Cheap phone for running
December 3, 2015 11:59 AM Subscribe
A while back I had a garmin forerunner 110 gps watch which I was pretty happy with but eventually wore out. Does anyone out there have any experience with using a low end phone for gps run/hiking/walking tracking?
A while back I had a garmin forerunner 110 gps watch which I was pretty happy with but eventually wore out. Does anyone out there have any experience with using a low end phone for gps run/hiking/walking tracking?
My thought is that I can get a inexpensive phone for less than the cost of a watch. The phone could do gps tracking and also serve as an mp3 player - giving me one less thing to take with me on a run.
Ideally I would like to be able to upload a record of my routes to mapmyrun.com ( or something like that ).
I see cheap windows phones ( Nokia Lumia 635 for example ) that look like they have the right hardware but I'm not sure about the apps needed to upload data. My budget for this would be under $100 .
One thing I don't care about for this phone is actually having phone service.
A while back I had a garmin forerunner 110 gps watch which I was pretty happy with but eventually wore out. Does anyone out there have any experience with using a low end phone for gps run/hiking/walking tracking?
My thought is that I can get a inexpensive phone for less than the cost of a watch. The phone could do gps tracking and also serve as an mp3 player - giving me one less thing to take with me on a run.
Ideally I would like to be able to upload a record of my routes to mapmyrun.com ( or something like that ).
I see cheap windows phones ( Nokia Lumia 635 for example ) that look like they have the right hardware but I'm not sure about the apps needed to upload data. My budget for this would be under $100 .
One thing I don't care about for this phone is actually having phone service.
The tomtom runner and forerunner 15 will both do anything your old watch did and fit your budget (when the fr15 is on sale). The biggest problems with a phone instead of a watch is that sweat becomes a factor and you have to carry it somehow, but it'll work just fine. I ran with an android 2.2 phone instead of a watch for over a year and it was ok except for my old low budget phone crashing sometimes, occasional drops, and having to deal with the lock screen when I wanted to stop. I was very happy to finally get another gps watch and leave the phone behind, but it was also neat to take photos of things I saw while running too. I have no idea if the apps on Windows phone are comparable, but they do have an official mapmyrun app with mixed reviews.
Or if you're feeling moderately technical and ambitious, you can replace the battery on your 110 for under $30.
posted by mattamatic at 12:20 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Or if you're feeling moderately technical and ambitious, you can replace the battery on your 110 for under $30.
posted by mattamatic at 12:20 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Maybe I'm missing something here, but in order to use GPS on your phone, don't you need either a data plan ($$$) or wifi (presumably not available for your entire hike/run)?
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2015
posted by rainbowbrite at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2015
The Sony SmartWatch 3 has standalone GPS and space for music. It recently went on sale for $100, and while it's now out of stock at that price, I have a feeling it will come back somewhere. Otherwise, it blows the budget.
posted by mama casserole at 12:56 PM on December 3, 2015
posted by mama casserole at 12:56 PM on December 3, 2015
In airplane mode, strava is capable of recording the event, and then uploading later once you have wifi. So yes, wifi is needed, but not during the event. I usually disabled wifi while running because I wouldn't want to use a rogue open wifi point regardless. Also, I have my lockscreen disabled, so that's never an issue. I significantly like using my pebble to start/stop a workout than my pre-pebble life of starting the run and trying to shove my phone into my spibelt (during rain I have it in a ziplock back in the spibelt).
I'll also note that I did have some problems with my pebble - the pebble app dislikes (or at least it did 6 months ago) being in airplane mode, and would often freeze the app (AeroTrackerPro) that I had tested doing recording with. However I never had a problem with Strava in airplane mode displaying to my pebble via it's simplified "sports" mode. And before I got the pebble, I never had problems recording via strava.
Heck, I didn't have problems recording via strava on a Galaxy S - however the headphone jack on the galaxy S was crap and kept disconnect/reconnecting, so music was an issue (and no bluetooth 4, thus the upgrade to the Moto G).
Later I put my phone on a $5/month tablet plan sharing my family data pool, so I don't have problems using alternate apps so I can see live heart rate data. But that wasn't needed.
Lastly, I might as well mention, I've had problems using RTT2 for real time tracking broadcasting position for my wife. But that seems to be a problem with the RTT2 app - if it misses a gps point or two, instead of just waiting until it gets a point (as AeroTrackerPro and Strava do), it disables gps in a fashion, locking it away from other running apps, for 5 minutes for some brain dead reason. So yes, some apps are braindead; I don't use mapmyrun and can't say if it's not braindead.
As you've used a watch, you might miss the immediate feedback of speed/etc - once one adds a $40+ used pebble, and/or a heart rate monitor, it might be worth getting a tomtom runner, or tomtom cardio runner. But that's a step up from your dead FR110. Nthing that if it's just a battery issue, getting a new battery for the FR.
posted by nobeagle at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'll also note that I did have some problems with my pebble - the pebble app dislikes (or at least it did 6 months ago) being in airplane mode, and would often freeze the app (AeroTrackerPro) that I had tested doing recording with. However I never had a problem with Strava in airplane mode displaying to my pebble via it's simplified "sports" mode. And before I got the pebble, I never had problems recording via strava.
Heck, I didn't have problems recording via strava on a Galaxy S - however the headphone jack on the galaxy S was crap and kept disconnect/reconnecting, so music was an issue (and no bluetooth 4, thus the upgrade to the Moto G).
Later I put my phone on a $5/month tablet plan sharing my family data pool, so I don't have problems using alternate apps so I can see live heart rate data. But that wasn't needed.
Lastly, I might as well mention, I've had problems using RTT2 for real time tracking broadcasting position for my wife. But that seems to be a problem with the RTT2 app - if it misses a gps point or two, instead of just waiting until it gets a point (as AeroTrackerPro and Strava do), it disables gps in a fashion, locking it away from other running apps, for 5 minutes for some brain dead reason. So yes, some apps are braindead; I don't use mapmyrun and can't say if it's not braindead.
As you've used a watch, you might miss the immediate feedback of speed/etc - once one adds a $40+ used pebble, and/or a heart rate monitor, it might be worth getting a tomtom runner, or tomtom cardio runner. But that's a step up from your dead FR110. Nthing that if it's just a battery issue, getting a new battery for the FR.
posted by nobeagle at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2015 [1 favorite]
Where do you live? My phone shuts down from the cold in January and February if I'm out for an extended period of time. I need to keep it in a warm pocket.
posted by TORunner at 3:10 PM on December 3, 2015
posted by TORunner at 3:10 PM on December 3, 2015
I use my Huawei 320 Android for running. Music comes via Spotify (playlists downloaded for offline use). I track my runs using Runkeeper's GPS, and upload them to the Runkeeper website at home over WiFi. I need the subscription version of Spotify to use it on my phone, but you could obviously download MP3s instead. I don't need to be online to use the GPS.
The phone cost me $60 (New Zealand), about US$40. It's not the greatest phone ever, but it does what you want. I don't use MapMyRun, but it looks like it's available as an Android app so you should be good with this option.
posted by Pink Frost at 3:51 PM on December 3, 2015
The phone cost me $60 (New Zealand), about US$40. It's not the greatest phone ever, but it does what you want. I don't use MapMyRun, but it looks like it's available as an Android app so you should be good with this option.
posted by Pink Frost at 3:51 PM on December 3, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks everyone. At this point I'm planning on going ahead with the phone purchase. I have not decided which phone to buy yet but I'm leaning towards a Moto G as suggested by nobeagle.
You don't need continuous connectivity to use the GPS on a phone. I've used my current phone in places where I don't have data coverage with a cached map without any problems. I don't want to use my primary phone for running because I think that would be hard on the phone.
The problem with the forerunner was that the buttons gradually became unresponsive - not a dead battery. So changing the battery would not help.
I live in Seattle so the cold weather might be a problem. I'll probably get an armband that will help keep the phone warm. I'll try to get a good dose of wintertime testing in before the return period is up. Thank you for mentioning that, TORunner.
The newer gps watches are a little tempting but I'm going to try out the phone this time around. One additional use for this phone that I didn't mention is online wifi access when traveling out of the country in places with no 3g coverage. My current phone will do that just fine but I would rather leave it at home. A gps watch isn't going to help with that.
I'll follow up with any success ( or failure ) stories - hopefully in a few months.
posted by metadave at 6:38 PM on December 3, 2015
You don't need continuous connectivity to use the GPS on a phone. I've used my current phone in places where I don't have data coverage with a cached map without any problems. I don't want to use my primary phone for running because I think that would be hard on the phone.
The problem with the forerunner was that the buttons gradually became unresponsive - not a dead battery. So changing the battery would not help.
I live in Seattle so the cold weather might be a problem. I'll probably get an armband that will help keep the phone warm. I'll try to get a good dose of wintertime testing in before the return period is up. Thank you for mentioning that, TORunner.
The newer gps watches are a little tempting but I'm going to try out the phone this time around. One additional use for this phone that I didn't mention is online wifi access when traveling out of the country in places with no 3g coverage. My current phone will do that just fine but I would rather leave it at home. A gps watch isn't going to help with that.
I'll follow up with any success ( or failure ) stories - hopefully in a few months.
posted by metadave at 6:38 PM on December 3, 2015
Best answer: Get a CHEAP phone. Look around for another deal like this or this. Don't pay more than $20.
I live in Seattle
Check out goodwill and the various value villages. I have a bunch of spare and playing around phones i bought at those stores. Older samsung galaxys, etc. All of them cost less than $10. A $5.99-9.99 phone that might need a $2 ebay buy-it-now battery is way more worth it than paying $50+, if you can't snag a cheapo one on slickdeals. Just search that site for "phone" though, there's tons of sub-$20 phone deals lately.
posted by emptythought at 12:17 PM on December 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
I live in Seattle
Check out goodwill and the various value villages. I have a bunch of spare and playing around phones i bought at those stores. Older samsung galaxys, etc. All of them cost less than $10. A $5.99-9.99 phone that might need a $2 ebay buy-it-now battery is way more worth it than paying $50+, if you can't snag a cheapo one on slickdeals. Just search that site for "phone" though, there's tons of sub-$20 phone deals lately.
posted by emptythought at 12:17 PM on December 4, 2015 [1 favorite]
Why not get an iPod nano? Then you'll have music and the Nike+ app. The current models are about $150 but you can get an 8th gen smaller model (I have this one) for $99 refurbished by Apple.
posted by Brittanie at 5:34 AM on December 5, 2015
posted by Brittanie at 5:34 AM on December 5, 2015
Response by poster: It looks like the iPod nano does not have a gps. It has a pedometer but that's not as accurate and, in any case, just measures distance - not route. ( Please let me know if I'm wrong ).
posted by metadave at 10:17 PM on December 5, 2015
posted by metadave at 10:17 PM on December 5, 2015
Response by poster: Thanks for the slickdeals suggestion, emptythought. I'll watch those and maybe check out some of the secondhand stores in the area.
posted by metadave at 10:19 PM on December 5, 2015
posted by metadave at 10:19 PM on December 5, 2015
Response by poster: Folow up....
I created a "Deal Alert" with the keyword "phone" on slickdeals.net . After a few days I was notified that a moto-e Android phone was available from Walmart for 19.95 . I also picked up a waterproof plastic pouch for $10 . Total cost : $36 including shipping and tax.
The pouch has a sound cord pass-through - I plug an inner cable into the phone and my cheap headphones into the pouch. The pouch includes a neck-strap that I use and an armband that I have not tried. I tuck the pouch/phone under my shirt while I run which works fine but looks a little dorky. Together the phone and pouch weigh 7 ounces which is OK with me but might not be for everyone.
I download podcasts automatically using "beyondpod" and use an app from "mapmyrun" for run measuring and tracking. The "mapmyrun" app seems to be pretty good at measuring distance and tracking routes but not-so-good when it comes to elevation - on one of my routes it shows me going 70 feet below sea level (obviously wrong) and also indicates climbs in some spots that I know are level. Despite that, even the elevation tracking is better than nothing and useful for comparisons from one day to the next. I also get a step count which I have not checked for accuracy.
When I get home, I can use the app to upload the workout to "mapmyrun" over wifi. Quick and easy.
I've had the phone for a little more than a month now and used it 21 times. One time the GPS tracking cut out after about a mile but other than that it's worked perfectly. The one time that the GPS stopped might have been weather related - it was pretty overcast that day with a little snowfall. Of course, it's always possible that I pushed some button accidentally but the screen was turned off so that should not have been possible.
So, overall a success but with a few caveats. Thanks again to everyone who answered.
posted by metadave at 6:32 AM on January 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
I created a "Deal Alert" with the keyword "phone" on slickdeals.net . After a few days I was notified that a moto-e Android phone was available from Walmart for 19.95 . I also picked up a waterproof plastic pouch for $10 . Total cost : $36 including shipping and tax.
The pouch has a sound cord pass-through - I plug an inner cable into the phone and my cheap headphones into the pouch. The pouch includes a neck-strap that I use and an armband that I have not tried. I tuck the pouch/phone under my shirt while I run which works fine but looks a little dorky. Together the phone and pouch weigh 7 ounces which is OK with me but might not be for everyone.
I download podcasts automatically using "beyondpod" and use an app from "mapmyrun" for run measuring and tracking. The "mapmyrun" app seems to be pretty good at measuring distance and tracking routes but not-so-good when it comes to elevation - on one of my routes it shows me going 70 feet below sea level (obviously wrong) and also indicates climbs in some spots that I know are level. Despite that, even the elevation tracking is better than nothing and useful for comparisons from one day to the next. I also get a step count which I have not checked for accuracy.
When I get home, I can use the app to upload the workout to "mapmyrun" over wifi. Quick and easy.
I've had the phone for a little more than a month now and used it 21 times. One time the GPS tracking cut out after about a mile but other than that it's worked perfectly. The one time that the GPS stopped might have been weather related - it was pretty overcast that day with a little snowfall. Of course, it's always possible that I pushed some button accidentally but the screen was turned off so that should not have been possible.
So, overall a success but with a few caveats. Thanks again to everyone who answered.
posted by metadave at 6:32 AM on January 19, 2016 [1 favorite]
This thread is closed to new comments.
I haven't had any issues with my moto G for recording via strava - I'd imagine mapmyrun would work fine also. In the past I also used it with bluetooth headphones while running and gps recording (with bluetooth HR monitor), but currently I dislike the disconnection I feel from the environment so I haven't done music in quite a while.
Since then, new models of the moto G are still around $200 so you've got to be able to find some cheaper old used ones. I have the very first gen of moto G, and it's perfectly fine for running.
posted by nobeagle at 12:15 PM on December 3, 2015