Product: Garmin Forerunner 50
Prices: $200 (watch + HR monitor + food pod + USB ANT stick), $90-$100 (for other combinations without food pod OR without HR monitor)
Rating: Good 7.4/10.0
Pros: Easy-to-use watch interface. Less expensive than most of its competitors. Can purchase components “piecemeal”. Reliable HR monitor. Fairly accurate foot pod. PC upload with USB ANT Stick is VERY fast and easy. Work with free desktop software (Garmin Training Center) and/or free online community (Garmin Connect).
Cons: Fewer features than its competitors. Watch displays only two measurements at a time. Can find more advanced Garmin 305 units at comparable prices.
Overall: Compared to its peers (Suunto Running Pack, Polar RS800sd), the Garmin Forerunner 50 is a less expensive, relatively “no-frills” fitness device. The fact that it has fewer features than its competitors makes it a bit easier to use and also less expensive. All-around performance was solid.
When I think “Garmin“, I automatically think “GPS“. For this reason, I was a little surprised to find about Garmin’s latest fitness monitor, the Forerunner 50. It measures speed and distance NOT by GPS, but rather by a foot pod, similar to the Nike + iPod Sport Kit, Suunto Running Pack, and Polar RS800sd. This is a deviation in how most people perceive Garmin, but they are well-respected in general for all of their products. Would the Forerunner 50 follow suit?
Design - 7 - Out of the box, the Forerunner 50 consists of a sports monitoring watch, a USB ANT stick, a heart rate monitor (optional), and a foot pod (optional).
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Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ:GRMN) , today announced the launch of Garmin Connect—a community Web site for customers to store, view and share activities/locations recorded by Garmin fitness and recreational devices. Garmin Connect is the evolution of MotionBased maintaining many of the same features and the entire customer and activity database but with a more powerful technology infrastructure and streamlined user interface.
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Product: Timex IRONMAN Bodylink System
Price: $275.00
Rating: Very Good 8.3/10.0
Pros: Accurate; stable GPS; good battery life; intuitive and easy to use; great watch features; good value
Cons: Data-logger & PC upload functionality not included; GPS external from watch; HR monitor unstable at times
Overall: This device is effective because it is easy and it works. GPS initialization is fast and reliable; GPS connection and accuracy is very stable. It’s best for runners who want to hit the road quickly and view results immediately. Analysis and mapping junkies may want to defer to a GPS unit that automatically comes with computer linkage - but otherwise, when it comes to reliability, value and simplicity, the Timex Bodylink is hard to beat.
Out of the box, the Bodylink comes with a beefy manual, the performance watch, the heart rate sensor, the speed + distance sensor (GPS), and an adjustable strap for the mounting the GPS on your arm. Despite neglecting to read any of the ample instruction manual, I had the watch and GPS figured out within minutes and was out the door. Before I even hit the road, the primary strength of the Bodylink System was evident: it’s ease of use.
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The Garmin Forerunner 305 is an outstanding training and racing tool for any running enthusiast. With GPS tracking, a “training assistant” and a heart rate monitor - this is a first rate item (if you can afford it). Check out the below review by Adam Berger, our tech expert and the Managing Editor of Gadgetell:
Product: Garmin Forerunner 305
Price: $349.99
Rating: Very Good 8.0/10.0
Pros: GPS tracking, heart rate monitor, reasonably lightweight, large display.
Cons: Battery life, size, spotty coverage at times and expensive for most amateur athletes
Overall:The 305 model is much improved over past designs. While the unit may not be necessary for the beginner athletes, marathon and other hard core runners will appreciate it’s advanced features.
When taking the unit out of the box and upon completion of charging it - I acquired a signal very quickly. There was no configuration required and I started my first run by strapping on the heart rate monitor (I read a tip that said to put water on the monitor before putting it on), putting the monitor on my watch and I was off. Once strapping the unit to my wrist I was immediate able to hit the pavement without any setup required. It is obvioulsy dangerous to stare at my wrist the entire time while running but the unit seemed to keep a signal and gives me the data I needed primarily pace and heart rate.
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