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Manufacturer: Garmin

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Buy Now: Garmin Forerunner 201 BP Wrist-mounted GPS Personal Training Device

Garmin Forerunner 201 BP Wrist-mounted GPS Personal Training Device

Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS Training Assistant - The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy-to-read display, ergonomic wristband, and integrated GPS sensor that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data. It’s a compact, lightweight, accurate training assistant with performance tracking, auto-lap, auto-pause and more. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an affordable price. Working out with the Forerunner 201 means you’re never alone in your personal training, because the unit provides a Virtual Partner. This unique feature allows you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner’s pace and workout distance. You’ll get a graphic perspective of your performance by viewing your pace in relation to your Virtual Partner’s pace, so you can always see at a glance if you’re keeping up or falling behind. Includes - Wrist strap, AC Charger

Combining powerful performance-tracking features with a GPS receiver, the Garmin Forerunner 201 offers runners and hikers a unique way to track their exercise regimens and goals. Unlike its main competitor, Timex’s BodyLink sport monitoring system, the Forerunner 201 integrates the GPS receiver into a single body (BodyLink has separate housings for watch and GPS).

101 201 301 1. Allows you to set up profiles for running, biking, and another sport. 2. Set up workouts with specific durations and targets (speed or heart rate). Speed Pace Distance Calories burned Heart rate Sports profiles1 Advanced workouts2 PC interface (serial) (USB) Analyze workout data on PC Size (inches, WxDxH) 3.3 x .9 x 1.7 3.3 x .7 x 1.7 3.3 x .7 x 1.7 Weight (ounces, with batteries) 2.6 2.75 2.75 Batteries 2 AAAs, 15 hours Rechargeable, 15 hours Rechargeable, 14 hours

At first, the device felt a little bulky on my wrist, both in weight and in size (it measures 3.26 by 1.71 by 0.69 inches). But it really is light enough (less than 3 ounces) that it felt comfortable and transparent. I did, however, position the band a bit higher up my arm to ensure full mobility of my wrist, as the length of the Forerunner tended to get in its way.

The large display–with equally large, easy-to-read characters–helps you avoid having to squint at the readout. Just a quick glance at your numbers and you’ll maintain your training concentration. The six rubber buttons on the front of the chassis are easy to access (unless you’re wearing bulky gloves). I easily got the promised 13 hours out of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery. At the end of the day, I’d just recharge it for around two hours and it would be ready for me the next morning.

While this is definitely a workable GPS receiver, the Forerunner is slim on overall GPS features–which is not to its detriment (think of it as a performance monitor with a dash of GPS). That said, the Forerunner was able to pick up a GPS signal just about wherever I went outside (though it had very slight hiccups in the center of downtown). But if you’re looking for a full-fledged tracking device, the Forerunner isn’t for you. (You’ll want to start with a basic GPS unit like Garmin’s eTrex.)

The Forerunner 201 has a variety of helpful tracking, monitoring, and navigational features. The History function enables you to view your workout statistics broken down by individual days, cumulative weeks, or your entire workout history (if you track different workouts during the same day, they’ll be broken out as different laps). You can even view a map of your route. And much like other GPS units, you can save waypoints (called “locations” in Forerunner parlance) to mark the coordinates of a place you want to return to later.

Most interesting is the Virtual Partner mode, which enables you to set goals for a workout which will then be completed by a digital character displayed on the Forerunner’s screen. You can then see how far off the time, pace, or distance you are of your virtual training buddy’s; your digital character even stops when you do (though the buddy keeps on going). I found that, unless you’ve got a good idea as to your pace or distance, you’ll have a couple of trial-and-error training sessions to get in sync with your buddy. I cut short my first attempt after my buddy got so far ahead of me that he disappeared off the screen (which I’d like to believe was not due to my woeful pace).

I was disappointed at not having the LogBook software, which enables you to keep a journal of your exercise activities (it was not available at the time of this test). But overall, the Forerunner 201 is a very useful exercise-monitoring system that will be prized by anyone involved in serious physical training. –Agen G.N. Schmitz

Pros:

• Loaded with performance-tracking features for the serious athlete
• GPS functionality a bonus, especially in referring back to previous routes
• Virtual Partner feature offers a fun, competitive way to keep you concentrated on training

Cons:

• Lack of Logbook software at time of test
• Virtual Partner feature takes some trial-and-error adjustments

Finally, an alternative to awkward pedometers and cycling computers. The Forerunner 201 offers athletes an easy-to-read display and integrated GPS satellite receiver that provides precise speed, distance, and pace data–all in one compact unit that straps to your wrist. It’s a lightweight, accurate training assistant with performance tracking, auto-lap, auto-pause and more. And because it is a high quality Garmin GPS device, you get many of the features GPS users have come to rely on, such as precise latitude, longitude, altitude data. Choose either the 201 model for rechargeable power or the 101 if you prefer to use 2 AAA batteries. The Forerunner 201 is easy to use right out of the box and delivers the benefits of GPS technology at an affordable price.

To please folks who are passionate about their exercise and training, Garmin has added something special to the Forerunner 201 called the Virtual Partner. The feature allows you to set your training goal by configuring your Virtual Partner’s pace and workout distance. You’ll get a graphic perspective of your performance by viewing your pace in relation to your Virtual Partner’s pace, so you can always see at a glance if you’re keeping up or falling behind.

Almost as important as the training device itself are the accessories to integrate it with your active lifestyle. If you’re into cycling, the best way to keep an eye on your GPS while you ride is with a bike mount bracket that straps to the handlebars of your bike, motorcycle, or whatever you’re traveling with for easy viewing.

Other Forerunner 201 features:

• Mark specific locations, and then look-up and navigate to these points using an electronic map.
• Retrace your steps to a starting point or reverse your normal route for routine variation.
• Amount of calories burned can be tracked and calculated over the course of a workout.
• Lap history–such as lap time, lap distance, and average pace–can be stored for up to two years.
• Performance data can be automatically archived and calculated to provide an accurate record.
• Automated stopwatch provides auto-lap and auto-pause features.
• Lap timer indicates when a certain speed is reached or when you’ve fallen below a pre-set level.
• Pace whistle sounds alert when you begin traveling slower or faster than your desired pace.
• Distance whistle sounds when you reach a specified duration or distance in your workout.
• Download free Garmin software to transfer data from your Forerunner 201 to your PC for storage and analysis.

What’s in the box:

• Forerunner 201 unit
• Wrist strap
• A/C desktop charger with serial interface

Garmin Forerunner 201 BP Wrist-mounted GPS Personal Training Device Features:

• Waterproof, wrist-mounted training device/GPS receiver for tracking lap times, distance, and calories burned
• Integrated GPS receiver displays your progress on favorite routes and saves up to 100 locations
• Virtual Partner mode sets time, pace, and distance goals and races you against digital competitor
• History function breaks down workout statistics by day or cumulative weeks; includes serial PC interface
• Adjustable wristband and AC desktop charger; measures 3.26 x 1.71 x 9.69 inches (W x H x D); 1-year warranty

Garmin Forerunner 201 BP Wrist-mounted GPS Personal Training Device Reviews

Garmin Forerunner 201 BP Wrist - too difficult to use
It works, the directions are OK, but it really isn’t worth the effort.

Great tool to prevent overtraining
Pros

1. Works well for total distance/pace.

2. The logbook software is excellent and easy to use.

3. Really helps to keep mileage in your target range to avoid overtraining.

4. Battery charge works really well. (I did 8 runs and still showed 13 hours charge time left).

5. Does not have a heart monitor. (I already had a heart monitor that works very well when I purchased).

Cons

1. The pace feature is not good in real time. I have tried both “most” and “least” smoothing settings with suspect results. The avg pace that is calculated at the end of your run is good however. (Real time pace bounces up and down. I would sometimes see a pace of 6:31 and seconds later see 8:24 without changing my running speed).

2. Unit is large but light. You don’t even notice it while running.

3. Should have USB port instead of com port.

4. Takes several minutes to lock on to satellites. (I always warm up with a 1/4 mile walk first which works for me).

Summary

This device works very well for me. I would buy it again.

Perfect for Marathon Training
This Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS stopwatch is a fabulous training aid. Offers accurate distance and pace measurements, with continuous updating during the run. Options available in the device include: Alarms to notify you when you are going faster or slower than your chosen pace, Automatic splits at distances you can determine, keeps all information on each run for ready review, can download data into your computer.

Other features include tracking path you take, marking points you visit and direction finder to tell you how to get back to any point.

This is a great aid while running for training or for information while you are competing to help gauge pace.

The goods and the bads
Goods: Garmin has a very good customer service so if your machine breaks, it can be replaced right away. Large buttons and screen make it easy to operate and read.

Bads: I have had 3 Forerunners up to now and 2 out of 3 have gone broken within a year. The problem are the buttons which stop working for some odd reason. The good part is that I have gotten new Forerunners everytime my old one breaks but won’t be able to do that any more since the guarante is now over. The problem since to either be the moisture or the rain.

Forerunner 201
Overall I’m happy with the product, as it’s great to have a device that I can use to time my runs (I don’t have a watch with a timer on it). However, it sometimes takes quite awhile to link up with the satellite, so the pace and mileage aren’t as accurate as they could be. Also, there’s a weak GPS signal more than I’d like, which also conflicts with pace and mileage. This is a great product if you run only in very open areas with nothing that could conflict with the GPS signal.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 14th, 2006 at 8:19 pm and is filed under GPS, Garmin, Handheld GPS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.