The Garmin Edge run very well without a smartphone or even a computer (Bluetooth File-Sharing is built-in and/or WiFi Sync). I favor them over Wahoo because they work standalone :)
And with Linux you can feed them via USB easily.
The fitness-trackers without a smartphone are more problematic. They’ve WiFi integrated but I think they sync only via Bluetooth and the smartphone?
Syncing via Garmin Express should be possible on macOS or Windows. I think they provide also USB access on Linux.
i went almost three years without a smartphone. was always too embarrassed by this decision to blog about it. i went back to smartphone so i could have a reliable navigation system for giving rides to a politically sensitive group of people who don't need to experience the pains of getting lost / me fumbling with my gps / cops.
i ended up spending a lot of time on my laptop, so it didn't really cut down on my screen time. i expanded my device footprint to replace all the nice tools that come in a single device (camera, gps, notebook, etc). that made me less nimble as a traveler.
i'm glad it made me get a garmin inreach, though. i will never replace that with a glass screen for backcountry emergencies.
I understand the sentiment about not wanting a smartphone but the amount of pocket space saved and efficiency of the device makes up for most of the shortfalls. In high school I wore cargo shorts/pants so carrying 4~ devices at a time was easier but nowadays I wear slim jeans or lightweight linen pants, mostly. Only needing my wallet and phone works too well when I don't have a bag. Definitely miss the quality of point and shoot cameras compared to a smartphone though
The fitness-trackers without a smartphone are more problematic. They’ve WiFi integrated but I think they sync only via Bluetooth and the smartphone? Syncing via Garmin Express should be possible on macOS or Windows. I think they provide also USB access on Linux.
i ended up spending a lot of time on my laptop, so it didn't really cut down on my screen time. i expanded my device footprint to replace all the nice tools that come in a single device (camera, gps, notebook, etc). that made me less nimble as a traveler.
i'm glad it made me get a garmin inreach, though. i will never replace that with a glass screen for backcountry emergencies.