ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE WHETHER YOU’RE MAKING A LAST-MINUTE CHRISTMAS LIST OR PLANNING A NEW YEAR PUSH FOR YOUR RUNNING GOALS, YOU’LL FIND GADGETS HERE TO HELP YOU MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY RUN, FROM ANALYSING YOUR NUMBERS TO JUST PROVIDING THE TUNES TO KEEP YOU MOTIVATED. WELCOME TO OUR FIRST ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE!
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RUNNING AND SPORT WATCHES
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FITNESS TRACKERS
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SPORTS HEADPHONES
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RUNNING HEADTORCHES
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FITNESS AND RUNNING APPS
ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… WATCHES
If money is no object keep track of your progress with these top-of-the-range watches
POLAR M600
£299, polar.com For years, Polar has led the way in producing heart-rate monitors for runners and, more recently, adding built-in GPS and all-day activity tracking to its range has kept the brand up to speed with the market. The M600 builds on the M400, a slimline GPS and heart-rate monitor that syncs to Polar Flow software for in-depth analysis. The big news with this update is the integration of Google’s Android Wear to make the watch a work and lifestyle companion, with voice-activated message response (for Android users), search, and control of some functions. The initial set-up is a bit long-winded, particularly if you’re an iOS user, but once the watch and phone are paired it’s easy to use. Two simple buttons and a bright (if small) touchscreen make it easy to navigate when you’re moving, and the screen lights up with a flick of the wrist so it’s always visible. As a sports watch it’s great, with Polar’s own 6-LED wrist-based heart-rate measurement giving accurate HR stats, and the GPS has improved from the M400 we tested, locking on straight away to start tracking your speed and distance. Through Google Play, you can access thousands of apps and sync to your music, so that you can listen to it without your phone. It feels a bit like a complex and valuable sports watch with a lifestyle bolt-on, and for Apple die-hards, the Android Wear aspect takes some getting used to. However, for people who are serious about their running and want to stay connected at the same time, it’s a good option.
PEBBLE 2
TOMTOM RUNNER3 MUSIC + CARDIO
GARMIN 735XT
£359.99, garmin.com Best described as a cross between the Garmin 920XT and the 630, with the heart-rate functionality of the 235, the beauty of this watch is its ability to track training across a range of sports while delivering fitness tracking 24/7 thanks to the wrist-mounted heart-rate monitor. Smart notifications and advanced running dynamics such as stride length, ground contact time and balance all feature.
£219.99, tomtom.com The TomTom Runner range has been a favourite with the WR team since launch, and version 2 of this neat, user-friendly GPS watch was a winner again in our 2016 Awards. This update still features wrist-based heart-rate monitoring, 3GB of music storage and multiple sports tracking with a simple one-button operation. TomTom has also added its new route exploration feature, so you can explore new routes without fear of getting lost.
FITBIT BLAZE
£159.99, Fitbit.com A WR Awards winner, the Blaze is a smarter offering from the market leaders in wearable tech. It’s more smart watch than sport watch – there’s no built-in GPS, for example (it uses your phone’s GPS when connected) – but our testers liked the intuitive navigation, the display, the social aspect of the app, and the connectivity with other devices. It measures heart rate, steps and sleep, and automatically senses activities like cycling and running.
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From £99.95, Pebble.com The Pebble 2 is a great option for runners looking for all-round functionality at a lower cost – and with huge flexibility. The watch monitors activity, steps and sleep and connects to thousands of apps. It even has a microphone to allow you to dictate message responses. The HR version includes wrist-based heart-rate measurements, linking to the Pebble Health app (and others). Connected to your phone, it gives you call and text notifications and allows you to control your music on the go.
MISFIT PHASE
£165, misfit.com If you want a smart watch that really looks stylish, the Misfit Phase should be on your wishlist. It tracks steps, distance and sleep and syncs with your smartphone to give call and message notifications. Use it as a remote to play music or take a mid-run selfie. It’s swim proof and, in a fun touch, the watch hands move to show your progress in activity mode. You need to use the Misfit app on your phone to view activity details, though.
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ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… WATCHES
If money is no object keep track of your progress with these top-of-the-range watches
GARMIN VIVOACTIVE HR
£209.99, garmin.com The vívoactive HR is Garmin’s attempt to bring together all its specialities. It’s a smartwatch and your ultimate sport companion: use it for running, cycling, swimming, cardio, rowing, SUP and many more activities. The watch is easy to navigate – there are two multi-use buttons, as well as a touchscreen – making it easy for runners to scroll through options. It uses Garmin’s Elevate wrist-based heart-rate monitoring. We found this pretty accurate compared to the more traditional chest-strap system – and it’s much more comfortable, especially when you factor in squashing a chest strap under your sports bra. In terms of reviewing your activities and data throughout the day, the Garmin vivoactive HR offers the best of both worlds. You can view progress on your wrist on the colourful display, which is great if you find it irritating pairing your fitness monitor to a phone to see how you’re getting on. For more in-depth analysis, the Bluetooth connectivity allows automatic syncing with the Garmin Connect app. It’s here you can really dig into all your activity data, as well as sync with third-party apps like Apple Health. You can also get notifications from your phone, including call and text alerts. As an all-day activity monitor, some women might find the unit a bit big and solid for their wrists. However, its size compares favourably with other serious running GPS watches and heart-rate monitors.
APPLE WATCH – SERIES 2
WITHINGS ACTIVITÉ STEEL
withings.com , £139.95 The Steel looks beautifully simple – black strap, stainless steel body, and a two-dial display that shows you the time and how far you are along with your daily fitness goal. No buttons, no notifications, no distractions. Dig a little deeper, though, and you unearth all manner of functionality. The Steel automatically detects your activity and syncs the data to the Health Mate app. It has good sleep tracking, complete with silent alarm. What makes it even better is its compatibility – not only with the wider Withings ecosystem (including scales and blood pressure monitor) but with popular apps like MyFitnessPal.
RUNTASTIC MOMENT ELITE
From £269, apple.com/uk The original smart watch, the Apple Watch might be expensive and less sport-specific than some on the market but, for die-hard brand fans, it’s the only choice. It has everything you’d expect in a very sleek package: built-in GPS, wrist-based heartrate measurement, activity tracking for a range of sports, and compatibility with popular workout apps. The Series 2 watches also work with Apple’s new wireless Airpod earphones so you can listen to music from the watch rather than your phone. With dozens of customisation options, you can bling it up, too!
GARMIN FORERUNNER 235
garmin.com, £269.99 The 235 is quick to lock on to a GPS signal and, while running, you can see your pace, distance, time, cadence, calories and more. A built-in heart monitor means you can see your average and max heart-rate and the colour LCD screen clearly visualises heart-rate zone training. After a training session, the 235 will also give you an idea of how much recovery time you need. You can sync it to your phone for notifications and it’s comfortable to wear all day. It may not be as comprehensive as some of Garmin’s high-end units, but it’s still an exceptional sports watch that sits up there with the best.
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runtastic.com, £149 The Moment Elite is a solid, nicely designed watch that doubles up as a fitness tracker. It does the basics well, but one feature that many will love is its long battery life – six-months, thanks to a lithium battery. Sync it with the companion app and you get the detail that’s lacking on the Elite’s analogue display. Daily active minutes, distance covered and steps are all there. It monitors sleep too, although it’s a bit big to do so successfully. If you want a running watch that gives you the right data and looks like a real timepiece, this is the one to go for.
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ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… FITNESS TRACKERS
Small, smart and simple, these trackers will help you take a holistic approach to your running goals
FITBIT CHARGE 2
£129.99, fitbit.com/uk/store ‘Fitbit’ has become the new eponym for fitness trackers. Sitting as brand leader ahead of the likes of Apple and Garmin for the last two years, it’s the go-to choice for health-conscious consumers and, when you spend some time with the Fitbit Charge 2, you know why. Launched this year as the first upgrade to the Charge HR, it’s got all of its predecessor’s no-fail features, including reliable heart-rate sensors, an ability to automatically recognise exercise activities, monitor sleep and, of course, track your steps, but you can now also select your activity of choice if you wish – and pull GPS data from your phone as you carry that activity out. All of this – and more – is revealed in the user-friendly (and free) mobile app, where you can add additional data such as your food and water intake. You can also input your goals and the tracker will congratulate you when you’ve achieved them and nudge you when you haven’t. The latest tracker can now also assign you with a heart-health score, based on your heart rate and data. With a tap-sensitive display and one-button navigation, it couldn’t be easier to use. Be warned, though, it’s highly addictive!
WITHINGS GO
£49.95, withings.com There are simple activity trackers, and then there’s the Withings Go. The Go is a simple disc that you can fix into a strap, or clip – or keep loose in your pocket. It automatically tracks walking, running, swimming and sleeping. There are no buttons, just an E Ink screen that shows either the time or how you’re progressing towards your goal. Further data can be logged and recorded via its companion app.
TOMTOM TOUCH
£129.99, tomtom.com For an in-depth look into how in shape you really are, the TomTom Touch doesn’t just monitor your heart rate and 24/7 activity but gives you a reading of your body and muscle fat percentage. You simply hold down the tracker’s main navigation button and it takes a reading by sending an electric pulse through the body. Body fat goals are set via the TomTom MySports app, where you can check on your progress.
MISFIT RAY
£79.99, misfit.com There’s a lot to like about the Misfit Ray. It tracks activity well and is small enough to be a good sleep tracker. You can count your steps, tag different activities (like yoga and cycling) and it’s water resistant to 50m. There’s no screen, but it notifies you if you’ve got texts or calls coming through on your phone. You can view your daily data on the Misfit app and see how much more of each activity you need to do to meet your goals. It doesn’t require any charging either – bonus!
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MOOVNOW
£59.00, welcome.moov.cc/ moovnow/ The MoovNow has been designed with runners in mind. In addition to activity-tracking, it also offers bespoke coaching. Download the Moov Inc. app and you can select a training plan, based on your ability and personal goals – such as improving pace and distance – and a voice coach will guide you through your workouts, telling you what you’re doing well and how you could improve. It also monitors your running form and efficiency, giving you pointers on your posture and cadence.
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Dame Kelly Holmes, MBE. Garmin Running Ambassador.
See Garmin.com/ataccuracy.
stylish and easy-to-use GPS running watch with wrist-based heart rate1
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ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… HEADPHONES
Power up your run with these clear and crisp stay-put headphones
SONY NW-WS413
£79, sony.com Anyone born before the 80s will probably remember trying to run with a Sony Walkman. Lugging the bulky cassette player around on a run was more like resistance training than anything akin to a pleasurable listening experience. Worse yet, portable headphones were terrible back then – they were at least two-thirds sponge. Music and running weren’t compatible. Fast-forward a few decades and things have changed. Sony has evolved its Walkman range from cassettes, to CDS, via MiniDiscs and MP3s. Except now the digital files don’t sit in a separate player – in the case of the NW-WS413s, 4GB of music can be stored in a set of wire-free headphones. The NW-WS413s are bigger than your average set of headphones, but are comfortable to wear and stay in place when you up the intensity of your workouts. And, for those of you who lean towards the tri side of training, these headphones are a real boon. They’re completely waterproof, so you can wear them in the pool – and they allow you to hear ambient sounds, making them safer to cycle with. The sound quality is brilliant, even in the water. The controls on the headphones are easy to navigate and adding music is simply a case of dragging and dropping files. For people who want to train – no matter what sport – to music, these headphones are an easy way to access the tunes you need to get motivated.
BEATS BY DRE POWERBEATS 3 WIRELESS
£169.95, beatsbydre.com Beats by Dre has taken over the headphone world with its slick designs and crisp sounds. And the latest addition to the Powerbeats line is no different. Sound quality is excellent, they’re a snug fit and they don’t pop out while running. They’ve also got a sturdy design and are easy to set-up.
MONSTER ISPORT FREEDOM
JBL REFLECT MINI BT
£199.95, monsterproducts.eu If on-ear headphones aren’t your cup of tea, these might change your mind. They’re very light, and the headband’s rubber interior sits snug against your head. Controls on the earcup are easy to use, allowing for Bluetooth syncing, volume control and track selection. They can also be rinsed under the tap after a sweaty run.
£75, uk.jbl.com Runners’ main requirements when looking for earbuds are that: a) they stay in our ears, b) they don’t tangle us in several feet of wire and c) they sound good. These tick all those boxes. They come with a range of different size ear-tips that fit comfortably. The cord is also reflective, adding extra visibility at night.
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SNUGS ACTIVE CUSTOM-FIT EARPHONES
£199, snugsearphones.co.uk Before you can buy these, an audiologist measures the inside of your ear (either visit a store or pay for them to come to you) so the ear tips can be custom made – to your design preference – and delivered quickly. All that comes at a hefty price, but the result is silicone moulds that fit perfectly.
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ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… HEADTORCHES
Light your way with the new generation of ultra-bright headlamps
PETZL NAO
£145, petzl.com When only the best will do, it’s time to go for the Petzl NAO, the high priest of headtorches. This thing belts out 575 lumens, so you’ll essentially be a mobile lighthouse. The reactive lighting adjusts the light output automatically and it comes with a rechargeable lithium battery, although it can also be powered with AAA batteries. If you’re a technical Luddite, you may find the setting up process slightly too involved, while the premium price-point will be a deal-breaker for many. However, if you’re looking for the best-in-show, this is the torch to go for.
SILVA TRAIL RUNNER II
PETZL REAKTIK +
£85, petzl.com/gb An ‘intelligent headlamp’, the Reakitk + connects to a mobile app (MyPetzl Light) that allows you to check battery life and alter the lighting to the activity: trail running, trekking, mountaineering and backpacking. The real star of the show, though, is the 300 lumens of max power, which has an incredible reach of 110m. The rechargeable battery lasts a good few hours, too (depending on the brightness) and the head strap stays firmly in place.
BLACK DIAMOND IOTA
£40, silva.se This is a lightweight headtorch that packs a pretty decent level of illumination by combining a strong spotlight and a wide floodlight. It’s extremely simple to use – with just one button to press – and offers an impressive 30 hours of burn time on the brightest setting (90 on the lowest).
LED LENSER SE07R
£74.95, ledlenser.com/uk If you’re looking for an easy-tooperate headtorch that won’t break the bank, this fits the bill. It has three modes: a bright light, a dim light and a flashing light. There’s also an automatic dimming function so if you occasionally look down at a map, you won’t need to manually reduce the intensity of the light. The fit is snug, allowing you to move at full pace without fear of it falling off, while its impressive battery life puts it way ahead of its pricier peers.
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£35, blackdiamondequipment. com Low in price and light in weight, the Iota is the ideal companion on short, less technical trail runs. Boasting a bounce-free fit, 150 lumens of light and a rechargeable battery, it also has three different settings: full beam, dimming and strobe. For early morning and late evening runs around parks and trails, the Iota impresses.
ULTIMATE TECH GUIDE
THE BEST… APPS
Try these ingenious products for low-cost, high-motivation training aids
MYFITNESSPAL
Free, myfitnesspal.com By far one of the most popular calorie-counting apps on the market, MyFitnessPal is your go-to choice if you’re looking to adopt healthier eating habits. Its USP is simple; log your meals and count your calories each day and you can lose weight – safely and sensibly. You simply select the meals, snacks and drinks you’ve consumed throughout the day from a database of over five million foods and the app totals up your daily count. Based on manually inputted data, including weight, height, activity levels and goal weight, the app gives you a daily target calorie count. It also calculates calories burned from your daily activity and connects to a wide-range of activity trackers and health and fitness apps, such as Fitbit and Runkeeper, syncing your activity data and adjusting your calorie count accordingly. Your results are presented in a simple graph, which captures your progress and trends in your eating habits. You can also see a breakdown of the macronutrients you’re consuming, and it warns you if your foods are particularly high in any one macronutrient, such as fat. It will make you think twice before reaching for an extra biscuit…
NIKE+RUNCLUB
Free, nike.com Nike’s upgrade retains some of its old app’s best features which, unlike many, all remain free. These include personalised coaching, whereby the app can create a bespoke training plan based on your goals and current experience, and a leader board system, where you can compare your progress with friends.
RUNKEEPER
Free, runkeeper.com Use this to record pace, distance and calories burned; you can add details later, such as average heart rate and the shoes you ran in. With a paid-for upgrade, you get more detailed insights and can set training and weight-loss goals, and the app will provide you with a workout plan and instructions to help you achieve them.
KEELO
Free (with in-app purchases), keelo.com Keelo offers short HIIT workouts to suit your fitness levels, with videos to follow to help you get everything right. Most workouts are bodyweight only so you can carry them out at home. You can schedule in workouts to help you stay motivated. It works across numerous devices, including the Apple Watch.
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STRAVA
Free, strava.com The social athlete’s app. Once you’ve logged your activity, you can upload to the Strava social feed, where you can see details of your friends’ workouts. See how you perform against other athletes on certain segments. Join local clubs or create a club for your team: you’ll get a club leaderboard and can interact with other club members.
ONE YOU COUCH TO 5K
Free, nhs.uk/oneyou/apps This app helps you through those crucial first running steps with a nine-week plan, whereby you gradually increase your distance. At first you alternate between 60 seconds of running and 90 seconds of walking, building up to running for 30 minutes non-stop. You can choose your favourite celebrity voice to guide you through sessions, too.