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Original poster

Running and iPhone/ Apple Watch?

22 replies

yesidotoo · 29/04/2020 09:57

I've just started running and realise my iPhone 8 Plus is far too heavy on an arm band

I want to listen to music and have the couch to 5k cut in like on the phone but with something lighter..

I've been looking at Apple watches but it seems that some may need your phone to be nearby to work so I'm not sure
Any ideas?

Thanks

OP posts:
stellabluesky · 29/04/2020 10:13

I moved from an Apple Watch to a garmin vivioactive 3 music. You can download a few hundred tracks directly onto it so don't need your phone with you. I think it says you can load 500 but I've never tried to load that many. You do this via your laptop. You can then leave your phone at home.

It also provides a similar offer to the Apple Watch in that you can get notifications, read texts etc when near to your phone but it is more geared to sports

I love the garmin connect app for the phone as it gives a really good overview and lots of easy to read data re your performance which motivates me. I'm a slow runner, started C25K last year, do park runs, and have taken up cycling (slow at that as well, everyone overtakes me!) and I've got so much fitter and lost a few pounds as well.

It also has a great Which review ( which is why I bought it) and is meant to be one of the most accurate out there. It's a bit more fiddly to set up but not too difficult

Original poster
yesidotoo · 29/04/2020 13:43

Thanks I'll look at the garmin

Does anyone have the Apple Watch?

OP posts:
mumlove1234 · 29/04/2020 13:46

I have an Apple Watch, I use a running belt to put my iPhone in, I find it really comfy. As far as I know you can put music in your watch but not sure how you would play it, it would either play from your watch and everyone else could hear it or connects by Bluetooth to a pair of headphones?
I love my watch and had one for years.

mistermagpie · 29/04/2020 14:44

I also have a vivoactive but not the one with music so I need my phone, I've got an iPhone 11 which is massive so use a running belt which is way comfier than an arm band. Personally I wouldn't want to run without my phone in case of emergency anyway.

applepineapple · 29/04/2020 14:59

For the Apple Watch, you will need wireless/ Bluetooth headphones to listen to your music.

If you have the watch without cellular you will need your phone on you to listen to music and track your runs as it relays on the connectivity to your phone.

The watch with cellular can do everything without needing to be connected to your phone but it does require an additional data plan which has to be the same network as your phone. This is only available on EE, o2 and Vodaphone.

LongTimeJerk · 29/04/2020 15:02

I run with the apple watch. If I want to listen to spotify, I have to take my phone with me which I do in a running belt. Apparently if you want to listen to iTunes, you don't need your phone with you and you can download some playlists but I don't use that, I use spotify so I've never tested it.

Redcrayons · 29/04/2020 15:04

I always take my phone with me, and have a running belt. The armbands are a bit annoying as they skip down my arm. The belt is fine.

not the question but also have a garmin

howells · 29/04/2020 15:09

I take my phone in a running belt too.

imsooverthisdrama · 29/04/2020 15:11

I have a Apple Watch but I use my phone in my running belt . My headphones are not cordless .

Original poster
yesidotoo · 29/04/2020 16:06

So do you think it's not worth investing in a watch and just get a running belt?

OP posts:
Foxglade · 29/04/2020 16:12

You can store Apple Music playlists on your watch, even it’s not a cellular version.

swampytiggaa · 29/04/2020 16:18

I have an Apple Watch 🙂 it works with my AirPods.

I tend to take my phone in a belt tho as I like to take photos 🙂 I’m a leisurely runner 🙂

SlothRunner · 29/04/2020 16:21

You need to invest in a flip belt. Can fit a massive giant phone in, and won’t budge.

LongTimeJerk · 29/04/2020 16:59

I love my apple watch, best present I ever bought myself

Redcrayons · 29/04/2020 17:21

I use my watch to record my runs, track my progress, upload to Strava etc. Mine can play music but I found that as I very rarely run without my phone I might as well just play from there.

If funds allowed, I’d have an Apple watch for everyday and my garmin for running, but I could only afford one and garmin is better for running (and I get notifications etc). Although I think the fitness stuff on apple is better than when I was looking.

As you’ve only just started, maybe see how you get on with keeping your phone in a running belt. Some people love them, some people don’t.

Original poster
yesidotoo · 29/04/2020 20:12

Thanks

Yes will look at belt first as watch seems ££££. Not sure I would use it properly

OP posts:
sanealaddin · 30/04/2020 08:13

I have an Apple Watch and love it. I like to listen to audiobooks and can download them to my watch and listen to them with my AirPods.

I always take my phone with me though, to track my walks/runs but it's a faff as it's a larger sized phone. After seeing this thread yesterday I didn't take my phone with me, just to see my watch would still track my run and it did? I'm slightly baffled by that. I didn't go far from home so I'll go further today. It's not one of the newest models so I didn't think that was possible.

RHTawneyonabus · 30/04/2020 08:22

I think it’s possible to run with just Apple Watch and AirPods and have music /tracking etc. It’s a lot so tech to invest in all at once though! I run in a cycling top that has big back pockets for my phone

EmmaStone · 30/04/2020 12:36

I have an Apple Watch (and Airpods), and I don't think I need my phone to listen to stuff, as long as it's been downloaded I guess. But like most others, I run with my phone anyway in case of emergency (memories of twisting my ankle halfway round a run years ago...), and use a flipbelt, so don't notice it at all (and carry a few tissues, my keys etc).

But I love the Apple Watch for tracking all my activity, the stats, the challenges it sets me etc.

nakedavengerreturns · 30/04/2020 20:05

I have running tights with pockets down the thigh and I just slip my phone in there. If not a stretchy running belt. Hate those bouncy armbands

More often than not I just shove my phone down my bra!

FireandFury · 30/04/2020 20:09

I’ve got a cellular Apple Watch OP and listen to Apple Music on there with my AirPods. DP can also connect so we can run together and listen to the same beats which is really good when we are doing fartlek training.

PennyGold · 30/04/2020 20:10

I just download a playlist on to iTunes and have Bluetooth headphones, and then I can leave my phone at phone!

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