Whats an ok cheap Android compatible wristwatch that can be used as a realtime display for a Woo unit while kitesurfing? I know there's a lot of Android watches that will do it but I want something cheap and cheerful (with ok reliability).
Cheers
TLDR - the watches with 512MB RAM are a bit laggy for day to day use - but cheap. The 1GB RAM watches are good for day to day use but expensive. Otherwise just make sure they are waterproof. Try Amazon or Ebay for something second hand.
The fossil GEN 4 is probably the cheapest that has the 5ATM protection and comes up on amazon sales for about 180 bucks every now and again. The ticwatch pro 2020 is a better watch (with much better battery life) but more expensive unless on sale when its about 250 bucks. I have the original ticwatch pro and its been reliable so far (2 years). The 2020 is a bit more responsive. The Ticwatch S2 looks alright too and has good water resistance.
I had the Huawei Watch 2 and it was waterproof but packed in after 18 months. My mates one packed in after 2 years. Cheap to buy on Ebay though.
If you are still measuring your jumps, it's not high enough.
I don't want to go any higher than 80-100 foot, it's already way too scary in winter.
Select to expand quotewishy said..
If you are still measuring your jumps, it's not high enough.
I don't want to go any higher than 80-100 foot, it's already way too scary in winter.
Pics or it didn't happen 
Select to expand quotewishy said..
If you are still measuring your jumps, it's not high enough.
I don't want to go any higher than 80-100 foot, it's already way too scary in winter.
Maybe your 80-100 foot unmeasured jumps are actually 8-10 foot...............
Select to expand quotePlummet said..wishy said..
If you are still measuring your jumps, its...
Maybe your 80-100 foot unmeasured jumps are actually 8-10 foot...............
When i hit a sand bank on the foil especially if kite going up I go at least 6m horizontally
I make my own woo noise often starting with a capital.... Davey Jones hasn't given back a couple of watches.. So bare wrist
Cheers
AP
Thanks for the tips. I guess all I'm effectively looking for is something cheap, waterproof that gives a real-time jump display. Don't need any other features.
Select to expand quotebramber said..
Thanks for the tips. I guess all I'm effectively looking for is something cheap, waterproof that gives a real-time jump display. Don't need any other features.
Im after the same thing.
Anybody got one of the oppo watches?
Guys - forget Garmin, Fitbit, Tics, etc... I use an age-old and trusted watch called the Pebble ($80-$180). It has a built in barometer so it can measure "jumps" to some degree. And oddly enough there is an app that one can download from the pebble-store called Throw IT, and it measures my jumps. Whether it's accurate - meh
Select to expand quotewishy said..
If you are still measuring your jumps, it's not high enough.
I don't want to go any higher than 80-100 foot, it's already way too scary in winter.
Hmmmmm, Darryl Wishy Kerrigan.
Select to expand quoteweebitbreezy said..
I had the Huawei Watch 2 and it was waterproof but packed in after 18 months. My mates one packed in after 2 years. Cheap to buy on Ebay though.
Did they pack up due to water incursion?.... I just got a Huawei Watch 3 which I am tossing up whether to use in the water or not. It has great features but was what I would consider expensive (above $800) so salt water damage would not be welcomed. It has open water workout mode and a water draining app/feature so is designed for water use but even so...
Mine possibly did die because of water incursion. I used to wear it under a wettie/long sleeve rash vest - except once when I went surfing. It packed in the next day after surfing. I'd reckon its probably waterproof enough to kite with but I wouldn't take it prone surfing. Ultimately its all about the force of water so anything you can do to reduce the force (e.g. long sleeve wetsuit) will help.
Also worth bearing in mind that different models have different seal specs. I currently have a Ticwatch pro v1. Has worked fine for the last couple of years without a problem. Reports are that the V3 isn't anywhere near as resistant despite the higher IPX ratings (the official documentation says take off before washing hands or showering)
That said the watch 3 isn't Wear OS so you won't get the Woo display?
The thing that gets me is lots of smartwatch models don't specifically say if they are waterproof, but they have a swimming mode on them so we are just supposed to expect that they are?
Im after the cheapest possible waterproof thing that will connect to my woo so I know how high Im jumping when out on the water. Not going to use it outside of kiting time probably, not keen on having more technology telling me to do sh* t
Select to expand quoteChris_M said..
The thing that gets me is lots of smartwatch models don't specifically say if they are waterproof, but they have a swimming mode on them so we are just supposed to expect that they are?
Thats because WearOS has it baked into the OS. Blame Google. Select to expand quoteChris_M said..
Im after the cheapest possible waterproof thing that will connect to my woo so I know how high Im jumping when out on the water. Not going to use it outside of kiting time probably, not keen on having more technology telling me to do sh* t
Assuming you have an Android phone (because you can't install anything on the watch without one), if you wear something over your arms then you should be fine with a Huawei watch 2 or a ticwatch pro. Both probably down to the $70 mark on ebay. If you want to go out with short sleeves then your looking at a Fossil Gen 4 then. Its the only one with genuine water resistance.
If you're a member of the Apple club, then .... get an Apple watch. I think Gen 3 went waterproof?
Just a heads up regarding cheap watches and using them in salt water, sun etc. My (I am talking super cheap) fitness watch packed itself during kiting. Which would have been fine. But somehow the two battery charging contacts at the back let battery chemical leak, which created a blue-ish chemical burn on my skin. Turned black when I tried to wash it off later, as dead cells do. Not sure how much exposure I had and I am still around. But needless to say I am not trusting any watch anymore as perhaps they may not withstand salt/sun/water/sand/heat.
OK thanks for replies. Im an android user. Looks like I'll probably have to spend up a little more for some quality, or more likely, just not bother. I'm already a bit sick of all the technological stuff in my life so don't feel a burning desire to add much more.
Perhaps I should get a burner phone and use surfr app..... the only drawback would be I couldn't compete against the big boys in my neighbourhood who all use Woo.
Maybe will just invest my smartwatch money into a good chiller bag and some nice beer, to help savour the moment when I get back to the carpark and am finding out how high I went
That sounds like a good idea. I use a Woo and actually prefer to see readings only post session. As mostly disappointing. Wouldn't like to ruin the stoke of a session by having real time data. Agree, it's kind of good and bad to have all those gadgets. I enjoy seeing some good readings of others at my local (talking the near and over 20m mark). And also sessions posted kind of motivate to go out when sitting on the fence. But also missing the times where I probably jumped 2m but it felt great and I was smiling during and after sessions. Now sometimes it can feel like work. Gadgets distracting from just going out and having fun. Then again sometimes I'd like to know precisely how that little kicker, at that angle, at that tide, translates into a good height (or not). But you kind of know +-2m anyway...
I've just got a woo as PIQ went bust. I really liked the screen on PIQ for being able to instantly see how big that out of the ordinary MASSIVE jump when you hooked up onto that gust really was. Plus, I don't know how you build that height awareness without instant feedback?
I like the way it gamifies progression. Its not just about highest jump. With instant feedback you can record a new highest anything. Highest air transition. Highest front roll. Suddenly you can put a little competition into the most mundane of tricks and get better as a result.
Since my last post I discovered some annoyances that may serve as a caution regarding smartwatches.
As I said before I bought the new flagship Huawei watch 3. I have a Huawei phone so I went with same brand...
The Watch 3 worked fine until I wanted to transfer music onto it. To cut to the chase the watch which came from Amazon UK is zone specific to UK meaning some features are not globally available.
I returned the watch and bought a flagship Samsung Galaxy 4 watch to replace it only to find an error message saying the watch is not compatible with the phone.
I returned that watch and discovered after research that Samsung watch 4 is not compatible with iPones or Huawei watches due to software licensing shortfalls (from Google who partnered with Samsung for structuring the operating system)
It seems cross compatability of watches and phone brands is being exclusivised Apple style. Add to that regional limitations, the chance that your watch will not be completely compatible or compatible at all with your phone are high, as was my experience on two occasions.
