Garmin Vivoactive 4S | Great test and video review

Test and review of Garmin ViVoactive 4 (s)

You should be aware that there are 2 models of the Garmin Vivoactive 4. There is a Vivoactive 4 and a Vivoactive 4s..
The primary differences between the 2 models are the physical size, weight and out of this comes a slightly larger screen, etc.

Garmin Vivoactive 4s:
40 x 40 x 12,7 mm
Weight: 40 grams
Screen size: 1.1 inches (27.9 mm)
Resolution: 218 x 218 pixels

Garmin Vivoactive 4:
45,1 x 45,1 x 12,8 mm
Weight: 50 grams
Screen size: 1.3 inches (33 mm)
Resolution: 260 x 260 pixels

For this test we used: Garmin Vivoactive 4S

The Garmin Vivoactive 4s is a watch with a lot of features. We won’t go into all of them in this review, but below we will go over the most important ones, and the ones that people use the most in everyday life..
This version 4 replaces the Garmin Vivoactive 3, which can easily be described as a top seller at Garmin. But if you loved the 3, you’ll love the Vivoactive 4.

When you look at Garmin’s own webshop and website, the Garmin Vivoactive is represented under both the activity tracker, running and multisport categories. And I can actually understand that mindset. Because you get a surprising number of features in this version of the Vivoactive. In fact, I would go so far as to say that we are at the absolute top in relation to this watch.
If you are a regular athlete who likes to run a few times or 3 times a week, I actually think this watch is too much in the shadow of both the Forerunner and Fenix ​​series.

Price comparison Garmin Vivoactive 4S

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	1-2 dage		1,985 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		1,999 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		2,199 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		2,726 DKK	Til butik

Price comparison Garmin Vivoactive 4

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	1-2 dage		2,251 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		2,255 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		2,499 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		3,599 DKK	Til butik

First thoughts on the Vivoactive 4

It’s always fun when you get your hands on a new Garmin watch for the first time. What can it do? And does it do what you expect?

I’ll be honest and admit that I didn’t actually have high expectations for the Garmin Vivoactive 4. And I didn’t, as my wife has had a Garmin Vivoactive 3 for almost a year. I think the watch is cool and can do a lot of things, of course. But I’ve never been a fan of the navigation in that watch. I don’t think it made sense in my head.

But then I did my obligatory 30min sequence with a new watch, to figure out navigation, functions, etc. So I also admit that I may have made a little mistake. So I am still, in any way, a supporter of touch screens. I don’t think it is very useful in a training watch.
But aside from that, I have to admit that the watch is fantastic, and I might have been a little too quick to discount the navigation. Once you get the hang of it, things usually get a little easier. And everything becomes a habit in the long run.

The Garmin Vivoactive 4 can really do a lot of things. I honestly thought, from my chair, that it was a hugely underrated watch. I run, cycle, do crossfit and general strength training. I don’t think I could find a task this watch couldn’t solve. I actually sat there and was a little doubtful about whether this Garmin Vivoactive 4 was a better choice than my Forerunner 645? It can do much the same things, and maybe even more. Read the rest of the article, where I give all the advantages and disadvantages of the watch.

The coolest details in the Garmin Vivoactive 4s

Below I have listed the things that I think are the coolest things, features or details in the Garmin Vivoactive 4. I can already reveal that the details I have below involve nerding out with numbers and information. Not something I am too good at myself, but therefore you can easily be impressed by the function.

Pulse OX:
This is the extended wrist-based heart rate monitor that appears in newer Garmin watches. It can also measure the oxygen saturation in your blood when you sleep via light beams.

Stress registrering:
Garmin Vivoactive 4 can, among other things, provide indications of your stress level via your heart rate. It will also be possible to receive reminders about a possible too high stress level.

Energy monitoring:
It’s great to train! But it’s not always a good idea to train. You get an energy registration in the watch, which starts at 100, and then it tells you ongoing information about your energy level. It’s best and most fun to train when you have the energy for it. Then the body gets the most out of it.

Sleep monitoring:
Of course, this requires you to sleep with the watch on at night. But the Pulse Ox meter on the back of the watch keeps track of the oxygen saturation in your blood, among other things. But in general, sleep and sleep rhythm are also monitored. Are you a light sleeper? Are you a heavy sleeper? And how many minutes are you in the different zones. You will definitely be surprised here.

Fluid balance etc. :
You have the option to log your fluid intake and thereby keep an eye on your hydration. This way you can set goals for what you want to hydrate, and this is based on your activities and how much sweat you emit during these.

Heart rate monitoring:
Because there is wrist-based heart rate measurement on the Garmin Vivoactive 4, you always have a record of your heart rate. Is it too high? Is it too low? This heart rate measurement can of course also be done during sports and other activities.

Overall, I think the above gives you a training coach on your arm. You always have lots of data and lots of knowledge to make the right choice. Is this when I should train? Does it help me to start training now? I just have to remember my focus on breathing. And all of these things just give you better choices, and that results in better training.

12 Featured Features of Garmin Vivoactive 4

It would be a very long list and a long article if I were to highlight all the features of the watch. And the fact that I choose 12 is not something considered behind it. It was just to have to end somewhere. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is packed with good features. The 12 below are the ones I liked best or can see being used the most.

Energy monitoring:
I just think it’s smart. It makes so much sense to train and rest at the times when your body needs it most. It gives you by far the best development process. And Garmin Vivoactive can (if you allow it) collect a lot of data about you and your body, so there’s plenty of reason for the recommendations to be correct.

Animated workouts:
If you’re not up to date with the slang terms for the different exercises in, for example, strength training, then the Garmin Vivoactive will help you along the way. You can see the exercises you need to do on the clear and bright color screen. They are animated for you, so that everyone can join in.

Wrist-based heart rate measurement:
It’s not unique anymore. But for me it’s just wonderful. It’s only in extreme emergencies that I will put on my real heart rate monitor (around the chest). Simply because I think it gives me a constricting and claustrophobic feeling when I’m running, especially.

A sports watch:
If you read through all the specifications and features on Garmin’s website, the watch will probably appear more like an activity tracker-health watch than it will appear as a sports watch. But I think it is both. And I was actually very surprised by all the features the watch has. It is on par with my Garmin Forerunner 645, if not even more features. But at least there are enough to cover my sports needs.

Garmin Coach:
Since it has become more the rule than the exception that you have to follow a running program if you intend to run a race at some point. (We also offer free running programs) it is a brilliant thing that you can easily and straightforwardly connect a running coach to the watch via Garmin Connect, and then it will keep you on track. And it will make sure that you train correctly and optimally.

Design your own workout:
There are probably many who do not use it. and otherwise you download already created workouts, or start with Garmin Coach. but for me, who likes to plan, perform and adjust my own training, that option is simply unique. It also gives me peace of mind that the watch comes with everything you need to do. That way you don’t have to run and remember numbers etc.
It’s super easy. You build your own workouts via Garmin Connect, and then they’re easily transferred to the watch.

Music via Spotify or Deezer:
Sports, everyday life or at work. It’s great not to be dependent on your mobile phone to be able to listen to music. This feature is probably the one I’m most happy about in recent times, when we talk about updates from Garmin. Also the primary reason why I chose to downgrade from Garmin Forerunner 735xt to Garmin Forerunner 645 Music. It’s liberating just to be able to connect the Bluetooth headphones, and then you have music in your ears..
My favorite headphones for running/cycling are the Aftershokz Trekz. They work great and you can still hear traffic etc. In fact, they’re the ones I use when I use the feature at work, because then I can still hear what’s going on around me.

Price comparison Aftershokz Trekz Titanium

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	1-2 dage		517 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		527 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		535 DKK	Til butik
	4-7 dage		632 DKK	Til butik

Garmin Pay:
Unfortunately, I don’t yet have the opportunity to use this function myself. but of course I have seen it in use, and it is ski.. smart. Unfortunately, my bank does not yet support this function. And I have assessed that a change of bank was not relevant just to trigger this function. So I have to arm myself with patience.
But it’s exactly the same as connecting Garmin Pay to a payment card (Garmin Wallet) via Garmin Connect. And then you always have the option of wireless and contactless payment. Super smart if you plan to buy small items along the way on your bike or run.

Safety measures:
It gives you peace of mind that you can get in touch with your loved ones if you should become unwell, feel unwell or fall and hurt yourself. And it actually doesn’t matter if it is in connection with training. But with this feature you have the option to set up up to 3 contacts in the Garmin Connect App. It is then these contacts who will receive the message if you activate “incident registration”

Robust screen & cool colors:
The ultra-durable screen is made of Gorilla glass. It plays perfectly with the bright colors and the fine resolution on the screen. It’s liberating for me not to have to worry about my watch hitting something. It still takes something before it gets scratched, or in the worst case, it breaks.

Automatic counting of repetitions:
Garmin Vivoactive 4 can automatically track your repetitions in your workouts. It’s really smart, so you don’t have to count and create confusion about how far you’ve come.

Lots of battery:
You can never have too much battery life, can you? For example, you could start by asking one of the people who launched an Apple Watch, at least some of the first generations. Then you’ll be happy with anything called extra battery life.
It is estimated that in regular watch mode (smartwatch) there is very close to 8 days of battery life.
If you use your watch as most people probably do, Garmin estimates that you will have 6 hours with GPS and music connected at the same time. That’s more than enough for most people.

Advantages and disadvantages of Garmin Vivoactive 4

A short list of some advantages and disadvantages of the Garmin Vivoactive 4. The list is not exhaustive at all, but has simply highlighted the things I think made the most sense in relation to my use of the watch.

Vivoactive 4 is also a running and cycling watch

Just to make it clear with the big nails. I am convinced that I could “manage” the Garmin Vivoactive 4 for the most part. It has a negative connotation when you write “manage” but in fact I think the watch is packed with features that even a relatively picky exerciser would have a hard time finding fault with..
I’ve always believed that the Vivoactive series was mostly geared towards everyday exercisers and was basically just about getting everyday data out. That may be how it started, but that’s not how it ends. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 is the perfect proof.

Garmin Vivoactive 4 is available in 2 versions

If you haven’t seen the video, or have skipped the previous section. So let’s just clarify. Garmin Vivoactive comes in 2 versions. A small and a large version. But only in physical form. Functions and content in the watches are the same.

• Garmin Vivoactive 4S = the small 40mm version
• Garmin Vivoactive 4 = the large 45mm version

I’m not going to decide whether you like big or small watch cases. But it’s clear to me that there are so-called men’s and women’s models that are made. Of course there are exceptions, I know that. Maybe if your teenager or child is going to have such a watch, and he or she is a boy, then it’s probably still the small version (girl’s model if you will) that fits the wrist best.

• Garmin Vivoactive 4S = Wrist = 110-175mm
• Garmin Vivoactive 4 = Wrist = 135-200mm

Good advice at your fingertips

You are always up to date. And you are because Garmin Vivoactive contains so much data about you (if you allow it). The watch knows your heart rate via the pulse measurement, it knows how many steps you have taken at that particular time of day, it can also tell you whether you have slept well and long, or restless and short! In short, the watch has plenty of prerequisites to give you good advice along the way.
It can tell you, among other things, where your training level is, whether it is healthy, productive or whether you should just hold back a bit. It can also tell you whether it would be a good idea to train right now! The watch contains so many things and so much help, towards structuring your training and your form. In a healthy and sensible way, of course.

Plenty of security in the Garmin Vivoactive 4

Another point that deserves a little more praise, and therefore its own headline. I think it’s great that you can see an “event registration” for your created emergency contacts. It works like this: you create people as your emergency contacts via the app (you can create up to 3) And they are then informed if you call an alarm via the watch/phone. It basically works if the watch is near the phone.
Note that there can be a bit of a hassle in creating contacts. It asks for the country code – I tried 0045 – but it only went through when I used +45. Just for your information.

Animated workout in Garmin Vivoactive 4

I’m better at looking at pictures than reading. And especially when it comes to difficult words and things I may only understand 80%. That’s why it’s brilliant that you can get animated workouts on the beautiful color screen in the Garmin Vivoactive 4..
So neither you nor I need to think too much about what a strength exercise is called. Just look at the animation and then do it. Of course, you may still run into the fact that you don’t know the execution of the exercise to the letter – but you get a lot further when you see it animated, rather than reading about it.

Touchscreen, go or no-go

That’s exactly why I opted out of the Garmin Vivoactive 4. Because of the touchscreen. It’s obviously very individual, but personally I just think buttons make more sense for a training watch. It’s easier to navigate around, the buttons always respond, regardless of whether you’re wearing gloves or not. You also don’t end up unable to navigate around the watch due to moisture (sweat)

Touchscreen or not?

Garmin Vivoactive series

If you look at the picture below, you will probably notice that a lot has happened from the first version of the Garmin Vivoactive to the current Vivoactive 4 version. Not only has the watch become smoother to look at. A lot has also happened in terms of functions, etc..
When Vivoactive was launched, it was mostly seen and thought of as an activity tracker. Now the entire series and the watch have become much more sporty and multi-purpose. The watches can do so much more.

Alternatives to Vivoactive 4

If you are looking for an alternative to your Garmin Vivoactive 4, there are a few different options. There is of course an alternative called the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music. The 2 watches are probably the ones that resemble each other the most.
But I also think it would be beneficial for you to take a look at either Garmin Forerunner 245 or 645. They possess many of the same features as the Vivoactive 4 does.

Offer on Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4s

We have found the best prices on the watch for you below.

Price comparison Garmin Vivoactive 4s

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	1-2 dage		1,985 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		1,999 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		2,199 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		2,726 DKK	Til butik

Price comparison Garmin Vivoactive 4

Reseller	Leveringstid	Country	Total price	Read more
	1-2 dage		2,251 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		2,255 DKK	Til butik
	1-2 dage		2,499 DKK	Til butik
	1-3 dage		3,599 DKK	Til butik

Other great deals on Garmin watches

We sometimes test new watches from both Garmin and other heart rate watch brands such as Suunto and Polar. If the Forerunner 245 Music wasn’t quite the watch you were looking for, check out our other Garmin watches.

Price comparisons on Garmin heart rate monitors – it is here