This post is sponsored by TomTom. I’m excited to tell you all about the updated TomTom Spark 3 Cardio + Music!
Last spring I shared a review of the TomTom® Spark + Cardio GPS fitness watch.
It was my first new GPS watch in many, many years and I quickly fell in love with it. I loved having my workout stats, heart rate and music right on my wrist. I used it for my running and gym workouts for several months and then it was VERY SADLY stolen out of my car.
As a result, I spent my entire (busy!) fall running and racing season holding my iPhone 6s Plus for every run and race. I’m not even kidding when I say that the left side of my neck and shoulder would be so tight and locked up after holding my phone for in my left hand for 10+ miles. 😛
A new TomTom® watch was at the top of my Christmas list but right around the holidays I received an invitation from TomTom® to try out the updated version of the watch, the Spark 3. To say that I was thrilled is an understatement.
TomTom Spark 3 Highlights
Here are some of my favorite features of the watch.
- 24/7 activity tracking (steps, sleep, exercise, calories, etc)
- So easy to use and get going out of the box
- GPS tracking
- Route exploration (new feature! more on this shortly)
- Built in heart rate monitor
- Stores around 500 songs!
- Multi-sport modes for gym, cycle, swim, etc.
- Customizable straps that are super comfortable
- Wireless syncing to your phone app
- Long battery life – 3 weeks for activity tracking only and 11 hours when GPS is in use
Included in the box you get the watch, Bluetooth wireless headphones (that are really comfortable and my #1 headphone pick), a charger, the necessary cords and cables you need and a getting started guide.
This watch fits me so well and is so comfortable to wear. You can choose between a small or large band. My favorite feature of the band is the double locking of the strap so that it fits flush to your wrist with no overhang.
Small details like this really improve comfort and day-to-day wearability. I am definitely planning on ordering a different colored strap. There are tons of great options on the TomTom® site.
TomTom® Spark 3 & Running
Okay, let’s talk running first because that’s obviously my favorite use of the TomTom® Spark 3.
One of the biggest improvements I’ve noticed in the Spark 3 is how much faster it locates the satellites. I don’t think I’ve ever waited longer than 30 seconds after walking outside and usually it’s less than that.
Two super cool features that come with the TomTom® Spark 3 include:
- ROUTE EXPLORATION: When you run, the route is mapped on the screen. This is a great help in retracing your steps to navigate your way back home. Additionally, you can also upload routes to your TomTom® Spark 3 and follow along when you run, cycle or walk (see more on this below). Simply get routes from any website (like Map My Run), and upload them to your watch with your TomTom MySports online account. I think this is life changing when it comes to exploring new long run routes. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve mapped out my runs online to then write the directions and turns on a sheet of paper that I tucked into my pocket or FuelBelt.
There is even a compass to help point you back towards home.
- RACE MODE: You can select one of your past runs to “race” against and the voice coach will tell you how you’re doing.
A silly feature that I enjoy with the TomTom® Spark 3 is that when I pause the watch it continues to measure my heart rate and will tell me after about a minute how many beats it’s dropped.
TomTom® Spark 3 & Multi-Sport Activities
As I mentioned above, I also like wearing the watch for non-running activities like gym workouts and even yoga to monitor my heart rate. Recently I took a FlyWheel spinning class and wore the Spark 3 during it.
Using the watch in MultiSport mode allows me to monitor and track my heart rate and also have an idea at the end of the workout about what heart rate zone I was working in and how many calories were burned. All of my various workouts are saved to my TomTom MySports App.
I know many of you will relate to how fun I think it is to have a place where all of your workouts are tracked and you can easily access stats on them.
Back to that FlyWheel class…I was absolutely drenched afterwards. I always forget what a great workout spin is.
TomTom® Spark 3 MySports App & Reporting
Your workouts sync wirelessly to the TomTom® MySports app on your phone. You get all the basic stats on distance, duration, pace, etc.
Additionally, you can track your splits along with pace and heart rate for each mile. There’s also a chart where you can toggle between different options to compare stats.
Also included in the reporting is information on your heart rate zones throughout the workout. I feel like this could be super beneficial for training (especially in helping me understand what a true “easy” run really is…haha.) I also see here that I could have upped my game a bit in the spin class when the instructor called for an all out sprint. Next time! 😉
TomTom® Spark 3 MySports Online Features
You can also login to your MySports account online where you will also find data on all of your recent runs. This data is from the hill repeat workout that I did last Saturday.
Another feature of the online site is that you can connect your account to other apps like My Fitness Pal, Strava, RunKeeper, NikePlus and more. This is also where you upload your trails/new routes for the Route Exploration feature. You simply upload a GPX file of your route (you can create this on a site like Google Maps or Map My Run) and it will sync to your watch.
Final Thoughts
I really like the TomTom® Spark 3 and I would definitely recommend it to anyone in the market for a running or fitness watch. I think the music storage capability is amazing and I can’t wait to use the new route exploration features for my upcoming long runs for spring half marathons. I also love having all of my workout data in one place in the TomTom® MySports App for not just my running workouts but gym, cycle, walks, yoga and more.
Let me know if you have any questions!
What do you listen to when you run?
Would you use the route exploration feature?
Do you ever do any heart rate zone training?
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Thanks for the review! I’m actually following a heart rate based training plan for the Pittsburgh marathon in May, and I absolutely love it. Heart rate quickly teaches you what an easy run is suppose to feel like.
I’m looking for a new heart rate watch, and the Spark3 was on my list. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I still have an ancient gps watch and started carrying my 6plus to run too. What a pain! I could never find a belt or holder that fit it without flopping or feeling ridiculous. I really want a new watch and will have to check this one out!
I always wonder with these watches, do they have alarms? And if so, how many? I rely on a couple of different alarms on my old-school Timex, and haven’t given it up in lieu of a more “advanced” watch because I’d still need to wear both! 🙂 Thanks!
Hi Jen,
I just bought myself the same Watch for my birthday. But I have the feeling the step count is way off, what do you think? Thanks!
Hey Jen! I got this watch for Christmas and tried it out on the treadmill and it was way off…I ran 5 miles at an average 8 min/mile pace but it had me in the 11-12min/mile zone and only running somewhere around 3.5 miles. Have you tried it on the treadmill yet with success? I thought about trying it again to see if it was just a fluke…