The mobile phone will soon become the only gadget we need.

Mine has already replaced my camera, Walkman, calculator, netbook and most recently my in-car sat nav system. There’s very little that a smartphone can’t do better and cheaper than a conventional, dedicated machine.

But when it comes to running apps -- the modern equivalent of a pedometer -- phone apps just don’t cut it. Weight, ruggedness and ease of use are all key considerations when running, and bulky, delicate mobile phones aren’t well suited to the task.

For anyone who takes their fitness seriously, a dedicated GPS running watch is therefore a worthwhile investment. I’ve been testing the Garmin Forerunner 610, a running watch that sports GPS satellite tracking, a touch-sensitive screen, heart rate
monitor and an automatic wireless upload feature.

The watch itself is light, comfortable and could easily be mistaken for a regular digital watch. The touchscreen works well, offering quick and easy navigation to all the main menu options and read-out screens.

Available read-outs include distance, speed, time and heart rate -- the latter coming from a chest-worn strap which wirelessly transmits to the watch. Each page can be configured to individual preferences -- i chose a combination of calories, distance and time so i could see exactly how far I’d need to run to earn my next Big Mac.

Serious runners will appreciate the options to set up custom, multi-stage workouts based on a target pace, heart rate or time. Simpletons like me will get more use out of the Virtual Partner and Virtual Racer functions which represent your performance graphically against a stick figure competitor. Cleverly, the pace-setter can be based on the running history of your friends, so you can train with someone even if they’re on another continent.

There’s a useful “navigate to start” menu option which directs you back to the start of your run. Being able to run off in any direction knowing you’ll definitely be able to find the car again is a liberating experience.

However, the best part of the system is Garmin Connect, a web-based system that allows you to track every aspect of your fitness. The Forerunner 610 uploads run stats wirelessly when you get home and Connect breaks down the data in every way imaginable: distance, elevation, speed, calories and heart rate. It’s fascinating stuff and, crucially, it’s incredibly motivational.

Garmin Forerunner 610 - £329
 Stars: 5/5

Positives: Smart, feature-packed and motivational, it covers all the bases.
Negatives: Cheaper models may meet all your needs.