I use 2 watches during the day.
Main daily use- Moto360v2 Android Wear watch(sorry Vince, but just as functional as the Apple Watch AND can be used on both Android and iOS). This tracks my daily steps and provides my second screen while trapped in all day meetings.

Running, Garmin Forerunner235. I wanted something with a stand alone GPS for days when I don't feel like bringing my phone along with me.

I have the Garmin Fenix 5 and I'm loving the thing. It has it's own gps and I use it a lot for trail running. The bread crumb feature is very nice since some of the trail systems out here aren't marked very well. Beyond that it is just a really good rugged fitness tracker with all the bells and whistles. If it wasn't for the fact that I got a really good deal on it I wouldn't have gotten it (no way I would have paid full price) but I'm really happy with it for what it cost me.

Azercord wrote: »

I have the Garmin Fenix 5 and I'm loving the thing. It has it's own gps and I use it a lot for trail running. The bread crumb feature is very nice since some of the trail systems out here aren't marked very well. Beyond that it is just a really good rugged fitness tracker with all the bells and whistles. If it wasn't for the fact that I got a really good deal on it I wouldn't have gotten it (no way I would have paid full price) but I'm really happy with it for what it cost me.

This was pretty much my reasoning for getting my Forerunner 935, which has a lot of the same features. Haven't checked up on the differences, but the 935 was like $70 cheaper on amazon...

oh, and as a side note, as a teacher who was forced to use apple products for 4 years, I'll NEVER own one personally. I'm sure they are fine and all, but I hated my school issue iPad and MacBook Air....old school PC die hard from the days when you could build your own.

seanevan10 wrote: »

This is what I have heard, but low and behold, I have a Samsung phone.

Honestly, that is the biggest con against them, and I almost passed on the Apple Watch 2 because of it. I mean I have an iPhone 7+ right now and do not foresee changing in the next few years, but who knows what the future holds. The Apple lock in with the watch is a primary reason I often do not recommend it when people ask for recommendations.

I am currently using a Garmin Forerunner 630. There's some history there.

When I was first in the market for a GPS watch, the leading models were the Garmin 220 and 620. I looked at the DC Rainmaker reviews. Initially, the major pro for the 620 was I could put 4 fields on the screen, to 3 for the 620. The major con was that 620 had a touch screen. After muffing race starts with an iPhone app, I wanted buttons.

But DC Rainmaker demonstrated running the touch screen on a 620 while wearing pretty clumsy gloves. Sold. I was very happy with it. Later, I got a Vivofit 2 because I wanted the step and sleep tracker but didn't want to shell out enough money for a newer GPS watch.

When the battery on my original 620 started failing before I could complete a 13 mile run, I called and got a warranty replacement; but I needed a watch *RIGHT NOW* and couldn't wait for the replacement. So I paid full freight for the 630, which was available locally. Or more than full freight, because the only locally available model had the HR monitor. If I had more time, I would have ordered one without and used the old HR monitor from my 620. I was also looking forward to having step and sleep tracking built into the watch, so I'd only have to wear one thing on my wrist.

Well, it turns out that the HR monitor that came with the 630 was better than the HR monitor that came with the 620. And it had more cool nerdy running stats. The down side is, the touch screed does touch and swipe stuff instead of just tap stuff, so it's harder to operate in gloves or in wet weather. Oh, well. The good stuff, including better battery life and 2-layer satellite GPS, outweighed the touch screen issues.

Some time before my original 620 died, Apple came out with the Apple Watch. I'm sure it does a lot of nice things, and maybe the battery is good enough for marathon runners. But I couldn't bring myself to buy a running watch from the company whose phone battery died at 40º F, allegedly as a "safety feature." Exactly how does having a non-functional phone when I'm out in the weather make me safer? And if you don't get the concept that a phone is, among other things, an emergency communications device in extreme weather, why should I expect you to get the idea that I might want to run for 2 hours when it's 12º F outside, with an operational GPS watch on the outside of my outermost layer of sleeves?

@PastorVincent almost convinces me that Apple got the running watch thing right; but I couldn't get past the impression Apple made with the iPhone 5 and buy one. I knew too many people who had good experiences with Garmin.

I considered the 9xx series, and would probably go with a 935 now if I wanted to do triathlons or ultras; but 12 hour battery life (with GLONASS satellite enabled) on the 630 is good enough for anything I expect to be doing. At the end of the 630's useful life, I'm thinking I want to replace it with something that does both wrist-based HR and can pair to a chest strap HR monitor; but that is hopefully some time in the future, and a model not yet released.

EDIT TO ADD: Forgot to mention, the Vivofit 2 will pair to the same HR monitor that my 620 or 630 does. So I can put the Vivofit 2 on my other wrist, set it to show HR, and effectively have 5 fields instead of just the 4 I get with the 620 or 630. Only works in warm weather, as the Vivofit 2 says it's only good down to something warmer than the coldest I want to run, and doesn't have a big enough strap to fit around layers of clothing plus my wrist; but it's there, and it can give me a view of my HR when the GPS watch isn't in GPS mode.

seanevan10 wrote: »

Is there any others that you considered? What was the deciding factor? I asked because the 935 is still $499 on Amazon.

The others I considered were actually more expensive. I chose the 935 for one of the things @MobyCarp mentioned. with a 100k coming up, I needed longer than 12 hour battery life with GPS, the 935 is rated to 24, so it should last the 18 that I need. That and I'm just a garmin junkie. A less expensive option would be a Forerunner 235, I have the 230 and love it, just upgraded because of battery life. 235 is the same except with a wrist based HRM.

PastorVincent wrote: »

However, if I get into ultra training, I will be looking at a Garmin myself.

There are no silver bullets, IMO.

You said if.... last time I said if, I ended up signing up for my first ultra before running my first marathon.... 12 weeks to 100k

And yes, there are no silver bullets. Apple is good for a day to day device with some running. Garmin are activity specific and, IMHO better for that..... it all depends on what you are looking for

@PastorVincent have we made this clear as mud yet? I'm trying to figure out some more things to say that say both work well, and both have their limitations....

seanevan10 wrote: »

dudasd1973 wrote: »

I use 2 watches during the day.
Main daily use- Moto360v2 Android Wear watch(sorry Vince, but just as functional as the Apple Watch AND can be used on both Android and iOS). This tracks my daily steps and provides my second screen while trapped in all day meetings.

Running, Garmin Forerunner235. I wanted something with a stand alone GPS for days when I don't feel like bringing my phone along with me.

Why two watches? Just because the Forerunner doesn't tech/smart features you want?

Pretty much. There weren't many Android Wear watches with the running features I wanted last year, so I went with the Garmin for running.

dudasd1973 wrote: »

The benefit is that I can still pair any of my AW devices to both my Android phone AND my iPhone for work.

Yeah, that is really the big Achilles heel of the Apple Watch S2, but some how I doubt that will ever change. If you are already fully in the Apple Camp, and plan to stay there for a few years, the Apple Watch S2 is an excellent option... but other wise, give it a pass.

I'm another low end Garmin owner. I had the Forerunner 10, and replaced it with the 25 when I started to do marathons. I don't need bells and whistles, just a record of my splits and elevation gain/loss. I enjoy the step-counter as well. For my 3rd marathon, the battery ran out in mile 26, which is why I'll probably upgrade before my next marathon. I think it just got tired.

I have a Gear Fit 2 that I loved until this morning when it *kitten* the bed halfway through my run. It is still under warranty, but Samsung is notoriously bad at honoring it.