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 digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin Forerunner 50 Water Resistant Running GPS With Heart Rate Monitor and Foot Pod
Digital camera Review: Doesn't work with Mac!
Summary: 2 Stars
I was pumped to get this for Christmas as a gift - but as a Mac user, it is completely useless. Nowhere on any of the packaging does it say that it won't work with a mac. I felt pretty misled.
If you're a mac user (which many of you are), you are SOL.
Digital camera Review: Excellent entry level runner's tool
Summary: 4 Stars
At the ripe old age of 61 I decided to do my first triathlon. I needed to improve my running skills and needed data to let me know how I was doing. The forerunner 50 was easily programed to link to the chest strap I use with my 305 Garmin on my bicycle. I have found it to be very helpful in my training especially when downloading results to the Garmin Training Center. It is easy to see progress and to compare the training to where I was a week or a month ago. This does not have GPS, but seems to be relatively accurate with distances and very accurate with heart rate. It is not something to wear swimming (although Garmin now has a watch that can be used from start to finish on a triathlon) or hiking as the GPS would be a better way to go. I recommend it.Digital camera Review: Excellent hardware, substandard support
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought 2 of these, one for my brother and one for myself, to aid us in training for our first and second 1/2 marathons. We live 125 miles from one another and were not able to run our shorter training runs during the week together. We bought these as a way to track our individual progress and compare them with one another. This serves to not only log our training but to also compete with each other. One of the big selling points for this model for us was the fact that all our run data could be uploaded to GarminConnect and be shared. After using these for a while, we are satisfied with the hard functions but dissatisfied with the GarminConnect system.
First the pros; the HR monitor, foot pod, and watch all work together while training flawlessly. Everything links up and works without issue. The watch can show a wide variety of different data while training to include distance, speed, time, laps, cadence, HR, and probably some others I haven't paid attention to. You can also set up zones with alerts. For example, if you want to work in your HR Zone 1, you can set the alerts for this and the watch will beep at you if your HR falls below or rises above your target zone. This is VERY useful during HR training. The ANT agent works well, and my watch links quickly and flawlessly every time I come in from a training session and come within range of my computer where I leave my ANT stick plugged in. It then uploads the data to GarminConnect and pops up a little bubble asking you if you want to view it now. Very easy to use, very quick, very neat.
Now the cons; the GarminConnect system leaves ALOT to be desired. My biggest complaint lies in that you can't share your dashboard publicly. You can only choose to send an email alert to someone for each individual training session. This means I can't view my brothers entire training log, but only one individual training session at a time. I also can't view any training session that my brother doesn't specifically email to me. I emailed GarminConnect about this asking if maybe there was just something I was missing, and was told the only way to share my entire training log would be to give my username and password to someone else to log into my account, unless I wanted to buy one of the more expensive GPS-based units which I could then share data with. I was not pleased with this solution, being as how [...] and [...] both have the ability to view other users profiles without having to log into their account. I know it isn't difficult to achieve, but for some reason Garmin has decided not to allow this unless you spend the money for their higher end units. I also have had issues with setting goals on GarminConnect. I have set distance running goals that start on Monday and go for 1 week, yet training runs I perform on Sunday won't count towards the goal. Since my brother and I meet up every Sunday to run our longest training run of the week, these won't show up towards any of the goals I set. I have since given up on using the goals feature and just write them on a calendar in my office instead. I have also emailed Garmin about this issue and the response I got back was something along the lines of "sorry, but too bad." Needless to say, I haven't been too impressed with the customer service after the sale from Garmin as well.
All in all, the unit physically performs the functions it is supposed to perform. The only problems lie in the GarminConnect website and their shoddy customer service after the sale. Due to this, I will not be buying another Garmin brand product. My next upgrade for a training watch/HR monitor/foot pod will likely be a Polar brand and I will stick with Magellan brand GPS units from now on.
Digital camera 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.Digital camera Review: FOR ROAD ONLY does not work on gym equipment
Summary: 3 Stars
The forerunner 50 only counts calories, speed, etc. when you are on the road. The only thing it does when you are on fitness equipment is track your heart rate. I didn't know there was a heart rate monitor that didn't determine calories all the time.
Garmin customer service tells me the forerunner series does not work on elliptical machines, exercise bikes, or stair steppers. I have been told it reads inconsistent on the treadmill. I was very disappointed because I planned on using this to track "fitness" on my elliptical as well as outdoor walking.
With that said, it seems to work great on the road. For those of you training for a marathon it would be good. But this doesn't meet my needs. I'm hoping I can return it.