Will a GPS watch work while running on a cruise ship?

by Leave a Comment

I had a great question via email today that I just had to write about. Mandy has a brand new Garmin 410 Forerunner GPS watch. This summer, she is going on a cruise and would like to keep up her running while on the ship. That’s great! Congratulations Mandy, on keeping up with your fitness. But, what she wants to know is if her GPS will will work while on the ship.

Cruise ship running track

Image licensed under CC from Flickr user lotopspin. Thank you.

While on a cruise ship, there are 2 ways that you can keep up with your running. First, use the treadmill in the cruise ship health club. Just about all cruise ships have clubs of various sizes. And, typically, a least a few treadmills for you to get in your run.

But, if you are like me, you prefer to run outside. No problem as most of the larger cruise ships have a small walking/jogging/running track on the perimeter of one of the larger decks. So, go outside and enjoy the fresh air and run in many circles.

Now, on to the question…will the GPS watch work while running on a cruise ship. The answer is yes, it will work, but it will absolutely NOT be accurate while the ship is moving. First, out on the open ocean, you should be able to get a very strong satellite signal. But, if you run when the ship is moving, the GPS calculation tracks your movement and the ships movement at the same time.

Let’s say that you are running from the back of the ship to the front while the ship is in motion. The GPS will seem to cover a lot of ground. But, if you run from the front to the back of the ship, you will have covered less ground. If the ship is barely moving in a bay, you may even be standing still according to your GPS.

You best bet is to consult with a member of the ships crew. They should be able to tell you the length of the track on the ship. Then, you can simply count your laps.

Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS with Heart Rate Monitor

by Leave a Comment

The Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor running watch comes with a broad range of features for the running enthusiast who is looking forward to refining his running skills. This running watch offers both a GPS and HRM, to help prepare for a big race day when slight variations in time and distance could spell the difference between meeting personal goals or just missing them. The watch is simple to look at, yet extends basic functions in various dimensions to suit a range of running styles. Read ahead to see if this watch could be considered one of the best GPS watch for runners. Check pricing on this GPS heart rate monitor watch.

Click to Buy the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor Features at Amazon.

Full Review

Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor Design 

Basic Physical Features of the 410 with HRM

The Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor measures only 1.88 inches in width, 2.78 inches in height and 0.646 inches in depth (4.8 cm width, 7.1 cm height and 1.6 cm depth). With a display screen a mere 2.7 cm in diameter and a screen resolution of 124 by 95 pixels, the watch does not deliberately feature a touchscreen, which would become oversensitive and unsuitable for the marathon runner prone to body heat and sweat.

The chargeable lithium-ion battery incorporated in the Forerunner 410 heart monitor watch goes on for almost two weeks when in power saver mode. In the training mode, with full power consumption, it is built to last for a minimum eight hours, during which time anyone participating in a marathon for the first time would be able to achieve their finish.

Customizable Display of the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

The Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor has display options that are customizable to minimize clutter in the display area and enable you to display selected pieces of data, preferably two or three details at a time. This is in conjunction with the details of heart rate function.

Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor Usability

Usability Incorporated in the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

This Garmin with GPS and heart rate monitor functions at a constant pace for up to eight hours. Among user-friendly features of the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor is the wrist band with a quick release snap feature for quick and easy removal. The color scheme looks much neater, with a sense of power and majesty and controls are neither too sensitive nor seem too awkward while pressing. This allows the wearer to be able to push the control buttons even when wearing hand gloves or similar protection when the weather gets colder.

The advanced controls that respond to touch are designed for a number of different displays and enable you to accomplish a large number of operations much faster and more conveniently than ever before. The Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor also features several automatic tracking functions as part of the GPS, such as Auto Pause for stoplights and AutoLap for automatic lap initiation.

As a heart rate monitor and GPS, the 410 displays important notifications regarding your time exhausted and distance accomplished, heart rate monitoring and pace notifications as well as calorific consumption based on heart rate data.

Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor Features

Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor Features Superior Heart Rate Observation

The 410 is a variant of the Garmin 405 watch and exactly like the 410 without the heart rate monitor. However it is much more superior when compared to the Garmin 405 and includes a chest strap besides better controls. The Garmin Forerunner 410 HRM features a premium chest strap that is much more comfortable than the most chest straps and aids the heart rate monitor capture precise cardiac rhythms. The strap is slightly wider than some others, but you won’t really notice it.

The Tempo Monitoring Function in the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

The watch features a tempo function with which you can set up a pre-selected tempo based on your goals and monitor your tempo in real time against the pre-selected tempo. This enables you to ascertain whether you went faster or slower than your pre-selected tempo. This is a very useful feature for the marathon trainer who is often at a risk of overtraining or undertraining. Since the goal of the marathon training schedule is to build endurance gradually, without having to lose time from unintended mishaps, this tempo monitoring feature is an indispensable watch function.

Data Integration Capability of the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

The data collected in the 410 HRM can be transferred using a wireless network or through a USB cable attached to your computer. The data integration capability of the watch works across the Microsoft Windows as well as the Macintosh platforms. Also a number of standard browsers are supported, including Safari. All data can be reviewed on your computer and uploaded to various Internet services for additional analysis.

Indicators of Training Accomplishment through Your Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

The HRM watch has built in functionality for both basic training routines as well as enhanced training workouts. While basic routines work with preset time, calorie and mileage targets, enhanced routines are designed for programming custom workouts. While working with these advanced routines, there is an option to setup alerts when you deviate from your intended pace for that session or when you accomplish a goal in terms of time or distance. Another useful feature to help you train better is the ability to create intervals for exercise sessions and rest periods.

Additional Features of the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor

Besides basic features, the Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor includes certain useful attributes including automatically synchronizing data with your PC and using the Garmin connect interface to share data and analyze it in an internet community. Besides, the watch comes with the Garmin Training Center software and allows Automatic Browse, a feature designed to traverse through information during your training session.

Other automatic functions included is the Automatic Pause function which is a program in the chipset that stops and starts an inbuilt timer based upon your running speed. This is a great feature should you run on city streets with a lot of stop lights. The Automatic Lap function is included in the watch design to enable the beginning of a new lap without any manual intervention.

Garmin Forerunner 410 with Heart Rate Monitor: A Multifunction Concept

In a nutshell, the running watch is a multi function watch for the ambitious runner, and incorporates several combinations of basic and advanced features to let the marathon trainer precisely focus on training goals across a range of dimensions. The watch offers great features for a very competitor price making the Garmin Forerunner 410 with heart rate monitor one of the best running trainers around.

Help support Running Watch Review. The Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS with Heart Rate Monitor is available from Amazon: Buy | Reviews

What to Read Next

Suunto T1C Heart Rate Runners Watch

by Leave a Comment

The Suunto T1C Heart Rate monitor is a watch built for runners. Suunto is a Finnish company that is preferred by people who love the active way of life or are professional athletes and runners. The digital watches that this company brings out have very advanced features and capabilities. The Suunto T1C does not disappoint at all. It is a great sports watch with features that an athlete would want during his or her training sessions. It is also a watch that you will not feel uncomfortable wearing all day. Here’s our review of the Suunto T1C.

Suunto T1C: Design

The Suunto T1C is a pretty sleek piece of equipment that is good to look at and great to use. Design wise competes strongly among all its competitors in the same price segment. It weighs 2.2 ounces, and is 44 mm in width and 12 mm in height, making it a compact runner’s watch. The band is made of plastic and in case it wears out (which it probably will), you can replace it easily. The Suunto T1C has a stainless steel back though the case is of plastic. It is water resistant up to a depth of 30 meters. This means that you don’t have to worry in case you sweat a lot.

Suunto T1C: Usability

The usability of the Suunto T1C is high. Considering that it is a digital watch, it has features that will not disappoint a triathlete or professional runner. It is the perfect training aid with features like the heart rate monitor and a way of getting live data about your body streamed on to its screen. It is comfortable to wear. The strap chest that it comes with is also one of the most comfortable to wear, according to wearers who have used it. The best thing is that the Suunto T1C is easy to use.

Suunto T1C: Features

When you first start the watch, you will be asked to enter a few particulars about yourself, like your weight, gender, age and how active a lifestyle you lead on a scale of 1 to 5. This set up can be done in no time at all and after that, you are ready to go! The strap chest accessory will have to be worn by you to get your live data while you train. The belt is unobtrusive and soft and wearing it is no problem. It will transmit accurate live data about how your body is doing. Setting the Suunto T1C to measure your progress is also easy. With this, keeping track of the number of calories you are burning in real time is not difficult at all! There’s a stop watch as well. The Suunto T1C has a huge memory that will let you store data about the last 30 sessions. The heart rate monitor too works flawlessly.

Suunto T1C: Summary

Overall, the Suunto T1C is a great watch to buy for people who lead an active lifestyle or are training for athlete meets and triathlons and looking to invest in something ruggedly sporty.

Help support Running Watch Review. Click here to buy the Suunto T1C from our sponsor. Thank you.

Garmin FR60 GPS Running Watch

by Leave a Comment

The Garmin FR60 running watch is an advanced GPS running watch that has been created keeping the needs of runners and triathletes in mind.  It has everything one may look for in a GPS runner’s watch: all the advanced features that are required by today’s athletes to train. This watch follows from the Garmin Forerunner line and has some of the best features offered, as well as other innovative features. The high price tag and the extra baggage are thankfully missing. Confused as to whether or not to buy the Garmin FR60? Read our GPS watch review before you decide.

Garmin FR60: Design

The Garmin FR60 running watch is light and small and you will have no trouble with it when you go swimming or running. It looks sleek enough to be worn as a daily wear watch as well. It has a good audible alarm clock that is perfect for those times when you are afraid of missing an early morning training session. The Garmin FR60 watch is available in black, lilac and red. Accessories you can buy with this watch are bike sensor, heart rate monitor and foot pod. The compact look of the watch and the way all the features fit inside one tiny package makes us give thumbs’ up to Garmin once again!

Garmin FR60: Usability

The Garmin FR60 is a running sports watch that is perfect for both athletes and the casual wearer. Its compact design and light weight makes the wearer feel quite comfortable when it is strapped to the arm. It has advanced sports features that athletes and trail runners can use in it and the great thing is that it is extremely user friendly. Setting up the watch is easy and so is programming it in a way to suit you! Also, learning to use all the features is really not difficult at all.

Garmin FR60: Features      

The Garmin FR60 is totally water resistant. This means that you don’t have to worry if you sweat a lot during your training sessions. You can even take it out on a swim without being worried about whether it is going to work later on! It is triathlon- friendly. This watch is a training aid and can keep track of the current pace, speed, hear rate, average pace, distance and time and also lets you train within your specific Heart Rate Zones. Of course, the GPS records every mile that you can download to your computer. When the watch is turned on for the first time, it will record your age, height and weight. It can also be used to set up alerts for training. The Virtual Trainer Mode is another feature worth mentioning. When you connect the Garmin FR60 to a foot pod, you get a continuous stream of live data like your speed, pace and distance. It can also be connected to a heart rate monitor or bike sensor if you want more data. Minus points? None we could find!

Garmin FR60: Summary

The Garmin FR60 is a must buy for athletes looking for a complete solution to their training needs; plus a watch!

Help support Running Watch Review. The Garmin FR60 GPS running watch is available from these online stores:

  • Amazon.com: Men’s FR60 | Women’s FR60
  • Paragon Sports: Men’s FR60 | Women’s FR60
  • Altrec: Men’s FR60 | Women’s FR60
  • Backwoods

Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Watch

by Leave a Comment

The Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch has been targeted at runners who are actively training as it keeps track of the speed and the distance in addition to your heart rate. The Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch is Polar’s highest selling heart rate monitor. Should you buy it or should you wait for the next device to be out in the market? Read our review for instant help.

Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch: Design

Design wise, the Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch is sleek and good looking. At the beginning when Polar had just brought out this device, a lot of people complained that the strap was not comfortable.  The edition you get to buy now thus comes with a strap that is hardly noticeable. The monitor is large and has a user friendly display.  It has been designed as a ‘training computer’. All the information you need is displayed on the monitor.

Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch: Usability

The Polar RS300X is very comfortable to wear. It is high on usability. When you set and program the device for the very first time, you will have to use the manual. But after that, when you get the hang of it, you can do it on your own. As mentioned before, wearing the chest strap for hours on end will not give you any discomfort. The model will let you measure your aerobic rate of fitness when you are resting and sports features like Zonelock and Zone Pointer as well. It lets you store information of 16 training sessions which makes it your perfect companion if you happen to be a training athlete.

Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch: Features

The Polar RS300X is high on features, but that is something everyone expects from Polar. Using Polar’s Own Zone technology, you will get the ability to create your own areas and specific zones of intensity and split it into different kinds such as distance and speed per panel, auto lap splits, fitness tests and heart rate. This technology is definitely worth mentioning as it will alert you if you happen to fall higher or lower a zone that you want to stay within! Information about 16 of your latest sessions can be stored in it so that you can understand exactly what development you are making in your training. At the end of your workout, you will get a summary of everything. If you need motivation and don’t want a trainer, the Polar RS300X will be a great buy! Another feature is the OwnCal technology which will keep track of the calories you are burning and your progress.

Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor watch: Summary

If you buy the Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Watch, it will definitely be money is well spent. For runners and athletes alike, a good device such as this is an important buy and the Polar S300X is second to none.

Help support Running Watch Review. The Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor running watch is available from these online stores:

  • Amazon.com
  • Paragon Sports

 

Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch

by Leave a Comment

The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch is a sports watch that offers cutting edge performance and is a perfect companion for runners and swimmers alike. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch has packed in enough features to suit the needs of the most ardent lap timer, race pace trainer and interval trainer. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch has innovative features never seen before, like the drink-timer and fuel timer apart from all the things you would expect in a running sports watch. Whether you should invest money in buying it or not: that is something you will have to decide! But before that, take a look at our review.

Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch: Design                 

The Timex Ironman Sleep 150 Lap Watch comes in quite a few different colors and styles. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap  watchband is an integral part, but looks like it will wear out before the watch, which may be a problem. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 is quite comfortable to wear. One will not have a problem wearing the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap  Watch as a daily watch. The Tap Screen is perhaps the most interesting feature of the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 that is worth talking about. Logging split times is easy with just a tap on the screen. No need to look for buttons ad dials when you are logging in the time of your run! It is sleek and quite nice to look at. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 looks like classic Timex, but it’s thinner and sleeker. The large number display and the angled glass at the bottom give it a contemporary and stylish look.

Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch: Usability

The fact that the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch is a runner’ sports watch but yet does not have GPS or a heart rate monitor is not something that would make too many people happy. But honestly, the  makes up for its deficiencies quite a bit with its very user- friendly Tap Screen. You can wear the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 quite easily when swimming too. What’s more, the Tap Screen works wonderfully in water. It has adjustable sensitivity settings and you can set it according to the kind of swimming you are going to do. Usability is high as you can just tap the screen twice with two of your fingers and the lap timer will stop after a beep. The large number display makes it easy to see the timings when you are running.

Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch: Features

The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch is a fully featured Ironman sports watch targeted at people who run, hop, skip and swim a lot. The Tap Screen is one of its best features. Other than this, the huge memory (it can store 15 laps of information in it, Chronograph, drink and snack timers, target pace timer with audible alarms and 9 interval timers;  all speak of Timex’s dedication to the sports segment of the populace.

Timex Ironman Sleek 150 Lap Watch: Summary

Overall, the Timex Ironman Sleep 150 Lap is an excellent sports watch that is great for daily wear as well as for times you get nasty in the mud.

Help support Running Watch Review. The Timex Ironman Sleek 150 lap running watch is available from these online stores:

  • Amazon.com
  • Altrec