Best Running GPS Units
Color: Black/Gray |. Style: Watch Only |. Configuration: New. Battery Life 11 Hours Training, 9 Days Watch, Activity Tracking, Notifications + Heart Rate.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With a brightly coloured strap, it could even look like a trendy time piece that doesn’t scream “FITNESS TRACKER!”. --HR recording--. I compared the HR data to that from a Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart HRM and the comparison is shown in the attached pictures. Finishing time. Features like training calendar and my workouts require that you log into Garmin Connect web and do some planning. The FR 235 allows the user to set interval distance, duration and time right from the watch device. As for finishing time, you just need to set a distance and go about your run while the FR235 will display roughly how fast you can complete the distance based on the current pace. The screen during activity tracking can be set to a total of 5 screens of which 2 can be further split into 4 data fields each. So in total you’re getting 4+4+1 (Heart rate) +1 (HR Zone gauge)+1 (Clock)= 11 stats to view during tracked activities. --Smart notifications—. The FR235 allows you to expand and read smart notifications or set the mode of alert, be it audio, vibration or both. --All day activity tracker—. The FR235 tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, all day HR and intensity minutes but it doesn’t track number of stairs climbed due to the lack of a barometer. I was able to set alerts during a tracked activity session to buzz when I go beyond a certain HR. • Measure all day heart rate and heart rate during tracked activity sessions. • GPS+Glonass enabled with smart or per second tracking. • Vibration and audio enabled for smart notifications, alarms, move alerts. • Expand and read full messages on FR 235 display. • Pick up phone calls only. • Heavily customisable. • Garmin Connect IQ compatible for apps and watch face downloads. • VO2 Max score, Race time predictor, Recovery advisor. • Automatic laps for 1km/1 mile or customised. • Auto pause during tracked runs. • Interval run features. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. • Big screen that is not touch enabled. • Sunlight readable screen with back light. • Connect IQ compatible. • Reads lap number and time from Garmin Connect mobile app from connected smart phone. • Shows weather and calender events from smart phone. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. Cons. • Navigation on the FR235 takes getting used to. • No virtual pacer feature. --Updated 28th Jan 2016--. Well I had the watch for a while now."
"I was a runner through the Charge and Surge (GPS) but then had a knee injury and became a gym rat through the Blaze time period. This was an epic fail for me and although Fitbit customer service was awesome and replaced it under warranty, the new unit still did not work on GPS. It had a lot of bluetooth problems including not connecting often so that I could access music controls. It's also MUCH easier to download apps, widgets and watch faces connected to your computer than to your smart phone. I have read lots of reviews here that say this product has a bad hrm, but I have found that to be untrue. Since I have had many fitbits with this feature and experience with Polar heart rate straps (they cut my skin so I had to stop using them), I believe that the heart rate monitor is pretty reliable. It does not show the heart beat moving like the Blaze does, but that's minor and it does take a minute to update. Also, the Garmin does not let you know when you have reached your goal and that feature on the blaze was kind of cute. I wish they made small watch band sizes for women like me. Here is where I agree with the reviewer about making sure that you are buying this watch for the right reasons! -On the first night I had my Garmin, I was 100% sure I was going to return it because the set up process was such a pain in the butt. If Garmin could hire a Fitbit software engineer to sort out their IOS app, I would be a happy camper. I don't see any icon or any indicator that it is charging and I have to just come back in a few minutes to see if the percentage has changed. I charged it fully on Wednesday and then used it only during the day (turning it off at night) and it is Sunday now. I was very sad to leave Fitbit and I will probably go back if they ever come out with a Surge 2 that is not square (hate that look) so I can use their awesome app and do challenges with my friends and coworkers."
Wirelessly syncs2 to your Garmin Connect account, our free online community where you can join fitness challenges and save, plan and share your progress.Smartphone compatibility:iPhone,Android,Windows. Receive text, call, email, calendar and social media alerts,Display type:sunlight-visible, transflective memory-in-pixel (MIP). Activity Tracking - Displays Steps, Calories, Distance, Heart Rate, Floors Climbed, Intensity Minutes and Time of Day.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I had the Garmin Vivosmart HR for about 10 days and am writing this review which I hope might be useful for people who are interested in purchasing the device. The Vivosmart HR is the first of Garmin's devices to offer "Elevate" heart rate monitoring technology; Garmin's own in house tech and not something borrowed from Mio Global like the Forerunner 225. I suspect the Vivosmart HR work on "Smart recording" basis; the HR data is not captured per second but at various points during your workout or run where there could be a change in pace or direction and so on. Also you can't pair an ANT+ chest heart rate strap to the Vivosmart HR though you can broadcast HR data via ANT+ from the Vivosmart HR to compatible devices such as Garmin VIRB camera. During tracked activities such as a run, the Vivosmart HR will estimate your distance covered based on the accelerometer. You can also see weather (when connected to mobile device), use the Vivosmart HR as a remote to play music or control VIRB cameras, activate the "Find my phone" function, set alarms or receive "Move" alerts when you've been idle for 1 hour. Measures steps, distance, calories, heart rate, floors climbed, active minutes. Measures heart rate during tracked activity sessions. Always-on sunlight readable display with back light. Smart notifications. Vibration enabled for alarms and move alerts. Remote control music on connected mobile device, Garmin VIRB cameras. Find my phone function. Waterproof to 5 ATM. Up to 5 days battery life. Autosync. Cons: Non changeable strap. Dim backlight."
"My specs: I am 38 year old female, 161lbs, Beachbody on Demand user [Challenge du Jour program (means blending of P90X, Insanity, Hammer and Chisel, etc workouts = 6 days per week, Sundays off.). With this Vivosmart HR watch, you should allow enough to become acquainted with how it logs information your body sends it. I've bumped the screen a few times against hard surfaces and it hasn't scratched; a great feature for me because I am not delicate with my things. Before you start your killer workout :) ------> Tap the side button, tap the Running Man icon, tap the side button to start: Your Vivosmart HR is now in ACTIVITY MODE - While in ACTIVITY MODE, your watch will read your heart beat every few seconds and measure your calories burned + more. I always like to keep mine on the heart rate monitor screen because I like to see how hard I'm working and if I can max out just a little more [I'm at 148bpm? Makes sense because I am sweating a lot during those days and the screen should be freshly cleaned with more than just shower gel. All I really care about is heart rate, intensity minutes, calories, and sleep data. When I first got my watch, every time I had a question, I would email Garmin and submit a form at https://support.garmin.com/support/sw/escalateForm, and a rep would ALWAYS get back to me by the next day. I asked them about the difference between heart rate monitoring between non-ACTIVITY MODE and ACTIVITY MODE (That's how I found out how to use it properly), what the screen is made out of, and other things, and each time a rep emailed me back with a full explanation (They actually READ each part of your email and answer it). I'll usually work out, and if I see the low battery icon, plug it in, make my smoothie and take a shower, in less than an hour it's fully charged."
Color: Frost Blue |. Style: Watch Only |. Configuration: New. WRIST BASED HEART RATE - Forerunner 235 utilizes Garmin’s very own wrist based heart rate sensor that tracks 24/7 - Activity Tracking Accuracy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With a brightly coloured strap, it could even look like a trendy time piece that doesn’t scream “FITNESS TRACKER!”. --HR recording--. I compared the HR data to that from a Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart HRM and the comparison is shown in the attached pictures. Finishing time. Features like training calendar and my workouts require that you log into Garmin Connect web and do some planning. The FR 235 allows the user to set interval distance, duration and time right from the watch device. As for finishing time, you just need to set a distance and go about your run while the FR235 will display roughly how fast you can complete the distance based on the current pace. The screen during activity tracking can be set to a total of 5 screens of which 2 can be further split into 4 data fields each. So in total you’re getting 4+4+1 (Heart rate) +1 (HR Zone gauge)+1 (Clock)= 11 stats to view during tracked activities. --Smart notifications—. The FR235 allows you to expand and read smart notifications or set the mode of alert, be it audio, vibration or both. --All day activity tracker—. The FR235 tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, all day HR and intensity minutes but it doesn’t track number of stairs climbed due to the lack of a barometer. I was able to set alerts during a tracked activity session to buzz when I go beyond a certain HR. • Measure all day heart rate and heart rate during tracked activity sessions. • GPS+Glonass enabled with smart or per second tracking. • Vibration and audio enabled for smart notifications, alarms, move alerts. • Expand and read full messages on FR 235 display. • Pick up phone calls only. • Heavily customisable. • Garmin Connect IQ compatible for apps and watch face downloads. • VO2 Max score, Race time predictor, Recovery advisor. • Automatic laps for 1km/1 mile or customised. • Auto pause during tracked runs. • Interval run features. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. • Big screen that is not touch enabled. • Sunlight readable screen with back light. • Connect IQ compatible. • Reads lap number and time from Garmin Connect mobile app from connected smart phone. • Shows weather and calender events from smart phone. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. Cons. • Navigation on the FR235 takes getting used to. • No virtual pacer feature. --Updated 28th Jan 2016--. Well I had the watch for a while now."
"I was a runner through the Charge and Surge (GPS) but then had a knee injury and became a gym rat through the Blaze time period. This was an epic fail for me and although Fitbit customer service was awesome and replaced it under warranty, the new unit still did not work on GPS. It had a lot of bluetooth problems including not connecting often so that I could access music controls. It's also MUCH easier to download apps, widgets and watch faces connected to your computer than to your smart phone. I have read lots of reviews here that say this product has a bad hrm, but I have found that to be untrue. Since I have had many fitbits with this feature and experience with Polar heart rate straps (they cut my skin so I had to stop using them), I believe that the heart rate monitor is pretty reliable. It does not show the heart beat moving like the Blaze does, but that's minor and it does take a minute to update. Also, the Garmin does not let you know when you have reached your goal and that feature on the blaze was kind of cute. I wish they made small watch band sizes for women like me. Here is where I agree with the reviewer about making sure that you are buying this watch for the right reasons! -On the first night I had my Garmin, I was 100% sure I was going to return it because the set up process was such a pain in the butt. If Garmin could hire a Fitbit software engineer to sort out their IOS app, I would be a happy camper. I don't see any icon or any indicator that it is charging and I have to just come back in a few minutes to see if the percentage has changed. I charged it fully on Wednesday and then used it only during the day (turning it off at night) and it is Sunday now. I was very sad to leave Fitbit and I will probably go back if they ever come out with a Surge 2 that is not square (hate that look) so I can use their awesome app and do challenges with my friends and coworkers."
Best GPS Units
Battery Life 11 Hours Training, 9 Days Watch, Activity Tracking, Notifications + Heart Rate.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With a brightly coloured strap, it could even look like a trendy time piece that doesn’t scream “FITNESS TRACKER!”. --HR recording--. I compared the HR data to that from a Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart HRM and the comparison is shown in the attached pictures. Finishing time. Features like training calendar and my workouts require that you log into Garmin Connect web and do some planning. The FR 235 allows the user to set interval distance, duration and time right from the watch device. As for finishing time, you just need to set a distance and go about your run while the FR235 will display roughly how fast you can complete the distance based on the current pace. The screen during activity tracking can be set to a total of 5 screens of which 2 can be further split into 4 data fields each. So in total you’re getting 4+4+1 (Heart rate) +1 (HR Zone gauge)+1 (Clock)= 11 stats to view during tracked activities. --Smart notifications—. The FR235 allows you to expand and read smart notifications or set the mode of alert, be it audio, vibration or both. --All day activity tracker—. The FR235 tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, all day HR and intensity minutes but it doesn’t track number of stairs climbed due to the lack of a barometer. I was able to set alerts during a tracked activity session to buzz when I go beyond a certain HR. • Measure all day heart rate and heart rate during tracked activity sessions. • GPS+Glonass enabled with smart or per second tracking. • Vibration and audio enabled for smart notifications, alarms, move alerts. • Expand and read full messages on FR 235 display. • Pick up phone calls only. • Heavily customisable. • Garmin Connect IQ compatible for apps and watch face downloads. • VO2 Max score, Race time predictor, Recovery advisor. • Automatic laps for 1km/1 mile or customised. • Auto pause during tracked runs. • Interval run features. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. • Big screen that is not touch enabled. • Sunlight readable screen with back light. • Connect IQ compatible. • Reads lap number and time from Garmin Connect mobile app from connected smart phone. • Shows weather and calender events from smart phone. • Water resistant to 5 ATM. Cons. • Navigation on the FR235 takes getting used to. • No virtual pacer feature. --Updated 28th Jan 2016--. Well I had the watch for a while now."
"I was a runner through the Charge and Surge (GPS) but then had a knee injury and became a gym rat through the Blaze time period. This was an epic fail for me and although Fitbit customer service was awesome and replaced it under warranty, the new unit still did not work on GPS. It had a lot of bluetooth problems including not connecting often so that I could access music controls. It's also MUCH easier to download apps, widgets and watch faces connected to your computer than to your smart phone. I have read lots of reviews here that say this product has a bad hrm, but I have found that to be untrue. Since I have had many fitbits with this feature and experience with Polar heart rate straps (they cut my skin so I had to stop using them), I believe that the heart rate monitor is pretty reliable. It does not show the heart beat moving like the Blaze does, but that's minor and it does take a minute to update. Also, the Garmin does not let you know when you have reached your goal and that feature on the blaze was kind of cute. I wish they made small watch band sizes for women like me. Here is where I agree with the reviewer about making sure that you are buying this watch for the right reasons! -On the first night I had my Garmin, I was 100% sure I was going to return it because the set up process was such a pain in the butt. If Garmin could hire a Fitbit software engineer to sort out their IOS app, I would be a happy camper. I don't see any icon or any indicator that it is charging and I have to just come back in a few minutes to see if the percentage has changed. I charged it fully on Wednesday and then used it only during the day (turning it off at night) and it is Sunday now. I was very sad to leave Fitbit and I will probably go back if they ever come out with a Surge 2 that is not square (hate that look) so I can use their awesome app and do challenges with my friends and coworkers."
Best Cycling GPS Units
Multiple Protections: Non-slip Rubber Grip Cradles of the Bicycle Phone Mount Secures Your Device All-around to Guard Against Any Accidental Falls.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Minutes after I installed it, I set off on a 35-mile ride north of San Francisco and was blown away by how much more helpful turn-by-turn cycling directions are when you can actually see the map."
"I was a little dubious at first but this thing really works, it clamps tight on the stem of my fat bike and the adjustable phone clamp grabs my wide 5.5 inch phone in place, the last piece is the stretchy orange rubber bands that wrap around the corner of your phone."
"This is a very versatile mount for holding your device while you ride your bike."
"My phone has stayed on through some bumpy bits of trail and the occasional bunny hop on my cyclocross bike which does not have shocks. Side note: I forgot to bring lights for a night rise and I was able to use my phone's flashlight with this mount to give me some light for the trail and to make myself known to traffic."
"It does work well and pretty securely clamps the phone in place."
"There is a small rubber insert inside the mount designed to help it fit snugly around bars, they should use a different type of rubber because the kind they use slips a little unless you crank down really, really hard."
"The only down side and the reason I’m not using it anymore is the rubber strap slides between the components and causes the mount to go into “swivel” mode."
"Other then that it will hold a phone well in a slim case."
Best Handheld GPS Units
DUAL BATTERY SYSTEM Use with 2 traditional AA batteries, or the optional rechargeable NiMH battery pack that can be charged while inside the device.Weight 8.1 oz (230 g) with batteries.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Mainly, I wanted the much more finely detailed map of the US, but the built-in Bluetooth connectivity also seemed interesting and possibly useful. To even come close with the 64st, you have to turn off features like Bluetooth and GLONASS and use the display "battery saving" mode (which means the the screen is not on unless you press a key). To get around this, the manual suggests that you use (ultra high priced) lithium batteries. Even the user manual for the 64st is a minimalist document which appears to be designed to prevent you from finding how the 64st is supposed to work. Of course, since the device doesn't have most trails built in, the "calculation" always fails-- it never finds a route. I have had frequent trouble with the 64st including nonsense points in a track leading to absurd odometer readings. How hard would it be for the GPS to deduce that it is not possible to travel 24,000 miles per hour and ignore the spurious track point?"
"GARMIN real gives you the finger with there top maps. what I enjoyed about the app was. 1-the app is free. 2-the apps uses very detailed 10 ft elevation change USGS maps overlayed over your position. 4-due to the touch screen nature and the fact that the apps are designed for hunters they had convenient waypoint markers that could be used to designate tree stands, game cameras, trails etc. Luckily online you can find some very good FREE but limited 24K maps."
Best Golf Course GPS Units
AUTOSHOT - Round analyzer measures shot distances with auto-recording for post-round analysis on your Garmin Connect account.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"In order to get, let's say hazards, you have to push the "OK" button to bring up the menu, press the up or down button to get to "HAZARDS," press OK button and it'll show you distances to hazards, if there is more than 1, you have to press the up or down button to look at each as it will only show 1 hazard at a time, then to get back to main screen you have to push the "BACK" button. When it's enabled, the watch knows you've just hit a shot and will ask you which club you just hit, so it can track it, it's also pretty good at figuring out which club you just hit and makes it the first choice, for example you hit a drive, the watch asks "driver?" It does take some getting used to to pressing buttons after EVERY shot, if you don't press anything and hit your next shot, no big deal, it'll still track your shot distance, but when you download info to Garmin connect it'll just show a ? Basically it says "the courses you play most often are updated automatically via the Garmin connect mobile app which by the way you must have in order to connect to bluetooth to get message notifications from your phone to the watch; it does not connect to bluetooth the traditional way, you must go through the app. SUMMARY: Good watch, some cool features if you don't mind pressing buttons all the time, at first it's frustrating because you will NOT remember to press the buttons after every shot, just part of the learning curve. Also, asked about being able to edit the club selection list for shot tracking and they said its not possible right now, but maybe with a future update."
"Here is my review: Opened the box and connected the S20 to my laptop via the included USB cable. I already have a Garmin account setup and the software on my computer because I also own a Vivoactive HR as my everyday activity tracker. When you walk onto the green it automatically pops up a prompt asking you to enter your score, number of putts, and whether you hit the fairway. My personal experience has been a great one so far, and I've thankful that it seems that Garmin has fixed the issues that seem to have plagued earlier firmware versions. I'm hoping that Garmin only improves the S20 and am looking forward to seeing what features they adding the future."
"One reason I purchased this watch was so I could measure my shot distances. This watch will measure shot distances, BUT scoring must be turned on! With scoring activated the watch will try to keep track of every shot, but it can't if you take a practice swing because it adds the practice swing to the total swings forcing you to correct the score. Much later in the instructions they tell you scoring must be turned on for measuring shot distance."