There are a few ways any runner or cyclist can track their workouts. You can remember every turn and map it out online later, use GPS on your smartphone while connected to a host of apps, or invest a few hundred bucks into a GPS watch that does all of this. So when the new Magellan Echo Smart Running Watch came in, my initial thought was, “Sweet, a new GPS watch to try.” I quickly learned that wasn’t exactly the case—and that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
   
Here’s the deal: the Magellan Echo—a product from a noted manufacturer of GPS products—is not a GPS watch. It’s more like a powerful remote that provides the vital information you want when you pair this puppy through Bluetooth on your iPhone.
   
Right now the Echo ($150, or $200 with heart-rate monitor; magellangps.com) links with several of the most popular fitness apps in the iTunes store: Strava, Wahoo Fitness, iSmoothFitness, and MayMyRun. (Support for Android is coming soon.)  Because I already had Strava downloaded on my phone, I went with that for a week of test runs. Pairing the two was a cinch. Turn on your Bluetooth, open the app, go to settings, and have Strava search for the device. Press the top left button on your watch to let the Echo accept the pairing, and you’re set.

   

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Media Platforms Design Team

The screen on your watch will “echo” the information from the app—distance, time elapsed, and pace. Other apps let you customize information, but essentially that’s all I need. It’s a tad shocking that when this watch isn’t paired with anything, it doesn’t do much besides telling you the time and date. In fact, future iterations would benefit from at least having a stopwatch in case you just want to do some speed work on the track.
   
But after several runs I found a ton to like about this smart watch. Many times with my current GPS timepiece I’m frustratingly left standing on a street corner with my arm raised to the heavens waiting on the device to find the satellite. But because my phone can connect faster, all I had to do was hit the bottom right button to “record” the run and get started. The same button pauses your outing, and after a week of using the device I never saw a hiccup between my phone and watch, whether I was running for 3 miles or 15.

   
Another feature is useful if you run with music: the top right button starts your iPhone playlist—and a double tap moves on to the next song. Tapping the top left button during a run provides a backlight at night, while the bottom left button does surprisingly little—at least with Strava. Another surprising factor to consider with the Echo is the outstanding battery life. Because it’s not searching for GPS satellites every time you head outside, all it needs is a coin cell battery that Magellan claims should last you up to 6 months with regular use. It was especially nice not to pull out charging cables after every cold winter run to boost battery life and download runs to the web.
   
Also, because a big battery or GPS isn’t required, the Echo actually has a sleek design that doesn’t look like a clunky sports watch. I could wear this around the office without it seeming like I was trying to humble-brag that I had just gone for an afternoon run.
   
Not everybody likes running or cycling with their phone strapped to their arm or packed into a pocket. That’s understandable, and there are other GPS watches out there that provide all the intricate details you’d want about a workout. But there are many who like the comfort of having a phone with them in case there’s an injury or a flat tire. And if you’re like me and hate the idea of constantly waking up your phone just to see how long you’ve gone, then the Echo is a seamless accessory that should make your workouts more focused over time.