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  1.  
    gixxermick

    With such a wide variety of running watches on the market I would say it is near impossible to make a choice.

     I think I have narrowed it down to a couple.

    Suunto appear to make nice watches which with their training effect mode appear to make getting your training level right a breeze this has led me to favour the T3 but is the T4 with it's coach mode a better option.

     Or would Polar be the better route to go?

    Any help greatly appreciated. 

  2.  
    backtoschool

    el-cheapo timex ironman for the stop watch and indiglo.  they are attractive and comfortable and keep great time.  it is just too bad they crap out after a year or two, but as disposable watches go they cant be beat.  sorry this isn't helpful, it looks like you want a hear rate monitor.  i have tried to use one, but cant get past the chest strap.  it feels like wearing a sports bra

  3.  
    npkoutdoors
    I have been looking into watches as well. I have used the Timex Ironman watches for about 12 years and like them because they are very inexpensive opposed to Suunto, Polar, Garmin, etc. I would probably go with the Garmin Forerunner 305. I have heard a lot of good comments about it and it appears to be a better deal than the Suunto. If you are interested in duathlon or triathlon it has an option to mount it to your bike and quik release it to snap onto your wrist. I hope this helps in your search.
  4.  
    The_Real_Lance
    I have the Suunto x9i. Top of the line watch for just about everything. I think it can even fix the kitchen sink. That being said. I had a really tough time learning how to use it for even half of what it was designed to do. I would have been much better off with a Garmin 305 and saved a ton of money. The Suunto, for me, was overkill times 5. A great watch but a lot more than I need or will ever use. Looks good thoughWink
  5.  
    ddnorton9693
    I use the garmin forerunner 305 and it is a great watch. I wouldn't change anything about it. I would recommend it to everybody.
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberwldrnsboy
    • CommentTimeAug 9th 2007
     
    wldrnsboy

    I just purchased a Polar FS1 and I love it (~60).  My advice would have to be to get the watch that has the features that you will actually use - sure, I considered the over $200 model that will tell me how far I've gone, keep track of my heart rate at every moment, and tell me everything I could want to know about my workout, but I really wasn't going to keep track of all of that.  In the end workout time and average heart rate were fine.

    If you do go with a heart rate monitor there could be one thing to  consider Polar over others (not that I have any experience with any other brands) - many fitness machines in gyms pick up on the Polar signal.  Not a huge deal, but I was pleasantly surprised when it worked.  Does anyone know if they work with other brands?

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberbrimay21
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2007
     
    brimay21
    I got the a polar T31 heart rate monitor for my birthday a few months ago and I love it.  Once you are finished running, the summary mode gives you the duration of your run, your average heart rate, max heart rate, the amount of time you are in zone, and estimated calories burned.  It took me a little while to get it set up and I had to use the instructions so that I could personalize it with my age, bmi, weight but once that is all set up you are good to go.  Make sure you wet the electrodes on the belt you wear on your chest so that it has a good medium in order to pick up your heart rate. 
    • CommentAuthorFree Member3sport
    • CommentTimeAug 10th 2007
     
    3sport
    Garmin 305 is the way to go. Simple to use and I have improved as a runner because of it!  Really makes Me compete against Myself Great watch!!!
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdizzle
    • CommentTimeAug 12th 2007
     
    dizzle
    I have been using the Timex watches and am very happy with them, but want to start working with a heart rate monitor.  I don't know anything about them, but don't think I want to wear the chest strap.  Does the Garmin work without a strap?  Everything I have seen leads me to believe it is just the unit on your wrist (the Gramin 305).  Is this accurate?
  10.  
    Triathlon-Lawyer

    Does the Garmin work without a strap?  Everything I have seen leads me to believe it is just the unit on your wrist (the Gramin 305).  Is this accurate?

    No, that's not right.  The Garmin 305 includes a chest strap to monitor HR, just like the Polar and Timex HRM's do. 

    Check it: 

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberchevyt
    • CommentTimeAug 14th 2007
     
    chevyt

    Hi, I'm still very much a rookie when it comes to running. I was walking 11k last year, but decided to do more jogging this year instead.

     I bought a Mio Sport by PhysiCal, sport watch. It has the stop watch feature, and you can take your HR by holding 2 fingers on the sensors any time during your workout. There is no chest strap, just the watch on your wrist. They are "supposed" to be quite accurate. Mine was under $100.

    For what I'm doing, it's a good watch.

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdeco
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2007
     
    deco

    Just FYI because I happened to just notice this yesterday - the Garmin 305's are currently on sale at Amazon for only $217.99. 

    http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Forerunner-Wrist-Mounted-Navigator-Personal/dp/B000CSWCQA/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9714175-5404020?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1187307260&sr=8-1

    • CommentAuthorFree Member3sport
    • CommentTimeAug 16th 2007
     
    3sport
    This is Responding to Triathlon-Lawyer: The strap is only for the Heart Rate Monitor. You do not have to wear the strap, The watch will still work and give You all of the info. You need except HR! I recommend this watch I Love it!!!
    • CommentAuthorFree Membercarlson
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2007
     
    carlson
    It looks like the front of the garmin strap is hard plastic/rubber?  If so, I'd avoid it... last year I upgraded from a timex with a strap like that to a polar with their all-cloth strap and would never go back.  I guess it must be fine for most people since they sell well, but for me I was always getting rashes and chaffing from it, even though I washed it throughly after each workout.  Also, how are the GPS units for trail/city running?  I have a garmin hiking unit that I've tried running a few times with, and it was very unhappy whenever I'd be in the woods/concrete jungle for any kind of extended period.
    • CommentAuthorGold Membershipjeff@mmf
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2007
     
    jeff@mmf
    Another bonus with the Garmin is that you can now upload your data directly.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberScousegit
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2007
     
    Scousegit

    I recently bought a Polar T4 which is staight forward to use and set up and provides me with basic information, resting heart rate/ max/aver HR and time in zone.  There are a couple of features is lacks

    1. A stop watch with splits 

    2. back lighting when using in the dark.

    The watch is compact which enable me to wear it all the time. 

     

     

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberhekele
    • CommentTimeAug 22nd 2007
     
    hekele
    I personally have a Timex ironman. I love it and use it for everything. Of course, I go through a watch about every year or two. But, I rarely take my watch off. If your looking for a heart rate monitor, I have just purchased a Forerunner 305 and really like it. If you do a search on the internet you can find a $50 mail-in rebate. Good through Nov. 2007. I found that Wal-mart has 305s for the same price as ebay and I don't have to pay shipping if it is shipped to the nearest store.
    • CommentAuthorFree Membernorob112
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2007
     
    norob112
    I have owned a Suunto X6 HR for three years now and still love it. It is super easy to use and you can download your workouts to your computer. The X6 is more of an all round outdoors watch but take a look at the newer S6 with the foot pod that is made more for runners/ cyclist. I chose Suunto over Polar mainly because not many people have a Suunto and you can wear it everyday and not look like you are about to go on a run.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberNasher
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2007
     
    Nasher
    suunto make great dive computers. I would expect their other products to be good.
    • CommentAuthorFree MemberCrybaby
    • CommentTimeAug 24th 2007 edited
     
    Crybaby

    Okay i just had a great run 2.98 miles in hollywood, it's gonna be a Hot Friday!

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberwrs68
    • CommentTimeSep 18th 2007
     
    wrs68

    A couple of questions from Ireland!

    I notice no mention of the Nike Triax watches, is there a reason for this? I used to have one and really liked it, they are hard to get in Ireland.

    Also I'm not sure of the benefit of a HRM. I enjoy running and getting splits, laps and being able to calculate my  pace gives me all I need ... I think, unless I am missing something.

    And finally, any suggestions for web sites to get good value in running watches?

    Thanks

     

    WRS 

     

     

     

     

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberROWGER
    • CommentTimeSep 25th 2007 edited
     
    ROWGER
    I just demo'd the Garmin Forrunner 305 over the weekend, it was really nice not as bulky feeling as it looks. I even used the chest strap & was shocked that it didn't feel uncomortable. The only problem I had was, I run early (pre-dawn) & the dang thing has no back-light! I also wore it in the rain, and w/o the light it was hard to look at the info while dark & rainy. For now i'll stick to my Timex Ironman. BTW www.powerbar.com is were you can find the $50-$75  rebate coupon for the garmin products.
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberdavidall99
    • CommentTimeOct 17th 2007
     
    davidall99

    I have the suunto T3 and really like it.   The training effect gives you a really good idea of how hard you're training which is more than a lot of watches out there.  A bonus is it doesn't really look like a bulky running watch. I wear it as my everyday watch as well.

    • CommentAuthorFree Membermikeyg83
    • CommentTimeOct 18th 2007
     
    mikeyg83
    Rowger- I haven't used the 305, but I have a Garmin 301 and can turn the backlight on by pressing the power button once.  That activates it so that every time you press a button it will light up.  I'm considering upgrading to the 305, especially with the powerbar.com rebate. 
    • CommentAuthorFree Memberwrs68
    • CommentTimeOct 30th 2007
     
    wrs68

    For anyone interested, I went on and bought a Suunot T3 after lengthy research!

    So far I am very happy with it, I have used it for 5 training sessions so far, there is a number of things I am still getting used to, but overall it has lived up to expectations and seems like an excellent watch. I would be happy to review it after a couple of months use.

    WRS

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberWeagle
    • CommentTimeNov 1st 2007
     
    Weagle
    I just bought the Suunto T4 with the "Coach" program on it which takes the "Training Effect" software a step further. It guides you through 5 days of training that is constantly being updated by each session you do. Seems a little fiddley at first but getting the hang of it. And it's got a digital signal so it get no interference from other HRMs... even better than Polar "own code".
  27.  
    mrdavebach
    The Garmin Forerunner 305 is the way to go. I've had mine all summer/fall and love it. Yes, it does have a backlight. The HR strap is like most of the others on the market and is quiet comfortable to wear. There is an add on cadence module for the bike which I haven't yet purchased as well as a foot pod you put on your laces so that it can still measure your distances when you're running inside all winter. I got mine for $220 from Walmart at the time and did the ship-to-store option to save the cost of shipping. I would totally buy this unit again except I have heard rumors that Garmin has an even better one on the way. I guess it's gonna be a bit smaller but will that effect my battery life and screen size, not sure.
    • CommentAuthorFree Membermikeyg83
    • CommentTimeNov 5th 2007
     
    mikeyg83

    mrdavebach, i talked to a Garmin rep last weekend at the MCM Expo and he said that they will be coming out with an additional Forerunner model, but it will be smaller and more watch-like, but it will be a lower-end model, below the 205.  I asked him specifically if the 305 would be getting replaced or upgraded soon and he said that there were no plans. 

    Maybe he was just trying to get me to buy the 305 right then, but i had no intentions of it anyway.  Can anyone else confirm either way about Garmin's near-future product line?   

    • CommentAuthorFree Memberjacanz
    • CommentTimeNov 9th 2007
     
    jacanz

    Just a note on the Triax watchs - they are very good. I may have killed mine by dropping it on its side (waiting on the repairer to come back to me) but I had it for nearly 9 years prior.

    I would say that you DO pay extra for the Nike branding and the latest models are less easy to read than the originals were.

    I like my HRM and my timer separate so I had my Triax and a Polar unit. The new soft chest bands are much nicer than the old rigid plastic BUT they do not do well if you swim in them.

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberVelame
    • CommentTimeNov 13th 2007
     
    Velame

    I have 2 old Timex and Casio watches, that are very simple, but wih efficient lap-cronometer, what most of the time is enough for my trainning. I also have a Oregon HR102, what is a very cheap heart monitor, but that works pretty well. I do't use it frequently because I dont fell confortable using chest strap. Recently I bought a  Nike triax, the one I'm using most for trainning and racing. There is a interval feature that I rarely use. I can save up to 10 trainnings, detailing each lap and average.

    Garmin and Suunto produce high level watches, including models with GPS, huge databank, several resources for trainning planning and evaluation. But for me, the ones I have are enough.  

    • CommentAuthorFree MemberJRPowell
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009
     
    JRPowell

    Which watch has the largest display? My eyes ain't what they use to be (I have to put on reading glasses to see my current watch). Any recommendations on a very basic (time / stopwatch / lap / alarm) watch for those of us who can no longer read the microdisplay and microprinting on the new fancy watches?

    Thanks!

    Jay

    • CommentAuthorFree Membernutedawg
    • CommentTimeJul 30th 2009
     
    nutedawg
    Jay if you just want basic time and split or lap function walmart has a $10 atletic works with a pretty large display

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