TomTom Spark 3 Review – NOT just for RUNNERS!

If you have already followed a route and it’s in your TomTom MySport history you can “send it” to the watch as a TRAIL. Alternatively you can IMPORT other people’s previously explored GPX trails in to MySports and transfer them to the watch. 

Next time you exercise start the session by selecting your preferred TRAIL. The watch will show you by way of a breadcrumb trail where you need to go. Simply follow the trail and you should able to get around the track.

NOTE: It’s NOT an auto-routing feature, it does NOT lock you in to the course nor does it provide prompts when you stray off course.

Trail Exploration in practice

Trails is one of the 6 training styles available on the Spark 3. Assuming you have some pre-saved trials in the watch simply select the trail you want to follow.

The example below is one of my local 3.6M loop around Hunstanton.

1) Select the Trail you want to explore

2) Once GPS has locked on the watch will inform you that it is ready to go with a “GET GOING” message. Simply press the right hand toggle button and begin your run.

Remember, it’s up to you to find the start of the trail. The watch will show you but you need to find your own way to the beginning.

If you need it, the COMPASS can help as the watch always displays the trail with NORTH UP.

3) When started there are TWO views of the trail.

The view shown below is the zoomed out view, it is possible to zoom in for a much closer look, useful when you are approaching an area with various options.

Trail Exploration Summary

I found the trail explore easy to use and a useful new feature to this already competent GPS training watch.

It’s NOT auto-routing but it’s definitely a feature I would use when in an area I’ve not ridden or ran in before.

Live Breadcrumb creation

As you exercise outdoors the watch will draw a live breadcrumb trail of where you’ve been. This can be used, if you’re OK using a basic map, to navigate your way back home.

This new feature is handy when running / riding in a new environment. The Spark 3 also includes a digital COMPASS to help you decide which way you need to turn.

I will emphasize again though, it’s NOT an auto-router, just a follow the trail aid.

Like many of the fitness watches I have the tested and reviewed the TomTom Runner 3 has wrist based heart rate.

Your heart rate is measured from your WRIST without the need for a chest strap. There are many watches on the market that acquire HR from the wrist, however, there are NOT many that are as ACCURATE as the TomTom.

I have tested it in parallel to a chest strap on several occasions and I have no hesitation in recommending it. I found it to be 99% accurate for 99% of the time. One of the best wrist based heart rate sensors I have used.

The images below show the heart rate graph acquired from an interval training session performed on my turbo trainer.

There are 3 x STEADY zone 3 intervals for 2-3 minutes each, then 1 x V HARD interval for 1 minute, followed by 1 x 2 minute Z3 and 1 x Z4/5 for 1 minute.

The HR graph shown below is identical to the heart rate graph acquired with a Suunto Spartan Sport with BlueLeza Bluetooth heart rate sensor (my CONTROL)

Interval Session Heart Rate from CHEST STRAP on Suunto

The TomTom Runner 2 added activity tracking to the TomTom Runner Cardio. You get daily and weekly feedback on steps, distance and calories burnt. 

All your daily activity is uploaded to the TomTom MySports app on iPhone and Android devices.

The user has the choice of what training metric is displayed in the TWO small display fields. These two fields are displayed in ALL training views.

Personally I like to have time of day and current running page. When on the bike I have time and average speed.

It is possible to set a different combination of metrics based on each sports profile, eg. RUN, WALK BIKE etc.

Left and Right Training View options.

The two display fields can be set to any of the following: Clock (time), Duration, Distance, Pace, Average Pace, Speed, Average Speed, Calories, Heart Rate or Heart Rate Zone.

This is a training view I have when reading. The display fields are set to TIME of DAY and AVG PACE.

These are the options available:

The user has the choice of what training metric is displayed in the TWO small display fields. These two fields are displayed in ALL training views.

Personally I like to have time of day and current running page. When on the bike I have time and average speed.

It is possible to set a different combination of metrics based on each sports profile, eg. RUN, WALK BIKE etc.

One of the best features of the TomTom Runner 3 (Spark 3) is the ability to quickly and easily set a training style before beginning a workout.

There are 6 different training modes:

1. None
2. Goals
3. Intervals
4. Laps
5. Zones
6. Race

None

None – as you’d expect, a training session with no pre-set goals, zones or controlling factors

Goal Setting – Calories, Distance etc

Goals – are for user who are motivating by achieving a predefined goal. The options for goal setting are :

• Distance
• Calories
• Time

An example would be setting a running distance goal of 3 miles. The watch will give you feedback throughout the run on percentage of target completed.

Interval Training Made Easy

Intervals – please watch the video to fully appreciate how easy this is. It’s one of the key features of this brilliant watch. Quickly set-up an interval session with warm-up, interval effort, interval recovery, repeat x N and cool down. The photo below shows the clear navigation controls involved in setting up an interval session. Each session is a ONE OFF and not recorded in memory for recall next time you train. It would be nice if you could save it with a memorable name eg. 5 x 3 mins or similar. However, it’s so easy and quick to set up it’s no hassle at all, just 1 minute from start to finish to configure.

Zones – is another innovative and easy to use training tool that I enjoyed using. Before stating a session simply select whether the exercise is to be Heart Rate Zone or Speed/Pace Zone controlled.

Selecting whether ZONE is to be either

• PACE (running eg min/mile or min/km)
• SPEED (cycling eg MPH or KMH)
• ZONE – heart rate zones

If you select Heart Rate you have to option of 1 – 5 heart rate training zones.

1. SPRINT (90%+)
2. SPEED (80%)
3. ENDURE (70%)
4. FAT BURN (60%)
5. EASY (under 60%)

Choose the intensity of the training session that interests you and select it. Throughout the session the watch will alert you if you stray outside your chosen HR zone

The TomTom Spark 3 features a built-in accelerometer that can track your swim training. Set the pool length and leave the rest to the watch.

The clever gizmos inside the watch will count your lengths, monitor your speed and even provide a SWOLF score, telling you how effective your swimming is.

The SWOLF score (also used by Garmin) is useful as it gives an indication of your swimming efficiency.

The TomTom Runner 2 was one of the first GPS sport watches to acknowledge the fact that many people like to training WITHOUT their smartphone, but also want to listen to music while they train. 

The Spark 3 has internal memory reserved for music, up to 500 songs. I have tested this feature on both Mac (iTunes) and Windows using locally stored music from Google Music.

Having music stored in the watch is great. Your training tunes are transmitted to any Bluetooth compatible headphones.

If you’re interested in music while you train you may also be interested in the Polar M600 powered by Android Wear.