Wow. I haven’t seen or heard as much hype about a new running watch in a long time. The Garmin Forerunner 620 is one of the latest and greatest GPS watches on the market. As the “big brother” to the Garmin FR220, it has more features, its more accurate, and has greater capabilities to improve your personal goals. I’ve only had a day to look at it, but here is my Garmin 620 review. Click here to buy one now.
It looks like a new entrant in the Best GPS Running Watch sweepstakes is coming soon…
We got our hands on the latest training tool from TomTom to hit the market. The watch is currently under testing and there will be a full low down which will feature in the December issue of the magazine, but in the meantime if you’re on the lookout for a new device, here is what both the TomTom Runner and the TomTom Multi-Sport has to offer:
Read the details at Runnersworld UK.
Home Before Dark by heza, on Flickr
It seems that everyone has an idea of how to pick the best GPS running watch. See, I have one too. So, I find it helpful to provide another opinion.
Garmin has been the industry leader for over a decade, new GPS watches from established companies such as Magellan, TomTom, Timex, and Polar have entered the market. GPS watches made today come in a wide range of prices and styles, and are often designed for specific types of athletes.
Read the full article at Running Shoes Guru
Motorola MOTOACTV is a state of the art fitness tracker for runners with a smart MP3 player packed into a small, sweat proof, wearable and stylish device. It gives a feeling of a personal trainer along with a DJ dabbling in music. With Accusense technology and GPS track, your running data, like time, distance, speed and calories burned are easily tracked. You can monitor your performance directly on this device and online at the MOTOACTV Training Portal. The smart MP3 player plays hours and hours of your favorite music. Even its latest software upgrade features over 40 new track- able activities like yoga and jumping rope. Buy this watch at Amazon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3SIbokHetQ
Motorola MOTOACTV 8GB GPS Sports Watch and MP3 Player has a small, good-looking screen. It is designed with a fitness focused GPS with an MP3 player. It has a touchscreen display that provides quick and easy access of data no matter under what light. The smart mp3 player boasts of holding about 4000 songs plus giving an option of making your own playlist. Wi- fi can directly be accessed from this watch and you can even track your workout performance.
My favorite part about its design is the band for strapping the Motorola MOTOACTV around your wrist for use as a timepiece. The band is a bit wide with dual rows of eyelets to accept the latch’s double- pronged buckle. Alternatively, you can use it with an armband. Aggressively styled in black with red, the watch face is also massive, resembling retro look. As a man, I like the design, but it may be a bit strong for some women runners.
Motorola MOTOACTV 8GB GPS Sports Watch and MP3 Player is a perfect choice as the next generation sports watch. In fact it is small in size but massive in its abilities. It has a flashy, glossy kind of look but can be worn everyday. It can be used by workout and racing lovers who like keeping tracks of their performance whilst listening to their adrenaline- pumping music. For indoor workouts, it also has an accelerometer that helps to track steps taken or calories burned. If you are phone savvy, then to use this watch you must have an Android mobile phone as Motorola MOTOACTV 8GB GPS Sports Watch and MP3 Player is compatible with Android mobile phones.
My favorite usability feature is the start button for working out. It reminds me a lot of the simple button on my Apple iPhone. However, if you are an iPhone user, the volume controls are located on the right side, opposite of your phone. So, that is something to get used to.
If all you want is a straight-forward GPS running watch, you can’t go wrong with the Garmin 410. But, if music is your thing, take a look at these features. Running a bona fide version of Google’s Android OS, the Motorola MOTOACTV 8GB GPS Sports watch and MP3 Player is more like a mini computer than just an ordinary GPS watch or music player. Like the iPod Nano, this watch too has an internal accelerometer that serves as a pedometer. Motorola MOTOACTV also adds a GPS receiver for tracking your activity outdoors, a Wi- Fi radio, and Bluetooth hardware that supports the new Bluetooth 4.0 spec. You can transfer music files to the MOTOACTV via USB connection using the MotoCast software, which is located within the device memory. With the application, the watch syncs tracks stored in the iTunes folder or can be mounted as a drive so you can drag and drop tunes manually.
Packed in the box is an 8 GB Fitness Tracker/ GPS/ Smart Music Player unit, Pair of SF200 sports headphones, Pairs of replacement ear buds, Dual- Port universal charger, USB charging cable, MOTOACTV clip, Quick start guide, Wrist strap, Latest Software Updates enable tracking your performance across 40 new activities including yoga, dancing and martial arts and monitoring your data online.
You can also activate your display with a flick of the wrist, set up Wi- Fi directly on your device, and conduct your own competitions at the MOTOACTV Training Portal. To install, you just have to connect your MOTOACTV device to your PC or Mac. It has an easy to use scratch- proof touch screen that displays and provides quick and easy access to the data that you want most. It automatically adjusts to lighting conditions so it gives clear and visible data, both indoors and outdoors. The scratch-resistant 1.6″ screen holds up your toughest workout reports. The watch also maximizes your free time by scheduling a walk, run or ride online with the help of its MOTOACTV Training Portal’s planning calendar. It is a great way to stay on schedule, save your routes and introduce new workouts to your routine. The smart MP3 Player holds about 4,000 songs. You can even prepare your own playlist and update them easily. It is even easy to plan workouts, create long- term goals and analyze your performance right online at the MOTOACTV Training Portal. Just visit MOTOACTV.com and sign in with your MotoCast ID (device setup required). Your workout data is then automatically uploaded to the site wirelessly from your device so you can chart your progress effortlessly. Its measurements are- 2″L x 3/8″W x 2″H (approx.), Material Composition: Plastic, metal and glass, Power Source:1 lithium ion battery.
This is definitely a feature rich watch. I’m most excited about the opportunities offered by the built-in software. This will allow Motorola to add features as they develop them. So, adding more GPS features or wireless features to a heart rate monitor are certainly within reach.
Before I conclude, a quick disclosure…I do not run with music. Although it was fun testing this device, I will continue to run without music. If you do choose to run with music and use headphones, I strongly encourage you to learn how to safely run when wearing headphones.
The watch has integrated maps and can also wirelessly route calls from your phone to ensure you do not get interrupted throughout your workout. It is also a perfect choice for a workout MP3 player. The Motorola MOTOACTV 8GB GPS Sports watch and MP3 Player is a state of the art fitness tracker and smart MP3 player packed into a small, water proof and stylish device. Its Accusense technology and GPS track your running and walking data like time, distance, speed and calories burned. You can monitor your performance directly on your device and online at the MOTOACTV Training Portal. The smart MP3 player stores hours and hours of your favorite songs and actually ‘knows’ what tunes motivate you the most. The Motorola MOTOACTV is a veritable jack- of- all- trades. It keeps track of outdoor exercises via GPS, planning out route maps that you can access on the watch’s screen. The device possesses a smart MP3 player built in that learns your preferred workout music, there is an accelerometer for indoors activity tracking and calorie burned. The Motorola MOTOACTV can even sync with Ant+ equipment including heart rate sensors and biking speed sensors. This is a very cool watch with a lot of extra, but fun features. If music and running is your thing, you should have this watch.
Help support Running Watch Review. The Motorola Motoactv is available from Amazon: Buy | Reviews
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Periodically, I receive emails asking about the accuracy of GPS running watches. Along the same lines, runners are wondering if their watch is accurate because they just completed a 5K race, but the GPS watch reads something other than 5,000 meters.
So, I was going to write a post that addresses these questions. However, I recall a couple of great articles on this topic. First, the NY Times made a half-hearted effort to explain the discrepancy of GPS watches:
GPS Watch Can be an Unreliable Running Partner
An excerpt:
It seems clear enough that a GPS watch is not very accurate, yet online runners’ forums, like one at the Web site of Runners World, are filled with comments from confused athletes who rely on the devices.
However, the article was not written as a true scientific analysis to explain why GPS watches calculate distances differently. Thankfully, someone else was able to provide a logical response:
Why the New York Times GPS Running Article Missed the Boat by DC Rainmaker
Part of the response:
The challenge here is that I’d ask first – what were the watches in question? What brands, devices and software versions? For example, was the one that was off by .42 miles (97.3% accurate) an older model from 5-6 years ago, or was it more recent? Who made it? What firmware version?
Regardless of all the analysis, the benefits of a GPS watch are many. Having an understanding of how far you’ve run and how long it took will help you improve your running.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor is a high performer with smart looks, an inbuilt GPS that synchronizes in less than five minutes, an affordable price tag and an online logging and synchronization capability. The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor has all that it takes to be a professional runner’s companion. Check pricing on the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor.
Unique Style of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor and Watch
This watch comes in a sleek blackish grey casing with superior aesthetics reflected in the color blending scheme of its physical appearance. In the model we looked at, there is an orange color liner that surrounds its circular dial, and the back and select buttons are aligned along the horizontal axis of the display area.
Overall looks are somewhat industrial. The face of the watch is large, but not considered the largest in the market by a longshot.
The Timex brand backs the reputation of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor watch and speaks volumes about its strict standards in function, durability and dependability.
Display Features
The display area is populated with essential information in black over a white background, and details are legible and clear. Extra large digits not only ensure better readability, but also add a sense of style to the overall look and feel of the watch. The display area can be adjusted to show up to four lines of training data. This means that this GPS watch with heart rate monitor makes it possible to keep track of your distance, split times as well as pace simultaneously.
Flexible Chest Strap for Added Comfort
There is a chest strap included with the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor that is essential to measuring the heart rate. The strap, known as the Flextech Digital strap, features a signal of about 2.4 megahertz intensity. The chest strap is very pleasant to wear, unlike the rubber or plastic chest bands, and is extremely light weight.
Unique Timers included
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor contains essential programmed functions, the simplest of which is the electronic timer. The watch has five inbuilt timers which can be customized by users. The watch function is sufficiently tested, including a recovery timer, which is unique to Timex watches.
Another unique set of timers included with the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor watch are the hydration and nutrition timers. The hydration and nutrition timers offer basic timer functionality, and the feature is thoughtfully included by the watch designers and readily and conveniently available to the marathoner anytime during his or her marathon running training schedule. The wearer, for easy tracking and identification, can label all timers programmed in the watch.
Data Storage and Transfer Function
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor watch comes with a USB cable, which serves the function of data transfer as well as battery recharge. The USB cable connector of the watch is also useful while working with the Training Peaks Online log. A Device Agent attaches to the watch and enables data analysis online.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate monitor can store data for around twenty sessions of workouts. Summary is marked by dates for review later on.
A Note on the GPS Function
The GPS functions included in the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS with Heart Rate monitor and watch are powered by the SiRF starIV GPS which connects very quickly to the satellite in order to measure your speed, pace and time exhausted in real time, during your long run or short sprint. The GPS accompanying the monitor and watch is fine tuned to connect easily to the relevant satellites as well as maintain an uninterrupted connection throughout your marathon running training regimen.
A standard lithium iron battery is built into the watch casing which also powers the GPS monitor. The battery is designed to support the GPS monitor which consumes a lot of power during transmission of data. Manufacturers claim that the battery would last for up to nine working hours without requiring a recharge. A minimum of seven to eight hours of watch function is expected from the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor battery backup.
Pace Tracking
Among other useful features of the watch is the ability to record rates at which you climb uphill and traverse downhill during hilly terrains in your marathon running training plan. Altitude distances as well as rates are measurable by the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS with Heart Rate monitor and watch.
In order to give further control over tracking your pace, the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor has the ability to retain up to fifty custom routes in its memory. The monitor allows you to create routes by recording around 100 waypoints through its GPS function. This feature also allows for back tracking of your route should you ever get lost.
A no calibration GPS technology and an accurate as well as efficient heart rate monitor are the two most important functions included in the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor. Several timers for tracking intervals and countdowns, a hands-free independent chronograph operation and a multisport mode for recording transitions as well as activities makes this GPS running watch the best choice in comprehensive running equipment available today.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch with Heart Rate Monitor is undoubtedly one of the best tracking solutions available to marathon trainers in the market today.
Read more GPS Watch Reviews or Heart Rate Monitor Reviews.
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The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch is highly acclaimed for its ease of use and targeted comfort to the women’s segment, including a large portion of marathon runners, working out their marathon training plan and building endurance for their very first marathon run. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 is a GPS watch with an affordable price tag and a trendy smooth appearance that will appeal women.
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Feminine Appeal of the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS Running Watch
The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS watch is designed to completely imbibe the sporty and vivacious personality of the female marathoner. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch comes in a cool grey color with a bright pink liner which gives it the feminine touch.
Low Power Consumption by the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS Running Watch
It is surprising to note that the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch, which features the SiRFstarIV chipset consumes a mere 8 mW of power during its run. When compared to the standard 20 mV of power consumed by most watches in a similar market segment and configuration, the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 seems to be at an advantage in terms of leaner power usage and high performance.
Features of General Appeal in The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110
The fact that the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch weighs only 52 grams makes it all the more attractive in the form of a good function tracker for the marathon runner on her training stride. The battery takes only around an hour to charge for first time use. Initial questions programmed into the watch for basic resetting functionality at startup require less than a minute to complete and get the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 functioning smoothly. Since the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 relies on satellite data for certain functions, you might have to wait for another half minute to let it locate satellites and power itself up before beginning your running plan according to the training schedule for your marathon run.
Convenient Function Layout in the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110
The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch features a round medium sized dial with four buttons along the periphery for monitoring lap times, illuminating the front panel with the inbuilt light and activating or deactivating the menu. The two main areas of the screen along the vertical axis are designated for displaying the pace and distance of the marathon runner as she sprints across the race track. The four push buttons are not too sensitive, putting the women marathon runner at an advantage, since long runs can get sweaty and a sensitive interface or buttons could get on your nerves, should they give rise to troublesome operation in the middle of your running track. Convenient operation is a terrific usability feature in the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch.
GPS Powered Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110
The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 is powered with a GPS, specifically the SiRFstarIVTM GPS chip. The GPS battery included in the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch is designed to last comfortably for a full eight hour cycle.
Pace and Vital Function Measurement in the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110
The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 includes a meter to calculate the current pace and incorporates internal calculations that enable it to display the pace as an average function for either the current lap, the current mile or for the entire run on that particular long-run day. A related output of this function is to monitor and display the heart rate in conjunction with calories consumed, as you work your way through your usual long runs. For the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110, heart rate is an optional feature and you could choose a model that suits your requirements. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 which features the heart rate function also comes with a monitor in the form of a strap that is supposed to be worn around the chest of the marathon trainer.
Workout Data Storage and Transfer Featured in the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110
The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch is programmed to automatically store data about your workout in the history space allocated by the watch. This space is designed to hold details of up to 180h of workouts during your marathon running training schedules or your final marathon run. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 connects to your computer through its USB cable and allows you to easily transfer workout data. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 recommends uploading data to the Garmin connect account that is a useful interface to view data in the form of charts and possibly share the same with friends.
The Garmin Connect interface for workout data captured by the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch shows charts indicating heart rates and statistics about timing and elevation. The web interface allows you to visualize recorded data. Among the several features in the web interface, the ability to look into data on your runs on a geospatial platform like Google Earth makes the application an interesting choice. The Garmin Connect Interface allows you to make this data public, so as to allow everyone to view the data. Alternatively, you can keep it private or share it only with a closed group of people.
In conclusion, the Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 is the simple time keeping equipment without elaborate functionality, but with the wise inclusion of important functions that might be preferred by the vast majority of marathon trainers. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 is specifically designed for outdoor running, hence includes basic indispensable information about pace, heart rate, time as well as distance. It enables women to keep track of their progress and make informed assessments about their performance during their running marathon training schedule. The Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 is designed with careful consideration to the most important needs of women runners and women need not look any further before grabbing an attractive Garmin Women’s Forerunner 110 GPS running watch before starting their marathon training.
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The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running was released by Timex as direct competition to the Garmin Forerunner 210. The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch is stylish, sleek with fast satellite acquisition making it one of the best watches released by Timex so far. The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch is a must have for serious athletes and casual athletes who want more out of their training sessions. Click here to check the current price for Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running is an excellent training companion. The innovative ergonomic case design of the watch allows it to actually sit on the inside of your wrist. The sleek design of the Timex Ironman does not scream out ‘sports enthusiast’ though very subtly puts the point across.
In built GPS watches being bulky and chunky are now thing of the past. The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch has made in built GPS watches slimmer and more stylish for even everyday use. It is an addition to the normal looking GPS watches available in the market.
The bevel of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch is surrounded by five buttons namely, INDIGLO, mode, display, start/stop and set. The bevel also has a start/split button for easy lap and split timings.
Like every watch released by Timex the appeal factor lies in the usability of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running. It is an extremely easy to use revolutionary running watch. The buttons of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS are big enough to be used easily while wearing the heaviest of gloves in cold weather.
The innovative ergonomic case design of the watch allows easy viewing of the display preventing any need for you to twist your wrist around to view all the information on the display.
The strap of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch and the heart rate strap are extremely comfortable to wear without constricting your breath or movement.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running, once out of the box, is extremely easy to set up and customize to your liking.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running was built with the runner in mind.
Modes:
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch comes with different modes.
CHRONO Mode:
A tap on the lower left hand button allows you to access and switch modes. With modes like the CHRONO mode you can customize almost 3 pages of display each having about 3-4 lines of information. The change in modes and their settings can also be easily done with the Timex Device Agent Software.
Interval Mode:
The interval mode allows you to setup an interval workout. Interval workouts can range from simple to complex. The basic interval workout would include warm up, main set and cool down. The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running allows you to set five main sets each set having its own parameters. You can then specify the parameters of warm up and cool down separately.
Timer Mode:
The timer mode is essential to every running watch. The timer in the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch can be configured to repeat after the set time or simply switch to the CHRONO mode. You can also configure the watch to remind you to switch between modes half way through your training.
Recovery Mode:
The recovery mode monitors your heart rate and other stats while you are recovering from an activity. It is an important feature for recording heart rate while resting. All you need to do is set the rest time, strap on the heart rate strap and let the watch record your heart rate.
Review Mode:
The review mode of the Timex Run Trainer GPS watch for running allows you to go through past stored training sessions. In this mode you can get the details such as laps and split times for any training session store in the watch. This mode also displays details like cadence, average time across sessions, total time taken for each session, distance, speed, heart rate, etc.
Configuration Mode:
This mode lets you customize the watch according to your convenience. You can configure heart rate training zones, fitness goals pertaining to speed, distance or time, metric units and personal details like age, height and weight. This mode also allows you to change the recording rate interval and smoothen out any jumpiness observed in the GPS tracking.
Hands Free Start/Stop and Splits:
If you are training within city limits that require you to start and stop frequently due to traffic you can automatically pause the recording on the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch. The watch allows you to set lower and upper thresholds for speed. In case you cross the lower threshold the watch pauses till you come back into the set speed zone to start again.
You can also set the lap splits in terms of distance like 1 mile or time like 30 minutes or 1 hour.
GPS:
The GPS sensors of the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch are extremely powerful and hook up to the satellites in a matter of seconds. The GPS tracking is also extremely accurate. We checked against the distance reported on the watch against multiple online map sites.
Backlight:
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch has the classic INDIGLO backlight of Timex. The watch has a dedicated button for the backlight for easy viewing in dark conditions. The only drawback of the backlight feature is that you cannot adjust the time the backlight stays on. This is helpful during the winter when running in the dark as you don’t always get an extended look at your watch. So, it would be nice to have it on a few seconds longer.
Normal Watch:
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch can be used as a normal watch for non-training periods. In the regular watch mode the dial displays the date and time. A variety of different alarms can also be configured which can be set to buzz daily or on specific days.
Software:
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running can be connected to your computer and software such as TrainingPeaks, which can be used to schedule or improve your training sessions.
Accessories:
The Timex Run Trainer GPS watch is compatible with the ANT+ heart rate strap and foot pod.
The Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running is bound to surprise you with the sheer number of features it packs in itself. This watch has everything that a casual or serious runner could ask for. What we like most is the simplicity of the user experience. Timex has definitely done their research with runners when building the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch for running.
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Professional athletes and sports enthusiasts put on their best efforts when engaged in their chosen sport. For such endeavors, they look for the best supporting equipment, such as running sports watch. Every athlete runs to strengthen the body so the best running watch can help during trainings.
In looking for the best running watch, five tips should be considered by every runner.
First, a lot of running watches are available in today’s market, so the athlete must check the right sports watch for his chosen sport. A great example is the sports watch with hard chest straps for monitoring your heart rate, as it won’t be suited for swimmers since they need to be flexible with their movements. Be sure that the purpose of the watch matches the sport before buying one.
Second, consider the durability of the watch, as sports require toughness. Varying environmental conditions must be endured by a sports watch. In case it malfunctions, be sure that the watch has a warranty.
Third, choose a running GPS watch with a wide and clear screen display for easier reading. The large display can also accommodate metric viewings through the scroll function and four text lines.
Fourth, the best running watch must have GPS features not only for location mapping, but also for downloading premade training manuals. The manuals can act as a sports trainer and learning the sport would be easier while enhancing the skills and stamina of the runner.
Lastly, famous brands must be on-top of the list as their names symbolize the best quality watches out in the market. They also offer tons of features that are not available in other watch brands. They also certify the quality of the products through a warranty, ensuring the best running watch has a long life. One brand I really like is Garmin (see my Garmin GPS Watch Reviews).
With the practical five tips that are given, a runner can really choose the best running watch for his activty. Remember that the tips given are only written to assist an athlete in deciding what kind of watch is best for him and the tips don’t favor any particular model or brand of sports watch. The best running watch for you will always depend on your needs.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch for runners has forgone the virtual training partner, multi sport modes and other features of its more expensive counterparts like the Garmin Forerunner 410 and 310XT. The Garmin Forerunner 110 has taken a much simpler route to being the basic runner watch. Hence it has the basic displays of a runner watch that shows time, distance, pace and mile splits. Though the Garmin Forerunner 110 has been targeted at the mainstream runner it is not ideal for someone who wants to train seriously. It is a watch for running that a casual runner would prefer.
The design of the Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch for runners is not bulky or chunky and defines the goal of the watch: overall simplicity. The choice of colors also has intrigued many customers with a hot pink for women and standard black and hot red for men. The simple features and simple look of watch make it look like a normal watch not a feature laden computer on your wrist.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 has a simple interface bezel with no touch screen option unlike its counterpart the Garmin Forerunner 410. The bevel of the Garmin Forerunner 110 is surrounded by four basic buttons of a runner’s watch namely, light, page/menu, lap/reset and start/stop.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 has simplified the complex features of most of its counterparts and has the basic features which many serious athletes will vouch is all you need. Giving up on the overwhelming customizations the Garmin Forerunner 110 is perfect for the casual runner. Plenty of storage, easy interface, easy to read screen and a simple GPS tracking make this watch extremely easy and a pleasure to use. For the casual runner the Garmin Forerunner 110 is the perfect watch to launch into the GPS watch line.
The only downside to the Garmin Forerunner 110 is that though it is waterproof to support underwater use at 30 meters for 30 minutes the screen begins to fog up after barely 20 minutes of underwater use.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch for runners is undoubtedly designed for running and with just a tap on the page/menu button the GPS is turned on and ready for running. Once you are done with your running a tap on the start/stop buttons stops recording and you can then view the distance travelled, time taken and pace details. If you have a heart rate strap you can also view your current heart rate on the Garmin Forerunner 110.
This is a great feature characteristic of every Garmin Forerunner. The Auto Lap helps you create automatic splits/lap every time you set the desired distance. Most casual runners do this to set mile markers, the Auto Lap feature of the Garmin Forerunner 110 does this automatically for you. By default the Auto Lap feature is set to split at 1.0 mile, you can customize this and set it to any desired distance. Pressing the lap button will provide information about your total time and average pace rate.
The major reason any individual would take up training is to keep the heart fit hence the Garmin Forerunner 110 allows you to use the ANT+ heart rate strap to monitor your heart rate. The current heart rate will show up on one of the data pages which can be further analyzed on Garmin Connect.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 comes with an indoors mode which allows you to only monitor your heart rate. Even if you are training indoors you can use this feature. This mode does not display the distance, time or pace.
The backlight of the Garmin Forerunner 110 is extremely bright and stays on for about 8 seconds. But unlike its counterparts the time the backlight stays on cannot be adjusted on the Garmin Forerunner 110.
Holding down the page/menu button of the Garmin Forerunner 110 displays the history. You can then navigate to view different activities and also view the summary of each activity which includes distance, time and pace.
Though the Garmin Forerunner 110 was simplified to be a single sport watch, it can used for cycling by switching the display mode to ‘speed’ from ‘pace’. You can then strap it onto your wrist or use a bike mount to record your training. Except for pace the monitor shows speed otherwise there is no difference between the summaries for running and cycling.
The downside of the Garmin Forerunner 110 is that it isn’t quite waterproof. The screen of the FX110 fogs up with barely 20 minutes of use underwater. Hence training underwater with the Garmin Forerunner 110 isn’t quite a good idea.
The GPS feature on the Garmin Forerunner 110 is accurate and has simple route tracking to help the first time user of GPS watches. The GPS chip of the Garmin Forerunner 110 is very fast in comparison to the other Forerunners and takes less than 20 seconds to find the satellites and lock in.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 promises 8 hours of battery life with full GPS usage. It also comes with an auto power saving mode which enables the watch to go back to regular mode after 5 minutes of inactivity.
The Garmin Forerunner 110 comes with Garmin Connect and can be used with Training Peaks as well as Sport Tracks to record and analyze training sessions. These softwares provide feedbacks and help design better training schedules. The Sport Tracks helps you choose a track and then schedule or customize your training on the specified track.
The loss of many features for simplicity does not sit well with the heavy dent caused to the wallet otherwise the Garmin Forerunner 110 GPS watch for runners is a step towards better technology for the casual runner. Not too complicated yet reliable with faster GPS connectivity and easy interface the Garmin Forerunner 110 with the lack of the Virtual Training Partner and Foot Pod sticks to the basics while still doing well. Being slim and pretty it records plenty of data without issues of data loss or drops. It’s probably one of the best running watches for runners looking for an affordable GPS watch.
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