The Garmin 910XT is the ducks nuts....does it all

I agree the Garmin 910 is awesome. The smartphone way to go is also great the risk though is that the case may leak and that does happen. The tech we get now is just awesome.

910 xt fore sure even Dale can use that one

Petehoppo said..

I find my iPhone in an otterbox case running an app like run keeper is good. All the data is instantly accessible and uploadable without needing to connect to a PC.

I set mine up to speak to me and call out average speed, distance travelled etc. I just throw it in my hydro pack or bumbag and my hands are free and get all the info I need while paddling

I find Garmin Fit on android to be really good. It's one of the few app's where- when you download to PC and edit - you can actually select Stand Up Padleboarding as an activity. (only minor, but thanks Garmin for listening). You load all your info to your (free) Garmin connect account and then can analise, edit and share. Also can save tracks and export. Garmin have been in this business longer than many of the others, and it's their bread and butter. Try a few options on your phone to see what you like. I use a soft waterproof case for my phone - one with a roll down top and have surfed snorkelled and spens whole days in the ocean with the kids without any leakage.

The Garmin Forerunner 10 isn't bad as a basic GPS watch. It downloads to Garmin Connect which enables you to analyse data, look at maps etc and gives you a variety of options and data to look at while you're actually paddling.
The only drawback is that your training program can't be input to the watch like the 910. With the Forerunner 10 you can only set one type of interval session but for those just beginning it's really good value at around $130.00

If you're not after a watch for serious training but a watch to measure where you've paddled , the time and splits etc this is a great option.

I have the Suunto Ambit 2S which I find to be really user friendly and does everything I want it to. Best thing I have found is the waterproof to 50 metres so never have to worry about falling in (which may or may not happen quite often!). Similar to the Garmins I guess and just comes down to personal preference but also a good alternative and something to look at!

Good Luck!

I now just pay someone to paddle along with me yelling out in 1km intervals and then working out how fast I am going. They need to be able to calculate a lot but it seems to be working :)

Went the Garmin Forerunner 10. Basic, cheap, water proof. All I wanted was to track where I've been but with Garmin connect it's got all sorts of details.

Pic below from first trial run with the gps. Unlike the sat image the conditions were very choppy but with enough swell to have some fun.

I am now running my iPhone in a Lifeproof case with a Magellan Echo watch. Everything uploads to mapmyrun (MVP) and I can interrogate any and all information that I could possibly want to. What I like about mapmyrun MVP is that I don't need to set any laps/intervals prior to starting and can set different laps setting post activity. 100m, 250m, 500m and so on. The other thing that I like is that I can set different courses for my regular routes/tracks that I do. This is great as I can now start my circuit, time trial or whatever and don't even need to stop it on the finish line as the app knows my finish position and records the time when I hit that position. Very cool