Garmin watch vs Map My Run?

[amb]

I keep thinking I want a Garmin watch but I'm wondering if it's worthwhile. I pretty much have to run with my phone since I have a little kid (in case school calls, etc) so I use the phone for music and use the map my run app for distance/time. Other than exact calories burned, is there anything a Garmin watch would do for me that I don't currently have? 

[texassmith]

I switched from mapmyrun to a Garmin about a year ago and would never go back. First off, mmr is notoriously inaccurate mileage-wise. Second, the Garmin has SO many features that are helpful. I don't even use the calorie burn feature. I like being able to track my actual pace while running.

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[blndsnbrdr]

I use my Garmin, DH uses MMR.

I'm not a fan of my Garmin - lots of upload problems over the past months. DH likes that MMR uploads so smoothly. One potential issue with MMR is that if you are running in an area without much coverage/reception it kills your phone battery faster!

[hannahb]

I've used both before. There are areas where I run where MMR loses signal or something. It told me the other day I had only run 1 mile in 20 minutes. If you haven't had issues with this then I don't think you need a garmin. Another thing good about the garmin is that it's on your wrist (as opposed to an arm band, etc) so if you're doing any kind of pace work its easy to look down and see that.

[labbie]

I think it depends on your goals.
I currently use runtastic.com and wear a HRM to track calories burned (apps are over generous in this area).
My goals are to build distance and lose weight (thus the calorie counting). I also don't feel the need to spend the $ right now on a new Garmin ( I have an ancient one but lost the HRM strap for it).

I am also addicted to gadgets though, so I do see one in my future if/when my running goals get more involved.

[mrshandy]

I switched to Garmin after I ran my marathon and observed first hand how inaccurate my phone was. It was wrong for the first mile and every mile after that. Not devastating just very annoying.

I'm a stickler for accuracy and I find the garmin to be much more accurate.

[patches31709]

I find my Garmin to be much more accurate as well.

[InBetweenDays]

I used to use MMR on the computer, but never used the app. I have a Garmin, and my sister has MMR on her phone. When we run together her phone is definitely more generous, and is off by about 0.1 miles for each mile we run. Not a huge deal depending on your needs. But my biggest concern was battery life for the phone. Unless her phone is 100% freshly charged her phone won't last a full half marathon while using the MMR app.

One thing to note though, not all Garmins are accurate with calories burned. I have the Garmin 305 which has a heart rate strap, but it doesn't use it to calculate calories burned. It just uses your age, height, weight, etc. I didn't find it to be accurate at all (overestimating by 125-150%). So if you want accurate calories burned just be sure to research which Garmins use your heart rate in their calculation (I think the 110 and 405 do?).