Have you been more active lately than usual? Is the adrenaline pumping through your body? These are the signs of a good routine, practicing sports and keeping fit. To get to the next level, your best ally is to have a sports watch that shows you in detail the statistics of your daily activity.
We are in a time where keeping fit is the order of the day. A good diet and practicing sports are the basics of a healthy life. And we all know that practicing sports requires perseverance and dedication. To keep track of how much you have been running or how many steps you complete at a certain time, there are good sports watches for men that will make this job much easier.
If you are one of those who are starting to play sports or are already a born sportsman, you should buy a watch to play sports with a GPS.
Before choosing a sports watch, I will explain some things that you must take into account when deciding on one.
Which to Choose? Clock with GPS or Activity Bracelet?
The smart watch and bracelets’ activity shows you an estimate of daily activity (calorie consumption, steps, distance); even some more advanced models can monitor your sleep. Watches with GPS can record the distances traveled when we activate it. It is not always connected since the GPS incorporated into the watch is much more powerful and precise than the activity of wristbands; it needs a lot of battery for this operation.
GPS watches are most used in athletic competitions, running laps, to play golf or even for those who practice trekking. It also offers some extra data such as pulsations, unevenness or our oxygen consumption.
If you practice sports occasionally with an activity wristband or smart watch it is more than enough instead if you are looking for precision and advanced measurements, your thing is a GPS watch.
Features to Consider in a GPS Watch
Before choosing a watch, be clear how you are going to use it since there are models that are better for certain sports. You must know how long you will use it and how often. You may even want to be able to use it each day as a businessman for better productivity. It will need to have certain features to be useful
With the following information, you should have a good starting point to choose the a good watch.
Battery duration
This is the most important point to focus on. Imagine that you are preparing for a marathon or you are going to climb Mount Everest; you’ll need your watch to be on as long as possible. On top of this, you’ll activate the GPS to track all the movements.
You must choose models of watches from well-known brands such as Garmin, Polar or Samsung, as they have watches with large batteries. Often, the manufacturer provides estimated data on the battery life, but it will never be reliable data.
Positioning system
Another important factor of a GPS watch is that thanks to this positioning system, we can record routes covered with all kinds of details. However, if it suddenly starts to rain, you cross an area with many trees or enter a tunnel, your GPS will lose the signal or show you incorrect data.
There are models that have a GPS system with GLONASS that is nothing more and nothing less than a geo location system invented by the USSR. With this system, if the GPS fails, GLONASS enters into action and makes use of 31 satellites to obtain your location in a much more precise way.
Maps included
Some models have maps incorporated to see where we are or the route we have taken. This feature usually comes in mid-high-end watches. More and more manufacturers are incorporating it in new watches with cheap GPS systems.
Other Points to Consider
- Water resistance – most sports watches are water-resistant, although not all can withstand the same distance. Some are only resistant to 30 meters, while others can support up to 200 meters and are ideal for diving.
- Lighting – Not all sports watches have built-in lighting, however, being able to see the time will be important if you are planning to do it at night.
- Extra features – many sports watches have a lot of features that make them even better value for money. Heart rate monitors, built-in GPS systems, accelerometers, chronographs and music players are often incorporated into these handy devices.
- Synchronization data – some sports watches are synchronized via Bluetooth with other devices such as mobile and others can connect wirelessly. Others will require the use of a USB cable so they can upload and analyze their data. Choose the option that best suits your needs.
- Strap replacement – Most sports watches have replaceable straps, which allow you to prolong the life of your watch or achieve a new look by choosing a strap in a different material or color.