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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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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 for the 'best' watch, I also have a few that are worth considering in spite of their flaws, and some to avoid. Note that the prices shown below are updated on a daily basis.
{| class="wikitable"
! Watch
! Accessory Heart Rate Monitor
! Footpod
|-
| colspan="6"|<center>'''Recommended'''</center>
|-
| {{Garmin 310XT}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Garmin 910XTFenix 2}}| A better version of the 310XT and the best overallThe most features.| {{Garmin 910XT Fenix 2 with HRM}}| {{Garmin 910XT Fenix 2 without HRM}}| {{Garmin HRMRun}}| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Garmin 610}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Garmin 910XT}}
| A better but more expensive version of the 310XT.
| {{Garmin 910XT with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 910XT without HRM}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| colspan="6"|<center>'''Worth Considering'''</center>
|-
| {{Motoactv}}
| {{Garmin HRM}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Polar RC3 GPS}}
| Not supported
| {{Soleus 1.0 without HRM}}
| Not supported
| Not supported
|-
| colspan="6"|<center>'''Buyer Beware'''</center>
|-
| {{Garmin 620}}
| Nice features, but [[GPS Accuracy| appalling GPS Accuracy]].
| {{Garmin 620 with HRM}}
| {{Garmin 620 without HRM}} <br/>(But you need the HRM for many of the features.)
| {{Garmin HRM Run}}
| {{Garmin Footpod}}
|-
| {{Garmin 10}}
| Small and cheap, but [[GPS Accuracy| appalling GPS Accuracy]] <br/>and there are better watches for not much more.
| Not supported
| {{Garmin 10 without HRM}}
| Not supported
| Not supported
There are several features to consider when looking for a runners watch. <div style="float:right;">__TOC__</div>
* '''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.
* '''GPS Accuracy.''' I've [[GPS Accuracy| Analyzed the Accuracy of Some 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/910XT improves their accuracy noticeably. More I've not tested all the watches yet, but more devices will be added, but my 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 [[Cadence]] and in some watches it can also provide pace and distance. Displaying pace from the Footpod provides an accurate indication of current pace, which is important for any training program that requires running at a specific pace. Unlike GPS, [[Footpod]]s 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. The heart rate strap ** Note that goes across your chest the [[Heart Rate Monitor|Heart Rate Monitoring]] of Garmin watches is not as reliable as the Polar systems, but there are [[Garmin Heart Rate Monitoring|things to can be intrusive and sometimes can chafedo to improve the Garmin HRM issues]].
* '''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. Only one device, the The Motoactv, will and Fenix 2 can display preloaded mapsshowing 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.
! Training Effect
! [[Heart Rate Variability]]
|-
| colspan="13"|<center>'''Recommended'''</center>
|-
| {{Garmin 310XT}}
| 6.5 0 (7.5 1 with [[Footpod]])
| 2.5
| 63
| No
|-
| {{Garmin 910XTFenix 2}}| 85.6 with [[Footpod]]3 (preliminary)| 3.2.5| 4932
| Good (50m)
| No
| Yes
| Yes
| Yes
| Map of current route
| Yes
| Record onlyNo
|-
| {{Garmin 610}}
| 76.4 (preliminary)
| 2.5
| 41
| Record only
|-
| {{Garmin 620910XT}}| 38.59 with [[Footpod]]| 12.5| 2049
| Good (50m)
| Yes
| Yes
| Fair Yes| Good (10hr20hr)| NoYes| NoMap of current route
| Yes
| Record only
|-
| {{Garmin 10}} colspan="13"| 3.5 (preliminary)| 1.3| 33| Good (50m)| No| No| Yes| Poor (5hr)| No| No| No| No<center>'''Worth Considering'''</center>
|-
| {{Motoactv}}
| No
| Full color maps
| No
| No
| No
| Record and Display
|-
| {{Soleus 1.0}}
|
| 2.0
| 28
| Good (30m)
| No
| No
| No
| Fair (8hr)
| No
| No
| No
| No
|-
| colspan="13"|<center>'''Buyer Beware'''</center>
|-
| {{Garmin 620}}
| 4.2
| 1.5
| 20
| Good (50m)
|
| Yes
| Yes
| Fair (10hr)
| No
| No
| Yes
| Record only
|-
| {{Garmin 10}}
| 4.0
| 1.3
| 33
| Good (50m)
| No
| No
| Yes
| Poor (5hr)
| No
| No
| No
| No
|}
=Recommended=
This section covers the watches I'd recommendas 'the best'. Which one is the best for you depends on your budget and requirements.
==The best value - Garmin 310XT==
The best value watch for most runners is currently the {{Garmin 310XT}}. It is available with a [[Heart Rate Monitor]] for around $50 more. The {{Garmin 910XT}} is better, but not worth the extra cost for most runners.
* The battery life is good for about 16-20 hours, which is enough for most people. Ultrarunners doing 100 mile or longer races will find this a problem, though it is possible to recharge it while in use.
* For races where the GPS track is not important, you can extend the battery life by turning off the GPS receiver and use the [[Footpod]]. After 24 hours of running I still have most of the battery left. If you're running on a reasonable smooth surface, the [[Footpod]] is often more accurate than GPS.
==The Best most features - Garmin 910XTFenix 2==The {{Fenix 2 combines the best features of the Garmin 910XT}} and 620, plus some extras and is the best running watch at the moment. This is a version remarkable watch, with a vast array of the 310XT with extra features, but it's about $150-$200 more expensiveremains reasonably easy to use. Probably The only flaws are the most useful feature for most runners is lack of current pace from a [[Footpod]] and the calculation disappointing results of Training Effect. It can also record laps when swimming, is better at recording altitude, and can record my initial [[Heart Rate VariabilityGPS Accuracy]]testing. If you can afford the 910XT{| class="wikitable" |- valign="top"|[[File:Fenix2 A.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The Fenix 2, then it's a little better than showing three data fields and the 310XT, but the 310XT is better valuered colored backlight.]]|[[File:Fenix2 Altimeter. (jpg|none|thumb|200px|The 910XT altimeter is available with a nice feature, and here you can see the graph that can be displayed.]]|[[Heart Rate MonitorFile:Fenix2 Recovery.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The recovery estimate, along with Training Effect is a nice way of quantifying training stress.]] as {{Garmin 910XT with HRM}}.)|[[File:Garmin-910xtFenix2 Nav.jpg|none|thumb|none|200px|Garmin 910XTIt is possible to load maps to the Fenix 2.]]|}===Garmin 910XT Fenix 2 Pros===* When combined with the new heart rate monitor strap, the Fenix 2 will show and record [[Cadence]], Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). This is fascinating data, but it's not clear how to interpret and use VO or GCT. This confusion is compounded by the way that a higher Cadence will result in a lower VO and lower GCT simply because of the faster turnover. The pros Fenix 2 has a display of Cadence, VO, and GCT that gives an indication of how good your current values are, but without the 310XT also apply herecolor display of the Garmin 620 this indicator is not as clear. * The 910XT Like several other devices, the Fenix 2 displays and records Training Effect, an indicator of how hard or effective a training session is. In my unscientific trails, the Training Effect on the Fenix 2 seems similar to the 620, which is a change from the 610/910XT. * The 910XT can record swimmingFenix 2 builds on the Training Effect to give an estimation of the recovery time before the next workout. While this is only an estimation and there are no studies that evaluate it, there is the possibility that it might help prevent [[Overtraining]]. There is also a display of your recovery after the first mile or so of each run, which is again a nice idea. Sadly, if you miss the message, but there does not appear to be a way of recalling it , nor does the Fenix 2 record this with an accelerometer rather than value. * The Fenix 2 will cache the locations of the GPSsatellites for the next few days, which will reduce the satellite acquisition time when travelling to a new location. You have to tell In my usage the 910XT how long the pool issatellite acquisition was very rapid when cached, but if I'd not connected it will detect each lapfor a while, as well as your strokeit could be painfully slow to acquire a lock. * The 910XT Fenix 2 has 5 well positioned buttons that I find much easier to use than even the best touch screen. * As well as GPS, the Fenix 2 includes a barometric altimeter, which is far more accurate at recording than GPS for altitude . It also includes a thermometer, and while the watch is too close to your skin for accuracy it does give a good general indication. * For displays of Heart Rate, Altitude, Barometric pressure and Temperature you can also get a small graph that shows changes than GPSover time. I've enjoyed this feature.* The 910XT will not display There is a prediction of your [[Heart Rate VariabilityVO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]] , which worked well for me, but I would not rely on its accuracy. * The Fenix 2 is large, but not as big as the 310XT or 910XT and it looks like a watch rather than a dive computer. . * There is possible good navigation displays, with options for it to record [[Heart Rate Variability]] for later analysiswaypoints and courses. The Fenix 2 can have uploaded maps. This * The battery life is good with normal recording can be enabled from , and has options to extend the firstbeat.com ATHELTE software battery life up to a claimed 50 hours (thereI's ve not yet tested the extended mode personally, though the normal mode seems good.)** There is an option only to have the backlight turned on when the sun is down, which is another small, but useful feature. The backlight is also red colored, which prevents the watch from blinding you at night. * The Fenix 2 will link to a smart phone to upload a workout as it takes place, which is nice for folks tracking you during a free trial)race, though it means wearing the watch and the phone together. * You can add as many pages of displays as you want, which given how much the Fenix 2 can tell you, is great. ===Garmin 910XT Fenix 2 Cons===* The cons biggest downside to the Fenix 2 compared to the 310XT/910XT/610 is that there is no way of displaying your current pace from the [[Footpod]] while using GPS for overall distance and course. You can configure it to get both pace and distance from the Footpod, but that's not an ideal solution. * My initial testing for GPS accuracy is a little disappointing, though it's much better than the appalling accuracy of the 310XT also apply here620 and 10. * The biggest downside Fenix 2 includes an internal accelerometer to give you an idea of pace and distance while running on a treadmill without a footpod. I found it was too far out to be of any use, giving a display that was off by 1-3 minutes/mile. A lot will depend on your running style and how you use a treadmill. * You need to have the new "HRM Run" for most people over the 310XT is running dynamics features. It will display Heart Rate and calculate Training Effect with the priceolder Garmin HRM, which is $100 more than but not Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation. * I find the 310XTFenix 2 can be rather slow to save a workout. Not a big problem, but it does get annoying.
==Smaller – Garmin 610==
The {{Garmin 610}} is smaller than most of the available watches and overcomes many of the issues seen in the 4xx range (see below). With the release of the 620 the price of the 610 has started falling, so it has become better value. While the 620 has many more features than the 610, the 610 is actually a better at the critical features of watch as it has good [[GPS Accuracy]] and displaying can display pace from a Footpod.
[[File:Garmin610.jpg|thumb|none|200px|{{Garmin 610}}]]
===Garmin 610 Pros===
* Not the range of accessories that the 910XT/310XT has, such as power meter for cycling.
* No display of course maps or mapping of your current route, but it has a simplistic 'back to start' arrow.
==The solid choice - Garmin 910XT==
The {{Garmin 910XT}} is a version of the 310XT with extra features, but it's more expensive. Probably the most useful feature for most runners is the calculation of Training Effect. It can also record laps when swimming, is better at recording altitude, and can record [[Heart Rate Variability]]. If you can afford the 910XT, then it's a little better than the 310XT, but the 310XT is better value. (The 910XT is available with the [[Heart Rate Monitor]] as {{Garmin 910XT with HRM}}.) At this price point, compare the 910XT with the Fenix 2.
[[File:Garmin-910xt.jpg|thumb|none|200px|Garmin 910XT]]
===Garmin 910XT Pros===
* The pros of the 310XT also apply here.
* The 910XT displays and records Training Effect, an indicator of how hard or effective a training session is.
* The 910XT can record swimming, but it does this with an accelerometer rather than GPS. You have to tell the 910XT how long the pool is, but it will detect each lap, as well as your stroke.
* The 910XT has a barometric altimeter, which is far more accurate at recording altitude changes than GPS.
* The 910XT will not display [[Heart Rate Variability]] but it is possible for it to record [[Heart Rate Variability]] for later analysis. This recording can be enabled from the firstbeat.com ATHELTE software (there's a free trial).
===Garmin 910XT Cons===
* The cons of the 310XT also apply here.
* The biggest downside for most people over the 310XT is the price, which is significantly more than the 310XT.
=Worth Considering=
These watches are good, but they are not quite good enough to be completely recommended.
==Brilliant, but flawed – Motorola Motoactv==
The discontinued {{Motoactv}} was a revolutionary running watch, using a color touch screen, GPS and including an MP3 player. It was more like a smartphone than a traditional GPS watch; the Motoactv was brilliant, but it was also flawed. When it was originally introduced at $250, these flaws were too severe for it to compete with the Garmin alternatives. The price of the Motoactv tends to vary, but it is often available for under $150, and at that price the Motoactv is great value for money. If you can live with each of these four flaws, then the Motoactv is a great buy. (See the cons section for more details on each.)
* '''Limited battery life. '''If you run for less than 3 hours, you're fine with the Motoactv. If you run for between 3 and 6 hours then think carefully. If you run for more than 6 hours, look elsewhere.
* '''No usable 'current pace' display.''' Don't try to use the Motoactv to keep you on pace. (This is true of all GPS watches unless you can display the pace from a Footpod.)
* ''''''Difficulty uploading workouts to a training log.'''''' If you want to keep an automated training log (and you should), the Motoactv will be hard work.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
* 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 {{Garmin Footpod}}, and it can use the 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 to display your [[Cadence]], but I found the Cadence display to vary widely; my Garmin would show a steady cadence value when the Motoactv was swinging widely.
==Better Heart Rate Monitoring – Polar RC3 GPS==
[[File:Polar RC3 GPS.jpeg|thumb|none|200px|Polar RS800CX]]
* The claimed battery life is 8 hours, which is a little short. However, I've read reports of people getting longer battery life.
* The initial acquisition of the GPS satellites is slower than the better watches like the 310XT/910XT.
=Buyer Beware=
These devices are sufficiently flawed to make them impossible to recommend.
==Small, advanced, but poor accuracy- Garmin 620==
The Garmin 620 is an intriguing device, adding some cool advanced features but it has appalling GPS accuracy that prevents me recommending it. This is a real shame as other than the accuracy problems I love using the 620. However, I've had the 620 record only 12 miles on a 13 mile run, something that I consider unacceptable.
[[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.
* Like the Fenix 2, the 620 will show and record [[Cadence]], Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). The 620 has a nice display of Cadence, VO, and GCT that gives a color coded indication of how well you're doing.
* Like several other devices, the 620 displays Training Effect, an indicator of how hard or effective a training session is.
* The 620 includes an estimation of the recovery time before the next workout, just like the Fenix 2.
* The 620 will cache the locations of the GPS satellites for the next few days, which will reduce the satellite acquisition time when travelling to a new location. In my usage the satellite acquisition was very rapid.
* The touchscreen works better than any other I've tried while running.
* There is a prediction of your [[VO2max|V̇O<sub>2</sub>max]], which worked well for me, but I would not rely on its accuracy.
* The 620 will upload your workouts to Garmin Connect via WiFi without needing a computer. It will also link to a smart phone to upload a workout as it takes place, which is nice for folks tracking you during a race, though it means wearing the watch and the phone together.
* The 620 will not display [[Heart Rate Variability]] but it is possible for it to record [[Heart Rate Variability]] for later analysis. To enable this recording, you need to download a special FIT file from the firstbeat.com web site.
===Garmin 620 Cons===
* The [[GPS Accuracy]] of the 620 is grim. I found the 620 consistently worse than the 610 or the 310XT when I ran with multiple devices. The 620 would sometimes be over a mile out on a 13 mile run!
* To make the poor GPS accuracy even more annoying, there is no way of displaying your current pace from the [[Footpod]] while using GPS for overall distance and course. (Earlier versions of the firmware would always display the pace and distance from the Footpod when it's connected, but this was fixed in a recent update.)
* The 620 includes an internal accelerometer to give you an idea of pace and distance while running on a treadmill without a footpod. While firmware updates have improved the accuracy, I found it was too far out to be of any use, giving a display that was off by 1-3 minutes/mile. A lot will depend on your running style and how you use a treadmill.
* 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 is grim]], which prevents it being worth considering, 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 slightly 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.
[[File:Garmin10.jpeg|thumb|none|200px|The {{Garmin 10}} showing the variety of colors and the two sizes that are available.]]
===Garmin 10 Pros===
* Cheapest Garmin GPS watch.
* Smaller than the 910XT/310XT and closer to the size of a traditional watch.
* Available in two sizes with either a 2.5cm or a 2.1cm screen, as well as several colors.
* The limited functionality makes it easy to use.
===Garmin 10 Cons===
* The GPS Accuracy of the 10 is truly awful, and is even worse than the 620.
* The battery life is rather short. It is claimed to provide 5 hours, and this is likely to cause an issue for slower marathon runners or ultrarunners.
* Not the range of accessories that the 910XT/310XT has, such as [[Heart Rate Monitor]] or [[Footpod]].
* No display of maps or other navigation.
=Not Recommended=
These watches have flaws or a price point that makes them unattractive.
==Suunto Ambit/Ambit 2==
The main attraction of the [http://www.amazon.com/Suunto-Ambit-Watch-Black-Size/dp/B006N0LIG6 Suunto Ambit] is its 50 hour battery life. However, to get the long battery life you have to select a mode which only takes a GPS fix every 60 seconds which gives poor accuracy. Other problems that prevent me from recommending it:
* Difficulty in upload the data to other software.
* 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==
Like the Suunto Ambit, the $400 [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Hiking-Exclusive-Tracback-Feature/dp/B008KEPUQC Garmin Fenix] claims a 50 hour battery life. However, there are reports that the battery life is much shorter in practice. However, the new Garmin Fenix 2 is a cracking good watch.
==Garmin 405/405CX/410==
The Garmin 4xx series watches use a touch sensitive bezel which does not work well with gloves or when wet. The [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-GPS-Enabled-Sports-Watch/dp/B0046BWRUK Garmin 410] has an 'improved bezel', but there are [http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/01/look-at-new-garmin-fr410-touch-bezel.html still problems]. I also see more people struggling at the start of marathons with the 4xx watches than all the other devices combined.
