The GPS Watch - Accurate Pacing
A GPS watch can make every second of a workout count by requiring targeted efforts that can be constantly improved upon to increase results. When pinpoint measurements of a workout's effectiveness are desired, nothing delivers quite like a Polar. These high-tech devices transform an ordinary workout into an extraordinary venture to improve health and fitness. We take the same care that we do in selecting a heart rate monitor or bike computer when choosing which these devices to carry on our site.
At the Heart Rate Watch Company, we are pleased to offer our customers an extensive line of Polar models, along with Garmin, and Suunto. These companies are the leaders in this GPS watch technology that takes a standard heart rate monitor watch and turns it into a storehouse of vital workout data.
The Heart Rate Watch Company is run by people who know the science of sports inside out and backward. Our founder, in fact, is Rusty Squire. He is the first skier in history to pull off 300,000 vertical feet in a single day. In addition to his world record, set at Big Sky, Montana, Squire is also a former member of the U.S. Ski Team and is a three-time NCAA All-American.
It is the Heart Rate Watch Company's mission to not only provide the best in sports technology, but also to ensure every customer gets the very best in service. It is our aim to personally answer questions about our products, like our Garmin models and to work with customers to help them find the best possible products to suit their needs.
As you browse our selection of devices, you will find we offer the very best in this technology. While designs and features can vary from model to model, these watches are noted for their ability to:
Monitor the heart rate - At their very core, GPS watches do perform this basic and very necessary function. Heart rate monitors provide essential information to tailor workouts to provide the maximum benefits.
Record other important data - Some GPS watches also record such things as cadence, calorie consumption, distance, pace, power output and more. The numbers returned can help you train within a specific zone to improve fitness and monitor exertion levels better making you more efficient.
Download wireless data - There are Polar designs that use wireless connections to seamlessly download collected data about a workout to a computer. This means tracking performance and improving on workouts becomes even easier.
Offer versatility - Runners are not the only ones who use this technology to monitor their performance. Swimmers and other athletes can also benefit from the information gathered. Swimmers, in fact, will find there are Garmin models just for them that offer all the benefits in a waterproof design like the Garmin 910XT.
At the Heart Rate Watch Company, making sure you are satisfied with your selection and purchase is our top concern. We are here to provide you with the best customer service going to ensure you select and receive the right device to fit your unique needs.
Current Notes For 2011 On The Advancement Of The GPS Watch:
2011 was absolutely awesome for new GPS watch introductions. First, Garmin introduced the Garmin Forerunner 110 in May which proved to be the simplest product to use ever. After the Garmin Forerunner 110, the Garmin Forerunner 210 made its debut at the Chicago Marathon in October. What the Garmin Forerunner 210 did was add real-time pacing, intervals and the soft strap technology to the Garmin Forerunner 110. Then 3 weeks after the release of the Garmin Forerunner 210, the Garmin Forerunner 410 made its debut at the New York City marathon and it was "Katy bar the door". In just 6 weeks the Garmin Forerunner 410 became our best selling unit of the entire year. Then came the Garmin Forerunner 610 touch screen GPS and it blew away all previous sellers with its innovative touch screen technology.
What did the Garmin Forerunner 410 have that was so special? First, it fixed the known moisture issue with the bezel that was an issue with the Garmin 405. Next, it added a premium soft strap and used both the second velcro band and the advanced calorie computation that were present on the Garmin Forerunner 405CX. It has been perhaps the best debut of a new running watches in history and from our testing all of the accolades are very deserving.
Hold on to your hats because the new Garmin Forerunner 610, the world's first ever touch screen fitness watch. Our initial testing has been phenomenal!
The Garmin Forerunner 910XT triathlon watch was released in early 2012 and contains many cool upgrades over the Garmin 310XT. The Garmin 910XT features a twist off watch body that comes right off the band and twists right into a Garmin bike mount. It also contains lap and stroke features and is significantly smaller than the Garmin 310XT.
Maximizing the effectiveness of your workout is important to you. These devices can help you along the way. Should you have any questions about our watch selection, please contact us directly at 866-586-7129. We're here to assist you every step of the way.
Rusty's Report: The Real Scoop On How To Pick One
2011 will be remembered as the year where Garmin absolutely cemented its lead in this category of fitness electronics, no
question about this in my mind. Everyone else is playing catch up because they are all using externally mounted sensors
that are not built in to the watch units and thus are at a decided disadvantage for ease of use.
Suunto and Polar find themselves in the unenviable position of trying to play catch up with Garmin.
Quite frankly, I use a GPS for all of my training. Right now I am using the Garmin Edge 800, but a few decades ago I would
have been using either the Garmin Forerunner 910XT for triathlon or the Garmin Forerunner 610 for running or cross training.
Polar makes a great heart rate monitor if all of your activities are heart rate based but it is just tough to beat Garmin
when it comes to GPS.
iPhone Fitness Arrives
The other big story this year was the advent of the iPhone as a GPS device. This works well for busy moms on the run and
lunch hour exercisers that can't miss a phone call but for serious athletes we still much prefer Polar, Garmin and Suunto
products. Why? It's just one simple item on your wrist and access to viewing is far easier for running. The bike mounted iPhone
bears some real merit because it is like a GPS bike computer with a display screen.
Our only big beef with the Fisica sensor case is that you cannot remove the actual Fisica sensor. We have several customers
who absolutely love the Fisica sensor case as a bike computer but they complain that it is too bulky for running and that they
would rather just use the sensor. Hopefully the next generation will address that issue for cross-trainers.
What's New This Year?
The Garmin Forerunner 110 watch triggered a revolution. What Forerunner 110 did was bring the technology into the world of easy to use.
Prior to this time these devices had been plagued with several issues: 1.) too big and over-sized and 2.) difficult to use with
a long learning curve. Garmin Forerunner 110 solved both of these issues and changed the game for good.
Garmin Forerunner 210 came along in October and added intervals, real-time pacing and the premium chest strap to the abilities
and accessories associated with the 110.
Finally, in November, the same weekend as the New York City marathon, the new Garmin Forerunner 410 arrived and did it ever set
off a wave of excitement. In 7 weeks through the end of the year it became our best selling device of the entire year, which absolutely
blew us away. People were really waiting for the changes to the bezel and the moisture control issues encountered by the 405.
What is really nice about the Garmin Forerunner 410, assuming you are willing to put in the time to learn the device, is that
it can work as an ideal running watch, displaying pace in minutes per mile, and also switch to cycling mode, displaying pace
in miles per hour. If you want a combo watch for both cycling and running then this is our number one pick as long as your
activity duration does not exceed 8 hours. If so, you should get the Forerunner 310XT.
The Forerunner 310XT is the ultimate triathlon and ultra sport watch. It's waterproof, tracks distance in shallow water and
has a battery that will last 15 hours in full GPS mode. For long course triathletes, ultra-runners and dawn-to-dusk fun hogs
it is the ultimate device.
People might think that we are biased to Garmin and we are, but with good reason - they make the best devices for mapping your
adventures and correlating your distance with your pacing and heart rate.
You're A Marked Man
One of the coolest inventions of 2011 has arrived and it is called the Garmin GTU 10. It sends a signal up to satellites and
then out to the AT&T wireless network to deliver pictures and text messages directly to your cell phone. It's a tracking
device that weighs 1.7 ounces.
So, why are we so excited about it? Just think of all the applications! Track your loved ones in a crowd, track aging parents, company
fleet vehicles, find loved ones or even allow your family to track you during a triathlon or marathon so they get to see more of your
race.
It's All About the Bike Computer
Of course bike computers have the distinct advantage of having larger display screens than watches, so mapping functions and
features can be much more detailed.
This year the Garmin Edge 800 broke all kinds of new ground by offering touch screen menu navigation and incredibly detailed mapping
with turn-by-turn directions. We have tested this computer for several weeks and still marvel at all the functions we keep discovering
even after weeks of use.
Cool Stuff We'd Like To See Next
What if your coach could send you an alert to your wrist unit or bike computer to send an important piece of information? All kinds of
cool stuff could abound in the future and pedal based power meters are on the way as early as June of 2011 from Polar.
Imagine if all of the live statistics being recorded by your watch or bike computer could be uploaded in real-time to a laptop
being carried by your coach in a vehicle or at the finish. The coach could then relay verbal instructions back to an ear bud radio transmitter
so you could adjust your race, your pace and tactic right during an event. Sound far fetched? Well its not, all of that technology
exists right now it is just that no one has put all of the pieces together.
Get ready for the brave new world!
Timex's first stab at a GPS watch with the Ironman Global Trainer was pretty half-baked. They forgot the 1 second recording intervals, which is critical for accurate watts data and the amount of time the device took to acquire satellites was like 5 minutes, which is crazy. Firmware updates with the Ironman Global Trainer have supposedly cut the satellite acquisition time down so we'll test it again this Spring but the first impression was lame.
We see lots of cool stuff and possibilities on the horizon if the engineers can just keep up with the demands of the sports.
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