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 eight product types:
– Watches (and bike computers)
– Trainers (for cycling indoors)
– Activity monitors (things like Fitbits and step counters)
– Power meters (for cycling)
– Action Cams (things like GoPro’s and the like)
– Heart Rate Sensors (Straps and Optical sensors that measure HR)
– Trainer Apps (for cycling indoors on trainers)
– Drones (primarily sport focused options)
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
Apple Watch Series 2 & Nike+ Edition
Bia GPS
Bryton Cardio 60 Multisport Watch
CycleOps Joule 2.0 (Original)
CycleOps Joule GPS
Epson SF-810
FINIS Swimsense
Fitbit Surge
Garmin Edge 1000
Garmin Edge 20
Garmin Edge 200
Garmin Edge 25
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 510
Garmin Edge 520
Garmin Edge 705
Garmin Edge 800
Garmin Edge 810
Garmin Edge 820
Garmin Edge Touring (Normal)
Garmin Edge Touring (Plus)
Garmin Epix
Garmin Fenix
Garmin Fenix2/Fenix2 SE
Garmin Fenix3
Garmin Fenix3 HR
Garmin Fenix5 (5/5S/5X)
Garmin Forerunner 10
Garmin Forerunner 110
Garmin Forerunner 15
Garmin Forerunner 210
Garmin Forerunner 220
Garmin Forerunner 225
Garmin Forerunner 230
Garmin Forerunner 235
Garmin Forerunner 25
Garmin Forerunner 305
Garmin Forerunner 310XT
Garmin Forerunner 35
Garmin Forerunner 405
Garmin Forerunner 410
Garmin Forerunner 60/70
Garmin Forerunner 610
Garmin Forerunner 620
Garmin Forerunner 630
Garmin Forerunner 735XT
Garmin Forerunner 910XT
Garmin Forerunner 920XT
Garmin Forerunner 935
Garmin Swim
Garmin Tactix
Garmin Vivoactive
Garmin Vivoactive HR
Garmin Vivosmart HR+
Leikr GPS
Magellan Echo
Magellan Switch & Switch Up
Microsoft Band 2
Mio Alpha Optical HR Monitor
Motorola Motoactv
Nike+ GPS Sportwatch
O-Synce Navi2Coach
Polar A300
Polar M200
Polar M400
Polar M450
Polar M600
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
Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Suunto Spartan Ultra
Timex Cycle Trainer 2.0 GPS
Timex Global Trainer
Timex Marathon GPS
Timex One GPS+
Timex Run Trainer GPS 1.0
Timex Run Trainer GPS 2.0
Timex Run x20 GPS
Timex Run x50
TomTom Multisport
TomTom Multisport Cardio
TomTom Runner
TomTom Runner Cardio
TomTom Spark
TomTom Spark 3/Runner 3
Wahoo ELEMNT
Wahoo ELEMNT BOLT
Comparison Results:
| Function/Feature | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated November 27th, 2016 @ 4:58 amNew Window | ||||
| Price | $399 | $399 | $450.00 | $449 |
| Product Announcement Date | SEPT 16, 2013 | OCT 4, 2011 | Oct 22, 2013 | Jan 6th, 2014 |
| Actual Availability/Shipping Date | OCT 31, 2013 | JAN-APR 2012 | Nov 2013 | May 2014 |
| GPS Recording Functionality | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Data Transfer | USB, WiFi, Bluetooth Smart | ANT+ Wireless | USB & Bluetooth Smart | USB, BLUETOOTH SMART |
| Waterproofing | 50 meters | Yes - 50m | Yes - 50m | Yes - 30m |
| Battery Life (GPS) | 10 hours | 20 Hours | 50 hours | Up to 50 hours |
| Recording Interval | 1-second & Smart | 1s or Smart | Variable | 1s |
| Satellite Pre-Loading via Computer | Yes, 7 days | No | No | Sorta, predictive but not cached. |
| Quick Satellite Reception | Great | Great | Good | Good |
| Alerts | Audio/Visual/Vibrate | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual | Vibrate/Sound/Visual |
| Backlight Greatness | Great | Great | Great | Great |
| Ability to download custom apps to unit/device | No | No | No | No |
| Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Can control phone music | No | |||
| Has music storage and playback | No | Connectivity | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Bluetooth Legacy (pre-4.0) to Phone | No | No | No | No |
| Bluetooth Smart (4.0+) to Phone Uploading | Yes | Via Wahoo Fitness Adapter | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Live Tracking (streaming location to website) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Group tracking | No | |||
| Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts) | No | No | No | No |
| Built-in cellular chip (no phone required) | No | No | No | No | Cycling | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Designed for cycling | Barely (Speed mode only) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power Meter Capable | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Power Meter Configuration/Calibration Options | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Power Meter TSS/NP/IF | N/A | Yes | N/A | NP |
| Speed/Cadence Sensor Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Strava segments live on device | No | No | ||
| Crash detection | No | Running | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Designed for running | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Footpod Capable (For treadmills) | Yes (internal accelerometer) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...) | Yes | No | No | No |
| VO2Max Estimation | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Race Predictor | Yes | No | No | Yes, via Race Pace |
| Recovery Advisor | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Run/Walk Mode | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, via timers | Swimming | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Designed for swimming | No (protected though just fine) | Yes | No | Yes |
| Openwater swimming mode | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Lap/Indoor Distance Tracking | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Record HR underwater | No | No | N/A | Yes |
| Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.) | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Indoor Drill Mode | N/A | No | N/A | No |
| Indoor auto-pause feature | N/A | No | N/A | No |
| Change pool size | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths | N/A | 20m/22y to 100y/m | N/A | - |
| Ability to customize data fields | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Can change yards to meters | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Captures per length data - indoors | N/A | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Indoor Alerts | N/A | Yes | N/A | N/A | Triathlon | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Designed for triathlon | No | Yes | No | Yes |
| Multisport mode | No | Yes | N/A | Yes | Workouts | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Create/Follow custom workouts | Yes | Yes | Yes (As of Dec 6, 2013) | Yes |
| On-unit interval Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes (As of Dec 6, 2013) | No |
| Training Calendar Functionality | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Functions | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Auto Start/Stop | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Partner Feature | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Racer Feature | No | Yes | No | No |
| Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history) | Yes | No | No | No |
| Day to day watch ability | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hunting/Fishing/Ocean Data | No | No | Yes | No |
| Tidal Tables (Tide Information) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Jumpmaster mode (Parachuting) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Geocaching | No | No | Yes | No |
| Weather Display (live data) | No | No | No | No | Navigate | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Markers/Waypoint Direction | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS) | No | No | No | No |
| Back to start | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Impromptu Round Trip Route Creation | No | No | No | No |
| Download courses/routes from phone to unit | No | No | Yes | Yes | Sensors | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Altimeter Type | GPS | Barometric | Barometric | Barometric |
| Compass Type | N/A | GPS | Magnetic | Magnetic |
| Optical Heart Rate Sensor internally | No | No | ||
| Heart Rate Strap Compatible | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ANT+ Heart Rate Strap Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Speed/Cadence Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Footpod Capable | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| ANT+ Power Meter Capable | No | Yes | No | No |
| ANT+ Weight Scale Capable | No | Yes | No | No |
| ANT+ Fitness Equipment (Gym) | No | Yes | No | No |
| ANT+ Lighting Control | No | No | ||
| ANT+ Bike Radar Integration | No | No | ||
| ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C) | No | No | ||
| ANT+ Remote Control | No | No | Yes | No |
| ANT+ eBike Compatibility | No | No | No | No |
| ANT+ Muscle Oxygen (i.e. Moxy/BSX) | No | |||
| ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP) | No | |||
| Shimano Di2 Shifting | No | No | No | |
| Bluetooth Smart HR Strap Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Footpod Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Bluetooth Smart Power Meter Capable | No | No | No | Yes |
| Temp Recording (internal sensor) | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Temp Recording (external sensor) | No | No | Yes | No |
| Compatible with Firstbeat HR tools | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Software | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| PC Application | Garmin Express | GTC/ANT Agent | Basecamp | Polar Flowsync - Windows/Mac |
| Web Application | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Garmin Connect | Polar Flow |
| Phone App | iOS/Android | iOS/Android | Garmin Basecamp | iOS/Android |
| Ability to Export Settings | Yes | No | Yes (profiles XML) | No | Purchase | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Amazon Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |
| Clever Training - Save a bunch with Clever Training VIP program | Link | Link | Link | Link |
| Clever Training - Save a bunch with Clever Training VIP program | Link | DCRainmaker | Garmin Forerunner 620 | Garmin Forerunner 910XT | Garmin Tactix | Polar V800 |
| Review Link | Link | Link | Link | Link |
