Apple Watch or Garmin for running?

[AnnaNimmity]

Which is best - if you want to track runs/ link to strava? Music is less important .

And if garmin, which one?

(Think heart rate etc also important)

Thanks!

Apple watch needs an Apple phone, garmin doesn't.

Sorry posted and ran earlier. It's for my boyfriend - he has an apple phone and currently uses that. He's getting obsessive about his running (speed etc) so I thought something a little more serious would be a good present for him.

He does use strava though.

Garmin all the way!!! My ancient garmin still gets updates. My newer one is fabulous (fenix) and all singing/dancing but there are cheaper ones that would probably suit your boyfriend. Forerunner 235 is pretty good. Garmin connect (their app) can be set to automatically update Strava too. My watch does it by Bluetooth, so do the cheaper ones. Nearly all my running friends have Garmin, there are a few Suuntos and not very many tom toms. Fitbits aren’t that great at accurately recording distance, and some of them you have to use a phone with, which is rubbish. You can run with just a garmin, no need for a phone.

I have a Garmin 645 which is the one down from the Fenix and it's superb. I love it so much.

Oh forgot- I’ve got a wrist based monitor on my watch, and I was surprised at how accurate it is, and how useful it is. I found it particularly useful during the hot weather so that I could make sure I wasn’t pushing myself too hard.

Garmin

You can go for the (entry-level) 35 - which is what I have. Easy to use, clear display (tells me what pace I'm moving at, which is the main think inwanted it for). Can be linked directly tomStravs, and fills in all the data fields you wouid expect (pace, speed, cadence, elevation etc) and the heart monitor is as good as any wrist one.

But if you want to spend (quite a lot) more, then the higher spec versions all look terribly tempting

Thanks all - I'll take a look at the Garmins then!

Definitely Garmin.

I think buying an Apple Watch just for tracking running would be an expensive purchase, but it does other stuff beyond just activity tracking, so might be best to check what he wants - I've got an Apple Watch (which replaced a Fitbit), and I'd be really disappointed with just a fitness tracker now.

The Apple Watch has a terrible battery life.

Garmin! I have the forerunner 25, the most basic model and it does all I need. I run up to half marathons. Dh has a 235 and runs marathons.

Well I'd like an Apple Watch, but he's quite scathing of people who are attached to their phone/social media etc

He really only uses his phone for strava and scrabble

I’ve got a Forerunner 235 whih has heartrate and all the usual running type functions (although I haven’t managed to find a stopwatch yet for if I’m timimg other people) Once you have done the initial set up it downloads to Strave automatically. I do mainly 10ks but training fir a half and its invaluable.