Changes

* '''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.

* '''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.

* The 610 is smaller than the 910XT/310XT and closer to the size of a traditional watch.

* Like the 310XT, it can use the optional [[Footpod]] to display your current pace while using GPS for overall pace, distance and route. Only the 310XT, 910XT and 610 can do this (so far).

* The touchscreen interface works with gloves and in the rain, unlike most touchscreens found on phones or media players.

* The 610 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).

* 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==

[[File:Garmin-910xt.jpg|thumb|none|200px|Garmin 910XT]]

===Garmin 910XT Pros===

* The pros of the 310XT also apply here.

* 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.

* While the standard battery life is not great at 8 hours, you can configure the Ambit2 so it only checks GPS data periodically, which compromises [[GPS Accuracy]] but improves battery life. I found that after 20 hours of use with 1 minute GPS checks I had a claimed 61% of battery life left, giving a projected life of about 50 hours.

* The Ambit2 will download a list of GPS satellites for quicker GPS acquisition. This seems to work well, and when the cache is stale because the watch has not been connected to the internet for a while, GPS acquisition is still reasonable.

* 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 that uses "sapphire glass" which is far tougher, but given the extra cost it's only worth considering if you're really tough on your watches.

{| class="wikitable"

!

! Ambit2 S

! Ambit2 R

|-

| Claimed battery life

| Up to 25 hours

| Up to 25 hours

|-

| Barometric altimeter

| No

| No

|-

| Cycling support (speed/candence/power)

| No

|-

| Swimming support

| No

|}

* 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.

* 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 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.

==The most features except the one you want - Garmin Fenix 2==

The Fenix 2 combines the best features of the Garmin 910XT and 620, plus some extras and it could be a great running watch if it were not for the [[GPS Accuracy]] problems. This is a remarkable watch, with a vast array of features, but remains reasonably easy to use.

|[[File:Fenix2 A.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The Fenix 2, showing three data fields and the red colored backlight.]]

|[[File:Fenix2 Altimeter.jpg|none|thumb|200px|The altimeter is a nice feature, and here you can see the graph that can be displayed.]]

|[[File:Fenix2 Nav.jpg|none|thumb|200px|It is possible to load maps to the Fenix 2.]]

|}

===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 Fenix 2 has a display of Cadence, VO, and GCT that gives an indication of how good your current values are, but without the color display of the Garmin 620 this indicator is not as clear. The Fenix 2 can also display Cadence using the internal accelerometer.

* The Fenix 2 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 when cached, but if I'd not connected it for a while, it could be painfully slow to acquire a lock.

* The Fenix 2 has 5 well positioned buttons that I find much easier to use than even the best touch screen.

* The 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.

* The 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.

==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.