Running gear for the French Days
Starting at £416.89
£337.81
The Running Equipment selection from the French Days includes GPS watches Garmin, from the Forerunner designed for the road to the Enduro and the Fenix for ultra and mountain, as well as the Instinct and the Vívoactive, along with QuickFit straps, the children's watch Vívofit, race number belts, the Coxa Carry hydration belt and the Avento cap.
Choose your running watch at a discounted price.
Forerunner, Instinct, Enduro, Fenix: the Garmin families
Garmin, founded in 1989 in Kansas by Gary Burrell and Min Kao, launched the first all-in-one GPS watch for runners in 2003, the ancestor of the Forerunner range. This model remains the reference for road running: lightweight, focused on pace, heart rate, and training plans, it ranges from the entry-level model, including a Music version, to the high-end with AMOLED screen. The Instinct, with a rugged case, targets trail and adventure. The Vívoactive combines sports with everyday health tracking. The Enduro and the Fenix Pro Sapphire Solar, featuring sapphire glass and solar charging, cater to ultra-runners and long mountain outings.
Other running offers
The French Days running offers also include:
All offers are gathered on the running page.
Battery life, screen, and solar charging
The battery life in GPS mode is the first criterion for long distances: a few hours are enough for a ten-kilometre run, but an ultra-trail requires several tens. The Solar watches feature a glass that captures light and extends battery life with every outdoor outing. The AMOLED screen, found on mid and high-end Forerunner models as well as on the Vívoactive, offers vibrant colours and clear map reading, but consumes more power. The transflective screen on the Solar versions of the Instinct reads all the better when the sun is shining and conserves battery. One therefore chooses based on the duration of their outings: a road watch recharges every week, while an ultra watch lasts much longer.
QuickFit bands and case size
The Garmin watches come in several diameters, ranging from around forty to fifty millimetres. A compact case suits thin wrists and can be worn at night to track sleep; a larger case offers better readability and battery life. The QuickFit system allows you to change bands without tools, simply by clipping the new one onto the case: you can switch from silicone, which is ideal for exercise and easy to rinse, to a nylon or metal band for the city. It comes in three widths, twenty, twenty-two, and twenty-six millimetres, to choose according to the watch model. The Quick Release bands work similarly on slimmer cases, thanks to a small push button.
Race number belt, hydration belt, and visor
On race day, the race number belt, like the Mako or Z3R0D models, avoids piercing your shirt with pins and allows you, in a triathlon, to flip the number to your back on the bike before moving it to the front for the running segment. The hydration belt Coxa Carry, from the Danish brand specializing in carrying solutions for runners, lets you carry water and a phone at the small of your back without bouncing around. The visor Avento protects your eyes from the sun while allowing the top of your head to breathe, making it cooler in hot weather; its sweatband absorbs moisture before it can run into your eyes.
Frequently asked questions
Does a GPS watch really measure heart rate at the wrist?
The optical sensor at the wrist gives reliable readings during endurance activities, but reacts with a slight delay during short sprints. For more precise measurements, you can pair the watch with a chest strap.
Do you need a watch with music to run?
The Music version of the Forerunner stores songs and connects to wireless headphones, allowing you to leave your phone at home. It is only useful if you run with music; otherwise, the standard model is sufficient.
How to choose a running watch for beginners?
An entry-level model is enough: GPS, pace, distance, wrist heart rate, and guided training plans. Mapping and solar charging provide no benefit unless you are preparing for long distances or mountain outings.
Is a Garmin watch waterproof?
Running watches Garmin are resistant to rain, sweat, and showering, and most can handle swimming. Check the waterproof rating indicated on the spec sheet, and avoid pressing the buttons underwater.
Which Garmin watch for a child?
The Vívofit, designed for kids, counts steps, sleep, and activity minutes, complete with fun challenges. Its battery is replaceable and lasts a long time: the child can wear it day and night without needing to recharge it.
