W7R1 and Garmin

So did W7R1 today and I'm beginning to feel the fitness coming and had room for that little bit extra for the final 60 seconds.

Which has led me to start looking at running tech to monitor heart rate , calories etc etc.

What do people recommend , I've been looking at the Garmin Vivo range I the £80 bracket but is it worth the extra money to move up into the £150 bracket for the vivoactive range?

Or should I go crazy and research Fitbits as well 😉

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

Great job... and really good to read that you’re starting to feel that fitness level. You got this.

I use a Garmin forerunner 35 (£100) and the newer 45 is just in that £150 price point... I do feel they’re worth the extra as the focus of their design is on running. Other watches would come into the equation if I regularly did other sports, but as my focus is running I’d probably stick with a forerunner as I can’t justify the cash for a Fenix, or a Marq (though I’d love one from Santa if he’s reading 🤣). Personally, I’d go with Garmin over Fitbit, partly because I’ve used their products for years and have received exceptional service on their walking products, and partly because of my focus on running, Fitbit are great, but in my opinion a jack of all trades.

[tara-j Graduate]

Garmin over fitbit for me every time. Vivo active is fab.

[K8nno Graduate]

You could pick up a perfectly suitable Second hand Forerunner 235 within your budget. I bought and sold 2 of these before trading up to a Fenix.

[Dtay1978 Graduate]

I use the Nike run club app on my Apple Watch, tracks everything you need 😊

[Ritmo Graduate]

I've just bought a Forerunner 35 (£99 from Amazon) and I love it. Previously I had a Fitbit Ionic which had all the expensive bells and whistles and then died on me.

The 35 does everything I want, syncs with Strava and, one little touch that I love...it buzzes at the kilometer marks.

[Rumour Graduate]

We use Forerunner 35's that we have had for two years. Great piece of kit and gives all the information you need. Cheap as chips compared to those Apple watches and even Fitbits! The Apple watches start at around £200 for an old series 3 (Now on series 5) Fitbits are better, lots use them, but the largest seller is Garmin.

Notifications that you set from your phone, so if you are out, you get the important texts and messages. Personal records for distances and sooo much more and all around £100 on Amazon.

(Can you tell we love ours over the others we have used?)

[AlysP Graduate]

I use a fit bit for running and cycling although I do have a cycling Garmin attached to my bike. Everything uploads to strava. I LOVE my Fitbit as you can do family challenges, workouts, add all your food, get sleep scores, blah blah blah as well as a map of the run, your split times per mile/km, and heart rate throughout the run which for me is more than enough. I have the Fitbit versa which has a big enough screen to see the time as well. I do believe that all serious runners have a Garmin though.....

[Hidden]

Thankyou for all the advice @everyone I shall now search the internet's for a Garmin. Or reward my self with a new one after W9R3 if I've failed to win on ebay or gumtree by then.