Garmin Vivosmart3 hits Third Space London

When it comes to fitness trackers it can be difficult to know which one to go for and when you do finally choose, it can be even more difficult to work out how to use them most effectively. Luckily, I had Garmin on hand last week showing me just how to navigate the new vivosmart3 and how to get the most out of my workout via the device. We took to Third Space Tower Bridge to take on their Sweat X class and put the vivosmart3 to the test.

Firstly, I have to say a huge well done to Garmin for hosting at such an amazing location. Third Space is a dream and if you haven’t had the chance to go before, I recommend that you do. However, with facilities of such a high standard it’s only right that they have the workouts to match… cue the hardest gym class that I have been to yet.

Before being dragged to hell and back (in a good way, if that’s possible), we were kitted out with brand new vivosmart3 trackers. Extremely lightweight, with a super sleek design, the vivosmart3 is a watch that you can wear everywhere and anywhere, from day to night. It’s slim, discreet and has a hidden display that lights up only when you want it to- how clever- so can literally fit into most outfits helping you to track your activity 24/7. The watch is also good to wear whilst swimming or showering, so there’s no need to worry about it getting wet.

So it looks great and is easily wearable, but what about the features? Along with the usual tracking capabilities of most fitness devices such as step counting, heart rate, distance travelled and calories burnt, the watch has a number of additional features to really get that in-depth insight into your health and daily activity. The vivosmart3 is able to calculate your fitness age, track floors climbed as well as your sleep and even has a stress level indicator. You can see more of what the device has to offer by clicking right here.

We wore our fitness trackers during the entire trip to hell (aka the workout) and competed against each other as to who could burn the most calories by the end of the session. Combining upper and lower body circuits with treadmill running, the class covered both body strength and cardio aspects of training. We ran, lifted, pushed and sweated our way to the finish line to then compare calories burnt. I was sure that I would be up there with my 600+ calories, yet I was up against a tough bunch and the winner came in with over 700 cals burnt! Wowwee.

That wasn’t the end. We then used the rep counting feature to record how many reps of free weight exercises we could complete within 3 minutes. Again, showing us just how the clever features of the vivosmart3 can be used throughout any workout.

After class, we were rewarded with protein smoothies, the satisfaction of completing Sweat X and came away with a whole load of knowledge on just how to get the most out of our fitness trackers. I for one would definitely recommend the vivosmart3. Especially if you’re looking for a watch that can cover all bases and be worn throughout the entire day. Retailing at £129.99, the vivosmart3 is available to buy in three different colourways right now.

New Balance Fresh Foam 1080

If you’re a keen runner (or even just fancy yourself as one) looking for ultimate comfort and the best in running technology, then New Balance have just launched the shoe for you. Created from extensive studies with a select group of runners, the Fresh Foam 1080 knows exactly what you need to get you from A to B, no matter how far that may be! I was lucky enough to bag an invite to the launch event and try out the shoe for myself…

The Event

Led by British long distance runner Nick McCormick and joined by 2016 Olympian Kate Avery and professional 800m runner Guy Learmonth, we were first briefed on the trainer before taking part in a quick Q&A with the athletes. As usual, everyone was eager to put the shoes to the test, so we took to the streets of London to do just that. I was not disappointed.

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Kitted out head to toe in New Balance with our own pair of Fresh Foam 1080’s (orange for the girls and black for the boys) we stopped off for an essential warm up before getting to business! The view of the Thames helped take away from my heavy breathing, the weather was on our side and although trying to keep up with the pros, I have to say that my feet had no complaints at all! Before long, it was time to make our way back to base where we were greeted with Fresh Foam trampolinists, fruit platters and smoothies. A successful afternoon and most left with the Fresh Foam 1080s still firmly on their feet!

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Technology

Designed with the aim of making your run as smooth as possible, the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 has a one piece fresh foam mid-sole allowing a continuously smooth ride without interference, while cleverly ensuring that flex is not lost. Created through a vast amount of research, including close analysis of a select group of runners, the shoe provides maximum comfort and support for the majority of foot shapes. While the special design accommodates a variety of instep heights, the engineered mesh in the vamp not only adds that premium feel to the trainer but also gives room for natural toe splay as the miles clock up!

All in all, the shoe looks to take care of your feet from top to bottom, 360 degrees. A lot of love and attention has been put into creating this new addition to New Balance’s performance range, all of which is to be given back to your feet.

Now available online for £115 RRP at newbalance.co.uk; click here for men’s and here for women’s!