Most helpful client reviews
129 of 130 humans found the following review helpful.
Does what it says it does well
By Mike
pros-quick satellite fix, very clear display, waterproof, shows the selective information you need not what you don't, uses buttons rather of bezel controls, uses USB rather of wireless connection.
cons-fairly expensive, GPS loses a great deal of accuracy under heavy tree cover.
This watch is peculiarly good for two kinds of runners: those who run on trails, and can't effortlessly lock in distances (and thence pace); and those who travel, but still want to run outside, rather than on hotel treadmills. In both instances, this watch will give you precise distance information, as well as pace and heart rate. The other huge improvements that I haven't seen brought up in other reviews are that different from the 405, it has reverted to button controls, and also to a direct USB cable connection to your computer for uploading run information. Garmin is not publicity these changes, since they are ostensibly steps backward from the 405's bezel controls and wireless connection, but these were the origins of most of the complaints with regards to the 405--especially difficulties with the bezel once it got wet with sweat or rain. This is no longer an issue.
You have to wonder whether a great deal of of the persons writing these (one star) reviews actually run--or whether they work for Polar or Timex? The watch gives you distance, time and pace, as well as heart rate information, as you go. For most easy or long runs on trails or the road, this is all you need. On the track, you know the distance, so if you're doing intervals, just use the stopwatch. The only scenario where the lack of 'current pace' could be a problem as far as I may see is in doing tempo runs, if you do do them by time (say 20 minutes easy, 40 minutes tempo, 10 minutes warm down) rather of by distance, as I do them. By time, you could get a circumstance where your introductory and last miles of tempo running get mixed in with running at an easy pace, and the pace data would be useless. Still, if you set the autolap function at .25 miles, very little of your run is going to be logged inaccurately (at most the basi and last quarter mile in that tempo workout). Similarly, if you occur to be altering pace lot for the duration of a run and want prompt feedback, the watch does give you that. So-called current speed on a GPS watch is always somewhat of an estimate anyway, since it is plotting your emplacement amidst two points, measuring the time it took you, and then doing the math. There's in truth no such thing as an instantaneous current pace calculation, and if you have your watch set on .25 mile autolap, that's not much more than the distance that would genuinely be used for a current pace calculation otherwise.
One criticism: though the satellites initially lock onto my watch after an intermediate of 30 seconds and seem to give very exact distance ad elevation info (the latter on the Garmin Connect website), there is one portion of my standard run under heavy tree cover where it seems like the satellites lose me for a tenth of a mile or less, which makes the selective information for that mile always come out slower than I'm actually running. It makes up the divergence on the next mile, which makes that one come out too fast. Both are off by around 15 seconds/mile, and this is a bit annoying. Although I may do the calculation to intermediate the two and see that each time they fundamentally come out even, it seems that Garmin must have come up with an algorithm for the watch's software that would pay for such discrepancies within the mile where they happen, rather than giving inaccurate selective information for two successive miles.
Bottom line: this watch gives you a lot of utile information, and even more when you download it to the Garmin Connect site. Unlike other Garmin watches, it doesn't give a great deal of extra cycling selective information and the heart rate monitor doesn't work in the pool, so it's actually a watch for runners, not triathletes. But for semi-serious to very severe runners, it gives you everything you need, without the bells and whistles--and the headaches--of the 405.
112 of 115 persons found the following review helpful.
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT
By Maricela Farfan
I'am no marathon runner, just attempting to get back to running like back in my cross country/track high school days. It's sooooo easy to use. I purchased the 305/405 and without delay returned it because it was totally too hard to figure out how to use. With the 110 you charge it, manufacture 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 persons in here griping when it comes to 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 dandier "in depth" selective information when it comes to your run.
Just do not forget 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 unquestionably exceedingly user friendly.
42 of 42 humans found the following review helpful.
Simple and Functional
By Fred Finance
I purchased 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 a heap of were ridiculously big and had way too a good deal of features. I've been coaxed to buying extra features on things in the past, only to learn that 1) they're difficult to take vantage 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 commend spending extra bucks to get this feature. For me, I now only have to wear the Garmin. Time is mechanically set (which is cool) so I use it as my watch. I don't have to wear a distinguished "watch" for the HRM. And, you may download you're run selective information to track it, etc... The other reviews complained regarding the "current pace". Personally, I don't see that as an issue. I run at a pretty steady pace so the intermediate pace works outstanding for me. Maybe it's important for genuinely competitory athletes who are on rigorous training regimens, but for the normal guy or gal this unit is more than ample. It is neat to get started on a run and not worry regarding 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 commend it.
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