PAYG mobile phones in a month.

I have no use for the other functions.

Also please remember this is for ironman training not a park run. So the first thing you do is a 4km open water swim. Smartphone goes where?

My research suggests that some of the Garmin watches are compatible with multiple platforms and can upload their log files. Anyone have experience with them?
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Northern Monkey]

[stinkwheel]

[nowhere.elysium]

If you don't have any smartphones or computers running windows, you're going to have a hard time, especially if you want something that can track any kind of detailed telemetry.

Personally, I like the Polar M400, but as with most of these things, it requires either a smartphone or a PC to upload the recorded data to the web service.

Older Garmin devices might do what you're after - I don't know if the watches could directly export .gpx data or not, but that's the sort of functionality you'd be after. Personally, I'd say avoid anything that has integrated HRM sensors - go for a chest strap. The results are generally more reliable. Optical HRM sensors are good for general trends, but have a habit of going a bit wide of the mark under actual physical exertion.

Tl;dr, sports watches are generally designed for people that use mainstream OSes. There are a variety of highly kludgy-looking attempts at linux support, but it's a lot of money to gamble on a principle-based prohibition.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[Ste]

Garmin eTrex

It's more potato than it is apple.

Feature include the ability to connect it to your computer by serial cable.

[stinkwheel]

Ste. Not the stupidest idea. At least it would still be useful after she's got bored logging her training. She's always been more of the James Hunt than the Niki Lauda.

I'm wondering if a straight GPS tracker is going to be the thing for her.

She harps on about heart rate but I bet she wont use it. She really just wants to show her mates how far she ran/swam/cycled.

Still a bit of an issue about how you go swimming with one.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[J4mes]

Samsung S7 is IP68. Stuff it down the back of her swimming cossie, it'll be fine.

You mention YOU'RE NOT BUYING A SMARTPHONE JUST TO TRACK TRAINING.

Not you doing the fucking training, is it?

Does your missus want to buy one?

[stinkwheel]

[nowhere.elysium]

My Lumia 640 does endomondo perfectly well, will sync with a bluetooth HR strap, and cost ~120 outright. Since it's a Nokia-built phone, it's also largely indestructible. Not sure about waterproofing though - that said, most HR straps aren't all that good underwater either.

:edit: Alternately, if she can forego the HR functionality, the Garmin ForeRunner 10 does all the GPS stuff, and can be synced with a linux computer. Also costs less than £80.
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'10 SV650SF, '83 GS650GT (it lives!), Questionable DIY dash project, 3D Printer project, Lasercutter project

[ForestRunner]

I use a mix of stuff.
Ultra runner rather than triathlon, similar looniness but cheaper

Garmin watches like my 620 will do wireless uploaded with no computer or tablet involved once set up. There are several triathlon based models that will do this. Check out DC Rainmaker for reviews https://www.dcrainmaker.com/blog

Battery life might be an issue, so check it will last. My watch will do shorter events, but for stuff that will take me over 12 hours will see me switching to an Etrex.
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Slowly learning...
CBF125 Red (Stolen) -> CBF125 White -> 1999 Hornet

[iooi]

[ForestRunner]

Should say I also have a Garmin Vivosmart HR.
These type of trackers are not really very good fit training with.
The accuracy of distance etc is not there.

As a semi smart watch it's OK, and it gives me the ability to quickly check my heart rate on the kind of big event where I am not wearing a gps watch and heat rate strap.

If this is an actual Iron Man, we are talking a good amount of training for each element. The right kit can help with this.
I joke all the time about a marathon being check point one, but sandwiching that between two other activities is non trivial

Now after several years of training and big events, I could train and complete with nothing more than a cheap watch. But, that is off a big base.

If this is the first time, effective training will mean a much more enjoyable and successful event
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Slowly learning...
CBF125 Red (Stolen) -> CBF125 White -> 1999 Hornet

[Andy Rider]

Fenix 3

But Google DCrainmaker best review website of GPS devices in the internet.

[Ste]

[Jewlio Rides Again LLB]

I'm amazed that someone who takes bodies apart and puts them back together has such a problem with pressing a few buttons on a phone, TBH.
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[Im-a-Ridah]

[duhawkz]

[Ste]

He does have a point about battery life and handsets being fragile.

I like GPS's which run on AA batteries.

It's the only being waterproof in up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes that is going to be the problem.

An Aquapack doesn't sounds seem a very practical solution.

[Copycat73]

Garmine hand helds/bicycle use
... whats the detail like if you use it for walkin /findin your way round a city center..

any recomended online sellers ?
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[G]