GPS running watch, for a tiny wrist...
GPS running watch, for a tiny wrist...
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Discussion

CubanPete

Original Poster:

3,818 posts

218 months

Friday 8th May 2020
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After a GPS running watch for my OH.

The big constraint is her wrists are tiny. She can just about wear a Baby G-shock, but it is only the tightest but one setting!

We quite likes the functionality of the Garmin Vivoactive HR, which you can buy for £80, but it is big.

Any suggestions? Budget up to £130 ish, but less is good. Not particularly brand name orientated.

Zoobeef

6,004 posts

188 months

Friday 8th May 2020
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My other half has a Garmin Forerunner 35. Its not a new model as she's had it a while now but she has no complaints about it. She has the usual girly wrists so I don't know how that part compares.

ging84

9,548 posts

176 months

Saturday 9th May 2020
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Fitbit charge 4 came out a few weeks ago and now has gps

CubanPete

Original Poster:

3,818 posts

218 months

Monday 11th May 2020
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Have ordered an amazfit pace.

A bit bigger that we were thinking, but there was quite a skinny girl wearing one in the advert...

Seems to have very positive reviews and the functionality of a garmin 3x the price.

jimmyjimjim

8,321 posts

268 months

Monday 11th May 2020
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Garmin vivosport. A fair bit smaller than the vivoactive.

A lot depends on what you want it for. You may find the app for the amazfit doesn't give much in the way of info. The Garmin connect app is pretty good for tracking.

Edit - she might also want a look at a fenix 5S for a full blown watch - but it'll cost.

Edited by jimmyjimjim on Monday 11th May 16:22

heisthegaffer

4,322 posts

228 months

Monday 11th May 2020
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I bought a Huawei band 4 pro a couple of weeks ago, really pleased with it. Bought it as it has GPS and to avoid carting my phone arond every time I got running or cycling.

Has some handy features such as shows text from messages and I can control music if I have my phone with me. Handy on the train etc.

Battery life pretty good too although the GPS hammers it.

VR99

1,397 posts

93 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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Hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping on here..maybe a silly qu but if you buy a particular brand of watch to use for tracking your distance/time when running must you use the same brand app on your phone? E.g if you buy a Garmin watch then you use a Garmin app to download your stats/route etc?
I'm a guy but have a relatively skinny left wrist at 6 inches so smaller-wearing watches appeal.


dxg

10,806 posts

290 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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ging84 said:
Fitbit charge 4 came out a few weeks ago and now has gps
It burns through batteries though. I have one. It would be flat by the end of 10k...

dxg

10,806 posts

290 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
quotequote all
Zoobeef said:
My other half has a Garmin Forerunner 35. Its not a new model as she's had it a while now but she has no complaints about it. She has the usual girly wrists so I don't know how that part compares.
I use a 45s for running. Bought because it was the right combination of small size (I have the small version!), solid battery life, and reasonable price.

It is white, though, so it's only worn when running...

It's been utterly reliable and accurate. Would recommend. Unlike the Charge 4 which, over a 10 to 11k run will have added on another couple of k compared to the Garmin...

Edited by dxg on Sunday 17th May 12:00

dxg

10,806 posts

290 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
quotequote all
VR99 said:
Hope the OP doesn't mind me jumping on here..maybe a silly qu but if you buy a particular brand of watch to use for tracking your distance/time when running must you use the same brand app on your phone? E.g if you buy a Garmin watch then you use a Garmin app to download your stats/route etc?
I'm a guy but have a relatively skinny left wrist at 6 inches so smaller-wearing watches appeal.
Yes, but the Garmin website is pants. I've set Strava up to automatically import my data from the Garmin site (as that's where that watch syncs to) and I only use Strava for insight... Plus, the social aspect of Strava cannot be beaten. I've discovered so many routes just by seeing where others run - often people I've said hello to whilst out on one of my own!

CubanPete

Original Poster:

3,818 posts

218 months

Sunday 17th May 2020
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The pace has arrived.

Looks quite well packaged, and not too overbearing size wise. Ohs birthday is next weekend, so need to wait till then to have a play.

CubanPete

Original Poster:

3,818 posts

218 months

Saturday 23rd May 2020
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Really pleased so far. Decent sized screen, and quite cleverly packaged so it sits on the OHs wrist nicely, and smart enough to wear for work. Nice charging cradle.

It was a bit of a pain to connect...

The firmware it was shipped with would only connect to my old (android 7) phone, which allowed me to update the software to connect to my phone running android 9, which allowed it to update firmware again to connect to my OHs phone running android 10, which also needed rebooting before it would connect.

Now its up and running she hasn't played with it in anger, but it looks slick, has plenty of functionality, so will see.

The price has gone up since I bought it too!

Pieman68

4,293 posts

264 months

Saturday 23rd May 2020
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dxg said:
ging84 said:
Fitbit charge 4 came out a few weeks ago and now has gps
It burns through batteries though. I have one. It would be flat by the end of 10k...
Did an hour walk with the dog today when mine arrived and it used 27%

Having horrendous issues with the app not showing the exercise (or even the dashboard) and it won't sync with Mapmyrun or Strava

Wish I'd replaced my Garmin with another one


dxg

10,806 posts

290 months

Saturday 23rd May 2020
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Maybe it's just mine.

Two other problems have cover to light switch it

The display really is useless outdoors in the sun. I know the reviews said this, but I really didn't expect it to be that best. Easy wise than the charge 2 it replaced.

It will vibrates away with notifications when you have your phone on so but disturb. That I've really suits my head in.

But I will keep it around just for some base line tracking. I like the sleep tracking and the resting heart rate stuff.


CubanPete

Original Poster:

3,818 posts

218 months

Monday 1st June 2020
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Just to update, a few runs later and a weeks wear, she is very happy. Syncs easily, easy to use and provides lots of data.

Definitely recommended once the set up was managed!.