Sarah
A little background:
I am a new runner, and I do not wish to spend obscene amounts of money on a watch. I still want a quality product, that has certain features.
Required features:
I want an accurate distance/speed/time record. Like I said, I am a new runner, and I am improving over time â progress I would like to be able to monitor easily. This is absolutely the most important thing to me.
Features I would love:
I like the idea of a plug and record watch. I would like to be able to store several months of data on my computer â in a simple manner. Software that records my data at least on the computer (more ideally, online â as I am doing a weight loss program with a friend) would be very helpful.
I would love a watch that accurately tracks calories burned â its an encouragement while running.
I really like the idea of a rechargeable rather than replaceable battery â particularly for watches that have a short life. I hate changing batteries â so if its something with a wall or USB charger â that would be ideal.
Other things to consider:
I wouldn't shy away from GPS monitoring. It's a nice feature, which adds accuracy I would think.
I also wouldn't mind heart rate monitoring. I can do it myself, but it is nice to have that data without having to slowdown and check it manually.
Some devices I've considered:
Nike+ sportband: It's an awesome price (59), and its features include 'accurate' measurement of pace and distance. The problem is, as I read the reviews â I get the feeling its only accurate for well paced runners (which I am not). I slow/speed up a great deal while I run, and I get the feeling it would not work well for me.
Nike+ Sportwatch: GPS tracking makes me think this is a more accurate device, but some reviews suggest the TomTom navigation system sometimes stops working entirely. It sports a lot of great features listed above: heart rate monitoring, calorie, pace, lap/interval... etc. It's also a bit pricier at 169 (to include sensor). I would NOT want to pay for a GPS watch that took 10-15 minutes to get a signal.
For both of these watches, I've heard mostly great things about the Nike+ website and supports (other than it being bogged down from time to time). It appears simple to use, and easy to keep track of your results, and check in with friends.
I have also looked into Garmin watches (Specifically the forerunner 10). Most of the reviews are positive but again, its a little pricier (129) â and I don't see the same supports for tracking available. I could be wrong however, as its site isn't as clean as others.
I would love feedback from anyone who has used one of these products, or has another in mind that I have not given consideration to. If you are merely reading the information on the site, I've done that. I am looking for user feedback and advice from people who own a watch they particularly like â or have had a bad experience with.
Cheaper is better (I have plenty of debt), but if there is something amazing you've used, I would like to hear about it.
Thank you for your help!
Answer
the NIKE+ does certainly fit the bill ;)
not sure about the Garmin parts (own a NIKE+ watch since a couple months) but the NIKIE+ has
- USB connector (and cable) to connect it to any computer; under m@ke$$h!t LostDOS (aka windoooooz) and Mac OS you can download an application that will
-- upload your runs (or bike rides, even though NIKE+ looks at it as runs, no matter how fast you ride >;) to NIKE+ ( http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/running/home/ )
-- update the GPS satellite positions ffrom TomTom; this is a feature TomTom added to their car navigation systems a few years ago which speeds up catching enough GPS signals as the device does not have to scan the whole firmament but can look specifically for satellites in the "right spot"; the time it takes to get ready is thus notably shortened.
-- simply connecting it to a USB port (or charger) will charge the internal battery; the battery is Li-ion thus the usual recommendations for Li-ion apply (initially cycle the battery from fully charged to completely discharged a couple times to let the battery learn "its extremes" (Max and Min charge); then, charge it whenever you can as Li-ion has a limited number of FULL cycles (100% discharge; which can also be achieved by discharging the battery twice from 100 to 50% (or 10 times from 100 to 90%) (and recharging it in between))
-- one charge is enough for running five hours over 3 weeks; fully charged 6 hours run. the memory is NV-RAM, thus is saved even when the battery runs out & the display goes blank
accuracy is up to a few yards and quite reliable (if you live in a residential area with nicely spaced houses, it is accurate enough to pinpoint your house number!)
- a decent design, as opposed to the Garmin watches which look.... well, like some odd device? the NIKE+ Sportwatch isn't (like a colleague mentioned...) a Tissot or Omega watch, but it has a functional but decent look.
- at comparable price (Forerunner 110) the functions are much better and not as "single minded" as they seem to be on the Garmin site
- NIKE+ Sportwatch GPS also comes in either decent or very modern colors (completely gray, gray with various inside colors, totally black, green fluo (with black screen) or completely white; it isn't only very functional, it can also be... trendy?
- all NIKE+ Sportwatch GPS comes with the same basic features; more expensive models also come with a shoe add-on that allows to count steps (& thus, after calibration, guestimate distance; as you pointed out, this only works for... metronomes >:D ); can also be bought separately with some NIKE shoes; there is also the possibility to connect it to a heart beat monitor (more reliable then heart beat at the wrist)
the NIKE+ does certainly fit the bill ;)
not sure about the Garmin parts (own a NIKE+ watch since a couple months) but the NIKIE+ has
- USB connector (and cable) to connect it to any computer; under m@ke$$h!t LostDOS (aka windoooooz) and Mac OS you can download an application that will
-- upload your runs (or bike rides, even though NIKE+ looks at it as runs, no matter how fast you ride >;) to NIKE+ ( http://nikeplus.nike.com/plus/running/home/ )
-- update the GPS satellite positions ffrom TomTom; this is a feature TomTom added to their car navigation systems a few years ago which speeds up catching enough GPS signals as the device does not have to scan the whole firmament but can look specifically for satellites in the "right spot"; the time it takes to get ready is thus notably shortened.
-- simply connecting it to a USB port (or charger) will charge the internal battery; the battery is Li-ion thus the usual recommendations for Li-ion apply (initially cycle the battery from fully charged to completely discharged a couple times to let the battery learn "its extremes" (Max and Min charge); then, charge it whenever you can as Li-ion has a limited number of FULL cycles (100% discharge; which can also be achieved by discharging the battery twice from 100 to 50% (or 10 times from 100 to 90%) (and recharging it in between))
-- one charge is enough for running five hours over 3 weeks; fully charged 6 hours run. the memory is NV-RAM, thus is saved even when the battery runs out & the display goes blank
accuracy is up to a few yards and quite reliable (if you live in a residential area with nicely spaced houses, it is accurate enough to pinpoint your house number!)
- a decent design, as opposed to the Garmin watches which look.... well, like some odd device? the NIKE+ Sportwatch isn't (like a colleague mentioned...) a Tissot or Omega watch, but it has a functional but decent look.
- at comparable price (Forerunner 110) the functions are much better and not as "single minded" as they seem to be on the Garmin site
- NIKE+ Sportwatch GPS also comes in either decent or very modern colors (completely gray, gray with various inside colors, totally black, green fluo (with black screen) or completely white; it isn't only very functional, it can also be... trendy?
- all NIKE+ Sportwatch GPS comes with the same basic features; more expensive models also come with a shoe add-on that allows to count steps (& thus, after calibration, guestimate distance; as you pointed out, this only works for... metronomes >:D ); can also be bought separately with some NIKE shoes; there is also the possibility to connect it to a heart beat monitor (more reliable then heart beat at the wrist)
I'm looking for a good watch to run with that will keep track of my pace, heart, calories...all the fun stuff?
CJC
Although I'm a little confused by all the offerings as well as the mixed reviews from users. Some say that the GPS on the garmin watches don't work - well that would be a shame not to get it. Some others say the Garmin 50 is too basic. Timex looks good, but doesn't have pace calculation (at least I dont think it does). So let loose people and tell me your thoughts!
Answer
You have 2 choices here, go for GPS or Footpod system. I prefer the GPS watches.
With the GPS you loose the signal a bit when you are in between tall buildings, under bridges and things like that so if you are running in a city footpod (like the Nike+ system) Might be better for you.
On the plus side, you can use them for multiple sports like cycling etc., the garmin ones let you download the data to google earth which is a nice facility and things like that. All will give you a pace display on the screen as you run. The better the watch and newer model and the gps gets more reliable. I've never had a problem with my Garmins GPS.
I'd say decide a budget for the watch and go to a running shop and check which ones do what, though I think the basic difference is that the gamin is all in one unit and the timex has a gps receiver separate from the watch (but the watch is smaller)
You have 2 choices here, go for GPS or Footpod system. I prefer the GPS watches.
With the GPS you loose the signal a bit when you are in between tall buildings, under bridges and things like that so if you are running in a city footpod (like the Nike+ system) Might be better for you.
On the plus side, you can use them for multiple sports like cycling etc., the garmin ones let you download the data to google earth which is a nice facility and things like that. All will give you a pace display on the screen as you run. The better the watch and newer model and the gps gets more reliable. I've never had a problem with my Garmins GPS.
I'd say decide a budget for the watch and go to a running shop and check which ones do what, though I think the basic difference is that the gamin is all in one unit and the timex has a gps receiver separate from the watch (but the watch is smaller)
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