Exercise tracker - fitbit / garmin / something else?

[tadpolefeet]

hi there,
I have recently started running and completed my first park run. I've been using Runkeeper on my phone to keep track, and wear my phone in a belt when I'm running. I'm v pleased to have got to 5k, and am now carrying on to 8k, with a local group. I'm very slow, which is fine for me (for now!) But I realise I want to be aware of how fast I'm running, as I really can't tell whether each run was relatively fast or slow until I get home, and I am keen to speed up a little, as I want to be able to run with a friend. So... I've been looking at fitbits / garmins, and the more I look, the more confused I get. Originally budget was £100, but could push it up a bit if needed.

Can anyone recommend what might be best for me? I want it to be small (so no clunky watches), no subscription fees, and I want it to be able to show me my current pace that I am running at, and (if possible) the distance covered. Will something like a Garmin Vivosmart do this? Or a Fitbit Charge? Anyone know which of these might be better, and why? Any others that I should be considering?

Thanks so much!

I have a Garmin Venu Sq and I really like it. Garmin app is free. I have the Music version so can preload music or a podcast on it, and not have to bring my phone at all. It’s currently £117 on Amazon. Might be a bit chunky for you, I don’t know if the non-square version is more streamlined.

Fitbit charge 4 or 5. You could get them 2nd hand in your price bracket.

DS has a garmin watch he uses for competitive 5kms.

Love Garmin. I'd also advise looking on Facebook marketplace for watches. I upgraded my Garmin after about 6 months and sold mine for a fraction of the price on Facebook (not because I didn't like the watch but mainly doing trail running I wanted one that had maps on it and the one I had didn't) and actually found that a lot of pretty new watches get sold at a much lower price. Could help you get something within budget but better than if you got new

Have a look at honor band 5 and see if that does what you need

Garmin Forerunner 45/ 55 is a good entry level series with well-designed features for the price range.

I just got a garmin vivoactive 3 music on ebay for just over 50 quid, perfect condition. Works wonderfully. Worth considering second hand although I appreciate it can be a risk

Hello OP
I have done the same as you, started off with runkeeper, then got a Nike Fuel band which was basically a funky pedometer, then I got a Fitbit watch but the connection to my phone wasn't very good plus battery died quickly, then I got a Garmin Forerunner.

My opinion of all of these is that sometimes basic is best. The Fitbit could plot runs, show me pace, distance etc
My forerunner does that plus elevation, VO² rate, can install mapping apps to show routes as I go, can download music although I always have my phone with me anyway...

My Garmin lets me do more activities (treadmill running, SUP) that my Fitbit didn't, but ultimately I'm not using all my functionality so I'm not sure if it's worth it.
Garmin battery still pretty good after nearly two years.
More functions on a better model.

Garmin over Fitbit any day. I have a forerunner 245 and wear it as my daily watch and i have fairly skinny wrists. The garmin venu series looks slightly less like a sports watch and I think they have more features for activities other than running but other than not having an option for "SUP" my forerunner does everything else i've ever needed......running, cycling, indoor bike, treadmill, pool swimming, counts steps, tracks sleep, built in HR monitor, i use it to create interval workouts for running. The battery life is good and their customer service is excellent.

Thanks for all these ideas - really helpful. Garmin seems to win the vote, so will start by looking at what's on ebay/ FB marketplace! I'll probably be back with more questions!

I've used garmin and fitbit over the years, but I got an Apple Watch a few years ago and it is genuinely so much better than all of them

It intergrates with your health app in your phone and gives you loads of good data on every part of your health not just your running.

Just about every runner I know has a Garmin, though a few have moved over to Coros, which has an increasing reputation, and gives you similar functionality to a Garmin but at lower cost.

The problem for you might be that they're not exactly small!

You could start with one of the really basic ones, like the Garmin Forerunner 35 - which was my first one, utterly idiot-proof and which showed me at a glance how long I'd been out for, how far I'd gone and my current pace (you can customise display, can choose km or miles, and pace or speed). I only changed mine to one of the higher spec Forerunners because the wrist heart-rate sensor packed in and couldn't be repaired (after daily wear and almost daily use for over 5 years)

I have a Garmin Venu Sq which does everything I need it to. I've had it two years now and use it for all my runs and swims.
I've set it so I can see my pace easily during runs which helps with the speed.
It can, if you want, have email notifications, music, huge numbers of sports etc on it. I find it all very easy to use.

There’s a Facebook group called “running gear buy & sell” if you’re looking for second hand.

I have one of the Garmin forerunner watches, reconditioned from Amazon around 3 years ago. It synchs with my Garmin app, map my run app and via that to my My fitness pal app. I bought another forerunner, from eBay, last year for one of my kids, he loves it. I think he uses it with Strava. Sometimes mine runs through it’s battery very quickly but that’s usually because I haven’t cleaned any build up of moisturiser and sunscreen from the charging area at the back of the phone. Apart from that the battery lasts for ages, even though it must be quite old (as reconditioned).

Oh yeah I have a Garmin Venu not the Forerunner.

Garmin! Mines a Forerunner 255s and I love it, wear it 24/7. Battery lasts for days, at least a week but probably more, and they is with me recording an activity everyday (walk, run out yoga mainly).
Others in my family have the Garmin 55 which is also more than adequate for what you want, I just wanted a fancier one with preloaded training plans etc
The Venu look a bit more stylish but Forerunner is a aimed more at running.

Another vote for Garmin; they're far better than either Fitbit or Apple.
The pp who said Apple gives other health data too - Garmins also does that. My pretty basic Forerunner does sleep tracking, heart rate, stress, all that jazz. As well as being the best option for running and other sports.

Thanks for all your thoughts which were really helpful and encouraging! So I went out and bought a Forerunner 45S (£119 at Argos) which I am really pleased with so far. Seems to do everything I wanted (and more!) and it was so helpful to see my distance and pace as I ran. (And it immediately helped me to see how much slower I am on the parts of my run with nettles and lumpy footpaths!)
Thanks again!