Okay, so I’ve been meaning to upgrade my running watch for a while now. My old one was starting to feel, well, old. Battery life was getting shorter, GPS was a bit wonky, and honestly, I just wanted something new and shiny. After doing a ton of research, I narrowed it down to two contenders: the Coros Pace 3 and the Garmin Forerunner 255. Both seemed like solid options, but I needed to dig into the specs to see which one would be the best fit for me.
The Initial Research
First, I started by just Googling both watches, reading reviews, and watching some YouTube videos. You know, the usual. I wanted to get a general feel for what people liked and disliked about each one. I jotted down some initial notes, focusing on things like battery life, GPS accuracy, and the features I really cared about (like sleep tracking and music storage – gotta have my tunes!).
Diving into the Specs
Then, I got down to the nitty-gritty. I opened up a spreadsheet (yes, I’m that person) and started comparing the specs side-by-side. Here’s a glimpse of what I was looking at:
- Battery Life: This was a big one for me. I hate having to charge my watch every day. The Coros Pace 3 seemed to have a slight edge here, boasting a longer battery life in both GPS mode and smartwatch mode.
- GPS Accuracy: Both watches have multi-band GPS, which is supposed to be more accurate. I read some reviews that said the Garmin might be slightly better in challenging environments (like dense forests), but honestly, both seemed pretty darn good.
- Display: The Garmin 255 has a color display, while the Coros Pace 3 is monochrome. This wasn’t a deal-breaker for me, but I do like the look of a color screen.
- Size and Weight: The Coros Pace 3 is noticeably lighter, which I thought might be more comfortable for longer runs. The Garmin 255 is a bit bigger and heavier.
- Price: Coros Pace 3 often cheaper.
- Music Storage:Forerunner 255 supports music, Pace 3 doesn’t.
Making My Decision(Real World Testing is skipped)
After staring at my spreadsheet for what felt like hours, I finally made a decision. It was a tough call, but…Drum roll…For me, music storage is very import *, I chose Garmin Forerunner * it supports music.
I am very happy with my decision. I’ve been using it for a few days, and I can put my phone away when running!