Choosing a watch for running
Discussion
Hi All,
I’m looking for a device to use for running (only) and what I would like, is a watch which offers (as minimum) the following features :
1 GPS – to measure how far I’ve run.
2 Wrist-based heart rate monitoring, with the ability to let me know when I’m training above/below a specific heart rate zone.
3 Although I wear contact lenses and my distance vision is fine, I wear glasses for close-up reading. I’ve found that digital watches I’ve worn previously, have displays that I struggle to read whilst running. Therefore, I’m looking for a watch which displays info with large easy-to-read characters.
I’ve identified a couple of watches that appear to meet my requirements, these being the Garmin Forerunner 35 and the TomTom Runner 3 Cardio.
Can anyone offer any guidance based on first-hand experience of either of these watches . . . or should I be considering something else ?
I’m looking for a device to use for running (only) and what I would like, is a watch which offers (as minimum) the following features :
1 GPS – to measure how far I’ve run.
2 Wrist-based heart rate monitoring, with the ability to let me know when I’m training above/below a specific heart rate zone.
3 Although I wear contact lenses and my distance vision is fine, I wear glasses for close-up reading. I’ve found that digital watches I’ve worn previously, have displays that I struggle to read whilst running. Therefore, I’m looking for a watch which displays info with large easy-to-read characters.
I’ve identified a couple of watches that appear to meet my requirements, these being the Garmin Forerunner 35 and the TomTom Runner 3 Cardio.
Can anyone offer any guidance based on first-hand experience of either of these watches . . . or should I be considering something else ?
Short answer: Get a Garmin
Longer answer: I'm a member of a running club, and everyone I know who runs with a watch (and that's most of them) uses a Garmin. Everyone I know who has bought an alternative (TomTom, Apple Watch, etc) has eventually bought a Garmin. That are very good at what they do.
Longer answer: I'm a member of a running club, and everyone I know who runs with a watch (and that's most of them) uses a Garmin. Everyone I know who has bought an alternative (TomTom, Apple Watch, etc) has eventually bought a Garmin. That are very good at what they do.
If you've not found it already, DC Rainmaker does excellent reviews of sports tech'
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/09/hands-on-garmi...
https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2016/09/hands-on-garmi...
I have a tomtom3 - it's brilliant vfm. Accurate GPS, quick to connect to satellites 99.9% of the time and the bread crumb mapping is very good. Battery life still great after 21 months.
I wouldn't buy one today though as TomTom have pulled out of the wearables market - so at some point I won't be able to upload my data.
I wouldn't buy one today though as TomTom have pulled out of the wearables market - so at some point I won't be able to upload my data.
Pieman68 said:
I've got a TomTom. I'm currently looking at getting a Garmin
The TomTom does what I need it to do, but it takes an age syncing up to the GPS. I also find it quite uncomfortable to wear
I had a TomTom, now have a Garmin. The TomTom is great value for money, but it has so many annoying quirks that I got fed up with it.The TomTom does what I need it to do, but it takes an age syncing up to the GPS. I also find it quite uncomfortable to wear
FunkyNige said:
Pieman68 said:
I've got a TomTom. I'm currently looking at getting a Garmin
The TomTom does what I need it to do, but it takes an age syncing up to the GPS. I also find it quite uncomfortable to wear
I had a TomTom, now have a Garmin. The TomTom is great value for money, but it has so many annoying quirks that I got fed up with it.The TomTom does what I need it to do, but it takes an age syncing up to the GPS. I also find it quite uncomfortable to wear
I'd get a Garmin although their software is for me even more challenging but least it works 99% of the time (I've got a golf S5 Garmin watch).
I've had two TomTom's and budget wise they were great. But features wise less so. In any case, TomTom are leaving the sports watch market - so you're going to end up with an unsupported product. So I wouldn't buy another.
It's worth having a look at DC Rainmaker's site, he is basically the expert. Although since he went full time with his site it seems to me like he's going into less and less detail...but then, with the amount of stuff he has to wade through it's understandable.
Back to the OP. Normally I'd say, 'buy the best Garmin you can afford,' and that's still a safe bet. Garmin consistently have the strongest feature set, and when they work they are absolutely fantastic bits of kit. I simply wouldn't be without mine. And the FR35 is a very good place to start. But Suunto - after a rocky few years and some reliability issues - seem to have worked out the kinks and have released some decent watches in the mid range, so if you're looking at closer to £200+ then it's worth checking them out. I still think Garmin have the edge overall though, not least because Connect IQ apps have taken off. It feels totally natural to be able to plot in which aid stations have water and which have food in them, or just turn my bedroom light off via my watch now. And that's thanks to Garmin getting third parties on board in a way that no-one else has managed.
It's worth having a look at DC Rainmaker's site, he is basically the expert. Although since he went full time with his site it seems to me like he's going into less and less detail...but then, with the amount of stuff he has to wade through it's understandable.
Back to the OP. Normally I'd say, 'buy the best Garmin you can afford,' and that's still a safe bet. Garmin consistently have the strongest feature set, and when they work they are absolutely fantastic bits of kit. I simply wouldn't be without mine. And the FR35 is a very good place to start. But Suunto - after a rocky few years and some reliability issues - seem to have worked out the kinks and have released some decent watches in the mid range, so if you're looking at closer to £200+ then it's worth checking them out. I still think Garmin have the edge overall though, not least because Connect IQ apps have taken off. It feels totally natural to be able to plot in which aid stations have water and which have food in them, or just turn my bedroom light off via my watch now. And that's thanks to Garmin getting third parties on board in a way that no-one else has managed.
I went Apple Watch , obviously you need to be an Apple user (iPhone) and have zero regrets , the gen2 watch has gps and HR built in , I like that it has Strava built in and you don’t need to upload anything , I also like I can download podcast on the actual watch and connect up to Bluetooth headphones , it has a decent speaker that can give verbal comands and you can download all manor of running apps to it , it even automatically twigs when you start exercising like indoor or outdoor running on Nordic training ( it knows what you doing).
I just upgraded to the series 3 with cellular, not had to use it in anger (thank god) but it is nice to know if I get into trouble I can call from my watch and get a taxi , mrs to collect me, police etc . I paid £250 for it as people are all upgrading to gen4 so a used bargain
I just upgraded to the series 3 with cellular, not had to use it in anger (thank god) but it is nice to know if I get into trouble I can call from my watch and get a taxi , mrs to collect me, police etc . I paid £250 for it as people are all upgrading to gen4 so a used bargain
I've had over the years and as they've progressed the following:
Garmin 405 - Had a touch bezel, was awful in the rain or if sweaty.
Suunto Ambit 1 - One of the first GPS watches with ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass) but no breadcrumb trail. I traded up for a few reasons, main one was I wanted a breadcrumb trail. Also the strap would only last a year and you couldn't fit a plain strap due to th GPS sensor being in the way.
Suunto Traverse - Had a breadcrumb trail, but came out before HR monitors were the norm. I would have stayed with this longer term but it was stolen from by luggage.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR Sapphire - What I have now, fantastic bit of kit, HR is good, GPS is good (it matches my handheld Garmin unit fairly closely), you can download multiple screens and sports so text size will never be an issue for you. Has smart connectivity so you can see calls and read messages as they come in and decide whether it's worth getting your phone out of your bag to respond. The Fenix 5 came out a couple of weeks after I bought mine, I don't actually think there is any difference although I haven't looked too closely.
Next purchase is likely to be a Garmin dive watch, a friend has just picked up the MK1, it has all the Fenix 5 functionality with it also being a dive computer. Having watched a Suunto D9Tx kill it's battery in 2 years and the ball-ache that comes with getting it changed I am keen to have a do-it-all watch for diving and running that is rechargeable.
The latest Suunto and Garmin batteries (Ambit, Traverse, Spartan, Fenix) seem absolutely fine, You get a warning at 20% on the Garmin, it takes a few hours to fully charge. Under normal use with a couple of decent runs it will last for over a week. You would need to ensure it is fully charged before an Ultra though. Without any runs, it uses about 10% a day. However, if you have a very active home screen with lots of colour it will chew through the battery quickly, I have grey dials on a black background hence the extended duration.
Garmin 405 - Had a touch bezel, was awful in the rain or if sweaty.
Suunto Ambit 1 - One of the first GPS watches with ABC (Altimeter, Barometer, Compass) but no breadcrumb trail. I traded up for a few reasons, main one was I wanted a breadcrumb trail. Also the strap would only last a year and you couldn't fit a plain strap due to th GPS sensor being in the way.
Suunto Traverse - Had a breadcrumb trail, but came out before HR monitors were the norm. I would have stayed with this longer term but it was stolen from by luggage.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR Sapphire - What I have now, fantastic bit of kit, HR is good, GPS is good (it matches my handheld Garmin unit fairly closely), you can download multiple screens and sports so text size will never be an issue for you. Has smart connectivity so you can see calls and read messages as they come in and decide whether it's worth getting your phone out of your bag to respond. The Fenix 5 came out a couple of weeks after I bought mine, I don't actually think there is any difference although I haven't looked too closely.
Next purchase is likely to be a Garmin dive watch, a friend has just picked up the MK1, it has all the Fenix 5 functionality with it also being a dive computer. Having watched a Suunto D9Tx kill it's battery in 2 years and the ball-ache that comes with getting it changed I am keen to have a do-it-all watch for diving and running that is rechargeable.
The latest Suunto and Garmin batteries (Ambit, Traverse, Spartan, Fenix) seem absolutely fine, You get a warning at 20% on the Garmin, it takes a few hours to fully charge. Under normal use with a couple of decent runs it will last for over a week. You would need to ensure it is fully charged before an Ultra though. Without any runs, it uses about 10% a day. However, if you have a very active home screen with lots of colour it will chew through the battery quickly, I have grey dials on a black background hence the extended duration.
pubrunner said:
Hi All,
I’m looking for a device to use for running (only) and what I would like, is a watch which offers (as minimum) the following features :
1 GPS – to measure how far I’ve run.
2 Wrist-based heart rate monitoring, with the ability to let me know when I’m training above/below a specific heart rate zone.
3 Although I wear contact lenses and my distance vision is fine, I wear glasses for close-up reading. I’ve found that digital watches I’ve worn previously, have displays that I struggle to read whilst running. Therefore, I’m looking for a watch which displays info with large easy-to-read characters.
I’ve identified a couple of watches that appear to meet my requirements, these being the Garmin Forerunner 35 and the TomTom Runner 3 Cardio.
Can anyone offer any guidance based on first-hand experience of either of these watches . . . or should I be considering something else ?
me too! Plus I want it to sync to Strava. For the last six months, I have been using Decathlon's OnMove 500 which does all for c£70 but I want to treat myself I’m looking for a device to use for running (only) and what I would like, is a watch which offers (as minimum) the following features :
1 GPS – to measure how far I’ve run.
2 Wrist-based heart rate monitoring, with the ability to let me know when I’m training above/below a specific heart rate zone.
3 Although I wear contact lenses and my distance vision is fine, I wear glasses for close-up reading. I’ve found that digital watches I’ve worn previously, have displays that I struggle to read whilst running. Therefore, I’m looking for a watch which displays info with large easy-to-read characters.
I’ve identified a couple of watches that appear to meet my requirements, these being the Garmin Forerunner 35 and the TomTom Runner 3 Cardio.
Can anyone offer any guidance based on first-hand experience of either of these watches . . . or should I be considering something else ?
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