Best sports watch for gym/running/cycling?

roubaixtom

Hi,

Im looking to buy a fitness watch for my girlfriend. She would like it to be able to show distance, speed, calories and heart rate. I already have a spare Garmin HR monitor so it would make sense to go Garmin. Which fitness watch should i be look at? Ideal would like to spend about £100.

Cheers

johnny25

The Garmin Forerunner models are your best bet if you want all the features you've listed. You should be able to pick one up for £100 - Forerunner 15.

For the gym I use a Polar FT7.

oreilly2311

Hey Roubaixtom,

The best I've used on the market has to be the Polar F7. Never had any issues with it. The lightweight design was helpful making it an easy travel companion for any exercise. Here's the one I bought a while back:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002 ... YKUE7IA3EK

Cheers,

ai_1

You can get speed and distance via either GPS or a foot pod/wheel sensor.
In the gym you can get the speed of the machine or use a pod for treadmill running. Foot pods and speed/cadence sensors add to the cost so it may make sense to use GPS if you know you're happy to get speed/distance from the machines in the gym.

Have a look at this website:
http://www.dcrainmaker.com

By far the best review site I've ever come across. All the reviews are by the same guy who is a triathlete and does very in depth critical reviews of a huge range of the sports data devices for running, cycling and swimming.

He has a summary page which he updates each year listing his recommendations for each discipline or combination of disciplines at each price range.
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2014/11/wint ... tions.html

The Forerunner 310XT would do the job and lots more but may be a little over budget. It's a triathlon watch and does everything most Garmin cycle computers and running watches do plus it's waterproof.
I had the Forerunner 305 which was the predecessor of the 310XT and then moved on to the Forerunner 910XT which came after the 310XT. Both worked/work great. The 310XT is several years old but does most of the same stuff the most current models do with the exception (off the top of my head) of power meter support, barometric pressure and comms capability with your phone if comparing to the latest 920XT that came out just a month or two ago.

The 310XT is a little bulky but not too heavy so only a problem if you don't like the look of it. There are smaller and cheaper options if you get a running specific watch that can be made do on the bike but there are compromises. The 910XT or 920XT will do everything and are a bit more compact but they also cost a hell of a lot more.

daniel_b

What Ai_1 said.

The 310 xt is £122 on Amazon.

Buy that and sell one of the hr straps, and you are sub £100.

We have two 305 forerunners in our household, and they have never missed a beat.
Must be 4 or 5 years old by now as well.