Sports watches

[Autocutie]

I’m thinking about splashing out on a tracking watch (now I’m a proper runner 😉wk8 r1) as I’m not sure how accurate my iphone is with distance.

I’ve seen runners on here using Polar/Garmin/Fitbits... does anybody have any recommendations? I’d like to be able to measure distance and track heartbeat.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

Hi, I think any that you have mentioned will do what you require, all perhaps in slightly different presentations .

I personally use a Garmin 45 and that does all you say and the stats are recorded in the accompanying app .

Data can then be uploaded direct to apps such as strava

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Thanks that’s really useful.

[Baggaz Graduate]

I used to have a fitbit but it died and now I have a garmin forerunner 45 as it was on sale on Amazon. Both do what you want but I prefer the garmin. Its made for runners and I prefer the garmin app. It has a little bit more info and includes some training plans. Hope that helps. Happy running xx

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to Baggaz]

Thanks the garmin does seem to be coming out on top. 👍

[Overweightandunfit Graduate]

I have a Fitbit Inspire HR originally bought before I started running (just for steps) and to be honest it is not good for running. It doesn’t have it’s own gps so still relies on my iPhone. My husband has a TomTom and that is great, very accurate, easy to sync to the computer and tracks his best times , segments etc,

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to Overweightandunfit]

Yes the Fitbit doesn’t seem to have a big fan base. Thanks for this.

[N3llyB Graduate]

I just got the fitbit ionic and I love it 😍 had the charge 2 which wasn't great. Love it for not just running but for walks, heart rate, sleep tracking, swimming and steps which suits me. I think garmins are better for running, but I like an all rounder. Plus it can hold music, so if you didn't want to take your phone it hooks up to Bluetooth headphones. And you can pay for stuff contactless on it! I'll shut up now 😂😂

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to N3llyB]

Thanks for this - very useful. I like the idea of being able to put music on it too 🤔 I’ll have a look at the ionic.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

If you want a dedicated running/sports watch, then Garmin dominate the market but consider also Polar, Suunto and Coros.

Fitbits are more a 'healthy lifestyle' product and are notoriously unreliable when it comes to distance, speed and heart rate measurements. They are not serious sports devices.

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thanks John_W this is very useful 🙂

[Tasha99 Graduate]

Garmin 45 or vivoactive 4

Vivoactive 4 holds music but you need Spotify premium

Definitely not Fitbit or Apple Watch 🤣

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to Tasha99]

Fab thanks that’s good to know 👍

[mandy167 in reply to Tasha99]

What your problem with the Apple Watch I use the under armour running shoe with th chip in the shoe

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to mandy167]

They’re inaccurate with timing and distance. I got rid of mine and got a garmin instead. Sometimes the parkrun time it gave was 20 seconds out and that was only a 5k! The distance was also different every week. And touchscreen is awful to use in the rain. And the battery life is terrible. And they’re expensive.

[mandy167 in reply to Tasha99]

Can you really say that any watch is 100 percent accurate

[Tasha99 Graduate in reply to mandy167]

Some are more inaccurate than others though.

[Triandtriagain]

I have a Fitbit ionic and while it does all I want it to while it works I’ve had two replaced now since may as they just seem to die unexpectedly. Wouldn’t recommend them I’m afraid. Read the reviews they don’t seem to have much of a life expectancy.

[Autocutie Graduate in reply to Triandtriagain]

Good to know, thanks

[mezziejay Graduate]

I just use my Apple Watch which I had anyway. I was a fan of Fitbit until my versa just fell apart !