Watches to run with

[AppleSnapple]

Hi, I hope this is ok to post here, didn't really seem like a style and beauty thing!

I have taken up running, I love it, ran 9k this morning in the glorious sunshine and I'm finding, 4 months in, I have totally got the bug! :)

Anyway, I initially was given a fitbit flex, didn't really find it added anything to my training but I suppose made me aware of how much/little I was moving on non-run days etc.

Anyway, my proper watch is now broken and I'm looking for a replacement- it struck me that it'd be good to have a watch that not just told the time but helped with running too, plus or minus HR monitoring.

The Fitbit charge hr would do that although it's bulky, and then there's the withings activité pop which is lovely but a bit style over substance- not sure if the tracking app that syncs with it is much good. Obviously a garmin or the likes would be best but I would like a relatively small watch that I can wear all the time (and it needs a hand for counting seconds, or digital obviously!)

Now... Is that too much to ask for? I'm thinking it probably is and I should just get normal watch and in time a garmin too but I thought I'd ask incase I'd missed something in my research!

[AppleSnapple]

I should say- I bring my phone with me when running (mostly for music but also mapmyrun)... Just incase that's relevant to what may or may not be required from a watch!

[MrsMook]

I wear a Polar M400 full time and use the HR strap for exercise. It's a little big on my wrist, but I have rather small wrists anyway so it doesn't take much!

As well as being a good GPS watch, it covers the functions of the lifestyle trackers. A chest strap is more accurate for HR than picking up pulses. It's better value than the higher end of the trackers.

[SixtyFootDoll]

I just use the Nike running app on my phone.
Records all your runs, pace etc; plus will play your playlists.

[SixtyFootDoll]

Ah you're already using an app, not sure that you'd gain anything more from a watch

[Bumply]

I did have a garmin, but it's refusing to recharge.

I currently use my iPhone with app called ismoothrun and a pebble watch which links up with the phone to display various stats like pace/distance/HR (I have a chest strap to measure heart rate).

I got the pebble on eBay and like it as a watch (choice of watch faces) plus it has various downloadable apps including a sleep/step counter.

[suzannefollowmyvan]

Dc Rainmaker has very detailed and extensive reviews and discussion of the various bits of fitness tech, might be worth a look for you Apple
www.dcrainmaker.com/product-comparison-calculator

personally I use garmin for running, never used any other brand of GPS watch so cant compare