This wide range of costs for the running watch would usually make buyers think about just how much they should actually spend for a running watch.

The answer to this question should actually be determined by studying a few different factors. You should be able to know which among these considerations do you value the most, and then decide from there.

Here are some of the factors that you need to deliberate on so that you can decided how much you should spend for your running watches:

Toughness and Durability:

When it comes to running watches, the mantra could actually be “you get what you pay for.” Usually, a running watch that is cheap is just made from substandard materials or those kinds that would break down easily. On the other hand, an expensive watch would usually be made from the toughest and most durable materials. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, but for the most part, this is fairly accurate.

That’s why if you are planning on going through rough treks or jogs in the harshest environment, then you should probably purchase a more costly running watch. However, the strolls around the park or a controlled environment such as an oval, then you could make do with a cheaper watch.

Features:

As with toughness and durability, the more features you get, the more expensive the watch becomes. If you are looking for a complete training system with all the bells and whistles such as voice outputs, virtual training partners, heart rate monitors, cadence sensors, and GPS capabilities, then you have no other option but to actually shell out some money for it.

Remember that these innovations and features need special equipment and software, which are factors that can drive up the entire cost of the watch.

Design:

While it may not be directly related to running, design also plays a part in the cost of the running watch. Watches with lighter design or more ergonomic bands would usually cost more than their generic looking counterparts.

As you may probably surmise, the more advanced you are in your training, the more expensive the running watch that you need becomes. This is because a highly advanced training would require more features that cheap watches cannot provide.

If you are not really interested in running, you could probably just purchase a cheap watch and then purchase new ones as your interest grows, but if you know from the start that you would be fully dedicated to the sport, then you should probably skip the cheap ones and invest in a full-feature running watch.

Related posts:

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2. Using Your Running Watch to Improve Training
3. Best Running Watches for 2010

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

Powered by an advanced accelerometer technology, the Silva Accelerometer Runner Men’s Runner is able to provide runner’s with accurate readings of their speed, distance, and calories burned using the wrist watch sensor. The data gathered by the Silva Accelerometer is accurate up to 95+%.

The technology of the Silva Accelerometer eliminates the need to wear awkward looking foot pods or belt clip sensors. Simply attach the wrist watch sensor and you are able to use its various features.

The Silva Accelerometer packs features such as a pedometer with a highly accurate step counter with adjustable sensitivity, chronograph that can record results up to 1/100th of a second for up to 50 laps and a total time of 24 hours, and a countdown timer.

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars too complicated
this watch was too complicated to program. I wanted a watch that had the pedometer in it so I wouldnt have to have it hanging on my waist but this is so complicated I cant figure it out. wish I never bought it

4 Stars Tech 4 watch
The watch is hard to figure out at first but I did call the customer service desk and they were able to help me work it… The lady was very helpful and knew exactly what she was talking about it. The distance is a little off, but it still gives me an idea of how far I ran. It’s not a 100% accurate so it’s suppose to be a little off. I like this watch and am glad I bought it.

5 Stars Love this watch!
I have had my pedometer watch for a few months now and I love it! It seems to be pretty accurate even on longer runs (12 miles). It is cute and not too big and has held up well even when wearing 5+ days a week.

5 Stars Great watch
It’s a great watch it is pretty accurate for the price. If you take the time to callebrate it correctly it can be 95+% accurate. The best way is to go on the track and callebrate your steps or running stride there.

1 Star this watch is a useless piece of junk
this watch is good for one thing – telling time. i have measured and correctly entered my stride lengths, it does not work. i have called tech 4o customer service 4 times. they were very nice, but of zero help to me. i have tried everything in the 3 months that i gave this watch a fair shot to make it work out. it does not read accurate distances, period. every time i run the same verified 4 mile loop, i get a different distance reading. it was a waste of $55. i’m very very disappointed.

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The Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor helps you improve your training by using the most modern technological innovations.

The Forerunner 405CX is considered as the evolution of GPS-enabled training. It allows you to easily record your training data such as distance, pace, calories burned and heart rate. It could even use this data to help you by creating a Forerunner Virtual Partner that will help in challenging you to improve your running times.

Of course this training data would not be useful if you would not be able to analyze them. That’s why aside from the internal memory where the Forerunner 405CX stores your training data, you can use the included USB ANT stick that uses the innovative ANT+ wireless technology automatically to transfers information to your computer.

This allows you to use running software to study your training patterns or even share your workouts and results online.

If these features do not seem to suit all your needs, just remember that there a variety of optional wireless accessories, such as foot pod or bike sensors to make the Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor match any kind of training that you do.

What’s in the Box
Forerunner 405CX, USB ANT stick, Heart rate monitor, Two additional wrist straps, AC charger, Charging clip, Owner’s manual on disk, Quick reference guide

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Awesome
First and foremost, do not expect to be able to just put it on and it will work properly. Like anything that costs a bit more, you have to read the instructions. So if you cannot follow directions then you will have a heck of a time trying to use it. I took it on a test run just so I could get a feel for it.

The only problem I had with it was that it wasn’t connecting to the satelites in order for the GPS to work. I had to go back in and re-read the instructions.

*Note- If you want to use the GPS, make sure the power save mode is off because that mode interferes with the satelites.*

Once I figured out the satelites, it took several minutes for the watch to locate them, which kind of sucks if its cold outside. You have to stand still until it picks up on the satelites.

Also, make sure the GPS is turned off while you are inside because it will try to connect to the satelites and use up your battery life.

There are so many neat features on this watch but what I thought was so cool was auto-pause setting. This feature will pause your watch if you get below a certain speed. This is good for when you are at stoplights.

I also liked how the watch is set up to transmit your watch data wirelessly. Once transmitted, you can go on garmin connect and view your results.

This is a complicated device, but once you have it all set up and figured out, it’s very easy to use. I really recommend this watch to anyone who wants something that will help them with their training and to track their progress.

4 Stars Good workout partner
I am very happy with this GPS but it does have some quirks.

I have an Edge 305 on my bicycle so maybe the learning curve was easier for me, but I found the 405CX pretty easy to use. It does take some getting used to but by the 3rd use I had no issues with it. I had my screens set up and was using the simple workouts with ease.

The screen is a bit small, but once you get used to the set up it becomes easier to read on the run. If you don’t use auto scroll you can quickly look at your watch and get the info you want. At the start of the run I pick the screen that is best for what I am doing and just leave it there mostly unless I get bored and start to cycle through my screens.

The touch bezel works ok. Using it to set up a workout is easy once you get used to it. During a run a touch scrolls the screen and a touch and drag increases or decreases the speed of the virtual partner. Sometimes it takes a second or two to register and sometimes a slight touch registers. It’s usually not an issue, but sometimes my jacket will make it scroll when I don’t want it to. When I do want to scroll it during a run I sometimes have to press a second time to get it to scroll. It’s not really an issue for me and you learn the ins and outs of it.

GPS reception has been very good for me, even under clothing. It takes about 10-20 seconds to find the satellites each time I run, so I stretch while it’s searching. I have noticed that even after it has found the satellites it still needs time to stabilize. For instance on one track run I started running right after it found the satellites in a place with a lot of trees. After the run I looked at my route and the first part of the lap under the tress it showed me about 50′ off the track, but on each subsequent lap it showed me right on the track even while under the trees. It just needed time to stabilize. Now I turn on the watch and give it a few minutes while I stretch/warm up, then when I am ready to run it’s right on the money.

Like the 305 Edge the elevation feature is practically worthless. The barometric pressure just fluctuates too much so the watch is always all over the place. Again it does seem to stabilize the longer it is on, but it’s never exact enough to rely on. If you look at the elevation chart in the software after a run you can see where the hills are, but if you are doing laps a hill’s elevation can change by as my as 75′ each time you come across it each time. I don’t use the watch itself to tell me the elevation when running since it is so off.

Looking at the pace chart in the software after a run is interesting. Like elevation, it’s all over the place, spikes everywhere. Even though it looks a mess it is useable, where you had to stop for traffic or where your interval sprints will be clear in the chart. While running the pace on the watch does seem very accurate. You can quickly see how fast you are going and if you accelerate it shows instantly on the watch. It is probably one of the most useful display items.

The heart rate monitor has been perfect, no issues at all. I do use Buh-Bump, Heart Rate Monitor Electrode Cream with it which may help.

I have to charge the battery once a week (I run 3 days a week). A 30-40 minute run uses about 10% of the battery. Sitting in powersave mode for a day or two is a greater drain on it.

I do love this GPS besides the quirks. It’s great to quickly and easily set up an interval workout and not have to be on a track or constantly looking at my watch (it makes a very loud beep at the start of each interval which I can hear even on a windy day). It’s a great training aid that makes a run more interesting and fun.

The software does leave a lot to be desired (Windows Vista 64). The watch links fine, I have never had any issues there, plug in the ANT antenna and it does everything itself. But the Garmin Connect website while nice doesn’t break down everything enough and can be a bit slow. The Garmin Training Center software displays more information but is clunky and not very polished.

I highly recommend this GPS watch. It has helped me tremendously on my workouts and makes my runs more fun. While it could be better, and cheaper, I don’t regret buying it. I do wish Garmin would improve the software though. For this price they really could do better. I wouldn’t let that stop me and there is other software you can buy that works with the watch.

4 Stars Small Package, Big Features
Buy this monitor now. Easy to use and small enough so you dont feel like you have a laptop on your wrist. The bezel touch menu navigation can be sensitive to bumps but the lock feature solves most of your problems. Great product.

5 Stars This is the best of the best Gadgets
The Garmin 405cx is amazing. It locks Satellites and keeps tracking me almost everywhere. I run through town, and then through some woods, and my other device, would pick up here, and there, and never hardly track in the woods. I can even see my movements as I get ready, in the house. The Upload is quite easy, and the web app is really cool.

5 Stars Excellent product
I have used this watch for 2 weeks now, and I am almost 100 percent satisfied with it.

First of all, it is very easy to use. After 15 minutes I knew how to access most of its features.

The touch bezel works great. Even when it was raining I was able to use it with no trouble at all.

The battery life is not great, but it’s ok. It takes about 3 one-hour workouts (5 days) to wear out the battery.

The GPS is not 100 percent accurate, but it is good too. Sometimes the map shows my route as if I had been taking shortcuts through the bushes. I would rate its accuracy as been 8/10. It’s my first GPS device though, I don’t know if they are all like that.

The heart rate monitor is excellent, much better then my Polar. It’s more accurate (doesn’t show absurd values like the Polar does sometimes) and it allows you to change the battery instead of having to buy a new one when the battery dies.

Another great thing about this watch is that it allows you to select the data fields that you want to view during your workout. So, you can configure up to 3 sets of data with 3 fields on each one to view during the exercise. You can either change the data sets by touching the bezel or configure the watch to rotate through them.

The data transmission to the computer is very nice, too. You only have to stick the usb receiving device into your computer and it detects the watch and retrieves the data.

So, after all that, I can say that it was a great purchase, and I recommend it for anyone who likes running and gadgets.

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