Kamis, 09 Mei 2013

Does what it says it does well

vacuum cleaner review Garmin Forerunner GPS Enabled Unisex Sport

Garmin Forerunner GPS Enabled Unisex Sport

I'll keep this short and to the point since there are numerous complete reviews. For the past 6 or 7 years, I have been tracking my mileage in Excel which has required using previously measured runs or measuring new ones by computer or bike, etc. I wanted a watch that was the smallest, lightest one that would free me from the same old runs and allow me to run anywhere and easily get the mileage and my time. I didn't want a heart monitor, don't need directions back home or anything else...

The Forerunner links to satellites in about 10 seconds and does everything I need. The software it works with, Garmin Connect or Training Center are excellent also. I use them, but still use Excel for tracking mileage although the Garmin software can do this also.

One key point because there seems to be confusion about this - the watch by default beeps at each mile and tells you your pace for that mile, but at the end of your run, it tells you only the total distance and time. You CANNOT get your mile splits from the watch but you CAN get them by downloading your activity to Garmin Connect or Garmin Training Center. Once you do that (and it is simple and takes just a few seconds), you get all your splits and more including elevations, speeds and a map. Garmin Connect also has a player to replay your runs. Very fun and cool. You change the splits to other values, Miles or Kilometers, and other distances in case you want to run on a track, etc.

Bottom line - I am thrilled with this watch and it has motivated me to run new routes and go greater distances. I have also used it during one race which was helpful and am looking forward to wearing it in a half marathon next month to make my time goal. If I could give this thing 10 stars, I would - it is a great training aid, motivational aid and... cool toy.

Get your Garmin Forerunner GPS Enabled Unisex Sport Now!

7 komentar:

  1. I'll keep this short and to the point since there are numerous complete reviews. For the past 6 or 7 years, I have been tracking my mileage in Excel which has required using previously measured runs or measuring new ones by computer or bike, etc. I wanted a watch that was the smallest, lightest one that would free me from the same old runs and allow me to run anywhere and easily get the mileage and my time. I didn't want a heart monitor, don't need directions back home or anything else...

    The Forerunner links to satellites in about 10 seconds and does everything I need. The software it works with, Garmin Connect or Training Center are excellent also. I use them, but still use Excel for tracking mileage although the Garmin software can do this also.

    One key point because there seems to be confusion about this - the watch by default beeps at each mile and tells you your pace for that mile, but at the end of your run, it tells you only the total distance and time. You CANNOT get your mile splits from the watch but you CAN get them by downloading your activity to Garmin Connect or Garmin Training Center. Once you do that (and it is simple and takes just a few seconds), you get all your splits and more including elevations, speeds and a map. Garmin Connect also has a player to replay your runs. Very fun and cool. You change the splits to other values, Miles or Kilometers, and other distances in case you want to run on a track, etc.

    Bottom line - I am thrilled with this watch and it has motivated me to run new routes and go greater distances. I have also used it during one race which was helpful and am looking forward to wearing it in a half marathon next month to make my time goal. If I could give this thing 10 stars, I would - it is a great training aid, motivational aid and... cool toy.

    BalasHapus
  2. I currently run 80-90 miles per week and just moved to Colorado where there are lots of trails. I used to do all my running with a simple stopwatch so I am completely new to GPS watches. I went with the 110 because I wanted something I could use on my easy days and long runs on the trails for tracking the distances covered as I go.

    The advantages of the 110:
    1. awesome size and fit on your wrist (maybe a tad bulky compared to your normal stopwatch but not too bad, much smaller than older GPS models from what I've seen)
    2. quickly locates satellites and doesn't drop signal (and I'm in the middle of nowhere in Colorado)
    3. Gives you mileage covered and average pace for the current segment (by default a mile) while you're running
    4. Beeps at each mile you hit and lets you know what that mile was just covered in. I can also see from the average pace for the current segment (mile) what I'm likely going to hit the next mile in.

    The disadvantages of the 110:
    1. it doesn't allow you to review your mile splits on the watch after you've finished your run. You need to upload the data to your computer/GarminConnect in order review them. I don't think this is really a big deal if you're just using it for your daily distance runs (as I am) because the watch beeps after each mile (so you have the last mile split in your head) and at the conclusion of the run you get the total distance covered, time elapsed. So it's not like it's a mystery to figure out what your splits were. But if you want to review that in detail, you'll need to connect it to the computer.
    2. There's a lot of fuss from prospective buyers and reviewers that the Garmin Forerunner 110 doesn't give you the instantaneous pace - not really a big deal because instantaneous pace is not of very much use. if you sprint instantaneous pace might read 5:00/mile or something absurd for 10 seconds, then it's going to immediately revert to your normal training pace. The Forerunner 110 instead gives you an average pace for your current segment (by default a mile) which basically tells you what you're projected to hit the current mile in if you stay on the pace you're on since the last mile split (hope that makes sense).

    The bottom line on the Garmin Forerunner 110 is that if you're looking for something to just tell you how far you've run and what pace all wrapped into a sleek package (not bulky but more like a real watch), the Forerunner 110 is great. I do most of my hard running (intervals) on a 400m track anyway, and I can't really understand why people feel the need to use GPS for hard workouts, except for maybe tempo runs out on the roads. But even then, while the Forerunner 110 doesn't give you your instantaneous pace, the Forerunner 110 gives you a great indication as to what you'll hit the next mile in. In a sense not having the instantaneous pace is better because you learn to run by feel and you can look down and gradually see your average pace (since the last mile) start to fall off, instead of seeing a highly inaccurate and useless instantaneous pace that's just based off what you ran in the past 10 seconds.

    BalasHapus
  3. 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.

    BalasHapus
  4. The Garmin 110 is an outstanding watch for both training and racing. It shows only the important data: distance, heart rate, lap pace, and time. I configured mine in under 5 minutes, and it requires only two button presses to start a run (one to start the GPS, the other to start the run). This watch is much smaller than any of the other Garmin models, and can be comfortably worn as a day-to-day watch. The strap is wide and comfortable, and the screen is easy to see while running. The SiRFstar IV GPS chip finds satellites quickly, usually between 20-60 seconds, and the heart rate monitor connects within a couple of seconds.

    The included charger allows charging from a wall outlet or a computer, and the cable is used to transfer your runs to the [...] website. GarminConnect is easy to use and shows your runs in great detail. The replay feature is easily the coolest part of the site. Runs cannot be reviewed on the watch, so GarminConnect is an integral part of the way this watch functions. I've used my Garmin 110 with Windows Vista and Windows 7. Both work equally well and were easy to set up.

    I should note that the other extremely negative reviews are misguided and should be discounted. The primary complaint about this watch is the lack of "current pace". The Garmin 110 does not show current pace by design, so anyone who buys this watch expecting that feature will be severely disappointed. The product description on Amazon is sorely lacking, but a small amount of research would have revealed the features of this watch. The several 1-star ratings are misleading, and do not reflect the quality, size, and functionality of this watch.

    The Garmin 110 is an outstanding GPS watch for anyone who doesn't need all the bells and whistles of the more advanced models. This is also the first GPS watch that is small and light enough to be worn day-to-day and actually looks like a watch.

    BalasHapus
  5. I've had this watch for a few weeks now and have been very impressed. It's light, compact and looks pretty good too. I saw another guy last week who was wearing an older running watch - the display was huge! I'm very happy with this Garmin and have worn it as a regular watch a few times too.

    I'm also happy with the performance. I'm not sure why other reviews say that current pace isn't shown on the display - it very clearly is. The top third of the display shows total distance, the center toggles between time and heart rate, and the bottom third shows current pace. When you complete a mile it shows average pace for 10 seconds or so, then goes back to current pace. Perhaps there was a software update since the reviews were written - when I connected the watch to my PC and went to Garmin's website an update was automatically downloaded and installed (very easy process) so if I'm being charitable to those reviewers I'd assume that was the case.

    The buttons on the watch work really well, and were easy to learn - I don't want to think about how to use them while I'm running, and after the first couple of times using it I don't have to. They feel responsive and solid. I've run in the rain and had no problems with moisture damage.

    The link to Garmin's site is also very nice. It's easy to upload your activities, and the information it shows is very clear. I love seeing the maps of where I've been, and using the play feature to see how my pace and heart rate vary with location and elevation changes, plus estimated calories burned.

    The only criticism I'd have is that it's not always 100% easy to connect the USB cable to the watch, as they've used a clip thing rather than a port, but I would guess they didn't want moisture to get in the port.

    Overall I'm extremely pleased with this. It's given me the confidence and information to run by myself instead of relying on running buddies to keep me on pace, and has been a great motivator for my running, and my times have definitely improved. Definitely five stars

    BalasHapus
  6. I bought the Garmin Forerunner 110 with Heart Rate Monitor. In a word - Fantastic. Very simple to use while you're running. I considered the other models, but some were ridiculously large and had way too many features. I've been coaxed to buying extra features on things in the past, only to learn that 1) they're difficult to take advantage of, or 2) you never use them. Not the case here. As the other reviewer said - you open the box, charge it, answer a couple of prompts, and whammo, you're in business. The screen is easy to read when you're running, and the buttons are also easy to operate. The HRM works as well as any Polar I've used. I highly recommend spending extra bucks to get this feature. For me, I now only have to wear the Garmin. Time is automatically set (which is cool) so I use it as my watch. I don't have to wear a separate "watch" for the HRM. And, you can download you're run information to track it, etc... The other reviews complained about the "current pace". Personally, I don't see that as an issue. I run at a pretty steady pace so the average pace works great for me. Maybe it's important for truly competitive athletes who are on strict training regimens, but for the normal guy or gal this unit is more than ample. It is neat to start on a run and not worry about mileage markers and so forth. The days of taking the car out to pre or post measure my runs are done. Bottomline, it's a good unit. I recommend it.

    BalasHapus
  7. This watch is worth every penny. I love it. Very accurate. I use it on every run then I go home and download the information...which is the best part. All you do is attach it to the usb port and upload the information. It tell you every thing you want to know and displays a very very accurate map of where you ran. This is so easy to use you will be amazed. As for myself I can't stop talking about it. If you are thinking about buying one just do it, it's worth it.

    BalasHapus