Wearable Fitness Trackers

[SPINMAN]

@girishH Yes, between Coros, another fitbit (owned by Google now) or Samsung watch. Garmin, too expensive. I'll check prices next week. Thanks

[GirishH]

@SPINMAN, I’m not sure if you picked up a new fitness tracker but following is my status with my fitness tracker..

​Last year, I cycled to Kathmandu to collect a Garmin Instinct that the company sent to replace a defective unit. I really enjoyed the journey and only had started to enjoy the watch.

​However, during the first 30-mile leg of a recent 90-mile training trek, the battery suddenly died. Over the following days, the battery health worsened—it wouldn't even last two hours in basic 'watch mode,' let alone as a fitness tracker.

​I was faced with a choice: abandon the trek or keep going without any data. I really wanted to log the second and third days, but since I couldn't use Strava on my phone either, I decided to let it go. In the end, I stopped worrying about the stats and simply enjoyed the journey.

Attached are snapshots of my failed attempts at using Strava on phone..

   

I am currently working with Garmin to get a replacement fitness tracker but will see how long that lasts..

(12-30-2025, 10:27 PM)SPINMAN Wrote:  @girishH Yes, between Coros, another fitbit (owned by Google now) or Samsung watch. Garmin, too expensive. I'll check prices next week. Thanks

[SPINMAN]

(02-23-2026, 11:29 AM)GirishH Wrote:  @SPINMAN, I’m not sure if you picked up a new fitness tracker but following is my status with my fitness tracker..

​Last year, I cycled to Kathmandu to collect a Garmin Instinct that the company sent to replace a defective unit. I really enjoyed the journey and only had started to enjoy the watch.

​However, during the first 30-mile leg of a recent 90-mile training trek, the battery suddenly died. Over the following days, the battery health worsened—it wouldn't even last two hours in basic 'watch mode,' let alone as a fitness tracker.

​I was faced with a choice: abandon the trek or keep going without any data. I really wanted to log the second and third days, but since I couldn't use Strava on my phone either, I decided to let it go. In the end, I stopped worrying about the stats and simply enjoyed the journey.

Attached are snapshots of my failed attempts at using Strava on phone..



I am currently working with Garmin to get a replacement fitness tracker but will see how long that lasts..

(12-30-2025, 10:27 PM)SPINMAN Wrote:  @girishH Yes, between Coros, another fitbit (owned by Google now) or Samsung watch. Garmin, too expensive. I'll check prices next week. Thanks

@GirishH I was a few clicks away from getting the Coros Apex 2 but my last concern was security with GPS and MADE IN CHINA. Here is the GPT response to my query:

While there have been no confirmed reports of the Chinese government using COROS devices for spying, the company’s ownership and recent security lapses have raised concerns within the tech and athletic communities.

Key Privacy & Security Context
Data Storage & Jurisdictional Risks: COROS's own Privacy Policy acknowledges that user data may be transferred to and processed by affiliated "Group Companies" in China. The policy explicitly warns that in such regions, data could be accessed by authorities without user knowledge or efficient legal protection.

Major 2025 Security Vulnerability: In June 2025, a significant security flaw was discovered by German researchers affecting all COROS watches. This was a technical bug, not a state-sponsored "backdoor," but it allowed attackers within Bluetooth range to:

Hijack user accounts and access all stored data.
Eavesdrop on notifications and text messages.
Inject fake messages onto the watch screen.
Remotely factory-reset or crash the watch.

Company Response: COROS initially faced criticism for a slow response but eventually released patches in July and August 2025 to address these vulnerabilities through improved Bluetooth encryption and pairing processes.

Political Sensitivity: Because COROS was founded by the China-based firm YF Tech and maintains its R&D and manufacturing in Dongguan, some users choose brands like Garmin (Taiwanese manufacturing) or Polar (Finnish manufacturing) to avoid potential risks associated with Chinese data laws.

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Does anyone have a concern with security and spying with tech MADE IN CHINA. I was close to buying a Coros Apex Pro but asked GPT about the issue and the response to my concerns.

While there have been no confirmed reports of the Chinese government using COROS devices for spying, the company’s ownership and recent security lapses have raised concerns within the tech and athletic communities.

Key Privacy & Security Context
Data Storage & Jurisdictional Risks: COROS's own Privacy Policy acknowledges that user data may be transferred to and processed by affiliated "Group Companies" in China. The policy explicitly warns that in such regions, data could be accessed by authorities without user knowledge or efficient legal protection.

Major 2025 Security Vulnerability: In June 2025, a significant security flaw was discovered by German researchers affecting all COROS watches. This was a technical bug, not a state-sponsored "backdoor," but it allowed attackers within Bluetooth range to:

Hijack user accounts and access all stored data.
Eavesdrop on notifications and text messages.
Inject fake messages onto the watch screen.
Remotely factory-reset or crash the watch.

Company Response: COROS initially faced criticism for a slow response but eventually released patches in July and August 2025 to address these vulnerabilities through improved Bluetooth encryption and pairing processes.

Political Sensitivity: Because COROS was founded by the China-based firm YF Tech and maintains its R&D and manufacturing in Dongguan, some users choose brands like Garmin (Taiwanese manufacturing) or Polar (Finnish manufacturing) to avoid potential risks associated with Chinese data laws.

[GirishH]

@SPINMAN, ​I hadn't realized Coros was a Chinese company; honestly, it never crossed my mind—nor the minds of my Indian athlete friends who usually avoid "Made in China" products. In reality, that boycott often is more a verbal "show-off" than a practical lifestyle. Most products in my part of the world are made in China, even if they carry an "Assembled in India" sticker.

I still love and probably always go with Garmin but look at the quality issues inspite of the steep price they go for.

What "affordable" options do people have?

​Lately, I’ve been trying to train for my ultramarathons and races without a fitness tracker. As you know, I rarely obsess over stats. However, the one feature I truly value is the ability to discover, track, and share new trails.

​I have lost several routes over the last few weeks due to issues with my Garmin and my own struggles with Strava.

This experience reminded me to depend less on my devices. When my next tracker dies, I don't want my sense of accomplishment to disappear along with the data...

[SPINMAN]

Yes, @GirishH I don't consider it a dependancy. You bring to light that most of my cycling, and fitness life was all done without technology. I would Swim just to swim, Bike for hours just to go places, Run for fun and sweat. What all the computers and metrics have done is show progress and establish goals. I'm no pro but I like looking down and seeing my cadence and speed and heart rate going up a10% grade and seeing the results at the end of a triathlon. Maybe all I need is a Timex! 😁 😂 🖖

[meamoantonio]

Coros is a pretty good alternative but yeah I think its more geared towards runners versus cyclists, tbh I actually still use a wearable gps tracker and a gps computer for cycling at the same time , helps me keep track of the work out if there are any bumps in the gps signal