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{{DISPLAYTITLE:TomTom Cardio Runner Review}}
[[File:TomTomCardioRunner.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The TomTom cardio runner, showing the green LEDs that provide optical heart rate monitoring.]]
The key feature of the {{TomTom Cardio Runner}} is its optical measurement of heart rate, rather than requiring a separate chest strap. Other than that, the TomTom does not inspire, though with the latest firmware it's fairly respectable and easy to use. You're paying a premium over [[Best Running Watch| some of the better watches]], especially as the optical HRM does not work well. I think that the TomTom is only worth considering if you really want the built in optical heart rate monitoring, otherwise look elsewhere. For a simple evaluation of a GPS watch, I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:
* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and the TomTom now has reasonable [[GPS Accuracy]] (see below for details.)
* '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Without the ability to display current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS, the TomTom can't answer this question.
* '''Where am I? '''The TomTom has no navigation features. (This does seem ironic from a company that specializes in GPS navigation devices.)
* '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. The TomTom has no support for Cadence.
The TomTom is not a good choice for ultrarunners, as its battery life is too short. See [[ShoesBest Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning| Watches for Ultrarunning]] for more details.
=TomTom Cardio Runner Pros=
* The optical heart rate monitoring works reasonably well most of the time, but there are enough problems to limit its viability. Optical heart rate monitoring is a technique that has been around for decades, but it's only recently that the technology has been viable for use during exercise. The TomTom uses two green LEDs and a detector to determine Heart Rate based on the blood filling the capillaries under the skin.
