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For mainly running, is AW2 enough?

S

satchmo

macrumors 603
Original poster
Aug 6, 2008
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Canada
I'm not sure I want to drop $600 CDN on an AW that will primarily be used for tracking fitness and running. The main reason would be to have music on a watch and wireless BT earbuds at the gym.

Garmin has jumped on board with this feature with their Vivoactive 3 music, but at $400 CDN, I'm wondering if an AW2 or 3 isn't a better buy as I'm already in the Apple ecosystem.

I'm not interested in cellular options, so that will lower the cost too. But is an AW2 too old, or slow (loading songs or the processor)? Anyone still rockin' and AW2 for fitness? Or perhaps an AW3 is better and more future proof?
 
I still use my series 0 from 2015 daily. No issues, apps slow to load but it's literally around 10 seconds. It's useable. So yes any of the newer generations would fair well too.
 
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I use my AW2 for running without issue.
It's fast and smooth with apple built in workout app.
It's a bit slow with some other apps like Workourdoors, and very slow with Nike run club
 
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I think it depends on your intended use. If you're only going to wear it during your runs I'd suggest some kind of dedicated device, like the Garmin you mentioned. If you're going to wear it all day I would suggest the series 3 at this point. The 2 is still good, and anyone who has one already is going to still be happy with it. But with any kind of tech purchase you want it to last at least a little bit. I think you risk feeling like the series 2 needs replacement in about a year.
 
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rbart said:
I use my AW2 for running without issue.
It's fast and smooth with apple built in workout app.
It's a bit slow with some other apps like Workourdoors, and very slow with Nike run club
Click to expand...

Ditto
 
akash.nu said:
I mean 10 secs app load time is actually not useable at all. That’s too slow for the standard today.
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If you’re just using it for runs then it is completely useable. Going for a run requires you to do several things - get changed, get headphones on, get music on etc. You just start the Workout app during the routine. Then you’ll literally never notice. I know this because I did it with an AW0 for ages. I only upgraded because I got a silly cheap deal.
 
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One advice: buy a series 2 only if it's very cheap. It's usable, but we feel that a lot of apps are slow and not very smooth.
 
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I'm using the SS S2 Watch for running, with the built in Apple workout app. I run 2 or 3 times a week, and it works great. I wear my watch daily. After an intensive day, including a run, battery is down to 10%. On normal days, battery is still between 25 and 35 % when i go to bed. With the Apple workout app, i don't experience any annoying loading times.

Oh, and while running, i listen to music, playing from my watch on my Airpods. I leave my phone at home :)
 
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It can be very useful in case of emergency, but you are right, it's nice to run without being to much connected ....
 
akash.nu said:
Yes series 2 is probably fine for that but the original comment I responded to, mentioned that the watch in use was a series 0.
Click to expand...

My S2 was very slow before upgrading. The workout app took quite a long time to get ready so that has been amazing regarding upgrading.

Would say the altimeter from S3 and forward is a great addition if you run routes that have some elevation
 
rbart said:
It can be very useful in case of emergency, but you are right, it's nice to run without being to much connected ....
Click to expand...
Yea that’d be a no go - being reachable by my family is needed - no longer in a situation where it’d be socially acceptable to not be available for emergencies.
 
As an avid runner ... 5k+ a day for over 500days straight and thousands of miles in the past, I advise just dropping the cash (if you have it of course) and getting the latest Nike+ AW. I have had every Garmin and FitBit on the market until the release of the latest AW. I resisted the AW until now, due to my love of the FitBit community and my competition with 30 or so active users. Admittedly, I still miss the FitBit community but my AW is far superior in every way (except sleep tracking), including HR accuracy and indoor/outdoor distance tracking. I bought the Nike+ version to enable me to jump into their established community, unfortunately there are lots of weird cheaters and teams of folks using the same account running hundreds of miles a day, ruining the community. I have not found any friends who use Nike+ but my wife and I can still directly compete (she too runs a 5k or more every day). The activity tracking and Nike+ app are light years ahead of anything FitBit had to offer and running outside with music pre-loaded on my watch transmitting to my AirPods (leaving my iPhone at home) has been a game changer. I usually hate music while running but am now a believer. Instead of focusing on my breathing and heart rate while playing all the mind tricks to push my runs, I program music I know will inspire me to increase my pace and cadence.
Now my only issue is my AirPods no longer put out their original volume, even after having them cleaned and checked out by Apple (too much sweat). I am hoping for new AirPods suited for people who care about their bodies and live active lifestyles.

***You only get one body and one life***
 
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MajorOZ said:
As an avid runner ... 5k+ a day for over 500days straight and thousands of miles in the past, I advise just dropping the cash (if you have it of course) and getting the latest Nike+ AW. I have had every Garmin and FitBit on the market until the release of the latest AW. I resisted the AW until now, due to my love of the FitBit community and my competition with 30 or so active users. Admittedly, I still miss the FitBit community but my AW is far superior in every way (except sleep tracking), including HR accuracy and indoor/outdoor distance tracking. I bought the Nike+ version to enable me to jump into their established community, unfortunately there are lots of weird cheaters and teams of folks using the same account running hundreds of miles a day, ruining the community. I have not found any friends who use Nike+ but my wife and I can still directly compete (she too runs a 5k or more every day). The activity tracking and Nike+ app are light years ahead of anything FitBit had to offer and running outside with music pre-loaded on my watch transmitting to my AirPods (leaving my iPhone at home) has been a game changer. I usually hate music while running but am now a believer. Instead of focusing on my breathing and heart rate while playing all the mind tricks to push my runs, I program music I know will inspire me to increase my pace and cadence.
Now my only issue is my AirPods no longer put out their original volume, even after having them cleaned and checked out by Apple (too much sweat). I am hoping for new AirPods suited for people who care about their bodies and live active lifestyles.

***You only get one body and one life***
Click to expand...

Wow 500 days straight is pretty amazing - I run around 100 km a month when I’m not injured - the Apple Watch is the best running buddy I’ve ever had (besides my loving dog of course)
 
MajorOZ said:
***You only get one body and one life***
Click to expand...

This is true but you do get two arms with two wrists. I wear a Fitbit Charge 3 on my left wrist and the AW4 on my right. ;)

I recently upgraded to the AW4 from an AW2 and as a fellow runner I can also highly recommend the upgrade. The AW2 was just too slow and sluggish.

Incidentally, I've personally found the HRM accuracy in the Charge 3 and AW4 to be quite comparable, and then of course, there is the 5-7 days before recharging and sleep tracking.
 
I love my series 4 but sometimes it just stops even though I do not it just stops almost at 10 seconds every time. I typically use BOTH my fenix 5 and aw4 on my runs. I love the garmin stats and the way it syncs to strava but also love the music ability on the aw4.
 
MajorOZ said:
As an avid runner ... 5k+ a day for over 500days straight and thousands of miles in the past, I advise just dropping the cash (if you have it of course) and getting the latest Nike+ AW. I have had every Garmin and FitBit on the market until the release of the latest AW. I resisted the AW until now, due to my love of the FitBit community and my competition with 30 or so active users. Admittedly, I still miss the FitBit community but my AW is far superior in every way (except sleep tracking), including HR accuracy and indoor/outdoor distance tracking. I bought the Nike+ version to enable me to jump into their established community, unfortunately there are lots of weird cheaters and teams of folks using the same account running hundreds of miles a day, ruining the community. I have not found any friends who use Nike+ but my wife and I can still directly compete (she too runs a 5k or more every day). The activity tracking and Nike+ app are light years ahead of anything FitBit had to offer and running outside with music pre-loaded on my watch transmitting to my AirPods (leaving my iPhone at home) has been a game changer. I usually hate music while running but am now a believer. Instead of focusing on my breathing and heart rate while playing all the mind tricks to push my runs, I program music I know will inspire me to increase my pace and cadence.
Now my only issue is my AirPods no longer put out their original volume, even after having them cleaned and checked out by Apple (too much sweat). I am hoping for new AirPods suited for people who care about their bodies and live active lifestyles.

***You only get one body and one life***
Click to expand...

You don't really need the Nike edition, just need an Apple Watch. You can still install the Nike app, and the watch will function the same. The only advantage are the (temporarily) exclusive bands and the unique watch faces. But in functionality, every AW is the same.
 
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Fthree said:
I love my series 4 but sometimes it just stops even though I do not it just stops almost at 10 seconds every time. I typically use BOTH my fenix 5 and aw4 on my runs. I love the garmin stats and the way it syncs to strava but also love the music ability on the aw4.
Click to expand...

Do you think you could go to only using the Fenix 5? I’ve been tempted for a while by the Fenix 5S and now 5S plus. I just think I’d heavily miss the daily use/integration of my Apple Watch. I’d love not having to charge but once a week and to have all my fitness
 
PaladinGuy said:
Do you think you could go to only using the Fenix 5? I’ve been tempted for a while by the Fenix 5S and now 5S plus. I just think I’d heavily miss the daily use/integration of my Apple Watch. I’d love not having to charge but once a week and to have all my fitness
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I definitely 100% could just get away with the fenix 5 IF I wanted to carry a music source with me on the runs. Having the Apple Watch also keeps me from having to do that. It does kinda stink however using both. Like I said I only wear both on runs but use the aw as my daily.
 
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