Using the Apple Watch Ultra for Running: An Honest Review

Tright here’s lengthy been an unstated stigma within the operating world: In case you put on an Apple Watch to trace your runs, versus a devoted sports activities watch, you’re most likely not a severe runner.

I don’t subscribe to the concept what gear you may have or what you put on determines whether or not you’re a “actual” runner. (Or, that there’s such a factor as a “actual” runner—in case you run, you’re a runner.) However I’ll admit that I all the time considered the Apple Watch as a life-style watch; enjoyable for on a regular basis use in case you can afford it, however not one thing I’d belief to assist my coaching or ship correct metrics.

Up till final yr, runners complained in regards to the unique Apple Watch’s weak GPS, lack of running-specific options, and clunky begin/cease system.

However the Apple Watch Ultra, which launched final fall, adjustments issues. Designed as a extra useful, extra rugged improve to the unique Watch, the Extremely boasts dual-frequency GPS, plus a number of different options that make it extra runner-friendly (a few of these at the moment are accessible on the unique Watch, too, although it doesn’t have the GPS capabilities of the Extremely).

It’s clear that Apple desires the Extremely to be a contender amongst the likes of Garmin and Coros, and after taking it out on 14 runs over the course of three weeks, I can let you know that, for essentially the most half, it’s.

One of the best operating options of the Apple Watch Extremely

Dependable GPS, even in city environments

What makes the Extremely’s GPS such a step up is its dual-frequency, that means as a substitute of simply utilizing L1 frequency, it additionally makes use of L5 frequency for better accuracy, in addition to integrating with Apple Maps knowledge. Twin-frequency is changing into extra frequent in sports activities watches, however most older or lower-end fashions don’t have it.

Associated Tales

Whereas I did not run on any measured routes to have the ability to examine the accuracy, each break up the Extremely gave me felt consistent with my effort, and I by no means observed any wonky paces, which I can’t all the time say with my Garmin. The Extremely bought a GPS sign nearly instantly after stepping out the door in my Manhattan neighborhood filled with tall buildings and scaffolding (whereas my Garmin, which solely has single-frequency, typically takes as much as 10 minutes).

Superior monitor options

The Extremely has automated monitor detection, utilizing your location knowledge to detect while you’re at an out of doors monitor and asking you which ones lane you’re operating in for peak accuracy. You’ll be able to program a exercise for automated lap counting, or manually lap by urgent the Motion button.

All the fundamental operating stats

In case your operating watch supplies a stat you depend on, odds are the Extremely has it, too. The watch measures all the things from floor contact time to vertical oscillation to stride size—without having any additional tools. It additionally tracks your “energy,” which estimates the depth of your run in watts primarily based on velocity and incline.

Multisport exercises and pacer characteristic

Similar to most any operating watch, you possibly can program a exercise prematurely of your run. (That features multisport exercises for triathletes—the Extremely is water resistant all the way down to 40 meters.) You too can set a goal tempo, and the Watch will show a small graph all through your run for an at-a-glance view of how behind or forward of that tempo you might be. Or, you possibly can race in opposition to a earlier run on the identical route.

Mobile connectivity

What majorly units the Extremely—and even the unique Apple Watch—other than different sports activities watches: It will probably do practically all the things your iPhone can accomplish that you possibly can go on worry-free phoneless runs with all of your music and podcasts and texts at your fingertips (that’s, in case you pay for the Watch to be cellular-enabled, which is often $10 monthly on high of your current cellphone plan).

Sturdy case

The Extremely’s titanium case is supposedly constructed to resist all types of outside adventures. Thus far, it’s held up, however I fortunately haven’t had any falls or troublesome circumstances to check it.

Longer battery life

Ultramarathoners used to sports activities watches that may final for days on finish gained’t be impressed by the Extremely’s 36 hours of battery life. However, it’s an unlimited enchancment over the unique Watch’s 18 hours, and I discovered it was greater than sufficient for me (although I’m not somebody who wears a watch to sleep), and possibly lots for anybody prepared to let it cost for just a few hours every single day or so.

Band choices

I used the Extremely’s Alpine Loop, which was snug, however the cloth was normally fairly sweaty by the tip of my runs (in contrast to the silicone band I’m used to), so I needed to take it off for a number of hours to let it dry. The excellent news: Common Apple Watch bands are appropriate with the Extremely (although not advisable to be used throughout sports activities), so you possibly can change out your sweaty band for the extra modern band of your selection while you’re performed figuring out.

The downsides of utilizing an Apple Watch Extremely to run

Barely clunky pause/resume

The Extremely has come a great distance from the unique Watch: You can begin your run with the press of 1 button, reasonably than ready for the “3, 2, 1” countdown. However, if you wish to pause or restart your exercise, you continue to should press two buttons on both facet of the watch concurrently, which I discovered a bit much less intuitive than simply urgent one button. The show doesn’t change a lot when the exercise is paused versus when it is ongoing, so I often would suppose I used to be pausing when it was already paused, or suppose I used to be resuming after I was already mid-workout. I additionally discovered myself by chance beginning exercises whereas sporting the watch in every day life.

Enormous measurement

Any sports activities watch with an extended battery life is probably going going to be fairly massive. However the mixture of the Extremely’s hefty measurement and sq. form makes it typically sit uncomfortably on my wrist bone (most likely not a difficulty for runners with bigger wrists).

Exhausting to course of at-a-glance stats

The truth that the Extremely shows six totally different metrics on the watch face without delay is a blessing and a curse. Positive, it’s useful to see real-time updates on so many metrics, however I discovered that as I glanced all the way down to do a fast examine on time, or present tempo, or mileage, my eyes needed to seek for some time earlier than I landed on what I used to be in search of, because the numbers appear smaller and fewer delineated than on my Garmin. I think about that is one thing I’d alter to over time.

Is the Apple Watch Extremely price it for operating?

At $799, the Extremely’s price ticket is steeper than most sports activities watches. And for severe operating watch nerds, it could be lacking just a few options that you just love.

However for common runners who sometimes put on an Apple Look ahead to every day life and a unique sports activities look ahead to coaching, switching to at least one watch that may do each could possibly be majorly interesting—each for the sake of comfort, and to have all of your well being stats, like resting coronary heart fee and sleep, in a single place. The identical goes for runners who sometimes put on a sports activities watch 24/7 and wish one thing a bit extra trendy (no offense, sports activities watches) and with extra on a regular basis functionalities.

It seems, Apple Watches can be for “actual” runners.