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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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! Watch
! Recommendation Reason
! With [[Heart Rate Monitor]]! Without [[Heart Rate Monitor]]! Accessory [[Heart Rate Monitor]]! [[Footpod]]
|-
| Motorola Motoactv
! Watch
! Waterproofing
! Pace from FootPod[[Footpod]]! [[Heart Rate Monitor]]
! Data Upload
! Battery Life
* Like any GPS watch, the display of your current pace varies too much to be of any use. This is an intrinsic problem with GPS, and I found the Motoactv was out by up to a minute/mile. This is why I recommend the Garmin 310XT/910XT/610 as they can display your current pace from the [[Footpod]] while still using the GPS for everything else. You can use the 'lap average pace' to get a reasonable idea of your pace, but if you need to hit a specific pace for a training run or a race, you're better off with one of the Garmin 310XT/910XT/610 and a [[Footpod]].
* The Motoactv will upload your workout to Motoactv.com via a wireless network, so you don't even need a PC, which is a great idea. The problem is that it's hard to upload your workouts to any other training log. You can download each workout as a CSV file and upload it to another tool, but that sometimes requires going via a conversion program.
* The Motoactv will support a [[Footpod]], including the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=BestWatchFootpod&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Foot-Pod-Retail-Packaging%2Fdp%2FB00264GKVQ Garmin FootPod], and it can use the FootPod [[Footpod]] to show your pace/distance. This only works if you select to run outdoors, which turns the GPS off. The bigger problem is that there is no way of calibrating the Foodpod, so there is usually an error (for me it was out by 7%). The Motoactv does have an internal sensor that can be calibrated, but this does not work for the FoodPod. The Motoactv will use the FootPod [[Footpod]] to display your [[Cadence]], but I found the [[Cadence ]] display to vary widely; my Garmin would show a steady cadence [[Cadence]] value when the Motoactv was swinging widely.
=The best value - Garmin 310XT=
The best value watch for most runners is currently the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=BestWatch310W&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Forerunner-Waterproof-Running-Monitor%2Fdp%2FB0025VKUPM Garmin 310XT with HRM]. It is available as the [http://www.rei.com/product/791092/garmin-forerunner-310xt-gps-fitness-monitor 310XT 'Fitness Monitor'] without the [[Heart Rate Monitor]] for $50 less. The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=BestWatch&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Forerunner-910XT-GPS-Enabled-Monitor%2Fdp%2FB005T0Z9CU Garmin 910XT] is better, but not worth the extra cost for most runners.
* A great feature is the ability to use the optional [[Footpod]] to display your current pace while using GPS for overall pace, distance and route. Only the 310XT, 910XT and Garmin 610 can do this.
* The GPS is more accurate than earlier watches, and has a faster startup time.
* The housing is fully waterproof (to 50m/160ft), so running [[Running in the rain Rain]] is no problem.
* Connection to a PC is wireless, using a USB adapter. This is less hassle than any of the other options I've tried.
* The display is big enough to show four readings. I often display current pace, average pace for the current lap, average pace for the run and either heart rate or distance.
==610 Cons==
* The battery life is rather short. It is claimed to provide 8 hours, but based on experience with other Garmin devices, the actual live may be quite a bit less. This is likely to cause an issue for slower marathon runners or ultrarunners.
* The price is quite high, listing at $350 or $400 including the heart rate monitor[[Heart Rate Monitor]].
* Not the range of accessories that the 910XT/310XT has, such as power meter for cycling.
* No display of course maps.
* You may be able to use the smartphone as an MP3 player.
* It is possible to use a [[Heart Rate Monitor]] or even a [[Footpod]] with a smartphone.
** The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=PolarH7&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FPolar-Bluetooth-Smart-Heart-Sensor%2Fdp%2FB007S088F4 Polar H7 heart rate monitor] works with iPhone 4S/5 for $63. This will work with RunKeeper[[Runkeeper]], MapMyRun[[Mapmyrun]](+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter, and others. (Android phones not supported.)** The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Wahoo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone%2Fdp%2FB0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] is a $55 dongle that adds Ant+ support to an iPhone 4S/4/3GS. This allows you to use the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=BestWatchHRM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Premium-Heart-Monitor-Strap%2Fdp%2FB0029M3NSS Garmin HRM], [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=BestWatchFootpod&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Foot-Pod-Retail-Packaging%2Fdp%2FB00264GKVQ Garmin FootPod] and other Ant+ accessories. It works with most apps including RunKeeper[[Runkeeper]], MapMyRun[[Mapmyrun]](+), EndoMondo (Pro), Runmeter. Note that the dongle may cause problems finding a waterproof case.
** The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=AntAdapt&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGarmin-Adapter-iPhone-Monitor-Cadence%2Fdp%2FB005ZSYEOK Garmin Ant+ Adapter] is similar to the [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=Wahoo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWahoo-Fitness-WFFisica01-Key-iPhone%2Fdp%2FB0042WGO3Y Wahoo Key] but it has limited app support.
** The [http://go.fellrnr.com/?id=35454X937677&xs=1&xcust=ZephyrHxM&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FZephyr-HxM-Delivers-BlackBerry-Smartphones%2Fdp%2FB002PL33AQ Zepher HxM] is a $79 (+shipping) heart rate monitor [[Heart Rate Monitor]] that works with Android and Blackberry phones.
** Some [[https://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId=%7bf3027e90-f8de-11e0-73d0-000000000000%7d| Sony Ericsson android phones]] have Ant+ support built in.
==Smartphone Cons==
* Difficulty in upload the data to other software.
* No [[Footpod]].
* The big advantage of GPS over a footpod [[Footpod]] is it will show you a map of where you've been and with the Garmin watches, you can upload a course to follow. The Ambit does not do that type of display.
* The price; at $500 there are better options available cheaper. For the same price you could buy two 310XTs, three MOTOACTVs, or five Soleus 1.0 watches.
==Garmin Fenix==
