Garmin watch

[TomCat24]

Looking at the Lily 2 or Lily 2 Active. Any recommendations? Only difference I can see is the Lily 2 needs your phone for GPS whereas the Lily 2 Active has built in GPS.

Would like it to track my runs, step count, heart rate etc. Love the look of a Lily as don’t like the look of Apple Watches and this looks more like a ‘normal’ watch rather than a smartwatch.

Or any other watches I could look at?

I'd look for battery life than anything else. I was spoilt with fitbit and then I got a Garmin which needs charging every other day.

It's the most bossy, whingy piece of kit I've ever had on my wrist. Fuming at what Google has done to fitbit

Sorry that's probably not much help.

I’ve got the Vivoactive 5 and only have to charge it about every 8-9 days. It charges super fast.

Vivoactive 5 here too, I charge it around once per week depending on whether or not I’ve been using the GPS on it. Would probably buy the same again if it broke.

Also a vivoactive 5 wearer here. Built in gps was important for me because I do stuff where I can’t carry my phone. Love it.

Ive got a Garmin Fenix and its got a 9 day battery life, though it does depend on how much it is used for recording activities. Ill be honest I don't use all of the functions so it may be overkill but I do use it for all the stuff you have listed and like it very much.

Garmin forerunners are superb for all the metrics you've mentioned.

Absolutely. I have a Forerunner 55 which is the most 'basic' model but I don't need or want to be able to listen to music, get phone notifications etc. I just want it to track my runs/horse rides, measure my heartrate and count my steps. Anything else is a bonus. Battery life is usually about a week with me using the GPS functionality 4 or 5 times a week between 30 mins - 2 hours.

The only drawback is that it looks like an exercise watch rather than a 'normal' watch.

I've got a forerunner too it's amazing, I've had it 10 years this year! Money well spent 😆

Forerunner 45 all the way (though I think it’s the 55 now, which my tween has) I’ve had 45s for years (they replace them for free if the strap breaks) and can’t imagine wanting it to do anything else. I walk, run, hyrox, CrossFit and weight train with the odd cycle and hill walk thrown in.

for running you need one with built in GPS.
Ive got a Fenix and wear it everyday and it looks like normal watch. I bought a stainless steel strap which I use when I’m going somewhere dressy (not often).

I also have a Forerunner 55, and it does more than enough for me. It dies all those things you want it to @TomCat24.