Fitness trackers and fitness watches are all the rage these days. I recently started running, and what better way to motivate myself than buying a fitness watch? After reviewing the options, I went for the TomTom Spark 3, for the following reasons:
- It’s reasonably attractive, light and (relatively_ cheap. The older models start at about £68 on Amazon.
- Fewer features and a black and white display means long battery life. I won’t wear it every day so this is important.
- Built-in GPS so you don’t have to carry a phone with you on a run
- The model I bought comes with a set of matching headphones, and I can store music (or in my case Couch to 5k podcasts) on the device. Less clutter
TomTom Spark 3 Fitness Watch – The Verdict
I spend a week wearing nothing but the TomTom. Here’s what I found…
Pros
- Music storage and matching wireless headphones means less to carry on a run
- Excellent battery life
- Built-in GPS is great to get back to the start of your route, and for run mapping apps
- Works well for running, clear display and accurate measurements
Cons
- I have to wear it on my right wrist when running, or the audio cuts out
- Occasional Bluetooth connection issues with the headphones
- Fiddly to use the features as there is no touch screen
- Awkward charger
- Music player is very basic – no shuffle or fast forward/rewind and playlists must be updated from iTunes
Okay, so an Apple watch does more, and a Fitbit has better integration for fitness but I think that TomTom have a winner here. The latest models start at £119.99 at Amazon, and you can add headphones and what is regarded as one of the better built-in heart rate monitors if you want to spend more.
What would I like to see? A touchscreen, the ability to set your own display (e.g. different faces), and a better music player.
Buy a TomTom Spark 3 Fitness Watch
The best place to buy a TomTom Spark 3 fitness watch is Amazon, they have a great selection and offered the lowest price for the model I wanted.
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CASIO Men's W-218H
(2707)