Which Garmin to buy?

[verticalchaos]

Having ruined a couple iPods I too am a hesitant phone user. I did run with my iPhone Disney 2011 using RunKeeper. The app allowed the family to track me realtime. Really neat app. But the phone was in a baggie, in a water resistant arm band.

I wish my runkeeper app would work on my Droid. It fails more often than not. Of course I despise this phone anyway, so...

 

[cewait]

cewait - that's pretty cool about runkeeper. I never knew it could do that. I also don't like to use my phone. I adore my iPhone, but using it for music while running is a hassle. I use a Shuffle too and it works fantastic. I bought myself one of the new models recently. I love that it now has playlists and voiceover. I have been keeping my phone in my spibelt in case of emergencies. I'd rather not carry it, but then again, I don't want to regret not having it. Especially on long runs. My kids also feel better knowing that I have my phone. They worry if I decide to run longer than I had planned. I try to tell them where I'm running at, but sometimes I go off route a bit since I run in neighborhoods. I'm going to check into runkeeper. Maybe that will give them some reassurance about where I'm at in a run.

Since the marathon, I have started to turn on Runkeeper when cycling. It give Mary some comfort in knowing where I am/was in the event I do not return in the expected time window. It is not 100% and will sometimes shut off... But the phone is much more the reason I carry it. I agree one should ALWAYS have ID, cash and some way to communicate when out running or cycling.

 

[ChloroFiend]

Re: getting phone sweaty while running. All the armbands I've used have a nice solid neoprene or other material backing between the phone and your arm. I tend to sweat a pretty decent amount and haven't run into any issues thus far.

I wish my runkeeper app would work on my Droid. It fails more often than not. Of course I despise this phone anyway, so...

I use RunKeeper on my Droid 1 and have only had a crash or other bug once. Perhaps try uninstalling and reinstalling? Or make sure you're running the latest version?

 

[RENThead09]

I am goin with the Nike GPS watch powered by Tom Tom next month. I like the fit of it and the slimmer design. We'll see how it goes. Cant wait!

 

[Disfan11]

Lots of great advice! Thanks.
Do you think that the 110 will give me the same basic information as Runkeeper?
Can you see the route that you took while running?
Would I be missing out on anything?

 

[cewait]

Lots of great advice! Thanks.
Do you think that the 110 will give me the same basic information as Runkeeper?
Can you see the route that you took while running?
Would I be missing out on anything?

Yes, it will give you the same information but more accurately. One thing I did not mention about my Run Keeper use is that it is not nearly as accurate as the Garmin. I think that it was over a half mile long compared with the Garmin at the 23 mile mark.... the point where RunKeeper went to sleep. I think it is due to a much better GPS algorithm.

Can you see the route that you took while running? If you are asking about a post run look back, yes. Through Garmin Connect or most any other logging program you can see where you went. Also, unless I am mistaken, you cannot look at where you have been while on course with the 110 like you can with the 305 and others. Not a big issue unless you are plugging a course into the unit pre-run (i.e. when running in a new city from a hotel) and trying to follow a path. From what I see that is the largest negative with the 110. Note that this is not a commonly used feature, in my opinion. It is a nice to have. Oh, and it has helped me back to a hotel in Vancouver once when I got lost.

 

[faith-hope-joy]

Going back to Nike. I was using the Nike app on my iPhone and found it to be off from my Garmin. Significantly off in time/distance. I was not using the Nike footpod, just the app.

 

[geaux_half]

Looks like there's another Garmin product for runners.

 

[roomthreeseventeen]

I'm a happy 305 user. It's perfect for me.

 

[fashionista311]

Garmin just came out with a touchscreen one (probably in competition with Nike) I'll probably wait until more reviews come out, but right now I'm already wondering how my 405 can have an "accident" so I can justify switching it out with this one...it looks like a major improvement!

http://gear.runnersworld.com/2011/04/first-look-garmin-forerunner-610.html

 

[rubato]

Looks like there's another Garmin product for runners.

Oh, that's a good looking watch! I may have to upgrade eventually.

 

[buckeyecinderella]

I am thinking about buying the 110 just from reading other reviews and also because of its size.

But whatever watch I go with, I really need something that will work well under tree cover as I often run on wooded trails. Does anyone have problems with their Garmins losing the reception when running on trails under trees or possibly even when going up/down a steep hill?

If it loses the reception, how does it work when it picks up reception again? Does it still know your location so that mileage/pace is still accurate?

Thanks!

 

[ludari]

Another 305 here.

 

[johde]

Looks like there's another Garmin product for runners.

After looking at the review, I don't know if I'd like that or not. The touch screen seemed like more trouble than it's worth. I still like my 305 about as well as any of them out there.

 

[airman]

I have been using a GPS tracking app called Endomondo, it is available for most smartphones. It will also keep track of your HR with a monitor strap. People can keep track of your run on line and also type words of encouragement that will be read to you on your phone. For the interval run/walkers here I found an app called interval timer that works pretty good. The only thing, I couldn't get it to work in the background with the Endomondo app, but their is a app called Run Training that will track your runs and works with the IntervalTimer.
DW has the Garmin 110 that she likes, but it has locked up on her just before a couple training runs, anyone else experience that?

 

[justcrusin]

I do lots of running on the treadmill, does anyone have any experience with the 305 and the foot pod? If so, is it accurate for indoor running. I'm hoping to keep better tabs on my pace.

 

[John VN]

justcrusin, the issue with foot pods, as per wife's old Garmin, is how consistant you are with stride length and frequency. If you shorten your length and increase your frequency the distance completed wil not be as accurate, i.e. it will show a longer distance than you ran.

 

[UGAFan0829]

I've been thinking about a Garmin for a while now, but have a quick question...How accurate is it under "shaded" areas? I used RunKeeper on my iPhone when I was training for a half, and though it worked well out in open areas, I found that when there was a lot of tree cover, the signal went out and my mileage and time got messed up. Just wondering if the Garmin would be the same, or if there was a stronger signal that would allow it to still pick up? BTW, I'm not sure that signal is the correct terminology, so please forive me, but hopefully what I'm asking will make sense!!

 

[FFigawi]

I've been thinking about a Garmin for a while now, but have a quick question...How accurate is it under "shaded" areas? I used RunKeeper on my iPhone when I was training for a half, and though it worked well out in open areas, I found that when there was a lot of tree cover, the signal went out and my mileage and time got messed up. Just wondering if the Garmin would be the same, or if there was a stronger signal that would allow it to still pick up? BTW, I'm not sure that signal is the correct terminology, so please forive me, but hopefully what I'm asking will make sense!!

My 305 works very well running under tree cover and on wooded trails. The only time it has a problem with signal reception is when running through downtown Houston amidst all the tall buildings. My total run time is always correct, but the distance can vary a tiny bit here and there because of the signal interruptions. Nothing I've ever worried about though. Whether a run gets reported by the Garmin as 18.5 or 18.6 doesn't really matter.

 

[UGAFan0829]

My 305 works very well running under tree cover and on wooded trails. The only time it has a problem with signal reception is when running through downtown Houston amidst all the tall buildings. My total run time is always correct, but the distance can very a tiny bit here and there because of the signal interruptions. Nothing I've ever worried about though. Whether a run gets reported by the Garmin as 18.5 or 18.6 doesn't really matter.

Thanks so much for the info! That helps a ton!