TomTom Runner GPS Watch - Dark Pink

Fell while out running yesterday and smashed my watch glass as my wrist hit a rock. Can't blame Tomtom for even gorilla glass might have broken with the blow I gave it. I note that even the Apple sports watch has glass which is easy to break. I'm a keen runner and have been using HRMs since Polar brought them out in 1990s, and over the years used a series of GPS watches when they became affordable. I'm not a triathlete and don't want to measure my swims, though I do like uploading my bike rides as a diary.Two things I learnt from yesterday are that I don't want to pay an enormous amount for a watch which is going to be subjected to rough treatment, and secondly that I really like the Tomtom runner which I've just had since March, and so I'm purchasing another one. The watch is not perfect. Instant pace is ridiculously laggy, and the treadmill distance estimation is a joke. However instant speed seems accurate, fairly prompt, and I prefer to monitor that rather than pace. Step counting is also accurate. What I really like about the Tomtom is the speed of its GPS location and the way in which it holds the signal. It can even give location when I am indoors, something that was beyond my previous GPS watches. I also very much like the control button which I find easy to use particularly during races when hand eye coordination is not at its best. Also the slim design of the watch means it's satisfactory as an everyday watch. And the screen is very easy to see. I don't have a problem wearing a chest strap and have one already, but it will be interesting to see how cardio monitoring develops. The bluetooth link to my smartphone is potentially very good, but as some others have reported I find it very hit and miss. When it works it's great. But I regularly am being asked to enter a code which I haven't received. I'm hoping that Tomtom will fix it. The Tomtom running software is not particularly good, but the link to Strava and Endomondo is simple to set up and very quick. Well done to Tomtom for facilitating that.

I was limited by budget but wanted a running watch to upgrade from my bog standard Casio with a stopwatch. This seemed to be the best option available for the price. The watch itself looks good, a bit like an Apple watch at a quick glance. There are other strap colours you can swap to but I stuck with the black with green. Functionality wise it's quite simple on the surface with stopwatch, pace, distance and options for adding in heart rate. Where it really works though is syncing with the app after your exercise which displays rich, detailed data and overlays of maps where you've run/cycled etc. I even wear it to play footie and use it as a bit of a heat map, more for fun. I'd say it falls-down on two main things which is the illumination button which I really struggle with tapping when running in the dark and also it finding the satellites to sync with before you run - have often had to wait around a while before I can set-off. Not bad for the money once you get used to it if you are a low-medium frequency/seriousness runner.

I absolutely love this watch! Does nearly everything I need, and really well too. Personally I would love something like the Garmin Fenix 3, but this is the first GPS watch I've bought after using a phone app previously, so didn't want to commit to such a high price tag early on. The Quick GPS function has never let me down, and I'm always waiting for my friends Garmins to find a signal. When uploaded to Strava, the routes are always extremely accurate, and I run trail as well as around towns. The display is nice and clear, and I love the simple customisation too. I've also used it on my bike, the navigation button is easy to use when running or riding.The only reason I haven't given it 5 stars, is due to a couple of times I've had issues uploading runs. Saying that, it has only been a couple, and after an update, and using a different usb port on my laptop, I've never had an issue since.The strap is very comfortable when running or just day to day. I was looking at the version with the built in heart rate monitor, but again, just the higher price put me off. My training doesn't really warrant a HRM anyway, but it would've been nice.I haven't used it for swimming yet, but I have been in the water with it on, as well as running in heavy rain, and no sign of leaks or rusting etc.Simple to link to phone to update via app, especially the Quick GPS.