GPS watch recommendation ... or similar

megakid · 8 Jan 2016 at 11:34

Hi all,

My girlfriend is an avid runner and has some sort of Garmin watch she bought a few years ago - it's big and bulky but she likes it. She has hinted she wants a new one for her birthday in a few months time. I'm fairly on key with latest technology (gadget fiend) so I'm aware that plenty of health trackers etc etc have been released since she got this watch.

She plugs her current garmin watch straight into her Win 10 laptop (with no phone syncing), and has a Lumia 920 phone but has no loyalty to any platform. Ultimately she'll probably end up with an iPhone if that makes any difference long term. She mainly uses to record pace, tracks for mapmyrun (or similar) etc

Any ideas what devices I should be looking at?

SoliD · 8 Jan 2016 at 12:13

Garmin Forerunner to match your budget would probably be best. Most of them do auto syncing now via wifi/bluetooth without the need to plug into a PC.

megakid · 8 Jan 2016 at 12:50

SoliD said:
Garmin Forerunner to match your budget would probably be best. Most of them do auto syncing now via wifi/bluetooth without the need to plug into a PC.

Good point about budget, probably up to £200.

lixxus · 8 Jan 2016 at 13:34

the sony smartwatch 3 has gps and is £99

SoliD · 8 Jan 2016 at 14:02

megakid said:
Good point about budget, probably up to £200.

Probably whatever Garmin model you can afford if she already likes how it works.

planty · 8 Jan 2016 at 14:34

SoliD said:
Probably whatever Garmin model you can afford if she already likes how it works.

This. The newer models are much less bulky and more wearable than older ones.

Indigo · 8 Jan 2016 at 21:40

Any idea which model her current Garmin is? And does she have a heart rate monitor or is this something she's possibly interested in?

On Sweatshop.co.uk they have the Garmin 220 on a weekly offer for £100 instead of £160 (shouldn't be that much anyway tbh now) which is a good price for the watch. Lightweight, colour screen, gets signal quickly and is a decent watch.

You then have the Garmin 225 availible for £160 on the same website, basically the same watch as the 220 but updated with a wrist based heart rate monitor, first watch Garmin made without a chest strap.

Other than that you have the 230 (updated 220) without heart rate for £210 or with heart rate monitor (chest strap) for £240. Anything else you're looking at £270+

megakid · 9 Jan 2016 at 12:39

Thanks for all the advice so far, will read up on some of the recommendations. She's currently got a Garmin Forerunner 210

Indigo · 9 Jan 2016 at 15:10

Depending on how much reading you want to do then I'd recommend dcrainmaker. They are very indepth reviews though but well written and you'll certainly be able to make an informed choice after reading them.

DCrainmaker

PhoenixUK · 11 Jan 2016 at 00:33

I've got a 230 two weeks ago and so far very happy with it. The battery life is excellent and the workout software works a treat. I also like the vibration alarm as I always listen to music so the beeping noise is useless.

If you google around you can get one from europe for around £165.