The trend for GPS running watches today is to load them with many features and a whole host of functionality to cater to everyone’s training needs.

And, with the plethora of options, the need to customize and personalize your GPS running watch is important to match your style, needs and interests.

When personalizing your GPS running watch, here are some settings that you may want to configure:

Interface: Most runners track only specific things when it comes to their training. Some care about their pace, their heart rates, their total times or some other variable. However, running watches are able to track more than these figures, which can make a confusing interface and display.

Fortunately, there are running watches, such as the Garmin Forerunner 205, the Garmin Forerunner 305 or the Garmin Forerunner 405 that allow users to easily customize what appears on their running watch’s screens. This makes for a less convoluted interface, and users would only need a quick glance to see the data that they need.

Wrist straps: This is an often overlooked customizable feature when it comes to running watches. A running watch with an ill fitting strap would be unwieldy and uncomfortable for the runner. This may make training a lot more difficult than it needs to be. If the default wrist strap fits your wrist, then good for you, but if it’s not then you must try to change.

It is highly important to change wrist straps to fit the contours of your wrist. That’s why some models of the Garmin Forerunner come with alternative sizes for their wrist straps and even have the screw drivers included with the package.

Optional Accessories: While Garmin Forerunner running watch models are able to provide many kinds of features, it can’t be helped that there are some features that are needed by other forms of training. This is where the optional accessories can play a big part in improving ones training experience.

For example, The Garmin Forerunner 205, can be used with compatible accessories to give additional functionality. There are heart rate monitors for people who want to know how intense their training is, speed/cadence sensors for bikers, and foot POD for runners who want more detailed training when they are indoors and using their GPS enabled running watches.

Computer software: Another way to customize your equipment is through the computer software that it comes with. Having a good computer software to analyze your training would easily enable you to adjust settings, and find out which data you would really need when doing your intense training.

Being able to customize your running watches would truly help in ensuring that you get the easiest, and most efficient training. You would not have to be cumbered with extraneous features, or ill-fitting equipment, if you are available to easily personalize your watches.

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1. Running Watch Favorites
2. Monitor Your Cycling Sessions With a GPS Running Watch
3. Garmin Forerunner 205/305/405 – Top Running Watch 2009

Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Grey Pepper, New Design)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $179.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

People looking for the best training possible for their body needs the best equipment and training program. The Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch aims to provide both of these needs in a single device.

The F11M is an innovative heart rate monitor that not only tracks your data, but also has functions that enables you to create a workout program. Like any heart rate monitor watches, the Polar F11M is able to provide you with speeds, lap times and splits, calories burned and heart rates. However, it truly shines in the way that it uses these data to make personalized workout program.

The Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor watch features various innovations to give you the best training that you can get. It has features such as the Keeps U Fit – Workout Program that will help you reach your fitness goals. It has the Ownindex and Owncal feature that determines your fitness level, and counts the caolories and fat that you burn.

With all these features packed into the Polar F11M Heart Rate Monitor Watch, having one is the closes that you get to having your own personal fitness trainer!

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Worth the money
I have owned my unit for 2 years now and have loved it. If you want to do the work outs that come with it after you put in your stats, you can do that, it is very helpful and keeps you on task & motivated. If you don’t want to do those, you can silence the beeping and do whatever workout you choose and it still records your stats. I think some people who are saying it was giving strange readings or none at all don’t realize that you have to moisten the sensory pads BEFORE you put it on and some times have to move it to the right spot on your lower chest area. It is extremely easy to adjust the chest strapm, I am not sure what that review was about. I had one time where it kept giving me a strange heart beat reading, I simply took off the strap, ran it under the faucet again, and restarted my workout on the watch and didn’t have another problem. Sending it in to get the battery replaced is a pain, but you can take it to a local jeweler if you don’t care about the waterproofing of the watch. The one feature I wish this watch had was a GPS unit to track your distance. Other than that, I wear this watch/strap for my daily work outs of running, lifting, riding and everything in between and love it.

5 Stars Hate to work out WITH OUT my F11
I lost 60 lbs and have kept it off for 2 years using this F11 Heart rate monitor. The built in trainer is very motivating to me. It lets you know when you need to pick up the pace, and also lets you know when you can back it off a bit and “stride it out.” I love the fact that when you get tired and want to quit you look down at the watch and it looks back at you and says come on man, 6 more min. or 85 more calories. You can do it.

Best tool I have ever bought for myself![[

ASIN:B0009HN5Y2 Polar F11 Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Grey Pepper)]]

5 Stars Polar rules!
So glad to be back with Polar. I used up one of their basic models and then gave Suunto a try. Suunto monitors have big and bold designs and their belts used to be more comfortable than Polar’s but for some inexplicable reason mine got moisture inside it and began a slow dying process. It may be a pain to have to send your Polar monitor away to an authorized service center for simple things such as battery changes but they may have some valid reasoning behind it. The F11M is simply my best HRM so far. Easy to use, very accurate and (thanks to a completely new belt design) very reliable and comfortable. The belt really makes this product. It is soft and most importantly the contact points are of a spongy material that retains moisture and guarantees an uninterrupted transmission to the monitor itself. I am a cyclist and with all my previous monitors I’ve had problems with static and dryness interfering with the belt to monitor communication. No such worries here. It looks great and works great. I’ll never try any other brand ever again.

4 Stars Reliable all around heart rate monitor, but lacking certain features for running
I’ve been using this HRM nearly daily for 5 months and it has proven to be reliable and helpful. I had no complaints, it has worked every time I’ve wanted to use it. I’m using it to run, and in that category it is lacking certain features like laps and the ability to measure speed. Therefore I’m going to a better model which includes GPS features, even though I’m pretty satisfied with the product.

5 Stars Highly Functional
I purchased this on the advice of a well respected personal trainer with many years of experience. It is JUST GREAT! The belt that I wasn’t excited about having to wear is very comfortable and even works when I swim. I can come home and load my information onto my computer with little effort and this helps motivate me more than I realized. When I meet my goals for the week I even get a trophy to look at for the entire week that follows.

Be sure you look at the functions and those of the higher end and more expensive models to make sure you choose the one suited for your needs. The computer program has the ability for me to add in distances and modes of exercise even though it idoes not track distance itself. You can even add in your medical information such as BP, HDL and LDL levels, as well as any particular personal information of your own choosing to track with the computer.

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Related posts:

1. Polar S625X Heart Rate Monitor Watch
2. Polar RS200 Running Heart Rate Monitor
3. Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch Black

Garmin 010-00679-05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $106.65

Amazon Price: $129.95

Improve your training efficiency becomes easier with the Garmin 010 00679 05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick. The package includes Forerunner 50 watch, USB ANT Stick, Heart rate monitor, Owner’s Manual

Nowadays, simply increasing exercise load is not enough to ensure that you are getting the best workout possible. You would need to be able to find the proper data to ensure that your training matches your body’s needs. The Garmin Forerunner 50 provides you with the necessary tools to do just that.

The Forerunner 50 is equipped to record all kinds of training data such as training time, pace, distance, lap pace, lap time, lap distance, calories and average heart rates. This allows you to gain an idea on how well or how poor you are doing in your training, no matter if it’s running, cycling, or any other fitness activity!

All the data that the Forerunner 50 gathers can then be transferred to your computer through the USB ANT stick connection. Now you would be able to analyze your data, or even compare your training program with others online.

Best of all, the Garmin Forerunner 50 can be modified to suit your needs. It has a whole host of accessories that are sold separately such as a foot pod or a speed sensor to much any kind of training that you have

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User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Garmin 50
This is a good entry level HR/watch, very pleased with it. If needed I can add other features, like bike sensor

2 Stars Works great until the battery dies…
Pros:

*Easily the most inexpensive HR monitor that transmits workout data to computer.

*Very comfortable as a casual watch — very light, great band.

*Great display – easy to read.

*Easy to use.

Cons:

*HR signal is not compatible with fitness equipment (doesn’t send live signal to elliptical/stairmaster/treadmill), like Polar and Nike are.

*Once the battery dies, you are in trouble. Took to jeweler as recommended in manual, but they wouldn’t touch it because they didn’t sell that model. They said they could send it off, but would cost appx $25 (for a $50 watch???). Replaced the battery myself, but you cannot do this without breaking a plastic covering inside. Since replacing the battery, I got it to work for a day, but it has since shut down. By taking it apart and putting back together (not as easy as it sounds), I’m able to make functional for about an hour before it goes out again. This is after using this for about 6 months.

4 Stars Works great!
The watch works great. No problems getting the heart rate monitor to sync with the watch. I had a bit of a problem getting the software to download from the Garmin website…but not a big deal in the end. The heart rate monitor works great and is not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. Great product!

1 Star Get your money’s worth and don’t buy this product
Even with my engineering background and Ph.D. I found this watch confusing. The button setup lacks logic and during a race chances are that you will waste a lot of time on trying to just simply toggle between and your running time and HR. In addition, the HR sensor is not reliable, as is the USB connection. So, without a doubt I’m staying with my old Nike C6 for my 10K and 5K training and racing.

5 Stars Garmin Forerunner 50 Sports Watch
I was so impressed with the watch and price that I had to get one for my running friend.

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1. Garmin Forerunner 405 Black GPS Enabled Sports Watch HRM Factory Refurbished
2. Garmin FR60 Mens Red Fitness Watch Includes Heart Rate Monitor USB ANT Stick
3. Garmin FR60 Womens Fitness Watch with Heart rate monitor Footpod and USB ANT Stick Black

Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch (Black)

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $249.95

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

The Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch is a watch that is made especially for people who take their running seriously.

Powered by its highly accurate inertia controlled accelerometer, this time piece can easily measure data necessary for improving your running regiment. It can accurately capture your speed, pace, distance, and heart rates as you run.

The Polar RS200sd Heart Rate Monitor Watch also has a fitness indicator feature which allows the runner to create a highly personalized workout. It is able to measure your fitness level, and give you workouts that will not over train or under train you.

To further check your training levels, the Polar RS200sd even features uploadable training settings to your running computer. This allows you to send your workout files to the Polar Running Coach Web Service for analysis.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Best polar for the price
I’m an experienced runner (running for more than 5 years) and I just can’t train without a polar on my wrist… First I bought a simple polar F3… At first It was good because all I wanted was my heart rate measured… But after 6 months I realized it wasn’t enough… So I spent a good money on a Polar FT80 Heart but that was too much… You just don’t use all the features of the watch and the screen is too dim at night and when you are running at high level you get have an easy to see screen, one that just at a glance you get all the information you need and want… So, as I’m from Brazil and I moved to US I forgot to bring my Polar FT80 Heart so I purchase the Polar RS200sd (the sd means speed and distance because it comes with a footpod)… This heart rate monitor does all the work… It measures your speed and distance (that’s good for street runner but useless for treadmill runners only if you like the watch to keep registered your speed and distance for that day)… And gives you your heart rate, your percentage, and your ownindex (VO2)…

I’ve learned that the polar ownindex is not accurate but it is useful for doing a training program at the polar weblink software…

This polar comes with a feature called connectivity… You download the polar weblink software, register yourself on their website and transfer your training data from your polar just putting it near your computers microphone… It makes a modem connecting sound and it transfer all the data (it’s easy to do it)… Thus, after transferring the data you can create training programs up to marathon… Moreover, it’s really useful for you to keep your whole data as this polar only keep in file your last 20 sessions (more than enough)…

In a nutshell, I would certainly recommend this polar for experienced runner and beginners… Keeping a track of your heart rate and your training evolution is extremely important and with this polar on your wrist you will be just fine…

Best cost for the features, certainly do not recommend spending more money… This does it all…

5 Stars Solid and Dependable
I am currently training for the Marine Corp Marathon and recording all my runs using this watch. I am tracking against a training program i created on the polar training website. The watch included the optional footpod. I find this to be an invaluable tool as I use it to track pace (min/mile) as well as total distance. Overall i am extremely happy with this purchase. As a long distance runner i am able to keep track of my heart rate and better manage my fitness through training zones. This is not perfect as i find i am typically running at 90% of my maximum heart rate unless i make a concerted effort to slow down.

5 Stars Polar RS200SD Heart Rate Monitor Review
Pros: Price, Weblink, accurate, not big, easy to navigate.

Cons: none

I have had no problems with my Polar RS200SD. It is extremely accurate. and easy to use although more advanced interval monitoring is a little cumbersome. For anyone looking to purchase a heart rate monitor for the first time the RS200SD is a great start and has the weblink feature that lets you use Polar’s software to breakdown and visualize your workout heart rate data. I have not used the foot pod so I can’t comment on it. I’ve had very good luck with mine so far.

[...]

4 Stars Good watch
This is a good entry level watch for a runner that wants to follow their HR during runs. The watch is only moderately complex. The numbers are legible. The basic kit comes with a strap, the sd kit comes with the footpod.

You really need to buy into the HR zones to get the full function of this watch. Otherwise, it may be a bit of overkill. The polar website has some additional instructions that help with this.

5 Stars Just what I was looking for…
I LOVE this Heart Rate Monitor watch!! It is just what I was looking for in a HR Monitor for running. I would highly recommend it…It is easy to use and loaded with great features for runners/walkers.

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Related posts:

1. Polar RS300X SD Heart Rate Monitor Watch with S1 Foot Pod Black
2. Polar RS100 Black Running Series Heart Rate Monitor
3. Polar FS2C Heart Rate Monitors Black

The Sports Instruments Fit 3 Heart Rate Monitor is a good choice for anyone looking for a training tool for keeping fit and staying healthy.

The Fit 3 Heart Rate Monitors provide runners with a way to track their training data. They would be able to see their Heart Rates, track their distance travelled, and even learn about their pace during their training. It even has 3 separate training zones to ensure that you can find the proper training intensity that your body can handle.

The Fit 3 Heart Rate Monitor also features a chart mode that can help people track their previous work-outs. It would display results and you would be able to see if you are improving your running times through training.

The Sports Instruments Fit 3 Heart Rate Monitor also has a zoom feature that makes the display easier to read. This makes all your data much more easier to analyze and handle.

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User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars nice HRM but the case breaks
nice HRM but the case breaks

i think they quit making them too

the ears that hold the band on, break

i have had 5 of them so far!

no, i am not doing anything special to make them break

on the other hand it is a very good HRM

you can just exercise and later see how much time you spent

in 3 separate zones

the zones are not changeable

they are

50-70% max

70-80

80-up

i like that better than having to set ‘training zones’ like all other HRMS

this one is different

i like the way it works better

if the cases were any good

they aren;t

both batteries are user replaceable

battery life is good

wle.

5 Stars Best HR monitor yet
I’ve been using the Sports Instruments Fit-3 Heart Rate monitor for about a month now and it’s proven to be great. I especially like the ‘zoom’ feature, making it easier to read. The ‘chart’ mode is great also as I can keep a record of past work-outs. I previously used another brand of HR monitor that was good, but this unit is great!

2 Stars Sports Instruments products were produced in 2003 or earlier
Sports Instruments (SI) was a Utah based company with 3-4 employees that was sold to Bell Sports in 2004 (and Bell Sports was later sold to Easton Sports in 2006). SI’s activities had slowed, and it is reasonable to believe that Sports Instruments Pro, Fit and ECG Heart Rate Wristwatches were last produced in 2003 or earlier. Products were made in Asia by a reputable factory.

Designer and competitive masters athlete Bill Corliss created products with an intelligently designed user interface that was easy to use. The Pro 7 and Pro 9 Hear Rate Wristwatches provided detailed and valuable data for the serious athlete. The Fit and the earlier ECG Fitness Heart Rate Wristwatches had fewer advanced features. The chest transmitter should work with most fitness equipment designed to work with the Polar standard.

If you buy an SI watch, you should know that the original batteries are at the end of their shelf life. Unless the seller has recently replaced batteries, you will quickly or immediately face the burden and cost of dealing with battery issues.

Replacing the watch batteries is too difficult for most consumers. Even a professional repair person must use care to maker certain that the parts are precisely returned to the original positions to maintain water resistance. Expect to pay $9-20 to have the watch battery replaced, and tell your repair person you want the product to keep its water resistance. The battery on the wireless chest transmitter may be less drained than the watch’s and is user replaceable, a nice feature. The chest transmitter’s CR2032 3-volt lithium battery should be available for under $4. Total outlay for 2 batteries: $13-24.

The Sports Instruments Pro, Fit and ECG products are closeouts with manufacturing dates of 2003 or earlier. If you are willing to deal with battery replacement issues, make certain that you get a good enough price to justify the added repair burdens … and that you get good information about how to obtain warranty service from a brand that is no longer produced.

4 Stars Works like charm
I have really enjoyed this product. As some have mentioned on this page i also experienced some issues with battery life. I sent in the product to the mfr (the warranty is for 2 years from purchase)the bater was replaced and I got it back within 2 days. Their service department was greatIt now works like a charm and I couldn’t be happier. I use it 5 times a week and have yet to see another monitor with the same features for the same amount of money.

1 Star DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM
Beware, I received this watch and it did not work, when I sent the inquiry to Infitinate Surplus, I never received a response. Wish I had read all the reviews prior to ordering and realized it had been manufactured in 2003!! The watch arrived DOA! Now Amazon says Infinite_Surplus has a policy that once an item has been opened, they will not take it back (Amazon should be ashamed of themselves for making people read the fine print of their re-sellers for shipping a product that doesn’t work, how are you supposed to find out it doesn’t work unless you open it????) In any event, this watch came in a box that had obviously been opened before and taped back shut. Now I think Amazon AND Infinite-Surplus are a huge rip-off

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Related posts:

1. Garmin 010 00679 05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick
2. Polar RS300X Heart Rate Monitor Watch Orange
3. Polar RS300X SD Heart Rate Monitor Watch with S1 Foot Pod Black