I love these podcasts! The 2 of you make great relatable content on your individual channels and it is brilliant to see both of you come together for this podcast!
Great pod, guys! Some comments regarding my experience since December using an epix Pro (gen 2). First, if you practice using maps I do actually find them very useful on the mountain. Especially for us snowboarders trying to avoid catwalks I can easily load the map and make sure I cut over in time when up in the trees so as to limit my time / distance on the flatter sections. Also, zooming in, especially while on a lift, is very informative as it gives trail and lift names right on the watch. I have found this often more clear than the resort trail maps. Plus, it shows where you have been already in red (customizable) which is really useful if you want to repeat a run or avoid one. Second, I can only speak for my Garmin experience but I also use it all day on the hill to control my iPhone's music. This works great and I don't have to take off my gloves when I pause to talk with folks on the chair lift. Third, the data page with the view of elevation changes during the day on the watch is awesome since it also gives total run time. This, along with some customization of the data pages (added speed and HR, for example) and I'm in heaven up there. Lastly, the Slopes app looks awesome and I understand the support. But you're selling the Connect app short. It does, indeed, show your speed and all stats wherever you were on the mountain. Want 3d? Just change the map to terrain. Slopes is better, agreed, but Connect can do a lot more than you are showing.
Thank you for the episode! Would love to see an episode/section regarding the current state of smartwatches (or tech overall) for the elderly that aren't as tech savy but could help caregivers with the data/fall warnings/other features that fit the theme.
This actually a very interesting take on recording your skiing activities. This is something that I focused on this winter and would have definitely said that Garmin was the clear winner before watching this video. I had not heard of Slopes and only tested the the basic ski workout on the Apple watch. I actually thought about getting rid of my Apple watch, as I felt the Garmin was better, and skiing was for whatever reason, the thing that almost tipped the scales. I find myself doing as you seem to also be doing, and that is to wear both watches. I have an AWU2 and an Epix Pro. I have been testing them out a lot with running, treadmill, strength etc. And I am a bit conflicted on which one would be the best all rounder. Battery life and tactility vs connectivity and smartwatch features. I actually found it funny after watching all the Apple versus Garmin reviews, and now having used both, that they really are different beasts with some overlap. But with what you’re saying with the Slopes app, I think I have to re-evaluate the Apple watches potential. Cause on the mountain it is an excellent communication device. Having to grab your phone under layers of clothing and with gloves on, on the mountain, is at many instances difficult and at others very ill advised. Dropping it while on the ski lift or in deep powder is pretty much going to result in it staying lost. On the mountain I wore the Garmin to record my snowboard activity but had no other use for it outside of that. So if the Apple watch can handle that activity, or as it seems, do it better. Then it would be the better one to use instead of both. This brings up the question again that a lot of people are trying to figure out, and that is which watch should you choose. All the data that Garmin provides is light-years ahead of what Apple does. There really is no competition there. That is why the whole versus argument is silly. But I’m really trying to understand is do I actually have any use for that data? I turned off the Morning report cause even though the metrics were insightful, they were in the end telling me how to feel. And it’s great to know if my training is productive but with things like rest suggestions, I’m still going running even though I should be resting and recovering according to the watch. I keep it a habit to listen to my body and how I’m feeling that morning, and not how the watch data is telling me to. For example when traveling, Garmin will take into account your jet lag and acclimatization and give you suggestions based on that. This is a brilliant, real world use aspect that is outside the whole fitness watch spectrum, and is never brought up in reviews properly. It is a small thing but makes the Apple watch seem like a dumbwatch in comparison. But again, do I really need that data? So my ask is, now that you have this podcast where you can delve deeper into topics. Could you dedicate a podcast to the actual day to day differences of these two devices and their real world use. ? And to touch upon the actual need, benefit or application of all the data that these wearables provide. ? Because there is a tangible benefit to be able to place a call from my watch in a dire situation but having lots of hill score data in arbitrary values, not so much. Ps. My first sportswatch was the Polar V800. The AWU is quite a step up from it and pretty much tells me the same info. I was running with my Polar then as I am with my AWU and Epix Pro now. I had bought a Fenix 6 after the Polar and now everything after Garmin seems like a step down, but in reality nothing has changed in the way I train. The reason for buying the Polar was because it was the brand that some runners that I wanted to emulate were using it. But the funny thing was that they would not even regularly use their running watches. A lot of times opting to go running without one, just checking their resting heart rate in the morning. These guys were and are running ultras etc. So I found it fascinating that they were focused purely on running and listening to how their bodies were feeling. But after getting a Garmin, I feel as I can’t get out of bed without recording all my data for every minute of the day, 24/7. And in the end, that is why I am so conflicted with this versus debate cause I am not getting a full understanding of what is actually useful. So I would believe you two gentlemen, well versed in the physical and technological side of using these wearables would the perfect pair to bring forth the proper knowledge that we are in such a dire need of.
For me maps on a Garmin are super useful when backcounty skiing especially in bad weather when I don't really see where to go and need to check every couple of seconds if I descend the correct way.
Supersapiens was a clever idea, but the software limiter at 200mg/dL was annoying. And during a long effort, I didn't really have a lot of options in the moment to move my blood sugar. Depending on the effort, I was already at 60g or 90g CHO and hour. I do think understanding the S-like curve at the beginning of an effort or the spike post-workout was helpful. But I found more value in just using the Libre3.
The Apple Watch app doesn’t work for cross country skiing. It only record the time and nothing else they could easily just have a adapted the running part and made it cross-country skiing. I have to use the Strava app to get the distance and other metrics when I’m doing cross-country skiing.
I love these podcasts! The 2 of you make great relatable content on your individual channels and it is brilliant to see both of you come together for this podcast!
Thanks so much!
Great pod, guys! Some comments regarding my experience since December using an epix Pro (gen 2).
First, if you practice using maps I do actually find them very useful on the mountain. Especially for us snowboarders trying to avoid catwalks I can easily load the map and make sure I cut over in time when up in the trees so as to limit my time / distance on the flatter sections. Also, zooming in, especially while on a lift, is very informative as it gives trail and lift names right on the watch. I have found this often more clear than the resort trail maps. Plus, it shows where you have been already in red (customizable) which is really useful if you want to repeat a run or avoid one.
Second, I can only speak for my Garmin experience but I also use it all day on the hill to control my iPhone's music. This works great and I don't have to take off my gloves when I pause to talk with folks on the chair lift.
Third, the data page with the view of elevation changes during the day on the watch is awesome since it also gives total run time. This, along with some customization of the data pages (added speed and HR, for example) and I'm in heaven up there.
Lastly, the Slopes app looks awesome and I understand the support. But you're selling the Connect app short. It does, indeed, show your speed and all stats wherever you were on the mountain. Want 3d? Just change the map to terrain. Slopes is better, agreed, but Connect can do a lot more than you are showing.
Thank you for the episode! Would love to see an episode/section regarding the current state of smartwatches (or tech overall) for the elderly that aren't as tech savy but could help caregivers with the data/fall warnings/other features that fit the theme.
This actually a very interesting take on recording your skiing activities. This is something that I focused on this winter and would have definitely said that Garmin was the clear winner before watching this video. I had not heard of Slopes and only tested the the basic ski workout on the Apple watch. I actually thought about getting rid of my Apple watch, as I felt the Garmin was better, and skiing was for whatever reason, the thing that almost tipped the scales.
I find myself doing as you seem to also be doing, and that is to wear both watches. I have an AWU2 and an Epix Pro. I have been testing them out a lot with running, treadmill, strength etc. And I am a bit conflicted on which one would be the best all rounder. Battery life and tactility vs connectivity and smartwatch features.
I actually found it funny after watching all the Apple versus Garmin reviews, and now having used both, that they really are different beasts with some overlap. But with what you’re saying with the Slopes app, I think I have to re-evaluate the Apple watches potential. Cause on the mountain it is an excellent communication device. Having to grab your phone under layers of clothing and with gloves on, on the mountain, is at many instances difficult and at others very ill advised. Dropping it while on the ski lift or in deep powder is pretty much going to result in it staying lost.
On the mountain I wore the Garmin to record my snowboard activity but had no other use for it outside of that. So if the Apple watch can handle that activity, or as it seems, do it better. Then it would be the better one to use instead of both.
This brings up the question again that a lot of people are trying to figure out, and that is which watch should you choose.
All the data that Garmin provides is light-years ahead of what Apple does. There really is no competition there. That is why the whole versus argument is silly. But I’m really trying to understand is do I actually have any use for that data?
I turned off the Morning report cause even though the metrics were insightful, they were in the end telling me how to feel. And it’s great to know if my training is productive but with things like rest suggestions, I’m still going running even though I should be resting and recovering according to the watch. I keep it a habit to listen to my body and how I’m feeling that morning, and not how the watch data is telling me to.
For example when traveling, Garmin will take into account your jet lag and acclimatization and give you suggestions based on that. This is a brilliant, real world use aspect that is outside the whole fitness watch spectrum, and is never brought up in reviews properly. It is a small thing but makes the Apple watch seem like a dumbwatch in comparison. But again, do I really need that data?
So my ask is, now that you have this podcast where you can delve deeper into topics. Could you dedicate a podcast to the actual day to day differences of these two devices and their real world use. ?
And to touch upon the actual need, benefit or application of all the data that these wearables provide. ? Because there is a tangible benefit to be able to place a call from my watch in a dire situation but having lots of hill score data in arbitrary values, not so much.
Ps.
My first sportswatch was the Polar V800. The AWU is quite a step up from it and pretty much tells me the same info. I was running with my Polar then as I am with my AWU and Epix Pro now. I had bought a Fenix 6 after the Polar and now everything after Garmin seems like a step down, but in reality nothing has changed in the way I train. The reason for buying the Polar was because it was the brand that some runners that I wanted to emulate were using it. But the funny thing was that they would not even regularly use their running watches. A lot of times opting to go running without one, just checking their resting heart rate in the morning. These guys were and are running ultras etc. So I found it fascinating that they were focused purely on running and listening to how their bodies were feeling.
But after getting a Garmin, I feel as I can’t get out of bed without recording all my data for every minute of the day, 24/7.
And in the end, that is why I am so conflicted with this versus debate cause I am not getting a full understanding of what is actually useful. So I would believe you two gentlemen, well versed in the physical and technological side of using these wearables would the perfect pair to bring forth the proper knowledge that we are in such a dire need of.
Thank you
I always enjoy this segment that you guys have produced
Thanks!
I realized that this is out right after my 1+ hour tacx ride... :'D
The pond is crazy.. i can't believe how many paths are flooded here along the North Holland coastline
For me maps on a Garmin are super useful when backcounty skiing especially in bad weather when I don't really see where to go and need to check every couple of seconds if I descend the correct way.
Agree, for backcountry the maps are great. Just more the resort maps can be tricky to use. (Des)
Very fascinating hearing about the blood glucose monitoring. Always been curious about that. Disappointing about their execution.
Supersapiens was a clever idea, but the software limiter at 200mg/dL was annoying. And during a long effort, I didn't really have a lot of options in the moment to move my blood sugar. Depending on the effort, I was already at 60g or 90g CHO and hour.
I do think understanding the S-like curve at the beginning of an effort or the spike post-workout was helpful. But I found more value in just using the Libre3.
great format! 👌
Thanks!
The Apple Watch app doesn’t work for cross country skiing. It only record the time and nothing else they could easily just have a adapted the running part and made it cross-country skiing. I have to use the Strava app to get the distance and other metrics when I’m doing cross-country skiing.
Would be super keen to have this on pocketcasts!
It’s there! Just search for the fit file podcast
Are you going to cover Polar Grit x 2 soon?
Hi. Can you test Samsung Fit3?
So awesome for you to shout out the indie developers, like the Slopes guy!! ⛷️