Forums >Gears and Wears>Need help deciding on a new GPS watch
I currently have a forerunner 305 that is over 4 years old and still working as good as new (knock on wood). But with so many new watches out there, I'm looking to replace my gigantic 305 with something a little smaller. I have done plenty of research but after reading dozens of in-dept reviews, I'm just more confused than ever on which one to get.
Must have features...
The Garmin Forerunner 210 is the product that meets all of your requirements, except that it does not have an explicit Run/Walk feature. It does have an Interval timer, though, and as you understand this can easily be configured for Run/Walk application.
I have run with many many GPS running watches from lots of different manufacturers (seriously -- it's part of my job). If I were spending my own $$, the 210 would definitely be the product I would purchase. In my view it is the best value available.
Sometimes people call me out on these forums for my vested interest, which is fine, so I'll save them the trouble and tell you that I work for Garmin. Nevertheless (take it or leave it) it is my honest opinion that the Forerunner 210 is the best answer for you. And this is a good week to get my truly honest and unbiased opinion, because I am very very unhappy (might even say massively hacked off) with my employer this week.
Good luck!
- Joe
We are fragile creatures on collision with our judgment day.
Interval Junkie --Nobby
Garmin 610 hits everything but the low price. Touch-screen is a nice innovation, but prolly not worth $100 over the 210.
2021 Goals: 50mpw 'cause there's nothing else to do
Prince of Fatness
+1. Regarding the intervals you cannot program complex workouts with it but as long as your run / walk segments are static throughout the workout it will work fine. Also it saves the last interval workout that you programmed in, so if you do the same workout over and over again after the first time all you need to do is turn the interval feature on.
Also I do not have a HR monitor with my 210 .... I believe that you add that on at an incremental cost.
Not at it at all.
Your 305 HRM should work with the 210. No need to buy another HRM.
If HRM is not a requirement then the new Garmin 10 might be an alternative, has a basic run/walk function for about $70 less than the Garmin210, or if HRM more important than run/walk, then I'd go with 110. One could walk for 100 steps or so every time the watch beeps for the mile Lap. If you absolutely need both features the 305 might be your cheapest alternative, almost looks like Garmin did this to protect each of the product lines.
From DCRainmaker's excellent review
...almost looks like Garmin did this to protect each of the product lines.
I wish we were really that smart.
http://dcrainmaker.com. Best place to learn about all the options. I have a timex run trainer and it's perfect for my use and budget. Only drawback is that I manually upload the files to RA after saving them in the device manager software but it's so easy it's barely worth pointing out.
rainmaker is great (and I understand he is also a great guy), but I personally think he is a bit out on the fringe as a reviewer for most everyday runners. If you are a hardcore triathlete who loves techy gear and lots of bells and whistles, then he is your man. But if you are primarily a runner, and maybe even a fairly recreational/casual one at that, then I don't think his reviews are as helpful.
old woman w/hobby
As a recreational runner, I think that rainmaker does excellent reviews. I recently used his reviews (along with a few others) to help me decide
which GPS to purchase after killing my third Garmin 305. I just skip all of the bike / swim stuff
Garmin 310xt
steph
FWIW, I really dig my 610 (after years of being an Ironman, uh, man). I got around the price issue by getting someone to buy it for me as a gift.
"Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain."
Jack Kerouac
I think rainmaker's reviews are helpful mostly because he's da guy. It's hard to find as much side-by-side stuff elsewhere.
I'm another nontriathlete with a 310xt. While I don't care about the triathlete hoohah, the waterproofness is good (especially compared to the touch bezel stuff), and the loooong battery life is the thing.
Which, btw, I would not wear as a 'watch'.
Anyway, as 'waterproof' and battery life are two things on your list, then the 310xt and the 910 may be your two choices. But the 910 is really spendy.
It souldns to me like you want a 305 only smaller. That, I think, is a 310 or 310x or something like. I have 205, which is the same as a 305 except no heart rate monitor. Yes, it's bigg-ish, but I've gotten used to it, and have no intention of wearing it as an everyday watch. My suggestion is continue using the 305 until it dies (indefinitely!) then buy another 305 at rock bottom prices!!!
Gotta say the 610 is really easy to use. I think most of it's features were on my old 305 but I could never figure out how to use them w/o effort.
My biggest gripe with the 610 is the band isn't very robust at all. I think Rainmaker has noted this as well. A couple weeks back I was 10 minutes into a cyclocross race and the vibrations from riding off road took one of the pins right out. Well, it only needs to slide 1.5mm to become unhinged and fall off. Considering it's cost I was happy I noticed it fall off and was quick to go back and find it.
Gotta say the 610 is really easy to use. I think most of it's features were on my old 305 but I could never figure out how to use them w/o effort. My biggest gripe with the 610 is the band isn't very robust at all. I think Rainmaker has noted this as well. A couple weeks back I was 10 minutes into a cyclocross race and the vibrations from riding off road took one of the pins right out. Well, it only needs to slide 1.5mm to become unhinged and fall off. Considering it's cost I was happy I noticed it fall off and was quick to go back and find it.
The battery is a bit disappointing with the 610 -- but now I keep it on the charger all day, so that helps.
A friend has the same pin issues -- if you bend the pin slightly and shove it back in place it won't fall out.
My little annoyance with the 610 is based on the a UI nigglet: when running in the dark, I have the watch set so if I tap on the face it lights for 5 seconds. Unfortunately, that is also a signal to rotate between training pages. So instead of tap to see what I want, it becomes "tap tap tap tap" to move through the screens back to the original one on display to see it lit up.
Now I just have the watch set to keep the light on all the time.