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I want to get Mrs SR something vaguely equivalent to Wahoo for Christmas, and am wondering what is out there. I know there are Garmin watches that give a runner certain types of feedback on physical performanc, but I would like something that does all (or most) of the following:
GPS tracking
GPS navigation (possibly)
Speed
distance
heartrate
waterproof
easy to connect with Strava
Are there other features a runner might look for? If so, what should I bear in mind.?
Or ultimately, because she often takes her phone with her anyway in order to listen to music, would she be better off just letting the phone do it all?
Pretty much most garmin running watches do all of that bar the navagation. Some do basic back to start nav (vivoactive up) and something like a fenix will do it all.
Look forward to all the normal garmin 'features' as well - beta testing on customers....
Wahoo almost released a watch earlier this year, then pulled it for reasons unknown. I'm hoping that they'll release it at some point and allow me to ditch the garmin watch.
Look forward to all the normal garmin ‘features’ as well – beta testing on customers….
Wahoo almost released a watch earlier this year, then pulled it for reasons unknown. I’m hoping that they’ll release it at some point and allow me to ditch the garmin watch.
Which one out of interest.
Having started running again recently, I am thinking of putting a gps watch on my Christmas list, with Garmin Forerunner 30 or 35 looking good in terms of value for money. But having switched from an Edge 500 to an Elemnt Bolt due to the Garmin being crap, I am reluctant to return to Garmin.
The other option is a Polar M430 but it's a bit more pricey ..
wahoo are bringing out a watch. Officially last May, so it's a little late....
At the moment I have an Ambit3 - very good watch and GPS, but the software isn't the best. They're in the process of migrating the app to something else (movescount to Sports Tracker basically). If the software was good - and it promises to be (but then they all do) - the actual watch is ace.
Depends how much you want to spend, fenix 5 plus does all that, and has music, so she can ditch the phone, pricey though. I think some of the cheaper garmin watches have music, but the navigation feature takes memory and processing that they don't have.
Have a look at the Amazfit Pace 2, also known as a Stratos. I've got the original pace and apart from being not being fully waterproof fits the bill (the Pace 2/Stratos is WP). Amazon stock them but your best price will be through Gearbest or similar.
I used mine to track a 200km/10hr ride and still had 40% battery left. Syncs with strava and does all the sleep tracking, step counting, message notifications, music control and the like.
Which one out of interest.
I have a vivoactive 3. It's relatively stable by garmin standards and only crashes ocassionally - when it does, it generally reboots quickly. The battery life is laughable against the claims tho.
I like my Suunto. Disclaimer, my OH works for the parent company, so I got something of a deal on it, but I've found myself using it more and more for MTB over my Garmin, as well as running. On the whole it just seems more stable than my Garmin was at the same age. When things change they actually seem to change for the better rather than feeling like the developers throw stuff against the wall, see what sticks and patch what doesn't later (Garmin).
The app (android) seems to be not dissimilar to any others in terms of reliability to be honest- the odd little hiccup but broadly OK. Lately it's been a bit patchy on synching but so has Garmin Connect- I think it's my phone slowly dying rather than the apps themselves as they both work fine with a nudge.
Vivoactive HR doesn't seem to have the buggy issues that my 500 and 520 had, software is pretty spot on now. Doesn't have navigation, as said above. Had mine for 2 years now, I'll never go back to a bike specific one, so limited in contrast to the wrist based offerings.
I use a Garmin 235 works flawlessly for me
Look forward to all the normal garmin ‘features’ as well – beta testing on customers….
That's not been my experience, either with the FR210 I had ages ago, the Fenix 3 that replaced it or the Fenix 5 I have now. Touch wood of course 🙂
Suunto are also good, although their website used to be a bit pants. No doubt it's improved since I last used it (about 3-4 years ago), but from what I hear (ie DCRainmaker) Garmin's website is superior.
Another thing to consider (and not Garmin specific) is activity / sleep / 24hr heartrate tracking, which may be of interest.