Smart watch views and reviews

[JD]

I’m looking for a smart watch, predominantly to track my running so it needs GPS.

However, I’ve been told that payments, visual maps, offline music and even a torch are just some of the options now available.

Does anyone have a running watch they swear by which has all the above?

 

[davo172]

Not particularly for running but got samsung active watch 2 had it years now does everything you could need tbh.

 

[Sir Nancy Flowers]

Im on my third (?) smart watch.

All Samsung, so I cant comment beyond those unfortunately.

The latest one, Smart Watch Ultra (silly name imho) is really quite good though ill admit. The singular biggest issue I find with the watches is battery life and, im glad to say, the new one is pretty good. When getting it to log activies (workout, cycling, running etc), be prepared for it to chew battery a lot quicker. It makes sense when you think about it, as its logging HR a lot more closely, GPS, etc etc.

On a more positive note though, I do really like mine. Its a little bulky, but its pretty hardy. Logs everything I want, I use it for body composition every morning, tracks steps etc etc.

Have a budget in mind and buy the best you can really.

From what I remember when I was researching, if you want it specifically for running, the Garmin offerings are great. I like mine to be somewhat more balanced, and I f**king hate running so I went with the Samsung.

That said, nearly all the newish ones will do what you want them to do

 

[c4pob]

Budget would be helpful as sports focussed smart watches can be expensive. If you want battery length of a week, you need to avoid Apple Watches and I don’t believe android based smartwatches will last either. Garmin fenix or epic ranges will last a week and offer pretty much all you’ve listed. If you have man sized wrists, the 51mm is the size to go for but they're £££

 

[JD]

Thanks, folks. Budget wise, £100 is fine, £300 I'd want it to do a lot, £500 for a watch when I have a smart phone feels silly.

Appreciate the input. I'm considering just getting a basic ForeRunner 55 and sticking with maps/payment etc with my phone.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Thanks, folks. Budget wise, £100 is fine, £300 I'd want it to do a lot, £500 for a watch when I have a smart phone feels silly.

Appreciate the input. I'm considering just getting a basic ForeRunner 55 and sticking with maps/payment etc with my phone.

I've got a Forerunner 55. It's not bad tbh.

Battery just using it as a watch is probably about a week. Charging time isn't great on it so it's generally done overnight.

Its got loads of features that I don't use like reading messages, skipping music, checking the weather etc. Links to Strava too.

I've had a few issues where it's said it's ready to go when riding/walking etc and it's not actually logged the activity.

You can get more activities on it too, I've downloaded a Kayaking and Climbing one.

 

[JD]

I've got a Forerunner 55. It's not bad tbh.

Battery just using it as a watch is probably about a week. Charging time isn't great on it so it's generally done overnight.

Its got loads of features that I don't use like reading messages, skipping music, checking the weather etc. Links to Strava too.

I've had a few issues where it's said it's ready to go when riding/walking etc and it's not actually logged the activity.

You can get more activities on it too, I've downloaded a Kayaking and Climbing one.

That's particularly useful mate, thanks. As realistically I'll just wear it to go running so skipping music and linking to Strava is spot on.

 

[JD]

While the ForeRunner 55 had exactly what I wanted (just tracking times better while running tbh), for £129, it seemed silly not to get something more and future proof a bit. Bought an Apple Watch SE Gen 2 in an Amazon March deal. Testing on Saturday for the Coniston 14m!

 

[jenic]

I use a forerunner 165 music, doesn't do maps or a torch, but does payments and music. I would love an Apple watch but charging daily seems a pain. I get annoyed charging every 10 days as it is.

Seems to do ok at tracking activities/notifications/telling me I slept like s**t and have no energy. I'm on my 3rd one now, upgraded the first because I wanted music and got the latest for the new (might be oled?) screen which is well worth it imo.

 

[JD]

I use a forerunner 165 music, doesn't do maps or a torch, but does payments and music. I would love an Apple watch but charging daily seems a pain. I get annoyed charging every 10 days as it is.

Seems to do ok at tracking activities/notifications/telling me I slept like s**t and have no energy. I'm on my 3rd one now, upgraded the first because I wanted music and got the latest for the new (might be oled?) screen which is well worth it imo.

Cheers, Mike. I agree, the charging thing has already started to annoy me. Heading up to the Lakes, I've had to buy an in car USBC charger and two USBC plugs, given the SE watch doesn't come with anything but a wire...

However, tracking at the weekend on a run and it is doing what I want it to do. So I just need to remind myself I bought it for a purpose... not to wear daily (he says typing from the office with it on).

 

[Starlet_gt]

While the ForeRunner 55 had exactly what I wanted (just tracking times better while running tbh), for £129, it seemed silly not to get something more and future proof a bit. Bought an Apple Watch SE Gen 2 in an Amazon March deal. Testing on Saturday for the Coniston 14m!

Everyone I've run with that used an apple watch, all seem to be incredibly inaccurate when compared to my garmin 255. I've used Garmin since around 2017 and other than the Fenix 5 I had, the forerunner's I've owned have been spot on.

 

[JD]

That's interesting as I was specifically advised the polar opposite i.e. Apple watches were found to be more accurate than the Garmins. My watch was spot on versus the timing chip for the run on the weekend, but will see how I get on. I bought from Amazon so if it's not up to scratch, I'll happily make use of the returns period. Cheers for the input buddy, all helps.

 

[Starlet_gt]

That's interesting as I was specifically advised the polar opposite i.e. Apple watches were found to be more accurate than the Garmins. My watch was spot on versus the timing chip for the run on the weekend, but will see how I get on. I bought from Amazon so if it's not up to scratch, I'll happily make use of the returns period. Cheers for the input buddy, all helps.

DC rainmaker is good for reviews of running/cycling technology so worth a look.