For a while now, many of us Garmin users have been looking for a more robust and intuitive way to track our strength training. Garmin’s native strength app, while functional, has always felt a bit basic, often leaving us wanting more detail and a smoother workflow. We’ve seen apps like LiftTrack (check the YouTube video I recorded) trying to bridge the gap, but even those ultimately rely on Garmin’s somewhat limited built-in capabilities.
That’s why I’m excited to share my experiences with KeepStrong, a new strength training application that takes a fresh approach to integrating with Garmin devices. Developed by an independent developer in China, KeepStrong offers a promising alternative for those of us using Garmin for our strength training and is available for Android and iOS. You can find more details on their site: https://lianlian.gzyunke.cn/index-en.html?lang=en
One of the first things you’ll notice is that KeepStrong comes with its own dedicated training app for Garmin.
This standalone app is, in my opinion, better than Garmin’s own offering. The overall training workflow is much more cohesive, working in seamless coordination with your mobile device.
However, it’s not without its quirks; I’ve noticed it could benefit from some usability polishments, such as a clearer workflow and better utilization of the Garmin watch’s physical buttons. It’s also important to mention that the app is still a bit buggy in places. For example, some text labels appear in Chinese, indicating that not all translations are complete.
More critically, I’ve observed that using an external heart rate monitor seems to cause the Garmin app to go out of sync with the mobile app. This can be a minor annoyance for those who rely on external HRMs for accurate data.
From a pricing perspective, KeepStrong is quite attractive. A lifetime VIP access will set you back 349 CZK (approximately 17 USD), which feels like a very fair price for the features it offers.
Despite these minor hitches, a strength activity is successfully recorded on Garmin after your training session (unless it hits the out of sync issue with the external heart rate monitor).
