The Benefits Of A GPS Watch
Having a GPS watch has almost become a necessity for athletes, both for the amateur and professional. In terms of maximising performance, there’s certainly a lot more to running than the simple act of running. GP S technology is quite sophisticated these days, to the point where a GPS running watch is really a necessity because the technology has advanced to a point where tracking can be as close as 3 metres from you. If you are at trail runner you will definitely want a GPS watch which has excellent receiving capability and these do tend to cost more because of more advanced GPS technology.
GPS Watch | Features
Some of the features you can expect to find on this type of watch can include distance, time, the ability to map your route and a heart rate monitor which may even show heart rate zones. A fairly advanced feature involves having a foot mounted monitor which has the ability to actually communicate with your watch. This will enable a record to be created which will include the distance you have run as well as how long your stride is. For a professional runner, this information can be analysed with a view to developing a strategy to improve speed. For trail runners this technology means not only will your route be mapped, but it will also indicate if the track has gone uphill or down hill. Again, this has implications for timing and speed.
GPS Watch | Types
The main types of GPS watches available in the current marketplace, include Timex, Garmin and Polar, although Garmin would seem to be the up and coming brand with a view to dominating the marketplace in terms of both functionality and price. However, in terms of measuring the effectiveness of a workout, the Polar seems to be the best. Data can also be downloaded to a computer so that further analysis in terms of monitoring performance and exertion can be applied as a strategy to improve the efficiency of workouts.
Where To Purchase
A GPS watch can be purchased both off-line and online at reputable stores which specialise in sports equipment. The main criteria prior to purchase, should be to ascertain the level and quality of customer service that is offered. This is because these type of watches need to be carefully matched to your exact requirements so that you are able to benefit fully from the technology which you are purchasing. Online customer service can be excellent so long as you are able to succinctly state your requirements so that customer service staff are able to fully explain the various technological aspects of a particular watch.
Many athletes have found that the benefits of GPS technology has enabled them to effectively analyse and redesign their workouts with a view to improving efficiency and overall speed. Some of the current models can be used by professional swimmers to perform the same functions as those provided to track and field athletes. In general terms, a GPS watch is considered a necessity for an athlete these days, regardless of whether their approach is that of a hobbyist or a professional.
Garmin GPS Watch
The Garmin GPS watch would have to be one of the most popular GPS watches on the market today and since mid-2008 11 2011, have been consistently releasing new models, each with a new feature to build on previous models. The first Garmin was the Forerunner 110 which is a simple watch to use and it was incredibly popular when it was released in May last year. A short five months later the Forerunner 210 was released and it too was incredibly popular. Basically, the 210 added a soft strap, real-time pacing as well as intervals to the 110. Since then, a new model has been regularly appearing on the market every few weeks.
Garmin GPS Watch | Models And Features
The Garmin Forerunner 410 was released at the New York City Marathon and it soon became the top-selling Garmin watch. It featured a premium soft strap and most importantly, contained a fix for a moisture issue in the bezel. An advanced calorie counter was also added along with a second Velcro band and has proved to be one of the most popular running watchers ever to be released. The end of 2011 saw the release of the Garmin Forerunner 610 which featured an interactive touchscreen and had the honour of being a world first in the fitness watch market.The Garmin Forerunner 910XT was released in early 2012 and this model has been designed specifically as a triathlon watch. This particular Garmin GPS watch has a feature which will allow you to twist the watch body completely off the band and on to a specially designed bike mount. In addition it also has lap and stroke capabilities for the swimming leg of a triathlon. Since the release of this model, other brands in the market place have been significantly disadvantaged, mostly because Garmin has been able to place the previously external located GPS sensor, internally into their watches.
Garmin GPS Watch | Beware Of Too Much Technology
The technology and features described here are responsible for Garmin being the leader and most popular brand of sports fitness watch. A Garmin GPS watch can be purchased from any reputable online or off-line retailer who specialises in sports fitness watches. It’s always a good idea to match your specific requirements to a specific watch because if you are a runner only, it is likely you will not require the advanced technology of the triathlon model. If you are a cyclist only, you will also not need the full triathlon features. This will ensure you are not paying for technology which you will not need.This is basic due diligence which you should always undertake before making any purchase and will generally ensure that you are happy with the transaction. Garmin have a fitness watch to suit most purposes and are clearly the leader in this market with the advanced technology they have introduced into their products. A Garmin GPS watch looks like a definite ‘must have’ for any athlete, whether you are in it as a hobbyist, an amateur or indeed a professional.
Timex GPS Watch | Review
Another well established watch brand is Timex and they have a Timex GPS watch on the market. Ahey have released the Timex Ironman Run Trainer GPS watch as a competitive alternative to the Garmin forerunner series and by all accounts it is their best so far. It features a slim, sleek design which can sit comfortably on the inside of your wrist for easy viewing while training. The stylish design is proving popular with athletes who find that they can wear it for everyday use as well as for training purposes. It doesn’t have the chunky, bulky look of other brands and it has become known as the ‘subtle’ fitness watch.
Timex GPS Watch | Pros, Cons And Features
This watch has plenty of features and is really designed for runners, rather than cyclists or swimmers and if you prefer the multi-functional capabilities of the Garmin models, this watch is probably not for you. It is specifically for runners, albeit trail or track runners and GPS capability is excellent if you are a trail runner. The display screen has been ergonomically designed to avoid the need for twisting your wrist around in order to view the display screen. The buttons are also comfortably large and can be used easily even if you are wearing gloves in cold weather.
Timex GPS Watch | More Features
The Timex GPS watch comes with several modes which suit runners down to the ground. It also comes with a very comfortable wrist strap and heart rate strap which do not constrict movement in any way. With regard to the modes, a simple tap will easily accomplish the change between chrono, interval, timer, recovery, review, configuration and splits modes. All of these modes have comprehensive characteristics and features of their own, which are easy to activate and access on demand whenever you consider it necessary. All modes also have plenty of parameters which are easy to set and will provide all the information you are ever likely to need for later analysis.The Timex GPS watch also features the Timex indiglo back-light and while this assists viewing in dark conditions, some users don’t like the fact that you can’t control how long the back-light actually stays on and would prefer that it stayed on for a little bit longer. When using it as a normal watch, it will display the date and time and there are several alarms available to be used as well. As with most fitness watches, this one can also be connected to a computer so that you can analyse data and then use it to design specialised training sessions and or workouts.Aside from the limited backlight time, runners love this watch because it has been specifically designed for runners only. It can be purchased from any reputable online or off-line stores specialising in fitness equipment and more specifically, fitness watches. If you only require a fitness watch for running, just be sure that you don’t get talked into purchasing one that has heaps of technology and additional functionality that you are never likely to use. The Timex GPS watch is a runners watch and if that is all you need, this model is an exceptionally good buy.
