Best running watch?

marianellen1
marianellen1 Posts: 3 Member
edited 12:10AM in Fitness and Exercise
Me and my husband have been through 3 Garmin Forerunner 210 models in the last few years. They seem to break very easily. Any recommendations for a better model/brand?

Thank you!

Replies

  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I think the key question is, how are you breaking them?

    The FR210 is, whilst quite outdated, a pretty robust device and well thought of.

    Most people I know who use Garmin tend to go back to the brand repeatedly when replacing equipment.
  • marianellen1
    marianellen1 Posts: 3 Member
    edited July 2015
    Thanks for your reply. We weren't using them much (only while running, not for general use), didn't get them wet or leave them in the sun etc. One strap snapped and it seems it's not possible to replace it (at least not where we live), one just wouldn't turn on any more, totally dead, and the last one just froze on the garmin screen and won't do anything.

    I have to say, despite this experience I'm considering the Forerunner 225 because of the built in HRM...
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    The FR225 does seem to be good, notwithstanding the constraint of a wrist worn HRM. The 220 is reported to be very capable and that's essentially what the 225 is..

    Personally I use a 210XT and haven't had any issues with it. Given the battery life it's remaining well recommended on the various ultra runing groups I subsrcibe to. Straps remain available on Amazon.
  • scottb81
    scottb81 Posts: 2,538 Member
    edited July 2015
    If the strap snapped off from the watch and won't stay on, that happened to my garmin 610 also. It can be made serviceable. I reattached mine with epoxy and wrapped the connection with electrical tape. It doesn’t look new but it does work.

    On a positive note, it makes you look like a veteran runner LOL.
  • BasicGreatGuy
    BasicGreatGuy Posts: 857 Member
    HRM wrist watches are not very accurate. If you are looking for more accuracy, a chest strap would be more appropriate, in my opinion. Polar makes a very good HRM.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I love my 225!
  • kristinegift
    kristinegift Posts: 2,406 Member
    I have a Forerunner 220. I love it. It's really accurate and gives me all the data I need. You can get an HRM chest strap to go with it, if you want.
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    Did you contact Garmin? They are usually really, really great to deal with in terms of repair and replacement.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    edited July 2015
    I have a Garmin VivoActive watch/HRM. I LOVE it. As much as I'd like to ditch the chest strap, I like having something tight around my wrist even less. And I'm not overly concerned with knowing my HR on a minute to minute basis, just when I'm training.

    After a bad customer experience with Polar, I switched to Garmin. I ordered the product and the 30 day warranty started when I ordered it. It took two weeks for me to receive the product. It stopped working three weeks after I received it. It was my second Polar HRM. No more for me.

    The Garmin watch had far better functionality for my needs this time around.
  • hermann341
    hermann341 Posts: 443 Member
    I've used a Timex Global Trainer for almost 4 years, and really liked it. The HRM strap was giving me trouble, so I got a new Polar M400 after considering the Timex ONE+ GPS watch. Price was the big determining factor, as I saved $40 getting the Polar.
  • cashmeregal
    cashmeregal Posts: 3 Member
    I got a polar400 about two months ago. It's awesome I love it.
  • mwyvr
    mwyvr Posts: 1,883 Member
    I strap on a Garmin 620 and it just works, every time, and shows no real signs of wear after 143 runs and more than a thousand kilometres this year. There's a little scratch on the face that I caused when flying face first down a trail, but I managed to polish it out some. The HRM Run monitor and strap have worked perfectly every run. I'd consider the 220 or 225 for sure.
  • MtnGirl38
    MtnGirl38 Posts: 37 Member
    I have a Garmin Forerunner 220 with HR monitor. Use it for over a year now and love it.
  • ScubaSteve1962
    ScubaSteve1962 Posts: 609 Member
    Psychgrrl wrote: »
    I have a Garmin VivoActive watch/HRM. I LOVE it. As much as I'd like to ditch the chest strap, I like having something tight around my wrist even less. And I'm not overly concerned with knowing my HR on a minute to minute basis, just when I'm training.

    After a bad customer experience with Polar, I switched to Garmin. I ordered the product and the 30 day warranty started when I ordered it. It took two weeks for me to receive the product. It stopped working three weeks after I received it. It was my second Polar HRM. No more for me.

    The Garmin watch had far better functionality for my needs this time around.

    Where did you get a Polar Product with a 30 day warranty? Polar products have 2 year warranty. My FT80 started acting up 9 months after I got it, I sent it in and they sent me a new one.

  • dinsfamily
    dinsfamily Posts: 84 Member
    I've had my FR210 for 4.5 years now and it is still going strong. I am not-so-secretly wishing it would die so that I can get a FR225. From the reviews I've seen, the HRM is pretty close to a chest strap. Who knows what will be around when my current watch dies.
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