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Review: Running Watch – Soleus GPS PULSE

Released in September 2014, the SOLEUS GPS PULSE is the brand’s first watch to combine GPS tracking and measuring of heart rate readings into a single device.

The Soleus GPS PULSE running watch.

The Soleus GPS PULSE running watch.

This means that instead of requiring runners to wear an uncomfortable strap around their chest, this watch simply takes your pulse rate on your wrist – by measuring the main artery there, to get a heart rate reading.

The key features of the Soleus GPS PULSE are as follows:

Screen Shot 2015-04-04 at 2.39.54 pm

I tested the SOLEUS GPS PULSE running watch – whilst doing a number of training runs – and here are my comments.

Comfortable to wear

This watch is comfortable to wear – and was surprisingly different to what I would have expected. For example, I did not actually have to wear the watch too tightly in order for my pulse rate to be measured. So you can just strap the watch as you would normally do and it will be able to measure your pulse rate.

Watch readings are really huge and clear

The digits on the SOLEUS GPS PULSE are also fairly big and sharp too – so this helps to make readings very clear. When you are out there pounding the pavements, you can see the digits at a single glance. As a result, this feature will suit well, runners who may have a bit of a vision problem.

Tracks time, distance, pace, heart rate and calories

With the Soleus GPS Pulse, as with most other sports watches, you are able to track your time, distance, pace, heart rate and calories. As well, with this watch, you could also interchange between different screens depending on what you feel is the most useful type of data that you want to look at when you are running. This is useful because sometimes you may want to see your running pace but at other times, you may prefer to focus on the distance run.

Takes about two to three minutes to pick up a signal

For most of my runs, the most common time frame before the GPS watch connected to a signal was roughly about two to three minutes. Many of these runs were at East Coast Park. Like most GPS watches, this may also depend on where you are running, though. The fastest that the watch picked up a signal for me, was when I did a group run at the Esplanade area, and that was in 46 seconds.

Wearing the SOLEUS GPS PULSE out for a run.

Wearing the SOLEUS GPS PULSE out for a run.

Readings can be synced easily to the Strava mobile app

The readings from the SOLEUS GPS PULSE can be synced easily to the Strava mobile application, which is free for download on both the Apple and Android OS. Using this app makes for much easier reading of your run data. And syncing is also pretty easy to do, as you simply download the SoleusSync application from the Internet, by following the instructions from the Soleus website. This app is downloadable on both Windows and Mac computers.

The data can easily be synced to Strava.

The data from the Soleus GPS Pulse can easily be synced to Strava.

When the application is successfully installed, you will just plug in your Soleus GPS PULSE and follow the instructions on screen, to sync the data to Strava. And you can also share your completed run logs on Facebook or on other social media through either SoleusSync or Strava – to keep your friends updated with how your workouts are progressing.

The SOLEUS GPS PULSE retails for SGD 399 (before GST) and is available at TANGS VivoCity, OG Orchard Point and selected sports and watch retailers.

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4 Comments

  • Paul says:

    Nice write up. But I think it would be more useful if you can expand on the data that you can obtained from Strava after syncing.

    For example, I can see that there is a Pace Analysis, Pace Distribution and Heart Rate. I think it would be helpful to provide screenshot of those too.

    The appeal of a strapless HR monitor is obvious, but I’m interested in the performance of this watch in this aspect. eg. how accurate is it? Are we able to get continuous HR display? Are the HR recorded continuous etc.

    These info would be helpful for those reading the review and in deciding if they want to spend nearly $400 on this watch.

    • Priscilla says:

      Hi Paul,

      I don’t have the data for Pace Analysis, Pace Distribution and Heart Rate, because these only come with the Premium version of Strava, which you must pay $6.98 per month for.

      But you may be interested in these two screenshots – which I also clocked from the same run.

      Running Splits

      Pace, GAP and Heart Rate Chart

  • Lambert says:

    Thanks for the informative article, that actually helps me in deciding my next running watch.

    • Priscilla says:

      Thanks! Good to know that the article has helped you in deciding your next running watch. 🙂

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