I just received this product a few days ago and I am already impressed! Let's look at why:
PROS:
- Watch is COMFORTABLE. Once I figured out the right fit (which took a couple tries) I wore this thing for over 24 hrs straight and barely noticed it was there! The band is soft and flexible, and has an abnormally large number of possible adjustments. There is zero reason for anyone not to find the perfect fit. Also, with the unique way that this band secures on the wrist, I had ZERO worry that it was going to come off, and there is no annoying floppy watch band tail.
- Features, features FEATURES! Sleep tracking, activity tracking, mileage, GPS, and MP3 BT playback!! Are you kidding me? The best part is that they all work! The ability to leave my phone at home, have a full featured GPS watch, listen to music and recieve audio prompts from the watch.... it's incredible. Oh, and heart rate monitoring! ... let's stop here for a moment.
When I bought this, I read a lot of reviews first. One of the things that I felt like I was compromising on, was the lack of 24hr HR monitoring (like the Fitbit). The first time I connected the phone to the computer, there was an update for the watch. This watch DOES have 24he HR monitoring!! As for the HR monitor itself, I found it to be far more accurate than I expected. I'm forever ditching my HR strap! Kudos to TomTom.
I have yet to try the gym/weight training feature, other users have complained of HR accuracy in that mode, though some say it was fixed in an update. After I try it out, I'll update my review if I think there is a reason to.
- INTERFACE: For some the GPS antenna nub with 4-way directional controls is clunk and unnecessary, for me, I love it. This could be because I am a TomTom return customer, so I am used to it. Touch screens are great, but when you are sweaty or have gloves on they can be unpredictable. For this reason I prefer the buttons. The use of the menus themselves is intuitive and easy to use. If you have never used a TomTom before, it will take you a few minutes to figure it out, but once you get it, it's great!
The screen itself is black with contrasting shades of white/grey which makes this extremely easy to read, even in very bright direct sunlight. The screen on the Spark is bigger than on my Runner, so it's even easier to read/use. The pure depth of the information available to you, and the options on what is displayed while working out is staggering. I have not used an app or other watch with this much info so readily available.
- The APP!: So, being a TomTom owner since 2014, I have seen the progress that has been made. The app today is fantastic, but not perfect. I've heard that other fitness trackers have better apps, and I've also heard that TomTom is working on a huge update to their own. I'm not sure if either of these are true, but TomTom's steady progress here has them poised to be the best. That said, the current app and website offer a great deal of customization and options for setting goals, challenging yourself, and keeping track of trends, metrics and other data.
CONS:
Nothing is perfect, and the TomTom is no exception. Here are a few things that I think TomTom fell short on:
- Battery life. I had the same complaint about my TomTom Runner. I'm not sure there is much to be done here, though. I think that this is just an issue of size vs features vs technology. There just aren't batteries advanced enough to handle the sheer number of sensors/features this watch has and give great battery life. The daily wear and activity tracking life is advertised at about 5 days. Only having this for one day, I am still guessing that is about accurate. I will update if I find this to be different. I went on a 1 hour walk yesterday, using the freestyle mode, and could almost watch the battery meter drain. My hope to use this device on a day hike is pretty much shot, unless I take a portable battery pack and the charging cable. My hope is for the next generation watch to greatly improve on this.
- Phone notifications: There aren't any. Yet. I read a few reviews from people who went to the device launch and they said that this feature is coming in a future update. I look forward to that.
- Watch Band (maybe). While I love the comfort and security of the band, I do have some concerns about the tabs that secure the band. The plastic nubs seem like they might be easily broken. This could be irrelevant if they are stronger than they look.
BOTTOM LINE: I have worn FitBits, the Polar Loop and TomToms. Sometimes at the same time. I've also had to wear chest straps, carry my phone or an iPod. I always felt like I was trapping on way too much gear just to work out. Yet, I loved all the feedback that these thing offered. I'm happy to say that the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music has erased the need for all of that. Now, it's just my watch and bluetooth headphones. This is hands down the single best piece of wearable workout gear I have ever used, and with updates, it's only going to get better.
I am NOT a paid reviewer, nor did I receive any discounts ore requests for a review. I'm just a guy who did a LOT of research before buying. I'm always looking for the best bang for my buck. I don't always win, but this time I did. I HIGHLY recommend this product.
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From the manufacturer
Hours of musical motivation inside
TomTom Spark Cardio+Music
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Workout with music, not with your phoneCarry up to 500 songs without carrying your phone. So you can listen to your favorite playlists right from your watch. |
Track your activity all dayMeasure your active minutes every day. Sprints, strolls, steps. Every active minute counts. Tracking your moves all day, it all adds up to time, distance and calories burned. |
24/7 heart rate monitor on your wristTake a weight off and leave the chest strap behind. Track your heart rate on your watch with the built-in 24/7 heart rate monitor. Goodbye to chafing and sweaty chest straps. |
Measure your progressChallenge yourself to a daily or weekly target. Steps, calories, distance or active time. Set your goal and track your progress. |
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Track all your sportsTake it further than the treadmill. Run. Bike. Gym. Swim. Switch modes to mix up your training. |
Train smarter with real-time informationTime. Distance. Speed. Pace. Calories burned. Live stats, on the go. So you know when to push it and when to slow down. |
Download your favorite playlistsEasily transfer your playlists onto the TomTom Spark Cardio+Music watch from iTunes and Windows Media Player. |
Automatic Sleep TrackingKnow if you're getting the sleep you need. |
Features
Train in five different heart-rate zones. Maximize performance and improve fitness.
Sync store and share your workouts with your favorite apps.
Stay motivated with instant audio feedback on your performance, during your workout.
Track your performance in the gym - lifting weights, on the treadmill, boxing class.
Select large or small straps to ensure the perfect fit for your wrist.
Customize your strap to match your mood and outfit.
Specifications
- Durable, scratch-resistant, super-tough display
- Bluetooth Smart Connectivity
- Water Resistant (40m)
- Up to 5 hour Battery Life (GPS+ heart rate mode + music)
- 3 GB Music Storage
- Headphone Support - HiFi Audio via A2PP and AVRC profiles
- Plays MP3 and AAC formats. Does not play any copyrighted music.
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| TomTom Spark | TomTom Spark Cardio | TomTom Spark Music | TomTom Spark Cardio+Music | |
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Up to 500 songs of music storage | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Audio performance feedback | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Built-in 24/7 heart rate monitor | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| 24/7 Activity Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| GPS Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multisport Mode | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Goal Setting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Water resistant (40 m) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Sleep Tracking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Reviews with images
Fantastic GPS Watch from TomTom
I am an avid runner, and being a tech geek also, I have used my fair share of GPS watches. The TomTom Spark Cardio + Music has been an excellent watch that has served me well in running, biking, and swimming. The TT Spark has the ability to use its GPS to measure your workouts, a heart rate sensor to measure your heart rate, and internal storage for your music. All of these features work wonderfully, and for the price that it is, you get a lot for your money.The onboard measurement systems are pretty good. The GPS is pretty accurate, being only a few hundreths of a mile off when compared to the Garmin Forerunner 220. The heart rate sensor isn't as good during gym workouts; it tends to overshoot your true heart rate.I love to use this watch for listening to my music while I cycle. Syncing a pair of bluetooth headphones is really easy and the sound rarely, if ever, cuts out. The waterproof design allows the watch to stand up to any rainstorm mother nature can throw at it (I have taken mine out into a few monsoons and it works perfectly).This watch also doubles as an activity tracker, which is very nice. I love to be able to track the number of steps I have taken during the day and my totals for the week. It is a nice touch. The only bad thing about this watch (which is kind of unfair considering almost no watches do this anyway) would be the fact that you need to plug it in to charge it. Wireless charging would have been nice, but the supplied cord works just fine.All in all, the watch fits nicely, has a nice user interface, and is accurate. It is probably my favorite running watch and it is just as accurate as many of the "top tier" GPS watches out there. I would highly recommend this GPS watch to any runner, cycler, or health nut in general.
Top reviews from other countries
Amazon Customer
I don't have a phone so this is a fantastic watch to map my walks and my heart rate
Reviewed in Canada on June 12, 2016