Garmin CIRQA Smart Band L/XL Grey

The Garmin CIRQA Smart Band is a health tracker that provides good insight into my daily health and automatically tracks workouts. The tracker works without a subscription, so I have no extra or recurring costs.

Large sensor, but comfortable strap The sensor is lightweight, but quite large when compared to other health trackers. This is mainly due to its length and thickness. I have an average wrist circumference of about 16 centimeters, so the sensor is already quite noticeable. The accompanying nylon strap is soft and comfortable. The health tracker fits well both during the day and while sleeping. The Velcro is sturdy, ensuring the tracker always stays securely on my wrist.

Battery life of approximately 9 days I wore the tracker for a few weeks and noticed that I had to charge it every 8 or 9 days. It takes about an hour and a half to fully charge it. I didn't notice the battery draining faster after exercising. If you exercise more than 3 times a week, the battery will likely drain faster. Insight into sleep, stress, and recovery The CIRQA Smart Band has no screen, so I find all the data in the Garmin Connect app on my smartphone. At the top, there are standard scores regarding my sleep and stress, among other things. If I tap on the score, I can find my ideal bedtime, for example. Furthermore, the overview contains other important measurements, such as my heart rate, calories burned, and fitness age. The tracker also measures my VO2 max and HRV, giving me more insight into my fitness level and how I recover daily.

No subscription needed For more extensive features, there is the paid Garmin Connect+. For example, I get a daily status update using AI, meditation or breathing exercises to lower my stress level, or the option to view my heart rate in real time. Garmin Connect+ is a nice addition, but for me, it doesn't offer much more.

Automatic workout recognition The tracker automatically tracks workouts and training sessions, and that works well. Every time I started running, I saw in the app afterwards that the training had been tracked. There is no GPS sensor on it, so I had to have my smartphone with me to track the route. There is also a button on the side of the tracker to start a workout. In the app, you can choose the sport yourself.

The tone is sometimes a bit overly positive, but the app does help you gain insight into sleep, fatigue, stress, and physical exertion.

A disappointment was that you can only pair the device with one app. You cannot pair it with your phone and your tablet.

Lightweight, does what it is supposed to do; handy, practical and useful