Which Sports Watch? - Virtual Pacer / Pace Alert Difference?

pfpf

I am thinking of moving on from my £6.99 Casio with stopwatch "feature".

I've done a fair bit of research on Garmin and am going to look at the Polar stuff next.

I just cant work out how Virtual pacer and Pace Alert differ. If they are the same, why a different name? :think:

As the title reads really. The cheaper Garmin FR35 has Virtual Pacer which is exactly a feature I would like, but the FR235 doesn't but has Pace Alert which I am convinced must be the same thing in a different guise but haven't quite found the definitive answer.

In simple terms, say I want to complete a 5k run in 25 minutes will Pace Alert allow me to set that goal and warn me either on the screen or audibly if I deviate either way?

Thank you.

p.s any other recommendations on sports watch appreciated.

wongataa

Read reviews here: https://www.dcrainmaker.com/

LeafGreen

I agree some of the features are rather confusing!

I think virtual pacer and pace alert are inter-related. If I understand correctly, the virtual pacer is where you key in your planned pace, and the alert is when it beeps or buzzes or whatever to tell you if you are going too fast or slow. NB this is based on current pace, which may or may not be what you want, as your actual pace will likely vary depending on hills and terrain.

The reason there are different terms is possibly because you may be able to have alerts for other metrics such as heart rate.

There is another feature called virtual partner(?) on some devices which gives a graphical representation of a runner going at a set pace, and it tells you how far ahead or behind you are. I imagine the partner would be jogging along at a steady rate and wouldn't take into account any variations in your actual course profile.

Personally I'm not sure I would use the virtual pacer feature. When I do interval sessions or I want to target a certain pace, I just look at the average pace field, either for the whole run or for the current lap. I then use a manual lap for each sector of the run I want to keep an eye on, or for each interval.

I do rate garmin watches highly. I have one of the original vivoactives which is still going strong after at least 4 years with lots of use and constant wearing (just replaced the strap a few times).

EDIT:- missed your question at the end - I believe it will, yes - although it will assume that you will be going at a consistent 5min per km pace the whole way regardless of hills etc.

EssexHebridean

I used the virtual pacer on my forerunner 35 a handful of times when I first got it but haven't used it since - that said though I love the watch and would replace without hesitation if it failed. It's not too pricey, does everything I need, feeds back to it's own (pretty decent) app and will write direct to Strava as well, is easy to read and with the light function can easily be read in the dark, and all in all is a seriously good bet for anyone not wanting to spend a fortune or in need of flashy coloured screens etc.

TheMoneySpider

The virtual pacer on the 35 just allows you to set a pace and it warns you when you got too fast or slow. Not sure how the other one is different.


I did have a TomTom that allowed me to set a target time and it would tell me how far behind or head (but mainly behind) I was overall. That is a feature I would like on the 35.


I have found the virtual pacer really useful tbh.