Do they even exist?
And I am not referring to Casio G-Shock or SUUNTO dive watches either.
Are there any with at least 5 metre water resistance?
I'm using a garmin 310XT. It's outdated and chunky, but it's copped a flogging and just keeps going.
When I inevitably lose it I'm looking at the Vivoactive
buy.garmin.com/en-US/US/p/150767
It will track your ride and upload straight to your pc with distance, av speed, etc. And you can view your track as a satellite image overlay.
Neither are very good at height of jumps as they use the gps signal for altitude change so unless you go huge with long hang time they'll not be too accurate, even if you do....
If you want to track height you need something with barometric tracking, or a Woo or something better. Fenix Suunto, etc. But then you start looking at big bux.
Waterproof enough for kiting, 5 atm. deeper than I hope to go. The 310xt loses satellite signal when submerged further than about 10cm. I don't know if you can get dive watches that track gps.
The vivoactive looks appealing for low profile and unlikely to snag a line.
I've used a gps since I've started kiting so it's great to have that history of progression.
Around $200 for hours of entertainment.
Plenty of other brands do much the same thing. Do you want me to google them for you too?
Garmin forerunner 220 is the Gps watch I use. It has a water rating of 4atm or 30m. I use it more for running but bought it for kitesurfing.
It seems the ugly cat is asking about "smart watches", not plain gps watches
the fenix 3 is the go then, very classy too !!
I've ordered a cheapo chinese one, will report when I get it. 
Exactly Sean. Glad someone was paying attention. A water proof smart watch, with LCD touch screen, GPS and ideally barometric pressure readings, yes for proper kite surfing like the Woo.
Waterproof GPS watches are a dime a dozen
Cheers
Select to expand quoteLoftywinds said..
Exactly Sean. Glad someone was paying attention. A water proof smart watch, with LCD touch screen, GPS and ideally barometric pressure readings, yes for proper kite surfing like the Woo.
Waterproof GPS watches are a dime a dozen
Cheers
I hear there's this thing where you can ask questions and get lots and lots of answers from people with the facts... Starts with a g, but I can't remember the name...
Reasons for wanting a smartwatch
a) all the cool kids have got one
b) you want to do a Dick Tracy impersonation
c) you are an elite athlete an need it for training
d) you have a desire to give global corporations more of your personal data
e) you love paying "hype" tax
overpriced and under spec'ed.
cant think of any more...
I've got the Fenix 3. It's good, but it's not great.
Pros:
- When GPS kicks in, it tracks well.
- Garmin Connect is very good. The phone app is also good.
- There's some great apps out there - I use 'Sailng' and 'APProSail' when kiting.
- This screen is large and easy to read in bright sunlight.
- It's good for other sports (cycling, running and swimming).
- It's very waterproof.
- The battery lasts around 5-7 days typically. If you use lots of GPS, it's nearer 3 days. Charges up in a couple of hours.
- The sleep tracking is a bit of a novelty.
Cons:
- It can take a long time for the GPS to find it's location day to day (up to 3mins some days). I'd say this happens 50% of the time I use it.
- It can take a very long time for the GPS to find it's location if you move large distances between using it (e.g. I kite in Exmouth a bit and it can take 20 mins to find this location after spending a few weeks in Perth). This is probably the most disappointing thing for me. Hopefully a software fix will change that.
- It's not touch screen. Although it's easier to navigate when kiting as a result.
- The silver bezel around the outside gets scratched easily (with sand).
- It's quite large, which is fine unless you're mountain biking in which case it 'shakes' on your wrist (although you can use a handlebar mount).
Select to expand quoteMikeyG said..
I've got the Fenix 3. It's good, but it's not great.
Pros:
- When GPS kicks in, it tracks well.
- Garmin Connect is very good. The phone app is also good.
- There's some great apps out there - I use 'Sailng' and 'APProSail' when kiting.
- This screen is large and easy to read in bright sunlight.
- It's good for other sports (cycling, running and swimming).
- It's very waterproof.
- The battery lasts around 5-7 days typically. If you use lots of GPS, it's nearer 3 days. Charges up in a couple of hours.
- The sleep tracking is a bit of a novelty.
Cons:
- It can take a long time for the GPS to find it's location day to day (up to 3mins some days). I'd say this happens 50% of the time I use it.
- It can take a very long time for the GPS to find it's location if you move large distances between using it (e.g. I kite in Exmouth a bit and it can take 20 mins to find this location after spending a few weeks in Perth). This is probably the most disappointing thing for me. Hopefully a software fix will change that.
- It's not touch screen. Although it's easier to navigate when kiting as a result.
- The silver bezel around the outside gets scratched easily (with sand).
- It's quite large, which is fine unless you're mountain biking in which case it 'shakes' on your wrist (although you can use a handlebar mount).
I reckon the Pros out do the Cons there. Thanks!
Select to expand quoteMikeyG said..
I've got the Fenix 3. It's good, but it's not great.
Pros:
- When GPS kicks in, it tracks well.
- Garmin Connect is very good. The phone app is also good.
- There's some great apps out there - I use 'Sailng' and 'APProSail' when kiting.
- This screen is large and easy to read in bright sunlight.
- It's good for other sports (cycling, running and swimming).
- It's very waterproof.
- The battery lasts around 5-7 days typically. If you use lots of GPS, it's nearer 3 days. Charges up in a couple of hours.
- The sleep tracking is a bit of a novelty.
Cons:
- It can take a long time for the GPS to find it's location day to day (up to 3mins some days). I'd say this happens 50% of the time I use it.
- It can take a very long time for the GPS to find it's location if you move large distances between using it (e.g. I kite in Exmouth a bit and it can take 20 mins to find this location after spending a few weeks in Perth). This is probably the most disappointing thing for me. Hopefully a software fix will change that.
- It's not touch screen. Although it's easier to navigate when kiting as a result.
- The silver bezel around the outside gets scratched easily (with sand).
- It's quite large, which is fine unless you're mountain biking in which case it 'shakes' on your wrist (although you can use a handlebar mount).
I have a Fenex 3. Kited in Exmouth no worries. Mine picks up GPS really quick. 30 secs or less usually. I am a bit disappointed with the battery with the claimed 6 weeks ;) GPS is a bit suss measures a bit short, well documented on interwebbies. Makes you faster though.
Overall though right impressed great bit of kit. 5 mates have them since I got mine after seeing it in use.
Select to expand quoteMikeyG said..
I've got the Fenix 3. It's good, but it's not great.
Pros:
- When GPS kicks in, it tracks well.
- Garmin Connect is very good. The phone app is also good.
- There's some great apps out there - I use 'Sailng' and 'APProSail' when kiting.
- This screen is large and easy to read in bright sunlight.
- It's good for other sports (cycling, running and swimming).
- It's very waterproof.
- The battery lasts around 5-7 days typically. If you use lots of GPS, it's nearer 3 days. Charges up in a couple of hours.
- The sleep tracking is a bit of a novelty.
Cons:
- It can take a long time for the GPS to find it's location day to day (up to 3mins some days). I'd say this happens 50% of the time I use it.
- It can take a very long time for the GPS to find it's location if you move large distances between using it (e.g. I kite in Exmouth a bit and it can take 20 mins to find this location after spending a few weeks in Perth). This is probably the most disappointing thing for me. Hopefully a software fix will change that.
- It's not touch screen. Although it's easier to navigate when kiting as a result.
- The silver bezel around the outside gets scratched easily (with sand).
- It's quite large, which is fine unless you're mountain biking in which case it 'shakes' on your wrist (although you can use a handlebar mount).
Have you connected your watch to your smartphone via Bluetooth? I think they can share some info about the gps position to pick it up quicker (I'm not 100% sure but it worth a try).Also, make sure that glonnass (russian gps) is selected as well in the menu. this help to get your location quicker as well.
My Forerunner 230 gets ready in less than 30s comparing to my old 210 that needed 2 minutes...
