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Recommend a running watch to me

  • 14-11-2018 11:43am
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭


    I have had 2 seperate Garmin devices (35 and 235) in the last few months.

    Both have been a disaster. The 235 has great features and I love it, but the GPS is not accurate enough on either device and keeps dropping (I presume).

    By way of comparison, I did a 5k last night and by the end (and I know exactly where the 5k turn point is) my MapMyRun was exactly 3.11 miles, while my Garmin Forerunner 235 was at 2.8 miles.

    During the recent Dublin marathon, it said I was at about 8.6 miles as I ran past the 9.0 mile mark :( and the people around me said the 9.0 mile mark was what they were clocking.

    I tried all the usual tricks, re-set it, changed the GPS to track every second, changed the GPS to add in GLOVASS (or something like that), etc but it didn't matter.

    So it has gone back to Amazon this morning. I had an old Garmin Forerunner 305 and it was bullet proof in terms of its GPS connection.

    So, I want to buy something new. I don't mind spending a couple of hundred quid as necessary.

    My #1 requirement is that the GPS is reliable and tracks distance and pace accurately. After that, anything else is a bonus although I do like having a wrist based heart rate calculator (rather than a strap) and other nice features like virtual pacer.

    What else do people have and how have you found it? I'm leaning away from Garmin at this point to be honest, they don't make em like the used to!


«1

Comments

  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    Sound like you were just unlucky and possibly had a faulty unit, but there is essentially no difference between one watch based GPS device and another. They are all going to be about as accurate as each other. Things that do make a difference to their accuracy though are tree cover, buildings and the weather on the routes that you are running, other than that one is much the same as another.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    That's the funny thing - I run fairly consistent routes, and yeah I know tree cover and buildings can interrupt the GPS and be a problem, but I can't understand why a GPS watch I bought 10 years ago is much more accurate at tracking distance than a new one I bought this year.

    I could just stick to MapMyRun etc but I'd rather something on my arm for pace, etc.


  • Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,118 Mod ✭✭✭✭robinph


    The newer device should be slightly more accurate, but those differences are going to be minuscule such that us mere mortals shouldn't notice. If you find that GPS tracking is being inaccurate with any device then leaving it turned on for at least half an hour with a good view of the sky should sort things out, especially if you've recently travelled a long way or not turned it on for a while, as it will then download updated data from the satellites regarding their locations in the sky. Newer watches will get this data more quickly via your phone though if paired.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    I tried that as it was advised by Garmin to do that (I left it on for nearly 4 hours as I played golf a month ago which was in the middle of a big field!). It didn't matter unfortunately.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,084 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    Some of the newer devices in addition to GPS (US) offer both GLONASS (Russian) and GALILEO (EU) and you select GPS + one or the other.
    In theory, this should improve your tracking, but it's at a premium from a price perspective currently.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,306 ✭✭✭ariana`


    BeepBeep67 wrote: »
    Some of the newer devices in addition to GPS (US) offer both GLONASS (Russian) and GALILEO (EU) and you select GPS + one or the other.
    In theory, this should improve your tracking, but it's at a premium from a price perspective currently.

    The Garmin 235 has GPS & GLONASS.
    During the recent Dublin marathon, it said I was at about 8.6 miles as I ran past the 9.0 mile mark

    OP my 235 was out by similar at that stage too and i remember thinking it was a lot at the time. But at the finish the total distance was 26.39 (i clocked 26.38 last year on the same watch), I'm happy that this was accurate as i'm sure i didn't run the blue line.

    Hopefully you will get a satisfactory resolution from Amazon and find a watch that works better for you.

    Edited - my brain must be on the same go slow as my legs at the moment. At 9m marker my watch was reading about 9.4!! Doh. Anyhow, hope you get it sorted, it's a strange one.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,084 ✭✭✭BeepBeep67


    ariana` wrote: »
    The Garmin 235 has GPS & GLONASS.

    Correct, though I get better accuracy using GPS + GALILEO on my watch


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,483 ✭✭✭✭Supercell


    Op this may be of use but is a little little dated however a lot of these watches are still sold - http://fellrnr.com/wiki/GPS_Accuracy
    About something newer - http://fellrnr.com/wiki/Garmin_935
    Another viewpoint - https://www.outdoorgearlab.com/topics/camping-and-hiking/best-gps-watch#accuracy (though maybe the best of a bad lot).
    There seems to be an element of pot luck with watches. FWIW, I have a 235 and in most races its gives me very close to the mile markers, and as I'm not running the perfect line its very acceptable to me.

    Have a weather station?, why not join the Ireland Weather Network - http://irelandweather.eu/



  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Yeah I have tried both with and without Glonass, and read that fellernr article, interesting to see that so many of the commonly sold devices are so far down the list.
    It is no exaggeration to say that I still think the Garmin Forerunner 305 was absolutely bullet proof and totally accurate. Normally these things improve over time, it seems as if this is going the opposite way!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,145 ✭✭✭BobMc


    Dont buy anything till you read this guys reviews, he wont mess about if something is off with a particular brand or watch

    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/

    I've on my third garmin, never had any huge discrepancies, I'm wearing the 645 music at the moment with the others retired


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 966 ✭✭✭oinkely


    I have a decathlon onmove 500. It works great for 99 euro.

    Recently replaced an onmove 200 which was getting a bit dodgy after two years of solid use. Still works accurately but too much sweat has seeped into the usb connection on the back and it's getting corroded so doesn't always connect properly. Definitely got 70 euros worth of use out of it though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,852 ✭✭✭pgmcpq


    With the 235 watch the Smart Mode recording is on by default. I've found that this results in poor GPS especially if you run a route with a gentle curve. Smart recording takes note every time you change direction. Problem is it does not notice the curve and so records it as a straight line effectively "cutting the corners". I have seen as much as a 1.5 mile difference over 20 miles.

    Look at Settings -> Data Recording

    The GPS & GLONASS is a good recommendation also.

    Since making these changes I've been pretty happy with the 235.

    The 35 is a piece of junk !


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    pgmcpq wrote: »
    With the 235 watch the Smart Mode recording is on by default. I've found that this results in poor GPS especially if you run a route with a gentle curve. Smart recording takes note every time you change direction. Problem is it does not notice the curve and so records it as a straight line effectively "cutting the corners". I have seen as much as a 1.5 mile difference over 20 miles.

    Look at Settings -> Data Recording

    The GPS & GLONASS is a good recommendation also.

    Since making these changes I've been pretty happy with the 235.

    The 35 is a piece of junk !
    Yeah I tried all that before I sent it back. Didn't get any improvement.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 602 ✭✭✭WayneEnterprise


    I've been running with the 230 for years (essentially the 235 without the HR monitor), and never had any accuracy issues. Perhaps you just got a bad unit?


  • Moderators, Category Moderators, Entertainment Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators, Regional East Moderators Posts: 18,509 CMod ✭✭✭✭The Black Oil


    I bought a 305 in 2011. It was a little slow at loading satellites, generally, but a great workhorse. I stopped using it because it conflicted with my computer. Then moved to a 25 which was OK, but I wanted a little more and bought a 235 in Sept of this year. I haven't thrown the 305 away.

    Not an expert on accuracy of GPS across devices as a whole.

    Garmin 305
    DCM 2016: 26.43 mi.
    DCM 2017: 26.44 mi.
    Connemarathon 2018: 26.42 mi.

    235
    DCM 2018: 26.46 mi.

    I did have to change something re GPS/GLOVASS or whatever it's called. Think it was to do with the clock being a bit off. It sorted the issue.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Its gone to Amazon heaven now! I had to either send it back or waive the 1-month return period.

    Back to the drawing board!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,825 ✭✭✭IvoryTower


    Most people I run with have the 235 but one of the girls in our group pace/distance tend to be a bit off with the rest of us so it wouldn't surprise me if there's the odd dodgy unit


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,855 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    Hi OP,

    Whats your budget and we go from there?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,370 ✭✭✭pconn062


    Polar M430, stopped using Garmin years ago.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,304 ✭✭✭jfh


    pconn062 wrote: »
    Polar M430, stopped using Garmin years ago.

    What's the advantages over the garmin?
    Just asking as I've had the 405 for the last 10 year & need to upgrade


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  • Registered Users Posts: 4,807 ✭✭✭skyblue46


    jfh wrote: »
    What's the advantages over the garmin?
    Just asking as I've had the 405 for the last 10 year & need to upgrade

    I understand the need for accuracy, that's a given. After that what are the essentials for people. I have a Forerunner 220. It can do sessions, time, distance, pace etc. It seems more than adequate to me....


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,834 ✭✭✭OOnegative


    In regards the DCM course markings this year, many were way out of position either being to short or to long so I wouldn’t base a watches GPS accuracy on that.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,799 ✭✭✭Huzzah!


    Would adding a footpod assist with accuracy?


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭BigAl81


    BobMc wrote:
    I'm wearing the 645 music at the moment

    Considering getting this myself. How do you find the Spotify app and Bluetooth connectivity?


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Hi OP,

    Whats your budget and we go from there?

    Hi average_runner, don't mind spending 200-300 quid once it is a decent piece of kit. My #1 requirement is that it accurately tells the distance accurately and can do things like speed work, etc.
    After that all the bells and whistles are bonuses. The annoying part is I loved the Garmin 235 interface on the laptop, phone, etc - and the phone controls, music controls, etc were all great. But if it fails at its #1 duty - "how far have I ran" then the device is a failure for me.
    OOnegative wrote: »
    In regards the DCM course markings this year, many were way out of position either being to short or to long so I wouldn’t base a watches GPS accuracy on that.

    Yeah I get that could be the case, but the problem is that 1. people around me verified that the marker was correct, and 2. I have found it desperately inaccurate over even a mile or two.

    I've used MapMyRun with voice feedback for the last couple of nights, grand for just casual running but if I start to train for something and need intervals, etc I don't think it is of any use.
    pconn062 wrote: »
    Polar M430, stopped using Garmin years ago.

    How have you found it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,370 ✭✭✭pconn062


    jfh wrote: »
    What's the advantages over the garmin?
    Just asking as I've had the 405 for the last 10 year & need to upgrade

    The main advantages for me are (as someone who trains off Heart rate), the wrist based HR is significantly more accurate than any Garmin I've ever used. I had a garmin 225 and 235 which both had wrist based HR and found both to be too unreliable, especially the 225. The Polar M430 is a good bit more reliable, very quick to pick up HR and GPS. I'm sure there are more up to date models but I picked that one up reasonably priced a few months ago.

    Polar in general have led the way with HR tech so I've always found them to be better, if that's important to you.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    pconn062 wrote: »
    The main advantages for me are (as someone who trains off Heart rate), the wrist based HR is significantly more accurate than any Garmin I've ever used. I had a garmin 225 and 235 which both had wrist based HR and found both to be too unreliable, especially the 225. The Polar M430 is a good bit more reliable, very quick to pick up HR and GPS. I'm sure there are more up to date models but I picked that one up reasonably priced a few months ago.

    Polar in general have led the way with HR tech so I've always found them to be better, if that's important to you.

    Thanks for that pconn062, did you ever do a test over 5k against something like MapMyRun to check the accuracy of the distance? I've read somebody complaining on Amazon about the accuracy of the GPS on medium accuracy mode? Is there a high-accuracy mode?

    I'm definitely leaning away from Garmin at present and this sounds like a good alternative.

    Thanks for the help!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,855 ✭✭✭✭average_runner


    Keep.an eye on the black friday deals. To be honest most garmins are good including 235 but you were unlucky with yours.

    I have the 935 which is high end so would recommend 645. They can still be off.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Can anybody tell me if I were to buy a Samsung Watch and just use MapMyRun does my watch display the information from MapMyRun or how does this work?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    The big problem for me with Garmin is how poor their app is. Basic things like seeing your weekly mileage (Monday to Sunday) and monthly can't be done as it shows the last 7 days/4 weeks instead.

    It is also very poor with workouts created, where it won't automatically note you have done a workout and just puts up the standard 'running in Dublin' workout title.

    These are small things for the app to do. I don't think there is a paid version so I see no reason why it isn't better.

    I have a 230 and find it excellent (fully waterproof) but it can be a bit slow to hook upto gps especially if in a new area.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,099 ✭✭✭✭Mantis Toboggan


    Ticwatches are reduced on Amazon currently, can anyone recommend them?

    Free Palestine 🇵🇸



  • Registered Users Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭BigAl81


    The big problem for me with Garmin is how poor their app is...

    I created a Strava account and all my Garmin runs sync there too. I think their app / website is better.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    BigAl81 wrote: »
    I created a Strava account and all my Garmin runs sync there too. I think their app / website is better.

    Are you paying for the premium version?


  • Registered Users Posts: 4,807 ✭✭✭skyblue46


    Are you paying for the premium version?

    Once your data is collected by Connect there are many free 3rd party apps which can draw down this information with your permission. I use the Smashrun, Runalyze and the free version of Strava....endless info and graphs to amuse myself with :pac:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    I am just simply want an app that will give me weekly/monthly/yearly totals and categories for races and workouts. It would just make it easy to do a quick analysis. I have no interest in graphs or any other gimmicks.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 348 ✭✭peter4918


    I've been running with the 230 for years (essentially the 235 without the HR monitor), and never had any accuracy issues. Perhaps you just got a bad unit?

    I have to agree with this, I have been using the 235 since it came out and have nothing but good things to say about it, never let me down and I find it very accurate. I really think you got a bad unit.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,121 ✭✭✭BigAl81


    Are you paying for the premium version?


    No, not paying,I used the free version. Try it,I think it will do what you need.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    peter4918 wrote: »
    I have to agree with this, I have been using the 235 since it came out and have nothing but good things to say about it, never let me down and I find it very accurate. I really think you got a bad unit.

    Interesting. I wonder is it worth the gamble of another! I have however been leaning towards the Polar M430 - it has great reviews. I am hoping for a Black Friday deal to appear somewhere!

    Out of curiousity, speaking of Strava et al, I started a trial of the MPV version of MapMyRun - what an utterly useless waste of time!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 19,778 ✭✭✭✭Ace2007


    BobMc wrote: »
    Dont buy anything till you read this guys reviews, he wont mess about if something is off with a particular brand or watch

    https://www.dcrainmaker.com/

    I've on my third garmin, never had any huge discrepancies, I'm wearing the 645 music at the moment with the others retired

    What the music like on the 645?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    If you import to Strava can you change the setting from km to miles? If I can't I won't bother with it.

    Thanks


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,306 ✭✭✭ariana`


    If you import to Strava can you change the setting from km to miles? If I can't I won't bother with it.

    Thanks

    Yes you can km or miles on Strava.

    I agree by the way re. the Garmin app, it really isn't great. Another thing i'd like is to be able to do a quick comparison if you repeat a Workout.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 354 ✭✭El CabaIIo


    If you want to use the 235 for the optical hr, don't buy it. The accuracy on mine is terrible in general and even worse in the winter when it's cold. As soon as it goes above 160bpm, it gets lost and I've ran 10k races with lower Hr than easy runs on it. It lags like crazy on most runs. Given that is the selling point of the watch and price, it's not worth it as all the extra features on the watch after gps are based on HR which it has a ton of but they are not useful if you don't have accurate readings. If you do buy it, buy a chest strap with it but it kind of defeats the purpose of the watch.

    If you just want a simple watch with pace and distance features, you can save a bomb and buy a cheap garmin.


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Bring back the Forerunner 305, best piece of kit ever. Bullet proof.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    ariana` wrote: »
    Yes you can km or miles on Strava.

    I agree by the way re. the Garmin app, it really isn't great. Another thing i'd like is to be able to do a quick comparison if you repeat a Workout.

    How do you change to miles? I gave a look and google but no luck.

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,190 ✭✭✭✭Pherekydes


    Bring back the Forerunner 305, best piece of kit ever. Bullet proof.

    Mine wasn't even rainproof! I find the 230 superior in every way.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    How do you change to miles? I gave a look and google but no luck.

    Settings - Display Preferences - Units and Measurements


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    RayCun wrote: »
    Settings - Display Preferences - Units and Measurements

    Any idea how I can see weekly/monthly totals and workouts/race categories?

    Thanks


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,704 ✭✭✭✭RayCun


    Any idea how I can see weekly/monthly totals and workouts/race categories?

    Go to Training - Training Log, and it shows you your total for each week

    Training - Training Calendar shows you the number of hours, kms, and activities this year, and the number of hours per month. Click on a month to see the number of kms that month and the activities on each day.

    You have to edit an activity (which is fairly easy) to identify it as a workout or race, and to add a name/description beyond 'Morning Run'. Your training log shows races and workouts in a different colour, and you can roll over each one to see the details.

    This is my training log


  • Registered Users Posts: 436 ✭✭incentsitive


    Just bought the Polar M430.....watch this space!! Report to follow in a week or two!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,816 ✭✭✭Tigerandahalf


    Is there any way then to search for previous workouts/races or do you have to scroll back through the calendar?

    It would be handy just to click on a Workouts tab or Races tab and be able to get the info straight away and compare etc.

    Strava doesn't seem to give you a monthly total, you have to add up the weekly totals. It would be nice to see the monthly totals at a glance. I can use the Garmin app for that anyway.


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