[Closed] GPS Watches

TomTom Multisport - often on great offer on Sport Pursuit and i am well impressed. Easy to use, syncs with things like strava and holds lock even in dense trees. Awesome.

Thanks Tom, that's actually on my list! Does it auto pause and is it waterproof?

Garmin Fenix 3 - does all you want, is waterproof, and you can add sensors to make things more accurate (e.g. speed etc) links to Strava through the Garmin Connect app - I finish my ride and by the time I've walked into the house my ride is already up on strava..

Garmin vivoactive. I like mine

Another fenix3 user here. Apart from the odd software glitch it's been great. Constant software updates are adding new features so what I purchased a year ago is not what I have now from a functionality perspective.

I've had a Vivoactive for nearly a year, it does the job for me (the Fenix 3 is HUGE)

nsbikescore1 - Member
Thanks Tom, that's actually on my list! Does it auto pause and is it waterproof?

It doesn't auto-pause as such but when you download the file it gives you total time and moving time. There is a manual pause if you are stopping for a coffee. It is fully waterproof.

Have got a Forerunner 230 it does all you ask but its sweat proof rather than waterproof. Turbo GPS mode is good if the signal's sketchy. Incredibly light and great display

I like my TomTom. Seems a bit smaller than the Fenix. Maybe not all the features but does everything I need. Plus it syncs via Bluetooth to my phone and then to Strava.

DCRainmaker has a huge number of comprehensive reviews.

I too have decided to try a basic GPS watch out, but being a cheapskate and only really wanting to dabble for now I thought I would see if a used one was an option...

I spotted a FR110 (older, basic model) on fleabay as "spares or repairs"; stating it won't hold charge, a bit of googling reveals this issue can either be sorted via a couple of different reset methods (that would be ideal), or else a replacement battery can be sourced for about £15...

So I slapped a speculative £10 bid on and won, seeing as functional used FR110s seem to go for ~£40+ and worst case it's only another £15 to sort it I reckon that's a bargain*. So its in the post now apparently.

But yeah, if it is just something you want to try out ebay is awash with used forerunners in various conditions from pristine and fully working to knackered but repairable, bare in mind a fair few people will have received an "upgrade" for Christmas making now is a good time...
So decide how much you want to spend, if you would be happy taking on a repair or not, Google the various options, any known faults and fixes, check the DCrainmaker review and go shopping...

*wishful thinking yet TBC...

This might not be a consideration but.... the TomTom Multisport Cardio GPS is fully waterproof as mentioned above so it can record your time in the pool but be warned that it over estimates the distance.

For instance, I swam 1,500 metres but the watch recorded 1.19 miles and that's not isolated. Seems to just be in the pool as cycling and running distances are fairly accurate.

Another drawback, again on swimming, it doesn't record heart rate but it does estimate calories burned (in total, not just the exercise top up).

For running and cycling it's brilliant.

Another Tom Tom multi user here.

Happy with it other than 2 things.

1 - you cannot start recording without GPS lock. May sound a non issue, but I use it daily to log miles on the commute, would rather it just started and then recorded proper when gps lock obtained.
2- Bluetooth transfer is very, very slow. (iPhone 5)

Other than that, no probs. Wear it daily as a watch, charge every 3 days or so, 1 hours GPS use daily, longer on weekends.

Thanks everyone, I think the Tom Tom is definitely top contender at the moment. I've got a forerunner 110 and it works well but it has no Bluetooth capabilities so I have to mess about getting the laptop out which I want to avoid doing with the new watch, I'd like the Fenix but I'm thinking more around the £150 mark at most.

I've got a TomTom runner2 which is working great for me at the moment. GPS pick up is very quick if I have synched it with the phone the same day. Music playback is also very good via Bluetooth. HRM is good enough for my needs and much less hassle than a dedicated strap. They just did an update for all day hrm tracking as well.

OH has a Suunto Ambit something. Three, I think. It seems very good- I borrowed it for running would definitely add it to the list if my garmin dies (or garmin introduce some new features without testing them properly and it gets a trip out the window). Don't know about auto pause

Looks like the spark is the newer model of the tomtom multi sport. Does that sound right?

Suunto Ambit 2, I can't fault fault mine, battery lasts for ages and its much less buggy than the Fenix 2 I had before it also it picks up GPS location almost instantly. Movescount (suunto equivalent of connect) is awesome, you can configure custom views etc and apply them to your watch. Only downside is that the bundled chest strap that came with mine isn't true Ant+ despite saying Ant on it - so won't link up to gym equipment / zwift etc. I tried using the Garmin chest strap with the Ambit but the connection was pretty flakey, they are now making what they call a dual Ant chest strap that should resolve that issue. I've never tried the Tomtom but the integrated hrm looks neat!

Thought I'd add the ambit 2 hasn't got Bluetooth but I believe the ambit 3 has, ambit 2 falls within the 150 budget but the ambit 3 would be a fair bit more.

I wanted a Vivoactive, spoke with someone who had one & had a little play with it. He was moaning about the software being a bit buggy, and the screen was useless when it was overcast. Kinda felt a bit cheap too, so put me right off.

I ordered a Fenix 3 on an Amazon deal - turned up yesterday, much better!

Last time I had a fitness watch was an old FR110. Thinks have come a long way since then 🙂

I think I'm now erring towards the ambit sport 3 although I don't really like the look of it. The battery life seems better than the tomtom and the connectivity and software seems more stable according to reviews. I'm not sure I would use the hrm part of the tomtom given that it'll be used mostly for cycling but I do like the single button feature.

Bargain: [url= http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/677815 ]http://www.sportpursuit.com/catalog/product/view/id/677815[/url]

I fancy the Fenix 3 HR when it's released soon. Tried on a regular one and it did feel pretty big TBH which is my only reservation with my dainty wrists!

Like the idea of an inbuilt HRM for daily use and the option of adding a chest strap and bike speed and cadence sensors when doing sport. Got the wife a Fitbit HR for Christmas but it lacks GPS which I would certainly want. Not sold on the styling of most fitness watches like the TomTom so think the Fenix 3 could be the way to go.

I looked at the on SP. It's a good price. Mate has one and he's very happy with it.

I ended up with the Spark. Having had a bitfat (fitbit) for 9 months, I like the all day tracking and the HRM in the watch. Spark is pretty good at measuring HRM - way better than the FitBit. I tested it against my Sunntu old HRM which has a proper strap.

Not bothered with the cadence sensors, the TomTom is pretty ugly but it's a good interface and robust and can stand getting wet. I started running again and that's what tipped me over the edge - that and the music you can keep on the watch. That's fab.

Web portal is a bit bleak compared to fitbit and the bluetooth transfer slow (as said above). I did look at the fitbit surge which I reckon is aesthetically streets ahead but got a good deal on Amazon (£160) so went with the Spark.