Have you become a fanatic runner since the corona crisis? Then you might want to buy a sports watch that keeps track of your performance. What should you pay attention to if you want to buy a running watch? We give you five tips.
1. Read up on the features…
A sports watch, unlike many activity trackers, not only keeps track of how many steps you have taken, but also how hard you have walked and where you have walked. Nowadays, many watches also have a heart rate monitor, in addition to a measurement function for the oxygen content in your blood. The latter can be useful for marathon runners or if you often run through the mountains. Research which functions you find useful and look for your watch.
2. …but also about the well-known brands
Garmin and Polar are probably the best-known brands when it comes to sports watches, but lesser-known names such as Suunto, Coros and Amazfit also develop high-quality products. Despite this, the watches can differ a lot from each other, both in functions and in price. For example, the Garmin Forerunner 945 can be a good choice for many runners, but if you occasionally want to swim, ski or cycle, then the much more expensive and bulky Garmin Fenix ​​6 is probably better. The Coros Vertix can then continue to perform at extreme temperatures and lasts no less than sixty hours before you have to hang it on the charger. Fitbit and Apple are also increasingly developing sports functions for their watches, but are still lagging behind Garmin or Polar in this area.
3. Pay attention to battery life and brightness
You probably run outside and then of course you want to be able to read the screen of your watch. Some have a bright AMOLED screen, while Garmin works with the so-called transflective memory-in-pixel technology, which makes the screen even easier to read on sunny days. There are even watches that charge when exposed to the sun.
Also pay attention to the battery of the watch. With GPS on it can go fast.
4. Try out the watch
Not all watches look the same and some watches may weigh more than others. For example, the Coros Pace 2 is only 29 grams, while the Fenix ​​6X weighs no less than 96 grams. While running, such a heavy watch cannot be comfortable at all, so try it on before you purchase. Also keep in mind that many watches have a touchscreen. This ensures that your screen is less easy to operate than with a copy with physical buttons, especially if you walk with gloves in the winter.
5. Waterproof?
You can assume that a sports watch can withstand sweat and rain, but it pays to take a good look at this. With some watches you can dive into the water with confidence, with others you shouldn’t.