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This article is a concise guide to the best running watches available today at differing prices and functionality. It does not attempt to cover every watch on the market, but it does call out some to avoid. As well as recommendations as the 'best' watch, I also have a few that are worth considering in spite of their flaws. Note that the prices shown below reflect the last time I checked, and the prices tend to fluctuate from time to time. <div style="float:right;">__TOC__</div>
{| class="wikitable"
! Watch
| The best value for money.
| {{Garmin 310XT with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 310XT without HRM}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
| A better version of the 310XT and the best overall.
| {{Garmin 910XT with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 910XT without HRM}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
| Smaller than the 310XT/910XT recommendations.
| {{Garmin 610 with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 610 without HRM}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Motoactv}}
| If you can live with the flaws, it's brilliant.<br/>(Discontinued, so only buy if it's under $150).
| Not available as a package
| {{Motoactv}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| colspan="6"|<center>'''Worth Considering'''
|-
| {{Garmin 620}}
| Nice features, but [[GPS Accuracy| poor GPS Accuracy]].
| {{Garmin 620 with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 610 620 without HRM}}<br/>(But you need the HRM for many of the features.)
|
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
| Small and cheap, but [[GPS Accuracy| poor GPS Accuracy]].
| Not supported
| {{Garmin 10}} $130
| Not supported
| Not supported
| {{Polar RC3 GPS}}
| Better [[Heart Rate Monitor]]ing than Garmin.
| {{Polar RC3 GPS with HRM}} $220| {{Polar RC3 GPS without HRM}} $200
|
|
| {{Polar RS800CX}}
| If you need [[Heart Rate Variability]] displayed and <br>recorded. (You probably don't.)
| {{Polar RS800CX}} $290
| Not available
|
| Not supported
| {{Soleus 1.0}}
| Not supported
| Not supported
==Most advanced, but poor accuracy- Garmin 620==
The Garmin 620 is an intriguing device, adding some cool advanced features but its poor GPS accuracy prevents me recommending it fully. This is a real shame as other than the accuracy problems I love using the 620.
[[File:Garmin620.jpg|thumb|none|200px|The {{Garmin 620}}, showing the display of Cadence, Vertical Oscillation and Ground Contact Time. Note that the display is color, but I found the colors muted and not always easy to distinguish. ]]
===Garmin 620 Pros===
* The 620 is small and light, but the display is quite legible for its size. I find it much easier to read than either the 610 or the 10.
* There is no map display or navigation, but on a device this small it would be hard to make that useful anyway.
* The battery life is a little short for ultramarathons, but it is fine for the most runners.
* You need to have the new HRM for the new features. It will display Heart Rate and calculate Training Effect with the older Garmin HRM, but not Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation.
==Simple - Garmin 10==
The {{Garmin 10}} is a simpler watch than most, with only a few functions, which makes it good for the technophobe. However, the [[GPS Accuracy| GPS Accuracy of the 10 appears rather poor]], which prevents it being a recommended device, even at this price. The 10 is the cheapest GPS enabled watch that Garmin makes, and price wise it fits between the cheaper {{Soleus 1.0}} and the more expensive {{Garmin 310XT}}. I think it's worth the extra $30 over the {{Soleus 1.0}} for the ability to download data and automatically maintain your [[The importance of a training log|training log]]. However, the price of the {{Garmin 310XT}} has been steadily falling, and I believe the upgrade is well worth the price difference if you can afford it and don't mind a larger watch.