Sports Watch for Training

[Powerkiter]

I have signed up to do Man vs Mountain http://ratrace.com/manvsmountain/ in September of this year. I have taken part in a number of mud runs before and I do go to the gym two or three times a week and can run 5kms fairly easily. However, this is really a step up in distance and duration. I have downloaded the training programme and am due to start in 4 weeks time. Most of the training is around running for a set duration so I need to sort out a sports watch just to help monitor time, distance and pace.

Any suggestions for a good sports watch? I'm a bit undecided about whether to just get a basic Tomtom one for around £100 or an Apple watch for around £400.

The Apple watch will probably get much more use afterwards but then I have reservations about wearing it on what is quite a tough event with some 'man-made' obstacles thrown in at the end.

[Fas1975]

Check out the Garmin Fenix range. My colleague is training for a marathon and this is positioned as a more accurate training watch which is more accurate and better positioned for your needs than the apple watch

[dangerousB]

I use a Garmin 920XT - probably a bit more than you need if you're just using it for running, but I can vouch for it as being a brilliant (and now invaluable) piece of training kit.

[malks222]

I have a polar M400 (can get better models) and really like it. the GPS tracker seems decent enough, can load a few different 'sport' profiles on for tracking what exercises you are doing. Also pairing up with a heart rate monitor makes it much more accurate for serious training.

[Powerkiter]

Thanks for the comments, considering going for this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JD4TG2M/ref=sxr_pa_...

[johnwilliams77]

Powerkiter said:

Thanks for the comments, considering going for this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JD4TG2M/ref=sxr_pa_...

I have a forerunner 10 which is less than a year old I could sell you for less than half that

[dangerousB]

Powerkiter said:

Thanks for the comments, considering going for this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JD4TG2M/ref=sxr_pa_...

Totally up to you mate, but I wouldn't use an optical HR watch if someone gave it to me.

My training buddy has had a TomTom (sorry, don't know which one, but it was a similar pricepoint) and an iWatch 2 (because he's an Apple nut) - neither of them lasted a week before he'd sent them back - data dropout on both was ridiculous and the HR anomalies were comically bad.

[tenohfive]

Powerkiter said:

Thanks for the comments, considering going for this one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00JD4TG2M/ref=sxr_pa_...

That's the oldest gen of Tomtom watches. Either look for the Runner 2 (also known as the Spark) or Runner 3. There are some good deals on the Runner 2 knocking around at the moment - WELCOMEUK2017 code brings it down to £101:
https://www.tomtom.com/en_gb/sports/running-watche...

Tomtom really do well in the mid-range price point. (Ask DC Rainmaker, his guides always make mention of how much you get for your money with them.)

Double the budget and the Garmin 235 brings you smart notifications etc, and I do quite like how Garmin's are laid out - they're just more customisable than TomTom. But the simplicity of the TomTom is equally appealing.

dangerousB said:

Totally up to you mate, but I wouldn't use an optical HR watch if someone gave it to me.

My training buddy has had a TomTom (sorry, don't know which one, but it was a similar pricepoint) and an iWatch 2 (because he's an Apple nut) - neither of them lasted a week before he'd sent them back - data dropout on both was ridiculous and the HR anomalies were comically bad.

I'd want to know which of the TomTom watches it is before panning everything they've made - as I mentioned, they're up to their 3rd iteration and I've had good experience with mine (2nd gen.) In fact I've had just as many issues with chest HRM's massively over-recording (from the cheap to top end straps) - to the extent I routinely use EEG gel to ensure I don't get an initial spike. Both wrist based optical HRM's I've used have been accurate for running (not cycling), they're just slower to detect spikes and dips - so for interval training I'll always use a chest strap. For everything else, I'm satisfied with optical accuracy.

For an idea of where I'm coming from, there are 3 GPS watches in my household:
TomTom Runner (oldest gen) - basic training watch, reliable, cheap but now superceded. Still gets used though.
TomTom Runner 2 Cardio - solid, reliable. I only upgraded because I wanted 16+ hours battery life for longer ultra's.
Garmin Forerunner 935 - latest addition. It's a lighter Fenix 5 - latest and greatest of the Garmin watches. I love it for a whole load of reasons I won't go into here but it's really helping me be more focused in my training right now, and there's a tonne of 'ooooh...' features for the kit geek in me to coo over. But it was nearly £400. Worth every penny to me, but may well be overkill for a lot of people.