Running Watch Reviews » Coach

Garmin Forerunner 205 Review

Running Watch Reviews — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:16:34 +0000

Serious runners would always need to have a good training watch. While a normal stop watch and a coach may provide some of the data that you need, it would still not provide you with the whole host of data for improving your training.

Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver and Sports Watch

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Retail Price: $267.99

Amazon Price: $189.99

That is why having a good GPS enabled running watch is critical for training.

One of the more famous GPS running watches is the Garmin Forerunner 205. The Garmin Forerunner 205 is considered one of the entry level GPS running watches that come from the Garmin Forerunner line.

The watch is capable of measuring and timing your exercise routines such as walking, jogging, running or even biking if you have the accessories for it. The Garmin Forerunner 205 would give you time/distance alerts when you have hit a specified distance or time during your workout. It also has Speed Alerts for warning you if you are going above or below a certain speed.

Something that is quite admirable in the Garmin Forerunner 205 is that it has built in automatic features to ensure that you can keep your focus on your running instead of your watch. There is an auto pause function that stops your timer when you are stuck on a stoplight or in traffic. The Forerunner 205 even packs an auto lap function when you reach a certain distance or point in your route.

As seen in the features mentioned above, it seems that the Garmin Forerunner 205 really caters to making the training as easy as possible for beginners. In fact, even the display of the Forerunner is customizable to show only the data that you would need. If you are not into knowing your total distance, but want to know how fast you are going and the time, then you can set the screen to show only these data.

Of course, given that the Garmin Forerunner 205 is an entry level model. There are bound to be some areas where the higher ends Forerunners blow it away. One thing that is highly noticeable is that it can take an extra minute or so, for it to connect to a satellite. This is especially true if you train in high traffic areas. Another is that it is quite bulky, and the wrist strap does not allow too many adjustments for fitting your wrists.

However, since it is understood that the Garmin Forerunner 205 comes at a lower price than high end models, I think that people would be willing for these kinds of tradeoffs.

Again, here is a quick summary of what I think about the Garmin Forerunner 205:

Strengths:

Accurate Data Reading
Customizable data entry fields
Downloadable Training plans
Affordable price range

Weakness:

Satellite uplink, while brief, is not as fast as higher end Garmin models
Can be a bit bulky for people with smaller wrists

Given these strengths and weaknesses, The Garmin Forerunner 205 is a great fit for people who are just beginners or are entry level runners.

The combination of great features that are a step up from regular stop watches, an inexpensive price, and easy to use controls make the Forerunner 205 a great first step, for anyone who is just entering the world of running watches.

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Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor

Running Watch Reviews — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:28:48 +0000

Polar RS200 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)

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Retail Price: $169.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor is created with the needs of serious runners in mind. Utilizing the built in inertia controlled accelerometer, the RS200 is able to give you accurate readings about the way you train.

The Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor Watch provides you with dependable Speed, pace, distance and heart rate data that can help you customize and adjust according to your training needs. It has a fitness indicator feature that allows the Polar RS200 to help serious runners create the workout that suits them best!

It even has Polar sports zones and event countdown timers to ensure that you are training properly for a specific intensity or event!

All the data that you gathered on your Polar RS200 Heart Rate Monitor can even be uploaded to your computer through the included Polar Running Coach Web Service. This would help you analyze your training better, and ensure that you are on the best training for your body type!

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars I love it!!!
It was just as told!! I really love it and very simple to use. Has given me no trouble. i would tell all of my friends to buy, it;s great!

1 Star Dont buy it.
Let see.

Shipped with a dead battery.

Put in a new battery. Sucked it dry in a week.

AlsoPlease note that I have read the directions:

Top left button is useless. Should illuminate. Never worked.

GUI. aka Interface is all over the place. You get to a section and it wont let you back out. Mine has been stuck in stopwatch mode for a week now. It has taken 48 separate time splits without my asking it to.

I hate my watch. Im ready to throw it out if it wasnt so dam expensive. Thanks for nothing Polar.

5 Stars Accurate Heart rate monitor
Accurate and an important part of my routine, it calculates everything I need to account for my work out. It works with both gym’s I work out in equipment I use; from elliptical to the stair master. It is calibrated for use with my body weight index, and heart rate and it gives me the greatest accuracy for my work out. I highly recommend anyone who both works out in the gym and jogging. I do not have the foot accessory for this, but will invest in it later on.

5 Stars A lot of information, but not complicated
This watch is working very well for me. I really like looking at my statistics after a workout. There is a lot of information available through this watch, but it is not complicated to understand or navigate. I wish that Polar offered a female-sized version of this watch; it’s a bit chunky for a female wrist.

3 Stars Works, but glitchy
I’ve been using the Polar RS200 for a little over a year, and on balance, I have been happy with it. It has done precisely what I have asked it to do until recently when I have been trying out more complex workouts. More on that in a second.

I believe I got a defective unit, because the watch will spontaneously emit these strange sounds, similar to a static or old-school modem sound. I guess it’s some software glitch that causes the WebSync speaker to fire off. It comes and goes without any kind of pattern. The downside of it is that the battery discharges after 6-8 months instead of the 2 years or so the manual says. Also, the noise prevents me from wearing this as a watch, day-to-day, because it would be too annoying to have it go off all the time. This sound glitch must also cause the battery to drain. I’ve scoured the web looking for answers, and the answer seems to be ship it back to Polar for evaluation and repair, at my expense. But I’m not going to do that because of the expense and my compulsive need for a running watch.

Another annoyance is that, although you can create custom exercises so that you can do — for example — interval training, you can only configure a maximum of three exercise segments. So you can configure a warm up, effort, and a cool down. Or you can configure a typical interval workout of a hard effort and recovery [no warm up and cool down, however.] But if you want to run, for example, a ladder-type speed workout where you run a 1600, 1000, 800, and a 600 with 400 meter recoveries, then you are out of luck. [I should mention that I bought the S1 foot pod separately, and I use that to gauge my distance in these sorts of workouts. I guess I should have bought the RS200sd package to start with. Oh well.] I suppose I need a more advanced watch since I am now doing more advanced training.

Apart from these complaints, I am happy with the unit. It’s a decent watch with good features and a reasonable price for most recreational runners. If you plan on doing more advanced training, then I would look for something else.

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Nike Amp iPod Nano Remote Watch Black Sport Red WM0030 006

Running Watch Reviews — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:24:28 +0000

Apple TU016ZM/A Nike + iPod WatchRemote

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Retail Price: $69.00

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The Nike Amp iPod Nano Remote Watch provides you with a similar experience of having a coach that runs and trains with you wherever you go.

A part of the Nike+ experience, the Nike Amp+ Sport Remote Control allows you to hear instant voice feedback of your time, distance, calories, and pace if you already have the Nike+ iPod Sport Kit and Nike+ Ready shoes .

A simple touch of the button would give you the details on how you run, making it easier for you to know how to adjust your training accordingly. You could also use the Nike Amp iPod Nano Remote Watch to adjust your background tunes on the fly.

Not in the mood to run? The Nike Amp iPod Nano Remote Watch can also serve as a stylish watch. It has a durable polyurethane strap, a stainless steel custom-fit buckle and LED that displays the time and other data.

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