Garmin has announced a partnership with Gold's Gym, with exercise data from the company's smartwatches set to be displayed in real-time through the AMP training app.
The move allows users of the Gym's app to link devices such as the Garmin Forerunner 645 Music, Vivoactive 3 and Fenix 5, with heart rate data used to help flesh out specific workouts. Since AMP focuses on music-driven workouts, this will be combined with the data and be displayed on the mobile app as user's exercise.
Read this: Complete guide to Garmin Connect
Coming later this fall, any data gathered through Garmin's range of wearables will be free to be logged and stored within both AMP and Garmin Connect, with a Gold's AMP Connect IQ app heading to compatible devices.
Including the devices noted above, that compatible list also includes the Garmin Vivosmart 3, Vivosport and Vivomove HR, as well as both the non-music version of the Forerunner 645 and variations of the Fenix 5 range. However, it's not yet clear if that includes the newly released Fenix 5 Plus range.
Generally speaking, we like the move from Garmin here. At least off the bat, it doesn't appear to be the most in-depth collaboration of data, but seeing companies merge together in order to make fitness classes more interactive is definitely a positive step. It also echoes what we've seen through Apple GymKit, Cupertino's platform to help sync the Apple Watch with NFC-enabled gym equipment in order to gather more accurate data.
With Gold's indicating that more than three million people use its gyms across the globe each day, we imagine a nice pocket of those members have the AMP app downloaded onto their phone - and even more who aren't members of the gym tapping into the $9.99-per-month workouts. It'll likely need more than just heart rate integration to make it a success, but we expect more of Garmin's features to make their way to the AMP app as it develops.
How we test
Conor moved to Wareable Media Group in 2017, initially covering all the latest developments in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and VR. He made a name for himself writing about trying out translation earbuds on a first date and cycling with a wearable airbag, as well as covering the industry’s latest releases.
Following a stint as Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint, Conor returned to Wareable Media Group in 2022 as Editor-at-Large. Conor has become a wearables expert, and helps people get more from their wearable tech, via Wareable's considerable how-to-based guides.
He has also contributed to British GQ, Wired, Metro, The Independent, and The Mirror.