Hi All
am looking to get a GPS watch for SUP and windsurfing to log / track distances, speeds etc. (make mates jealous on strava)

Can the running watches (Tom Tom, Garmin etc) that are water resistant to 5 atm stand up to wipeouts etc? Would rather spend $140 on one of these than $400 on a rip curl one...but not if its no good....

anyone have experience with these being ok?

Cheers

Ive got a Polar M400 that is rated to 30m and does all of the speed, distance, heart rate etc etc. also relatively small compared to many out there. Battery lasts for weeks without gps and still a few days with a couple of hours gps per day.

Got a nike+ gps sportswatch around 130 bucks from memory 3 years old still ticking only gives top speed and average speed but plug it in to pc draws a nice litte track on google earth

Very lucky to actually get the rip curl one for a birthday present a month ago. Only used it in the surf a couple of times and a bit on flat water. Interesting to see what you do as in distance and top speed and time it took Gives a good overlay on Google maps
I'm sure others watches would give you more info as in heart rate average speed
So depends on what you want it to do. A mate has got a triathlon watch that tells you everything thing. That cost nearly $400. Don't know how that would go in the surf
Get what you pay for I guess

Thanks teatrea
exactly the proof I need!
thats the tomtom I am thinking of getting ( the Tomtom runner I think?). You haven't had the issues that Darryn had with the seals?

Garmin Fenix 3 works well, and it has a wave counter app with last wave statistics (in black) and wave of day statistics (in red). Seems to stand up to rough treatment. Latest release has inbuilt heart rate monitor.

I have the Suunto Ambit 2 for SUP and windsurfing and have thrashed it. I have the saphire model with the hardened glass. The heart rate monitor has stopped working because I use it in salt water a lot and one of the two bands that secure the strap has broken, but that is a solid 18 months of use and abot 125 sessions on the water.

It is ideal for both SUP surfing and down winding and racing plus windsurfing. I didn't realise how many kms you clock up windsurfing in a good session! My record is 44km and that was wave sailing!

I have the Ripcurl GPS watch picked up at SurfFX half price in their one day sale (nice of them really). I wouldn't pay full price for one I have to say. I like it for waves but haven't tried it DWing yet. I love the app and the e port you can look at the waves and also the paddling.

I used to have a polar but lost it in the surf when the wrist hit a paddle or rail or something so have been wary about surfing in an expensive watch in the surf since. So like the full band of the Ripcurl no linkages at the watch face to break.

I also have the vivoactive and was going to wear that in the surf with the app described above until I picked up the Ripcurl. But was hesitant due to the above issue.

If you surf more then the Ripcurl is good as it will give you individual waves if not then the Tom Tom looks good but haven't used them.

Good luck with it

I have the Suunto ambit 3 works great cant fault it at all, I use it for windsurfing, SUP, Surfing. mountain biking, running, never misses a beat. Heaps of sports you can add to this , you can customise settings and displays, great app to view your sessions showing heaps of detail.
great watch, would highly recommend.

Check there website.

Some brands you have to be careful with as using GPS drains there batteries rather quick, no issues with the Ambit.

I was going to buy the rip curl but read to many issues people were having and limited to surfing.