How often do you replace your watch?

KeepinTempo wrote:

I’m still rockin the Forerunner 620. Works fine.

How often do you replace your watch and is it really necessary for the upgraded features?

Usually when it breaks and needs replacing. I typically don't even keep up with all the new technologies.

With that said, my gf just bought a the updated version of my watch (the Garmin forerunner 10) and it is much nicer than mine. Mine just has basic gps features but hers links to her phone like one of those Apple smart watches so she can receive text messages on her watch, it has a step tracking feature, among other things.

I'm usually not a sucker for things like that, but considering she paid the same amount of money I did (3 years later) and got a bunch of extra features, I'm pretty jealous.

I keep looking at these newer watches, but can't compel myself to waste money, when I already got one that works fine.

I got a Forerunner 15, and I haven't had a single issue with it.

I like the fact it is basic, has a decent battery life, and is no frills. Only thing I don't like is that it doesn't have a stopwatch -- it only has a timer, which is OK, but I like to measure splits for TF. Have to rely on my trusty Oslo for that one.

My Forerunner 15 has logged well over 4k miles over it's lifetime I've had it, which has been about 3+ years now.

I can tell it doesn't like temperatures below -20F -- you can start to see the display refreshing itself, it's kind of freaky, but it still chugs along.

Accuracy is on par for a GPS watch. Most of the time it will match up when I measure XC courses with my measuring wheel. So comparatively speaking, it's accuracy is very good in my books.

I don't wear it when I'm not running, so it's not getting beat up and abused.

I get about 3-4 runs, depending on how long I'm using it. So during the course of the week, I need to charge it up twice.

When the battery starts giving me issues, I might replace it, or I might just replace the battery. So far so good in that regard even with the colder temps.

Overall, it's a solid watch.

I'm still wearing my Garmin Forerunner 10. I got it about 4 and a half years ago for $130. The strap ripped so I had to replace it, but the replacement kit was like $8.

It still works great. Tells me distance and time, and can be set for structured fartleks. That's all I need.

KeepinTempo wrote:

I’m still rockin the Forerunner 620. Works fine.

How often do you replace your watch and is it really necessary for the upgraded features?

I replace mine as the batteries begin to lose their ability to hold a sufficient charge. That’s been around 3 years up to this point. Old watches get donated.

And, if I am being honest, one of the reasons I purchased the Garmin Fenix 3 over other watches is because it looks more like a “regular” watch than most sport watches did at the time. Many people don’t even realize it is digital. (I use the analog watch face.) I really like the looks of the Chronos and the Fenix 5, as they look even more like regular watches, but the Fenix 3 works well enough (and those other watches are priced high enough) that I cannot justify the purchase to myself.

I tend not to use the more advance features of the watches. I use them more as an automated running log (date, location, time, distance) And, I travel quite a bit for work, so I am often running in unfamiliar places. The watch is very helpful for tracking distance when I am running in a new city.

One thing that stood out when I upgraded from my Garmin 610 to the Fenix 3 is how much more quickly the Fenix 3 got a satellite lock. That was very convenient.