We're not quite sure what's up with Garmin, a company known almost exclusively for its navigation technology, releasing watches that lack GPS, but it seems to be a trend on alternate years. Back in 2007 there was the receiver-less
Forerunner 50, then the happily GPS-enabled
Forerunner 405 made made an appearance last year, and now we have the FR60, new but again bereft of any ability to tell you where you are. It sounds much the same as the older 50, including wireless connectivity with ANT+ devices to monitor heart rate, running pace, cycling cadence, and cycling speed, as well as the ability to sync automatically and wirelessly with a PC or Mac. New is the slim and (debatably) fashionable package -- that's the men's above, women's model in lovely lilac shown below. No word on availability or price, but we certainly hope the company won't charge a premium for a styling tweak and a shorter name.
Update: Looks like they're
up for pre-order at $129, shipping next quarter.
[Via
gizmag, thx Noodlehead]
posted Feb 2nd 2009 9:56AM
looks like it's available in Q2 09 for $129.99
https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=142&pID=27483
wow very cool
http://www.jaiderbertoli.com
Hey, don't knock the non-gps watches from Garmin. They are great for indoor running on the treadmill. I
For me, I like Forerunner 305. The GPS works well and the heart monitor works well too.
http://www.bestdealsonar.com/49-discount-garmin-forerunner-305-gps-receiver-with-heart-rate-monitor/
Does it have a mobile phone?
:p
Note - The $129.99 price is for the version without the footpod (HRM only.)
If you want both the HRM and the Footpod the price is $199.99
Sounds just like a Polar.. I would stick with Polar for this type of stuff IMO
except if your a mac user, for Mac users, well, polar sucks..
Regarding sync. with Mac wirelessly - I have a Forerunner 405 which does Sync wirelessly - but only with PC - no Mac software for Sync. exists! Safe to assume this device uses same (ANT) sync. technology, so same limitations?
Shame, Garmin, Shame!
Mac support is coming very, very(, very) soon.
Yes, I dropped a load on the 405 too and still no Mac support. They keep pushing the date back and say that it is coming soon. Errrrr!
What's the difference between this and the Forerunner 50?
I've used the ForeRunner 50 in my runs for about the past 1-1/2 years. The new ForeRunner 60 looks like a nice improvement, mainly in how much you can see displayed while you run. If you go to the new ForeRunner 60 page on the Garmin website, you can see the different screen shots.
The FR 60 lets you see three sets of info at once, instead of just two for the FR 50. For example, with the FR 60 you can see your mile pace, total time elapsed, and heart rate all at once. It also looks like the text is a little larger and easier to read, although I can't tell for sure without actually seeing the watch in person.
I'm probably going to get one, since I can keep using my existing Garmin footpod and heart rate strap with the new model.
I almost bought the ForeRunner 305 or 405 last year, but decided not to because I do most of my daily runs in dense woods here in the Seattle area (Redmond). A friend of mine who occasionally runs in the woods says her 305 is not very accurate under the high treetops. The GPS signal stay locked on fairly well in the woods, but the GPS has trouble getting an accurate reading on all the twists and turns in the trails. Her FR 305 ends up telling her she ran slower and not as far as she actually did when she uses it in the woods. And since she's a hardcore runner (sub-3:20 marathoner), she hates that.
In the woods, you can actually get a more accurate measurement of your pace and distance using the footpod on the FR 50 (as long as you've carefully calibrated it).
I keep hoping Garmin will announce the FR 505. That's what I'm really waiting for. In the meantime, the new FR 60 will do.
But remember guys... the FR 405 (that has GPS) also works with the same footpod as the FR 50 and now FR60 as an optional accessory. That allows you to have your cake and eat it too as in heavy trees or running in a tunnel or indoors on a treadmill the system will *automatically* (unlike the older FR 305) switch to the pod and then back to GPS when it gets an acceptable signal.
This FR 60 watch is great for those who simply don't want GPS or only workout indoors but for everyone else the FR 405 does it ALL (and a much larger price though obviously.)
Hmmm, great point about the 405. I didn't realize the 405 also works with the footpod.
I wish I knew how soon Garmin plans to replace the 405. Hate to buy one and then have them announce the 505. But I suppose Garmin would have announced the 505 at CES if one was coming out anytime soon. I may have to cough up the extra $$ for a 405 instead of the new FR 60.
I can't stand chest straps. I don't know why they don't integrate the electrodes into the wrist strap so it detects heart rate directly from your wrist - the same way nurses do when checking your heart rate.
The newer Polar straps are not bad. They just have a small plastic transmitter that snaps onto a fabric strap. Unlike the older Polar and current Garmin straps that are half plastic.
Because then it would be a pulseometer rather than an ECG accurate heart rate monitor and therefore be up to 30% less accurate.
that would look pretty snazzy on my wrist during a morning jog!
"Honey, this watch you got me called me a fat ass"
Garmin 405 user and lover here. Much more accurate with the GPS than the 305, works with foot pod, chest strap and my Triathlon bike.
Doesn't work with Mac yet, but they say it's coming.
Waiting for the 505.
The FR60 looks to finally be the holy-grail of non-GPS watches:
- it is waterproof to 50m (the Forerunner 50 is only IPX7 splash resistant, as are the entire-range of GPS-enabled Garmins!), which is nice if you are a triathlete
- it takes a coin-cell that lasts a year rather than the need to recharge every few days like the GPS Garmins
- it PC synchs wirelessly and automatically via Bluetooth rather than obsolete line of sight IR like the Polars
- it has three lines of display, to show distance run, time, and heartrate all on one screen
It doesn't have some of the nicer features of the Suunto Tc series around coaching and VO2 max-like computations, but the "flickering" display of the Suuntos is a major negative for those of us that do a lot of running at night - it might save the battery a bit, but what good is that if I can't see it?
Can't wait to get a FR60 and replace my old Nike HRM...which has done the job, but lacks zones and PC synch.