Running Watch

JJVegas80

I have been using the app mapmyrun and it is time I upgrade my run tracking. I've been running regularly for 3 years about 30 miles per week. I've run many 5, 10, and 15ks. I have a 10k terrain race coming up in October. What are the best running watches? I'm leaning towards a Garmin and dont want to spend over $250.

MeanderingMammal

At the moment I use a Forerunner 310XT, which has a good long battery life and I can use on my bike as well. I've recently bought an Edge 520 for the bike though.

I'm contemplating a Forerunner 630 although tempted by the 735XT for the swim capabilities.

Top end range is go Garmin, although Suunto can be good. Mid range Garmin, with low budget being Garmin or TomTom.

Look at DCRainmaker for reviews, and price range comparisons.

NorthCascades

I'm using a Fenix 3. It's been fantastic. I've heard you can find deals if you shop around, I don't know.

What do you want to get out of your watch? Hands free operation, or more advanced features?

MeanderingMammal

NorthCascades wrote: »

I'm using a Fenix 3. It's been fantastic.

Interesting what the pricing is on those in the US? Over here they're at least £350 so significantlybeyond the target price point.

Very good devices though.

BasicGreatGuy

Polar M400 is an excellent running watch and a lot more affordable than Garmin and many others.

TavistockToad

I have a garmin 225 which I love

pondee629

MeanderingMammal wrote: »

NorthCascades wrote: »

I'm using a Fenix 3. It's been fantastic.

Interesting what the pricing is on those in the US? Over here they're at least £350 so significantlybeyond the target price point.

Very good devices though.

Amazon lists them for $499 to $650 with chest strap. Hardly what the OP was looking for with a $250 budget.

wolfgate

Garmin 2xx watches fit what you are indicating. Company has great products and unparalleled customer support. I have a 220. Highly recommend them.

dixiech1ck

I love my Polar watches. Don't trust a Garmin to give you accurate fat burning or calorie burning as it's not made for that. Polar has it all rolled into one. I use my A360 for short runs and my M400 for long runs with the chest strap. The M450 is also awesome for my biking and hiking excursions.

JeepHair77

I have a Garmin Forerunner 450 that's got to be 10 years old - it's been in heavy use by either me or my husband during that entire period of time. We broke the charger (but managed to rig it so that it still works), and it's still going strong. I'm really impressed with Garmin products, generally, and their service is great. I know a lot of people think the calorie estimate is way off - I can't speak to that, but the calorie count I get from my Garmin is almost identical to the calorie count I get from manually inputting a run into MFP, so I'm okay with it.

(I also bought a Forerunner 10 earlier this year - it's super cheap, absolute bottom of the line, no bells and whistles whatsoever, but man, I love that thing.)

BeeerRunner

I have a Garmin Forerunner 230 with chest strap HRM that I LOVE. There are fancier ones out there, but it works for me. My husband has a Polar, and he likes it alright, but he likes the data the Garmin app provides better.

anyaeyman

Trying to become a runner!

SUpport, advice, love and positivity:)

JJVegas80

BeeerRunner wrote: »

I have a Garmin Forerunner 230 with chest strap HRM that I LOVE. There are fancier ones out there, but it works for me. My husband has a Polar, and he likes it alright, but he likes the data the Garmin app provides better.

Thanks @BeeerRunner Polar watches are very affordable and I like the features and reviews. I have narrowed it down to Polar or Garmin. I would like to actually look at them and operate them in person before making a purchase.

pondee629

I like my Garmin Forerunner 110 with chest strap HRM. Does everything I need, times my run, monitors my pace, keeps track of my distance, monitors my Heart Rate (when the strap is worn), and, through Garmin Connect, maps my run, graphs my pace, heart rate and elevation change, records Heart Rate Zones, records course segment times, keeps track of Personal Bests and keeps a log of all my recorded activity.

Really don't see the need for all the Bells and Whistles of the more expensive models. I'm not all that concerned about my heart rate during the day, I know when I'm asleep, my I-Phone keeps track of my steps. I use the Garmin on my runs, otherwise it says near its charger.

Refurbished, on Amazon <$60. With Heart Rate Chest Strap, about $100.00.

The newer 210 seems to be alright too.

JJVegas80

Thanks for all your input. I found a refurbished Garmin 620 with a heart rate monitor for $180. It will be delivered today!! Looking forward to doing tempo runs. Hopefully the watch is not too complicated to set-up.

peterpreston

I just bought a tomtom multi sport cardio for £85 (about the $95 mark) and it has the huge advantage of being an integrated HR monitor so no need for a separate chest strap (or the cost of one). The downside currently is the lack of integration from the MFP side.

I don't run but it's proving very good for HR monitoring on my long dog walks and the accuracy of the GPS is at least as good as my iphone.

MiniMansell1964

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/116641-tomtom-spark-runner-multifitness-cardio-adventurer-sports-trackers

just created this group for Tomtom users

trinityalyce

Another vote for the Garmin Fenix 3. Yep it's expensive but oh so amazing!

Philtex

My Garmin Forerunner 10 is pretty basic - no heart rate monitor and only two measurements shown on the screen at a time. I show pace and distance as I run, but would love a third display for elapsed time.

girlinahat

peterpreston wrote: »

I just bought a tomtom multi sport cardio for £85 (about the $95 mark) and it has the huge advantage of being an integrated HR monitor so no need for a separate chest strap (or the cost of one). The downside currently is the lack of integration from the MFP side.

I don't run but it's proving very good for HR monitoring on my long dog walks and the accuracy of the GPS is at least as good as my iphone.

I have a Tomtom and I thought they synced with MFP? I have mine syncing with Strava and then sync Strava to MFP anyway (I was getting double accounting via Tomtom).

Mine has a separate chest strap (the multisport without cardio) and I like the fact that I can use it for swimming etc and hiking. I think the GPS recalibration is better through Strava however

BrianSharpe

Another vote for Garmin. They have a wide range of products depending on what specific features you want and you can often get great deals on discontinued models like the 210 or 220.

Personally I use a 910xt for its multi-sport features but it's not a watch per se.....

acbraswell

Yet another vote for Garmin. I have the Forerunner 235 with the wrist-based HR monitor. It's a little more than your price point, but totally worth it in my opinion (full disclosure - I received a 35% Garmin discount in a race bag). I'm a data nerd I love the Garmin app and site. So much more information than the free sites (Map My Run, Runkeeper) that I tried before purchasing Garmin. I find that it's motivating (it's also an activity tracker).

Only downside to me is the size. I wear it most of the time, even to work, for activity tracking.

curlsintherack

I have the polar m400 and I chose it because I already had a bluetooth heart rate monitor that it would pair with and that it used a micro usb cable so I didn't need yet another usb cable cluttering up my home. If not for those 2 reasons I would have bought a Garmin.

dixiech1ck

lsutton484 wrote: »

I have the polar m400 and I chose it because I already had a bluetooth heart rate monitor that it would pair with and that it used a micro usb cable so I didn't need yet another usb cable cluttering up my home. If not for those 2 reasons I would have bought a Garmin.

I love my M400. I'm actually looking at getting the upgraded M600. It has the built in HRM, but also does everything the M400 does with tracking speed, cadence, etc.

NikolaosKey

I have Forerunner 310XT with HRM and I love it. Found it at around 210 USD (I leave in Europe)

marikaCL

I have a Garmin Forerunner 310XT, absoultely love it. Great battery life and features

7lenny7

Do you need the latest and greatest? If not, consider looking on Craigslist if you're in a city big enough to have some listed. Last year I bought a Garmin 220 for $60. Ok, so it was the pink one, but when I wear day-glo shirts and running tights, no one seems to notice my pink watch.