Revision as of 16:23, 6 November 2014

I don't normally run with quite this much gear, but my testing involves running with multiple devices concurrently. For this run, I have; iPhone 5s (left arm), Garmin 310XT (left wrist), Garmin Fenix2 (left hand), Garmin 620 and Basis Activity Tracker (right wrist), Pebble SmartWatch (right hand), my favorite music player, the ClipZip (belt), Garmin Running Dynamics Heart Rate strap (chest), the wonderful Koss Portapro headphones, Garmin footpod and temperature pod (on shoes, not shown). I'm gathering GPS Accuracy data on the Fenix2 and iPhone 5s, with the 310XT to act as a sanity check, the 620 giving a Cadence alert and the Basis because I always wear it.

This article is a concise guide to the best running watches available today at differing prices and functionality. As well as recommendations for the best watch, I also have a few that are worth considering in spite of their flaws, and some to avoid. For most runners my top choice is the Garmin 310XT, which is great value for money and has all the features you're likely to need. If that's too big and you want something more watch like, then the Garmin 610 is great, and it's often available refurbished at a great price. Also, consider using a Smartphone; if you already have one they are a cheap option and can have outstanding GPS Accuracy. (Note, I have a Garmin 920XT on pre-order and I'm about to start testing the Polar V800.)

1 Summary of Features

Here's a table of these features for each of the watches I recommend (all have GPS). For details of the meaning of each column see the reviews referenced in the table. I evaluate running watches in three distinct ways. Firstly, you can use a watch on its own, without any kind of Footpod. This is probably the most common way runners use their watch, but you miss out on a lot. The second rating is with a standard Footpod that is available quite cheaply. These Footpod's can be reasonably accurate once the calibrated, but calibration is a little tedious. The final evaluation is with the Stryd Footpod, which is vastly more accurate than any other type of Footpod, or and more accurate than GPS. The table below looks at the score, and the value for money of each watch for each of the three conditions. (I’ve also tested the Apple Watch 3, but I’ve not included it in these tables as it’s not really a running watch.)

The score is the sum of how well each watch can answer the four basic questions (how far, how fast, where are you, what's your cadence), plus some bonus points.

1. The "How far you've run" will be based on GPS only for "without Footpod" and "with Standard Footpod", but based on Stryd if supported in the "with Stryd Footpod" table..
2. How fast you're running assumes you're using a Footpod if it's supported, otherwise the rating is 0-2 based on GPS accuracy.
3. The "Where are you?" is based on various navigation features such as back to start, breadcrumbs, and preloaded maps. For some watches, you have to turn GPS off to get the benefit of Stryd, so those watches have worse "where are you scores" with Stryd than without.
4. The cadence score uses 1 point for an internal cadence sensor, 2 points for footpod support, 1 point for support from chest strap cadence, and 1 point for cadence alerts.
5. I give 1-2 bonus points for application support, 1-2 bonus points for data upload, 1-2 bonus points for Optical Heart Rate Monitoring, and 0-1 bonus points for battery life.
6. Value for money is the score divided by the price (at the time I last updated the table.) Your needs may be different, so you might weight the different aspects of the watches differently, or be basing your decision on different criteria totally. Hopefully this table will give you a good starting point for your decision.

1.1 Score Breakdown without a Footpod

1.2 Score Breakdown with a Standard Footpod

1.3 Score Breakdown with a Stryd Footpod

1.4 Basic Features

2 Navigation Features

For "navigation":

• Color Maps gives you full color maps, rather like a smart phone, with roads and paths marked out.
• Track Outline is a display of where you've run, rather like a breadcrumb trail. If there are maps, the outline is superimposed otherwise this is just the outline on its own without any context.
• Course Outline is an outline of a route that can be downloaded. I've found this useful during ultras or in unfamiliar cities where I've needed to know where to go.
• Back To Start is a simple arrow point to your starting point, so it won't help you backtrack.
• Back To Waypoint returns you to a previously marked location using a simple arrow to point.
• Compass. A magnetic compass can help you orient yourself or the map. Without a magnetic compass you have to be moving for the GPS to give you a sense of direction.

(Older Reviews: Polar RC3 GPS, Soleus 1.0, Motorola Motoactv.)

• GPS. GPS provides an easy measure of how far you've run, which is critical for your training. While it is possible to map out a run afterwards, this tends to be tedious and is typically less accurate than GPS. However, GPS is not accurate enough to display your current pace. The Garmin 910XT, 310XT and 610 can display current pace from the Foodpod while using GPS for distance.
• GPS Accuracy. I've Analyzed the Accuracy of GPS watches, and I've found that there are wide differences in accuracy. The Garmin 620 and Garmin 10 are especially poor. Interestingly, adding a Footpod to the 310XT improves their accuracy noticeably. I've not tested all the watches yet, but more devices will be added as time allows. (My testing methodology requires me to run 100s of miles with each watch.)
• Weight. None of these devices weigh enough to have a noticeable impact on running performance, but the weight can be noticeable.
• Size. The size of these devices varies widely, and the larger devices can feel a little bulky, especially if you have a smaller wrist. I've provided the size as the volume in cubic centimeters to give a single number to compare.
• Waterproofing. Even if you don't swim, having good waterproofing is important to prevent your watch being destroyed by the rain or sweat.
• Current pace from a Footpod. A Footpod can be used to provide pace and distance. Displaying pace from the Footpod provides a far more accurate indication of current pace than GPS, which is important for any training program that requires running at a specific pace. Unlike GPS, Footpods need to be calibrated to provide accurate pace/distance, but this is relatively easy. For most runners, once the Footpod is calibrated it will display the right pace across a wide range of paces.
• Heart Rate Monitor. Heart Rate is important information when training, though it is important to understand the limitations of heart rate based training. Having a Heart Rate Monitor that will record your heart rate is particularly valuable for evaluating your training.
  • Note that the Heart Rate Monitoring of Garmin watches is not as reliable as the Polar systems, but there are things to can do to improve the Garmin HRM issues.
• Cadence. A display of Cadence is a critical training tool and newer watches are able to use an internal accelerometer to provide Cadence without any accessories. Other watches may need a Foodpod or the newer Garmin watches can use the running dynamics heart rate strap. A Cadence alert will help you stay in the right cadence range, and is a useful feature.
• Data Upload. The ability to record your workout and store it in a training log such as Dailymile or SportTracks is vital. All of the recommended watches here have that ability. I'd strongly advise even a new runner to store their data so that they can look back over the months and years to understand their progress. A watch that can upload to a PC makes recording your workouts much easier.
• Battery Life. How much battery life you need depends on how long you run for. It's best to have a watch that will last quite a bit longer than your longest run.
• Altimeter. An altimeter will measure the atmospheric pressure and give you altitude. This is more accurate than GPS, but will require calibration to adjust for weather related pressure changes.
• Navigation. The primary purpose of GPS in these devices is to measure distance, but some of them can also provide navigation. This navigation varies from a simple compass needle showing the direction to return to the start to a display of the route you've just run or a preloaded course. The Motoactv and Fenix 2 can display preloaded maps showing roads and names.
• Training Effect. This is a measure of how hard a training run is as a numeric value of 1.0 to 5.0, based on an analysis of Heart Rate Variability.
• Heart Rate Variability. There is a growing interest in the possibility of using Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to evaluate training stress. While only one device will display HRV, there are several that will record HRV for later analysis.
• GPS Pre-cache. Some newer watches will download the predicted positions of the GPS satellites for faster initial acquisition. This pre-cache works remarkably well, and the data is usually downloaded automatically when the watch is connected to the internet. However, the data is only valid for a few days, so after that time the device will fall back to the usual approach of scanning for satellites.

3 Using a Smartphone

Main article: Running With A Smartphone

Most smartphones have a GPS built in and support various applications that allow them to function as sports watches. These phones can have remarkable levels of GPS Accuracy as well as many other advantages.

4 If Running Watches were Sports Cars

While all analogies are flawed, they can sometimes be useful. This is a lighthearted look at what type of sports car each of the watches I've reviewed would be.

Garmin 310XT, Lotus Elise. While it's not the latest car, the Lotus Elise produced in the 2000's is a stunning automobile that surpasses many far more expensive and modern machines. It lacks the bells and whistles you might have come to expect, like electric windows, stability control, ABS, seat cushions, but it makes up for it in the driving experience.
Garmin 910XT, Lotus Exige. The Lotus Exige is an updated version of the Elise, and while they appear identical, the subtle changes to the Exige make it a superior, but more expensive sports car.
Garmin 610, Mazda Miata. Like the 610, the Miata is far more than the sum of its parts. It offers good value and a wonderful overall experience. It's small size and light weight provide a sublime driving experience, even without the power.
Polar V800, Ariel Atom. The Atom is a superlative track car, with outrageous power to weight ratio and a mechanical simplicity that lets it to one thing really well. However, the Atom lacks many things that you might expect in a car, like roof or bodywork. The Atom might look to the uninitiated like a half-finished car, waiting to have the final parts added in. In the same way, the V800 has superb GPS accuracy, but much of the expected functionality seems to be missing, leaving it feeling equally incomplete.
Smartphone, Camaro Z/28. The Camaro Z/28 doesn't look like a sports car, and it's expensive for a Camaro ($75K), but its performance on the track is quite amazing. While it's stripped down, the Z/28 does have a rear seat and some trunk space, so it's more versatile than many other sports cars. You won't get the attention or kudos of some of the other cars, but if all you care about is speed, this is for you. Have a read of Car & Driver's Lightning Lap in the Z/28 where they said "In Turn One, the Z/28 matched the Porsche 918 by posting 1.16 g's, the highest grip we've ever recorded in that corner."
Suunto Ambit2 R, Golf GTI. The GTI combines a good driving experience with flexibility and functionality. It's not the best sports car, but it's one you can use as a family car as well.
TomTom Cardio Runner, Hyundai Veloster. The Veloster offers great styling and some unique features, but the overall result does not quite make it competitive with the better options mentioned here. Still, you have to applaud the innovation.
Garmin 620, Ferrari 458 Italia. Like the 620, the 458 is elegant, effective, and desirable. However they both have a fatal flaw; the 620 has appalling GPS Accuracy and 458 bursts into flames and burns to the ground. They're both almost perfect, but sometimes almost is not enough. (In spite of the problems, I still love my 620 and I continue to seek a solution to its problems.)
Garmin Fenix 2, Lamborghini Countach. Even now, the Countach looks like a supercar of the future, but even in its heyday it was not a great sports car. In the same way, the GPS Accuracy problems relegate Fenix 2 to being best looked at, not used.
Garmin 10, Miami Vice's Ferrari Daytona. Sadly, while it looked like Sonny Crockett drove a 1972 Ferrari Daytona, in reality it was a fake based around a Corvette C3. In the same way, the Garmin 10 looks like a GPS sports watch, but its GPS Accuracy tells you otherwise.
Soleus 1.0, Toyota Prius. Like the Prius, the Soleus is cheap. And just as the Prius is a long way from a sports car, the Soleus is a long way from being what you need in sports watch.
Motorola Motoactv, Tesla Model S. Like the Motoactv, the Tesla is a technological marvel, with advantages to all the others listed here. The Tesla is an all-electric car that is safe and fast; the Motoactv is actually a miniature Android Tablet. However, both suffer from 'range anxiety' as their battery life is limited.