Garmin Forerunner Watch
Having a GPS unit available when running or participating in a number of other outdoor sports can be useful, but traditional GPS units tend to be a bit too cumbersome in order to be effective in these situations. Luckily, the Garmin Forerunner watch is anything but traditional… these wrist-mounted devices not only give you accurate GPS data regardless of where you are, but they also help you to get more out of your training by providing you with a number of different data points to help you analyze your performance.
Whether you’re running, cycling, or even cross-country skiing, being able to tell where you are is important. Even more important, of course, is being able to tell how to get back to where you started. Not only will a Garmin Forerunner watch be able to give you accurate GPS coordinates regardless of where you are, but it will also track your route so that you can map it out in more detail later and be able to find your way back to your starting point with the push of a button. Getting lost isn’t an option, because an extended antenna contained within the wrist strap of every Garmin Forerunner watch will ensure that you’re not going to lose your GPS signal when you need it the most.
Location isn’t the only data that a Garmin Forerunner watch can give you, however. Each Garmin Forerunner GPS watch can provide you with accurate data in regards to your speed, the distance that you’ve traveled, and even the pace that you’ve been traveling at. The Garmin Forerunner 305 and Garmin Forerunner 405 are even able to monitor your heart rate so that you can see which portions of your training are the most intense. (Read our Garmin Forerunner review to see a comparison on these two models.)
All of this data isn’t just for use when you’re out there training, however; once you get home you can download data from you Garmin Forerunner watch onto your PC and use the included training software to see which were the best portions of your day and which areas still need some work. By keeping a record of every training session, the software can help you to chart your improvements week by week and session by session. Garmin Forerunner watch data is also compatible with MotionBased.com, allowing you to upload it and make use of their analysis and mapping tools as well. This can give you another perspective on your training and really help you to get the most out of your time.