Best Apple Watch App

IMO the best current running app is the Stryd app. You'll need a Stryd footpod, but the experience during the run is fantastic and you'll get the best distance and pace accuracy possible with a running watch.

The data can be pushed to Strava, but the Stryd platform is great for analysis on the phone and web.

I've run with a Nike Sports watch back in 2010-2011ish then Garmin since then and the Apple Watch is actually my favorite watch to run with now.

I use the Apple Watch Series 5. Here are the apps I use:

- Workout (builtin) - Average run and LR.

- Intervals ($) - Track or fartlek

- RunGo - Running where I don't know

- iSmoothRun ($) - When physical buttons are a must

Like the previous response, I have also heard really good things about the Stryd app, though I don't have one and can't bring myself to buy one.

Stryd sounds impressive, but it's probably way more than I would need and $200 for the footpod...ouch. That's almost what I paid for the Apple Watch.

My running is pretty casual. I just like to keep track of how many miles I'm running and see if my pace is staying pretty consistent. That's one of the reasons I loved my Sportwatch. It was easy to use and worked really well for me as far as logging miles. I wasn't trying to train to win any marathons.

I've been running with the Apple Watch since Series 2 (currently have a Series 4) and have tried a lot of running apps.

My 2 cents:

- Built In Work Out App: the only one I use. Data view can be customized, can add pace alerts, can run for time or distance, works perfectly. No computer access to data, but I just view it on my phone so that's not an issue for me.

- Nike Run Club: siloed to the world of Nike. Also don't like the visuals as much. Can be a little wonky when it comes to distance. No computer access to data.

- Strava: horrible Apple Watch app. I was shocked at how bad this app is considering how large of a market share Strava has.

- RunKeeper: better than Nike and Strava (plus the ability to link RunKeeper with Strava, which allows you to stay on Strava while getting around their horrible app). Plus you can view your data on your computer. If viewing your data on a computer is a must than this is probably the route I'd go...although it's still not even close to being as good as the Workout App.

Looks like I might end up doing something similar. I used the standalone Runkeeper app the other morning. It seemed to work alright, but when I tried to check my run online, it only showed a graph for my heart rate. There was no graph for pace or elevation like when I used RK on my iPhone.

This morning I used the Workout app. I loved all the data it provided and I also downloaded the HealthFit app which automatically syncs the run to Strava so I can still see the run on my ‘puter.

Apple watches are for vapid millennial chicks.

/thread

HealthFit is worth every penny. I use the native app for running and then export directly to Strava since the iPhone app sucks.

PornHub

I really like Strava and you can view your stats in the app or online through their website and there you can create your own routes and segments. Also the native Apple Watch app is pretty good too

Apple Watch Series 2, 3, and 4 (current) owner here.

The Built In App (Apple Workout) is the best app that I've used on the Apple Watch. I use it exclusively.

I've tried Nike's Run Club app, which is the second best in my opinion, but I don't like the interface.

RunKeeper is decent, but has a worse interface than Nike Run Club and, in my experience, is very buggy.

Strava is horrible.

I'd try a few and see what you think. Different strokes for different folks.

Intervals Pro is a good run app for Apple Watch. It has the stuff I like about the stock app, and you can also set audible alerts for HR, and for split pace and distance. You can customize the splits as well. Plus, you can name the intervals clever things and hear their titles read to you as you run, which is sometimes amusing, and sometimes helpful.

Also, check out RunGap for your phone. You can use a variety of different apps to track workouts until you find something that you prefer, and RunGap will act as a run log and store all of the data from the various apps in one place. It also uploads conveniently to Strava, if that’s your thing.

I ditched my apple watch a few months ago but I liked ismoothrun. It was the most comprehensive and customizable of the ones I tried. However, I did have some issues with it auto-pausing during runs. I agree with everyone that is trashing the strava app. It's so bad. Shocking that they haven't improved it given how popular both strava and the apple watch are.

Try out WorkOutdoors. It's a paid app, but only a few dollars. It has every metric you can dream of, does intervals, etc. I love it.

I use Strava, but there are some major flaws. There needs to be an option for instantaneous pace for runs and also the ability to do manual splits, not just automatically every mile. The app can't be used to get good data for fartleks or track workouts. I have to go back to my old garmin instead. If anyone has connections to Strava, please make these things happen. :)

I use the builtin workout app and HealthFit (as stated, must have for Strava).

Will checkout intervals but I don't do much structured training right now so the workout app is great for just running baby.

Some debates on LRC a few years ago claimed that the builtin workout app had BY FAR the best accuracy for GPS distance. May have changed since.

Can I piggyback off Jebs question with a slightly different question here.

I coach a team and the majority of the athletes have GPS watches. Is there a good common app we can use that can be used with most watches for them to share the data with me? Right now they are using different apps and they screenshot the data on their phone and send it to me or we just look at it together when they are done. It would be a huge upgrade for us if we had an app where when they finished they could upload the data to it and I could see it. A few of them have the Garmin Forerunner 235

Show Time wrote:

I coach a team and the majority of the athletes have GPS watches. Is there a good common app we can use that can be used with most watches for them to share the data with me? Right now they are using different apps and they screenshot the data on their phone and send it to me or we just look at it together when they are done. It would be a huge upgrade for us if we had an app where when they finished they could upload the data to it and I could see it. A few of them have the Garmin Forerunner 235

I would love to know the answer to this- specifically whether it is possible to acquire and consolidate the raw output from a team that I could then process/monitor through Excel or other programming.

I don't seem to be able to download raw files from accounts that I have 'friended.' Anyone know of a solution to this?

how does ismoothrun use the physical buttons?