By Tami Lai
I’m more used to reviewing somewhat more frivolous things like bubbling face masks and liquid eyeliners, so when my editor asked me if I wanted to give this activity tracker a go, I was pretty stumped. What am I even supposed to be looking out for…?
The activity tracker in question is TomTom’s Touch Cardio, launched a couple months back. What it is is a basic model that has the main functions of measuring your heart rate, physical activity, and sleep. Aesthetics-wise, it’s nothing too fancy as well – both the main module and the silicone strap come in a standard black (though you can switch out the strap for other colour options), basically what I imagine a very normal activity tracker is supposed to look like.
So, with zero experience in reviewing fitness tech products, I give this a whirl, to see if it’s really as newbie-friendly as it’s meant to be.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
The Touch Cardio’s module features a finger-sized indentation at the bottom, which you’re supposed to lightly press to wake up the screen. This turns on the OLED display shows the white numbers and icons, which is nicely contrasted against the black screen.
It takes me a while to figure out how to move beyond the main home screen, which tells me the time. Turns out, the rest of the screens are accessed by either swiping up or down. Swipe upwards to see the heart rate and activity trackers; swipe down to see your steps count, number of calories burnt, distance travelled, length of activity time, and sleep monitor.
This takes some getting used to; it’s easy to forget what swiping in either direction shows you. Also, the screen isn’t the most responsive, so sometimes it takes a few swipes to get things moving.
GENERAL PERFORMANCE
My exercise routine comprises of pretty much just… jogging a few kilometres around my neighbourhood a few times a week. Which is, after all, cardio, so I guess I’ll be using the Touch Cardio right.
So I brought it out for one of my runs, and made sure to check my stats right after. To get the Touch Cardio to start tracking your activity, you’re supposed to press down on the indentation until you feel the module vibrate; a flashing green light will also appear at the back, indicating that it has entered Sports mode. To exit Sports mode after your workout, press down on the indentation again.
All TomTom devices do so via the TomTom Sports app, available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Here are some of the key metrics displayed on the app after my workout:
The app does have nice aesthetics, and breaks down the key info in a way that’s easily understandable and digestible. The Touch Cardio doesn’t have a GPS function, nor can it measure altitude, so these are really just a basic set of statistics for an average workout.
I also tried tracking my sleep, which took a little getting used to, because I find the idea of wearing an activity tracker to bed strange. I gave this function a try over a couple of nights last month, and here are my results:
I gave this sleep tracking thing a couple of tries, and both times, the TomTom gave me quite puzzling results. After while, I realised what could be the cause: the strap was a little too large for my wrist, causing it to fall off in the middle of the night, hence the disrupted readings. To be honest, it didn’t bother me much, because I never really saw the point in tracking your sleep anyway…
WHAT I LIKED
Essentially, the TomTom Touch Cardio is nothing fancy, and that works out for a complete activity tracker newbie like me. By reducing the number of functions, it makes the device easier to understand; after all, when it comes to my own workouts, there’s really nothing much I need or want to measure besides the distance I’ve covered, time taken, and calories burnt.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
TomTom promises a battery life of up to 5 days for this, which is reasonable enough. However, I assumed this was with regular use; there were a couple of occasions when I wanted to use it for a run after a few days of not using it, only to find that the battery had gone flat.
And as previously mentioned, the touch screen’s functionality could do with some improvement. When you’re pounding the pavement and trying to take a quick glance at your stats, there really isn’t time to be fiddling with a not-so-responsive touch screen.
TO SUM IT UP…
Trying the TomTom Touch Cardio as my first-ever activity tracker was a simple enough experience. Using it with the well-designed TomTom Sports app made me more keen on setting workout and fitness goals for myself, so it’s a relatively good product to get you started on a healthier lifestyle.
Price-wise, the Touch Cardio is relatively more affordable than many of its closest competitors, another factor that makes it suitable for a first-timer. But as time goes by and you’d like to up your fitness game, you’ll probably need a more sophisticated model that can keep up.
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS
Battery life: Up to 5 days
Waterproofing: IPX7 (splash-proof, shower-proof, do not swim)
Activity measurement: Steps, active minutes, calories burnt, 24/7 sleep and heart rate
Storage: 4MB
Display type: OLED
Display size: 5.58mm x 22.38mm
Power plug/charging cable: Standard micro-USB
Weight: 10g
Dimensions: 11.5mm x 47.7mm x 17.6mm
TomTom Touch Cardio, $159. Available at Challenger, Harvey Norman, Hachi.Tech stores and other leading electronic and sports outlets, and online at lazada.sg and tomtom.com.
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