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Sports watch

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Svizec8918. 07. 2017 21:22:19
I also looked at vector, but new ones are no longer available, only if I get a used one.

Lp
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Daaam18. 07. 2017 21:26:10
http://www.urarstvo-lecnik.si/trgovina/suunto-core-ii-all-black.php 213 eur ..I clicked a bit around ben's link... the price is favorable compared to other sellers..
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Svizec8918. 07. 2017 21:32:19
True, from what I saw at lečnik it's by far the cheapest...
Currently the only choice, I need to check if some Casio is available in this range.
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turbo19. 07. 2017 21:37:08
@Svizec89

This Casio is on sale and it is a really good price. Altimeter and a bunch of more or less needed functions, no battery needed as it runs on the sun. Shipping to Slovenia is 4€.

https://www.uhrcenter.de/uhren/casio/pro-trek-outdoor-uhren/casio-pro-trek-outdoor-solaruhr-prg-300-7er/
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Svizec8920. 07. 2017 21:56:31
Never ordered from abroad so no experience with it, but decided to look for some good used Suunto Vector.

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Svizec8923. 07. 2017 14:50:15
Hi, I noticed there's also a Suunto Advizor watch very similar to the Vector watch, but Uncle Google has not much data on it, so I wonder if anyone has experience with the mentioned watch? Any difference from the Vector?

Thanks, lp
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miha1884. 08. 2018 23:41:47
Hi,

I said I'd ask the professionals nasmeh, as I've been researching what watch to buy for two days and went to stores today and must say that by weight and looks, Suunto Ambit3 Peak and Garmin Fenix 3 (no HR) suit me best. These watches attracted me especially with battery endurance and good reviews of GPS performance and other things. The only big concern is that the watches are quite old and fear of losing software support.

Would appreciate some first-hand experiences regarding these two watches... Because basically, it's important to me that the watch measures steps, is good for swimming and hill running. I also tried the Fenix 5, which is available abroad for a good price, but it's a bit heavier and the looks aren't as nice to me.

Thanks and best regards
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iUnknown5. 08. 2018 11:33:11
@miha188
Take the one you like most and that suits you better, because it's all approximately the same. Some Garmin fanboy will praise Garmin, Suunto fanboy Suunto.

I, for example, have a Garmin Fenix 3 and have been angry at this watch many times. Mainly because the straps disintegrate after about a year of use (I usually train 3x weekly). And Garmin won't honor the warranty. Now I have one from Ali Express in stock, because I won't buy originals from Garmin anymore. I bet it will last as long as the original. Even every regular Casio watch lasts longer. The other thing that bothers me is the heart rate strap, which luckily delaminated a couple of months before the warranty expired, so they replaced it for me.

But when I went to look at an equivalent Suunto, I got some angry user reviews again, so it really doesn't matter what you take. Each has its own minuses and pluses. Of course, you have to compare products of the same generation, so you don't compare Fenix 3, which is already a 3-year-old model, with some completely new Suunto watch. Here in Slovenia, there seem to be more Suunto fanboys, so you'll get more recommendations for Suunto.

With these watches, it's like this. If you only plan to hike in the hills, it probably pays more to have a phone, which you already have anyway. From my experience with phones, they have more accurate positioning than watches, even though my watch has both GPS and GLONASS enabled.

Watches, in my opinion, perform better for runs, where the phone bounces in the pouch or belt and it's awkward to pull it out during the run to check the time. But if you're more of a hiker and have a backpack with an integrated pouch on the side belt, I'd almost rather just have the phone. I occasionally use the phone for maps and navigation anyway. Until these watches become a bit more smart, like e.g. Apple Watch, in my opinion it's almost pointless to waste money on them just for the hills.

What I like about this watch is that I bought an additional Tempe sensor and can monitor the external temperature live. In winter, it somewhat fails, because even if you have this sensor in the most distant part of the backpack from the body, body heat still raises the temperature by a degree or two, e.g. at -12°C.
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miha1886. 08. 2018 17:24:22
OK, thanks for the opinion. I need to think about it a bit more nasmeh
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Franc602. 11. 2021 22:57:39
I'm interested if there are also ''a bit less smart watches''. I need a reliable pulse meter. Other functions (GPS, steps, calories...) are almost unnecessary for me. The battery would probably last longer without so much 'smartness' hanging on it. Or maybe I'm wrong.
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tomo_kugy2. 11. 2021 23:59:07
I warmly recommend this one to you
Suunto Ambit3 peak HR
Suunto is a proven brand, with this watch you measure heart rate with a strap across the chest (more reliable than wrist measurement), you have all the functions you need (GPS, altimeter, thermometer...). I'm very satisfied with the watch.
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Aljoman3. 11. 2021 15:32:01
Among the more accurate watches that measure heart rate is Polar, with a strap under the chest.
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Lamps3. 11. 2021 22:16:14
For me only sports watches exist. Smart watches are for makeup wearers, for some serious and semi-amateur sports engagement they are ballast compared to serious sports watch brands. Suunto ambit 3 peak is a top watch, has all the functions a sportsman needs. For your needs already too much, if you say you don't need calorie data, GPS, altimeter etc. HR pulse measurement is nevertheless very bad at Suunto, throughout history bad experiences with their straps keep appearing. The problem is showing too high pulse, it detects it only after a few km... I have more than 10 colleagues (from running circles), all had bad experiences and kept dealing with service for strap replacement. They did replace them, but the story repeated quickly. I use Vertical model and I don't know if I ran 15 times with the strap before it started crapping.

Similar with other brands. Polar really used to celebrate the most accurate measurement, but today all brands (Garmin, Polar, Suunto, Coros) are about the same. Additionally you can buy a new strap from another manufacturer, connect it to the watch via bluetooth (some are then more satisfied, costs another about 50e).

Wrist measurement is completely off. Weather, moisture, tattoos, arm hairiness affect it... Think if HR pulse is really the most important for you when buying a watch (some health limitations in recreation, or just curiosity). Definitely decide for a watch with strap measurement, definitely better decision than wrist one.

Go to some somewhat more specialized store and tell them exactly what you're looking for in a watch (agp pro, extrem vital), because they'll advise you better there than in some Intersport, Hervis etc.
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dprapr4. 11. 2021 12:00:54
"Smart watches are for makeup wearers,... "
Interesting.nasmeh
Messages and such on Garmin don't bother me at all. I'm more bothered by poor altitude measurements, which were better on Suunto watch. But, two Suunto watches died on me.
I find that Apple smart watch measures altitude more accurately than Garmin. And it has a bunch of other useful services. Only bothers me that it's not more robust and thus more suitable for pathless routes. That's why it's not suitable for me.
Regarding straps for pulse measurement, I don't like those chest straps at all, because they're uncomfortable. Years ago I had Polar, but didn't use the strap for long. I prefer pulse measurement on the wrist, even if not so accurate.
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Lukito4. 11. 2021 12:40:01
I'll write about Garmin, since I use it.

1. All these watches are smart because it's in the core and on all models. If you don't like it, just turn it off, disable notifications on the watch or choose which messages or which apps can. I notice for myself that it's useful both in the office and in situations where you don't have the phone in hand. But it's quite individual.

2. Wrist heart rate monitors are already quite good. Previously I had 735xt model, now 945 and the difference is that this one also measures blood oxygen level. How reliable? During sleep super (now shows sleep analysis too,...), during day super, during activity mostly super. I had issues on certain software versions for the watch.
Wrist measurement when doing intervals is not fast and accurate enough. You need a chest strap. Every manufacturer will tell you that. But when running or going uphill, wrist one is more than enough.
And if you really don't want, you can turn it off.

3. Altimeter on basic models depends on GPS or GPS signal. Near a wall it doesn't work OK. 735xt jumped a bit because of that. 945 has barometer and GPS so it's very reliable, accurate enough and I calibrate rarely (or never). If you'll use altimeter a lot I recommend model with built-in barometer, but not a must - works without too.

4. Newer models have access to Garmin explore app which gives you Garmin maps on watch and phone. Somewhere good, somewhere others better exist. I'm abroad a lot and look live where I'm moving (don't know hill or path names well plus complicates with their language), in national park many paths. Look on phone and it shows live on map your track, where you went and simply see where you'll go back to start - and can make nice loop.


In family now almost all have such/similar watch. It encourages you to move more, you know how many steps you actually did (yeah sounds funny for athletes, but there are other types less active). Sometimes I'm without because "have to" wear something else for events and miss it quickly.

Battery on newer models? About 1 week if every day "record" one hour activity, I have all smart things on too. Charges in about 45 minutes.
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dprapr4. 11. 2021 12:54:03
Lukito, I have similar experiences with messages on the watch and the map on the watch. Very useful when you're in unfamiliar terrain. Even useful for mushroom picking. nasmeh
Regarding altitude, it measures walked altitude well, the current one where you are not the most accurately. Despite the barometer.
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Lamps4. 11. 2021 14:19:38
@dprapr

Sorry if I expressed myself a bit wrongly. I wanted to say that no sports watch can compare with smart watches like Huawei, Samsung, Apple etc. Maybe for some ordinary hiker and occasional runner. I don't want to argue about it, but just look at major competitions in running, biathlon, triathlon, ultramarathons etc. All have Suunto, Garmin, Polar, Coros. If those "smart watches" from mobile giants were really that top-notch, more athletes would surely use them.

I need accurate GPS, baro altimeter and as powerful a battery as possible. By that I mean 20+ hours (in the most accurate measurement), so on some ultra race I don't carry cables, power bank etc. with me. Sometimes the map option would be useful when I'm on some unknown terrain. My watch doesn't have that option; I can only load a GPX track from another user and the watch directs me where and how...

Just 4 functions, which are actually hard to get in a package for a moderate price. 500e for some Fenix or Forerunner seems stupid to spend if 80% of the functions I will never need. Either no map, or no baro altimeter, or bad battery autonomy... Pulse is quite unimportant to me as a long-distance runner; on those 15-20 runs where I used the strap, I quite accurately learned what my pulse rate is at times and I can feel myself when I'm in the "red".

Franc60 needs a watch with a good pulse meter; other functions are not so important to him. I think for about 150e he could get a more than excellent aid.

Otherwise, when buying a watch, we first ask ourselves why we need it, for what activities, how much time per week we will use it etc. For 80% of people, the mobile phone is probably enough and use of apps like former Endomondo, Sport Tracker, today Strava etc.

For "real" sports enthusiasts I think sports watches are more suitable.
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Hribolaznik4. 11. 2021 16:42:57
Making a difference between smart and sports watches... that difference has long been blurred.

I would like to emphasize another, much more essential difference. There are very smart watches and a bit less smart watches.

This needs explanation. Very smart watches include Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, Huawei Watch... A bit less smart include Garmin, Suunto, Polar and also things like Huawei GT Watch...

A bit less smart watches have a very very weak processor and limited user interface (simpler OS). These two consequently mean that these watches last much longer.

How does this show in practice? Simple. With an extremely powerful machine like Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch someone can train with GPS use max about 6 hours. That's of course absolutely too little for measuring say one-day hike in Slovenian mountains or full-day cycling. We can say such a watch is useless for hiking.

On the other side we have a bit less smart watches, with weak processor, minimal RAM, but consume energy much better. So for example with my two watches (Huawei GT2 and Instinct Solar) I easily measure GPS activity for 30 hours duration. Solar extends it further because it charges additionally in the sun.

Regarding accuracy: all (I mean really all) watches from 2019 onwards use the completely same Sony satellite receiver. It proved especially with power saving, but also accurate enough. This chip is used by all: Garmin, Polar and Suunto.
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lino4. 11. 2021 18:01:30
Hribolaznik, thanks for explaining so simply and understandably the difference between smart and a bit less smart watches. For my needs obviously a bit less smart watch Huawei GT2 or Instinct Solar is good enough. But I don't need a showy watch for image. Thanks again, Hribolaznik. nasmeh
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