Forum menu
I'm being tempted by a watch that can also do GPS and HRM functions - primarily it would be a watch but could also be used whilst on the bike as a HRM and also a GPS - not to show me the way but to record my route so I could later download it to the PC and then plot it out on some mapping software.
The watches I've had a nosey at seem to do the GPS and the HRM (Garmin Forerunner, Suunto something, CardioSport something and the Polar RX800 (seems to be the only watch Polar does that does GPS and HRM)) - they all look ok, but I can't tell if any of them can be used day-to-day as a watch? From what I can tell the battery doesn't last that long in them (so wouldn't be ideal as a watch), but the GPS and HRM offerings are very good.
So what else is out there? Ideally something to tell me the time, be waterproof and pretty tough (I've got a Casio Protrek just now (G-Shock with Compass, Altimeter, barometer and temp on it) - somethin with those features would be handy but not totally necessary. I'm guessing if it has a GPS it should be able to tell me direction and height, but I'm not overly bothered about having them all there at the touch of a button.
I'd get home and download the info to the PC and the PC software would do whatever to the HRM recording and I could see my heart rate over the period plus any peaks and tourghs and stuff and also relate that info to the GPS log which would plot elevation and a rough route elevation guide.
Then I could take the plotted route and overlay it over a map so I could see it all...but it also has to be usable as an every day watch.
Any ideas?
I imagine on all of them battery life will be ALOT better to use as a normal watch if you can switch off the GPS and HRM functionality?
Anyone got any experience of the Polar RX800CX Bike? I'm assuming I'd just need to buy the GPS sensor (G3?) and it would work?
Also, does it work as a day-to-day watch and how long does the battery last in it? I'm guessing it would last at least 1 year but the sensors wouldn't last quite as long (which wouldn't be an issue as they wouldn't be used on a daily basis to begin with!).
I have a forerunner 405 which is OK but would not really recommend it for loads of bike use. If you don't get the handlebar mount and wear it on your left wrist it will press the buttons and switch teh timer/GPS off and on when you don't want it to. The battery life is OKish but it tends to die without too much notice if not fully charged. The Ipod bezel is a gimmick which when confronted with moisture goes nuts...so it needs to be locked most of the time. The Forerunner is great for running (if you can get a satellite without hanging about for ages) but I could not recommend it for more than occasional biking. As a general everyday watch you could get away with it.
I think that all-up combination you're after [b]might[/b] be a bit too much; the Forerunner 405 will do GPS, HR and doesn't look too ridiculous sat on your wrist. Battery life in watch mode is ~2 weeks; in GPS mode it's 8 hours. It has no real map functionality (can tell you which direction is home and your current latitude and longitude), but records faithfully everywhere you've been. Reception in central London is pretty good, considering the tall buildings all round; I found it good at Peaslake, too. And you can upload your tracks to the Garmin site, where you see them overlaid on Google Maps. Oh, and you can lock the bezel so that it's not touch sensitive (for example while running or biking).
Where it really falls down is in waterproof/ shock resistance. It's water resistant when washing your hands, but I wouldn't put it in a stream or bath... I like it, had it for over a year and it's been invaluable in marathon training; I've also used it for biking occasionally