When running is no longer just about watching the number on the scale go down, but becomes a way to push beyond your own goals, understanding how you run becomes one of your top priorities—if not number one, then definitely near the top. (After all, Brother Jia-Zhe’s coaching mantra is: look cool first, run fast second!)
That’s why tools for conveniently tracking your runs and keeping your training on schedule came into being, such as apps and wearable fitness bands. I used to be firmly in the app camp,because I already had an iPhone, and apps were free to install.(I really have been getting more and more honest lately.) But I gradually noticed that carrying a phone made my shoulders tense up and affected my running form. OurRainbow Runofficial running coach, Teacher Edison, also confirmed this and reminded us thatwhether you hold your phone or wear it in an armband, its weight will affect your running form. Switching to a watch or another wearable device is the best option. And so, this EPSON RUNSENSE SF-810 wearable sports watch that I received at the trial event is about to enter my running life. To show it the proper respect (?!), I present to you: an unboxing post.
This is actually my second sports watch. Its predecessor was simply a GPS running watch with extremely basic functions: distance in kilometers, time, and pace. That was certainly convenient and perfectly adequate for a beginner. But once I began setting goals—breaking two hours in the half marathon and completing a full marathon—and those ambitions grew stronger, I needed to adjust my pace according to my training plan and receive real-time interval reminders. A watch capable ofcomprehensively recording running data and even giving me reminders as I ranbecame exceptionally important.
Image from the EPSON official website
EPSON RUNSENSE is a series of watches positioned as road-running coaches. Besides basic GPS run tracking, you can program training sessions into the watch and have the little thing remind you whether your workout is going according to plan. But the latest SF-810V has another particularly impressive feature: the watch itselfsuccessfully integrates heart-rate monitoring, eliminating the need for a chest strap. One watch on your wrist, endless heart-rate data—it is among the first GPS sports wearables to offer heart-rate monitoring.
But why monitor your heart rate while running? If you’re running perfectly well, why bother? Please head over to this article first and catch up with us. Here you go～
| Running Girl | The Secrets of Heart-Rate Training Revealed – EPSON RUNSENSE SF-810 Heart-Rate Running Watch Trial Event
A proper unboxing post must begin with the box
I’m not kidding. If I say this is an unboxing, I’m sincerely starting with the outer packaging. When I first received the brand-new EPSON RUNSENSE SF-810, fresh from the box and yet to see the light of day, my immediate impression was that the packaging was simple and not excessive, yet still full of thoughtful details. Sure enough,even the product packaging maintains EPSON’s signature economical, compact, and refined style。
[ The transparent box lets you see exactly what the product is at a glance ]
[ A plastic stand holds the watch securely and protects it ]
[ The space is used just right, with the complete accessory set tucked inside the cardboard box,including the cradle, quick-start guide, wearing instructions, charging instructions, and warranty card ]
Time for the looks department to pass judgment
The watch has a sleek design, although it is still fairly conventional. It falls into the “everyone can immediately tell you’re about to exercise when you put it on” category (that category name is a little long). In other words, it is a perfectly competent training watch. It looks somewhat unisex on women without being overly masculine. Black is the main color, paired with dark purple. It is a slight pity that there are no other color options. Although I’m quite happy with the black-and-purple combination, a girl would still like the chance to choose another color! (Yes, yes! I’m the vain type who wants to look pretty first and run fast second～)
The watch’s four buttons handle every function. Since each button performs a different task depending on the screen,I recommend familiarizing yourself with EPSON’s logic before using it. The printed manual included in the box is enough to explain most of the functions, but EPSON also providesa downloadable full product manual of more than 100 pages. Once you finish reading it, you’ll think: sugoi ne—this watch is seriously powerful!
[ Four buttons: generously sized and easy to press ]
For me, however, the most important part is the strap. Besides being made from comfortable material, it must actually fasten around my kindergarten-child-sized wrist, which measures just 12 cm in circumference, before it can become my Solemate watch. Sure enough, the SF-810V is thoughtfully designed: the strap holes span a full 8 cm, accommodating runners with wrists of all sizes and making it suitable for both men and women. I can wear it comfortably using the second-to-last hole, so it passed my wrist test with flying colors. If a watch fits me, I’m confident it will fit most girls snugly too.
[ A total of 16 holes are provided, accommodating the wrist sizes of almost all runners ]
Most distinctive of all is the S-shaped flexible section beside the strap. This design supports the SF-810V’s signature heart-rate monitoring feature. Measuring heart rate requires the watch to sit as close to the skin as possible, but to prevent runners from feeling uncomfortable because the strap is too tight,the S-shaped strap design gives the watch a little room to flex. It does not feel restrictive while you move, either. It really is very comfortable to wear—a thoughtful design detail that earns major bonus points.
[ Thanks to the S-shaped cushioning design, even when you sweat during exercise, you can gently pull the watch face away from your wrist to create a little breathing room ]
Since we’ve mentioned heart-rate monitoring, it’s time for the star of the show!
The star feature: built-in heart-rate monitoring
In the past, measuring your heart rate during exercise meant strapping a heart-rate monitor around your chest. But if you ran too fast (definitely not a scenario involving me), or if your running form caused interference, the clasp on the chest strap could easily come loose. Besides, exercising with something strapped around your chest simply feels odd and uncomfortable. The SF-810V was designed to solve this problem: it is a sports training watch with built-in heart-rate monitoring that requires no chest strap.
Image from an EPSONofficial website videoScreenshot
The magic behind its built-in heart-rate monitoring lies in the details on the back of the watch,which uses green LED light to detect blood flow in the veins: when a vein expands, the amount of hemoglobin increases and the reflected signal becomes weaker; when the vein contracts, there is less hemoglobin and the reflected signal becomes stronger. These changes allow the watch to measure your heartbeat accurately. That is whythe watch must sit as close to the skin as possible, be tight enough that it cannot slide around, and be worn 1 cm away from the wrist bone. This ensures that the light can properly illuminate the veins and reflect back, producing accurate measurements.
[ The green LED lights up only after heart-rate monitoring is activated or you begin a road run ]
The EPSON RUNSENSE SF-810 has also been specially calibrated for accuracy, using features such as dual sensors, higher-frequency measurements taken every second, and EPSON’s proprietary filter for removing interference.
Image from the EPSON official website
Simply put on the watch and press the round button at the lower left to measure your everyday heart rate immediately. It takes only about 10 seconds to get a reading, which is very quick. When I am resting, my heart rate is generally below 70 bpm.
[ First thing in the morning: measuring my resting heart rate just after waking up ]
Even the GPS has to be accurate
GPS is now practically standard equipment on wearable sports watches, but EPSON emphasizes that its satellite system uses Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System. Because it serves Asia and its orbit passes directly over Northeast Asia, it can receive signals more accurately. Its GPS sensor chip has also been carefully selected and calibrated. But no matter how much you explain the technology, I still won’t understand it, so nothing beats testing it in practice.
Image from the EPSON official website
When using the SF-810V for the first time, you simply enter details such as your gender, date of birth, height, and weight, and the watch automatically finds the correct time—which I thought was extremely cool. It uses GPS satellites to synchronize completely with Chungyuan Standard Time, so you first need to go outdoors to an open area without a roof overhead. In less than about 5 minutes, my SF-810V completed its first contact with the satellites. That is impressively fast for its initial GPS fix.
It needs power to perform at full strength
The cradle serves both to charge the watch and transfer data, and it connects by USB. Although the manual says to “charge before first use,” I was so eager to try the watch shortly after receiving it that I switched it on anyway—and it started successfully. When I plugged it into USB to charge, the display showed that it still had 78% battery remaining! So if you’re like me and cannot wait to put it to use the moment it arrives, you’ll be fine.
When it comes tobattery life, the SF-810 boasts exceptional endurance. According to the official figures, it can last for 30 hours with GPS tracking alone—enough to run the dream Hood To Coast relay without a problem. Even with both heart-rate monitoring and GPS running at full blast, it still delivers an impressive 20 hours. If used solely as a watch, it can last for 16 days.
For me, this is an extremely important advantage, especially since I’m such a scatterbrain and easily forget to check the watch’s battery beforehand. A watch that needs charging almost every time before I head out often leaves me on the verge of running out of power, to the point where I simply give up using it. And when I travel somewhere specifically to run, I absolutely do not want to pack yet another charger just for my watch. With long-lasting battery support, I no longer have to worry constantly about the power—or about ending up with an incomplete activity record!
So many training options
The EPSON RUNSENSE SF-810’s reputation as a road-running coach is well deserved. Naturally, it includes standard running modes based on time, distance, and speed. It can also function as a stopwatch to record lap or split times. The ability to create personalized training plans is another major strength of the SF-810V. Its interval-training mode uses audible alerts to tell you when to switch between sprinting and resting. You can even set different target paces for different distance segments, and those distance and pace reminders can be enormously helpful during a long half or full marathon.
In addition to running, the SF-810V can be switched to walking or cycling mode, greatly expanding the range of activities it supports and making it even more practical!
Upload data by Bluetooth and view your analysis anytime
After finishing a run, we often want to rewind to see what happened during a particular kilometer or discuss the session with running friends or a coach. That is when immediate access to the watch’s data becomes truly valuable! Whether you are still at the running venue or on your way home, the SF-810V’s built-in Bluetooth can transfer the data straight to your phone. You can then view charts and statistics in EPSON’s own RUNSENSE View app. At home, you can also use the cradle’s USB connector to transfer the data to your computer and upload the latest records.
The RUNSENSE View app presents every road-running record as a calendar-based training diary. You can tap each entry to view detailed records, including visualized heart-rate, distance, time, speed, pace, and route data. You can also check in on FACEBOOK and share your results instantly.
[ Running data presented in charts, with intuitive controls for switching between and comparing statistics (for the full details, please wait for my hands-on review) ]
Finally, here are the basic product specifications. For the detailed table,please visit the EPSON official website
