I would like a watch that would give me access to the raw data it records. Not some magic transfer to the cloud where graphs are built on the fly for me.
The data-points that I'm interested in are (minimally):
- lap time (or if no laps are detected, consider every kilometer a lap)
- real-time speed
- track recording (through a GPS that can deal with trees and the like)
- real-time altitude.
The screen should at least be able to display at the same time:
- total time
- current lap time
and it should also be light on demand for night runs.
It would be nice to also have pace and heart rate data available, but it's not a must.
And of course, the cheaper the better. Also I prefer the robust minimalist approach over the gazillion of features but fragile as hell approach.
I never owned such a specialized watch, so my expectations or my demands might be off. Feel free to set my feet back on the ground and explain what I should be looking for or what my needs should be.