Hello OF members, I was just wondering if anyone on the forum is into running/cycling and have been through the process of selecting a wristwatch to track mileage and heart rate etc. I was thinking of a Garmin or going down the road of the latest Apple Watch. Any input is appreciated. Andrew
Good question. My wife is a runner and would like a watch for running. I have done some research but it really depends on what you are looking for. I saw advantages and disadvantages for each type of watch. The concern I have about an Apple watch is durability if you were to fall. Hopefully, some runners with first hand experience will respond.
I have the fitbit ionic which like for the smart/ fitness stuff. Find it really hard to part with 1k plus for a fast depreciating watch, if I was less tight I'd of bought a mont blanc summit 2 or a garmin marq by now, but I rather buy something else mechanical (and that's what I generally end up doing) Bang for buck probably the fossil is best smart watch around. Apple ecosystem is not for me, so apple watch is out, but their heart monitoring stuff is super interesting. What I really want is a smart clasp, with screen that replaces standard bracelet clasp. Best of both worlds. Tried a smart buckle, close but not cigar
Nothing can beat Garmin Fenix series I think. Although its a huge watch. I have Fenix 3HR and I love it. It has so many features that I guess one cant use them all unless he is a professional person reviewing all those features. On the other hand, if you want a good enough, pretty looking fitness watch that does all the things that an average person does Apple watch fits the bill.
I have the Garmin Forerunner 230 that I use exclusively for Running and mountain biking. For around $200 you get a lot, two satellite systems: GPS and GLONASS, an accelerator, mapping, nice integration with apps. It doesn't have wrist HR monitoring which is often inaccurate and eats up battery. I have a chest strap HR monitor that I can use with it. If you want to be a smartwatch person the Apple watch is good, but if you want a fitness / GPS watch the Garmin watches are as good or better for that one purpose and cost a lot less. Garmin battery life is not great, but easily lasts weeks if not using GPS. Apple watch says they have "Up to 18 hours of battery life."
As has been said, it depends on what you want to use it for. If you want to tie it to tracking apps that allow you to record your performance and store routes, etc, I think Garmins are great, but there are several others on the market. Wahoo gets good reviews. The Garmin Fenix seams to allow you to record just about any forma of activity you can think of. I mostly cycle, but I also swim and run, and do a two or three triathlons a year so the Forerunner 920XT has served me very well for a few of years now. It specialises in exactly those activities as well as counting steps should I decide to wear it when trekking, although I'm not in the least interested in counting steps. I like the way it easily uploads data to my Garmin Connect account allowing me to see, over time, the inverse correlation between my age and performance. I also use a Garmin bike computer for longer rides. The watch is better at finding satellites than the bike computer. The problem is it's about as ugly as anything you could imagine putting on your wrist, (with the possible exception of a Rolex) Funny, I thought about starting a thread about activity watches but came to the conclusion that I don't really think of mine as a watch. Even though it tells the time, and has an emulated analogue face, to me it's a computer device that just happens to sit on my wrist, not a watch. Aesthetics were never on my list of factors when selecting it. I was purely interested in function and price, and that's why I don't include it as part of my, as yet, tiny watch collection.
My vote is on the newest gen samsung watch. It does everything you need and it looks the best IMO. I had both colors in the last gen and I loved them for work but the size was terrible so I sold them both to get the newest smaller size. I never got the newest cause the price jumped once the others finally sold so I held off. Also for reference the latest gen is the same size as a speedy I found it more easily navigable over the apple watch but these days everyone either has apple or Samsung I feel. It only makes sense to go apple watch if you already have the iphone. My 2 pennies
Gear 2 from Samsung works for me. It covers all kind of exercising (monitors heart rate, calories, mileage etc ), has built in GPS and sim card. I don't have to bring my phone to the gym or take it for a bike ride.
Thank you to all the OF members who contributed a reply. It will be a tough decision but I’ll make one with the input provided.
Got a deal on summit 2, will how it works out Trying out an Omega face on it, dont think it's going to stay
Actually looks pretty good for a smart watch. I like when watches look like watches which is why I suggested the Samsung gear watch. Not a fan of the apple square. Goodluck with it.
Got the latest AlpinaX email the other day and they look the goods for fitness https://alpinawatches.com/watches/alpinerx-ref-al-283lbbo5saq6/ Can buy a heart monitor https://alpinawatches.com/watches/alpinerx-heart-rate-monitoring-belt-ref-al-hrm-belt/
I tried watching football for fitness but all the beer and nachos only increased my waist. Now I hike or jog.
Wouldn't move away from Garmin myself. If you don't go the latest model you can get them pretty cheap. Currently using the 235 it's never let me down over thousands of miles. Races from 5k to ultra marathon. You can also control your iPod/phone using the watch. Probably available for around £100 now.
This looks like a game changer to me. Powered by body heat so none of the pain of frequent charging. Looks pretty good too. https://www.powerwatch.com/