Garmin Forerunner

[TimmyBoston]

I am really working to get myself back into shape and my family is looking to pick one of these up for me to help me along.

We are looking at the 301 and 305 models. What do you guys think of these models and the Forerunner's in general.

Here's the site


Thanks so much!

 

[Brodirt]

I am really working to get myself back into shape and my family is looking to pick one of these up for me to help me along.

We are looking at the 301 and 305 models. What do you guys think of these models and the Forerunner's in general.

Here's the site


Thanks so much!

What is your intended use for the Garmin? I have 3. I have the original version of the Forerunner 301, the current model 50 (it works with the strap for the power meter on my bicycle so when i do multi-sport events it allows me to monitor HR on the run without having to change straps in transition) and the bicycle model 305.

They are all good units (except for battery life) for their intended purposes, but frequently they are massive overkill. These days it seems that everyone wants GPS on everything. I have seen so many people who use Garmin GPS equipped exercise equipment who never need the GPS function that they paid an extra $150 or so for.

It is nice to have the ability to track the route of your workout, and the map my ride and map my run websites are proof of the popularity of doing so. It just seems though, to me at least, that all that's just another form of social networking.

The Garmin exercise software does download and keep all of your data, including mapping and altitude profiles, as well and that does add some value to your ability to work out, but the real value of these units for 99% of users is HR and the ability to store it and download it to quality analysis software on your computer.

The Garmin units do this, so do Polar (the best HRMs with the best software in my opinion) and so do Suunto. It really comes down to how much you want to drop to have the added bells and whistles of GPS.

 

[gone down south]

I have the 205, and use it for every run - like Brodirt says it's nice to be able to track elevation changes, pace and speed, and stuff like that. There are a ton of other features like preplanning your course or setting up workouts that are cool but I don't ever use them. If you want to do interval training or anything serious like that, it can prompt you to, say, run 3 minutes at a minimum specified pace, walk 1 minute, etc., but I've never got that fancy.

I think the 300 series add a heart rate monitor - ask yourself if you really intend to train so seriously that you adjust your pace to maintain a given HR level or if you just want to run out and back as far as possible

 

[TimmyBoston]

Brodirt, what's the difference between the original model of the 301 and the bicycle. I was planning to use it while I was on my bike.

How's the GPS reception with the 301?

 

[Brodirt]

Brodirt, what's the difference between the original model of the 301 and the bicycle. I was planning to use it while I was on my bike.

How's the GPS reception with the 301?

The original unit sucks...outright, I found it useless. GPS reception was horrible. Battery life worse, and charging an outright disaster. You needed to use a cradle and wall outlet to charge. The upgraded to a mini-usb on the next gen and that was great because you could charge in the car or at your computer.

The bicycle units are not wrist top units. I believe that there are writs top units that invoke the bicycle functions though. In that case you have to add to your cost the additional wireless ANT+ sensor for your bike (the one that picks up the magnet on the wheel and crank arm).

The 301 is also massive (same form as the one I have) and its really horrible to wear on your arm. You look silly and you feel silly...here you are going for a run around your neighborhood and you have a f'in GPS device strapped to your wrist...come on!

The smaller units, however, are very nice. Sleek, elegant and moving on to looking like a watch. The 305 is a bit bulkier, but it does have pretty much everything you could want. I just checked the website and it, the 305 is bike function compatible, and footpod compatible too, which is nice (for yet another $75) because the unit will tell you your running speed without having to worry about GPS signal.

Gone Down South points out the uselessness of many of the functions, and he is correct in that regard, but HRM is the single best tool you will ever use for improving your fitness. Get yourself a HRM and a book of workouts for running (I can't recommend one but there are plenty) and the Sally Jennings book for cycling (http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Monitor...=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244752181&sr=1-3) and you will be amazed at all that you, and lots of other people do wrong in their aerobic training.

I will also add that the wrist top units don't make for great cycling units. The buttons aren't really big enough, or properly positioned, the screen is a bit small and that leaves some functions off the display that you might want to be displayed together. The bike only units have a screen with up to 8 user selected functions displayed and displayed in the size and location on the screen selected by the user...this is really very nice.

I don't use HR or my Garmin(s) while cycling anymore though...I train with a power meter. Rather than measuring your HR, which is the bodies reaction to the demand for power output, you measure the actual power output...it makes for much more precise training. Think about it this way...in a car when you first start the temperature may be 160 (temp is like HR) but you can still spin a crank bearing or throw a rod if you rev 10K RPMs (the RPMs are like power). So if you elect to train with HR and say you have a workout prescribed to run 40 mins at a comfortable pace of say 150 BPMs, your first 5-6 minutes will either be WAY to fast (because you are trying to get your HR up to 150) or if you don't go too fast your interval will be too long because your effort for a 150 BPM pace will be the same for the 4-5 minutes until your HR gets up to speed...making your workout 10% longer than it was supposed to be.

Ok, I probably just went a bit too far at the end there, but if you jump in to this I HIGHLY recommend using HR to train your running.

 

[TimmyBoston]

This is a stupid question, I'm sure, but I can't find the answer anywhere else, Do the Forerunners actually tell time like a traditional watch? Additionally, do they have a stopwatch feature?

 

[gone down south]

Yes and yes.

 

[Brodirt]

This is a stupid question, I'm sure, but I can't find the answer anywhere else, Do the Forerunners actually tell time like a traditional watch? Additionally, do they have a stopwatch feature?

Timmy....what are you looking to use whatever unit you purchase for? Trail running, local running, local cycling, long distance cycling, heart rate training, etc.?

I would be glad to offer you my advice as to what would be best for you...of course I am no expert, but I do have a lot of experience.