[App Review] Endomondo

Endomondo is the second Workout app that I've reviewed. The first was Cardio Trainer.

Like my review for Cardio Trainer, Endomondo's recorded data will be compared to that of my Garmin 310XT watch. Nothing like a base line, and consistency.

Can Endomondo stack up where Cardio Trainer fell over?

I'm sitting here staring at the screen wondering where to begin. There is just so much to say about Endomondo.

Even a summary seems daunting. This application is much more than just a way to record and review your training.

Endomondo is a real social application (and not just for Android phones either!). Endomondo allows you to challenge others, find friends, comment on workouts, share details with other Endomondo users and so much more. You can even log in using your Facebook login and see who of your Facebook friends also use Endomondo.

But down to the nitty gritty. How did it stack up against my beloved Garmin?

Actually surprisingly well. Although not a perfect match, the difference in distance and time is almost not worth a mention.

Like with Cardio Trainer I went for a bike ride and ran through the forest. Don't be mislead into thinking this app only caters for Running and Biking. Endomondo has the largest list of activities I've ever seen, or thought possible. Even fairly stationary activities like weights and yoga have a place. 

My two workouts recorded perfectly without a glitch. The only glitch I did have was breaking a spoke with it becoming wrapped around the cassette on my bike. Try that in a busy intersection and see how you cope.

Bike mechanics aside, Endomondo did just what it claimed it could do. As I stopped, so too did the application. It paused right on queue.

It was a breeze to use.

Once I arrived home I was able to compare the data collected to my Garmin. One of the really nice things was the instant transfer of data direct to Endomondo. I didn't have to do a thing. It was immediately available to me from the website.

The route was perfectly matched to the journey I'd taken. The place I stopped to carry out a quick and dirty repair of my wheel was spot on. I have absolutely no complaints at all.

You're easily about to manually add or delete workouts. Everything is a breeze.

Unlike last week's forest run, this week the GPS and the recording of the distance and time travelled went without a hitch. So being through the forest can't be blamed for the hit and miss recording of data.

Nothing was a problem for Endomondo.

The website allows you to view the course as a map or via satellite. It looks nice!

There is so much information you can analyse. And I'm one of those people that gets excited the more information I have to use in comparisons. It doesn't make me any better, or smarter sadly. But I get a real kick out of flicking between the same course on different days to see what was better/different (read worse).

One of the really clever things about the website is the ability to roll your mouse over the timeline (see above image) and get the data about your pace.

This really is a very smart application for free. And I haven't even mentioned that you can play music too. Personally it's not a feature I use. I'm more than happy in my own headspace. The only time I want music is when I'm doing a spin session.

I guess the bottom line is that had I not had my Garmin, I'd be as happy as a pig in mud with Endomondo.

Call me simple, but seeing the hare and the tortoise is just a nice little
quirky touch in my land. It's just another little thing that makes
Endomondo stand out as being a friendly application. You  simply
swipe left and right to move between laps, summary and the map.

I don't really know what more you could ask for. There is just so much packed into this application. And what you don't get on your phone you can easily get from the website.

I really don't feel I've done justice to this review. There's so much more that Endomondo does and I haven't had time to peel away the layers.

I've found it to be more than adqeuate. It's user friendly, informative and a pleasure to use.

There is a paid (Pro) version but I'm just not seeing anything I need lacking in the free app. If you're looking for more, like time goals and calorie goals then the Pro version is for you.

I like Endomondo, really like it.

Feel free to leave a comment about the feature you like best if you're an Endomondo user. Or if you've got another workout application you're eyeing up and want me to give it a whirl, speak up. I'm rather enjoying myself, especially when using top notch apps like Endomondo.