[bbbbbr]

Garmin watches work well with the desktop sports tracking program MyTourBook.

I've never had to activate a Garmin watch or register it online in order to use it. Not connecting it to Garmin Services and apps may limit access to 3rd party apps, or at least make it harder to load them load though. (I haven't researched side loading since base features are fine for me).

MyTourBook supports FIT/GPX/TCX/etc, has maps, calendars, charts and activity classification. It's built with Java so can run at least on Windows and Linux. There may be other good programs now, but as of a couple years ago it appeared to be among the better options.

It's open source (and they were supportive of PRs for improving Garmin import).

https://mytourbook.sourceforge.io/mytourbook/index.php

Edit: It's also not limited to Garmin devices. There is support for formats from Suunto, Polar and some other companies. https://mytourbook.sourceforge.io/mytourbook/index.php/docum...

Edit 2: This is with syncing over USB btw.

[jboynyc]

I use ActivityLog2 which also reads FIT files.

https://github.com/alex-hhh/ActivityLog2/releases

[hackernewds]

> This is with syncing over USB btw.

Nevermind it is not worth the trouble, vs handing in anonymized data with a temp email

[ornornor]

Right, anonymized data that shares your vitals 24/7 (which are fairly unique) and location data which totally cannot infer your home and work locations. You’re deluded if you believe this can truly be anonymized and stay anonymized.

[capableweb]

Depends on the device I'm guessing. AFAIK, not all Garmin devices log location 24/7, but only when explicit activities have been started.

[saltcured]

Don't a lot of people start and/or end their regular fitness runs or bike rides at their doorstep? The thing about these fitness tracking tools is that you start wanting to track all your activities to get the statistical trends. It becomes integrated into your day to day lifestyle.

[capableweb]

I currently live in a metropolitan area, so no, I don't. I usually have a brisk walk until I reach the place I consider the starting point, as where I live it's not very comfortable to run, and it's not until then I start tracking the exercise.

Most of my friends who exercise also does it at places at least a couple of hundred meters away from their home. The ones that live outside the city, probably do start their run right outside their doors though.

[nradov]

Yes, that is common practice for some athletes. The Garmin Connect platform has pretty good privacy controls which allow users to hide activities or mask tracks near certain locations. Of course if Garmin gets hacked then all of the raw data could be exposed, but the same concern applies to smartphone platforms as well.