Suggestions for a fitness tracker watch

[MooIzzTed]

Looking for recommendations for a watch to monitor times and distance? I'm a novice runner, just about to start Week 5. I'm also not very tech savvy.

[John_W Graduate Ambassador]

Garmin 45 is a good choice and not too £££

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to John_W]

Thanks, I'll take a look.

[Instructor57 Graduate]

I have a Garmin 45 It's got everything I want from my running watch and more !

And I can honestly say, if it broke today I would go and buy exactly the same one again !

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Instructor57]

Great recommendation, I'll take a look. Thanks.

[LanciaA Graduate]

I am awaiting delivery of Garmin 55. Suspect it will do more than I need.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to LanciaA]

Exciting, hope you have fun with it.

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Any Garmin that you can afford would be my choice

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

Garmin does seem to be the way to go.

[SueAppleRun Graduate in reply to MooIzzTed]

I bought a fancy one that has music too and that was a couple of years ago and still love it 😊

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on your progress.

I rarely track my runs so will leave others to answer your question.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and includes advice on minimising impact, stretching after every run, hydration and strengthening exercises, all of which will help.

Enjoy your journey.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thanks. I've just read the info on the link, it's made me want to get out running again, but it's my rest day so I'll be sensible!

[Cmoi Graduate]

I've got a Garmin Forerunner 45s - the s model has a smaller face, which fits my wrist better. It's perfect for me, as I only wear it for running and barely skim the surface of what it can do.

More expensive models will play music, track and provide training for lots of other activities, and look "prettier" i.e. less obviously like a sports watch. So if you want those features, then maybe look at something like the Garmin Venu 2, but be aware that it's around twice the price!

I didn't track anything until I'd completed C25K, and didn't even get a running watch until I'd been running for about a year. I can get way too hung up on stats, so am now deliberately not recording all my runs. I'm in a minority though!

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Cmoi]

Thanks. It's looking like a Garmin for me. I want to see how my fitness develops as I'm getting to enjoy the running, which seems bizarre, but I hope to embrace my new enthusiasm.

[Wez35]

Garmin all day long.

[Mandaroodle]

I have the Garmin forerunner 35,I would recommend

[Joliv61]

If you just want times and distance, then look at Amazon, other retailers are available, and see the Xiaomi range. They are cheap as chips, have batteries that last weeks and software is as good as anything else. Plus many do heart monitoring etc as well. Garmins are probably the gold standard that people get and are pricey and tend to need charging up very few days.If you don’t need it as a watch then go for them.

Used them for many years with no problems.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Joliv61]

Interesting, thanks for that.

[Frenc Graduate]

I have a Garmin 45 after recommendations on here having asked the exact same question. It’s just what I need! 😊

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Frenc]

Thanks, I know which way to go now - Garmin!

[Hidden]

I have the Garmin 245. Excellent it is too. The battery life is over a week which I think is excellent.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Hidden]

Fantastic, thanks for that.

[Maz1103 Graduate]

I've just got a "refurbished " forerunner 45 for £53. It had been returned under warranty because the strap broke. It looks brand new. I'm just getting used to it after my fitbit versa but like it so far.

[sTrongFuse Graduate]

Garmin vivoactive 3 User here which I've had for 3 years. It's been replaced by the 4 but is still available and you can get some good deals on. Does everything I need it to do and looks like an actual watch. I tend to charge it daily, but only needs about 40mins. The sleep monitoring function is pretty weak, so you could just charge it wshile you're asleep.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to sTrongFuse]

I'll take a look, thanks.

[ClutchingAtStraws Graduate]

Everyone has said it already but in my opinion Garmin are the best.

[Wawacito Graduate]

After reading through several posts in this forum concerning tracker watches I bought a Garmin Forerunner 45 - and am very happy with it!

You can use it nearly intuitively. I like that it was buttons and not a touch-screen surfac and the display is large enough that I can read it without reading glasses (🙈). Like some other runners here I am not making use of the full features. I simply track pace, distance an heart rate. The watch has much more to offer though.

It seems that the price varies according to colour. Got myself the blueish one as it was the cheapest at 90£.

Clear recommendation.

[MooIzzTed Graduate in reply to Wawacito]

I'm glad it's simple for us less techie users! I've gone for it and ordered the Garmin 45s. Excited to get my hands on it.

[Wawacito Graduate in reply to MooIzzTed]

Excellent! Got the 45s, to be precise. Same tracker, just smaller. Hope you enjoy yours as much as I enjoy mine.

[Comte Graduate]

I just use a smartphone app, namely Decathlon Coach which is free but in French (maybe there is an English version). It gives time and distance and traces out the route on Google Maps but it doesn't count the pace frequency. I cannot see any reason why I would need a watch such as Garmin 45.