Running Watch $200-400 range LRC Input

Letsrun's new website truncated my post...

"they're regularly" under $100 now. If you don't need the phone and/or you've never run with a GPS watch before, I think the 35 is a good place to step in and see what you think. One last good thing about the Stryd that beats every GPS device - you just start running with it on. There is no connection time, etc. involved b/c it's a self-contained device. You can download the data to the app later.

I returned the 645 because it seemed like the processor was underpowered. I would often get long delays between pressing start and the recording actually starting. Same with lap splits. I'd hit the lap button and it would register the lap 10 seconds later.

The 245 is marketed as a mid-range watch, whereas the 645 was high end, but the 245 is much newer and is superior in pretty much every way. In fact, if all you do is run, it's basically as capable as the very high end Fenix 6 and Forerunner 945.

Apple Watch is not at all a running watch. There is no good way to take lap splits, The battery is awful. If you're not that serious about running and you want a smartwatch, then by all means, it's the best smartwatch on the market and is good enough. If you do actual workouts, you will want a watch with buttons.

The garmin 35 is a tremendous value watch. basically does everything the 235 does, as far as basic running data functionality goes.

If budget is not an issue, go for Apple Watch. So much better user interaction than any other sports watch.

Otherwise Garmin 235 would be good enough.

If you need accurate and precise speed/distance data, Stryd pod is must to have.

Iowa800 wrote:

erik wrote:

Apple Watch 4 discounted plus Stryd pod clocks in close to 400. Can’t be beat for music/podcasts plus good data. I always felt like Apple Watch was a not great running watch (I need LTE to get daycare calls if kids are sick). But the Stryd app is actually good, it’s more accurate too. Now I wouldn’t trade it for anything because no other watches have the non running features of the Apple Watch.

Thanks Erik, the Stryd pod looks interesting. How has your training/changed and improved since using it?

Haven't used it long enough to even make heads or tails of the power stuff. It does seem to give you a reasonable idea of how hard you are working in an objective sense.

Smart watches seemed destined to me to squash a lot of the GPS running watch market. They have good screens, fast ARM chips, GPS, etc. But even after, what, six years? No one has written a high quality watch app. The Stryd watch app seems legitimately good. My screen has 7 outputs:

Time

Distance | Current Pace

Power | Lap Pace

HR | Run Average Pace

I really like that set up and before now the only app that came close was iSmoothRun which is just really buggy.

I have always torn between just wanting a vanilla GPS watch, but also wanting an easy to way to listen to music and be able to be reached in an emergency without carrying a phone. The latter thing is non-negotiable, and I hate running with a phone, so always used the sub-par Apple Watch. Now I feel less compromised.

I haven't really tried workouts yet. I know you can use the crown button as a lap split, and so if that is well-implemented, I think that's a big step up. General purpose watches always suck a little for taking splits in workouts. Not a huge concern for me as a mid-30s person who mostly just logs miles.

Q to OP, are you running in cold weather? If so go for one with old-fashion hr strap.

You do not all the fancy stuff. In the end you look to some specific data, hr, cadance, speed, distance, recovery time, etc.

All the cheap starter watches have it. Personally I switched from Garmin to Polar. No regrets.

Sounds like you got a lemon. My 645’s functions are all instantaneous.

Garmin Forerunner 235. Absolute workhorse of a watch. Great in-wrist heart rate monitor, excellent speed of GPS connection, and has all the data you could ever want with easy-to-read graphs and numbers in the Garmin Connect app (which is free). Comes with running and biking modes pre-installed, but you can install other modes such as swimming and hiking through the app. You can also use the app to install other things such as a compass, barometer, and maps onto the watch through the app, almost all of which are free of charge. It has excellent battery life (I don't know the specifics, but I have to fully charge mine every week and a half or so and that's with six days of running each week). And it can bluetooth to your phone so you can access the weather, your calendar, and notifications through your watch. It's a fantastic piece of equipment. And I think it prices between $300 and $350.

xxxx wrote:

Missouri1600 wrote:

Apple Watch Series 4/5.

I was a hard core Garmin user for years and years. Finally switched to the Apple Watch and will never go back.

There are some tradeoffs (battery life, lack of triathlon capabilities), but they are worth it compared to the negatives of the Garmins I have used (have owned 6 over the past 12 years).

Just curious: What are your positives of the AW over Garmin that made you jump over? I was considering AW but for now I’m still sticking with Garmin 645 until it craps out... Then I’ll see where Apple’s at

Sorry, for some reason it would not allow me to post under Missouri1600...but this is me.

For me, running is not everything I do in life. I do yoga, hike trails, swim, cycle, lift weights, etc. I much, much, MUCH prefer the UI and UX of the Apple Watch for all of those activities (and even find it preferable to Garmin for running).

I also work in an office, and the Apple Watch just looks better with a suit/business casual. I had a clunky Fenix 5 for a while and I liked it enough, but when I wasn't running/cycling/swimming it was like a huge piece of metal trying desperately to be a smartwatch...but falling short.

I like that I can look at my Apple Watch and be given a huge amount of information immediately (alerts, weather, sunrise/sunset, next up on my schedule, my daily activity, and the time). I've looked at my phone WAY less than I used to since getting the Apple Watch. Definitely a plus for being present with my wife and kids.

For the person who asked about the accuracy: I really haven't seen a difference between my Fenix 5 and the Apple Watch. I run the same two routes now that I did when I had my Fenix 5 and, looking at the data, my routes look like they vary by ~.01 miles when there is any difference at all. I'm sure others will have different experiences, but that's mine.

I should also mention that I don't do the whole social media thing (FB, IG, Strava), so there is never any need for me to publish my data. If that is a thing for you, then you'll have a hard time with the Apple Watch. I know there are ways to do it, but it will be something you will have to research.

I much prefer my spreadsheet and my Moleskine to record my distances and notes.

I also don't do splits, so that is not an issue for me either.

Agree with all of this except for the wrist HRM. Mine is not reliable. Maybe it's the combination of my wrist/fit and the hardware. 235 is a great bargain at the current price $170 though, and I would buy another one at that price if mine died today. 245 is the newer version and is just under $300, so still in OP's budget range.

Perfect running watch for way under $200:

https://www.amazon.com/Timex-T5E901-Ironman-Classic-Black/dp/B000AYTYLW/ref=asc_df_B000AYTYLW/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312053863162&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12609812826361414509&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9007726&hvtargid=pla-338000187509&psc=1

645 / 645M is the worst waatch in existence... this is coming from someone who works on them daily

Suunto. Great GPS precision and nice look even on basic models like Spartan Trainer.

Iowa800 wrote:

Finally buying a running watch. LRC help me out.

FYI have an iPhone XR.

1. Quick satellite link

2. Cadence

3. Heart rate

4. Easy data aggregation

5. Not FUGLY

I used a Garmin 225 for years and bought a 245 in August.

1. I actually don't fine the 245 very fast in my area. I still end up standing around for 30 seconds or more on rainy days. After a long day at work and I want to just get out and get my run out of the way, I find it annoying having wait until my watch says it's "okay" for me to start running. (The 225 was faster but not as accurate for the first 400m or so - I would be off in the woods sometimes).

2. It has cadence but no one actually needs cadence lol. What a wasted metric.

3. Of course it has heart rate like most running watches. It seems pretty accurate but I don't actually look at it while running because I run by FEEL not HR.

4. Very easy data agreg....aggreegge......agge.......it uses Garmin Connect, syncs to Strava easily, Running Ahead, etc. You can't beat Garmin's connectivity - every workout app or site uses Garmin.

5. I think it's okay looking but I would rather it a little bigger in diameter. The 935 is actually the right size for me I think.

I've been running with an Apple Watch. In terms of programming workouts, I really like the Intervals Pro app. It does more than intervals, and even the intervals can be programmed in some clever ways for other kinds of workouts.

Things I like about it:

- provides auditory feedback of split pace and distance

- provides auditory feedback of overall distance

- customizable workouts

- can be used for HR training and has auditory HR alerts when you are above or below your zone

Things I wish were available:

- missing auditory pace alerts

- would be amazing to have a route planner and turn-by-turn navigation

If you like running with turn-by-turn navigation, which I do if I'm going for a long run and want to run a bog loop through parts of town where I don't normally go, there is an app called Footpath. I've had mixed results. For run of 10 miles or less, the app does pretty well providing directions and tracking workout data. Every time I have gone 14 miles or more, I've had trouble with the App pausing itself while I run. I can't tell if this is a problem with the app or with the Apple Watch generally.

Some others have complained about sweaty fingers and gloved fingers on the Apple Watch touch screen. Those are legitimate concerns.

For trail running , the Apple Watch Series 4 GPS shortchanges me about .75 miles over the course of an 8 mile run if there are switchbacks on the trail.

If you are not interested in audible HRM alerts, turn-by-turn navigation, or pre-programmed intervals workouts, the built-in Apple Workouts App is excellent for tracking runs and listening to audio. I'm fond of the auto-pause feature, which uses the GPS to automatically pause your run when you come to a stop. It vibrates your wrist to let you know it has paused or un-paused.

Lots of people have problems with their long sleeves getting sweaty and auto-pausing their running app b/c of the touch screen while they are running. Certain apps let you lock the touch screen while you use them, which prevents this from happening.

Apple Watch battery life starts to be pretty sketchy when you get into runs that last three hours if you are listening to music while using the HRM and GPS.

That's my current thoughts.

If you want to be able to program reps/detailed training, get the 235. If you don’t need that the 35 might work for you. I bought the 35 and returned it because I couldn't program something as simple as a 20 minute tempo or even 400 meter repeats with any rest customization. The 235 can do it.

Yannis got Vodafone to design a "sub 2" app for Bekele, apparently it increases accuracy. It's free to download