Just make sure you're standing still while doing it - moving about will only take it longer to hone your position. The length of this process will vary by location but we found that it could sometimes take a minute or two (or even longer on the odd occasion) which could be a tad annoying, especially as the QuickGPSFix is supposed to be, well, quick. Hit right again on Run and the watch will acquire your location data via TomTom's QuickGPSFix technology. Hitting the right button lets you select either Run or Treadmill, depending on what you're about to do. Push left and you can see the battery status, internal storage and other stats. TomTom Runner: PerformanceĪnd once you're synced up, you're ready to go. The TomTom Runner is also able to pair with other secondary devices, such as a heart rate monitor, so you can make sure these are connected before you head out on your run. Not doing so means you might find your watch starts giving some funny results before you're even out the door. Once you're set up, we'd also recommend ensuring that all your mapping data is updated.
Your age, weight, height and gender will all be collected here, but you can also enter these into the watch directly. However there's also an accelerometer on board for when you're using the treadmill function.īefore you head out with the Runner, you'll need to sync it up with the TomTom MySports Connect program and fill out your personal profile. The watch accesses the mapping signals via the GPS receiver that TomTom has placed below the screen to form the four-way button, instead of hiding it inside. However, while you'll likely keep your Fitbit Flex or Nike Fuelband on through the day, the TomTom Runner feels designed to be strapped on before you head out the door and taken off when you return. The Runner has a sleeker feel to a lot of rivals on the market, and feels mostly unobtrusive on the wrist. And don't worry about getting it wet - the watch is waterproof up to 50m. This also means you can change the strap for a different colour if you're feeling so inclined. On the wrist, however, there's no need to worry about it coming loose as the two fit seamlessly together. The module can be easily removed from the strap when off the wrist, which you'll need to do for connecting it up to the computer. The watch itself is made of two parts - the core watch module and the rubber strap. TomTom's own GPS mapping technology adds a new level of tracking and precision unavailable in popular wrist-based fitness devices such as the Nike FuelBand and Fitbit Flex, and puts it more in line with the likes of the Garmin Forerunner 10. Other than that, the watches are identical, and their shared USP is obvious from the start.