How to find the right product for you
This Product Comparison Calculator will allow you to compare products in one of two ways. Choose from the two dropdown menus below to auto-populate the product boxes with results, or click on the product boxes to activate your own personalized choices. Once the product boxes are shaded per your liking, click the “COMPARE NOW” button to retrieve a customized product comparison graph.
Currently there are four product types:
- Watches (and bike computers)
- Trainers (cycling)
- Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
- Power meters (cycling)
- Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
For trainers, the focus is primarily on computer-integrated trainers that provide resistance control. Additionally, like the watches I only include units that I’ve personally reviewed and/or used.
Select product use/budget for a comparison from the drop down menus:
Select product use:
Select price range:
Note: While many running watches have a basic bike mode, only running units that are multi-sport focused are also included in the bike-only results (in addition to bike-specific units). Hiking units are those that include a Barometric Altimeter, Magnetic Compass and navigational functions.
Or select products for comparison by clicking the product boxes below:
Adidas Smart Run GPS
Bia GPS
Bryton Cardio 60 Multisport Watch
CycleOps Joule 2.0 (Original)
CycleOps Joule GPS
FINIS Swimsense
Garmin Edge 1000
Garmin Edge 200
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 510
Garmin Edge 705
Garmin Edge 800
Garmin Edge 810
Garmin Edge Touring (Normal)
Garmin Edge Touring (Plus)
Garmin Fenix
Garmin Fenix2
Garmin Forerunner 10
Garmin Forerunner 110
Garmin Forerunner 15
Garmin Forerunner 210
Garmin Forerunner 220
Garmin Forerunner 305
Garmin Forerunner 310XT
Garmin Forerunner 405
Garmin Forerunner 410
Garmin Forerunner 60/70
Garmin Forerunner 610
Garmin Forerunner 620
Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Garmin Swim
Garmin Tactix
Leikr GPS
Magellan Echo
Magellan Switch & Switch Up
Mio Alpha Optical HR Monitor
Motorola Motoactv
Nike+ GPS Sportwatch
O-Synce Navi2Coach
Polar RC3
Polar RCX3
Polar RCX5
Polar V650
Polar V800
Soleus 1.0 GPS
Soleus 2.0 GPS
Suunto Ambit
Suunto Ambit2
Suunto Ambit2 R
Suunto Ambit2 S
Suunto Ambit3 Peak
Suunto Ambit3 Sport
Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 GPS
Timex Global Trainer
Timex Marathon GPS
Timex Run Trainer GPS 1.0
Timex Run Trainer GPS 2.0
TomTom Multisport
TomTom Multisport Cardio
TomTom Runner
TomTom Runner Cardio
Comparison Results:
| Function/Feature | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
|---|---|---|
| Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated May 23rd, 2014 @ 5:46 amNew Window | ||
| Price | $150.00 | $199.00 |
| Product Announcement Date | Jun 25, 2012 | APR 17, 2013 |
| Actual Availability/Shipping Date | Jul 5, 2012 | JUL 24, 2013 |
| GPS Recording Functionality | No | Yes |
| Data Transfer | ANT Agent | USB/Bluetooth Smart |
| Waterproofing | Yes | ATM5 (50m roughly) |
| Battery Life | 1 Year | 10hrs |
| Recording Interval | 1-Second | 1-second |
| Satellite Pre-Loading via Computer | N/A | Yes |
| Quick Satellite Reception | N/A | Excellent |
| Alerts | No | Vibrate/Sound/Visual |
| Backlight Greatness | OK | Great |
| Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | No | No |
| Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | No | No | Connectivity | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Bluetooth Legacy (pre-4.0) to Phone | No | No |
| Bluetooth Smart (4.0+) to Phone Uploading | No | Yes |
| Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | No | No |
| Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | No | No |
| Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No |
| Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Designed for cycling | No | Yes |
| Power Meter Capable | N/A | No |
| Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | N/A | Yes | Running | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Designed for running | No | Yes |
| Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | N/A | Internal accelerometer |
| Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | N/A | No |
| VO2Max Estimation | N/A | No |
| Race Predictor | N/A | No |
| Recovery Advisor | N/A | No |
| Run/Walk Mode | N/A | No | Swimming | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Designed for swimming | Yes | Yes |
| Openwater swimming mode | No | No (Swimcap only |
| Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | Yes | Yes |
| Record HR underwater | No | No |
| Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | No | No |
| Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Drill Mode | Yes | No |
| Indoor auto-pause feature | No | No |
| Change pool size | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | 18y/17m to 150y/m | 15m-50m |
| Ability to customize data fields | Yes | Yes |
| Can change yards to meters | Yes | Yes |
| Captures per length data - indoors | Yes | Yes |
| Indoor Alerts | Yes | Goals only | Triathlon | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Designed for triathlon | No | Yes |
| Multisport mode | N/A | No | Workouts | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Create/Follow custom workouts | No | No |
| On-unit interval Feature | No | Yes (as of Oct 17th, 2013) |
| Training Calendar Functionality | No | No | Functions | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Auto Start/Stop | N/A | No |
| Virtual Partner Feature | No | Yes |
| Virtual Racer Feature | No | Yes |
| Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | No | iOS (Android Sept 2014) |
| Day to day watch ability | Yes | Yes |
| Hunting/Fishing/Ocean Data | No | No |
| Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No |
| Jumpmaster mode (Parachuting) | No | No |
| Geocaching | No | No |
| Weather Display (live data) | No | No | Navigate | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | N/A | No |
| Markers/Waypoint Direction | N/A | No |
| Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | N/A | No |
| Back to start | N/A | No |
| Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | N/A | No |
| Download courses/routes from phone to unit | N/A | No | Sensors | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Altimeter Type | N/A | GPS (Barometric for Performance Bundle) |
| Compass Type | N/A | None |
| Heart Rate Strap Compatible | No | Yes |
| ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | No | No |
| ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | N/A | No |
| ANT+ Footpod Capable | N/A | No, has internal accelerometer |
| ANT+ Power Meter Capable | N/A | No |
| ANT+ Weight Scale Capable | No | No |
| ANT+ Fitness Equipment (Gym) | No | No |
| ANT+ Remote Control | No | No |
| ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No |
| Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | No, has internal accelerometer |
| Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | No |
| Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | No |
| Temp Recording (external sensor) | No | No |
| Compatible with Firstbeat HR tools | N/A | No | Software | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| PC Application | GTC | MySports Connect |
| Web Application | Garmin Connect | TomTom MySports |
| Phone App | Garmin Fit | No |
| Ability to Export Settings | No | No | Purchase | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Amazon Link | Link | Link |
| Clever Training Link (Save 10% with DCR10WHP) | Link | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Swim | TomTom Multisport |
| Review Link | Link | Link |
