Discussion: Do you train with your iPhone or Garmin?

I was using my Garmin until it broke on me in 2012, and due to the poor service in Toronto I experimented with using my iPhone exclusively for training. I had already been uploading my GPX files to RunKeeper anyway, but was caught out one interval session when I couldn't take any manual splits in the app! MapMyRun Nike, and Runtastic were all kind of the same too.

So I created FitFriend in my spare time to get around this, while also trying to make it more suitable for serious runners / cyclists / or anyone else who cross trains: http://fitfriendapp.com/

I know it's more appropriate for Orienteers to use their watches when racing, but training is a different story.

How many of you use your iPhone (or Android, WP8) over your GPS watch now, and what do you consider the best app?

Well. After having Garmin for a few years, I switched to Polar and never looked back. I use it as regular watch and for all training sessions. Don't see why would I want to carry a phone instead.

My Garmin is broken so I train with a stopwatch. Old school I know but it tells me when it's dinnertime.

I use my Foretrex when training (although it has proved to be of limited utility when analyzing mistakes). The track is then imported into QLandkarte where I keep my O maps as well as a bunch of official "Messtischblaetter" (1:25,000 maps) As of 2013, carrying a GPS during races is allowed, but I think this rule a bit weird, so I don't.

I train with my friend Karl.

I don't have a heart rate for my phone, so Garmin ftw. Plus without a mount or way of carrying it, it's easy to check pace/time etc. on the gps watch whether running, biking, or paddling.

I use the app MOVE on my iphone, but it only works where I have gps range for it. Then just a regular running watch for time/splits.

I train with both. I like to listen to Pandora.

iPhone. Pffffttt. When they make one that fits on my wrist, looks like a watch, works like a watch and is Android, maybe.

BTW Hi Mike. Still in Toronto I take it?

Garmin.

My iPhone 4s's GPS is cruddy enough that it's not really an option if you actually care about your track. And I don't have an HR strap for the iPhone, which is important to me. And the battery life with the GPS on wouldn't meet anything other than short training needs.

Although I may start lugging the iPhone as well if I get a new Garmin FR 220, and want to do live tracking.

When my Garmin broke i did use my iphone on my long routes to get my trackings, also quite nice to listen to some MarathonTalk while running, but i never used it during intervals. Not liking how Garmin isnt really innovating in any way, but since no one else is really providing what they are giving, its for now an arranged marriage with them.

iPhone. The track is accurate "enough" for me, and the elevation might even be better - but I get music, audio books for long rides / skis, and camera to snap anything that is amazing. Google maps is great when we're exploring new terrain. Nice safety aspect of the phone too. Though when I was pre-walking the 2013 Canadian National Champs WE long course (I'm injured & can't compete) I did make a new "first time ever" mistake which was due to checking email on the long leg. Oops. Maybe Gramin would have been better ;-)

Oh - but one big problem (at least when I was orienteering with it) - it doesn't fit well anywhere, so I had to carry a pack mainly to hold the iPhone.

Best App - well I use Strava. The social media aspect of it is really quite fun and motivating, though it does have a dark side.

@Ansgar I had no idea carrying a GPS in orienteering from 2013 is allowed. It does seem a little weird, as the ability to know your location is half the challenge.

@winkepp see that's what I was trying to avoid, using 2 different apps for long runs and interval training. FitFriend uses splits like a stopwatch, and it's all part of your training logs. Check it out and let me know what you think ;)

@fletch yes Steve still in Toronto and married now! :) Hope all is well in the west

@hughmac4 it could be the app you're using. The iPhone GPS is extremely accurate, but some apps don't compensate for accuracy, and the route ends up being crazy

I see a few posts on why you'd want to use your smartphone over your watch. I did think that a watch was more suited to running, even after using a smartphone for a couple of years. But after using both at the same time for a year straight, the pros quickly outweighed the cons easily.

Advantages of your smartphone:
- better GPS (iPhone for sure, this varies widely for Android models though). No more standing out in the rain or cold for 5 mins trying to get a "signal".
- better, or at least similar battery life.
- maps!
- choice of apps. A watch has the same app at all times, it is static.

Disadvantages of your smartphone:
- awkward phone holders like arm bands and waste bands put it out of place.
- not all apps are equal. Some apps fail mid-run, really bad.

The phone holder is still the major disadvantage IMO. But recently I've found something called he HB Tune which attaches to your hand like a thumb compass:
http://www.hbtune.com/iPhonechoosehand/

I of course use IpBike with direct upload support for Attackpoint. Training runs I just hold my xperia active in hand, for O it's in a pocket.

There are a number of Android based SmartWatches coming out I want to get IpBike working with. The other big news is that Samsung will be adding ANT support for the S4 with the 4.3 Android update so you will be able to use your HR strap.

But after using both at the same time for a year straight, the pros quickly outweighed the cons easily.

Just for clarity, what watch make/model are you comparing between? Because for me (Android phone, Garmin 910) the only advantage of the phone is maps.

I smashed a phone screen during a running fall. I don't run with the phone any more.

I smashed a GPS screen at O 3 weeks ago. :(

@Post: I guess it's a national (German) rule. You are, of course, not allowed to actually use the GPS during the race -- but if you do, who can tell?
The idea behind the change is to let runners use GPS tracks for analysis without requiring them to buy a dedicated tracker.

These days I use dedicated logger(s) for their superior accuracy. When you get used to get consistently accuracy like this it is hard to go back to a phone or a garmin.

I'm surprised there's only one comment about breaking smartphones. I'm much more willing to beat the crap out of my [expensive] GPS watch than I am to do that with my smartphone. Orienteering takes me through all sorts of mud, falls, rocks, and enough sweat to wreak havoc with the phone. That's not worth it to me, though I do enjoy the social media aspect of Strava when I use it.

Re: breaking the phone...

A few months ago I wrote a review on that handband I mentioned above, and briefly addressed the falling thing:
http://postblogism.quora.com/Review-Running-Handba...

Since then, I fell hard everywhere on my body at a trail race in September. I was wearing the handband but remarkably the phone didn't have a scratch. The handband screen has a few scratches on but that's about it. Maybe I was lucky ;)

Although I agree that the handband is probably too impractical for Orienteering, as you use your hands more and you fall more. For road running, and some trail running it's fine.

For Orienteering I'd recommend a lean wasteband called a SPIBelt that I occasionally use. Or maybe there's something even better out there. Armbands are rubbish though.

The SPIbelt is a good alternative to armbands if you must carry a phone. I use it for commute running or if I need to have a phone with me while out in the forest. Can hardly tell when you're wearing it, and if you keep the pocket on your back there's little chance of your phone bashing into anything with a fall.

@Jagge which tracker do you use.

If I know I will have my laptop around soon after the workout I usually use Suunto's trackpod, because that's the most accurate logger I have. The track workout I posted was logged with. There is no HR etc data because I did not use HRM watch with it, I had the pod only. If there will be no laptop/tablet around I usually use my slimmed globalsat logger, because I can download and analyze data with my smart phone. That isn't that bad logger either, but there is no separate wrist display for it like I have for the Suunto pod, so it's not quite the same. Both units have their advantages.

The key to get the accuracy like that is having logger in cap, head bandana what ever - antenna shooting straight up. Alamost any gps watch will reach that accuracy if you carry it in cap instead of wrist (but you can't see speed/distance readings because the screen is in your hat). If device's weight is around 35g it is comfortable enough for me to be carried in cap.

I'm at my 4th Garmin, FR 910XT. I wore the previous ones out, still have one FR 350 as a spare. I've been wearing one since 2006 and put 5000-6000 km on each unit before they gave out after running and biking in any kind of weather, xc skiing, paddling, even swimming (in a plastic bag under a swim cap). While I wasn't happy when they broke, I can rationalize the expense by comparing it to a running shoe, which I replace every 1000 km.
I don't listen to music when I run and I hate having something in my hand or around my waist or on my arm, except for something that I can wear around my wrist.
I liked the FR 350 because of the good price, I got my last one for under $200. I sent in a broke unit when Garmin had a buy-back offer and put the $50 towards the 910XT. Still a good chunk of change but I do love that unit. I upload my interval workouts to the unit and it buzzes when I reach my HR zone, it buzzes when the interval ends and when the next one starts.
Here is why I prefer this over my smart phone:
- As mentioned above, it's not clunky
- It's purpose made
- The controls are intuitive
- It's weather and sweatproof (the latest even waterproof)
- It's accurate
- On multi-day trips I can recharge it quickly in the field
I'm sure I could come up with a few other reasons, but I do like it.

Discovered another reason why I generally prefer a watch over a phone -- this morning my phone shutdown on me abruptly in the middle of my run, at 85% battery. I have to assume it was the cold, even though it wasn't that cold (around freezing). Wouldn't boot up again until I got to work, in a warm building. iPhones, in particular, are not known for handling cold very well. OTOH, I've used my Garmin FR in -15C without any issue.

The main obstacle to more widespread use of phones for scoring at our urban rogaines is that people can't see the screen. It's California and it's usually sunny.

Used my HTC (Android) phone today (Sportstracklive) - Garmin didn´t want to cooperate...
Works OK but I prefer the FR305 (with HRM).

Walking: iPhone (but I just use the timer and not the GPS, I count on Google Maps to tell me how far I walked)

Bicycling: Garmin (although I rarely upload or save the data, other than in my training log)

Orienteering: Garmin