Some Background:
I’m a user of Garmin Fenix watches since the first generation, currently on a Fenix 7x. Also, I’ve used Whoop for 5 years now and was trying to replace it. Currently, I train for Hyrox races. So I have a trainer who gives plans to me in TrainingPeaks. I use Strava, but currently mainly to get new running courses in Munich.
For all interval/HIT stuff/, I use the app Intervals Pro. For weightlifting strength, I use the app Fitbod.
What was my Plan?
Garmin releases more and more features for general fitness. So the plan was to replace Whoop with Garmin.
Why I failed
While I tried doing this, I ended up buying additional apps just so I could share data with Garmin. Because Garmin wonât read the data directly from Apple Health. Therefore, I needed the app ‚Run Gap‘ to sync workouts from Apple Health to Garmin. And a Website App
„Smart Scale Syncer“ to sync the weight data from my Withings scale also to Garmin.
Long Story Short:
I stopped the project. Garmin failed. Things that work out of the box with Whoop need manual steps and cost extra.
The Details
The lack of Garmin to read data from other sources is too big.
I also would not buy a Garmin scale just to have the weight data with Garmin. That’s, in short, the problem: the Garmin world works only with Garmin devices out of the box.
For the Workout Logging:
Fitbot and Intervals Pro, both, can send data to Apple Health and to Strava. But as mentioned, Garmin won’t read this Data.
Then I tried to configure the training in Garmin Connect directly. But failed too.
First, exercises are missing. There is, for example, no sled pull and no ski ergometer. That’s no good start for a Hyrox training.
Secondly, the workout logging with the Fenix (and also with the app, I tried Connect+) has its big flaws.
I tried the following Setup:
For Time (20Â min)
- Wall Balls Until Fail,
- 250m Ski Ergometer
- 250m Row Ergometer.
The goal was to track the number of wall balls I can do every round. But already while the setup in Connect: you can’t set distance as a target for the row ergometer, and as mentioned, there was no ski ergometer to choose from. So I had to set the row ergometer two times.
Then while Training:
After the full round, the app asked for reps, but not of wall balls. It asked for the row ergometer, the last exercise, which made no sense in my training. So no chance to track the wall ball reps directly; I had to remember them.
That is, what it looked like:
Therefore, this was a fail with Garmin.
Just as an example, here’s what a log with Fitbod or Interval Pro Looks (other workouts):
And here’s Intervals Pro:
This setup, you can’t do with Garmin.
For both apps I luckily have the lifetime subscription. So no montly coasts.
Now Garmin for the initial training:
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And now
What to do now?
The big problem with Garmin is it will only work if all you need for training is already built in. On the other hand, if you think about an Apple Watch. Here it depends on which apps you install. On this note, Fitbod and Intervals Pro also support the Apple Watch. Which means that I could use both apps directly. And when I then think about the Whoop Replacement. There is the application called Bevel, which already has more features than Whoop ever will have. For the end of the year (2025), they promised even a Garmin integration.
But generally, the Apple Watch would make the most sense for my training and also for the Whoop replacement.
About Whoop
My big problem with Whoop, after all this time, is what they delivered for the money I spent on the subscription. And I donât want to start about the broken promises, that I had to pay for the new Whoop, and that I lost a lot of my bands and accessories, which I had. I was a former Whoop Pro subscriber. So i had a lot.
But the benefit of Whoop: It reads Apple Health. So it gets all the Data, which Garmin does not. Even the Withings Scale as a direct connection. I don’t even need to start an activity on it. It tracks anyway 24×7.
For now, thanks to referrals, I still have a prepaid subscription until the middle of next year. But there is just a small chance, that I would stay with Whoop after that.
If you want to try Whoop, you and I get a free month with this link:
https://join.whoop.com/D212E5FA
About the Apple Watch
The Apple Watch would solve most of my problems without the need to set anything around it to sync data, as I would need to with Garmin. It reads directly from Apple Health. So gets the data from my App. And I can connect my chest strap, something that is not possible for Whoop.
But the Battery. When Iâm in the mountains, I need a long-lasting battery. The Ultra would help here, but I donât like the design of it (yet). But also the Ultra can’t beat my Fenix.
About the Fenix
Battery perfect, but Iâm limited to the features that are offered. Of course, I tried some apps from the Connect IQ Store. However, no, they are no solution.
Another Problem: The updates stop for the 7X. In the Garmin Store, I checked out the new 8 Pro with the AMOLED display. Yes, the training function is improved over my 7. But what is when the 9 Pro arrives? The software also would not get updates anymore. Clear point for Apple. I would not have this problem for years…
And I donât understand in which direction Garmin tries to go anyway. The display looks insanely good. But in Default, it turns off to save the battery. That’s a no-go for me for a watch. If you want to use the satellite features, you need a subscription with Garmin. This also gives you an (LTE cellular connection. I donât know how big the audience would be for that when, for example, the Apple Watch can just be used with a multi-SIM (5G) of your current providers contract, which has the same number as your main Contract and also gives the satellite emergency function for free on top. You would need to be a real Pro in ultra-endurance sports or professionally in the mountains every day to justify this subscription with Garmin.
Final Notes
Whoop has no future for me. Garmin can’t replace Whoop; Apple Watch can but has a terrible battery life. But the newest Fenix too…Â