Upgrading my running technology
November 5, 2022 3:08 PM Subscribe
I signed up for my first marathon after decades of being a casual runner. I have been making some serious upgrades of gear because now I’m running with goals in mind. I am pretty aware of how my current technology (watch, headphones, ipod) is obsolete, and I’m trying to figure out what I actually need. Runners of metafilter, please help!
I currently run with an iPod shuffle clipped to my sports bra and a pair of Sony wired sports headphones that hook over my ears. I have a Garmin forerunner 25 and the Garmin connect app that basically just tracks my miles, time, and pace. The shuffle and the watch still work, but both are no longer being made and I feel like I’m on borrowed time until I have to figure out how to upgrade. My watch is also getting a little glitchy and it’s making me nervous. It’s probably time to replace it, but if I’m spending the money, I feel like I should take future needs into account, especially because there seem to be options that would allow me to upgrade music and watch simultaneously.
What I like about my current set-up: I don’t have to carry my phone. I don’t get distracted by selecting playlists or songs, I just hit play and go with it. It’s light, small, simple, sturdy, holds a ton of music and goes for hours. My headphones are probably 5+ years old and still in excellent shape, sound great, and I don’t mind the cord. They work with my glasses and headbands/hats and don’t slip or fall out. With my watch, the only numbers I see when I am running are time, pace, average pace, and distance. I like the Garmin app and the data I’m getting from it, even with the limited data tracking of the 25. I sometimes fall into the trap of obsessing about numbers and this seems to prevent that. I like that I only have to worry about charging 2 things. Any more than that and I’m going to have to figure out some sort of charging station or charge them in different locations. I only wear my watch while running, I’m not using it as any sort of daily wear smart watch and I do not plan on wearing a smart watch any time other than running in the future.
What I am considering: based on the reviews I have read and my desire to stick with Garmin, I’m interested in the forerunner 45, 55, or 255 music. The 45 seems to be the closest equivalent to what I currently have and like. The 55 seems to have more stuff it will track, and maybe I will want those features down the road, but I’ve also heard that there’s a whole bunch of useless information/algorithms in there. The 255 has the option of holding music, which means if/when the shuffle goes, I don’t have to try to replace that. I’m also interested in bone conduction headphones (from a safety stand point) which are generally Bluetooth and the 255 music would work with that in a way the shuffle won’t.
I really want to stick with Garmin because I don’t want to lose the data from the app. Do you have a Garmin Forerunner 45, 55, or 255s? Do you have a different Garmin that you love that I should be considering? Do you find the extras that the 45 doesn’t have worth it? Do you use your watch for music and have thoughts on that? Is there another solution for running with music that doesn’t involve my phone? Do you have bone conduction or wireless headphones that you run with and like? Will there ever be a good replacement for the iPod shuffle? I am willing to spend what I need to on tech that works best for me, so while I care about price, I care way more about function.
I currently run with an iPod shuffle clipped to my sports bra and a pair of Sony wired sports headphones that hook over my ears. I have a Garmin forerunner 25 and the Garmin connect app that basically just tracks my miles, time, and pace. The shuffle and the watch still work, but both are no longer being made and I feel like I’m on borrowed time until I have to figure out how to upgrade. My watch is also getting a little glitchy and it’s making me nervous. It’s probably time to replace it, but if I’m spending the money, I feel like I should take future needs into account, especially because there seem to be options that would allow me to upgrade music and watch simultaneously.
What I like about my current set-up: I don’t have to carry my phone. I don’t get distracted by selecting playlists or songs, I just hit play and go with it. It’s light, small, simple, sturdy, holds a ton of music and goes for hours. My headphones are probably 5+ years old and still in excellent shape, sound great, and I don’t mind the cord. They work with my glasses and headbands/hats and don’t slip or fall out. With my watch, the only numbers I see when I am running are time, pace, average pace, and distance. I like the Garmin app and the data I’m getting from it, even with the limited data tracking of the 25. I sometimes fall into the trap of obsessing about numbers and this seems to prevent that. I like that I only have to worry about charging 2 things. Any more than that and I’m going to have to figure out some sort of charging station or charge them in different locations. I only wear my watch while running, I’m not using it as any sort of daily wear smart watch and I do not plan on wearing a smart watch any time other than running in the future.
What I am considering: based on the reviews I have read and my desire to stick with Garmin, I’m interested in the forerunner 45, 55, or 255 music. The 45 seems to be the closest equivalent to what I currently have and like. The 55 seems to have more stuff it will track, and maybe I will want those features down the road, but I’ve also heard that there’s a whole bunch of useless information/algorithms in there. The 255 has the option of holding music, which means if/when the shuffle goes, I don’t have to try to replace that. I’m also interested in bone conduction headphones (from a safety stand point) which are generally Bluetooth and the 255 music would work with that in a way the shuffle won’t.
I really want to stick with Garmin because I don’t want to lose the data from the app. Do you have a Garmin Forerunner 45, 55, or 255s? Do you have a different Garmin that you love that I should be considering? Do you find the extras that the 45 doesn’t have worth it? Do you use your watch for music and have thoughts on that? Is there another solution for running with music that doesn’t involve my phone? Do you have bone conduction or wireless headphones that you run with and like? Will there ever be a good replacement for the iPod shuffle? I am willing to spend what I need to on tech that works best for me, so while I care about price, I care way more about function.
Best answer: I'm not a proper serious running person, but I've run three marathons (very, very slowly) and a few halves. I use Aeropex Aftershokz wireless bone conduction headphones and have been happy with them. I do not trust the drivers around where I run and really like being able to hear ambient sounds. The sound quality is surprisingly good, much better than my cheap Amazon wireless earbud headphones. The only thing that's a bit awkward is getting my long hair/hat/sunglasses adjusted around them, but it all works, and I definitely do not miss the flapping cord.
I haaaaate running with a phone. Like you, I used to run with a shuffle. My husband really wanted me to have my phone for safety, but I argued that the places where I run have enough people around that in an emergency I could borrow a phone. Well...I ended up falling and smacking my face into the concrete. I was vindicated in that a very nice young woman let me use her phone, found me damp paper towels to catch the blood, and waited with me until my husband came to get me. But, alas, I run with my phone now, and just use that for music. I might have been more stubborn if my shuffle weren't having some issues, though - I'm interested to see what people suggest for you.
I have a Garmin 35. I've been happy with it, so if I had to replace it, I would probably go with the 45. It tracks everything I need for my un-ambitious purposes and I like the straightforward interface. I also like the fact that, while I would not call it inexpensive, I feel like I can use it without swathing it in protective coverings and obsessing about whether I'm going to harm it if I whack my wrist into something. (My phone lives in a heavy-duty case.)
Best of luck in your marathon!
posted by LadyOscar at 3:59 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
I haaaaate running with a phone. Like you, I used to run with a shuffle. My husband really wanted me to have my phone for safety, but I argued that the places where I run have enough people around that in an emergency I could borrow a phone. Well...I ended up falling and smacking my face into the concrete. I was vindicated in that a very nice young woman let me use her phone, found me damp paper towels to catch the blood, and waited with me until my husband came to get me. But, alas, I run with my phone now, and just use that for music. I might have been more stubborn if my shuffle weren't having some issues, though - I'm interested to see what people suggest for you.
I have a Garmin 35. I've been happy with it, so if I had to replace it, I would probably go with the 45. It tracks everything I need for my un-ambitious purposes and I like the straightforward interface. I also like the fact that, while I would not call it inexpensive, I feel like I can use it without swathing it in protective coverings and obsessing about whether I'm going to harm it if I whack my wrist into something. (My phone lives in a heavy-duty case.)
Best of luck in your marathon!
posted by LadyOscar at 3:59 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have bone conduction headphones, although I use them to bike rather than run. My model is the Shokz OpenMove.
What I like:
I actually experience way less fatigue with these than any other headphones I've owned. I've had them on continuously for all of a 50-mile bike ride and they feel fine. I am sure it's better for my hearing than any other sound technology that directs audio directly into my eardrums.
The sound quality is inevitably not going to be as good because of street noise contamination but it turns out I absolutely don't mind and I much prefer being able to hear what's going on around me (although at the volume I listen to them, I can't decipher human voices around me very well —car sounds are okay though).
They only last 5-6 hours but they charge via USB-C in less than 2 hours, so on longer bike trips I can just charge them off an external battery if they run out.
What I don't like:
Headband is not adjustable and is meant to project slightly from the back of your head, making collars, bike helmets, etc kind of annoying. Once on I don't find myself having to adjust very often but it does happen, and I imagine with running the jostling will mean a lot of adjustment.
Multifunction button to pause rewind or skip tracks only works reliably for pause, it seems to not register multiple presses very well.
As always with Bluetooth devices, no reliable way to estimate battery life and 5-6 hours is not as long as I'd like.
posted by derrinyet at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
What I like:
I actually experience way less fatigue with these than any other headphones I've owned. I've had them on continuously for all of a 50-mile bike ride and they feel fine. I am sure it's better for my hearing than any other sound technology that directs audio directly into my eardrums.
The sound quality is inevitably not going to be as good because of street noise contamination but it turns out I absolutely don't mind and I much prefer being able to hear what's going on around me (although at the volume I listen to them, I can't decipher human voices around me very well —car sounds are okay though).
They only last 5-6 hours but they charge via USB-C in less than 2 hours, so on longer bike trips I can just charge them off an external battery if they run out.
What I don't like:
Headband is not adjustable and is meant to project slightly from the back of your head, making collars, bike helmets, etc kind of annoying. Once on I don't find myself having to adjust very often but it does happen, and I imagine with running the jostling will mean a lot of adjustment.
Multifunction button to pause rewind or skip tracks only works reliably for pause, it seems to not register multiple presses very well.
As always with Bluetooth devices, no reliable way to estimate battery life and 5-6 hours is not as long as I'd like.
posted by derrinyet at 4:02 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I just made the switch from in-ear BT headphones paired with my phone running Strava to a Garmin 245 Music and Aftershokz (or Shokz) bone conduction headphones. I went with the 245 Music because I didn't want to carry my phone when unneeded. While the 255 Music has some nice bells and whistles that I might appreciate, they're not enough for me to overlook the great sale prices I found on the older model. I use Spotify to load the watch and I'm good to go.
The Aftershokz were a gift and they are amazing. Voices in podcasts and quieter songs can get drowned out when there's a lot of street noise but I see that as a feature of environmental awareness, not a drawback.
After a few years of being "fine" with my old setup, I'm super happy with the new gear and it has helped my marathon training a lot this cycle.
posted by tip120 at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
The Aftershokz were a gift and they are amazing. Voices in podcasts and quieter songs can get drowned out when there's a lot of street noise but I see that as a feature of environmental awareness, not a drawback.
After a few years of being "fine" with my old setup, I'm super happy with the new gear and it has helped my marathon training a lot this cycle.
posted by tip120 at 4:09 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I have the Garmin Forerunner 245 Music, the previous generation. And Shokz Air bone conduction headphones (a step down from the Openrun, but above the Openmove). I've run a couple of marathons with them both.
I absolutely love both. Things I like:
- I didn't think leaving my phone at home would be that big a deal, but it's actually really nice, liberating, and slightly reduces pre-run armband faff. The one thing I miss is NFC to buy a post-run coffee, but the 255 has that.
- music works really well, assuming you have Spotify Premium or another supported music service.
- the Aftershokz are now my standard outdoors headphones, not just for running. Really comfy, sound is fine, and they don't interfere with my glasses. Battery life seems good, I had 40% left after a 7 hour hike.
- Garmins are extremely customisable, and there's a big market of third-party "apps" and data screens and widgets. Initially a bit overwhelming, but you can definitely set the watch to show as much or as little data as you want.
- no touchscreen! I can't use a touchscreen without looking at it, and definitely not when I'm drenched in sweat or rain. Buttons forever!
- despite the Forerunner being a running-focused model, Garmin is pretty generous with supporting other sports and integrating with cycling speedometers and power and cadence meters.
posted by Klipspringer at 4:11 PM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
I absolutely love both. Things I like:
- I didn't think leaving my phone at home would be that big a deal, but it's actually really nice, liberating, and slightly reduces pre-run armband faff. The one thing I miss is NFC to buy a post-run coffee, but the 255 has that.
- music works really well, assuming you have Spotify Premium or another supported music service.
- the Aftershokz are now my standard outdoors headphones, not just for running. Really comfy, sound is fine, and they don't interfere with my glasses. Battery life seems good, I had 40% left after a 7 hour hike.
- Garmins are extremely customisable, and there's a big market of third-party "apps" and data screens and widgets. Initially a bit overwhelming, but you can definitely set the watch to show as much or as little data as you want.
- no touchscreen! I can't use a touchscreen without looking at it, and definitely not when I'm drenched in sweat or rain. Buttons forever!
- despite the Forerunner being a running-focused model, Garmin is pretty generous with supporting other sports and integrating with cycling speedometers and power and cadence meters.
posted by Klipspringer at 4:11 PM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Nth the bone conduction phones- a real game changer!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:30 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by Jon Mitchell at 5:30 PM on November 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I'll third the Forerunner 245/255 Music. The syncing is a little finicky, so I definitely do some times say screw it, and take my phone, but it's nice to be able to go out without it. I have LG Tone Wireless earbuds and they actually hold up pretty well to sweat, etc.
I also like that it's a sort of dumb watch. I didn't really want a smart watch, and the functionality is at the level that I can see important stuff quickly- who's calling or preview a text, but no touch screen, and it can't do that much, so it's not distracting. The screen is also customizable, so you can change watch faces, and the info getting displayed. Another feature I use a lot is the find my phone function, which is very handy.
posted by damayanti at 6:05 PM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
I also like that it's a sort of dumb watch. I didn't really want a smart watch, and the functionality is at the level that I can see important stuff quickly- who's calling or preview a text, but no touch screen, and it can't do that much, so it's not distracting. The screen is also customizable, so you can change watch faces, and the info getting displayed. Another feature I use a lot is the find my phone function, which is very handy.
posted by damayanti at 6:05 PM on November 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Best answer: I've been running with my (After)Shokz bone conduction headphones for 5+ years. Absolutely recommend over earbuds.
posted by LoveHam at 3:51 AM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by LoveHam at 3:51 AM on November 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Lifetime runner (35+ years), I use a Garmin 35 and Strava. I'll add two things to the thread:
#1 The DC Rainmaker blog is the go-to review site of all things related to smart fitness tech. DC Rainmaker started as a labor of love by an amateur triathlete/lawyer and turned into a full time gig. Start here and click "Runners watch" in the sidebar for a discussion of best running watches in 2021 (dated Nov. 2021); covers the Garmin 245. He has in-depth reviews of every Garmin watch mentioned in this thread; for example an in-depth review of Garmin 245.
#2 One commenter mentioned Strava as a by-the-way. My opinion is that Strava is a must-have to get useful analytics out of any GPS watch. The Garmin Connect app is, for me, just a way to get the data from my watch into Strava. Until year before last, every runner and cyclist I knew used the free tier of Strava. They moved some of the free features into the premium ($5/month) version, and everyone I knew switched to the premium version. If you aren't using any analytics, you'll find the free version will get you pretty far.
Good luck with your marathon!
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 4:05 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
#1 The DC Rainmaker blog is the go-to review site of all things related to smart fitness tech. DC Rainmaker started as a labor of love by an amateur triathlete/lawyer and turned into a full time gig. Start here and click "Runners watch" in the sidebar for a discussion of best running watches in 2021 (dated Nov. 2021); covers the Garmin 245. He has in-depth reviews of every Garmin watch mentioned in this thread; for example an in-depth review of Garmin 245.
#2 One commenter mentioned Strava as a by-the-way. My opinion is that Strava is a must-have to get useful analytics out of any GPS watch. The Garmin Connect app is, for me, just a way to get the data from my watch into Strava. Until year before last, every runner and cyclist I knew used the free tier of Strava. They moved some of the free features into the premium ($5/month) version, and everyone I knew switched to the premium version. If you aren't using any analytics, you'll find the free version will get you pretty far.
Good luck with your marathon!
posted by BlueTongueLizard at 4:05 AM on November 6, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thank you so much for the answers! The 245 and the shokz headphones are going to be my winter solstice gift to myself. Thank you klipslinger for pointing out the touch screen/button difference. Buttons are definitely better for me. No one in my current social circles runs, so I’m really happy to have all the really good feedback.
posted by August Fury at 5:41 AM on November 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by August Fury at 5:41 AM on November 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
I have a Garmin 645 and love it, but I don’t use the music features (and can’t remember what the difference is between that and the 245 that made me buy it when I did). But it keeps records of heart rate, pace, and step cadence, and will let you preprogram workouts for a given pace/distance/heartrate.
posted by LizardBreath at 2:37 PM on November 6, 2022
posted by LizardBreath at 2:37 PM on November 6, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
I do recommend checking out either bone conduction headphones or wireless headphones with a transparency setting (like the AirPod Pros) - it's really nice to be able to maintain full situational awareness without having to pop a headphone in and out.
(Have fun in marathon training! I'm running one tomorrow and this question was the perfect distraction from pre-race jitters.)
posted by superfluousm at 3:58 PM on November 5, 2022 [4 favorites]