I have been running with the same antiquated GPS (and gigantic!) watch that I’ve had since I started training for my first marathon back in 2008…until about a month ago when I got a major upgrade with the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music GPS Fitness Watch!
Let’s start with a high level overview of all the amazing features of the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music GPS Fitness Watch.
- It can store up to 3GB of music or about 500 songs with playback on bluetooth, wireless headphones
- Built-in heart-rate monitor on your wrist!
- 24/7 activity tracking of everything from sleep to steps
- Automatic sleep tracking without having to set it to sleep mode
- Multi-sport mode…you pick if you’re hitting the gym, cycling, running or going freestyle
- GPS tracking with quick connection to satellites
- Smartphone app and notifications
- Customizable straps
- Audio feedback when used in training mode
- Wireless syncing
- Waterproof to 40m (5 ATM)
- Race mode
- Interval training
I feel like all of my watch and music dreams have come true having it all in one device. I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced what it’s like to run with an 18-month old, overly-enthusiastic golden retriever but let’s just say the more hands you have available, the better.
{Outtake.} Case in point. I actually dropped my iPhone and shattered the screen while running with Zoey back in February. I was thrilled to receive a device where I didn’t have to hold anything in my hands PLUS the headphones are wireless and fit neatly behind my ears. I always tuck my regular headphones into the side of my sports bra because I hate when the cords flap in my face.
I am not super tech-savvy but I had the TomTom Spark up and going out of the box faster than anything I’ve ever used before. I appreciate that it comes in a small and large size so that those of us with smaller wrists aren’t left with dangling straps. The watch bands are customizable and they offer many different color combos.
Three easy steps get you started:
- Visit the TomTom Get Started web page and download the MySports Connect desktop application. This will automatically send the latest updates to your watch.
- Connect your watch to a computer before you start exercising by using the desk dock provided.
- Register for the MySports website to track your statistics after your runs. You can also view your activities and upload to MySports via the MySports mobile iOS or Android app.
The TomTom Spark tracks all of your daily activity, making a secondary activity tracker unnecessary. You get data on both your steps and your sleep.
And when it comes to workouts, you get to choose what type of workout you’re doing from the following options:
- Running
- Cycling
- Indoor cycling
- Gym
- Treadmill running
- Swim
- Freestyle
Additionally, the TomTom Spark allows you to select from five different heart rate zones to help you meet your fitness or training goals.
- Sprint: All out: mostly used as part of interval training
- Speed: High tempo: training improving speed and fitness
- Endure: Moderate to High tempo: improving lung and heart capacity
- Fat burn: Moderate tempo: great for weight loss
- Easy: Easy tempo: mostly used for warm-up and cool down
If you set the watch to training mode you can choose from the following:
- Goals – distance, time, calories
- Intervals – you get to set you work and rest intervals as well as number of sets
- Laps
- Zones (pace, speed or heart rate)
- Race
When in training mode, the TomTom Spark can offer you audio feedback via the bluetooth headphone telling you things like slow down, pick up the pace, you’re halfway to your goal, etc. It’s good motivation and nice not to have to continually look at your watch for the info.
Right on your wrist you get real-time info on time, distance, speed, pace and calories burned but on the app you can see more in-depth stats.
It’s nice to be able to easily see your splits in the app and you can also toggle down to see things like elevation, speed, pace and heart rate.
But I haven’t just been wearing my TomTom Spark for running, I’ve also been wearing it to yoga classes and to the gym. It’s so awesome to have the ability to easily track heart rate and calories burned. Moreover, I so appreciate the bluetooth headphones and being able to listen to my own music versus whatever is playing at the gym while lifting. While I can hold my phone when running, that doesn’t work for gym workouts. I felt so much more in the zone and focused with the headphones in.
They stayed put with no adjusting or falling out through everything from deadlifts to jump squats to burpees.
If you’re in the market for a new GPS watch and would like the benefit of combining your music and heart rate monitor and fitness tracker all in one, I would definitely recommend the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music Fitness Watch. It’s been a great upgrade for me and I look forward to continue to utilize it to help me meet my running and overall fitness goals…while staying motivated by my favorite playlists!
Do you run with a GPS watch or a heart rate monitor? If so, how does it help your training?
Do you prefer to workout with or without music?
This post is sponsored by TomTom but the review is my own.
would you believe I still run with no gps watch?! I use mapmyrun and never felt the need for a watch. lately I have been giving it some thought so this review is very helpful!
I think it’s great you run without one! There are benefits to using them and not using them. When I was trying to “heal” my relationship with running after quitting long distance for the most part, I quit using one for a long time to reconnect to the joy of just running. I have been using them again now for the last couple of years and I love getting all the data and info right on my wrist! Especially valuable if you’re training for something that requires you to run at specific paces. And with the TomTom Spark, I just love having everything combined into one!
Love the pics of Zoey. The one where she’s jumping in the air reminds me of something my 4 month old golden retriever would do 🙂
Aw, FOUR MONTHS! So sweet! Send me a picture! 🙂
Thank you for posting about the struggles of training a younger dog to run with you. I am training my 1 year old pointer now and running with him is very unpredictable. Some days a stick is more exciting than running and some days he follows my stride and is perfectly focused. I would love to hear tips or products you’ve found that make this training more successful.
Hi Jill, I ran for about 8 years with Sullie and it’s been about six months with Zoey. I will definitely consider a post on this. It can be challenging to figure out (for both…the dog and the owner!) but worth it!
So far I’ve just been holding my iphone in my had. Cross your fingers I don’t drop it. I have a Garmin but I rarely charge it!
Please tell me you at least have a case! 🙂
I’ve been eyeing this watch for months! This post might just finally get me to bite the bullet and buy one. What kind of headphones do you use? I still haven’t found a Bluetooth pair I love.
LOVE the photos of you running with your sweet baby. Thanks for the review – I always listen to music when I workout (I usually just use your playlists and listen to them on spotify), but I shattered my phone when it got tangled up with the dog leash and I love that the tom tom is hands free! that’s a huge perk.
wow that seems like a nice watch. quite expensive (for me) esp. if you have to buy headphones separately. but it does seem to do a lot which is good.
Yes, the value is definitely in the “all-in-one” capabilities of the watch!
TomTom can thank you, because I have read your article and buy the watch. But I love your shoes. What kind of shoes are they the turquoise ones? And where did you buy those?
hey! do you use it to track yoga? thank you for the review!
I have tried but I don’t really think it understood what I was doing. The reading seemed extremely low for calories burned.