Garmin introduces Forerunner 50 sport watch

Garmin's Forerunner sport watches haven't always been the most wearable, but the company has been making steady progress in that department, and it now looks to have produced its most watch-like device yet. Helping in no small part to keep the size of its new Forerunner 50 watch down is the lack of GPS found in previous models, but it will still provide a fair bit of functionality, and it'll wirelessly interface with a heart rate monitor or "foot pod" to monitor your speed, distance, and other vitals. When you're done with your workout, the various devices will also automatically sync up with Garmin's USB ANT Stick (Bluetooth, we presume), which will let you log and share your information on Garmin's online training site. A number of different bundles are set to be available this October, including one with just the heart rate monitor for $99, one with the foot pod for $149, and one with both devices for $199.

[joe @ Aug 8th 2007 11:10AM]

any ideas on whether this thing will be waterproof enough to swim with? Would be perfect for sprint triathlons then...

[garvinr @ Aug 8th 2007 12:10PM]

Unless they come out with a waterproof heart rate monitor which they haven't, this things no better than a cheap timex in the water without GPS.

[Jonathan Greene @ Aug 8th 2007 11:16AM]

NO GPS? Though the whole idea of this line of products was GPS Tracks... Nice to see it smaller, but they should at least enable a bluetooth GPS option for those who want it. Very subtle in the release...

"With this entry-level fitness watch priced at under $100, Garmin
broadens its appeal to the millions of consumers who want to burn calories
in a cost-effective manner. While the Forerunner 50 processes much of the
same data as its GPS-enabled predecessors, those functions are packaged in
a very compact device the size of a typical fitness watch."

[Rob @ Aug 8th 2007 11:22AM]

Wouldn't work for me I wear my watch on my left hand!

[John @ Aug 8th 2007 12:02PM]

With no GPS, you might as well stick to Polar.

The Polar heart rate files can be read by quite a lot of software apps and almost any treadmill and stationary bike at a gym can read the Polar heart rate chest monitor and display it. Also, the Polar watches have a much better formula than Garmin to measure calories expended. Polar relies on heart beats, weight and gender while Garmin uses speed and weight. That does not work if you are facing or being helped by a strong wind or going up or down hill.

Having said all of that, I still think that the Garmin Forerunner 305 with GPS is just about the best running/biking accesory. I just use Excel to get a more (much more) accurate calorie count using the heart beats file and Polar's formula.

[G @ Aug 8th 2007 12:32PM]

Polar is all good EXCEPT that they won't let you change the batteries in their monitors, you have to send it to them for $20 a pop. Almost all other manufacturers allow the user to change batteries on their own.

[John @ Aug 9th 2007 7:50AM]

I changed the battery for my old Polar watch myself. It was huge and no one had it, not even Radio Shack, so I had to order it online.

[gene @ Sep 15th 2007 1:42PM]

Has anybody seen any software to translate Garmin to Polar?

[semteX @ Feb 8th 2009 4:36PM]

Is this excel sheet somewhere available for public? I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!

[Brandon Elliott @ Aug 9th 2007 8:11AM]

My Polar RS800SD allows me to change the battery.

[CraigJ @ Aug 8th 2007 12:33PM]

The Timex Ironman Triathlon is far better than this. External GPS sensor, HR sensor and data recorder for under $300...

[Brandon Elliott @ Aug 8th 2007 8:56PM]

I used to have the Timex and it's signal was SO weak. The FR 305 signal is MUCH MUCH better.

[Frog @ Aug 8th 2007 2:52PM]

USB ANT sounds to me like the Nordic Semiconductor's 2,4 GHz proprietary radio with ANT protocol.

http://www.thisisant.com/index.php?section=30

[Josh @ Aug 9th 2007 6:50AM]

This would be the perfect watch if it could add in ipod control. I don't see the need for GPS in a training watch.

[MichaelG @ Aug 9th 2007 11:09AM]

So disappointing that there is not GPS. I have been patiently waiting with my Forerunner 201 and was thrilled to hear of the new product... until I saw there was no GPS. Garmin should stick to what they do best. I am keeping my fingers crossed that a GPS watch will be following soon.

[Dental_FlossTycoon @ Aug 9th 2007 1:35PM]

It claims here ..>https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=142&pID=10527#
that it is waterproof to 30 meters.
It works with bike cadence, is MUCH smaller than Polar or the 305 and has an AUTO sync feature that Automatically syncs your data to your pc when your nearby. Very cool. Footpod is cool too.

[Ely @ Aug 9th 2007 6:27PM]

If you want a training watch check out the Suunto T-Series. They are waterproof, but the ANT signal from the HR Belt to the watch cant pass through water.

[Sharif @ Aug 10th 2007 11:27AM]

It does not use bluetooth, by a proprietary protocol called ANT. It uses the same 2.4Ghz spectrum, but has smaller chips and uses much less power. ANT is used by several other sports equipment companies (atomic, nike, etc.), and Garmin recently bought the entire company responsible for ANT. More info here: http://www.thisisant.com

[Jaxon @ Aug 10th 2007 12:37PM]

uughh...didn't they miss something? Why would Garmin produce a non-GPS device at all? After-all they are driving hard on enabling GPS into our daily life. Is it admission of failure in the ability to provide a GPS solution in a form-factor that is actually usable?

[tomw @ Sep 11th 2007 10:58AM]

You missed the point. This device is cheap, works indoors,supports a bike sensor and HRM. You can do all your winter/indoor training inside where GPS doesn't work. I have a 305, its a great device and the GPS works suprisinly well, but it doesn't work in the gym. In a triathlon transfering it from your bike to your arm during T2 isn't fun. If you need your GPS location for training buy the 305 or one of their new products. I'm actually thinking of using the 50 with my 305, leaving it on my bike. Does anyone know if the 305 cadence sensor will work with this watch?
Yes Polar and other have similiar products at a similar cost. I like Polar quality but it always seems like a pain to transfer the data over to my computer for analysis. Hopefully the 50 work with SportsTrack

[Thomas @ Feb 2nd 2008 12:48PM]

Does anybody have newest Garmin Forerunner? (http://www.highspeedsat.com/forerunner405.htm) I am planning to buy it but I want to hear from someone that already bought it.

[jeff heslop @ May 8th 2009 9:57AM]

The obvious reason for omitting GPS capability is to allow the Forerunner 50 to be sold ad a much lower cost. How many HRMs do you know which have GPS capability and cost less than $50?