San Antonio's fall marathon training season is upon us and as we mentally prepare for another hot summer of pounding pavement some of us might be shopping around for some new gadgets. For beginner runners out there the selection may seem daunting, especially when the prices vary between $100 up to $500
.
In 16 years of endurance sports I have seen the evolution of sports watches. Watches now pack features like heart rate, speed and distance tracking, and built-in workout or training logs. Most companies are able to offer these features alongside sleek designs that are comfortable for your wrist. After some research and testing I narrowed it down to 5 major watch companies and in addition I'll discuss some smart phone and/or web applications that work with the watches.
Rating system:
Excellent Buy
Good buy
Don't buy unless you really think it looks cool
Nike+ Sport Watch
GPS
($199)
The Nike+ Sport watch delivers distance, time, pace, laps, intervals, calories burned and can store up to 50 workouts. The watch has the option to measure heart rate, however Nike does not supply or manufacture a heart rate monitor. The heart rate strap would need to be purchased separately from Polar ($70). The reviews on this watch weigh heavily on the negative side. I'll cover the 'negatives' first.
Many runners experienced inaccurate distance readings of up to half a mile. It seems that the signal is easily lost when out on trails or on a run through a city with tall buildings. Furthermore, it appears the upload feature for the watch has some glitches. The watch would often indicate the workouts have been uploaded to the training log when in fact they were not. Nike is aware of this problem and calls it a “work in progress”.
On the other hand, the watch is compatible with your Nike Iphone GPS app and has a run reminder feature that sets an alarm if you have not worked out for 5 days or more. After much research and reviews, we give this watch just pepper. It promises quite a bit but fails to deliver. It's a great watch for die hard Nike followers and by majority opinion, the best looking watch of the bunch. Nike website.
Review:
Sleek design: Excellent
Easy to use: Good
Accurate: Not so good
Price: Good
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: TrainingPeaks.com, Nike+
Apps: Nike Training Club
Forerunner 910xt ($399) and 310xt ($249)
In my opinion, Garmin has developed the most popular GPS watches among endurance athletes. I decided to review both models together with the 910xt ($399 w/o heart rate monitor) being the newest version out on the market. Of the watches we reviewed Garmin does one thing exceptionally well: it's user friendly. The watches have a large easy to read display that lets you track your time, distance, heart rate, pace all on one screen. It is rare the watches lose signal and or come with glitches. Garmin has been in the forefront of GPS for runners and with the exception of their touch bezel on the 405 series, have delivered for the masses. The one negative for these watches have been in their bulkier design for wrists. That is one clear advantage of the 910xt over the 310xt ($249 w/o heart rate monitor). It has a sleeker design than it's predecessor to make it lighter on the wrist. Another benefit of the 910xt is it's swim mode. It’s Garmins first multisport watch to offer extensive swim metrics, including swim distance, stroke identification, stroke count and pool lengths. It also computes your swolf score to help you gauge your swimming efficiency. Both watches offer features suitable for runners and multisport athletes. With all that said, we will give each watch different ratings. The ratings were based more on price and value versus functionality. www.garmin.com
Review:
Sleek design: Average
Easy to use: Excellent
Accurate: Excellent
Price: Average
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: TrainingPeaks.com, Garmin Connect
Apps: Garmin Fit
Ratings:
910xt: Good buy (for $150 less you can have the 310xt)
310xt: Excellent buy
The Suunto Ambit ($500)
The Suunto Ambit offers so many integrated features that this article would turn in to a scientific journal if we went in to detail. This watch is definitely not for your average recreational runner unless by “recreational runner” you like to run 50 mile races on the weekend and climb Mt Everest on your vacation days.
Feat
ures include:
- Unique 3D compass
- Accurate barometric altitude
- Barometer
- Temperature
- Integrated GPS
- Accurate vertical speed with barometric altimeter
- Heart rate
This watch has so many features that it compromises its user friendliness. We highly recommend reading the manual on this one to better understand the screens and features. The screen allows for up to three different data fields but unlike the Garmin screen, two of the data fields appear small and tough to read at a quick glance while on the run. The main data field in the center, however, is big enough to read. Of all the watches reviewed the Suunto Ambit is the most durable and meets the needs of the explorer in you. The size is bulky on the wrist and is heavier than the others reviewed. Regardless of its size, this watch is pleasing to the eye. I will give this watch two different ratings based on the type of runner/adventurer you are. www.suunto.com
Review:
Sleek design: Good
Easy to use: Average
Accurate: Excellent
Price: Not so good
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: TrainingPeaks.com, Movescount.com
Apps: MovesCount
Ratings:
Average runner/marathoner: Good buy
Ultramarathoner/Elite/Adventurer: Excellent buy
Polar RS300X GPS ($249)
Compared to the other watch companies reviewed, Polar USA offers the widest variety for runners. This in itself can be challenging as you shop around for the right watch. Polar does offer a feature on their website to help narrow down your search. And similar to the Suunto watches, Polar features an aerobic-capacity test that helps you customize the settings for your training. As you warm up, the watch studies your heart-rate variability, and then uses that data to set zones for each workout. The watch does not feature integrated GPS but for $249 you get the watch, heart rate strap, and the Polar G1 GPS sensor. In the past, I have always joked that Polar watches are created by some mad scientists. Which is why, like the Suunto watches, we recommend reading the manual. It's not the most user friendly watch. But when it comes to heart rate, speed, and distance the RS300x is accurate and proves to be a wonderful training tool. The screen also has large enough numbers to read on the go. The watch is also sleek and and easy on the wrist. In the box you get: manual, watch, wearlink heart rate transmitter, G1 GPS sensor. polarusa.com
Review:
Sleek design: Excellent
Easy to use: Average
Accurate: Excellent
Price: Good
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: TrainingPeaks.com, Polar WebSync
Apps: n/a
Rating: Excellent buy
Soleus GPS 1.0 Digital Sport Watch ($100)
The Soleus GPS watch is a no frills user friendly watch. You are able to track speed, distance, pace, and calories burned. The watch is also among the most comfortable to wear. Some reviewers mentioned it can take a little longer to pick up the GPS signal but not a huge deal if you start it up as you are getting ready for a run. The watch has no compatible software or ability to upload information to websites like the other watches do. This can be a deal breaker is you're heavy in to tracking your data online. You are also not able to get any firmware updates for the watch so you get what you get and it stays that way. The GPS tracking works well and is very accurate and consistent. This watch has everything you need to perform well. Considering the GPS is fully integrated (no foot pod or armband needed) we especially love this watch due to its unbeatable price. In the box you get: manual, watch and charger. www.soleusrunning.com
Review:
Sleek design: Excellent
Easy to use: Excellent
Accurate: Excellent
Price: Excellent
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: n/a
Apps: n/a
Rating:
Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS ($225)
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS appears to have improved upon their Global Trainer GPS system. Their previous model was a dud. The new model, however, appears to be improved. But it might be hit and miss with watch. Several on-line reviewers still complain of the loss of signal. It's not as bulky as it's previous model but not the sleekest of the bunch
either. I am a little biased against this watch due to the poor quality of its previous model. I lost signal at several training runs and several important races (NYC Marathon was one). So, I will rate based on what it's been able to deliver with a small test group but if you are not in a hurry to buy a watch, take some time to read other reviews and check with the stores return policy after purchase.
Review:
Sleek design: Good
Easy to use: Excellent
Accurate: Good
Price: Good
Compatible training software and smart phone apps:
Web: Trainingpeaks.com, Timex Data Link software
Apps: n/a
Rating:
We hope you found these reviews helpful and feel free to post comments on what your thoughts are regarding any of these products.
