An Accurate Smartwatch for Only 70 NIS?
Most dedicated runners are as serious about their smartwatch as they are about their sneakers, and with good reason. Endurance athletes rely on heart rate monitoring to gain insights into training intensity and recovery. And while smartwatches have made biometric measurements once limited to elite athletes accessible to the mass market, their high prices often exclude beginner runners.
During a recent visit to Decathlon's new store in Jerusalem, I discovered the OnRunning 110 watch, which claims to accurately monitor heart rate during running, cycling, and swimming (5 ATM waterproof) at a price of only 70 NIS ($19 USD). This seemed too good to be true, considering leading brands like Suunto, Garmin, and Polar only start at nearly 1,000 NIS ($260 USD).
But in the name of science, exercise gadgets, and finding affordable heart rate monitoring solutions for beginners who train with me, I decided to test the OnRunning 110 watch.
Comparing Heart Rate Accuracy Against one of the Best Running Smartwatches
In order to check the accuracy of the Decathlon OnRunning 110 watch's heart rate monitor, I hooked up the heart rate monitor chest strap just underneath that of my Garmin Forerunner 955 watch.
Bionic runner, ready for action with both chest straps secured
I then started out on an easy run, staying mostly in my Zone 1 heart rate zone of under 145 beats per minute (BPM). Initially there was a large difference between the two devices, but after about 5 minutes, they were showing the same heart rate, with only 1 BPM difference if any at all.
Garmin Forerunner 955 (left) and Decathlon Kalenji OnRunning 110 (right)
The following day, I conducted a more rigorous test. Wearing both the Garmin Forerunner 955 and the OnRunning 110 watches, along with their respective external heart rate monitors, I used a treadmill. After a 15-minute warmup, I ran 3 rounds of intervals at my lactate threshold pace, maintaining a heart rate of 180-186 BPM. Once again, the two devices exhibited close correlation, with only brief instances of a difference exceeding 3 BPM. The largest disparity I observed was a momentary increase of 7 BPM.
Limitations in Data Storage, Measuring and Syncing
While the OnRunning 110 watch functions well as a heart rate monitor, its list of capabilities is a short one. The only other features are providing time, date and stopwatch. It also relies exclusively on the attached chest strap for heart rate monitoring, unlike most name brand smartwatches that offer an integrated wrist-based heart rate monitor. Although wrist-based monitoring is less accurate than the chest strap, it provides greater comfort, flexibility, and the ability for all-day (and night) monitoring.
Another notable drawback of the OnRunning 110 watch is its inability to sync with a smartphone or store workout data for later analysis. Real-time heart rate evaluation is the only feature available. This can be disappointing for users who prefer reviewing heart rate data, tracking progress over time, or sharing data with a coach. While the watch supports heart rate-based training zones through beeping alerts, its usefulness is limited by the absence of time or distance-based interval settings within those zones.
Other Missing Smartwatch Features for Running
When deciding on the best running smartwatch for you, evaluating all of the features is really important. Another sorely lacking feature for the Decathlon OnRunning 110 watch is the absence of an interval timer. It includes only a limited stopwatch function. For individuals who engage in interval training regularly, this could be a significant drawback.
There are other very significant differences between the two devices, starting with comfort and quality of the materials between the Garmin Forerunner 955 and the Decathlon OnRunning 110, not to mention the rich range of features that even the most basic Garmin watches offer, such as GPS-based speed and distance tracking, ability to create and execute interval workouts, notifications, display weather conditions, workout history, physiological measurements, and much much more.
Conclusion
I wonder if there are any smartwatches that fall into the category of a “happy medium” that would most suit serious beginners. Such a device would have an accurate heart rate monitor (wrist or chest strap) and the ability to sync data with a smartphone. My suspicion is that the GPS-based technology is the limiting factor and one that prevents the price point of most smartwatches out there from being able to drop too low.
At a price point of only 70 NIS, the Decathlon OnRunning 110 watch offers a cost-effective solution for those seeking an accurate heart rate monitor for their workouts. And the watch's ability to deliver comparable results to a higher-end device like the Garmin Forerunner 955 is commendable. However, it is not surprising that the watch has limitations, including the inability to set up structured workouts or store/sync any data. There is a reason why the best running smartwatch brands contain these features on even their most basic devices - they're necessary for most runners.