There are plenty of discussion threads where developers are trying to figure out why Garmin connect want accept there Fit files even though there files are perfectly valid and sites that are not tied to a specific manufacturer ream them perfectly well. They don’t want you to be using none Garmin devices. Garmin Forerunner 945. squirrel_widget_160764. Also, while on the back of the scale you’ll notice two things you can poke at (besides the springs on the battery compartment). For me BF% should be more important that’s weight. MediaMarkt had it Monday here: link to mediamarkt.at, already sold out then. They would sell a ton of those. It’s pretty compact, so you should be able to tuck it away behind a cabinet in the bathroom. It’s been a few months since Garmin announced their Index WiFi Scale (at $149), so it’s time to dive in on an in-depth review and see how things have shaped up. Have you looked at the Wyze Scale… $19.99…. My Withins scale has been failing recently, constantly needing to be reset so was in the market for a new scale, and wanted the Garmin to simplify the information and not having to have multiple accounts to get the data in. But realistically, this sorta thing shouldn’t be on 3rd parties. I wish there was a DexaFit location within a 100 miles! Pet peeve warning… PIN number… Personal Identification Number Number…. It this “normal” or should I return it? For those who’re already within the Garmin ecosystem, the Index S2 is the good scale for you. Personally I measure every day and then look at the trend at the end of the week. On all of these devices (including the Tanita with the pull up handles I own) there seems to be an inverse relationship between hydration level & body fat %). – Reduced scale size (dimensions) very slightly For sure after I´ve connected it correctly. I mean it’s one thing to “measure” (most people would associate buying a scale with trying to actually “measure” something) and another to look up some averages! . The Best Smart Bathroom Scales for 2021. Very fine hairline scratches all over the glass top Photo is out of focus but this was the only way to capture the scratches, instead of a reflection of my bathroom ceiling. BF = a x impedance + b x weight + c x age + d x activity class + magic I also think Withings’ scales are quite pretty, too. Body composition must be measured at the end of the day when all fluids and processes of the body are up and running. I own the earlier version, and the reason I was willing to pay more was the ease of mind and simplicity. I will probably upgrade in the hope that either the BF% is more realistic or at least I could now get some decent trending data from it. Now, how do I get YouTube running on that display? Seems like reasonable refreshes of neglected products though I will not be replacing my original Index. I was thinking about getting an Index scale just the other day due to the hit-or-miss way weigh ins from my department store smart scale get in to Connect. } catch(e) {}. One of them rotates between pounds, stone, and kg. Thanks in advance. speaking of third-party integrations with Garmin – I’ve talked to a developers of HealthFit and they said that it’s not possible to request API access despite Garmin stating otherwise. My main issue with these is the accuracy of anything that isn’t weight. But I can see, why Garmin does that. I’m looking forward to those. If you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem, the Index S2 is the smart scale for you. If you’re a Garmin user, the obvious choice for your smart scale needs is the new Garmin Index S2. Yes, scales are indeed very accurate for measuring weight, no one is denying this. From the article I assume this is not recommended if I want reliable weight syncing with MyFitnessPal? Regarding MyFitnessPal. Garmin Index S2 smart scale review: Very good, very pricey ... Read our full Garmin Index S2 smart scale review to see if it’s worth the money. The most accurate digital bathroom scales to monitor and track your weight loss goals. . Now the user must consider doing Wifi Temporary Access Point on their Android phone each time…. And while Zwift does support weight scale integration, they haven’t lit up the Garmin side of that equation. What must be measure right after awakening is the blood pressure! The reviews generally take a lot of hours to put together, so it’s a fair bit of work (and labor of love). As for socks, I’m not sure what summer socks are – but, I just wore some dress socks to test it. The Garmin site now says ‘release in Q1 2021’. Technology Telegraph interesting. Whreabouts? Has that been your experience too, Ray (and others)? This new scale is a refresh to the uber-popular Garmin Index, which is now five years old. 22. Her name is Bobbie, she’s from the Rock, and she’s FAMOUS! But then the scale should at least do what say a Fitbit Charge 4 does for SP02, that is to show a relative change with time and not the actual measurement, that’d be more honest I think. The Withings has had a rechargeable battery for years. _g1.setAttribute('srcset', _g1.getAttribute('data-srcset')); … Given that on some months I can see my abs, and no others, I am guessing my BF% has fluctuated a little. They too track weight, BMI, body fat and water percentage, muscle and bone mass, and more. Underneath the scale are 4 AAA batteries, and four feet to be used if the scale is placed on carpet. I just went to my S1 and measured with Isn’t that just math? Try this one: Step at the scale and record your weight. In fact, it was already in some shops two days ago. In case anyone else should encounter this issues, this is what I am seeing on my scale. Finally, the estimate is also bad and too high for almost everyone who posts here. Wondering about the scenario of taking it to a workout or race venue etc where there’s no access. In fact, every time you step on the scale it’ll check for software updates, and if there is an update, it’ll install it the following night between 1AM and 4AM. In fact, one of the measurements showed a 7kg weight increase in just 5 minutes (it was the weight of the pregnant girl friend! I have BMI > 30% and now for proper calories (BMR and active) calculations I put in GC setting ‘fake’ weight (weight I should have without extra fat). Be aware and consider the reviews … Garmin Instinct. It’s been working flawlessly for I think 2 years now syncing my Withings scale to Garmin. I understood that it is possible to jump on the scale and it syncs via Garmin connect to trainingpeaks. From your computer or on your compatible mobile device, Garmin Connect lets you see your data in more detail and review your progress against your goals.Up to 16 people can be recognized by the smart scale … Historically speaking the Index scale has done better in the US. } Bit of a head scratcher. The $149.99 Garmin Index Smart Scale automatically measures and calculates everything you can hope a scale would, including weight, body water, body fat, bone mass, and body … I would expect that to resolve the issue. ), correct? “Still, I was hoping for a bit better 3rd party support here – albeit that’s not entirely Garmin’s fault.” Ideally this would be more cohesively presented to a user upon any link-up, but it’s not today. Will it let you ship the S2 there (since it’s in stock on Amazon US)? The body metrics are not only impedance based. Nope, that is wrong… I found that people who had partners that used the scale mucked up the Garmin health data. THIS would be a feature making me buying a smart scale! Technology Telegraph It syncs with Apple health, so my weight is always up to date throughout my apps. Just circling back on this for the European folks, I noticed this evening that the Garmin Index S2 scale is now showing as available on Amazon DE and NL (though, it’s oddly cheaper on DE – the NL pricing looks dorked up…as always). It’s a nice break from the day to day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it! But unlike Withings or Fitbit, there’s no clear landing page on all the services/partners Garmin supports here. For whatever reason I was enthusiastically waiting for this new version even though it is a scale. Indeed the trend should refer to measures taken in the conditions that is just after waking up (in the morning) therefore the first weight-in of the day. It is funny to see that between garmin and Withings the only major difference is the color screen. _g1.setAttribute('src', _g1.getAttribute('data-src') ); And then finally, it’ll ask you for the WiFi information. The idea here simply being that if you’re getting ready in the morning and just going in or out of the shower, this could guide your clothing choices for the day. After all you have no interesting BF “predictions” but more a kind of second weight measurement. In the weight section you’ll see every individual weigh-in, as well as trending and even the variance of multiple weigh-ins on a single day (the little grey blobs indicated on certain days with multiple weigh-ins). Also, backtracking a step or two slightly, you’ll define the initials the scale displays when you step on it. Also, does the scale itself connect to the cloud and post the measurements to the cloud? The Weight logger app keeps your previous entries so its easy to quickly update and save or upload the new data to GC. While Garmin has done that development work, there’s gaps in partners picking it up. BUY HERE: Amazon … This isn’t entirely the fault of Garmin, but it’s also an area they could put some effort into convincing their partners (cough, Zwift). I do in general find WiFi scales a far better option than Bluetooth only scales. I would assume, that it is a really rare occasion, that someone needs this. So that means a developer only has to fill out one form, and gets keys to the kingdom for all the various platforms/accesses. Great, I am looking forward to it! Not related to the post here, but regarding the partnership with Competitive Cyclist and Backcountry.com : these websites are not available in Europe due to GDPR regulations. You’ll notice above it shows +0.2 above my name, this means I gained +0.2lbs since the last weigh-in. I now use the android ANT+ Weight Scale Display app which pushes data to Garmin Connect and Training Peaks. I do have a preorder on the Wyze headphones…yeah, a sucker for their low price/high functionality devices… Is the scale a winner? Fat percentage can never be measured accurately, but when the number coming out of the instrument is based more on some known averages (not constants!) “You can select and save up to 7 WiFi networks within the Index S2 scale. Want to compare the features of each product, down to the nitty-gritty? So I’ve got a pretty good idea side by side on how they work. If you do care about your day-to-day weigh-in changes, the Index S2 has you covered. Thanks // Alex, I think Zwift only supports Nokia withings and Fitbit that’s big draw back specially for Zwift races. Essentially they’ve consolidated all of the developer programs under one umbrella agreement. Would be great to have a reference of a medical certified measurements. Only thing: you can see the range of that day via the blobs as you call them. It has a mirror-like finish on the top, a new color display, and it’s slightly smaller than the original Index. Is there any information on when to actually expect it in the Netherlands? The Life Stressor Checklist-Revised (LSC-R) is a self-report measure that assesses traumatic or stressful life events. Interesting review as usual. It doesn’t have a color screen on your Scale but you will have $120 in your pocket for a different toy (watch upgrade, etc.) You can delete weigh-ins, too, if you think the scale was off for any reason. I think it’s usually when iOS updates that things go whacky because the only way for my current scale to communicate with Garmin is by going through it’s own app, which connects with AppleHealth, which then should communicate with Garmin. and most people probably don’t spend much time reviewing data on the scale itself. So, I learned my lesson and will not give Garmin the next try, unless there are serious tests available. Not as impressed. That’s a good question. So do you think it’s worth the upgrade? Ray, have you heard anything if the Google deal is going to change that? S1 could not. Garmin Index S2 good scale The good scale for Garmin customers. They cant do it that exactly and take mostly your weight and age and that fix data. Feet should be a very good option to do this (far better than fingers because of its large surface). It just shouldn’t be pretending to measure it. I suppose that might be valuable for use cases where a coach/physician/staff/athlete is moving the scale between locations on different WiFi networks, perhaps having a hotspot one + a normal office/home location.”. Get all your awesome high quality DCR kit and gear here! Then added the sensor kit – equally great. Or accurate ? No average values per day are used for that. Rechargeable batteries have limited charging cycles. fall where it falls……….or rises, so be it…. It would be a big improvement to take the daily readiness while standing a little bit longer on the scale. A note on connectivity: like the first Index, the Index S2 can connect to multiple Wi-Fi networks. I’ve always found it kinda funny that for a digital scale that shows a gazillion metrics based on information in your account, that it relies upon a physical switch to change the way weight is shown. But I do agree, it seems like a great example of a no-brainer type widget Garmin could add to their own watches relatively easily. Technology Telegraph C) The new umbrella API access is slated to be fully lit up by end of this year. – Body Mass Index (BMI) The old one could just use 2.4 GHz. The bio impedance is a fraude. No meaningful difference to me. Got a replacement from Garmin, but same behavior. It comes with four AAA batteries to power the scale, as well as four risers in case you need to use the scale on carpet. If I move the scale somewhere else, the process to change the WiFi network connection is anything but user-friendly. I’m interested in any feedback on the Wyze scale. On the back there are two electronic “buttons”. Assuming an app is supported though, you can link it up to get weight data automatically sent to it. I am still thinking that an in-depth-review of a body fat measuring device (and that is what differentiates it from just a scale) should address if and how the device can meet that basic claim. Plus of course, Amazon anywhere. I’m headed to Paris – what do you recommend for training or sightseeing? Any idea of changes to this data? And yup, even the weather, showing the slated high/low for the day as well as the current temperature. Thanks in advance. Actually, the changes announced last week should double-down on making it super easy to access the Garmin Health API aspects. However, what is firmly in Garmin’s control is the lack of weight trendline information properly accounting for historical data for existing Garmin Index scale users. December. – Maximum weight of 400lbs/181.4kg We currently own the Omron BF511 scale, but I would like to upgrade to a more modern scale with a mobile connection to keep track of developments. Your email address will not be published. A reliable bathroom scale can be found for under $25. – Both black and white versions (Pro Tip: The black version is impossible to keep clean, white is half-possible). an issue where with my Activity Class in Garmin Connect set to 8 or 9, it would use a different algorithm for body fat% on the flawed assumption I was a world class athlete and tell me my BF% was about 5%. My personal preference is AA or CR2032 over rechargable batteries in HRM straps, speed & cadence sensors, blood pressure measuring devices and scales as well. Having a physical switch that would fix it on one unit would be an advantage. Could be the reason why it didn’t work! My old Tanita is still doing its job, but I am still looking for an affordable replacement with connectivity, but of course needs to do its main job first. Each user needs to be added as a connection to the main user’s Garmin Connect account. Ok, with those quick newness bits covered, let’s get it out of the box. Of which, the vast majority of that would of course just be water weight. Ultimately though, for me, I don’t put much value in these extended metrics using electro impedance like other scales (nor do I put much value in people using calipers, most folks screw that up – despite having done it ‘hundreds’ or ‘thousands’ of times). But at the end of the day, you might just be wondering “What does Ray use when not testing new products?”. Looks like another scale that won’t really work well on carpet, even with those feet. I really hope Polar will release their Balance 2. In my case it always shows 7% which is definitely off (I have 22.7 BMI), and I don’t care, but I can’t see the evolution, because I’m stuck at 7% except after Christmas for a few weeks. Then one at least know if the S2 can differentiate fat people from thin people. Many readers stumble into my website in search of information on the latest and greatest sports tech products. Should I be afraid of garmine? Get Connected. If you have any intention to mix devices then your main training platform can not be tied to a manufacturer. For the Netherlands, I’m not seeing it being stocked at this point. The Index S2 offers the convenience of detailed uploads right to your Garmin Connect account. Meaning, it is not unavailable since I saw this review, and saw it the first time, on their website. If it is my cycling workout data from the Wahoo Element Bolt or simply a hike through the forest from my Polar Vantage M. No I manually enter weight data into the TrainingPeaks app, so I’m curious to learn which metrics can be automatically pushed into TrainingPeaks with this smart scale. A connected scale that has all the data in the world, somehow doesn’t pull the data in from arguably Garmin’s best customers (the ones who are buying yet another scale from the company). The scale isn’t getting any information despite your height from the server. I will give it until end of March, if its not available then I’ll go with another Withins scale after this one has given 8 years service. Based on your comments several years ago on this basis I had ruled this scale out but now am much more interested. Is this still the case in your opinion or has it in the meantime become harder to be granted Garmin (Health) API access? The weight measurements were identical, however the body fat/bonemass/body water measurements were slightly different (about .3% difference). Do you have any insight into the algorithms they use to do the calculations here Ray? Read our reviews of the best smart, digital, and analog scales you can buy. There hasn’t been a fee for the dev/API access for a few years. Are you willing to review or test beta products? So, why buy the Garmin Index S2 if there are similar devices that will cost you far less? Garmin knows that most of these athletes are stupid enough like me to trust these influencers with everything if they are doing a good job in some areas. Sure, a few people will upgrade their units, but for the most part this is just ensuring that the product doesn’t appear to be from nearly 5 years ago. would be interesting if the bug with 7% Body Fat is really solved with the new sensors, on the old one, when you reach arround 21 BMI or so, your body fat is always 7% or so I aim to leave no stone unturned. Garmin … Thanks for the in-depth review as always. I’m curious if they improved something in that area or they just changed display and software a little bit , when you checkout your weight on website version of Garmin Connect (direct link to GC Web for today’s weight: link to connect.garmin.com). Maybe it is meaningless to fight over 0.5lb? However, I do use MyFitnessPal for weight tracking. Credit: Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority. And the worst is you see in the app that the SSIDs used previously have been stored – just not the passwords nor any intent to use this data. But, the Withings scale is $59, I’m not sure what additional features or hardware Garmin has that justifies the $90 premium. While it’s unlikely your Brady Bunch is that big in your house, this is more for team scenarios where multiple athletes are weighing in. I will see how consistent the readings are over time, to see if it makes at least an effective tool as a relative measure of body fat. thank you very much for another fantastic review. Do you know if this has been rectified, at least to give a more gradual phasing of algorithms between different Activity Levels? I would say I’m sitting at 14-15% right now. The actual measurements from the scale would be more useful long term to me, since they have over the years suddenly changed algorithms and their ‘activity’ level settings. Most of these will connect via Bluetooth 4.0 or 4.1, though some can use Wi-Fi to connect to your phone and central internet more easily. This is where you’ll grab your smartphone to set it up, using the Garmin Connect app. You might say it’s one of the prettiest smart scales on the market (controversial, I know). Essentially your name, but somehow only four characters are allowed. And while the goal isn’t realistically to try and have 1:1 replacement of fluids during a workout (especially running), you can at least use the information to guide your hydration choices. Its entire point in life is to be a CONNECTED scale. At this juncture you can step off the scale, it’s done its thing, and will flash the initials/name of who it thinks you are, based on your weight and the historical weight data it has. – Bone Mass The saving of multiple data points per day certainly isn’t new in the Garmin Index scale world, it’s been doing that for quite a while with the older scale, but it wouldn’t show the change in weight. I got a replacement showing the same problem. Required fields are marked.If you would like a profile picture, simply register at Gravatar, which works here on DCR and across the web. And of course, that color display versus the black/white one previously. Thanks for taking the time to look into my question and share the answer. That’s in addition to all the baseline bits it previously did: – Measures weight (lbs/stones/kg) As it iterates through each of these data points it’ll show an icon above to it indicating what it is, such as muscle mass below. I am interested to know what other brand that has accuracy that is within 0.5lb. $149.99. What is new with the S2 scale though is this little trendline chart seen on the scale. Then, an outdoor cam. Adding any form of API to make it easy to upload data means they start loosing control of this. Thus, Garmin.com is always the last site to have it. Read our full Garmin Index S2 smart scale review to see if it’s worth the money. The older scale I currently use has never provided a higher weight reading seven days in a row without my clothing fitting a little bit tighter. No, that’s not the reason. . So in my case, I’ve got piles of data that would show up here – and most importantly from a vanity standpoint, show up with a nice decreasing trendline over the past while. There will almost certainly be some noticeable differences between readings on the original and the S2. I did send my Index scale back to Garmin for a replacement along with reading patterns proving that INDEX scale seems not to use impedance readings but calculating those values from weight and height. So you’d weigh yourself pre-run, and then again post-run. Still, I was hoping for a bit better 3rd party support here – albeit that’s not entirely Garmin’s fault. Technology Telegraph But you could actually call any Garmin retailer (such as a bike shop) and have them simply place an order for you. Not normal. I suppose I meant being able to access this information (eg weight trend over the past 7 days) directly on the watch. with the Body Cardio) and just put a flat bottom on their scale with the “feet” located internally. try { I don’t understand why all other graphs are so bad. There’s also a toggle underneath the scale to switch between pounds, kilograms, or stones. While I don’t use it myself, a bunch of people seem pretty happy with it. When I look at the Index 2 vs Index 1, the weight is almost always nearly identical – such as .1lbs apart. It supports up to 16 users, uploads your data over Wi-Fi, and gives you a handy 30-day weight trend on its new color display. Even Changing activity class can change readings as DesFit shows in his video: link to youtu.be so I would assume that changing age will have a huge impact. My experience over years with the S1 is that its bodyfat % seems to be the product of measured weight * some black box multiplier or some simple lookup table. Hello Ray, do you have any idea of avaibility for the Index S2 ? – Uploads via WiFi, configuration via Bluetooth Smart It would be interesting to know if that’s fixed. After that drink al lot of water or hold a bottle or pot of Water in your hands and step at the scale again. Tanita cloud (my.tanita.com), Pricewise, the Garmin is fair comparing to Tanita. In Europe they redirect to two different entities, but as noted, the blocking is tough. The color display on the scale can also show your BMI, body fat percentage bone mass, weather and … I got a difference of 0.7kg this morning, 83.0kg with the Fenix 5+ on and 83.7kg without it. “I’ve always found it kinda funny that for a digital scale that shows a gazillion metrics based on information in your account, that it relies upon a physical switch to change the way weight is shown.” I have a Withings Smart Body Analyzer. Garmin has just announced the new Index S2 smart WiFi scale, building slightly upon the previous first-generation Index WiFi scale released nearly 5 years ago.This new model switches to a … Many thanks. Seems to be a problem others have had per a thread on forums.Garmin.Com. I have quite a few wyze cams, but I’ve kind of soured on them as a company. The plastic-topped Tanita HD-351 is an impressively accurate option with a non-glass platform. There’s been too many late night Stroopwafels for me lately for that to impact my testing. } October 13, 2020, 9:35 am, by Or is that saying my actual bone mass is 5.9 lbs, and there’s 3.4 lbs of water in those bones? I had this issue with my scale as well. In fact, you can also use apps like HealthFit to push that data elsewhere from your phone. The same with fat and water. Anyone has the same problem, or have a reseller that have them in stock? This has led to mixups. Technology Telegraph The idea here being that if you wanted to do a workout (such as a long run on a hot day), you can compare the weight metric to the previous value quickly and easily. Alternatively, you can view more details in the ‘Weight’ section under ‘Health Stats’. And if you remember that back then, basically I showed that while all the scales (including Tanita ones) nailed weight, none of them were that close when it came to body fat. Is the experience with the S2 different? You should check out my videos. Watts/kilo according to my last measurement? var _g1; Having it parade my GC data to me before my morning exercise would be useful though. I suppose that might be valuable for use cases where a coach/physician/staff/athlete is moving the scale between locations on different WiFi networks, perhaps having a hotspot one + a normal office/home location. I take things to a whole new level of interactive depth! – Added previous weigh-in vs current weigh-in data difference to screen Hi Ray – Thanks for your review. Pretty sure Garmin Connect Mobile does that rather than the scale. Cheers. Here’s all the differences between them (and yes, these are mostly minor): – Added new color screen If the numbers the device outputs follows a consistent, rational & explainable pattern, then it may be helpful to the user simply to note that some aspect of their physicality is increasing or decreasing. Hydration, I dunno, I guess I’ll find out after I start logging some post-workout and morning weigh-ins. by Garmin Index S2 smart scale The smart scale for Garmin users. Surprisingly, there haven’t been many functional advancements in the smart scale world over the last five years. I trust that if you’re investing in a WiFi connected smart scale, you’ve got the technical prowess to correctly insert 4xAAA batteries. And the price is 1/3. Don’t worry, we’ll cover all the bits as part of this review here. Does the device work well with recharcheable NiMH batteries? If the scale can’t connect to the internet/servers at the point of the measurement will it cache the value and upload when it can next make contact? For sure. Perhaps just as important as being accurate is being consistent — which the Index S2 definitely is. A) This is for read-only access to GC data (or, utilization of the transfer API’s like workout/courses) Oh, and here’s the manual. The Garmin Index S2 is available from Garmin, Amazon, and other retailers for $149.99 in black and white colorways. Taking this a step further, after a workout, Garmin estimates your water loss, I wonder if they could actually track my water loss through my weight change if done immediately before and after. It would be great to have a choice for example when the scale in a place without Wi-Fi for example on a training camp or on remote location. Opinion & Analysis Garmin Index S2 smart scale review: Weight and … Just got my new Index S2 (black) and the glass top has a lot of very fine scratches. Crack open the relatively thin box of the S2 and you’ll find the scale chilling inside a paper wrapper, with a bit of instructions floating in the box somewhere.