I've decided to get a Garmin- for a couple of reasons. 1) I ran without music the other night and I realized that it might take some getting used to, but could be nice. So I'd have to ditch my iPhone (and NIke+). 2) After running without said phone on that musicless night, I realized how freakin heavy the phone is on my arm. 3) If I decide to train for a full next year, my phone battery definitely won't make it much farther than 15 miles.
So, the plan is to pick up a Garmin (reason #4 is that my healthcare spending will reimburse me for it). I just don't know which one to get. The new 10's look fun but don't have as much info as I'd like, and I'd also like to use the HR monitor feature since wearing a Garmin and my HR monitor watch would be pretty silly. So I've been comparing the 410 and 610. I've heard really good things about the 610, but then when I do a side by side comparison on the Garmin site, it seems like the 410 actually has more capability? Very confusing. Thanks for the advice!
Beth, I had that tough decision too when I got mine, I ended with the 205, mostly due to price. If/when I get another, it will be something smaller.
On a side note, I have health care spending too, and I'm curious as to how/why a Garmin is covered.
The 610. No question.I also have the 910XT and it's awesome too but the 610 is the best, IMO.
Damaris
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I've just ordered a Garmin 10, but I didn't have much interest in HR monitoring. I only run minimal miles a week right now, so I only needed the basics.
uʍop ǝpᴉsdn sǝʇᴉɹʍ ʇI
I like my 210 and both my DW and DD have a 10. They like it for its simplicity.
I like my 310xt lots, but admittedly I only use probably 10% of the features. Maybe.
However, it does two MUST HAVES for me...
1. It is waterproof. As in really, really.
2. The battery lasts 17+ hours.
I have heard enough people complain about the touch bezel to be wary of the 410. The touch screen on the 610 has gotten good reviews.
I am also interested to know how you're getting your Garmin covered from your health account.
Bjørnmannen
That Garmin 610 looks pretty sweet... might have to get it as a Christmas present to myself. One of my concerns with getting one of the fancier GPS watches is that I run in the city. If I got mugged with that on, that would really hurt. Have theft insurance for my phone and I just use the GPS on that now so I haven't really had to worry about it so far.
Village people
Check out www.dcrainmaker.com he does a pretty indepth view of all the models.
A Garmin is covered because it's technically a HR monitor. Because I work at a state pubilc hospital, we follow the federal guidelines for health care spending eligible expenses. Not sure if that's different than a private company...
https://www.fsafeds.com/fsafeds/EligibleExpenses.asp#H
Hmm, I might see if I can get that through mine! If I have any money left in it...
The complaints about the bezel, as I understand, were primarily focused on the 405. The 410 supposedly fixed that problem. I hope so because I think Santa is bringing me one.
Short term goal: 17:59 5K
Mid term goal: 2:54:59 marathon
Long term goal: To say I've been a runner half my life. (I started running at age 45).
delicate flower
I have a 410 (since February) and have had ZERO issues with the touch bezel. Like, no problems whatsoever. I believe there were bezel issues with the older version (the 405, not the 410) though I have no firsthand experience with the 405. Normally during a run, I'll lock the bezel since it is sensitive to touch. Locking it essentially disables its use (lock/unlock it by pressing the two side buttons at the same time). I have no reason to be toggling through the displays during a run. I've got it set to current pace, total time, total distance. If you want to fiddle with the display while you are running though, I could certainly see the bezel being a little touchy to use.
I am not sure what the battery life is but I charge it every 4-5 runs (40-50 miles). And it's pretty impressive how far it'll run once the low battery signal comes on. I went nine miles once after I got the message.
I picked the 410 over the 610 because I prefered the physical buttons/bezel of the 410 over the touch screen of the 610. That, and the 410 was $200 cheaper when I bought it. I'm not sure what the different features are, but the 410 gives me everything I really need.
I've read the dcrainmaker reviews and I believe he gave the nod to the 610 for runners. Really though, I think you'll be very happy with whatever model you get. I don't see a lot of people complaning about their Garmins.
<3
levitation specialist
DC Rainmaker has awesome write ups on each model, so go check his site out! He is a runner and a biker and a triathlete, for running he still recommends the 610 hands down! One of his best picks for 2012. The 610 does have more features than most people need, but I figured I could grow into, not out of, my watch. And thus far, it is true. I just started using the custom workout features and they are awesome! Plus just the Garmin Connect website, being free, has lots of cool features and you can even race other people's routes!
The touchscreen is awesome. It isn't resistive based like a smart phone or iPad, it is pressure based like a Kindle or Nook. So you can use it with gloves on or in the rain, you intend to select something, you will. And the screen auto locks after a 5 minute period of non use(as in, you haven't pressed the start button for an activity) to save battery life and then you just have a watch with the time and date.
The screen is easy to read, has vibration alert settings, customizable data fields, and it wears really well. I had a black 610 for 10 months and never had any complaints about using it daily for various activities. I just sold my black one to get a new white 610, and the new ones have plastic backs to them. This really lightened the weight of the watch! Definately an improvement in my book as honestly my only issue with the watch was the heft of it. It wears well as a daily watch, even better as a running watch. And I use mine when I bike also. Bonus!
I must say like Phil did, that honestly you can't go wrong with any Garmin really. They support their devices really well and make pretty reliable stuff. You'll pretty much get the same pace and readings on any Garmin, it's just the physical package and features that differ. You really need to decide what you are looking for, then you won't be disappointed.