Test GPS watches on accuracy

The Polish Edition of Runnersworld features a nice test with 5 GPS watches. The test was performed by the polish editors so in case it does not make the English edition here the main results:

The test covered these five watches:

• Garmin Forerunner 610
• Nike+ sportswatch 
• Polar RCX3 
• Suunto Ambit 
• Timex Run Trainer

The GPS units were tested on 5 distances and 2 altitudes:

 GARMIN
Forerunner 610 

 NIKE+
Sportswatch 

 POLAR
RCX3 

 SUUNTO
Ambit 

 TIMEX
Run Trainer  

400m

slow

390m

418m

390m

400m

396m

400m

fast

390m

434m

390m

390m

404m

800m

810m

836m

800m

770m

798m

1600m

1650m

1625m

1610m

1540m

1750m

5320m

in park

5000m

5030m

5100m

5040m

4840m

415m

above sea level

420m

405m

--

409m

413m

714m

above sea level 

714m

704m

--

699m

710m

The distance tests were done on a 400 meter track with different paces and one run in the woods/park. The altitude test were done in the mountains tot the south of Wroclaw in Poland.

The Polar does not register the altitude but for normal running it is the most accurate. A plus for the Nike is that it is available in three colours (besides blue also neon green and dark grey) and the Suunto is available in silver next to the common black.



The prices may vary so I used linkes to websites of online retailers for an impression.