Epson is an electronics company who are one of the world's largest manufacturers of printers, but they're now branching out into the world of wearable technology. The watch reminds me of an early Garmin running watch with its monochrome display and primitive beeping noises like an old school Casio. The watch doesn’t scream 'premium' considering its £179.99 price tag.

Before trying to connect with any software and apps I thought I would give it a quick charge and take it for some runs. Finding satellites on my old Garmin 910XT was painful; I used to leave it in the garden searching for the GPS before leaving the house. Now with watches like the Garmin Fenix 3 the satellites are typically found within seconds, but on 6 occasions the Epson located the satellites before the Garmin Fenix 3. 

Epson Runsense SF-810 on charging station

Battery Life

When you leave the watch off for any length of time the screen switches off completely which means after 1 week and 7 runs the battery is still at 50%. However, as the watch is not an activity tracker or step counter I found that there is not much point in wearing it throughout the entire day. It has a longer battery life than other watches on the market, but only because it is doing a lot less: no activity tracking, sleep tracking, or step counting.

Specifics

With some wrist-based heart rate monitors, it can take 20+ seconds to start displaying your pulse. With the Runsense SF-810, it takes (for me) about 5 seconds on average before heart rate data is displayed. 

The 4 buttons double up their usage and kicking off a run is very easy. You can skip the searching for GPS info if you just want to get started. And at the end of the run, a press and hold to save the run. All very straight forward.

At 51g this watch is 10 grams heavier than the Garmin Forerunner 235 which also has wrist-based heart rate capabilities and GPS tracking. The watch face seems quite a bit thicker than the Garmin although when side by side there is not much in it.  

 

Epson Runsense (right) SF-810 side by side with Garmin Forerunner 235 (left)

Epson Runsense SF-810 profile photo with Garmin Forerunner 235

The App and Software

There is lots of data and information available once you sign up to the software and upload your activities online.

Heart Rate Data from Epson Runsense SF-810 App

Pitch (or cadence) from the Epson Runsense SF-810

Stride data from Epson Runsense SF-810

Speed Information from Epson Runsense SF-810

Heart Rate Data

The graph above shows an overlay of heart rate data from a tried and tested heart rate monitor and the Epson Runsense SF-810. To get them to match up completely is tricky as the scales are different, but overall they track against each other quite nicely. A few spikes here and there, but this was a run with some intervals chucked in.

Garmin Forerunner 235 Vs Epson Runsense SF-810

The Epson is typically cheaper online but there are a few comparable things to consider when buying a running watch. 

Weight

The Forerunner is around 10g lighter

Activity tracking

The Garmin Forerunner 235 tracks sleep and heart throughout the day. It also has cycle and workout modes whereas the Epson is just a run tracker. 

Smart notifications

The Garmin connects via Bluetooth and delivers text messages via a colour display. The Epson sadly does not offer any of this and has a very basic watch display.

 

Battery

The Epson wins hands down here but that's because it is not an all-day activity tracker. The Garmin counts your steps and tracks your heart rate all day long, whereas the Epson is only really good when you're actually running.

Check out the video below for an even more in-depth review:

The Garmin Forerunner 235 is a very smart watch which can calculate your VO2 Max from its wrist-based heart rate monitor and can predict race times based on your training progress.

Sleep Tracking with the Garmin Forerunner 235

Historically, fitness trackers have some trouble telling when you're actually asleep. Naturally, there is a period of time between arming your watch and actually falling asleep, and for some, this may be quite a long time. However, the Garmin Forerunner 235 is smart enough to know when you fall asleep so you don't need to tell it! In the software when syncing the app with your watch, you will let it know your standard sleep and wake times. For most of us we have some sort of routine. But that is it. From here, we let the device take control.

Heart Rate Monitor Without Chest Strap

Having a wrist-based heart rate monitor on your watch is a fantastic feature. It's true that wearing a chest strap is more accurate, however, it can be uncomfortable to wear and can be annoying to pair it sometimes. Having the technology there on your wrist to track your heart rate all day long is great. Unfortunately, this does have an impact on the watch's battery life. But if you are sitting and there is less change in your heart rate data, it will start to take a reading less frequently. You can look at your screen and get a snapshot of the last 4 hours of data. 

Why do we want heart rate monitoring?

Training with heart rate data has so many benefits. There are many benefits ranging from how hard you are training through to your rest and recovery. Many purists do not want or see a need to know this info, but if you are looking to take your training to the next level, it can give you some important data. 

Heart Rate Data Accuracy

My first run for comparing the heart rate accuracy data was a 6.5k run. I compared the heart rate data from the Forerunner 235 with my trusted Fenix 3. The Fenix reported an average heart rate of 170 bpm while the Forerunner 235 reported 169 bpm.

The chart below shows the data as a graph with the Fenix in green and the Forerunner in red. As you can see, the data does not totally align. 

Overall, however, the data matches pretty closely apart from a few places where something obviously goes wrong. 

Garmin Connect Via the App 

With Garmin products, you can only have one device set-up as an activity tracker, so I created a new account on an old phone. No problems with this process but when I wanted to log in to Garmin's website online to view the data you can only log in with email. No idea what I used here. I only have my connect name. Quick(ish) call to Garmin and they could help me out here. I thought I would share this in case someone else is stupid enough to do the same!

Conclusion

As a watch that does everything, this really is an excellent device. Activity tracking, heart rate, and running all to the highest of quality. If you are after a fitness tracker read up on the other wearables we have reviewed. Or you may already be sold on the Garmin Forerunner 235. 

Who Are Mio?

Mio Global is a company that specialises in heart rate based activity trackers. Founded in 1999 by Liz Dickinson, Mio Global led the market in wrist-based heart rate monitoring technology before it became a widespread trend in the fitness industry. Mio now boast 5 different products in their range: the Fuse, the Alpha 2, the Slice, the Link, and the Velo. Their latest product, the Mio Slice, introduces Personal Activity Intelligence which you can read more about here. 

The Fuse is Mio’s answer to an all-day activity tracker. It records steps, calories, distance, pace, heart rate, and now it also tracks sleep.

Aesthetics

The Fuse watch comes in 3 colours: cobalt, crimson, and aqua. This watch doesn’t blend in as a regular watch like the Garmin watches, instead, it sits proudly on your wrist and is quite clearly a fitness band. The flat band design is easy to wear under long sleeves and hugs even a small wrist comfortably. It features small circular holes to allow the skin to breathe which is really important in an activity tracker as it can be the case that after a sweaty workout, you are left with sweat rash under your activity band or watch. 

Set Up

When you purchase the Mio Fuse, inside the box is your watch and its charger, which attaches easily with a little magnetic USB clip. Once charged, you are ready to start tracking with your phone. The battery charge lasts about 7 days including an hour's daily workout tracking. The Fuse connects your data using the Mio GO app. Once downloaded, you set up a profile, entering basic details such as age, gender, weight etc. to ensure the monitor is producing accurate feedback. After completing this easy setup, you need to connect your strap as a known device via Bluetooth. I found that if your phone's Bluetooth is already connected to a lot of other devices, it will struggle to connect, so make sure you switch off any unnecessary Bluetooth connections to enable the band to be easily recognised.

Testing the Heart Rate

When you start training, the Mio Fuse asks you to enter its separate workout mode to enhance the heart rate accuracy. While this may seem a simple request, this has taken me a bit of getting used to. Pressing and holding the Fuse’s centre button will cause the watch to flash ‘FIND’ while it searches for your heart rate. Once it's found your reading, another touch of the centre button will set ‘GO’ and you’re on your way. The difficulty I had was that the buttons are very sensitive and so I had to be careful not to start workouts by mistake. That being said, the buttons are designed so that they only activate when the watch is in a horizontal position to avoid accidental tracking, it just so happens when you're sat at a computer your wrist is also in a horizontal position; but my random one-minute workouts are getting less and less frequent, so I think that comes with practice.

Above is the first workout I completed wearing the Mio Fuse, which was a weights session at the gym. My rep ranges are reasonably high - between 8-12 repetitions - meaning my heart rate should be reasonably steady and within Zone 3 for moderate activity. As you can see, my average heart rate was 123 bpm and I’d usually get a reading of about 130bmp for the same routine from my heart rate chest strap so it is pretty accurate.

I decided to try partnering my Fuse with a HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) session to see how it coped with the heart rate tracking of a more demanding workout.

Above is a Metafit workout. This class is designed to push your body to the max, using lots of plyometrics and compound bodyweight exercises with swift changes and very little rest between intervals, lasting just 25 minutes. Usually, my chest strap reads my heart rate at about 175 bpm. As you can see above, my average heart rate is 143 bpm with a maximum of 179 bpm. The average heart-rate seems a little low, but when you look in detail at the time frame, it appears to be my warm-up which is dragging the average down.

As you can see, my heart rate sits firmly in Zone 4. Exactly where it should be in the ‘Hard Activity’ category. The Mio Fuse has done well here and met my expectations for performance feedback on this workout. As you can also see from these snapshots, the app allows you to name your exercise. Mio GO suggests a list of activities you can scroll down and if your exercise isn’t listed, you can enter your own name under ‘other’. This is particularly useful for those who do a lot of training to quickly find workouts.

Overall, I have found with most wrist-based heart rate readings that the readings drop slightly when compared to a chest strap, simply due to the nature of the monitor standing more of a chance at being effective when it's strapped right on top of the heart rather than down on a wrist. However with the Mio Fuse, all my heart rate zones are very accurate, the watch monitors the highs and lows of my training effectively and it is the most accurate heart rate readings I have seen from a wrist-based monitor thus far.

Good Vibrations

The Fuse also has another secret weapon to keep you pushing through your workout: it vibrates. The Fuse keeps you constantly aware of how hard you're working by vibrating as you travel through different training zones, which is a unique feature that no other activity trackers offer. These vibrations are accompanied by a colour-coded flashing light and the colours of the lights match the colours of each of your training zones on the app, so you are constantly being reminded of how you’re doing. The fact that Mio specialises in the heart rate monitoring aspect of activity tracking shines through with this feature. 

Is It Waterproof?

The Mio Fuse is water resistant to 30m. Whilst I am yet to take the watch for a swim, it was unphased by my shower and sweaty workouts. 

New Feature: Sleep Monitoring

Most activity trackers on the market now track your sleep, so Mio has stayed up-to-date with the rest of the market. The app lets you see the amount of time you spent in bed, the efficiency of your sleep, the percentage of which was light or deep sleep, and your resting heart rate. The watch doesn’t automatically track your sleep, so you do have to put it into sleep mode, but this isn't too much hassle.

Mio Fuse Sleep Monitoring

As you can see, I had an almost perfect night’s rest. The feedback on your resting heart rate can then be used to monitor your level of fitness; there are plenty of online charts to calculate how you're doing for your age and gender. Typically, the lower the resting heart rate, the better, as it suggests the heart is getting bigger and stronger due to exercise and, therefore, it takes fewer beats to pump your blood around the body.

Mio Fuse Sleep Monitoring

It is recommended that adults achieve 7-9 hours sleep for optimal recovery and brain functioning. Although we can survive on less, we give our muscles time to recover, repair and grow during our sleep, so being able to monitor how efficiently you’ve slept is a great training tool for any athlete.

The App

The Mio GO app itself is simple and easy to navigate around. The main page greets you with a dashboard highlighting all your daily activities from steps to workouts and sleep. With a simple touch of any of these activities, you can unlock the full details of your performance. To sync new activities simply drag the screen down and the feed will update. The app was straightforward, uncomplicated and precise, with detailed and poignant feedback for both training and recovery.

Verdict

As an activity tracker, the Mio Fuse has all the basics we’d expect and would be a good watch with these alone, but the addition of accurate heart rate tracking is a game changer. In addition, Mio is constantly updating the app and the watch's features, so it’s sure to continue improving just as your training does.

Garmin have brought us such a vast range of fitness products and continue to do so. The Vivosmart HR is a brilliant addition to the range.

It has a range of features that make it stand up against other fitness trackers in this price range. You really get a lot of easy to use features for your money.

The tracker is designed to be worn 24/7, so it has to look good, as well as being wearable. On looking at it for the first time, it certainly does look quite big, and isn't as sleek as some others. However in saying that, it never felt uncomfortable and it never caught on anything.

It has a 5ATM waterproof rating, which basically means it is perfect for wearing in the shower or the pool. Giving you the opportunity to wear it, literally, all the time and for any activity.

The screen is an LCD touch screen which constantly remains “on”, but it dims to save the battery. It is lit by a backlight when you touch the screen. The screen is activated by swiping across with a finger to access the various screens, which each display different things. It is easy to see how many steps you have done, stairs you have climbed and your heart rate.

The band will vibrate every so often if you have been inactive for too long, which is a nice little reminder to get up and go. It has a Move bar on the screen, which essentially fills up and makes you move when it gets full.

The Vivosmart HR gives a clue in its name, in that it is quite smart. You can tell when you get a phone call or message, and you can also control music on it. It acts a little like a smart watch, giving it a good edge. Reading text messages on the screen is decent, with it being sharp and readable. It basically uses push notifications from your phone, so you can’t use it like a smart watch, but it is enough for you to keep an eye on your phone, without having your phone out.

The main aim of the tracker though, is of course, to track your fitness. And this it does very well. It keeps an accurate calorie count, as well as keeping a record of your weekly activity. You run it with the Garmin Connect app, which is easy to install and use across most platforms.

The app displays a range of charts and graphs and it can look a bit daunting to start with. But once you become familiar with it, it is pretty simple. It will take a bit of time, but once you get it, it is one of the better apps out there when it comes to detail and tracking. Connecting the Vivosmart HR was easy as well, I just followed the instructions.

The sleep tracking felt accurate too (along with steps, heart rate and calories). You can check this via the app, which gives you a weekly look at your sleep pattern. It is shown in graph form, making it really easy to read. Garmin have definitely made the Vivosmart HR better than some other sleep trackers on the market.

When it comes to tracking a particular activity, running for example, the watch has a function for this. It has a separate tracking mode and I found it to be a good way to track distance with a fair amount of accuracy. The lack of GPS means it will never be 100% accurate, but it does keep distances pretty close to true.

When it comes to battery life, Garmin say around 5 days, which is fairly true. It lasts a decent amount of time before charging. Keep an eye on it though because you don't want to lose charge half way through a workout! 

Overall, the tracker is one of the most accurate I have tried. The wrist based heart monitor is probably the least accurate and I don't think it will replace a chest strap HR device anytime soon, but as a gauge, it works well. All of the other features work remarkably well, and whilst it isn't a smart watch, it is a step between those and other fitness trackers, making it a good go-between. 

The market is saturated with so many fitness trackers that finding one that works for you can be a minefield. New Year will always see a spike in the sales of these gadgets as we try and work off all that Christmas excess. The point of having it in the form of a watch is that it then starts to become more than a step counter and something a little more versatile and useful.

The Withings Pulse Ox is a slim, sleek device that I have tested over the festive period. Visually, having the ability to see and check your steps is motivating and keeps you working towards your goal.

As part of your purchase, you get a watch strap, a belt clip, a micro USB charger and the tracker itself. The tracker can either be worn as a watch or can be attached to your pocket or belt, or you can just simply slip the unit itself into a pocket. 

The unit charges really quickly, which is always a bonus. It uses a standard micro USB, which most people will have lying around the house, so you can charge it at home or at work quite easily. Once fully charged, the battery will last around a week.

The tracker is extremely light and you barely notice that you're wearing it, although this can be a downside as the unit is not waterproof so you have to remember to take it off before a shower or swimming. The unit just slides into the watch strap, and it is pretty secure. On occasion, it did become dislodged when sleeping, resulting in a hunt for it in the morning.

The watch starts tracking instantly, but you will need to download the Withings app. The app is easy to use, and anyone should be able to use the simple interface. It isn't complex and it is quick to set up. With this simplicity does come a slight downside in that the information you receive is quite basic, but I felt it was enough to keep me motivated. You can see your daily steps, elevation, active calories (and total calories) burned, along with timed segments showing activity.

There is a small button on the side of the device which enables you to cycle through the various screens which display steps, time, elevation, distance, calories and has a screen for heart rate and night time modes. Whilst on any one of these screens, if you touch the screen with a finger and slide it, you will see results for the previous 10 days.

As a step counter, it works really well at keeping you on target. The screen automatically switches to black after a period of inactivity, which is great for the battery life. 

Features

It has a running tracker, which tries to automatically detect movement. This doesn't always work as well as you would like it to and having something which you can turn on and off yourself would be easier.

I found the sleep tracker to be quite basic. It records you lying down rather than tracking your sleep. I have had sleepless nights with this on and it has told me I have had a good night's rest when actually the opposite was true.

The heart monitor works really easily. You simply place the light over a finger and wait for a few seconds. This proved to be pretty accurate as far as I can see,  although I did note on a couple of occasions that my heart rate seemed to be pretty high when I didn't feel I was over exerting myself. 

Verdict

Overall, the Withings Pulse Ox works well as an activity and fitness tracker. It is simple, has a fun and good looking app, and will keep you motivated. You can invite friends and follow each other on the app’s leaderboard. Withings also have other bits of tech (scales etc) that can work alongside the Pulse Ox, making it pretty good value. I would say it is better suited to those who are more interested in general fitness, rather than those who are in serious training for an event such as a triathlon, for example.

The downsides are that it isn't water resistant and the sleep tracker is poor. However, the target audience here is not athletes but more your average gym-goer. It is a great general all-rounder for those just wanting to make sure they move enough or are just starting out on their journey to get in shape.