Nike gps watch software download

Many high scorers offer more features and battery life, equating to a higher price. But which are best for those on a budget?

Of the highly performing GPS watches, the Coros brand is by far the best value. The Coros Pace2 and Coros Apex are available for approachable price points and scored highly in our review. The Coros Apex Pro is a lower value option, with comparable pricing to Garmin and Suunto but with fewer features — though it excels if battery life is your main concern. The Coros Pace 2 is by far the best deal, offering excellent battery life and simple, necessary features. The watches in our test group run the gamut in this category.

The most basic models capture your GPS activity track, heart rate, and basic activity statistics. Navigational capabilities are extra with onboard maps that include layers, which some folks might enjoy. No matter your preference, there's something out there to fit the bill. Of the feature-laden watches, the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is heralded as the top performer along with the Garmin Forerunner Both hosts advanced GPS tracking, lots of profiles to choose from, enough stats to make your head spin, and navigational capabilities, including onboard maps.

When you take a close look, these are very similar in performance and quality. Both will sync to your smartphone to deliver notifications, calendar updates, and weather forecasts, monitor your daily steps and sleep patterns, track your training, and give you tips on training load while predicting race times. Both also have a blood oxygen sensor with the ability to use contactless Garmin Pay.

The differences are in storage and a few other features. The Fenix 6 Pro is more feature-rich, including more detailed onboard maps, water resistance of meters the Forerunner can dive to the standard 50 meters , and song storage of up to songs the Forerunner can hold up to songs. Garmin products typically score higher in this metric because of their robust ecosystem, including access to hundreds of apps and optimizations found on the Google IQ and Google Connect app.

For example, the Garmin Forerunner Music is touted for storing up to songs with a simple, more minimalistic design. It's less expensive than the two mentioned above because it doesn't have the same onboard maps or extra features, but it can also upload workouts. The Forerunner 45S is the least featured of all the Garmin options our review but still has really great coaching and fitness tracking built-in.

Overall, Garmin products are far and above others when it comes to the world of features. The Suunto 9 Baro isn't as featured as the Suunto 7 or Garmin products, but it does come with onboard maps for better navigation at a lower price than many of the Garmin options that have this same feature. While features are fun, many simply aren't needed, especially if you're only looking to track stats on your next bike ride or run. The options from Coros strip away all the fancy features as a trade-off for exceptional battery life and simplicity.

The Apex Pro is the most featured of the Coros watches, adding in touch screen capabilities, a digital pulse oximeter, and a night mode that isn't found in the regular Apex. The Pace 2 has an 'always-on' backlight that the Apex doesn't have and a simpler design overall. Neither can add onboard apps, have music storage, or any of those fancy features. This brand has slimmed down the features for the trade-off of simplicity and better battery life.

The Polar M is similar to the Coros products in its simplicity, with even fewer features overall. For any distance athlete, battery life is probably one of the biggest factors affecting your decision to buy a watch. As a result, it's inherently hard to test to get a standard number. So, we constructed a few side-by-side simulations to uncover which will actually last for your entire mile race and which requires a charge on the go.

We performed a few tests. The first was a more subjective in-field test where we charged up the battery and used the watch normally day in and day out. We noted how long the watch took to die while incorporating activities each week, about hours in length. We then compared manufacturers' claims to the actual results that we got. Then, we tested GPS by setting each watch out in the same area under the open sky and running them down until they turned off. We noted the time taken to reach this point and if any went into battery saver mode to enhance battery life.

We realize this test won't tell you the specific number of hours you'll get during real GPS activity, but it gave us an idea of which watches last longer than others and the quality of the data. In addition, we also took each watch on at least 50 miles of activities, noting the amount of battery taken for the time of the activity.

The Instinct Solar didn't require a real charge for a whopping three months when worn regularly outdoors in the sun. This solar-powered watch can recharge on the go — and it works. In GPS mode, our results were a bit different, but we were still very impressed with its longevity for regular smartwatch mode. The Coros Apex and Apex Pro have been tested for months now, and we average about charges a month with regular activity.

The Coros Pace 2 wasn't noticeably different than the Apex, but Coros claims only 20 days of use in smartwatch mode with the Pace 2, 25 days with the Apex, and 30 days with the Apex Pro. We tested each watch while running GPS during ultra-distance events, backpacking, and exploring for hours on end. The trophy in this test clearly goes to the Coros Apex Pro , which lasted between 32 and 36 hours in GPS with all sensors turned on in both covered and uncovered terrain.

Next was the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro 31 hours, claims 36 hours , followed by the Coros Pace 2 29 hours, claims 30 hours , Garmin Instinct Solar 29 hours, claims 30 hours , and the Garmin Forerunner 28 hours, claims 36 hours. The Suunto Baro 9 lasts 25 hours claims 25 hours , with the Coros Apex 42mm lasting 24 hours claims 25 hours.

All of these watches can be optimized to save battery power without sacrificing accuracy by simply turning off the screen or heart rate sensors.

Why would anybody need a watch to last this long? Ultrarunners are interesting creatures that like to run through the night and into the next day. In this case, a watch with a solid battery connector cable that won't disconnect from the watch while in motion is key. Think - a strong magnet or clip. Surprisingly, many watches marketed for ultrarunning distances don't have this feature, which we'd like to see more of.

The only watch that does this well is the Suunto Baro 9 which has a super-strong magnetic connector. It also continues to track information while charging from an exterior battery pack. Some options aren't built with the longest battery life in mind, making them perfect for shorter timed events.

For those training for a traditional marathon or 50K event, a watch with 12 hours of GPS life will do just fine. The Garmin Forerunner Music , for example, will last 12 hours with GPS running and 5 hours when listening to music , which is enough for a faster marathon distance.

The Suunto 7 is similar with 12 hours of GPS battery life. We evaluated how easy each watch is to use out of the box. Those that score the highest have a user-friendly interface, well-constructed button design, and can easily be used during any time of the day or night. Observing relevant information at a glance is also important, with an app that isn't too complicated or difficult to use. The Coros watches have a shorter feature list with simple buttons and a scroll knob.

The Forerunner 45S is a little more complex than the Coros watches, but it is easier to figure out than most Garmin products since it has fewer features. That said, the high-end Garmin products are very intuitive, with nice considerations when it comes to button placement and useability.

However, the more featured they are, the more learning that's required for use. As a result, Garmin products scored high but not as high as other contenders. The Suunto 9 Baro and Suunto 7 are very different watches, each using a touchscreen in addition to buttons. Of the two, the 9 Baro has a far better layout. The Suunto 7 is our least favorite in this metric because the buttons are confusing, and it's easy to get lost on the screens.

For example, two of the buttons access the same feature music and video , which we think is a huge oversight with the design.

Both are harder to use than any of the other products in this review. Apps are another consideration in this metric. Of all the manufacturers we reviewed, Garmin has the most widely used data management software with the most features. It has hundreds of apps that can be used with specific Garmin watches, which can seem overwhelming. The app itself has a lot of stats and other options.

That said, Garmin does a good job laying it all out, and even with all the extras, we are impressed at the ease of use. Suunto, Coros, and Polar have apps that are more stripped-down, less integrated, and overall easier to use. Suunto has a really beautiful layout that integrates photos, which we enjoyed. All of these apps were easier to figure out in comparison to Garmin, though none offer the same social ecosystem.

Luckily they all cross over to different ecosystems like Strava. Also worth noting is that most of the devices in our tests export activity information in a standardized format. Various applications, PC or web-based, can take this data and generate distance, pace, and other information. For instance, Strava can interpret and store all GPX files. Regardless of what device captured the file, Strava will organize it and integrate it with its website. There are a host of other applications and products that will help you organize and process your GPX data.

We really like that the Coros app has an export option in the app with a series of different file configurations. We're guessing you're not in the market for a GPS watch so you can figure out roughly how far you ran and about how many feet you climbed. GPS signal strength, satellite location, watch fit, and internal hardware all have a large impact on device accuracy. If the very best device has a limited view of the sky, it might be far less accurate than a cheaper tool, with a tiny and misplaced antenna that is out in the wide-open plains.

As the GPS watch world is evolving, we are seeing better accuracy across all devices. To evaluate the accuracy, we ran, biked, swam, and hiked known distances to compare our watches and their track metrics.

We tried to run over bridges and next to bodies of water as much as possible to find out which watches thought we were swimming instead of running. All of the GPS watches tested had good accuracy that we would trust. As technology continues to improve, so does tracking, and we're happy to witness this trend.

Testing heart rate monitors is quite a challenge. During runs, we observed heart rate data and compared this to the information we received from a heart monitor chest strap.

While most watches can accurately track the relative ups and downs you might experience while exercising, few are as accurate as a chest strap. This is largely due to variable fit on the wrist and a myriad of other factors. None of the heart rate monitors we tested was spot on.

If you want precise heart rate readings, be sure to purchase a chest strap. Some did better than others, with the Garmin brand being a touch more accurate than others. The Forerunner and Forerunner 45S seemed to be spot on with a good fit, with an average variation of 0 - 4 beats per minute. The Polar M HR is also very accurate with a variation of only 0 - 2 bpm one of the best tested. The Suunto Baro 9 and Suunto 7 had variations of 3 - 5 bpm and 1 - 7 bpm respectively.

Both are larger watches, and we noted that both of these would lose a heartbeat during exercise more than others. The Coros watches always seemed to have a higher reading, with variations of up to 20 bpm. We're not sure if this is because of the smaller design, but we weren't too impressed with this accuracy. When considering design, we take a close look at the way each watch fits on the wrist and any notable issues with it during use.

This includes looking at the size and thickness of the body, use under clothing, accidentally turning buttons on and off, and the clarity of the screen.

Design considerations can be deal breakers for some, so let's dig in. For those that are full of features with the best design, the hands-down winner is the Garmin Forerunner 1. It is lighter and more compact than the heavier Garmin Fenix 6 Pro 2. All of these options have larger watch faces. The Suunto watches also have large watch faces with touch screen capabilities which some love and others don't.

The Coros Apex is one of our favorites from a design point of view. It has a smaller watch face size 42mm with a rolling knob and a single button for use.

The Coros Pace 2 has a similar design. It is simple and low-tech. The Coros Apex Pro adds an extra button, with the knob on the widest part of the watch face, whereas the other Coros options have a smaller knob at the top of the watch. This watch gets a lower design score because we found ourselves constantly pushing the button and accidentally pausing activities, which didn't happen with the other Coros models. Design GPS sport watches aren't the most stylish gadgets, but they aren't meant to be fashion accessories, either.

Unlike a lot of the bland fitness watches out there, the SportWatch features a pretty eye-catching design with neon green or yellow? It may be a bit much for some, but at least the green is relegated to underside of the wrist strap and a single button on the side, so we don't think it's too loud. The other thing we noticed right away was the size of the watch. It does feel a bit clunky when you first put it on, and we wouldn't use it as our everyday watch, but the SportWatch felt very comfortable during our run, without any parts pinching or digging into the skin.

When not in run mode, the watch's screen simply displays the time in large, bold numbers, with the date and battery life shown on the right side in smaller detail. On the left side of the SportWatch, there are three buttons: two to scroll through various functions and one on the bottom that acts as a select and menu button. Ready, set, run! When you're ready to go for a run, just press and hold the yellow bottom button and select the run option.

You don't even have to use it at all, but it's a good backup in case the watch loses the GPS signal, as it continues to track your distance, pace, and calories. We placed it under the removable padding in our sneakers. Once the sensors are linked, you're free to run like the wind. Once you're running, your distance is prominently displayed on the screen, while you can use the scroll buttons to get other various data, including pace, elapsed time, and calories burned, on the upper third of the display.

You can program the watch to mark laps based on distance or time, or you can simply tap the screen while you're out running. When you're done, just press the bottom button again to end your workout. The SportWatch will even give you a little pat on the back by displaying encouraging messages like "Great job! Post-run At home, you can upload your workout data to your PC or Mac. Nike cleverly incorporated a USB connector into the wrist strap that you can flip out, plug into the included USB cable, and so connect to your computer.

The Web site also offers options for creating goals and challenges, custom training programs, and a social component, whether it's posting your run data on Facebook or Twitter or connecting with other runners. Setting up and using the watch right out of the box is quick and easy, but if there's one thing we'd change we'd like to be able to actually set the time right on the watch.

Right now, you need to connect it to your computer first. On our first run, the watch couldn't lock onto a GPS signal at all, so we just used the shoe pod to track our distance and pace without route information.