Fitness Trackers / Smartwatch - Which one?

[Deleted User]

It’s just something else to charge. I’d spend the money upgrading my smartphone to one that can handle running app such as Runkeeper.

Mr_Singleton

Deleted_User wrote: »

I’d spend the money upgrading my smartphone to one that can handle running app such as Runkeeper.

Right royal PITA having to carry a smart phone around with you not to mention that the apps you mention kill the phones battery.

Mr_Singleton

catherine/kate wrote: »

Just don't believe the predicted race times the 235 gives you. It suggest I could run a 21.30 5k even though I've never gone faster than 26:05

It’s probably bang on. It’s telling you your theoretical fastest time if you trained and focused on getting your fastest possible time.

[Deleted User]

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

Right royal PITA having to carry a smart phone around with you not to mention that the apps you mention kill the phones battery.

Most people will have their phone with them anyway. Runkeeper doesn’t seem excessive battery drain for me. I couple my iPhone 7 to wireless ear buds, put phone in my pocket and it works a treat. You can set Runkeeper to update you every 5 minutes or 10 minutes or distance or what ever so you don’t need to look at it. If I stop it automatically pauses and then starts again when I do.
I don’t see the point in buying something you don’t need when you can use what you’ve got. If you don’t have a smart phone then fair enough.

neilcr_2

Check out the Polar 430. Fantastic running watch. I prefer Polar to Garmin and ive used HRM watches on and off since the early 90s.

telemarks

If you are new to this, then perhaps a budget option to see if you find one useful?


The usual budget recommendation on the specialist websites is the Xiaomi Mi Band 2, recently replaced by the Band 3. Does the usual steps, sleep, heart and notifications and the battery lasts a month. Should be able to find these for £20+


I bought one, then had to buy a second and third as mine was adopted (stolen) first by my wife, then my father.



Read the reviews and see what you think.

bxboards

Argos via Ebay were doing the Fitbit Surge for 69.99 a week or so ago in black, and last time I looked still had the orange for 74.99

I bought one, battery is so-so, but the heart rate monitor and GPS do seem very good.

I run and cycle and hike and it records all those very well, and it managed to auto-detect a lot of activity without needing GPS.

For around 70 quid, that seems like the best value around at the moment.

I used to have a Mi Band 2 - that was very good value, although the heart rate monitor was unreliable and I'm pretty convinced it was an invented number, as you could hit start on an activity, but jump into a car and you'd still see the reported heart rate increase......

Using Strava on a mobile phone is also good, although you'll get miles less battery life that using a wrist band.

tommysaver

I'm also in the market for a new watch, having had the samsung gear 2 for a while, it's been pretty good but basic functions like the heart rate monitor I've never had much confidence in. It seems it's widely known the samsung watches HRM's aren't actually the most accurate of things.

I'm holding out for the release of the brand new Samsung smart watch the 'Galaxy' to see if they have sorted this problem out finally, as I am kinda tied into samsung with S health and phone.

If it's no good, I think I'm going to get one of the garmin ones linked above, I do a lot of running and enjoy a good stepcounter / HRM.

Aaron.R

Polar is the way to go! I think the Finnish people are expert in sports trackking tech and know what to do. The prices are not too bad either

Jeannine

Have a look at the Fitbit Versa as well (£179.99). Fitness tracker and smartwatch features too. Very impressed with mine!