Epson is a big name. Some of you who spent time in offices using their printers know they are classic and efficient. Very few brands believe in quality like Epson. But we are not here to talk about Epson printers; we want to talk about something even better!
Running watches are a common concept by now. Even Epson has joined the bandwagon to compete with the big names like Polar and Garmin to provide runners with these much-needed items. But the question you may be asking yourself is will Epson put up a stable fight? Or better still, will they be able to provide something extra that the rest haven’t tapped into yet?
We are going to review one of the Epson’s sporty gadgets- Epson Runsense SF-810 . from its exterior design, battery life, and tracking to the software and see whether it’s worth buying or not.
Epson Runsense SF-810 Features
Build and design
Epson took colossal strides to build a great design for this watch. It has a similar outlook to regular watches with enough buttons to meet its functions. It's compact and loaded with exceptional features that make it stand tall above the rest.
The screen’s greyscale has an adjustable lighting condition that lets you choose between a light or dark skin depending on your desires. When it gets dark, the auto-adjusting mechanism will light up the screen to help you have a clear look when working out late.
The optical heart rate sensor in its built mode is a brilliant addition. It lights up from the rear producing a green glow but does not obstruct any other functions. Most watches that have the optical heart rate sensor are pretty big, but this one isn’t. Some like Polar and Garmin are big yet do not have this feature.
The rubber strap too deserves being mentioned. It is light, comfy and allows your skin to breathe. You can have the watch on your arm the whole day without feeling it.
Supported Exercises
Epson Runsense SF-810’s primary activity is running. That can be obvious to see from its name, Runsense. However, some options like swimming (with limited depth), cycling and walking are available. There is a hint that the software is being updated to accommodate all swimming activities.
This watch’s altimeter and GPS signal are used to track speed and elevation together with pace, heart rate and time. However, it may not be efficient for cycle tracking since its sensors cannot record wind properties.
Battery life
SF-810 can run for up to 20 hours with the GPS and the heart rate monitor on. This is one of the watches with a longer battery life. And for a small design, they have really tried. Normally, it’s hard to make a watch small and give it a larger battery.
The battery can easily be charged by a USB cable attached to a smartphone charger or a laptop. It takes about an hour to charge fully.
GPS accuracy Even in the Mountains
Many sports watches have GPS track built in but it can be hindered at times when in dense areas that do not have a clear line of site. They get tangled up with every satellite they are connected to and end up losing efficiency. This happens most if you are running in hilly or mountainous regions. Epson, however, is very accurate with its results-which makes it belong to the same class as the Suunto Ambit 3 Peak and Garmin Phoenix 3, watches that have been solely created for mountains.
Software system
As we talk, this watch can only benefit PC users only. Android, iPhone and Mac OS are not supported at all. So, if you own some of the devices above, you may have to look for a PC-at least for now. This watch is coordinated with its RunsenseApp. The app makes it easy to update the data before you head out for exercise. You can also upload recorded workouts, view maps data listings, and heart rate zones graphs through this app.
Who is this watch designed for?
SF-810 was designed for runners. Its excellent features put it between Garmin and TomTom Runner Cardio. Some of the great features on it include Auto Pause, Auto Lap, internal stride sensor and stride length. Once the data has been recorded, its send it to the app or PC via the GPS signal eradicating the need to use the traditional pen and paper method. At its price, this watch is pretty awesome.
Shifting between activities
This watch comes with three modes that you can switch from-Running, walking and cycling. Switching from one mode to the other may need you to master the guide that it comes with. Sometimes you may need to stop what you are doing to switch modes; especially at night due to small lettering.
In general, this watch is not a multisport watch. Don’t expect too much from it since its core purpose is to track running data such as time, lapse rate, heart rate, etc. so, as far as you may find it with cycling mode, it just an additional feature but it’s not that efficient. However, for running, this watch an is excellent piece.
What are its drawbacks?
- It’s not easy to upload workout data
- The guide is a bit big and may need several days to complete
- Only works with PC and not Android, iPhone and Mac OS
Much of the cons about the Epson Runsense SF-810 revolve around the inefficiency of its software. Much need to be done to make this watch compatible with other conventional devices. The good news is, the company has already issued a word that they are working on the software.
Customer reviews
There are over 79 reviews on Amazon for this watch. On average, it’s rated 4 out of 5 stars with only 2% of the population expressing total dissatisfaction (1-star). This is an excellent performance for a product coming from a new company in sports watches. Software incompatibility and a few other cons are the reasons this product is not rated 5/5. However, it works just fine. Visit GPS Running Watch Reviews to see some more great sports watches you can benefit from.
Verdict
There is plenty to be admired about Epson Runsense SF-810 The small design, quick and accurate GPS signal, the in-built heart rate monitor, the waterproof design and above all the long lasting battery. For a new kid on the block, Epson has really tried. Despite its drawbacks, Epson Runsense SF-810 is a decent watch that can help runners have an easier time monitoring their progress and enjoy their workout as well.