With the FR15 you can do manual or automatic lap, but you can’t program workouts in advance. Pretty basic functions for workouts, more advanced in the others you mention. FR15 does activity tracking on-board the watch, and it does have HR integration, but you need a separate HR monitor chest strap or wrist based monitor that can communicate with the watch. It does not have an optical HR monitor built into the watch if that is what you were looking for. I just bought an FR15 for my wife for Christmas, great device if you just need the basics.

1. Most important: Manual lap option. I don’t want to have to pre-program my workouts. I want the flexibility to change my workout, do a pyramid workout or add pickups to a long run.
2. Second most important (and not required): Activity tracking without any additional devices.
3. Third most important (and also not required or even all that important): heart rate monitoring built into the watch.

What would you recommend? I am not limited to the 15, 220 or 610. Those are just the ones that have been suggested so far.

Thank you for your expert advice!!

Is there an option for 24hr time? It’s just my preferred option for looking at the time. Also, is there an option to show the date anywhere on the screen like most normal watches have? If not, do you think they will add this in?

Yes, many have bike settings, my 620 does. Not sure if the FR15 has a bike setting though, but will still measure distance and speed (in min/mile rather than miles/hr).

I only get 5.5 hours out of the FR-15.

I have to disagree on the battery life of 8 hours. I only get 5:30 max out of it. Disappointed.