GPS/Running watch
Discussion
Hi all.
Looking for some advice on people’s experience of ‘fitness’ watches please?
Sensible budget of around £150.
I spend a lot of time in the gym, doing weights, but I’ll be using this for my (reluctant) running and any swimming I may do.
I would also be half interested in one which assesses sleep, too, but I think that’s a fairly common feature above a certain price point.
Any and all advice welcome.
Thanks, LTA.
Looking for some advice on people’s experience of ‘fitness’ watches please?
Sensible budget of around £150.
I spend a lot of time in the gym, doing weights, but I’ll be using this for my (reluctant) running and any swimming I may do.
I would also be half interested in one which assesses sleep, too, but I think that’s a fairly common feature above a certain price point.
Any and all advice welcome.
Thanks, LTA.
Got myself a Garmin VivoSport - has built in GPS, heart rate monitor. Tracks a number of different activities both indoors and outdoors and then sync's with an app on your phone.
I find the screen really small (too small) and also to activate the GPS just before a run with a "double tap" of the screen a bit hit and miss - so have just pre-ordered the new G-Shock GBD-H1000 sports watch - due end of May.
https://www.wareable.com/news/casio-g-shock-gbd-h1...
I find the screen really small (too small) and also to activate the GPS just before a run with a "double tap" of the screen a bit hit and miss - so have just pre-ordered the new G-Shock GBD-H1000 sports watch - due end of May.
https://www.wareable.com/news/casio-g-shock-gbd-h1...
The VivoActive 3 is about in budget as it's £50 off right now, and works for swimming and running, plus a few other nice features.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/571520
I have a Forerunner 235 that I think does swimming but I tend to swim in my Seamster as I'm not bothered about heart rate and stuff for that, just time.
The Garmins are truly excellent for running. I used to have a Polar and the Garmin beats it hands down.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/571520
I have a Forerunner 235 that I think does swimming but I tend to swim in my Seamster as I'm not bothered about heart rate and stuff for that, just time.
The Garmins are truly excellent for running. I used to have a Polar and the Garmin beats it hands down.
alfaman said:
I use my Garmin instinct for running hiking and various activities. It's very good / pleased with it. I bought it here in Singapore ... Not sure of UK price ... 180-190 ish?
I am looking to replace my aging Tomtom spark 3.i've always been a fan of g-shock watches but mine have been relegated in favour of my tracker.
theres a new G-shock tracker comng out, but at £350 it's a bit too frivolous.
how are you finding the Instinct? do you think it would be what i am after?
i'm looking for running / cycling / hiking functionality but it needs to be robust in a g-shock way as i'm a clumsy oaf and spend a bit of time farming.
what are your thoughts?
currently £220 -280 on amazon UK, but £190 from german amazon.
Baldchap said:
The VivoActive 3 is about in budget as it's £50 off right now, and works for swimming and running, plus a few other nice features.
https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/571520
I have a Forerunner 235 that I think does swimming but I tend to swim in my Seamster as I'm not bothered about heart rate and stuff for that, just time.
The Garmins are truly excellent for running. I used to have a Polar and the Garmin beats it hands down.
I like that. Thanks for posting it. https://buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/571520
I have a Forerunner 235 that I think does swimming but I tend to swim in my Seamster as I'm not bothered about heart rate and stuff for that, just time.
The Garmins are truly excellent for running. I used to have a Polar and the Garmin beats it hands down.
Captain Benzo said:
alfaman said:
I use my Garmin instinct for running hiking and various activities. It's very good / pleased with it. I bought it here in Singapore ... Not sure of UK price ... 180-190 ish?
I am looking to replace my aging Tomtom spark 3.i've always been a fan of g-shock watches but mine have been relegated in favour of my tracker.
theres a new G-shock tracker comng out, but at £350 it's a bit too frivolous.
how are you finding the Instinct? do you think it would be what i am after?
i'm looking for running / cycling / hiking functionality but it needs to be robust in a g-shock way as i'm a clumsy oaf and spend a bit of time farming.
what are your thoughts?
currently £220 -280 on amazon UK, but £190 from german amazon.
And the batteries last for well over a week as the screen is a simple black and white one. The Garmin models with colour touchscreens will burn through the batteries much more quickly
ALSO..a key point to consider is that the Instinct is fully button activated and operated rather than touch screen.
BIG issue with touch screens is they can become difficult to use with sweaty hands, rain, sweat dripping etc. I live in Singapore and am dripping wet when hiking (can't operate phone screens). Same applies for rainy UK weather.
some Garmin models and many other brands are touch screen operated... it's worth checking
Edited by alfaman on Friday 8th May 17:11
Edited by alfaman on Friday 8th May 17:17
Interested in this too.
I'd like GPS because I really want to know accurately my running distance and I assume that without this I won't get the require accuracy - am I wrong?
Also I'd like a reliable heart rate monitor. Are any of these that reliable or do I need to get a chest strap as well? I'd really rather not wear one.
Not bothered about all the other fancy stuff but I'd not say no if it had the above features and came with it all.
Last - don't want to spend silly money. Any chance of getting this for around £150?
All suggestions greatly appreciated.
I'd like GPS because I really want to know accurately my running distance and I assume that without this I won't get the require accuracy - am I wrong?
Also I'd like a reliable heart rate monitor. Are any of these that reliable or do I need to get a chest strap as well? I'd really rather not wear one.
Not bothered about all the other fancy stuff but I'd not say no if it had the above features and came with it all.
Last - don't want to spend silly money. Any chance of getting this for around £150?
All suggestions greatly appreciated.
I'm a member of a small running club, covering a range of people from C25K to ultramarathoners, and everyone has a Garmin of some sort. They're not perfect but they are the best running watches.
I've got a forerunner 220 which does GPS tracking, heart rate etc.
I use a Garmin Swim watch for swimming.
Buying both (the Swim was secondhand, the 220 was new) was cheaper than getting.one watch that did both
I've got a forerunner 220 which does GPS tracking, heart rate etc.
I use a Garmin Swim watch for swimming.
Buying both (the Swim was secondhand, the 220 was new) was cheaper than getting.one watch that did both
Another Garmin vivoactive 3 user here! Had the watch 2 and a half years and still going.
I use it running, walking and gym work. It has a good strength setting that tries to work out how many reps you have done, you can then amend it on the watch itself and add the weight then move on to the next set.
As you will get with most wrist based the heart rate is occasionally out, I usually find it in the cardio setting more than others.
Regarding running the heart rate is pretty good and consistent and the GPS syncs pretty quickly 9/10 times and gives you a good amount of data in the Garmin Connect app.
Will definitely get another Garmin again!
I use it running, walking and gym work. It has a good strength setting that tries to work out how many reps you have done, you can then amend it on the watch itself and add the weight then move on to the next set.
As you will get with most wrist based the heart rate is occasionally out, I usually find it in the cardio setting more than others.
Regarding running the heart rate is pretty good and consistent and the GPS syncs pretty quickly 9/10 times and gives you a good amount of data in the Garmin Connect app.
Will definitely get another Garmin again!
alfaman said:
Captain Benzo said:
alfaman said:
I use my Garmin instinct for running hiking and various activities. It's very good / pleased with it. I bought it here in Singapore ... Not sure of UK price ... 180-190 ish?
I am looking to replace my aging Tomtom spark 3.i've always been a fan of g-shock watches but mine have been relegated in favour of my tracker.
theres a new G-shock tracker comng out, but at £350 it's a bit too frivolous.
how are you finding the Instinct? do you think it would be what i am after?
i'm looking for running / cycling / hiking functionality but it needs to be robust in a g-shock way as i'm a clumsy oaf and spend a bit of time farming.
what are your thoughts?
currently £220 -280 on amazon UK, but £190 from german amazon.
And the batteries last for well over a week as the screen is a simple black and white one. The Garmin models with colour touchscreens will burn through the batteries much more quickly
ALSO..a key point to consider is that the Instinct is fully button activated and operated rather than touch screen.
BIG issue with touch screens is they can become difficult to use with sweaty hands, rain, sweat dripping etc. I live in Singapore and am dripping wet when hiking (can't operate phone screens). Same applies for rainy UK weather.
some Garmin models and many other brands are touch screen operated... it's worth checking
Edited by alfaman on Friday 8th May 17:11
Edited by alfaman on Friday 8th May 17:17
this is exactly what i wanted to hear.
now its the tough choice between Red or Yellow.
im not a dress watch kinda guy
Captain Benzo said:
My (very yellow) Garmin Instinct arrived last week, a cracking piece of kit. lots of configurable options.
my only annoyance is I have to still wear my old one for listening to music while running as my phone is too heavy.
Awesome! Let us know how you get on with it. my only annoyance is I have to still wear my old one for listening to music while running as my phone is too heavy.
Had a Tomtom runner for a fair while and it never let me down
Then had a Garmin Vivoactive 3 music which I loved, but have somehow managed to lose
Recently got a Fitbit Charge 4 SE, which has the GPS, HRM, can be used for swimming etc. Only had it just over a week but no issues so far - although I would say if you can get the Garmin for the same money I would probably go for that
Then had a Garmin Vivoactive 3 music which I loved, but have somehow managed to lose
Recently got a Fitbit Charge 4 SE, which has the GPS, HRM, can be used for swimming etc. Only had it just over a week but no issues so far - although I would say if you can get the Garmin for the same money I would probably go for that
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