A Garmin Heart Rate Monitor - Think GPS Watch Plus Easy To Use?

Garmin heart rate monitor, GPS watch, and easy to use have typically been words that did not end up in the same sentence a lot. That is because a GPS watch has typically been associated with complexity of operation until the Garmin Forerunner 110 arrived in May of 2010 and everything changed.

Ever heard the Aerosmith song "You Just Push Play!"? Well, that summarizes the Forerunner 110! Hit a start button and get instant speed, distance and heart rate. When your exercise is finished just push stop. We call it the "Easy button" - that was easy.

With a Garmin heart rate monitor, as with all GPS watch monitors, this ease of use does come with the price of some diminished function. Data transfer, power output, and Garmin's virtual partner technology have been left out of the Garmin Forerunner 110 and intentionally so. If you need the more complex elements you can turn to the Garmin Forerunner 310XT and the Garmin 405 series of watches.

No question that Garmin has hit an unfilled void in the GPS watch market - simplicity of use and it may just be the mother lode that brings technology to the masses of fitness. What the Forerunner 110 does is bring the ability to have GPS accurate speed and distance to a whole new segment of users who shy away from too much complexity.

We think of Garmin first when we think of GPS watches, or accurate speed and distance. We think of Polar when we think of advanced heart rate functions. Now a Garmin heart rate monitor has decent heart rate functions, but Garmin's forte is GPS because they make marine, automobile, sport, and aeronautic GPS navigation equipment - its their business and they are good at it.

Why get a GPS watch? This was a question that was hard to answer for more casual exercisers until now. Watches like the Garmin Forerunner 110 are best used for outdoor exercise because GPS can't penetrate a buildings roof, so inside your GPS watch becomes just a heart rate monitor. The Forerunner 110 is fine to use as a heart rate monitor at the gym, as are all of the Garmin GPS watches, just remember to not put them in GPS mode indoors because it uses a lot more battery juice.

People we have never talked to before, or those that might otherwise buy a simple $90 heart rate monitor are stepping up to the plate and going GPS now. Many have admitted that they wanted to try GPS but that it just seemed too complex, but "Push Just Two Buttons" - o.k. I can handle that.

Let's face it, life is complex and most people use exercise to reduce stress, lose weight, or just unwind from an action packed day at the office. They don't want a heart rate monitor that adds to their stress and the concept of "Just Push Play" is attractive. So, cheers to Garmin for noticing that people crave simplicity.

Now you can get super easy to use, accurate speed and distance, plus heart rate, for running, biking, skiing, climbing, trekking, walking, hiking, kayaking, or any outdoor sport imaginable.