This is my new TomTom Spark Cardio + Music and GPS fitness watch. I know you’ve probably heard of many fitness trackers already but this one is the tracker of all trackers. I literally just went bonkers on a plane over it...but let me work my way into that story.
I’m arguably one of the toughest critics of fitness watches and trackers. Most of the ones I’ve purchased or have been sent to review bite the dust in my gadget drawer at Mizzfit Headquarters. For the most part I find them to be unnecessary time suckers. I already have enough gadgets and gizmos in my life that if I'm going to add something to the mix, it better do something spectacular. I want it to improve my fitness routine and make it more fun, not complicated.
To be perfectly honest, the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music frustrated me at first because there’s a bit of set up involved. You have to sync it to your computer, enter a bunch of personal info so that it can compute your stats, get the app on your phone and then you need to get yourself Bluetooth capable earphones. The directions are really easy to follow if you start by connecting it to your computer first.
As tedious as it all was, the end result was so AMAZING that I feel like a brat for complaining. The set-up process is important for all the great functionality the Spark offers. For me, hands down, the best feature is the music player. I've never seen anything like it before.
My Spark plays music from my wrist delivered straight to my bluetooth sport earphones. I no longer have to run with my iPhone! This is like a dream come true because the iPhone 6 is hard to wear in a sleeve. I got used to it but I can’t really fully bend my arm at the elbow because the velcro sleeve with my phone inside spans a large part of my upper arm and bicep giving me reduced range of motion. I bought the slimmest sleeve I could find and the problem is I sweat right through it, which gets my phone moist. #FitnessGirlProblems but now my TomTom Spark saves the day!
To get my Spark singing for me, I simply move my favorite music playlists over from my computer while I have the 2 connected. It holds up to 3GB of music or 500 songs. Once that's done, I press up on the square toggle button beneath the watch's screen to pair it with my Bluetooth earphones (I really like these by Urbanista). You'll see something like this below when you transfer your music through your computer.
When it first worked for me and played a song off one of my running mixes, I have to admit I was in disbelief! This was a game changer. I love all these functions listed below but the truth is the music is really the cherry on top for me. It's that extra sumptin sumptin that makes me want to take it everywhere.
- Big time telling numbers! This comes in handy when you’re doing cardio and just need to take a quick glance at the time.
- GPS tracking to track your route and progress
- Multi-sport modes like race mode, hell yeah!
- A built in heart tate monitor that lets you select a zone to match your training goals so that you can either intensify or reduce your exertion.
- A 24/7 activity tracker. Even when you’re sleeping!
You can see why it's expensive ($249.99). It does a lot. Then again, this seems to be the going rate for top of the line trackers these days.
I like that with my TomTom Spark, I can run with my dogs without having to worry about my phone. It's nice to leave that thing at home. Nothing’s worse than being on a run when someone calls you and the ring interferes with your music and takes you out of your zone. You weren't planning on answering the phone but now you're wondering who called...and just like that, you're distracted. My runs with Shorty & Leroy are sacred. It's really nice to banish my phone but still have a soundtrack.
I feel naked with my TomTom. Not literally. It’s a positive term we runners often use to express the purist feeling of running without all this technology strapped to us. At the end of the day it’s about the run and often times even the best gadgets just get in the way.
Not my Spark, though. I take it with me to the gym for strength training and cardio sessions. I can jump rope and do HIIT moves smoothly without wires flying up and down, smacking me in the face. I like how it looks with my Go Bananas! fitness gloves that I just released with G-Love. Yup, I designed them :) It's definitely a stylish look all together.
And that brings me to where I am now. On a plane to LA for a hosting job I’m pretty excited about with Joyus. Instead of burning all the juice out on my iPhone, I’m listening to music on my Spark while blogging. This is kind of embarrassing but during takeoff, I placed my Spark in the seat pocket near the tray table. I closed my eyes for 3 seconds and then heard a thud. When I looked down at my feet, I saw my Spark rolling backwards. I tried to grab it but I was a second too late and IT WAS GONE!
If you know me, I’m relentless when it comes to something I'm passionate about. I stood up during takeoff and announced to the whole plane that my fitness watch was on it’s way towards the back of the plane, and would everyone please look down for it. It was nuts of me but what can I say, I got my Spark back! Thank God for the male stewards onboard—I feel like they understood my level of cray to retrieve my beloved piece of technology. They just really wanted me to sit down calmly until we reached 10,000 feet, which I totally get. Yes, I'm THAT girl.
On that note, the TomTom Spark Cardio + Music makes a stupendous holiday gift for a fitness & health loving person (who may or may not be as crazy as me). I recommend gifting it with a playlist you made yourself. Here's a tune to inspire you by Michael Kiwanuka--one of my favorites. Happy Holidays! xoxo, Bianca Jade