Saturday, November 19, 2011

Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00947-00
ASIN : B004WONCQE
Price : 349.99$
Last Price : 349.99$(Discount 0%
See Special Offers

Product Description

Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Enabled Sport Watch.

Amazon.com Product Description

The first to put GPS on runners' wrists just tipped off a whole new race. With a touch, tap or swipe, F

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

85 of 86 people found the following review helpful:
Good - but still a few issues to fix
  
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch (Electronics)
I'm a running gadget head.

I've had several garmins before. I tried to like the 4xx series, but to me it wasn't a big enough step up from my trusty 305.

When the Nike GPS+ came out - I bought that the first day, then returned it the next. It just wasn't accurate (perhaps because of a weak GPS receiver).

I saw the 610 was coming out in time for the Boston marathon. I tried to get one at the expo, but they were gone in minutes.

So I waited. A month later, I finally got my hands on one.

I've been running with it daily for the past 3+ weeks.

What I like:

the looks. I can actually wear it as an everyday watch. It's a little slimmer than the 4xx series, and has a longer battery life. Looks very nice. Not quite as 'cool' looking as the Nike GPS - but no where near as clunky as the 305.

the touch screen. this has a true touch screen, that works with gloves (I tested that). You can drag your finger across the screen to change views and tap to select. You press harder than on an iphone or ipad, which took a few minutes to get used to, but it works great. Very intuitive. And unlike the 4xx - the screen doesn't go haywire when it gets wet.

the vibrate for laps / notifications. I set mine to auto-lap every mile, and could feel the vibration on my wrist each time it lapped. very nice.

the 'tailor-ability' of the screen. ok - I probably made up that word, but this is more like the 305 than the 4xx. You can have up to 4 metrics on your screen and tailor to whatever you want. You can have multiple screens set up, and just tap on the dial as you're running and it'll flip between them.

getting wet. the 610 can in theory, survive under a meter of water for an hour. I was always nervous running with my 305 in the rain. I'd heard stories of people who'd had theirs die on them in those conditions. That shouldn't be a factor now. And again - the touch screen works fine in the wet.

the wireless transfer of data to your computer. I'm a computer geek and this is VERY cool ! It comes with a little USB dongle that you pair initially and then leave plugged into your computer, and then when you get near your computer with the watch - it automatically connects and uploads direct to gamin connect. It works very well. On the 305 I had to manually upload. No longer an issue.

foot pod - ok - so this works on others too, but I've got the garmin foot pod as well. You can set it up for accuracy while you're running outside with you GPS to calibrate it, and then be able to capture and log miles done on the treadmill in bad weather.

the new virtual racer feature. It remembers previous runs of yours - perhaps your fastest loop of a course you regularly run. You can then race yourself virtually, or plug in pace goals etc - it shows you a stick character and you in front or behind and by how much. And even cooler - you can download runs from other people from on line, and race those.


What I Don't like

there's a bug in the software - at least that's what I'm hoping it is. When you stop the watch - perhaps at traffic lights - then start it up again. The GPS signal is lost and the accuracy with it. For a few seconds it tries to get back in sync. This means that you often lose 0.01 - 0.03 of a mile. You can test this by making 'GPS Accuracy' one of the metrics on the display. When you stop and start - you'll see the accuracy balloon. It doesn't happen every time, but it happens enough to cause concerns. HOWEVER - there seems to be a manual fix. When you start the watch - a message appears on the screen saying 'timer started'. That stays for 5 seconds or so then disappears. It's during that period the accuracy goes wonky. What you can do, is immediately tap the message when it appears. It disappears (it's a touch screen watch remember), and the accuracy seems to be okay. This is why we think it's a software issue. Hopefully a firmware fix - SOON - will resolve.

the one other minor gripe. Garmin's are never 100% accurate. If you've ever raced with one over a set course - you know the garmin invariably is off. A half marathon might show as 13.25 miles. A full marathon, 26.5 miles. It's too much to be explained by not running perfect tangents. If you're trying to keep a particular pace - this can be annoying. You may think you ran 7.00 min/miles for instance, but find out because of the extra distance - you were actually running 7.05. A way round this on the older garmins was to set the autolap feature to 1.01 miles. That seemed to better line up with the mile markers. Unfortunately the 610 doesn't allow you to do that. You can have 0.95, 1.00, or 1.05. You can't do in 0.01 increments. I've opened a ticket with garmin support. Hopefully this is also resolved in a future software update.

Overall. I love the watch, but until the 2 issues I've mentioned are resolved - it's only getting 4* from me.

Still - I'd buy it again in an instant.


26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
Greatest GPS Watch Ever Owned!
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch (Electronics)
I have had Garmin Forerunner models in the past but nothing beats this. My old watch would take forever to get the signal. Also if i ran the same route, the distances would always be off. First time using the 610, got signal in less than a minute. 2nd time, less than 30 sec. It even comes on in my house now. I also went to a track and the signal took less than a minute. I have mapped out my runs to test the accuracy. 99-100%. Amazing. Can't ask for much more than that. Touch screen takes sometime to get used to, but after a couple of uses it is really easy to use. Vibration alerts are great. With my old watch I sometimes missed the beep, but this one vibrates and beeps so I always know when I have reached a mile or when I am starting up again. All I have to do is plug in the USB and my data is synced online. Less bulky then other models and I can wear it around. Long battery life, you can turn it off or it goes into power save mode after a while. So much great things to say about this watch, haven't had a problem yet. Highly recommend!


10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
Needs improvement
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch (Electronics)
The unit is very cool and works great but the band is attached with a very small pin. It broke on this unit very quickly. When I called Garmin they were not very helpful. It is not possible to return the unit because it is needed for continued training for a marathon. I asked them to send more pins since the ones they used seem to be much smaller than a regular watch pin. They said they would send some IF they had some extras laying around. I guess I won't hold my breath.

They sell a more robust band that fastens with velcro but it does not solve the problem with the small pins. I wonder what genius designed it? You know genius, it is used by RUNNERS....

Most Recent Customer Reviews

I like it, I wish I could love it
I've been slowly working my way up the watch hierarchy. This is my first foray into the GPS realm and overall I'm fairly pleased.
by RG

Till now, nothing to complain about!
I bought this one after a long research, and haven't been disappointed so far. Distance and heart rate are measured accurately, upload to garmin connect works flawlessly if you...
by Tobias Hammerle

Great Product
This GPS device works very well. It's sleek, comfortable, and does the job. I haven't had any issues with it whatsoever.
by Zakrobat

Excellent training clock
Until now I have no complaints only virtues as an excellent tool for runners, in style and ergonomics, there is no equal.
by Jairo Ramos

Awsome product!!!
The Garmin Forerunner is an all in one gadget if you are into running, walking, jogging and biking. No need to have a separate computer for your bike, this will fit all your...
by dieguin

Garmin Forerunner 610 GPS watch
I just upgraded to the 610 from a 405 and I must say the difference is positively huge. The 610 is not as bulky as the 405 and even though the touch screen is not as responsive as...
by Garvey

Best Running Watch you can buy
This running watch matches all my expectations. Easy to setup, to control my runs, to upload my data to the Garmin portal.
by Karl

Elegant watch. Enhances running.
I had high expectations because I enjoyed the Forerunner 405CX for almost two years. The 610 is every bit as good at the 405CX, with improvements.
by George Kirk

Awesome
Great shopping experience. and a great watch. we kx lf lc mv mt jds trjejew w jw wjw jwjewjw jwjw jwj wj wjw
by radkal

Even better than previous models
I got previous models of Garmin Forerunners (even the 405 which I though was almost perfect), but Garmin improved them again and this model took it to the next level.
by Ticobyram

See More Facebook And Join

Friday, November 18, 2011

Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00777-00
ASIN : B002EOSQII
Price : 424.99$
See Special Offers

Product Description

The Foretrex 401 is a slim, wrist-mounted GPS navigator perfect for outdoor activities that require the use of both hands. Foretrex 401 combines a high-sensitivity waterproof GPS receiver, electronic compass and barometric altime
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
Used in Combat with excellent results
This review is from: Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
I am currently deployed in Afghanistan and have used this GPS during my combat patrols for about two weeks now. I have found that it performs perfectly. It is easily configured for MGRS, the metric system, and the compass can be set for Mils which makes calling for polar fire missions very easy. I love the fact that I have a 10-digit grid on my wrist. It cuts down on weight, not having to lug a DAGR around, and as I am taking notes during Community Engagements I can grab the grid right off my wrist as I write. So far it has stood up to the insane temperature differences from day to night. It has stood up to the dust (which gets into EVERYTHING - and has ruined two of my digital cameras [including a so-called dust-proof one]) with flying colors. The batteries last about 8 hours and it takes AAAs which are easy to carry. You can easily beam waypoints from one GPS to another. Several guys in my platoon carry the same one which makes it very easy. I am looking forward to using this when I get home to track my runs. So far I have found nothing wrong with this to speak of. I would definitely recommend it for whatever purpose you would use it for. I haven't tested its water-proofness yet; however, it stands up to my sweat very well.


23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
Garmin 401
  
This review is from: Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
Easy to use right out of the box. Gets a fix in less than 30 seconds and is water proof. This is a great piece of gear for any tactical environment or hiking and camping. I am currently using this in Afghanistan and would not want another GPS in this environment.


16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
For the military
  
This review is from: Garmin Foretrex 401 Waterproof Hiking GPS (Electronics)
I have not used this item extensively yet, but the setup process is quite simple. Im using this product for military purposes and finding which datum to put in was i a breeze (just read the manual) and i also verified. The 10 digit grid with a military map so i know it works. I really havent used any of the other features like the compass but ill update once i do. P.S. for ang other military grunts out there you'll want to set it to MGRS (military grid reference system) and for stateside use NAD27 CONUS (continental united states).

Most Recent Customer Reviews

The best GPS, altimeter, speedometer, odometer, tracker!!
Wow!! Perfect! I have been looking for a small wrist mount GPS, altimeter, speedometer, odometer, with glide slope, vertical speed, and tracking.
by Kirk Souder

Versatile
Purchased this product to see how it would work compared to my hand held. Only difference is that the wrist model can not show topo maps like my hand held, but downloaded trails...
by canynn

Great Outdoor little big piece of equipment
A friend of mine bought for me on your last travel to US, I live in Brazil and use it for hiking and Milsim paintball, most of them under dense forest, and it performs perfectly,...
by Rogerio Wagner

RTO U.S. Infantry
Product is great, I use in in Southern Afghanistan and it hold us to the abuse very well. Battery life is great when in Battery Saver mode lasting over 12 hours, but without it...
by Kristopher

MUST Have
If you are a Soldier and deployed, This is a must have on the list of items needed to survive. Has not let me down once.
by Leon J. Richardson

Hiking w/the Garmin Fortrex 401
Great Product at a fair price.

What we can't understand is why Amazon uses an inflated MSRP of $425 when the Garmin site lists it for $200.
by Saltydog

great piece of kit!
I have had this GPS unit for one month now, easy to use and durable to date. I use this GPS for a military application in the middle east and am completely satisfied; especially...
by bcjeff

Garmin 401
I have a Garmin 201 but there were days when I would forget to recharge it so I decided to purchase the Garmin 401 which uses batteries.
by D. Anderson

Great For Marines
I have been in the Corps now for a long time, have used many different types of GPS systems. However I have not used one quite this functionable.
by David

Fun and Useful
This GPS is fast. It acquires satellites very quick for orientation. I like the compact size. Also, this little GPS makes navigating a breeze. Thanks Garmin!!!
by Zack Murphy

See More Facebook And Join

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch With Heart Rate Monitor


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00947-10
ASIN : B004XC3MXI
Price : 399.99$
Last Price : 399.95$(Discount 0.01000025%
See Special Offers

Amazon.com Product Description

The first to put GPS on runners' wrists just tipped off a whole new race. With a touch, tap or swipe, Forerunner 610 lets you get on with your run while it tracks all the details.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
Very Pleased at this juncture
  
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch With Heart Rate Monitor (Electronics)
I made this purchase as soon as I heard about the product. I was lucky that the Nike+GPS was out of stock at the time or I would have ended up with one of those... funny how that works. I made the switch from the 405 (first generation) to the 610. I did enjoy the 405 and logged a couple thousand miles with it. My biggest beef was the useless bezel (you probably already know this). The 610 has blown the competition out of the water with the 610. Granted I have only done a few runs and about 25 miles with it, but my initial reaction is WOW. The touch screen works PERFECTLY on runs. Very easy to read and tap through screens. I love the vibrating alert feature (great for us audiophiles), which also can be set to back light. I run often in the darkness of the early morning so the that alert (set at 1 mile auto lap) reminds me to look down and check my split. I did have a few issues upload data to garmin connect, HOWEVER that was probably user error on my part. I decided to download the desktop software and try that out instead of the website. I attempted to send a workout to the watch, which cause the ant agent to "hold" the data and I never did get the watch to take it. I had to uninstall the gconnect and the ant agent. I am back to the garmin connect, which is just fine with me.
The training screens are very customizable, I use two screens of two data fields... pace and distance on field one and ave pace and timer on page two. You can use four fields on a page and you can have a total of three pages... that is A LOT of data. I do not use a heart rate monitor so I cannot comment on that. The watch has WAY more data than I am concerned with, but maybe in the future I could use it. I do have a foot pod, but don't have in connected yet. Honestly, just too lazy to take it off my other shoes and also I don't feel it is necessary. The history setting on the watch is also FANTASTIC. It allows you to review your workouts on the watch, including splits. This great for times I am traveling and work out several times before getting back to my home computer.
I saw a few reviews and a post or two on the garmin site pointing out some gps errors. I am not concerned with those. I don't really KNOW what the most accurate GPS data even is. I have measured routes with google maps, google pedometer, my car, bing maps, garmin, nike+, etc and they are NOT identical so I expect some error. Some days with my 405 I ended up with slightly different distances running the exact same route. I compared data from my 405 to the 610 on the same route and the 610 measure a .02 difference. That could be a starting at a difference place in my driveway, crossing for a car, etc. I am not concerned at all with the GPS accuracy.

Bottom line, I love the watch and would recommend it to others.


35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
Very impressed with this watch
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch With Heart Rate Monitor (Electronics)
I'm so impressed with the 610. This is my first GPS watch and it's a helluva watch to start out with. I'm sorta new to running so I wanted to have a heart rate monitor around. After being in the market for a watch anyways, I ended up purchasing it. (I went over a month from looking at normal thin watches for $50 to a fully functional GPS watch for $400. A lot of research led me to a great watch).

Pros: 1st - size was a big deal for me with a GPS watch. If you're going to spend $400 on a watch, you should be able to wear it normally, this does the trick. The band is super comfortable and the retaining strap is very clever and actually slides and hooks into the band (hard to describe but well designed). The displays provide as much information as you can pull from the device (which are a lot of features). I really ended up using 1 screen to give me the data I want in 1 glance and got all the other data in my post workout review. I THINK THE HEART RATE MONITOR STRAP IS COMFORTABLE. I've had on a few heart rate monitor straps and while none of them are great, this one has been the best. Back light is great and buttons are great.

Cons: I'm an IT guy and I had a hard time getting aclimated to everything here. Once you have your configurations set up and you're familiar with the menu, it's not too bad. Expect a few workouts to nail out everything you'll want to see. The screen takes practice. It's durable but you have to learn which way works best for you to touch it. I started out using my nail and then figured out the correct pressure to navigate everything (again, you'll get used to it). I had troubles syncing the device to the computer. Go to Garmin's website and look for ANT AGENT, you'll need this and it's not provided with the package.

Why I love it: THE DATA YOU GET AFTER A WORKOUT. The mygarmin website has so many cool features, I'm much more impressed than the website I used for my android running GPS app (Runkeeper Pro). The watch is super comfortable and the form factor, while a little big, is more than practacle.

SO why 4 stars? It's a bit hard to set up unless you've had a gps watch before. You have so much functionality with the watch, it takes time to figure out how to use it. It doesn't pass my "dad test" where if I gave it to my dad, he'd be frustrated trying to figure it out. IF YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT THIS WATCH - get it. It's worth the time investment. Still, may be difficult for tech challenged people.


Overall, very happy. Garmin has done a great job and I hope they keep developing on this watch. I'm super happy with the results and I know the data is really going to help with training. (Strong recommend if tech savvy)


MAKE SURE TO GET ANT AGENT ONCE YOU TRY TO CONNECT YOUR DEVICE. YOU NEED IT TO PAIR THE WATCH. I kinda had a hard time finding the software for myself so I just want everyone to know what it's called. :)


19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
Exceptional Watch!
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 610 Touchscreen GPS Watch With Heart Rate Monitor (Electronics)
I bought this watch to replace my Polar F6 and I have not been disappointed.

Pros: Easy setup, very quick satellite capture, not too big on wrist, functional touch-screen bezel, large display, easy transfer of data to Garmin, and the myriad of options.

Cons: Heart rate strap is mildly uncomfortable at the attachment point.

GPS issues: I have had zero GPS issues thus far, but will update if I encounter any.


Most Recent Customer Reviews

610 feedback
I recently upgraded from the 410 to the 610. In my view it is a huge improvement for two reasons (1) the bezel on the 410 is very annoying, the 610 menu functions work much better...
by Hein

Touch-Screen reaches runners
I have not tested the Garmin Forerunner 610 in all it's details but feel and see i bought the right stuff!
by chago

Disappointing everse charging issue
I was really happy, it's a great gadget until I had serious problems with the battery.
Look at the garmin forums under reverse charging topics before you buy it.
[...
by Diego Suarez

On my way to healthy running
I have battled ITB Syndrome for over a year now. By using the cadence feature (with Foot Pod) and the interval training workouts, I have been running for three weeks without...
by J. McCormack

Husband loves it
My husband is the ultimate researcher when it comes to getting the best product for his money and following weeks of internet reading, he decided he wanted this particular Garmin...
by coucab

Great device, amazing tool.
This is the second heart rate monitor that I have, I used to have a Polar, and old model of the polar monitors, but this Garmin is state of the art monitor, the information that...
by Robert

Faulty Pin, software freezes, but like the watch
The watch has worked great 90% of the time in the month since I bought it. But the other 10% has been horrible.
by el franco

Chipped screen for no apparent reason
I've logged good number of miles on the Polar F55 (3-4 years old), the Polar RCX5, the FR610 and the Suunto t6d Running Pack w/Foot Pod (current watch)

Pros:
*...
by Juan C. Mendez

My Watch Didn't Work
The watch has wonderful features and it seems very nice. I used on a run that with my other GPS devices is consistently 8.5 miles. This watch recorded 8.
by SpecialEd

Want to love it, but QC issues abound
It was pretty cool for about 20 minutes as I was setting it up until the screen turned to snow. I rebooted it a million times but no dice.
by A. M. Kernytsky

See More Facebook And Join

Friday, November 11, 2011

Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00741-00
ASIN : B0025VKW5K
Price : 349.99$
Last Price : 349.99$(Discount 0%
See Special Offers

Amazon.com Product Description

Finally, a GPS-enabled training device that isn't afraid of the water. The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete's indispensable training tool--a GPS-enabled, swim-proof trainer that tracks bike and run data and se
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

248 of 254 people found the following review helpful:
310XT is most everything Garmin says it is
I felt compelled to write a review, because I am disturbed with what some other reviewers are publishing. This is the best watch of it's kind I have owned, and as long as a purchaser understands what it does, and it's limitations, I think they will be more than satisfied. It may be that this watch will not meet their needs, but it should not be a cause to deliver a poor rating.
I have owned the Forerunner 305, the 201, the Timex GPS and a Polar, so I have years of experience. Since I do triathlons, I was most looking forward to the waterproof controls, and 20 hour battery. The charger is a bit funky design, but for me it seems to work just fine. My battery has been lasting at least 16 hours--I haven't tested it further before recharging. One issue that I had with the 305 also, though: the watch should be TURNED OFF while you are charging. If not, as soon as you disconnect the charger, since the watch is ON, it will start "discharging" (as it does normally while it is on. I have been caught several times with a depleted battery on my 305 because of this quirk--I think the watches should be programmed to automatically turn themselves off when the charger is connected).
I have used the new watch swimming, biking and running and hiking, and I am pleased with the performance for each sport. One reviewer pointed out that there should be a "swim" mode--I agree, but I think Garmin may have avoided that mode because the GPS does not work well in the water. Several reviewers complained about that, however Garmin does write on their website AND in their manual that the GPS does not work well in the water (I don't know that I would blame that on Garmin--probably the technology is just not there yet--besides, GPS signals do not penetrate water.) In fact, I did NOT get an accurate GPS distance reading for open water swimming, but it did map my COURSE correctly, albeit with a lot of zig-zags (I know I can't swim in a straight line, but I am not THAT bad).
The biking portion works great. The Garmin matches pretty closely with the distance measured on my bike computer (I don't have the Garmin bike sensor--I want that and the quick-release mount for my next birthday). Of course it also tracks speed, altitude, heart rate, etc. (I used the heart monitor strap from my 305).
Running works well also, basically same as biking although I do set up the display screens differently.
Other, useful new features I have noticed:
1. The watch locks onto satellites more quickly than my 305
2. The watch vibrates, although I wonder how this affects battery life. For instance it vibrates every lap (if I set it) so I know I have completed an autolap without having to look at the watch.
3. The software is more refined (lots of small fixes. For instance the settings function lets me know what sport mode I am in--although I think this could still be made easier and less confusing. And the time zone can be put on automatic--I always wondered why they couldn't do this before--the watch knows where it is for gosh sakes. And there are extra custom screens if you want them--statistic hounds take note.)
4. Wireless data upload. Very nice! Their new "Garmin Connect" site is also pretty useful, and the data can be uploaded directly to the Internet.
5. The 310XT is not much smaller or lighter than the 305 (according to the specs), but it FEELS MUCH smaller and lighter.
6. There is a progress bar for the battery charging. I would like to be able to see how much time is LEFT in my battery--I wish Garmin would add this.

In summary, I think this is far and away the best GPS watch Garmin has made, and is especially appropriate for triathletes (despite the swimming issue). You DO need to become accustomed to using the watch. Although I do not think it is hard to use, you SHOULD read the manual. At least you do not have to keep RE-reading the manual like I do for some other gadgets. I do think this watch is way overpriced, but I am a gadget freak, and I'm sure the price will come down over time, like it did for the 305 (which is a great deal, now, btw, if you don't need a 20 hour battery-life and a waterproof stopwatch :)


439 of 468 people found the following review helpful:
Somewhat Misleading Advertising to Triathletes
This device has been represented as a triathlete's watch and the first swim proof GPS watch. If you watch the video from Garmin or see any of the advertisements, Garmin leads you to believe that this watch will collect reliable data for all 3 multisport events. It is reasonable for someone to assume this watch can be worn in a race and collect GPS data in the water, since, of course, SWIMMING is the first event in a triathlon.

If you are considering buying this watch realize the following:

-This device does not collect usable data in the water, period (other than time, which any $20 waterproof watch can collect in a much smaller form factor). No heart rate data and totally unusable and inaccurate GPS data while in the water.

-There are preset modes for run, bike, and "other", in which "other" shows a person on skis (explain that one?). They intentionally omit a category for swimming, despite advertising that this watch is for triathletes (see the photo I added under product photos).


-If you want foot cadence or the ability to track distance indoors and assume you get it for spending $400 on this device, think again. You will have to buy a separate foot pod which costs $80-100, depending on where you buy it (earlier Garmin Forerunner watch kits included foot pods). Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)

-The watch is large and sits high on top of the wrist (they packed 20 hours of batter life into this watch), so to wear it under your wetsuit will let water in the wetsuit, or you will have to wear it on top of (or crammed in front of) the wetsuit, which will not allow you to remove your wetsuit without first removing the watch (thus adding time to your transition and sort of negating that whole "triathlete" angle). You can see a photo of this watch on my wrist under the photos section of the product.

-There is no way to turn off GPS tracking for only one of the 3 events in multisport mode. Therefore you will always either have incorrect GPS data recording for the swimming mode (or, actually "other", since there is no "swim" mode, as previously mentioned). I have called customer support and they confirm this. Their solution was to turn off GPS while I am swimming, then reset and manually start a new timer and mode during transition 1 for my bike event. I'll let you be the judge of how to take that advice.

So, in conclusion, if you want to setup this watch for a bike and run, and want the ability to wear the watch in the water before hand (and no start it unless you want some incorrect distance data included), you will need to buy:

$400 - the Garmin 310XT with HR
$25 - quick release mount kit (for wrist and bike) (no link in Amazon yet)
$80-100 - foot pod (if you want cadence)
Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)
$35-50 - speed/cadence sensor (if you want cadence for the bike)

You'll be into it for $575 retail. Garmin, you did us wrong on this one. Some of us are willing to spend this kind of money on a product if it proves to do what it advertises itself to do. We're not asking it to do anything more than perform as advertised. I realize your fine print saves you from lawsuits, but it doesn't gain you repeat customers. It sends them over to Polar.

[EDIT: I have edited the title of this review to what it currently reads from "Misleading: Not a Triathlete's Watch," because it seems that Garmin has somewhat softened their advertising and marketing surrounding this watch. I purchased this watch when it first came out in 2009, and at the time the marketing videos and advertising in triathlon magazines mentioned nothing about the fact that it doesn't track GPS data in the water, and in fact seemed to lead the consumer into believe it does. That advertising has since softened.]


99 of 104 people found the following review helpful:
Decent watch, but a lot of catches
  
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick (Electronics)

The 310xt was my first Garmin purchase. After years of having family use the Edge and the Forerunner for biking/running I decided I'd take the plunge when they came out with "the triathlete's indispensable training tool" in the 310xt.

My first thought was this was pricey. But, looking at the ForeRunner 305 & 405, I realized it wasn't that much more expensive for the additional supposed features and the "newness". Then I looked at the price here on Amazon and almost passed out. $550? Without the HRM strap? Ouch. If you're really into this watch, don't buy at that price. Search for the ones priced at $399. Most sites sell at that price.

Ok, onto the feature set. Large, clear buttons. Large screen. Ability to track multiple sports. Quick upload of data. Lots of customizable options and screens.

Pros:

Easy to set up and use. Pairing with the ANT USB stick is simple and can quickly get you started without the manual.
Online tools are pretty good (much better than previous iterations). Also, works with the MapMy list of sites (fitness, run, walk, hike, bike, swim, tri).
Customizable display allows for up to 4 tracking items per screen. So, you can track pace, HR, time and distance covered on one screen then scroll to another and get a map of your HR, your calories burned and a bunch of other potential options, all determined by you.
You can create routes on your watch and when you run it, it will record whenever you are on that route path. Great for comparing against previous training routes and for quickly setting the route and having it track you properly. Once you are on the route, it tracks you.
Auto-multisport option allows you to set that and when you click lap, it will dump you to the next "sport" whether it be a transition or another sport such as biking/running.
Tracks you the individual after you enter your height, weight, level of fitness. Provides caloric burn and other related info based on your input.
Virtual training partner. You can actually have it show how you're doing on a saved route versus your virtual training partner. This partner is a previous version of you doing the same route and tells your pace and how far you're up/behind. Pretty cool.
Multitude of things you can configure and display/adjust/fine tune.

Cons:

Swim? As I quoted from the Garmin site above, this watch bills itself as the triathlete's indispensable training tool. Umm.. triathlete means 3 sports, typically involving SWIMMING, biking and running. Swim is not an option. In fact, when I clicked other one time, it had what appeared to be an icon of a downhill skier. I'm not sure how that showed up since that option isn't there. HUGE mistake in my book for a watch billed to be for triathletes.

Elevation Accuracy? This one is WAAAAAY off. On a 3.3 mile run, it had me ascending 853 feet. Unless I'm climbing the Washington Monument, I'm not getting that type of elevation in 3.3 miles. I'd have to say it is off by, 600 feet or so. On a 60 mile bike ride, it had me at 1500 feet and that one at least took me up some legitimate hills.

Switching events: There is no way to switch events mid-stream on the watch if you didn't set it properly to begin. Let's say you ran one day and then biked the following day. If you left it on run then switched when you realized the mistake, it clears the data and you start with a new workout. The original workout is kept but you can't append the "new" workout on either on the watch or with any of their software (both installed SW and online site). So, when workouts are categorized, it shows a multisport recording on the installable software and whatever you mistakenly set in the online site. You then have 2 workouts you can't consolidate or run reports against without manual intervention.

Swim accuracy leaves a bit to be desired. While I haven't put it through its paces and will hopefully edit this review in the future, for a 1/2 mile swim, this thing was way off. Beach, opposite direction, gaps. All were part of that swim result.


While there are a lot of pros (which do warrant a 4 star), the cons are extremely negative. Since I don't have a watch to keep track of everything, this one will have to do. At such a price point, I'm highly disappointed in the overall performance considering it is billed as the triathlete's dream. It really does track mileage well and with enough fudging (using the elevation in MapMyRide instead of from the watch) and by manually adjusting routes in my various tracking sites, I can get close what I want. The HRM is good and the coupled effect of it all makes it as worthwhile as having a set of watches out there. But, I will not be ultimately promoting this to other athletes. While I've managed to make it work to a 4-star rating with my own fiddling, I wouldn't recommend it to a hardcore triathlete. Being my first training watch for my first Ironman, I wish I could say there were other watches which had the functionality I needed. Unfortunately, I'd have to wear two or more plus a bike computer. Even more unfortunate, in order to get what this watch said it can do all in one I might still need another to keep this one honest.

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Terrible. It died after 3 months.
Overall, I would not buy it. Look for another unit. I bought this after previously owning the 305. Used it for 3 months and then it died. Would not turn on or take a charge.
by JPY

Great GPS Watch
The Forerunner 310XT is perfect for running. I have not used the watch biking or swimming, but imagine the biking is very similar.
by John D. Meara

Learn the product... it is a good tri tool.
There's a lot of verbose reviews, so I'll do my best to make this review short & sweet. And mostly, correct what I believe is misinformation on the swim.
by B B

Great Running Buddy
I bought this watch specifically to track my miles and to be able to trace my routes. I am in an area where internet is...
by jediseven

310 XT
This is the most complete GPS watch for triathletes. Waterproof means its the only watch I know of you can wear for all three phases of you triathlon.
by brocko

Love the Garmin 310XT
The bottom line... I love this watch. I use it for everything.
Here are the issues: I had a problem with the auto pause while out for my first bike ride.
by Shawn E. Wussow

Incredible
This watch is awesome! GPS, heart monitor! This is the second one i buy! With you want to improve your heart condition and your way of life, this is the product you HAVE TO...
by MZA

Greatvupgrade for Garmin users!
I used the Forerunner 205 for 4 years and was satisfied. This model is great because it is more comfortable (both the wrist monitor and the heart rate band), the reports are...
by M. Lara

Not bad
It's option to map on your computer is kind of a hassle but I do use it everyday for my daily 5-6 miles run and the battery lasts pretty long!
by Jorge

Save Your Money
Save your money and buy a Polar instead. I am never spending my money on any Garmin products again. Its been one month since Garmin broke the Forerunner with the release of a...
by Marc

See More Facebook And Join

Monday, November 7, 2011

Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00466-00
ASIN : B000CSQJ8C
Price : 267.99$
Last Price : 131.99$(Discount 50.74816224%
See Special Offers

Amazon.com Review

Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology pe
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

363 of 366 people found the following review helpful:
Garmin 205 vs. the Garmin 201
  
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
I've run 4 times a week with the Garmin 201 for the past 2 years so I was anxious to get the 205. After 10 runs with the 205 (some runs with both) here is my take on the new 205:

Pros:
- better form factor (although still big and same weight as the 201)
- Buttons are more intuitive (less guessing in the dark)
- More accurate - If I run the same run 3 times (e.g. a regular 6 miler) all 3 distances are within .02-.09... the 201 varied by as much as .3 miles. The 205 also appears to be more accurate according to "known distances"
- Less satellite drops compared to the 201 (although see the BIG con below!)
- The strap is rubber so it doesn't act as a sweat band (the 201 was harder to clean and smelled for weeks after a marathon)
- Better software

CONS:
- Fonts are smaller (especially on history and other screens)
- The strap is rubber and doesn't fit as well as the cloth/Velcro on the 201 (although the pro I think outweighs the con!)
- BIG CON: On one regular run along the bay in San Francisco (no hills, trees, or buildings) the 205 lost satellite in a "usual" area (common for my 201 to drop in the same place) one mile into the run, but the 205 never recovered during the whole run. So the 205 doesn't drop satellites as much, but when it does it might not recover - this is a fatal issue if it continues (note: the 201 drops often, but always recovers right away).

Overall I would still highly recommend the unit. I definitely prefer to run with the 205 instead of the 201. I will be watching the drop-recover issue carefully to see if others report a similar problem.


151 of 154 people found the following review helpful:
Well worth the extra cost!!!
  
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
I wrote an extensive six-part review comparing the Garmin Forerunner 205 with my older Garmin Forerunner 201. Here is the URL to the first part and you can find links at the bottom to the other parts:[...]

If you don't want to read the full reviews then here is a summary of my likes and dislikes:

Likes

* Comfort and Form factor: Usage model is very important and while the 205 is big, it feels and wears like a wrist watch. The plastic strap is more comfortable than the 201's velco strap, and the unit also comes with an extension strap if you need to bundle up and wear it outside your clothing. Personally, I want to look at my watch for instant data (i.e. time, pace, distance, etc) and feedback so I'm unwilling to place a device on my upper arm even if I have to sacrifice accuracy. In terms of form factor, the lap and start/stop buttons are well placed and sized on the face of the watch.
* GPS Accuracy: The Garmin Forerunner 205's GPS receiver seemed much stronger. I can lock onto a signal inside my house next to a window, I haven't received one weak signal in a week over routes that caused my 201 trouble. And on my one run over a tree-covered, GPS signal-challenging course, the 205 came out a star, finally allowing me to measure a route that I was unable to with my 201. The GPS accuracy data field and the satellite acquisition screen are also cool bonuses.
* Customization: The 205 allows you to customize 2 main screens and a third activity specific (i.e. run, bike or other) one with 1 to 4 data fields per screen. This is very cool, especially for data-driven geeks like myself. Another great thing about all the Forerunners is you can customize screens and settings on the fly without interrupting your current activity.
* Real-Time Pacing: I'm not that interested in knowing how fast I'm going at a specific moment in time so never was a big fan of the "real-time" pacing feature of the 201. With that said, the 205 seemed to be more consistent and showed a tighter range of paces. It also seemed closer to how fast I felt I was going relevant to the current conditions (i.e. uphill, downhill, flat) than the 201, which showed a lot of variation and lag.
* USB Cradle: Charging and uploading via USB is a nice. Much faster than the 201's serial port.

Dislikes

* Display: The display of the 205 seems smaller and the history screens are dark and hard to read. I wish they didn't use the shading and just had the plain background.
* Real-time elevation: For me this isn't a big deal, but the "real-time" elevation reading lags on the 205. It seems to tie closely with GPS accuracy. For example, after I finish my runs I'll usually walk a little in my backyard to cool down. The real-time elevation reading will then "catch up" to the correct elevation.
* Buttons: My broken power button seems to be an anomaly so far since I haven't read of others with the same problem. With that said, the side buttons seems a bit stiff to me.
* Battery indicator: It just shows 4 vertical bars. I liked the feature on the 201 where it told you how many hours of charge were left when you powered it on.

Cool Stuff

* Tons of features: There are a lot of things the 205 can do such as import courses, advanced workouts, virtual partner and a bunch of other features that I need to explore

Wishlist

* Reduce form factor
* Color screen
* Increase battery life
* Improve waterproofing/water resistance
* Add wireless connectivity for uploading and downloading data and information over the air to PC or mobile service


94 of 96 people found the following review helpful:
Fantastic!
     
This review is from: Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch (Electronics)
I purchased the 205 to mainly get an idea as to how far I was running. This is my first training GPS device. I figured the circuit I ran was about 5k. To my pleasant surprise the 205 told me I was doing 3k more than I estimated so that was great news to me! But the 205 did not stop there. Read on....

If you are anything like me the runs I do at 5:30a on the weekdays are not as strong as the ones I do at 8a on the weekend. A couple hours of extra sleep seems to make a lot of difference. On Saturday I ran my 8k circuit at 8a and came in at a good time (for me). I saved the 8k circuit as a "course" in the 205. The Training Center software that comes with the 205 allows for fairly easy editing of the course adding in markers on when to turn, valleys/summits and saving the course back to the 205. This morning (5:30a) I started the 8k "course" in the 205. Straight away I could go to the navigation page and with the "virtual partner" function turned on there I was racing my(virtual)self! What fun! As expected I could not keep up with my(virtual)self and based on when my(virtual)self would start to break away I knew I had to put on more power. Without a doubt the virtual partner function is going to help me improve my early morning weekday runs. While I intellectually understood the benefit of the virtual partner function until I actually used it I didn't appreciate what difference this function will have on my training.

[Update Dec 2006: The virtual partner function has indeed improved my training. I have shaved 6 minutes off my 8k run since I bought the 205. Each time I make a new PR I save that as the course and work against that on subsequent runs. At worst I try and keep pace with myself. At best I beat myself!]

I find the 205 to have fairly good ability to get satellite signal. I can turn it on in our house (2 story with me on the ground floor) and get a signal. But overhead tree cover does seem to affect the current pace accuracy (see my nits below).

The integration with Google Earth and Maps is incredible. I can save the images as JPGs and post them to my blog so every one can see where I've been. Tres cool!

As I mentioned earlier the Training Center software that comes on the CD with the 205 is good. However, I would recommend going to Motion Based whose URL is provided in a flier that is packaged in the 205. I really like MB and you can check out other people's GPS data/times.

Now that I covered what was important to me there do seem to be some minor nits with the device that I noticed and I see other people have already commented on. The nits I would like to see corrected:

- the extensive menu navigation. There has to be a way to simplify the menu depth and make it a little more intuitive.

- current pace is negatively affected by overhead obstructions. On my 15k I run down a trail that has intermittent clearings and tree cover. Every time I ran into the tree cover and lost signal strength on the satellites the current pace dropped even though I'm fairly sure I was keeping an even pace with the music I was listening to. The 205 has a "pace alert" function that can alert you to when you slow down. Not very useful when every time I ran into tree cover the alert would sound. I eventually had to turn the pace alerts off as it was too inaccurate to be of any use. The overall average pace seems to be accurate.

[Update Dec 2006: As I travel a lot the only comment I have here is when I start up the 205 in a "new" city it takes a long time to lock into the satellites. Subsequent startups are fast so there must be some initialization process that is skipped on subsequent runs. I have run in San Francisco without GPS issues so not sure why others are having problems. ]

Overall, if you are on the fence about a GPS training device (as I was) then jump down and join the rest of us that are reaping the significant benefits of owning one. And the 205 works really well so I highly recommend it!

Oh, the reason I did not get the 305/HRM combo is because I get heat rash from wearing an HRM.

Most Recent Customer Reviews

LOVE LOVE LOVE this product!!
I am a recreational runner that was looking for a way to monitor my pace/distance and try to increase my speed.
by Heather White

I love my Garmin!
I purchased this Forerunner 205 to replace an identical one that had been stolen. I love this GPS so much; I honestly don't think I could run without it.
by Joy Brewer

Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver
All we needed was an accurate GPS that would give us time and distance for walks in general. It is a little slow picking up satellites after a long distance move compared to our...
by William Foley

Great for cyclists
A great cycle computer solution for our Hybrid tandem (Bilenky Viewpoint) that couldn't handle either wired or wireless cycle computers.
by Wunderdawg

The best running training tool I have used.
My wife and I both use this item regularly! Battery life is extremely good and it is very simple to use.
by Larry

Love my Garmin
I've done a full marathon and 10 half marathons with an old battery-operated Garmin I got from EBay a couple years ago.
by Marshamydear

Garmin Forerunner 205
The Garmin 205 does the run/walk ratios well. It is easy to on the computer but difficult on the watch itself.
by Irene Bunner

Great running aid!
I purchased this for myself as I was tired of trying to figure out distances/places to run. Now I just run!
by Subsailor725

My first gps watch
It's been a great training partner. Training to run my first half marathon November 2011. Love the pace and distance alerts, still trying to figure out many of the features.
by Richytx

Great at First, Until it Dies
When I first got this, it worked wonderfully. But maybe 8 months later, the software stopped recognizing the device, the sound stopped working, and eventually the battery quit...
by Randi

See More Facebook And Join

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Garmin Foot Pod


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-11092-00
ASIN : B00264GKVQ
Price : 99.99$
Last Price : 38$(Discount 61.99619962%
See Special Offers

Product Description

GPS Receivers, Garmin, Foot Pod SDM3, 010-11092-00
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:
Works Well
     
This review is from: Garmin Foot Pod (Electronics)
I bought the foot pod so I could use my 405CX on an indoor track and have been pleased with the results.


Running on a .10 mile indoor track after 3.5 miles it was off by about 50' more by the end of the run. Not perfect by any means but I could probably calibrate it more (or you can adjust it manually) to key it in.

I don't use it running while outside, but if you don't like the pace setting of the GPS you can have the watch display pace according to the foot pod instead.

Installation and removal is easy. The instructions say it will fit in an insole pocket if your shoe has one, but mine does not. To attach it to the laces you slide the mounting bracket under two X's where your shoe laces cross then snap the pod over the top. To remove you have to press a tab that unhooks it. It's very secure and takes a lot of pressure to remove it. I have no fear that it will come off while running.

I am very happy with the pod, it works very well, and is easy to use. If you want to use your GPS watch on a treadmill or indoor track during the winter months, it's a must have.


41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
Works well
This review is from: Garmin Foot Pod (Electronics)
I purchased this unit with the intention of using it on my elliptical trainer during those times when it was too late or too wet/windy to walk/jog outside. My Forerunner 305 already accurately records distance and speed without the Foot Pod as long as I'm outside (my preferred method of exercise), and the cadence tracking capability was not all that important to me (I'm an old man, not an athlete in training). It took several iterations to make this gizmo work with the elliptical trainer (Schwinn 430), but I did finally get it to work. I was able to get it to match the cadence, distance, speed and calories expended, to within just a few percent. Unfortunately, the cam mechanism I designed to make the foot pod think I was wearing it on my shoe while running, made enough noise to make my spouse agitated, and therefore rendered my solution impractical. I have replaced my "elliptical trainer solution" with a Garmin bicycle cadence sensor (non contact and therefore totally silent). So now that I already own it, I clip on the Foot pod for my outdoor activities (which is what it is designed for), and it does add one more set of data points for me to use, which I now admit is helpful (cadence). I have used it on a tread mill (Cardiac rehabilitation after the second heart attack), and it works quite well. If I was a hard core runner, this would be a "must have item". In my opinion this little gadget (at more than $80 after shipping) isn't worth the expense unless you are using it indoors to assist in recording data on a tread mill. It is well built and easy to clip on your shoe laces. The instruction manual that come with it is next to useless, but it is a simple enough to use without much instruction if you are not too picky about getting very precise data output (us engineer types are never satisfied with the data we are given!). I would recommend this product to an athlete in training, or to someone who spends a lot of time on a tread mill.


28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
Pretty Amazing!
  
This review is from: Garmin Foot Pod (Electronics)
I bought this foot pod to use with my Forerunner 50. The 010-11092-00 is the latest model sometimes listed as SDM4 (ANT+) and is quite small; barely bigger than the CR2032 3V Lithium battery that powers it. It easily "paired" with my Forerunner. What was most impressive was the distance recorded on my first use (w/o calibration) was exactly the distance I had recorded previously with a GPS device. From what I have read the pod accelerometers sense and compensate for stride and speed differences...pretty amazing.

More info on Garmin Foot Pods here:
[...]

Most Recent Customer Reviews

Nice concept, won't work in Nike+ pocket.
Purchased this pod to use with my Garmin Forerunner 305 when in the gym on the treadmill. I also really liked the design in that it would fit into my Nike+ shoes and I wouldn't...
by A. Swab

Great for a rainy day!
The sole reason I purchased this was to be able to digitally record my runs logged on treadmills during rainy days or extremely hot weather.
by Scott Taft

Nice for Indoor Workouts
Garmin footpod is the one i was looking for to track my Treadmill Runs and i am glad i got it.
I own Nike+ shoes so this one fits inside the shoe pocket.
by anniyan

Pleased!
Great to be able to record in door training using this foot pod. It connects quickly to my forerunner 305.
by Faja4X

does what it is supposed to do
Great item, well made and works easily with hardly any set up. great alternative to the GPS and also helps saves battery since the gps on the garmin sucks power
by verified user

Great product!
I love this Garmin Foot Pod but the tech support is awful. Nothing against women but for technical products it's been my experience that males are far more knowledgeable than...
by John Doe

Does the job. Not durable.
Key uses: Measuring distance when running on a treadmill (or when you don't get satellite reception). Measures cadence per minute.
by Andrew

Cadence - Foot Pod
The foot pod clips on easily and so far I have had no issues with it popping off of my shoe laces.
by topher621

Looks cool on my shoe, thats all its good for.
Garmin Foot Pod

I am a firefighter and one of the workouts that I do 3, 4 and sometimes 5 times a week is climb stairs.
by Firefighter72

Small and easy to setup
Very small and easy to wear, setup was also very quick. I have connected it both to a Garmin 410 and some iPhone applications and it has worked ok with all of them.
by Paulo Henrique Nobrega Tavares

See More Facebook And Join

Friday, November 4, 2011

Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS-Enabled Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Pink)


Manufacturer : Garmin
Model : 010-00863-10
ASIN : B003J2V8AC
Price : 249.99$
Last Price : 189$(Discount 24.39697588%
See Special Offers

Product Description

This GPS-enabled watch will tell how far and how fast athletes are going in real-time. From a loop around the block to the next race, just press start and the Garmin Forerunner 110 will do the rest.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

179 of 182 people found the following review helpful:
This 405 user loves his new 110
BACKGROUND:
-----------
I have used a Garmin 405 to track my weekend long runs for about 1.5 years. Previously I owned the Garmin 305. I'm using the 110 with with my 405 chest strap (saved me $50).


SUMMARY:
--------
The 110 does everything I do with my 405 in a significantly smaller, lighter form factor with a superior GPS chip (in theory, to be proven).


REASONS WHY I LIKE MY NEW 110 BETTER THAN MY OLD 405:
-----------------------------------------------------

* It's smaller and less bulky than the 405, looks and feels like a regular watch, and wraps snugly around my smallish wrist.

* I don't have to fiddle around with the temperamental 405 touch-(in)sensitive bezel.

* The displayed numbers for distance/hr/time/pace are bigger on the 110 than the 405, so easier for me to read on the run.

* There are fewer menus to navigate.

* Like the 405, GPS locking and accuracy works just fine, even under trees (more below).

* Like the 405, I can set the auto-lap to increment every 1 mile (other distances available).

* The 110 displays everything I want to track during and after my run.
- Elapsed distance (for run), Elapsed time (for run), Current HR, Average pace (for current lap), Last lap pace (displayed automatically for a few seconds after each lap), Average HR (for run), Average pace (for run). Average HR and pace for the entire run are show under "History" at the end of my run.

* To make this tangible, I can glance at the watch to see that so far I've run 2.1 miles in 21 minutes, my current HR is 160, my pace for the current mile (mile 3) is 9:56 and my pace for the last lap (mile 2) was 10:01. At the end of my run, I click through to "History" and see that my average HR for the entire run was 162bpm and my average pace was 9:54 minute miles. For me, currently, all I care about is keeping my HR in the 160-170bpm range (your range will probably be different) while trying to keep my pace under 10:00. In general, I suspect most runners will have the same requirements: Track your current HR to keep it within a target range while attempting to meet or beat a per-mile pace goal.

* The 110 has a longer battery life

* I never used the other 405 features like courses, virtual partner, etc. Ironically, I "customized" the 405 screens to pretty much do what the 110 displays by default (but cannot be changes).


WHAT'S ALL THE FUSS ABOUT "CURRENT PACE"?
-----------------------------------------

I guess some runners want to know the pace they are running RIGHT NOW. Think of it as their instantaneous pace - kinda like what a car speedometer gives you. Some folks call it "current pace" but that can be confusing when you also have average pace for the current mile, so let's call current pace the "right-now" pace. Unlike the 405, the 110 does not give you your right-now pace. Instead you get your average pace for the current lap. If your auto-lap is set to 1 mile (the default setting) then you'll see your average pace for the current mile. I for one don't need right-now pace. Since I'm trying to hit per-mile pace goals I want to see my average pace for the current mile. If I'm trying to hit a 10:00 pace for the current mile, and I start out too slow, the 110 will tell me my average pace for the current mile is slower, let's say 11:00, and I know I need to run the rest of the mile faster to bring my average pace for the current mile down from 11:00 to my target pace of 10:00. As I speed up, my average pace for the current mile will slowly drop from 11:00 to 10:00. Bottom line: Right-now pace doesn't help me hit per-mile pace goals so I could care less if it's "missing" from the 110. If all you are doing is trying to hit per-mile pace goals (eg run a 10:00 miles) then you'll be just fine with the 110.

ANY GPS ISSUES?
---------------

Not for me. Check out connect dot garmin dot com slash activity slash 44862992 and you'll see my test walk/run. Click to view the map in "Satellite" mode and notice that most of my test walk was under thick tree cover.


138 of 139 people found the following review helpful:
Does what it says it does well
pros-quick satellite fix, very clear display, waterproof, shows the info you need not what you don't, uses buttons instead of bezel controls, uses USB instead of wireless connection.
cons-fairly expensive, GPS loses some accuracy under heavy tree cover.

This watch is especially good for two kinds of runners: those who run on trails, and can't easily lock in distances (and thus pace); and those who travel, but still want to run outside, rather than on hotel treadmills. In both instances, this watch will give you accurate distance information, as well as pace and heart rate. The other big improvements that I haven't seen mentioned in other reviews are that unlike the 405, it has reverted to button controls, and also to a direct USB cable connection to your computer for uploading run information. Garmin is not advertising these changes, since they are ostensibly steps backward from the 405's bezel controls and wireless connection, but these were the sources of most of the complaints about the 405--especially problems with the bezel once it got wet with sweat or rain. This is no longer an issue.

You have to wonder whether some of the people writing these (one star) reviews actually run--or whether they work for Polar or Timex? The watch gives you distance, time and pace, as well as heart rate information, as you go. For most easy or long runs on trails or the road, this is all you need. On the track, you know the distance, so if you're doing intervals, just use the stopwatch. The only scenario where the lack of 'current pace' could be a problem as far as I can see is in doing tempo runs, if you do do them by time (say 20 minutes easy, 40 minutes tempo, 10 minutes warm down) instead of by distance, as I do them. By time, you could get a situation where your first and last miles of tempo running get mixed in with running at an easy pace, and the pace data would be useless. Still, if you set the autolap function at .25 miles, very little of your run is going to be logged inaccurately (at most the first and last quarter mile in that tempo workout). Similarly, if you happen to be changing pace lot during a run and want immediate feedback, the watch does give you that. So-called current speed on a GPS watch is always somewhat of an estimate anyway, since it is plotting your location between two points, measuring the time it took you, and then doing the math. There's really no such thing as an instantaneous current pace calculation, and if you have your watch set on .25 mile autolap, that's not much more than the distance that would actually be used for a current pace calculation otherwise.

One criticism: although the satellites initially lock onto my watch after an average of 30 seconds and seem to give very accurate distance ad elevation information (the latter on the Garmin Connect website), there is one part of my usual run under heavy tree cover where it seems like the satellites lose me for a tenth of a mile or less, which makes the data for that mile always come out slower than I'm actually running. It makes up the difference on the next mile, which makes that one come out too fast. Both are off by around 15 seconds/mile, and this is a bit annoying. Although I can do the calculation to average the two and see that each time they basically come out even, it seems that Garmin should have come up with an algorithm for the watch's software that would compensate for such discrepancies within the mile where they happen, rather than giving inaccurate information for two consecutive miles.

Bottom line: this watch gives you a lot of useful information, and even more when you download it to the Garmin Connect site. Unlike other Garmin watches, it doesn't give some extra cycling information and the heart rate monitor doesn't work in the pool, so it's really a watch for runners, not triathletes. But for semi-serious to very serious runners, it gives you everything you need, without the bells and whistles--and the headaches--of the 405.


119 of 122 people found the following review helpful:
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
  
I'am no marathon runner, just trying to get back to running like back in my cross country/track high school days. It's sooooo easy to use. I bought the 305/405 and immediately returned it because it was entirely too hard to figure out how to use. With the 110 you charge it, create your profile (weight, age, sex) go outside and let it sink with the satellites...then press start. It's that simple. If you get the one with the heart rate monitor, it gives you calories burned, and heart rate. I see people in here griping about something regarding the "pace". I don't know..it displays the pace you are going at, so i'm not too sure what that is all about. You sync it with the garmin website, and it give you greater "in depth" information about your run.

Just remember that this isn't suppose to have all the bells and whistle the other running watches have. This is for just simple use; distance, pace, calories, heart rate, time. This will suffice most people, and definitely extremely user friendly.

Most Recent Customer Reviews

EXACTLY what I needed!
I've been running for a couple of years and wanted to begin to get faster, better, stronger, etc. So I bought this to help me pace myself better.
by Todd A. Hooper

good buy!
I am really really enjoying my GPS watch. It locates satellites fairly quickly and does a pretty good job of accurately calculating milage and pace.
by cctrackrunner

Excelente!
The item was delivered on time! I recomend! The watch is nice! I recomend to anyone who want to have your runing training with more technologie!
by polidoro

Great for beginners!!!
I just purchased the Forerunner 110 about 2 weeks ago and couldn't be happier. I'm not new to running (I run at least 9 miles a week for Air Force PT), but I am new to running...
by Mr. Slippyfist

training with garmen
I bought the most basic garmen so I could get out and run with it without much set up and that is what I got. It seems best for training on roads.
by L. H. Rain Tree

Love the 110
I have wanted a Garmin for a long time. For running, this model is perfect. No issues, easy to set up and use. Love the online uploads, graphs and tracking too.
by Gene

Simple to use and not bulky
For an amateur runner, that wants to have some control about the training, but not so seriously, I think that is a perfect model. Very easy to use, intuitive.
by Flavio Velame

A good, simple GPS watch for the money
I really like this watch but I think I'll just mention a few things that aren't covered in other reviews.
by Thomas G. Farley

FR110
Distance measurement works great. Pace is not precise due to arm movement, but averages out OK.

I suggest getting a new heart rate monitor.
by William J Higgins

Good but not GREAT!
The watch is OK and will do basic GPS watch stuff. The only thing I find is that it really lacks training features like others where you can set up workouts.
by Daniel M

See More Facebook And Join