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From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
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* '''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.
=Recommended=
This section covers the watches I'd recommend as 'the best'. Which one is the best for you depends on your budget and requirements.
* The Suunto web site (movescount.com) has remarkably good analysis and data from the Ambit2.
* The "R" version of the Ambit2 is available in black or white, with the white version intended for women. I tried the white version as I have smaller wrists and I found the materials used for the strap are remarkably soft and comfortable.
* If you're prepared to pay more, you can get other versions of the Ambit2 that provide extra functions. (There's also a Sapphire version thatuses "sapphire glass" which is far tougher, but given the extra cost it's more expensive but functionally identical to the Ambit2only worth considering if you're really tough on your watches.)
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==Garmin 305/205==
The 305/205 are the earlier generations of Garmin GPS watches, and are getting hard to find. With the price drops of other devices these Garmin watches no longer offer reasonable value for money, though they offer great GPS accuracy if you can find one.
===Adidas Fit Smart===
This is a rather strange hybrid device. It looks like an activity monitor and functions a little like a sports watch, but in reality is neither. The Adidas has the same optical heart rate monitoring used in the TomTom, but this rapidly drains the battery giving only five hours of use, so it not an activity monitor that is worn all the time. It has to pair with a smartphone to provide GPS, makes it more of an advanced smartwatch, adding heart rate monitoring to the display functions.
=Using a Smartphone=
Most smartphones have a GPS built in and support various applications that allow them to function as sports watches.
