Garmin watch

[Kevtrev]

I’m after a new watch a Garmin which I want to use for everything running gym swimming etc and the main thing that’s important on it to tell me my pace as I need to sort that out because I haven’t got one and need help on that 😉 and plus I don’t want to pay the Earth for one

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10]

You have a pace, actually you have several... so the watch is only really going to tell you what it is. The 35 is great value, and does mostly everything that most of us need. The 235/245 adds a little more and can take take custom workouts from the connect app (and outside sources).

[Buddy34 Graduate10]

Hi, I have the garmin forerunner 35. It does what you're looking for and is waterproof up to 50 metres. Although it says it does not track swimming. 😊

[cheekychipmunks Graduate10]

If you want to wear it for swimming too you’re looking at a fairly pricey one unfortunately. My Forerunner 235 doesn’t support swimming, but my husband’s Vivoactive does (I think). If you can live without it, the 35 and 235 give more stats than you can shake a stick at for running.

If you hold out until Black Friday you might get a good deal. I saved nearly £60 on mine last year. 👍

[SlowLoris]

Lots of new models this year so the previous will come down in price. 235 is a good one.

[Runningmummyy]

I’m in love with my vivoactive, it’s so beautiful, it’s a smart watch too, tracks runs, lots of different workouts and swimming too. Also has hr monitor and tells you your stress levels and tracks your steps. You can turn off the features you don’t want. I had the 225 before hand and while it was great for everything running wise it was a bit bulky for wearing all the time.

[Runningmummyy]

I bought mine on eBay for £120 by the way

[Dexy5 Graduate10]

If you want it for swimming as well as running , it pushes the price up. Oldgirlruns bought a garmin vivoactive to do the same so she may tell you how she is getting on with it.

[Grannyhugs Graduate10]

Bought 35 4 weeks ago, great once you turn off the Move alert! £113

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

Yes.!!! It took me ages to work that out 😂

[Getfitok in reply to Grannyhugs]

WHAT! You can turn off the move alert?!!!

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Getfitok]

Ha ha ha when time shows click bottom left, then bottom right to highlight settings then top right to select settings bottom right to highlight activity tracking, top right to select active tracking bottom right to highlight move alert top right to select it top right to toggle it to turn off. Now I've just turned mine on! Enjoy a peaceful life

[Getfitok in reply to Grannyhugs]

That’s making my brain hurt just reading it😂 must give it a try,

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to Getfitok]

Follow step by step it will make sense as you do it. I take it you know how to set running alerts?

[Getfitok in reply to Grannyhugs]

Yes, I’m really pleased with my Garmin. It was a Christmas present after I graduated. Anything techy or tricky I usually get my boys to help, but didn’t realise you could switch off the very rude MOVE 😂 thanks

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

That move alert is such a slave driver... 10 mile run doesn’t matter to it, you got about 20 minutes sat down before it starts nagging 🤣

[Grannyhugs Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Best thing I ever did switching it off. Although my hips are always painful after long sit eg car journey so good for keeping them pain free.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Grannyhugs]

I leave it on... I just tell it where to go if I’ve been on a long run. In general I rarely sit for more than an hour.

[LeeU 60minGraduate]

I have the Forerunner 735XT, it came with the running chest strap but you can also get a swimming one too.

Excellent piece of kit, tells you more information than you ever need.

[Oldgirlruns Graduate10]

Hi Kevtrev, as Dexy5 said, I wanted something I could use for lap counting in the pool and was surprised how much it pushes the price up. They all seem to be waterproof to a depth but that’s not the same. So I ended up with the Garmin Vivoactive3 which seems to do the trick - covers all sorts of workouts including the swimming. I haven’t worked out pool lap counting exactly but you put in the length of your pool and it works out the distance you’ve gone. I confess I’m still not thoroughly conversant with it but once I’ve printed off the manual I’m sure all will become clear! But it’s quite good to operate and for running it gives you all the info you’d expect and for swimming it also gives you a good breakdown of what you’ve done.

[Cantstopmenow Graduate10]

I've got a garmin 35. My local running shop agreed to price match the offer I found on the Blacks website. That's no good for Ebay though! Good luck

[Boxcar Graduate10]

You can track swimming on the 235, you just need to download the pool swim app on it. Very basic but it does give you distance & time you. 👍

[Dexy5 Graduate10 in reply to Boxcar]

But is it waterproof enough Boxcar?

[Boxcar Graduate10 in reply to Dexy5]

Yes, waterproof to 50m. The only issue I’ve had is the occasional length not counted but that’s rare.

[Mummycav Administrator Graduate10]

Hi Kevtrev ...I have a Garmin vivoactive 3 music and I LOVE IT!!! I can say that it is the best present I've ever had!!! No need to take my phone, it does everything and holds tonnes of music too, just need bluetooth headphones...theres some good prices on Amazon at the moment...I would def recommend it

[sTrongFuse Graduate10]

I have the vivoactive 3 (the basic non-music version). The fact that it doesn't hold music isn't an issue to me as I always run with my phone, and the bluetooth means I can control the phone's music app from the watch.

It's typically in the £150-£175 range but has recently been superseded by the vivoactive 4 so if you are willing to hunt around, you may get a good deal if shops still have some old stock.

[ForbiddenPlanet Graduate10]

I agree with cheepychipmunks, that is worth keeping an eye out for offers, especially with Black Friday just a few weeks away.

I'd been thinking about getting a gps tracker watch for some time when I saw the Forerunner 235 on sale at Amazon for £130.

I bought it to track my hikes, but within a couple of days of it arriving I had started C25K - which I just finished, on Friday. I don't think I'd have done C25K if I hadn't bought the watch. Wonderful gadgets these tracker watches, IMO.

[Kevtrev Graduate10]

Thank you everyone for your help much appreciated I’m going to see what is on offer on the Black Friday deals I’ve seen a Garmin Vivoactive 3 gps for £149.99 was £279.99 will keep my eye on that and some others that are cheaper but not much in it so im going to wait and see and that’s from Amazon and sold by Amazon I presume that a Vivoactive 4 will be out soon but expensive thanks guys

[UnfitNoMore Graduate10 in reply to Kevtrev]

Yep... the 4 is announced, starting at £240

buy.garmin.com/en-GB/GB/p/6...

Only 5 hours battery with GPS active though, which could be an issue if you wanna track ultramarathons 🤣

[Kevtrev Graduate10 in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Outch expensive more than I’m prepared to pay so a big no no and the battery is shocking thank you for the info 😉👍