Garmin 010-00679-05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick
by Garmin
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List Price: Buy Used: from $123.00 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin 010-00679-05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick
Customer Review: Changed the way I run
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought the garmin 50 watch with heart monitor to help with my marathon training. I quickly learned that without the foot pod my experience was limited. So I went back and purchased the foot pod to go along with it and it has changed the way I run. The watch is comfortable, the heart monitor is not bothersome, and the foot pod is not even noticable. The watch with the associated software (and I have downloaded both the internet software and the desktop software) allow me to monitor heart rate, speed, distance run and step cadance. With this information I am able to get a better workout and determine appropriate pacing, and accurate distances. It also has pace alarms that let me know when I am running too slow or too fast. It can use heart rate alarms to alert me when my heart rate is too high, but I haven't used that feature yet. I like that I can view instantaneous pace information, time distance or heart rate at the push of a button. All in all, it was a very wise investment and I am thouroughly enjoying it.Customer Review: Works great until the battery dies...
Summary: 2 Stars
Pros:
*Easily the most inexpensive HR monitor that transmits workout data to computer.
*Very comfortable as a casual watch -- very light, great band.
*Great display - easy to read.
*Easy to use.
Cons:
*HR signal is not compatible with fitness equipment (doesn't send live signal to elliptical/stairmaster/treadmill), like Polar and Nike are.
*Once the battery dies, you are in trouble. Took to jeweler as recommended in manual, but they wouldn't touch it because they didn't sell that model. They said they could send it off, but would cost appx $25 (for a $50 watch???). Replaced the battery myself, but you cannot do this without breaking a plastic covering inside. Since replacing the battery, I got it to work for a day, but it has since shut down. By taking it apart and putting back together (not as easy as it sounds), I'm able to make functional for about an hour before it goes out again. This is after using this for about 6 months.
Customer Review: love it
Summary: 5 Stars
I have the watch with heart rate monitor, and also purchased the foot pod separately. LOVE these items! I am an avid runner and these have helped me to improve my training greatly. Easy to use. The only thing I found slightly annoying was for the first few times using the heart rate monitor & foot pod together, I had to pair them each time - they didn't each automatically pair as the manual said they would. Then in future uses, if I was only using one of the two devices, I had to pair it again separately for the watch to read it. After about 10 or so times of the pairing issues, the devices now pair without problems. Very satidsied - makes training more fun & functional. I have a very small frame & am 33 in. around at the chest...so the heart rate monitor is too big for me. However, since I am always weraing a sports bra/top with built in bra, I just make sure the monitor is held in place with the elastic from my bra, and it works fine.Customer Review: Great product, with a few short comings
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great product. Fits nicely on the wrist (male, average, 180cm, 80kg).
* Data transfers easily to the PC (a little testy at times, but the job gets done).
* You don't even know you have the footpod on. It covers about 3 - 4 lace overlaps on my shoe, and incredibly light. Footpod was out 4 metres on a measured 878 metre track.
* HRM takes a little getting used to because the front part (the sensor) is plastic (though fairly bendy).
The bad:
* Absolutely terrible user manual. What were they thinking? Slightly better than no user manual at all. Would have been just as useful written in Russian.
* Difficult (at least for me) to tell the difference between the various alerts (am I running too slow, too fast, heart rate is too low or too high, did I just complete a lap?).
Customer Review: works great, lots of set up and battery stinks
Summary: 4 Stars
My wife loves it! she has used it so much for her runs that the battery went out in 6 months! We went to a watch store to change it. It had no power unless we adjusted it, then it would lose power again...uggg. My wife loved it so much we just got a new one. I hope the battery last longer, if not, looks like she'll have another one for her birthday (easy gift). The set up is a bit of a pain, but if you call Garmin, they can help and it's only a one time deal. Other than the set up & battery, it's great. Tracks speed, distance thru-out the run (i.e. when you slow down it shows you on the computer via graph and text when and how long during the run you slowed down and what speed you going). Pretty cool. Just make sure you get the foot pod also.