Garmin Forerunner 50 Water Resistant Running GPS With Heart Rate Monitor and Foot Pod
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $115.00 You Save: $84.99 (42%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days 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 Forerunner 50 Water Resistant Running GPS With Heart Rate Monitor and Foot Pod
Customer Review: So.. according to Garmin's site.. it says it works with your Mac, but not really..
Summary: 4 Stars
Specifically.. on Garmin's site it says..
"Garmin Training Center (GTC) is a training tool for your computer that works with your compatible Garmin fitness device. With GTC, you can analyze and store workout data from your Garmin device on your computer, as well as plan and save future workouts. GTC is included when you purchase a compatible Garmin fitness device. You can also download the latest version of Garmin Training Center for free.
Compatible Garmin devices: Forerunner 50, Forerunner® 201 (PC only), Forerunner 301, Forerunner 205, Forerunner 305, Edge® 205, Edge 305, Edge 605, Edge 705
Compatible computers: IBM-compatible PCs running Windows® 2000 or XP operating systems | New! Intel-based Macs or PowerPCs (G3 or newer) running OS X 10.4 or later"
The above would mean to me that the Garmin Forerunner 50 is a compatible device with the usage of the Garmin Training Center software.
So.. imagine my surprise when the Garmin Forerunner 50 arrived and wouldn't work with my Mac (current Macbook)..
Upon further reading and MUCH DIGGING on Garmin's site this is what I found.. the "ANT+Sport technology will not be mac compliant until sometime in 2008"
So, while the device itself might be fine (and it is), it's intended usage (with a Mac) is not. Garmin should be more forthright about this and insure ALL info on their site is correct (or at least is the same).
Customer Review: Excellent workout watch for starters!
Summary: 5 Stars
I think this is an excellent product for starting runners, triathletes and multisports people. I was really looking for a good deal package of watch, HRM and Foot Pod. I think none beats the Forerunner 50. The only thing is it doesn't hold a GPS system, but you can get that for $150 to $200 additional on the forerunner 305 or 405. I wasn't looking for a very sophisticated GPS at all, I was looking for an introductory working out watch. The software is very interesting an it delivers decent graphs and reports to learn about training improvement and help keep track of you advance. I am a engineer, and I deal with the software installation and use, it can be a little bumpy for people that are not use to this kind of feeback technology. However try to follow the instruction or find someone to assist you, once you get the installation and hands on it, it is very usefull information. The wacth is very nice looking, ligth weigth, easy to switch functions, the accuracy is good for distance, heart rate and pace. Excellent watch for training and competition. Ah...it gets under water too..30 meters. Also it handles metric and international units, so this make it very easy for those who prefer kilometers over mile reading, and viceversa. I would recommend this watch to every beginer looking for a good quality investment in sports. Other brands and watches will be more expensive and complicated to handle, and none will beat this price.Customer Review: Good product for the price, great software (compared to Timex Trail Runner)
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my second "speed and distance" watch.
I had used Timex Trail Runner before.
Trail Runner is GPS-based, while Forerunner 50 is foot pod-based.
As a watch Trail Runner is better.
GPS worked flawlessly for me, both on road and on forest trails.
It did not require any calibration and 3-line display was more useful on the run.
Forerunner has 2-line display, and the foot pod requires different calibration numbers for road and trail.
That being said...
When I "ended" my Trail Runner, I didn't get another one.
Forerunner is 2-3 times cheaper and because of that I decided that I can live with the 2-line display
and change calibration numbers depending on where I run.
Moreover Forerunner has 3 advantages over Trail Runner:
1. It collects all the data in the watch itself and you don't need (expensive)
data collection unit (like with Trail Runner).
2. Free software from Garmin (Garmin Training Center) and Garmin Connect website are great products
with well rounded features and user interface.
3. If you ride a bike, you can purchase little wheel sensor (also wireless) that will send speed
and cadence data to the watch as well.
Customer Review: Garmin Forerunner 50
Summary: 5 Stars
I wanted a HRM and after looking at Polar and Suunto (too expensive) and Timex (Just did not like) I settled on the Forerunner 50. The first time I wore it I was walking my dog (80 lbs. Lab) and somehow my wrist hit the start/stop button, but that was the only time it has happened. The foot pod is secure and I have ran about 15 trail miles with no issues, I even played a game of flag football with it on my cleats, although I doubt it was very a very accurate distance. I have not calibrated the footpod, but it showed 3.6 miles after a 5K I did (with Course Markers). I also have the GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Sensor for my bike. There is a calibration for it, you have to download the Edge 605/705 owners manual and go to pager 77 and 78 for the calibration numbers. The owners manual's are extremely basic. The bike sensor just shows how to install it! Garmin Tech support is ok, takes 3 days-ish to get an answer via email, but it has been accurate. I am getting back in to running and would like to do some triathalons, all pods on this watch are waterproof to 10 meters. I have not swam with the HRM belt, yet. I have showered with it and it worked flawlessly, no hiccups. As far as software, I was a bit excited and installed the Garmin Training Center before I got the ForeruCustomer Review: Very Accurate but not easily sync'd to computer
Summary: 4 Stars
I also have the GPS enabled 205 but do a lot of indoor track running during the winter months. I compared the foot pod to the GPS & there was only a 40 yard difference on the mile (97% accurate). It seemed less accurate though if I was walking vice jogging/running. It's about only about 90% accurate jogging/running on the treadmill compared to the treadmill's stats and horrible when walking on the treadmill (~80%). Sometimes I wear both watches running outside because the 205 is more accurate & communicated well with the computer (& Google Earth, which is cool) and the 50 has a heart rate monitor & the pacekeeping is a lot smoother.
Two complaints:
1. Heart rate monitor strap is weak, don't force it, it WILL break. replacements are ~$13 on Amazon (I'd order another two)
2. Not really hassle free when downloading to the computer, the watch has to communicate wirelessly with the USB adapapter & sometimes it takes a while for the adapter to recognize the watch. You also cannot upload workouts to the Garmin 50 like you can with the 205.
If I could start over, I would have bought ONLY the 305 because you can get GPS, heartrate, & foot pod for indoor running. I would have spent less overall. I may trade up eventually.