Hi, so I’m nearing the completion of my C25K sessions 😅 ..
Thought I’d treat myself to a new running watch. Amazon have it feels like, zillions, so I thought I’d reach out and ask if there’s a particular brand to consider. Any help would be great, thanks
I think it really depends what you want and how much you want to spend. I’ve got a Garmin forerunner 265s and I love it (except when it tells me to speed up/slow down!). It gives me far more information than I need but I like the way it suggests runs and shows me my progress over time. It’s a nice combo of touch screen and dial buttons. Plus the battery is great. There’s usually a lot of love for the entry level forerunner on here too…that’s the 45/55/65 series. Most run watches will do similar and it’s largely personal preference. I used to have a Fitbit charge 5 and I liked that too although it was more of a lifestyle watch which could also track runs than a running training focussed one like my forerunner.
Happy shopping and congratulations on your progress through couch25k!
Thank you so much for your reply - you’ve given me plenty to think 😀
I have a Garmin Forerunner 45s - and love it! ❤️⌚️
Thanks Sandraj39 for replying 😀 it seems I’ve got a lot of reading to do 🤣
I hope it's OK to jump in here. I'm considering the Garmin Forerunner 45s but was just wondering how big it is? My current watch is a fitbit and is very small - I wear it virtually all the time (except for showering). I am hoping all find something that can replace that but with some extra functionality.
Just a caveat about getting an older model like the 45, 45s, 245, 745 or 945.
They'll be "new old stock" as they are two generations behind the current models, and will consequently have a bit less battery life than one manufactured in the last year.
Hi Progressing and congratulations on your progress. Well I’ve just purchased a Garmin forerunner 55. I only got it yesterday so I’m still figuring all the whistles and bells on it. It isn’t top of the range but it has HR aswell as lots of other things. I used to have a garmin but that had no heart rate measurement which is what I really wanted. Have a shop around as they can be expensive but also you can get a bargain.
Happy shopping!😂
Hi Folkylass, thank you so much for your reply. I’m certainly getting a lot of help whittling them down, which is really helpful 😀
You’ll definitely get one that will be just right for you.😂😂x
I have a Polar Pacer, I bought it just as I was nearing the end of C25K too. I did loads of research and got very confused. In the end I think I thought Polar's high end watches were quite geared to trail running which is what interests me so I thought I might as well get used to their system with a more entry level version. Anyway it does every thing I need it to at the moment and has the capacity to do much more (if I had the capacity to understand what it can do!). It's the only GPS running watch I've ever had so I don't know how it compares to others.
Oooh haven’t heard if Polar Pacer - thank you Lentlily for adding another brand to consider 😀
It all depends how into running you get.
When I was nearing the end of C25K I got a Garmin vivoactive3. That did me for a couple of years, then I gradually extended my distances and found that the battery capacity was insufficient for my longer runs (with extra data fields).
Because I was doing a good amount of running at that point I decided to get a Forerunner watch with a better GPS receiver and higher battery capacity (charge once or twice a week, run almost every day).
At the stage you're at, you're probably best getting one of the less featureful models. (For example, you probably don't need triathlon or ultra running modes... yet.)
The basic requirements are a watch has the ability to measure heart rate (optionally with a heart rate chest strap), count steps, and provide GPS tracking.
Wear it until it either dies or you feel you've outgrown it.
Technology has come on in leaps and bounds. If you think back twenty years, even Olympic athletes would not be using much more than a stopwatch. GPS was only made useful for civilian use in late 2000. Previously it had an accuracy of worse than 100m. Nowadays the accuracy is about 3m (sometimes better).
Thank you Nowster for such an insightful reply. You right, I’m a beginner and don’t need the latest model because ultimately, I won’t make me run faster ( wish it would though 🤣). 😀
Well done on nearly completing the course. I recently purchased the amazon best buy one for £23.99. Like you I had just completed the course and simply wanted an idea of how far I was running. For me it's perfect, it does allow you to track your run on watch and sync to your phone later. Which is all I wanted really. Plenty of other features too which are handy.amzn.eu/d/7hxKmF0
Perfect for me at this stage, guess it depends how much info you want out of your runs.
Good luck with your next phase of your running journey
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply - i’ll take a look at that later on 😀
The most popular brand is Garmin. Others to consider are Polar and Coros.
Thanks John, Garmin is definitely coming through as a strong winner. I’m going to use Bootsie2020’s suggestion and undertake a simple quiz and take it from there 😀
Type into Google ‘ChoicesChoices which running watch’ and answer a simple quiz and it will guide you to some options.
I opted for a Garmin55 - a less expensive Garmin, but it has all a moderate runner like I need. It links perfectly to a smartphone.
Happy purchasing 😊
Love this approach, thank you so much for the suggestion - I’m going to take the quiz and see where that leads 😀
When I started running at 71 I purchased a Garmin 245, great watch still running 6 years later all be it a bit iffy with battery life now. To be honest you won't use all the Bells and Whistles. I use the voice announcements to give me Pace and distance to my blu tooth earphones during the run saves looking at the watch. Have an Excellent Day.
Voice announcements? I've got a 245, I'm sure mine doesn't do that...
Ahh, just asked that nice Mr Google, you need to set it up on Connect Mobile, yes? My rubbish phone won't run that.
Ah my watch is a 245 music I can pair directly to the headphones, I think.
Thank you Hamit for replying 😀. Garmin is coming out a clear favourite, amongst the Health Unlocked community. You’re spot on in so much I won’t be using all the Bells & Whistles. Hope you’ve had a good day and the weather has been kind to you ☺️
I see that some people are talking about changing their running watch when they feel that they have outgrown it and now need something with more capabilities. I wonder if there is an opportunity for people to sell/pass on their old watches to newer runners?
Possibly. The problem with used smartwatches is their batteries deteriorate over time and it's very difficult to get replacement batteries fitted.
I still have my vivoactive3 (powered off) but I certainly wouldn't trust it to do an activity of more than an hour using it.
Garmin Forerunner 45 for me is fine and gives a lot of information although I find it rather intricate to use.
Hi Comte, thank you for taking the time to reply with your personal observations of Garmin Forerunner 45. I’m definitely a technophobe, so I may swerve this and look for something with less features. 😀
I have a Garmin Forerunner 45 standard size which has been absolutely brilliant. However I think it's just about coming to the end (about 4 years - curious to hear about other's experiences). It's got everything I need for my 5k trundles & hopefully the occasional 10k (I've been out of action for a bit). I like the sound of the 265 for its possible successor.
Hi there, after reading Comte’s reply. I’m wondering if the Garmin Forerunner 45 is going to be offering me than I actually need 🤷♀️. Several other’s have spoken about the 265, which is clearly beyond my needs .. once again thank you for responding back to me 😀
Worth listening to the episode of 'Sliced Bread' on BBC Sounds where they look at fitness trackers, and compare some cheapies with more expensive models.
...and to add to above: if you just want something basic for now, without spending any money, you can use the MapMyRide (or run) free app with the audio coach switched on. It will tell you how far you've run so far, and what your current and average pace is, and splits too if you want.
Thank you RunByTheSea64 for both of your ideas, which I will look closer into 😀
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