Garmin have recently unveiled a brand new Forerunner GPS watch, the Garmin Forerunner 910XT, building on the tradition of the 305 and 310XT Forerunners with their multisport focus that triathletes will find useful and beneficial. The former watches are very popular and were well received by triathlete and athletic communities, the new Forerunner watch adds new features to Garmins proven model. The new watch offers several new enhancements, that is sure please aerobic athletes of various persuasions, especially swimmers. So let’s take a closer look at the latest offer from Garmin.

What’s New

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT was known for being the first GPS watch to be safe to use while swimming in the water. The Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS, follows in that tradition and adds a whole host of new swim metrics on top, allowing you track your swimming sessions in greater detail, adding the following swim metrics to its list of abilities: distance, speed, stroke count, stroke type

Forerunner 910XT without HRM (MSRP. $399.99) – Buy Now
Forerunner 910XT with HRM (MSRP. $449.99) – Buy Now

Unfortunately, the new watch fails to address a couple of flaws of the 310XT.

Its inability to track speed and distance in the water; the inability to receive a GPS signal underwater is an unfortunate phenomena all GPS watches suffer from, there really is no way to address this due to limitations in the technology.

Its lack of heart rate reception under water; Garmin use the ANT+™ protocol for their heart rate monitors, which unfortunately will not transmit underwater. This ability is only found in the Polar RCX5, which uses a non-ANT+™ protocol.

On the plus side, both the 310XT and 910XT feature an open water mode for swimming, which works on the basis of the watch re-establishing the GPS uplink mid-stroke while your hand is out of the water. Open water mode is not 100% accurate, but gives you a rough idea of a swim course.

A more accurate technique that a lot of triathletes use is the watch-under-the-swimming-cap trick, that keeps the GPS antenna out of the water throughout the swim.

Other changes in the Garmin 910XT watch include a thinner form factor. The display screen of the new watch is identical to the 310XT, but with less thickness. The watch also features a brand new high-tech design and has a shiny black color scheme over the silver/orange of its predecessor. The Forerunner 910XT is Garmin’s first ever GPS watch to feature a barometric altimeter. This delivers greater elevation accuracy than GPS based elevation, which has a degree of inaccuracy in vertical measurement. This puts Garmin in league with top-line Suunto and Polar watches in terms of real-time altitude measuring.

Like the recently released Forerunner 610, the new Forerunner 910XT Garmin adds the Training Effect sports metric, an indication of how effectively you have trained and previously only found in Suunto watches. So the latest Generation of Garmin GPS watches are now have a greater competitive advantage compared to the best offerings from Suunto and Polar. If you want the ultimate all-in-one GPS watch, a Garmin is really the only game in town.

The new watch also adds new sports watch modes including support for a run/walk reminder feature. The run/walk training method is popular among those new to the sport who are not yet fit enough to continually run for any length of time. The new reminder feature allows you to pre-set times for walking and running and will alert you when it is time to start jogging or take a break. The Virtual Racer feature introduced in the Forerunner 610 is also present, it allows you to train or race against previous performances on pre-saved courses. Unlike Garmins popular Virtual Parter feature, the pace of your virtual competitor will vary, which is more realistic when you take hills and off-trail segments of your course where your pace is slower into account.

Summary of FR910XT enhancements:

• slimmer external case
• new swim metrics
• barometric altimeter
• training effect
• run/walk reminder feature
• improved ANT+™ based cycling power meter support
• virtual racer

Traditional Forerunner Sports Features

While the Garmin 910XT Forerunner offers plenty of new improvements over its predecessor, the advanced sports watch features found in older Garmin Forerunners that have worked well have been included unchanged. The 910XT remains a high-end watch with endless ability to configure data pages and tweak settings to maximize your training experience. In the 910XT, Garmin have designed a watch that ‘does it all’, and in many ways Garmin have really hit the nail on the head. The Garmin 910XT HRM contains the following “traditional” features that have been successful in the Forerunner 305 through to the latest offerings.

Customizable Display: Customize multiple data pages with up to 4 data fields per page
Auto Scroll: Set up the watch to scroll through data pages in sequence.
Auto Lap: Automatically registers a lap in memory
Auto Pause: Pauses the stopwatch when you stop running (like when you stop at traffic lights), and resumes when you continue
Alerts: Alerts you via a visual, audible or vibration signal based on time or distance
Virtual Partner®: Train against a virtual competitor moving at a pre-set pace (but without variations)
Courses: Run against a previous activity on a previous course
Multisport Mode: Pre-programmed transition sequences for swimming, running, cycling. One button-press transitioning
Advanced Workouts: Use Garmin Connect™ to create advanced structured workouts with goals
Interval Training: Setup repetitive hard/easy session with warm-up and cool-down

What is lacking in the new watch is the “simple workout” feature, where you can input a time, distance or calorie goal. I guess, this is due to the impractical nature of running until you reach a certain distance or for a certain length of time, I mean unless your run mindless laps of your athletics track, you are left in the middle of nowhere and must somehow get back.

Advantages For Runners

The Garmin Forerunner 910XT HR watch, offers similar benefits to those of the Forerunner 610 and former Forerunners. When you go for a run you can record details of how far you went, how fast and a course of your run is saved in memory. The advanced sports modes (see the list above) allow you to to perform advanced training based on a structured sequence of activities with options for goal-oriented training, target zones and various different alerts that can be set up.

Advantages For Cycling

This particular watch from Garmin is more friendly towards cycling than other Forerunners, with support for up to five customized bike profiles with parameters for wheel size, weight, speed, cadence and power as well as support for major ANT+™ sensors geared at cycling.

These are generally:

• power meters
• cadence only
• speed-only
• speed/cadence combos

The 910XT has nearly the same general functionality as the Garmin Edge 500, but can only display up to 4 data fields instead of 8. The 910XT offers a lot more than the Edge 500 for runners and swimmers, but if you are pure cyclists that does no swimming or running, you will probably be better served with the Garmin Edge 500 (no mapping) or Garmin Edge 800 (with mapping).

Of great interest to the cycling community and triathletes is support for pedal based power meters for cyclists like the Garmin Vector, CycleOps, Power2Max, SRAM/Quarq, SRM as well as cleat power meters like Brim Brothers Zone and O-Sycne. However the Garmin watches are not compatible with Polar’s Look/Keo power meters as these are based on the Polar W.I.N.D. protocol and not ANT+™.

The cycling power meter metrics that are supported in the Forerunner 910XT are:

• power
• 30s average power
• power in kilojoules
• power current lap
• power of last lap
• power max
• power max current lap
• power in watts/kg
• left and right power (for upcoming Garmin Vector pedal power meter)

and included are the following Training Peaks metrics:

• intensity factor (IF)
• training stress score (TSS)
• normalized power (NP)

The Training Peaks metrics will also soon be available in Garmin Connect™.

Advantages For Swimmers

The Garmin 910XT GPS watch is the first Garmin to have integrated swimming metrics that can help you keep track of your swimming sessions in a pool. The watch lets you set the distance of the pool and the stroke type. It will display your SWOLF score (efficiency) and will register the following main swimming metrics:

Lengths: num lengths, lengths current interval, lengths last interval
Stroke distance: stroke distance average, stroke distance current interval, stroke distance of last interval
Stroke rate: stroke rate overall, stroke rate current interval, stroke rate of last interval, stroke rate, last length
Distance: distance overall, distance of current interval, distance of last interval
Pace: pace average, pace of current interval, pace of last interval,
Efficiency: efficiency average, efficiency of current interval,efficiency of last interval
SWOLF: swolf average, swolf of current interval, swolf of last interval, swolf of last length

The 910XT Forerunner GPS watch, like the 310XT is waterproof to 50 meters and as mentioned will not transmit heart rate or GPS distance information while underwater, although it can link up to the GPS satellites in the open water mode, allowing you to register speed, distance and save position plots for mapping purposes.

Garmin Forerunner 910XT vs 310XT vs 305

	Forerunner 305	Forerunner 310XT	Forerunner 910XT
MSRP	$199.99	$349.99 wo/hrm $399.99 w/hrm	$399.99 wo/hrm $449.99 w/hrm
Specifications
Dimensions, WxHxD	5.33 x 6.86 x 1.78 cm 2.1" x 2.7" x 0.7"	5.4 x 5.6 x 1.9 cm 2.1" x 2.2" x 0.8"	4.8 x 7.1 x 1.6 cm 1.88" x 2.78" x 0.646"
Display Width	3.3 x 2.0 cm 1.3" x 0.8"	3.3 x 2.0 cm 1.3" x 0.8"	3.3 x 2.0 cm 1.3" x 0.8"
Unit Weight	77 g	72 g	72 g
Battery Type	Rechargeable	Rechargeable	Rechargeable
Battery Life	10 hours, typical	20 hours, typical	20 hours, typical
Heart Rate Support
Map Navigation
Swim metrics
Barometric altimeter:
Customizable Screens
Display Data Fields	4	4	4
Device Support
Bike speed/cadence support
Foot Pod support
Power meter compatible
Touch Sensitive Bevel
Memory
Lap History	1000 laps	1000 laps	1000 laps
Waypoints	100	100	100
Routes	50	0	0
Software
PC transfer	USB cable	ANT+™	ANT+™
Garmin Connect™
Garmin Training Center®
Features
Training Effect (measures impact of an activity on your aerobic fitness)
Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person)
Virtual Racer™ (compete against other activities)
Courses (compete against previous activities)
Auto Pause (pauses and resumes timer based on speed)
Auto Lap (automatically starts a new lap)
Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout)
Multi-sport (changes sport mode with a press of a button)
Simple Workouts (input time, distance and calorie goals)
Advanced Workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts)
Pace Alerts (triggers alarm if you vary from preset pace)		(advanced workouts)	(advanced workouts)
Time/distance Alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal)
Vibration alert (choose between alert tones and/or vibration alert)
Interval Training (set up exercise and rest intervals)
Heart Rate Based Calories

The Verdict

The Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS watch is an attempt by Garmin to produce a watch that has it all, and in that respect Garmin have once again delivered in spades, especially in respect to the pool metrics for swimer that have been added and its enhanced support for cycling power meters. The addition of a barometric altimeter also puts it in league with the high performing Suunto t6d and Suunto RS800CX watches. The added walk/run feature is another nice touch, though I suspect if you are buying a watch of this calibre you will already be very fit, and more likely the ultra-fit category. This feature can still be a useful for time-based reminder that activates independently of other alert systems.

As a capable sports watch for competitive triathletes, the FR910XT watch is in a league of its own, with its advanced multisport abilities, you can seamlessly transition between a swim or a run leg, a run and a cycle leg or any pre-configured sequence you need. For swimming and cycling it offer an unparalleled number of advantages over most watches in the market and it is the near equal of the Forerunner 610, indeed it has a much longer battery life, but on the other hand lacks the tap-screen advantage of the 610 which is more a performance runner’s watch.

If you are a pure runner or a pure cyclist, then this watch is over-kill for your needs. The same can be said for casual runners, who can get what they need out of the Forerunner 110 or Forerunner 210 watches at about half the price. In terms of price, it is always smart to look around the internet for the best Garmin Forerunner 910XT price, however the cheapest offers are usually found on the Amazon website. At the time of writing this review, the new Forerunner is yet to be released. But if you would like to buy Garmin Forerunner 910XT you can head over to Amazon and pre-order.

Forerunner 910XT without HRM (MSRP. $399.99) – Buy Now
Forerunner 910XT with HRM (MSRP. $449.99) – Buy Now

The options for hardcore athletes looking for the next gadget to give them the extra edge that will take them past their competitors to the finish line for a race win just got another boost with the release of the Polar RCX5 watch. Earlier this month, fitness gadget maker Polar finally rolled out the new watch design from its shelves after months of offering free testing on prototype units to get the initial pulse of the tech-savvy and highly conscientious fitness community. The result is the Polar RCX5 Heart Rate Monitor watch that builds on the success of its predecessors but retains some unique elements that are expected to make it a heavy favorite for runners, swimmers, bikers and sports enthusiasts alike.

The first thing that one should know about this most recent Polar release is that it offers the most complete package in terms of training in various sports specifically those that cater to the Triathlon market. Because of this versatility and flexibility designed to meet the various niches of the sport, athletes are dubbing this release the Polar RCX5 training computer watch. The complete kit comes flushed with accessories including the watch itself which has a very slim and elegant profile, the G5 GPS pod, the Wearlink+ Hybrid Heart Rate Strap, the S3+ stride sensor or footpod, and the wireless Polar USB Datalink stick which enables online downloading and transmission of training data to a nearby computer. The package gets you suited up for any condition – outdoor, indoor, wet, dry, remote, urban; name it, the Polar RCX5 fitness monitor watch is all geared up and ready.

Building on its reputation as a premier provider of heart rate sensors, this RCX5 Polar heart rate monitor watch is a formidable piece of fitness equipment. The Polar RCX5 heart rate monitors give accurate readouts of heart beats per minute which helps to quantify intensity of the workout and determine areas that require improvement. Without the Polar RCX5 HRM, it would be difficult to determine one’s level of performance accurately; however, with the heart rate monitor fully engaged, an athlete can concentrate on the workout and later review the available data to look for trends that would point to the best areas for improvement. This is made possible by the fact that it is easy to trend and chart data from previous workouts so you can see how your heart rate varies versus elevation, speed, distance and duration of the training and many other elements that you can customize in the watch interface. All told, the Polar RCX5 heart rate monitor review written by both those who purchased the watch shortly after release or even those who have long had the prototype versions available for testing are satisfied with Polar’s continuing emphasis on personal fitness via heart rate monitors.

Another fancy upgrade to the Polar heart rate monitors RCX5 is that it comes with a hands-free feature. Once workout screens are optimized, you can switch between different pages of data by utilizing the HeartTouch feature. Simply swipe the watch across the Polar heart rate monitor RCX5 and the watch appropriately flips through the various data screens to give you what you need. This eliminates the constant need to fidget with buttons while running so you can get to the screen view that you want; instead, a simple swiping motion replaces the work of a few button touches.

The new Polar release is perfect for any segment of the triathlon community. Its slim profile makes it a suitable Polar RCX5 female watch but it’s elegant black and red combination does not dismiss it from being a Polar RCX5 mens watch. It’s universally designed to meet all sorts of needs in all sorts of conditions instantly transforming from a Polar RCX5 ladies watch to a high-tech Polar RCX5 heart monitor, or a full-fledged, high performance, high intensity gadget that suits any environment. Swimming is a breeze with the Polar RCX5; so is cycling! The watch is guaranteed to revolutionize your workouts and bring it to a whole new level.

Of course, we cannot proceed without nitpicking on a few details just because we know it’s bound to come up at some point. First off, the displays are a little small compared to other models. Debating between the Polar RCX5 vs RS800CX in terms of display is just about the only thing that will benefit users who want to stick with the now old RS800CX. Secondly, some screens can be quite loaded and messy, another thing that would swing the Polar RCX5 vs RS800 debate just a bit, but still not quite.

Outside of these two minor complaints, the Polar RCX5 reviews by many users dub it nothing short of a winner. Whether you prefer the Polar RCX5 red, the Polar RCX5 black, whether you want it to be a Polar RCX5 female heart rate monitor watch or a Polar RCX5 mens heart rate monitor watch, this is one release by Polar that is sure to gain a few enthusiastic and loyal supporters, perhaps even convert loyal advocates from rival brands to be staunch Polar users. If nothing else, then the drive to make this an acceptable Polar RCX5 ladies heart rate monitor watch in the eyes of many conveniently serves the intended market strategy of making it a true darling of the running, cycling, swimming and triathlon community.

Given the strength of many a Polar RCX5 review on the internet, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see an explosion of new Polar RCX5s in the next event nearest you. The Polar RCX5 price is a relatively cheap $400 for the base kit which only excludes the $10 bike mount and the G5 GPS pod. Base kits from competing brands sell for $400 but don’t include the foot pod sensor and other accessories making this Polar release a true leap in both technology and customer value. Buy Polar RCX5 and be ahead of the curve the next time you’re out on the road for a workout or on the route for a race. With the Polar RCX5, you will never have to skip a beat again.

Buy This Watch On Amazon

Price: $30.95 The classic Timex Ironman watch is comfortable and attractive, with many models designed for women and has the features you need for basic running activities.

Much has been written about running watches for men but running watches for women are a lesser advertised segment in the running industry. Considering the specific design needs that women want incorporated into their running watches – smaller watch faces, more lightweight designs, brighter colors, and feminine lines with more contours and curves – the women running watch segment is altogether a viable industry into itself. For this reason, discussing the best running watches for women is an important talking point among runners especially the ladies who want a more recognized and defined identity for running watches that cater to all the preferences that any lady runner could want.

Of the many ladies running watch currently available in the market, one of the more established and recognized name is that of the Timex Women’s Sleek. Incorporating the well-recognized features that make the Timex Ironman Sleek a special favorite among runners such as the touch screen lap interface, the pace partner function allowing you to measure performance versus a pre-race goal, and up to 150-laps of data recording for later analysis of the workout, Timex beautifully tweaked this design to become a women running watch-making it a definite frontrunner in the women’s running watch market. While the main design elements of fit, form and ergonomics have been duly retained, the various new designs definitely have a feminine feel and it’s a timepiece every lady runner would easily learn to love.

Price: $34.95 View More Women’s Sleek Watches View More Timex Ironman Watches

100-hour chronograph with lap or split 50-lap memory recall 99-lap counter On-the-fly recall of lap or split Date-based training log Total run format/synchro timer 2-Interval Timers 3-alarms, 2x time zones INDIGLO® night-light and NIGHT-MODE®

The basic Timex Sleek watches for women are presented in an attractive style and provide you with the range of classic Timex Ironman watch features that runners can use for complete workout solutions. Features such as an 100-hour chronograph with lap or splits, 50-lap memory recall and 99-lap counter, large clear digital display, a chronograph training log that stores workouts by date, with best lap, average lap and total segment time, 99-lap counter, interval training with 2 interval timers and standard Ironman features like INDIGLO®, NIGHT-MODE®, 3-customizable alarms, 2-time zones and more.

Price: $54.95 View More Tech 4 O Watches

Functions without a belt clip or footpod Easy to use menu. Includes up/down scrolling indicators Exceptionally reliable readings Speed, distance Calories, Exercise time Pedometer with 7 day/10 week memory Dual time zone Daily alarm Stopwatch and countdown timer Water resistant to 50m

The Tech 4 O pedometer fitness watches differ from traditional pedometers due to the fact that they use an accelerometer technology rather than a pendulum-based mechanism. This makes them far more accurate in measuring speed and distance, making the Tech 4 O a far cheaper speed and distance watch than a GPS or footpod-compatible option. This watch is a highly versatile fitness watch for jogging, hiking or walking and with its countdown timer makes a great basic runners watch too. The Tech 4 O watches come in a multitude of colors and various styles, so be sure to compare each to find your preferred watch.

Prices: M2: $114.95 M4: $149.95 M5: $189.95 View Suunto M Series Watches View Suunto T Series Watches

Attractive modern, comfortable design Advanced fitness and performance functions Chronograph stopwatch with lap memory Advanced sensors (some watches) Heart rate monitor chest strap Target heart rate zone training feature Advanced training programs (some watches) Speed and distance functions (some watches) Data transfer to PC (some watches) Standard features: alarms, backlight, water resistance

Suunto produce some of the more sophisticated sports watches that are suitable for advanced runners who are seeking to track and measure their fitness and performance to a high degree of precision. There are two general Suunto watches, the Training Series watches, designed for performance athletes who seek and edge and the Suunto M series, a collection of fitness watches that feature fitness training modes that can help guide you to better fitness and health. Suunto watches also feature advanced sensors (depending on watch model) such as barometer, thermometer, compass and others making them the idea watch for those who want to mix fitness with a general outdoors lifestyle.

Prices: FR60: $179.99 110: $209.95 210: $309.95 View Garmin FR60 here. View Forerunner 110here. View Forerunner 210 here.

Nice modern designs with large, clear digital display Non-GPS watch like FR60 is light and comfortable Most watches compatible with heart rate monitor Most watches compatible with accelerometer footpod Advanced running watch features (like Virtual Partner) Large memory storage abilities Heart rate zone training abilities Pace zone training abilities Wireless ANT+ for syncing with PC or Mac & devices Advanced software features

Garmin specializes in GPS watches, which are generally large and bulky making them more favoured by men than women, however with the release of the latest chipset, Garmin have been able to significantly reduce the size of their watches which are used in two of their more user-friendly GPS watches, the Forerunner 110 and 210 watches. These are less complicated to use than traditional Garmin watches like the Forerunner 405CX, making them a great option for those seeking the advantages of GPS without getting bogged down with difficult to understand features. Garmin also offer a non-GPS watch, the FR60, that offers similar features to the GPS version, and is compatible with a footpod that, like a GPS watch can measure speed and distance accurately.

Aside from the most recognized running watch brands, there are a wide variety of watches from other companies that should not be discounted. Companies like Casio, Nike, Asics and Adidas do not specialized in running watches (with the exception of Casio) yet offer version that are very functional and attractive. There are some real bargains to be found in this area provide you are willing to spend the time to search for “diamonds in the rough”. Major shopping sites such as Amazon.com are a great place to look for these products. Here’s a link to help get you started.
	Price: $14.00	Price: $26.97	Price: $41.00

Highlights

Description

The Timex Digital Heart Rate Monitor Watch T5J031 features heart rate zones, allowing you to set an appropriate exercise intensity for your level of fitness. The watch will sound an alarm when you fall outside your target zone. Other features included in this heart rate monitor watch are 100 hour Chronograph, 27 lap memory recall, 100 hour countdown timer, INDIGLO night light, 50 meters water resistance, Average heart rate, Time in Zone, Max Heart Rate. This watch is also compatible with the Timex data recorder that enables extended logging of your session information with the option to download your results to PC. More

Combining powerful sports timing, with stylish looks. This heart rate monitor sports watch is suited to both men and women. The chest strap transmits heart beat information to the watch via digital transmission. The watch can also display your calories burned and features a recovery timer that allows you to measure your recovery rate after a workout. A slow recovery rate is a telling sign of over-training, which can lead to a debilitating injury.

This great heart rate watch from Timex features an instruction manual that is clear and concise. The watch includes only the functions that have a practical application unlike other watch makers who load their timepieces with superfluous ones that never get used. The watch is an excellent sports watch, even without the chest strap. The batteries in the chest strap are also user-replaceable, meaning you do not have to return it to the manufacturer when the batteries run out and be without a heart rate unit. This heart rate monitor watch is an exceptional heart rate watch at a very reasonable price. Visit the Amazon website for more information.

Highlights

Description

The T5G971 Timex Personal Heart Rate Monitor watch is suitable for both men and women. It combines a great stylish look with heart rate monitoring features with easily accessible function butons, a wireless heart rate chest strap, comfortable resin strap with stylished tapered profile and durable resin case. More

The T5G971 watch enables you to continously monitor your heart beat during exercise and thus integrating the benefits of heart rate monitoring into a wider fitness program. The watch features pre-set target heart rate zones which can notify you when your heart rate level is out of your appropriate zone. The watch also features a workout review which can recall your activity time as well as peak and average heart rates. An automatic activity timer is also included along with 12/24 hour time and month/day/date display.

Timex’s famous Indiglo night-light will ensure you can use this heart rate watch at night, the electroluminescent lighting technology will uniformly illuminaate the watch dial, using less battery power than lighting systems in other sports watches. All Timex heart rate monitor chest straps feature user-replaceable batteries meaning you will never need to return your watch or strap to the manufacturer. This watch is water resistant to 30 meters (100 feet) protecting it against accidental contact with water.

These watches, while having their differences share one common thing. Regardless of features and price, they are all great running watches, that deliver on the features that runners need.

Some will be simpler than others, some will cost more and many of these watches excel in a specific area. A watch’s individual strengths (and weaknesses) should always be taken into account before making your purchase.

So without further ado, we present to you, our favorite running watches.

Advanced Running

The following watches are top-line watches, targted at advanced runners. The watches in this section to have higher price tags and learning curves, but have the most advanced features money can buy.

Garmin Forerunner 610 – Advanced, fully customizable GPS running watch with tap screen technology

More detail … Buy w/o HRM: $399.95 $349.99 Buy w/ HRM: $449.99 $399.99

Garmin Watches have gained immense popularity in recent times for producing the most advanced gps watches available to runners and athletes of any level. The Forerunner watches are regarded as the best GPS running watches on the market by athletes from all walks of life, an oppinion we think is richly deserved. The Garmin Forerunner 610 takes the advanced features of previous Forerunner watches and goes one better! The new watch has removed the old touch bezel and replaced it with advaned tap-screen technology that makes the watch easier to use than ever before. The upgrade also adds the benefits of heart-rate based training effect, an indicator of how beneficial a session is to improving your fitness, allowing you to determine the right level to train at for personal fitness gain. The Forerunner 610 also adds to its long list of advanced sports feature, the new Virtual Racer, that allows you to compete against previously recorded efforts with variable speeds factored in. Along with Virtual Racer and other intelligent sports features, the 610 is the ultimate runner’s GPS watch, allowing you to tweak and customize an advanced training schedule for your optimal fitness and performance gain, however we must warn you, that the 610 is an advanced watch with a steep learning curve. If you are looking for a basic training watch, we’d advise you consider simpler options like the Forerunner 110 and 210.

Garmin Forerunner 410 – Advanced, Fully Customizable GPS Running Watch

Buy w/o HRM: $299.99 $249.99 Buy w/ HRM: $349.99 $299.99

The basic Garmin Forerunner watch has gone through many upgrades in its life. The Forerunner 410 builds on the advanced features laid out by it’s predecessors, the Forerunners 405 and 405CX. The 410 adds, a new and improved touch-bezel, an enhanced sports GPS and more. We rate the Forerunner 410 highly for athletes who need the best sports features money can buy. The 410 is a sophisticated timepiece, with everything advanced athletes need to gain an edge in their sport. But make no mistake, the Forerunner watches are high-level sports watches intended for those who demand top-line features. If all you seek is a simple runners watch, the 410 will has a high learning curve that will probably overwhelm you. If you’re seek an advanced watch that “has it all”, then the Forerunner 410 is definitely worth a closer look. Read more about the Forerunner 405CX here See how Forerunner GPS Watches Differ here

Garmin FR60 – Advanced, footpod speed & distance running watch

Buy w/ HRM + USB stick + Footpod: $159.99 $109.99

The Garmin FR60 is an upgrade to the Forerunner 50 watch, the only Forerunner watch that does not support GPS tracking, it uses a foot pod to measure speed and distance instead. The FR60 features several significant improvements on the Forerunner 50 including the inclusion of the Virtual Partner feature, better water proofing, more battery life, interval timing and more memory storage. Like all modern Forerunner watches, the FR60 features wireless ANT+ support, allowing you transfer your workout data via PC or Mac into the Garmin Connect online fitness portal. The FR60 has all the quality functionality that Garmin have perfected over the years in their other watches, but due to the fact that it uses a foot pod rather than GPS for measuring speed and distance it’s a much smaller watch and very good looking enabling you to perform advanced training in optimal comfort and style.

Buy w/ GPS: $599.99 $559.99 Buy w/ Footpod: $549.99 $499.99 Buy w/o GPS: $449.99 $399.99

The Suunto t6d is the ultimate precision training tool for runners, cyclists and triathletes, this sports watch delivers advanced features like training effect, EPOC and post-session analysis of seven body parameters. This watch performance oriented watch is like having a sports laboratory on your wrist, allowing you to tune and tweak your fitness and performances for the ultimate edge in your competitive sport. Unlike the Garmin Forerunner watches, the Suunto t6d does not have GPS built into the wrist watch, but can be extended with optional Suunto pods (purchased seperately or as part of a bundled Suunto pack). The lack of GPS circuitary makes the watch a lot smaller, lighter and more comfortable to wear, but still has the option to measure speed, distance and bike features. The t6d watch also sports a barometric altimeter, making it more accurate when measuring elevation than an equivalent GPS watch. It should be emphasised that this is no beginners watch, this is a top-of-the-range performance sports watch with a heavy learning curve making it the ideal sports watch for those serious in training and competing at the top level.

Polar RS300X

Polar RS300X Buy standalone: $169.95 $99.95 Buy w/ G1 GPS: $249.99 $169.65 Buy w/ S1 Footpod: $249.99 $144.99

The Polar RS300X is available in two varieties: the RS300X sd, that uses a footpod device to track speed and distance and the RS300X G1 GPS sensor that uses a GPS pod for speed/distance measurement. It can also be purchased as a stand-alone watch without either. The RS300X replaces the RS200. The watch has a personal training mode that guides you to the right intensity as well as the Polar Fitness Test feature. With a sophisticated interval trainer feature and support for 16 exercise files, each capable of recording 99 laps. As you would expect from Polar, the RS300X comes with a top-quality digital heart rate monitor with heart rate-based target heart rate zones, calcualated maximum heart rate and alarms. This watch also features a sophisticated exercise sets mode for extended exercise profiles, speed and distance features such as speed and pace zones, distance summeries and a trip odometer. If a quality, functional sports running watch is what you seek, the RS300X delivers Polar’s unique style of sports watch excellence.

Suunto Training Series t3c Computer Running Watch

Suunto t3d Mens Black $189.99 $114.99

The Suunto Training Series watches are a sophisticated line of computer watches that assist runners in achieving their fitness and performance goals through a collection of fitness analytics, found only in Suunto watches. The t3c falls in about the middle of the line and is suitable for runners in training for endurance events, but can also cater to cyclists, skiiers and triathletes. The t3c watch is capable of measuring and presenting your real-time training effect, an indicator of how effectively you are working out that is superior to measuring heart rate alone. The t3c can also measure calories, can accomodate interval training and speed and distance tracking (when used with an optional GPS pod or foot pod device). For a sophisticated, personalized training schedule based on your workout results, you might also consider the Suunto t4c and for maximum sporting analysis, the Suunto t6c, provides considerably more functionality including read-time EPOC display, barometric altimeter for elevation data, beat-to-beat heart rate recording and a detailed analysis of 7 body parameters.

Advanced Running & Multisport Watches

The watches in this area are advanced sports watches, specifically designed to accomodate more than one sport, making them ideal for multisport triathletes or duathletes as well as runners, cylclists and swimmers (note that the Forerunner 305 is somewhat waterproof, but is NOT designed with swimming in mind).

Garmin Forerunner 310XT – Multisport GPS watch, the ultimate advanced watch for triathletes, runners and cylists

Buy w/o HRM: $399.99 $349.99 Buy w/ HRM: $449.99 $399.99

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS watch is the world’s first waterproof GPS watch and is the ideal multisport watch for runners, cyclists and swimmers who need an advanced fitness watch for handling transitions between activities. Another standout feature that is implemented in the 310XT is the ability to link up to bike power meters, a popular new technology, allowing cyclists to view their work-load instead inaccurate measures like time and speed. The 310XT is an upgrade of the Forerunner 305 and adds, an extended 20-hour battery life, an upgraded GPS chipset and waterproofing to 50 meters, allowing triathletes to safely use this watch in their swim legs. The watch cannot actually lock onto the GPS signal underwater, nor will a heart rate monitor work, but there is no reason not to put your Garmin 310XT under a swimming cap during a swim leg to record the speed and distance of your swim, or plot a 3D course of your swimming route. The 310XT is an advanced watch, targeted at athletes who wish to track every aspect of their sporting performances, it is not a beginners watch and there is a learning curve in learning how to tweak this watch to your full advantage. The watch is fully customizable and packed with Garmin’s advanced sports watch features, allowing you to optimize your training and performances for a fitness edge on your competitors.

Timex Global Trainer Watch – Multisport watch for competitive triathletes, runners and cyclists

BUY Timex Global Trainer Watch With Heart Rate Monitor $299.99 $269.99 (with RRP VIP membership) BUY Timex Global Trainer Watch – No Heart Rate Monitor $249.99 $224.99 (with RRP VIP membership)

The Timex Global Trainer watch features all-in-one GPS melded with classic IRONMAN® sprts watch features, making it the ultimate multisport watch for triathletes, cyclists and runners who seek the ultimate digital sporting instrument to help them fine tune and optimize their performances. The Global Trainer is Timex’s answer to the Garmin Forerunner 310XT. It features highly customizable features, with the ability to tweak the display screen and has a multisport mode that allows athletes to transition seemlessly between sports like, for example cycling to running to swimming. The Global Trainer also allows you to record laps in multisport modes, unlike the 310XT at the present time. The Global Trainer features many of the best advantages of a GPS watch such as auto-splits, auto-stop/start, distance based alerts and a performance pacer mode that allowes you to race or train against a defined target based on distance and time. The watch is compatible with ANT+™ bike sensors and has a basic navigation mode. This wath is pretty large on the wrist and with it’s advanced functionality, is targted more at those looking for the ultimate in sports watch sophistication rather than beginners.

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Runners Watch

Buy for: $199.95 $139.99

The Forerunner 305 is an older Garmin Watch and still represents great value in terms of features, but you will need to pick one up fast before Garmin stop making them. The 305 was even the “winner” of our best sports watches post. While bulkier than the 410, the watch has largely the same features, plus a few that the 410 lacks like navigation and tracking abilities inluding a navigation map view mode and multisport modes for triathlons. The 305 has support for an optional foot pod device, allowing you to measure speed and distance on an indoor track or on a treadmill if needed. The watch has now been superceded by the Forerunner 310XT which has tweaked GPS, improved battery life, wireless ANT+ data transfer, improved multisport abilities and is the world’s first waterproof GPS. But at the current price, the Forerunner 305 is great value if you don’t mind a larger watch.

Running Watches With Basic Features

Don’t need a lot of advanced features, but DO want a basic running watch with the features runners need? In this section you will find basic running watches, with features for competitive runners at cheaper prices. Not however, most of these watches do not support a heart rate monitor or speed and distance measuring. But you will find watches that have a basic sports chronograph with lap and splits, a reasonable amount of laps and countdown and/or interval timers.

Timex Men’s Ironman Sleek Triathlon 150-Lap Running Watch

Timex Mens T5H721 150-Lap Resin Strap Watch $89.95 $74.95

Not everyone is seeking a running watch computer, or can afford it, but fortunately Timex caters to the entry level runner as easily as it does to the top end. Timex delivers an affordable, robust running watch that has the basic features runners need to follow a structured training program. The 150 Lap Timex Sleek Ironman Triathlon running watch not only has a stylish, sleek look, but features 9 interval timers, a 100 hour chronograph with 199 lap counter and 150 lap memory. This watch is also water resistant to 100 meters, features the Indiglo illumination system with night mode, three alarms and two time zones. If you do not seek a heart rate monitor, speed and distance tracking or advanced analysis features in a running sports watch, than a watch like the 150-Lap Sleek Timex is probably exactly what you need.

Timex Men’s FLIX 100-Lap Running Watch

Timex Mens FLIX 100-Lap Running Watch $39.95 $69.95

This is one of the most popular Ironman Watches and comes bunlded with all the basic features runners need. Firstly the watch features a 100 hour chronograph, with 199 lap counter and 100 lap memory recall. The watch also has 9 interval timers with countdown/stop and countdown repeat options. A training log stores workouts in the watches memory by date with a summary of the best lap, average lap and total segment time and the watch features Timex’s Indiglo Night Light system with Night Mode and water resistance to 100 meters. Non sporting features include 5 alarms, dual time zones and the revolutionary FLIX system, that activates Indiglo with a firm shake of the wrist and thus eliminating the need to fumble around in the dark for buttons to view your stopwatch times. This is another very affordable, yet functional entry level runners watch that should be all you require for simple, structured training.

Timex Women’s Sleek 50-Lap Digital Running Watch

Timex T5K377 Womens Ironman 50-lap Sleek Watch $39.95 $64.95

We have made few ladies sports watch recommendations so far. This is more that there are so many good mens sports watches that caught our eye than a lack of good ladies sports watches, so here is one for the ladies. The Timex Ironman Sleek 50-Lap watch for ladies features an ultra-durable, feminine design and comfortably fits a slim wrist. This watch has the features you expect in timex sports watches, including a 100 hour chronograph stopwatch, with 99 Lap Counter and 50 Lap Memory Recall. With two interval repetition counters you can perform, variable length timed interval sessions and this watch is also water resistant to 100 meters, has Indiglo night light and night mode, three alarms and dual time zones. This is an affordable womens sports watch for those who want a feminine watch, without the need for a lot of fancy features.

The list above are all great running watches, but are by no means a complete list. We will endevor to keep this list up to date, so you can use it as a quick guide to get you thinking about running watch options.

Whatever your budget and requirements, you should be able to find a running watch amongst the ones listed here, however there are runners watches at an even higher end of the market that do much more than the ones listed here.

We will cover them another time, for those who are seeking the maximum analytical performance in an activities watch.

We will also endevor to add to this collection when we find new running watches that we think would make suitable additions.