Tright here’s lengthy been an unstated stigma within the working world: Should you put on an Apple Watch to trace your runs, versus a devoted sports activities watch, you’re in all probability not a severe runner.
I don’t subscribe to the concept that what gear you may have or what you put on determines whether or not you’re a “actual” runner. (Or, that there’s such a factor as a “actual” runner—if you happen to run, you’re a runner.) However I’ll admit that I all the time considered the Apple Watch as a way of life watch; enjoyable for on a regular basis use if you happen to can afford it, however not one thing I’d belief to assist my coaching or ship correct metrics.
Up till final 12 months, runners complained concerning the unique Apple Watch’s weak GPS, lack of running-specific options, and clunky begin/cease system.
However the Apple Watch Extremely, which launched final fall, adjustments issues. Designed as a extra practical, extra rugged improve to the unique Watch, the Extremely boasts dual-frequency GPS, plus a number of different options that make it extra runner-friendly (a few of these are actually obtainable on the unique Watch, too, although it doesn’t have the GPS capabilities of the Extremely).
It’s clear that Apple desires the Extremely to be a contender amongst the likes of Garmin and Coros, and after taking it out on 14 runs over the course of three weeks, I can let you know that, for probably the most half, it’s.
The perfect working options of the Apple Watch Extremely
Dependable GPS, even in city environments
What makes the Extremely’s GPS such a step up is its dual-frequency, that means as a substitute of simply utilizing L1 frequency, it additionally makes use of L5 frequency for larger accuracy, in addition to integrating with Apple Maps knowledge. Twin-frequency is changing into extra frequent in sports activities watches, however most older or lower-end fashions don’t have it.
Whereas I did not run on any measured routes to have the ability to verify the accuracy, each cut up the Extremely gave me felt in keeping with my effort, and I by no means observed any wonky paces, which I can’t all the time say with my Garmin. The Extremely received a GPS sign virtually instantly after stepping out the door in my Manhattan neighborhood stuffed with tall buildings and scaffolding (whereas my Garmin, which solely has single-frequency, generally takes as much as 10 minutes).
Superior monitor options
The Extremely has automated monitor detection, utilizing your location knowledge to detect whenever you’re at an out of doors monitor and asking you which of them lane you’re working in for peak accuracy. You may program a exercise for automated lap counting, or manually lap by urgent the Motion button.
All the essential working stats
In case your working watch gives a stat you depend on, odds are the Extremely has it, too. The watch measures all the pieces from floor contact time to vertical oscillation to stride size—with no need any further tools. It additionally tracks your “energy,” which estimates the depth of your run in watts primarily based on pace and incline.
Multisport exercises and pacer function
Identical to most any working watch, you possibly can program a exercise prematurely of your run. (That features multisport exercises for triathletes—the Extremely is waterproof right down to 40 meters.) You may as well set a goal tempo, and the Watch will show a small graph all through your run for an at-a-glance view of how behind or forward of that tempo you might be. Or, you possibly can race towards a earlier run on the identical route.
Mobile connectivity
What majorly units the Extremely—and even the unique Apple Watch—other than different sports activities watches: It will probably do almost all the pieces your iPhone can accomplish that you possibly can go on worry-free phoneless runs with all of your music and podcasts and texts at your fingertips (that’s, if you happen to pay for the Watch to be cellular-enabled, which is often $10 per thirty days on high of your current telephone plan).
Sturdy case
The Extremely’s titanium case is supposedly constructed to resist all types of out of doors adventures. To this point, it’s held up, however I fortunately haven’t had any falls or tough situations to check it.
Longer battery life
Ultramarathoners used to sports activities watches that may final for days on finish gained’t be impressed by the Extremely’s 36 hours of battery life. However, it’s an enormous enchancment over the unique Watch’s 18 hours, and I discovered it was greater than sufficient for me (although I’m not somebody who wears a watch to sleep), and doubtless a lot for anybody keen to let it cost for just a few hours day by day or so.
Band choices
I used the Extremely’s Alpine Loop, which was comfy, however the material was often fairly sweaty by the top of my runs (in contrast to the silicone band I’m used to), so I needed to take it off for a number of hours to let it dry. The excellent news: Common Apple Watch bands are suitable with the Extremely (although not really useful to be used throughout sports activities), so you possibly can swap out your sweaty band for the extra trendy band of your alternative whenever you’re executed figuring out.
The downsides of utilizing an Apple Watch Extremely to run
Barely clunky pause/resume
The Extremely has come a good distance from the unique Watch: You can begin your run with the press of 1 button, reasonably than ready for the “3, 2, 1” countdown. However, if you wish to pause or restart your exercise, you continue to must press two buttons on both facet of the watch concurrently, which I discovered a bit much less intuitive than simply urgent one button. The show doesn’t change a lot when the exercise is paused versus when it is ongoing, so I sometimes would suppose I used to be pausing when it was already paused, or suppose I used to be resuming after I was already mid-workout. I additionally discovered myself by accident beginning exercises whereas carrying the watch in day by day life.
Enormous dimension
Any sports activities watch with an extended battery life is probably going going to be fairly giant. However the mixture of the Extremely’s hefty dimension and sq. form makes it generally sit uncomfortably on my wrist bone (in all probability not a difficulty for runners with bigger wrists).
Laborious to course of at-a-glance stats
The truth that the Extremely shows six totally different metrics on the watch face directly is a blessing and a curse. Certain, it’s useful to see real-time updates on so many metrics, however I discovered that as I glanced right down to do a fast verify on time, or present tempo, or mileage, my eyes needed to seek for some time earlier than I landed on what I used to be in search of, because the numbers appear smaller and fewer delineated than on my Garmin. I think about that is one thing I’d modify to over time.
Is the Apple Watch Extremely value it for working?
At $799, the Extremely’s price ticket is steeper than most sports activities watches. And for severe working watch nerds, it might be lacking just a few options that you simply love.
However for common runners who sometimes put on an Apple Look ahead to day by day life and a unique sports activities look ahead to coaching, switching to 1 watch that may do each could possibly be majorly interesting—each for the sake of comfort, and to have all of your well being stats, like resting coronary heart price and sleep, in a single place. The identical goes for runners who sometimes put on a sports activities watch 24/7 and need one thing a bit extra trendy (no offense, sports activities watches) and with extra on a regular basis functionalities.
It seems, Apple Watches can be for “actual” runners.
