True GPS Fitness Tracking Watch Recommendations

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alasta

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#2897908 7-Apr-2022 08:38

Instinct is a really good product if you really need the rugged design, for example military or police personnel.

For most people, though, you would be better off spending the same money on a Forerunner 55 or 245. These models have colour transflexive displays so they are much nicer to look at than the Instinct but can still achieve up to a week of battery life.

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tukapa1

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#2898374 8-Apr-2022 07:07

Garmin user here - rock solid.

This model should do everything you need for $279

https://www.marine-deals.co.nz/sports-watches/garmin-forerunner-45-gps-running-watch-42mm-black

or if you need music capabilities as well then this

https://www.heathcotes.co.nz/products/010-02120-30-garmin-forerunner-245-music-black?tduid=e351f89e1db3d5393dc36ba001063514

mooshroom369

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#2912415 10-May-2022 16:31

Does anyone have any experience of the Coros Pace 2 watch? Looks good from a battery life and function point of view, but interested in feedback from anyone who may have one. Thanks.

wooda2

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#2912779 12-May-2022 07:04

Dcrainmaker, lots of detailed reviews and comparisons.

I have a Venu and love it but have ongoing connection issues with my Samsung phone. Not a major, it's a Samsung thing. Fine with my old phone. Venu is excellent with GPS but if you want hours maybe Garmin instinct or Coros.

https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2021/11/best-gps-sport-smartwatches-recommendations-guide-2021.html

geoffwnz

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#2915766 18-May-2022 19:08

Another Garmin fan. Had the original Instinct for the rugged aspect of it. Eventually the barometric sensor died or got clogged or something. Upgraded to the Fenix 6X Pro as it was on special at the time. Could have been happy with one of the Forerunner series but given the sale price of the Fenix matched the Forerunner, seemed silly not to go that way.

Up to 10 days on a charge. Up to 50 hours active tracking on a charge. Smart enough given I carry my phone anyway.

And so many badges on the Connect app for doing things. :-) Who doesn't want badges?

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Senecio

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#2915790 18-May-2022 21:24

mooshroom369:
Does anyone have any experience of the Coros Pace 2 watch? Looks good from a battery life and function point of view, but interested in feedback from anyone who may have one. Thanks.

My wife has a Coros Pace 2. It’s a good basic running watch. Great battery life, GPS and heart rate are as accurate as any other wrist based devices and the battery life is insanely good. As long as don’t need the more advance features that come with the higher priced units then I would highly recommend it.

nzmatt

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#2920752 31-May-2022 09:53

Another vote for Garmin. Have a Vivoactive 3, battery life starting to go now, but its far from a new watch and still does an honest days tramping with GPS on.

As I see it, the actual watch is a smaller part of the picture - look at the apps and web page functionality (whichever you will use) and see if it provides the tools you want. Does it interface seamlessly with the likes of Strava and Trailforks if that matters to you? Decide if you want a smart watch with fries (fitness stuff) (Apple, Samsung etc), or a fitness/sports watch with fries (smart watch stuff).

Reason I like Garmin is they were in both the GPS and sports electronics game decades before Smartwatches were a thing. They are an engineering company that sells stuff, not a marketing company that makes stuff. They have a huge range of watches, supported by the same backend, when if comes time to upgrade, you won't be locked into a fad supplier with two offerings (being over priced and way over priced), you will be able to buy the watch that suits your needs and budget at the time (which change). You log in in, configure it and you off with all your history like nothing changed. You can have multiple devices, one for the office, one for the hills, one for competing in marathons, and all that data ends up in the same place.

My only complaint with Garmin is they cottoned on after I bought my Vivoactive they were under pricing their product and fixed it.... Thinking about upgrading, but cannot justify what I would need to spend given my old Vivoactive is still doing everything I need and most of what I want.

alasta

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#2920778 31-May-2022 10:47

Honestly, price is probably Garmin's biggest weakness at the moment. $750 for a Venu 2 Plus, up to $1100 for a Fenix 7 (or more if you want solar/sapphire), $1500 for an Epix, etc. Even if you can get 20% off in a Rebel Sport sale it's a hard proposition.

As an athlete I actually prefer the simple utilitarian design of Garmin watches over the Apple Watch which I find to be much more fiddly. Unfortunately in terms of value for money the Apple Watch tends to be the better option for most people.

Senecio

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#2920789 31-May-2022 10:55

I look at the value proposition differently for my Garmin (Fenix 7 Solar Sapphire, $1,500). Whether its on foot, water or by cycle I cover ~80km a week. If I only keep my watch for 2 years (more likely 3) that works out to ~20c per km. Yes it could be even better value if I chose a cheaper watch but I still feel it represent good value for money.

I just couldn't couldn't do an Apple watch. I just couldn't be bothered with charging every day, even twice a day if you want to wear it for sleep tracking. If I owned and Apple watch it would be in pieces by now after throwing it against a wall in frustration. But each to their own, its great that we all get to choose what's right for us and for many the Apple watch is exactly what they want and that's great.

alasta

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#2920794 31-May-2022 11:05

To be honest I don't find daily charging of the Apple Watch to be too much of a problem because the induction style charging puck is easier to use than the charging port on Garmin watches. I had a Fenix 5 Plus and really liked it but the charging port eventually failed although, to be fair, an online search would suggest that this isn't a common problem.

My biggest gripe with the Apple Watch is that it is too dependent on the touch screen to start an activity which is a PITA in competitive events because you have to fumble around to start the activity and then engage the water lock mode with perfect timing as you cross the start line while trying to avoid tripping hazards. Can you confirm that Fenix 7/Epix 2 are fully functional with the touch screen disabled?

Senecio

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#2920835 31-May-2022 12:03

The Fenix 7 and Epix are fully functional with the touch screen disabled. Because they retain the standard 5 button Garmin layout there is nothing that you can't do with the touch screen disabled. The touch screen just adds another way of navigating.

For me I really only using the touch screen when navigating using a course in the maps or when playing golf with a map of the hole. Other than I revert back to using the buttons that I am familiar with.

Back to the Apple watch my biggest gripe is you start an activity without knowing whether the watch has actually achieved a GPS lock or not.

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