Garmin Scales

Grumpy_chap

Hello,
Our bathroom scales ceased to function, so we need some new ones.

We like the Garmin scales, as they will directly sync and populate the Garmin Connect App.  However, at £120, it is frankly a lot of money to pay and probably not worth it.

A popular online retailer offers several alternative types of smart scales, with a wide choice below £30.  The RENPHO is a typical type.  What we are struggling to see is whether any of these types will sync and do data transfer into the Garmin Connect App.  We can see scales that will sync with Apple Health, FitBit, Google Fitness etc., but none seem to list the Garmin Connect App.

Does anyone know whether there are any alternative digital smart scales that are available and link well with the Garmin Connect App?

With thanks in advance.

kane8907

What about Arboleaf Smart Scale?

Grumpy_chap

Thanks @kane8907 - that looks good but the website lists that it syncs with Fitbit, Apple Health and Google Fit.  I can't see anywhere that says it will link to Garmin Connect (unless I missed that). 
Maybe there is someone who has a smart scale (not Garmin) and knows that it definitely syncs with Garmin Connect.

moneysaver1978

How much data do you have in Garmin Connect? Like you, I was invested in Garmin Connect but needed more flexibility and decided to bite the bullet.

With the Apple Watch, using a standard bluetooth-enabled scales (I have a RENPHO Body Fat Scale Bluetooth which cost £25 - sorry cannot post a link yet!), it just seemed much easier syncing data with more fitness apps like FitnessPal and Strava.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks @moneysaver1978

I find the Garmin Connect app offers a lot of data - certainly better than FitBit - and work well with my Garmin watch / tracker.  Garmin Connect also syncs with MyFitnessPal.  I do not have Strava, but not sure that would offer me any more than Garmin Connect as the watch has GPS so tracks runs in any case.

Maybe I just don't know these other apps so don't know what I am missing out on?

From a cost point of view, I did like the RENPHO scales from the on-line retailer, but could not see they would sync with Garmin Connect.  However, to avoid the cost of £120 scales through buying £200 or more Apple Watch is not very MSE?

Grumpy_chap

To update, SANTA kindly brought me the Garmin Scales and they are faulty but, as far as I can tell, not very well conceived either. 

Unfortunately I cannot get them to sync and the sync function is absurdly difficult as it uses both Bluetooth to the phone plus WIFI (both Bluetooth and WIFA are required, it is not an option to use one or the other unless the manual is incorrect) and I my scales will not sync to the WIFI part.  I have looked for various solutions online and the common one seems to be to set the WIFI password to "1234" which I am not going to try - partly because such a weak password would be folly and partly because of the hassle that will be to change the password on everything else around the house that uses WIFI.

Before I send these back and go for a cheaper product, like the RENPHO scales, I just thought I'd check if there is anyone on here that has good suggestions for the Garmin scales.

DebsFran

RENPHO Body Fat Scale Bluetooth, Digital Body Weight Bathroom Scales Weighing Scale with Smart BMI Scale, Body Composition Monitors with Smartphone App

Available on Amazon for £30, brilliant scales.

Grumpy_chap

Thanks @DebsFran - I did get the RENPHO scales as the Garmin scales were just trying to be too smart for their own good and the absurd complexity of needing to transfer data using Bluetooth plus WIFI is just too much.  I am very pleased with the RENPHO scales, but it is a shame they won't sync data into the Garmin Connect APP directly.

Using the Garmin tracker, MyFitnessPAL plus the Renpho scales I have managed to hit my goal weight (BMI 21.8) (yesterday) and get every parameter into the green on the RENPHO measurements green with the exception of subcutaneous fat (whatever that is)...  I guess it must be the clever word for the remaining "pinch an inch" around the belly.

DebsFran

Grumpy_chap I had to laugh at your scales trying to be too smart  lol. Yeah it does sound like the Garmin scales was a bit of a palaver. Wow congrats on hitting your goal weight. I too use Garmin tracker, MFP and Renpho scales but they are as kind to me as they have been to you lol. But I now have a treadmill and I am finally starting to lose on average 1lb a week, which is mega good for me as it used to take a month to lose 1lb. I almost bought the Renpho smart tape measure but could not justify paying £30 fr a tape measure

Grumpy_chap

The treadmill will work wonders for getting you trim, but not muscular.

Grumpy_chap

Yippee - just over a month and daily weight within the +-1kg band of target weight every day
Now to hone that in a bit tighter and tone the muscle (will be easier as the gym will re-open so can do some resistance stuff, not just cardio).