Recommend Basic GPS Watch with Long Battery Life, Strava Integration

huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 12:00
Last edited 12/07/2021 - 11:54

Hi Everyone

I'm after recommendations for a basic GPS enabled watch for tracking running, but also cycling activities.

Ideally the watch should have:

  • long battery life (while GPS is active)
  • integration with strava (or other 3rd party platforms for the future, but strava is what I use at the moment.
  • decent software integration.

Not really interested in optical heart rate, step counters, music, apps, smart watch type functions, sleep or any of the bells and whistles all the watches have these days. Hoping to get something basic and spend less by avoiding these functions. But not sure that any manufacturers are aiming at the featureless low end segment of the market!

Had a string of Garmin Edge bike computers that all ended up dying on me. Currently use my cheap Nokia 2.3 for tracking cycling. Can't jog for very long, but can cycle for hours so something with a longer battery life than 8 hours GPS would be good.

At the moment, I'm looking at Amazfit range but idiosyncratic software seems to put me off. Basic Garmin Forerunner looks interesting but battery life doesn't seem to compare. Would consider a second hand device, but for battery life.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

Edit: Thanks again everyone for the suggestions. Updating the post in case anyone has the same needs that I have. After doing a bit of research and considering the Amazfit Bip, the Amazfit T-rex and the Coros Pace 2, I came to the conclusion that the product that suits my needs (and price point) doesn't actually exist. Too many features, not enough battery, too much price!

So I ended up getting a Spibelt (https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/spibelt-extended-pocket-bel…) to store my cheap phone to track GPS. It's not a bad idea to have a phone around, and the spibelt allows me to run without any issues really. Belt fits tight and snug and doesn't bounce. Best of all, the spibelt doesn't need charging, firmware or software updates, doesn't have a glitchy app - and seeing as the phone runs Strava there's no faffing around with uploads.

I'm still going to keep an eye out for a gps watch. But will wait til something no fuss with long battery life and bargain price appears, if it ever does.

Electrical & Electronics Activity Tracker Smartwatch

Comments

  • tebbybabes on 24/06/2021 - 12:10
    +1

    I'm sorry but I'm not able to answering any of your questions, but am able to share my experience.

    I too use a GPS watch for cycling. Mine is from 2013 and I still use it all the time. It was a cheap ALDI unit. It's software is generic software that is apparently used by many devices. It doesn't offer direct strava integration, but the software can export GPX files, which strava can use.

    If mine carked it, I would be looking for the same thing you're looking for. The only reason I haven't done so, is because the damn thing still does exactly what I need it to.

    • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 13:22

      Sounds like you got a good deal on that watch. Great that it's still going strong.

      But it does give me a good idea to look out for a no-brand generic GPS watch from a shop with a good returns policy, i.e. Alid, Big W etc, in case it proves to be flakey.

  • scotty on 24/06/2021 - 12:21
    +2

    Coros — ultra runners swear by them for their long GPS life. APEX Pro — 40 hours full GPS. PACE 2 — 30 hours full GPS. PACE 2 is around US$220.

    • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 13:26

      Thanks for the recommendations Scotty.

      I feel honoured that you've chimed in. I'M NOT WORTHY!

      The Coros watches look great. A little above my budget, but at the same time I'd rather get something that is a bit expensive but overwhelmingly excellent, than a cheapie from China that gets the hardware right but frustrates with poor software/firmware. I feel Garmin gets the software and feature set right, but just seems expensive for the hardware and battery life (but that's based on my experience with their bike computers).

  • ShortyX on 24/06/2021 - 12:21
    +1

    I used the Amazfit Bip and Stratos before moving to Apple Watch and it sounds like the Amazfit would do what you're after. The software (on watch and Zepp app) does the job.

    not sure that any manufacturers are aiming at the featureless low end segment of the market

    Good point - not sure either.

    • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 13:26

      Thanks. I'll do a bit of a read of the Amazfit Bip reviews, but thanks for the recommendations.

  • CC123 on 24/06/2021 - 12:35
    +2

    Would you consider using your phone to record the runs/rides?
    I've got a quad lock mount (bike) and quad lock armband (for running) and both work fine. That's the only reason why I haven't bought a GPS watch

    • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 13:29
      +1

      I do use my phone for rides currently. I've stopped bothering with heart rate and cadence and I'm not racing so a cheap phone in the back pocket is great. The GPS lock on in my Nokia 2.3 is faultless, whereas sometimes my Garmins would take mins or fail to lock onto satellite. I'm not really sure about accuracy but all I want is something to record distance and routes, not split times or laps for racing.

      Re: running, I'm not currently much of a jogger. I prefer sprints and intervals so I feel that the arm band thing would be a bit of a hindrance for higher intensity runs, which is why i'm contemplating the watch.

  • jjjaar on 24/06/2021 - 13:50

    Define long battery life?

    I have the Garmin vivoactive 3 and it lasts 2-5 days depending on how many activities I do.

    I have Bluetooth off for phone notifications, which extends the life.

    If I do a 2 hour activity per day, it will last around 3 days. If the activity doesn’t need GPS that can extend it a little too.

    (Also thanks for the reminder that I need to charge it.)

    • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 14:19

      Longer than 20 hours?

      Yep so:

      Not sure if these are comparable devices. Just plucked two that are top of mind at the moment.

      I'm not really fussed with battery life without GPS and I wouldn't wear it as a watch. Simply as an exercise tracking device.

      For me, 13 hours is more than enough time for a run, or several runs. But it wouldn't be idea for a multi-day bike tour for example. I'm not doing multiday bike tours every day……but I'd like the device to cater for all too infrequent outings.

      So personally I'd prioritise long battery life over ANY smart watch style features as it's one of the main things I'd be looking for.

      • jjjaar on 24/06/2021 - 14:22

        The Vivoactive 3 also claims 13 hour GPS battery life, so I think if you have it off most of the time, you will be fine.

        Then again it also claims 7 day smartwatch life, which I would disagree with. With no GPS, no activity tracking and no bluetooth and my best is about 6 days.

        • huggsymersh on 24/06/2021 - 15:19

          Yes I'm always a bit skeptical about the battery life claims. My experience of Garmin Edge bike GPS units is that they might meet the running time straight out of the box, but as soon as you start using them they start declining.

          I do like the Amazfits in that they opt for a less attractive but lower energy consumption screen tech. So I'm more inclined to have faith in their claimed times.

      • affable on 25/06/2021 - 07:39
        +1

        I've had a Garmin Forerunner 45 for 6 months now and pretty happy with it. $199 at Officeworks back in January.

        Definitely get a full 12 hours on GPS which covers a day's riding or kayaking. Overall I'm very happy, here are my minor gripes -
        1. I find the display of battery level pretty hopeless (no % just tiny icon)
        2. having to change my kayaking activity type in Strava from "Other" (watch only has limited activities)
        3. Would be great if you could disable Autosave for some activities as Autopause isn't great when you stop a kayak or bike ride say for breakfast or lunch, as it records your walking if you rely on Autopause. So you manually pause instead, however then you need to watch out for Autosave. A couple of times when I use manual pause, I've missed the autosave warnings and only realised when its too late. The manual pause workaround I've found is when I occasionally press a button it resets the Autosave period.

        https://www.strava.com/athletes/69187674

        For multi-day bike tours etc, just charge the watch each night from a $20 external battery pack. Charging from flat only seems to take an hour or 2.

        The bonus for me is seeing the sender and subject of emails and txt messages when your mobile is in your pocket. No need to get the mobile out for unimportant messages!

        • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:38

          Thanks for the feedback on the 45.

          I don't have a battery pack, so it never occurred to me to use one! Being a bit of a minimalist hiker/bike tourer, I'm willing to pay a little bit extra for a longer battery life unit to not have to have one. But also, i'm not totally crazy. Maybe one day I'll investigate a powerbank.

          Re: notifications, I'm fortunate enough to be able to consider ALL messages while I'm on my rides or runs as unimportant! I turn off almost all push notifications on my phone already. If people want to contact me they can join me for the ride/run!

          • enthusiast on 15/03/2023 - 21:56

            @huggsymersh:

            Re: notifications, I'm fortunate enough to be able to consider ALL messages while I'm on my rides or runs as unimportant! I turn off almost all push notifications on my phone already.

            If people want to contact me they can join me for the ride/run!

            Love this - especially the last line!!

  • bennythejet on 24/06/2021 - 16:17
    +1

    I wear my Garmin Forerunner 935 for 2-3 hr surfing sessions and occasional runs/walks. It's rated at "up to 24hrs GPS use". I can easily go a week or more with 2-3 surfs and 1-2 other activities without having to charge it.
    Without using it for any activities I can get about 2-3 weeks use (possibly longer) before needing to charge. (I've never specifically tracked this so just best guess.)

    In comparison, my wife has a Garmin Vivoactive 3 and uses it for running (10 kms) 2-3 times a week. She has to charge it about twice a week on average. Both of us have bluetooth turned on for notifications.

    • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:40

      Thanks for the feedback.

      The more fully featured Garmins would be total overkill for my needs. I appreciate the features have their purpose, but no point paying for all the features if i'm not inclined to use them.

  • Waltervp on 25/06/2021 - 09:54

    I use the Garmin vívosmart4 fitness bracelet. Definitely good value and good battery life. It links to the GPS on the phone when I start an exercise and automatically uploads my activity to Strava. Because it uses the phone GPS watch battery is not burdened with GPS power drain.

    Also gives you a good VO2 estimate, body battery and overnight oxygen level (relevant to me as I have a chronic lung condition). And I use the basic phone alerts so I see text messages and who calls me.

    • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:43

      Thanks for the suggestion. I run without my phone so I'd need something with GPS built in.

      Glad to hear your device is helpful in managing your medical condition.

  • bamzero on 25/06/2021 - 11:18
    +1

    Recently got the missus a Bip S. Was $77 a few days ago but back up to $99 now.

    Went with the older model as she was using a Band 4 previously and we didn't want battery life to be shorter than that. She gets around 2 weeks out of the Bip S doing one or two 10k runs a week, which is similar to the Band 4 without GPS. This is also with phone notifications, sleep tracking and heart rate tracking enabled, so disabled might leave a little more power for GPS.

    Newer Bip models quote much lower battery life so I assume with GPS use would be quite short.

    The Zepp app is supposed to be able to sync with Strava but she doesn't use it so haven't tried. Zepp is good enough to track her runs and the GPS in the watch seems pretty accurate. She's happy enough with it and the fact she doesn't need to run with her phone anymore, says screen is easy to read while running.

    • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:42

      Yes the Bip is probably the most attractive option at the moment, although I'm also interested in the Amazfit T Rex, which can be had for under $100 imported. Looks extremely chunkous tho!

  • Ippy1 on 25/06/2021 - 12:34

    Have you thought about a compact phone?

    I bought a Unihertz Atom some time ago and used it as my daily phone for about 6 months, before upgrading to its bigger brother the Atom L when that came out. It's a micro phone with a complete feature set. Using it in a pocket or on an armband is pretty unobtrusive.

    • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:45

      I have. But I prefer the ergonomics of a watch. As I'm sprinting and doing intervals, I think I'd find a arm band a little intrusive. But thanks for the suggestion.

  • OzHunterNSW on 25/06/2021 - 15:10

    Go for Tom Tom. Look at their web page for what is available.
    5" 6" etc.
    I have the Tom Tom 5" Go Live WiFi… world maps etc.
    Updates via wifi…. simple.

    • huggsymersh on 25/06/2021 - 16:43

      Thanks. But they aren't watches are they?

  • freddo4y on 20/08/2021 - 01:40

    I have similar needs and purchased the Amazfit Bip U Pro. Be careful as the Amazfit Bip U does not have GPS. You need the Pro version. I hope it works well with Strava (it is supposed to).

    • huggsymersh on 20/08/2021 - 13:58

      Please let us know how you go with it. I was a little discouraged by reviews suggesting Amazfit's software was a bit glitchy, but it's always hard to know how particular tech reviewers are. They can be so much fussier than the average person. I have a feeling it's probably quite good, but without being able to use one that's just an assumption on my part.

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