Can anyone recommend an accurate calorie counter/distance/speed tracker?

[Silkylapin]

Hi everyone, I'm halfway through the C25K programme and just wondered if anyone could recommmend a device that measures calories used/distance and speed? I'm using an ipod for running and making good progress, but would like to know a bit more about what I'm achieving during my runs, apart from a very red face! Many thanks

[Tomas Graduate]

TomTom and Garmin are the main manufacturers of GPS sports watches. They come in various price brackets - the more money you pay, the more features you get. The cheapest Garmin (called a Forerunner 10) is quite popular on this forum.

If you think you might want to start doing other exercises (swimming, cycling, hiking, etc) it's worth thinking ahead and spending a bit more up front for a device that supports metrics gathering from those sports as well.

You can also use various apps on a smartphone (both Android and iPhone have a large number of running apps), but they are less accurate than a dedicated GPS watch (but also far cheaper).

[Dunder2004 Graduate]

You can get an Apple/Nike footpod to work in conjunction with your Ipod to measure speed/distance and then install the Nike+ app. I could not vouch for the accuracy of that combo however.

If you are sure that running is for you then a GPS equipped watch would be the logical choice. The Garmin Forerunner 10 is the most popular entry level device.

[Frank-ntj]

I have downloaded the free runkeeper app on my phone and so far has worked perfectly. Hope this helps 😊

[jules50 Graduate]

Yep ive also been using runkeeper and apart from a few gps issues its fine and you can play your music thru it if you want to ☺

[qobsmith Graduate]

I've got a Garmin Forerunner 15 which is pretty good. Tracks time, distance, pace, calories, lap times, and heart rate (if you get the monitor). I don't think there's such a thing as an "accurate" calorie counter, but for all intents and purposes the FR15 (and presumably FR10) do as good a job as any. Even if it's not accurate, it's pretty fun finishing a run and being told you just ran off 300 cals!

[ju-ju- Graduate]

MFP?? Or a fancy Garmin?

[Silkylapin]

Ah thanks everyone - that's great! The Garmin brand sounds like the one I should go for