Alright, let’s talk about the time I got my hands on both the Coros Pace 3 and the Garmin 255. I’ve been a runner for a few years now, and I love geeking out over running watches. I mean, they’re like a runner’s best friend, right? Always there, tracking your every move, pushing you a bit further. So, when these two watches came out, I was like a kid in a candy store. I just had to try them both and see what the fuss was all about.
Getting Started
First off, I unboxed both of these bad boys. They’re both pretty sleek, not too bulky, which is great because nobody wants a brick on their wrist when they’re trying to beat their personal best. I strapped on the Coros Pace 3 first. It was light, I mean really light, almost felt like I had nothing on. Then I tried the Garmin 255. It was a bit heavier, but still comfortable. Nothing that would slow me down, you know?
Hitting the Road
I took them each out for a spin on my usual route. It’s a mix of road and trail, with some good hills to really test out the GPS and altimeter. The Coros Pace 3 locked onto the GPS signal super fast. Like, I stepped out my door, and boom, it was ready. The Garmin 255 took a little longer, but nothing too crazy. We’re talking seconds here, not minutes.
- GPS Accuracy: Both watches were pretty spot on with tracking my distance. I compared them to my phone’s GPS, and they were all within a few meters of each other. Good enough for me.
- Heart Rate Monitoring: This is where things got a bit interesting. The Coros Pace 3 seemed to be a bit more consistent with my heart rate. The Garmin 255 had a few moments where it seemed to spike or drop for no reason. But overall, they were both pretty accurate.
Diving into Data
After my runs, I uploaded the data to their respective apps. The Coros app is pretty straightforward. It gives you all the basics: pace, distance, heart rate, cadence, elevation, and all that good stuff. The Garmin app, on the other hand, is like a data nerd’s dream. It has everything, and I mean everything. You can analyze your runs until the cows come home. I spent hours just digging through all the stats. It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty cool.
Battery Life
I wore these watches for a few weeks to see how the battery held up in real-world conditions. With the Coros Pace 3, I was getting a solid couple of weeks of battery life with regular use. I’m talking about running almost every day and using the GPS for a few hours each week. The Garmin 255 was also pretty good, lasting me about a week and a half on a single charge with similar usage. But I’m not gonna lie, Coros takes the cake on battery life for sure.
The Verdict
So, which one did I end up sticking with? Well, it was a tough decision. They both have their pros and cons. But in the end, I went with the Garmin 255. I know, I know, the Coros has better battery life, and it’s lighter. But I’m a data guy. I love all those extra metrics that the Garmin gives me. It helps me fine-tune my training and really understand how my body is performing. Plus, it just felt a little more premium on my wrist. That’s just my personal preference, though. If you’re looking for something simple, light, and with amazing battery life, the Coros Pace 3 is a great choice. But if you’re a data junkie like me, the Garmin 255 is the way to go.
Either way, you can’t really go wrong. They’re both solid running watches that will help you track your progress and reach your goals. It just comes down to what you value most in a watch. Happy running, folks!