I think I want to invest in a GPS watch

pickmeup wrote:

I don't care about being able to connect and record my data to my computer, since I do it manually with a spreadsheet anyway.

I'd like an accurate one that could possibly be used for trails. However, not too bulky.

I'd like one that has a decent looking display

You mean you want to buy one? I can't think of any way that a gps watch would do anything but devalue over time, so it's not an investment, it's an expense. But for a good gps watch Garmin would be my choice. Their products and customer service are tops.

I use a Garmin forerunner 305. All Garmins do the same thing, it's just some are nicer. I have seen 305's online for as low a $50.

All electronics devalue over time, The Garmin watches actually have ways of updating the software, so as long as you can get satellites your mileage readings will always be well accurate.

I believe you mean you want to purchase a consumer electronics item which will be worthless or obsolete in several years.

Get the Garmin Forerunner 210. I've tried many GPS watches and it's the best by far. It's relatively small and very accurate. It's also not too expensive.

how are the features on the 210?

If you get on a trail under a heavy canopy the accuracy is going to plumit. A gps watch is a good investment that will pay dividends in your training and with helping to hit race day paces, but they do have limitations.

I got the Soleus GPS 1.0 watch a few months ago and am happy with it, especially for costing less than $100.

the display looks pretty crappy on the soleus ones to be honest. I have the soleus 10k, which has a good display. shame they can't put something like that on the gps one

I think i am going to do the same and invest on one too..it is quite useful.

Id suggest the Garmin 210 features distance pace time intervals heart rate should you choose. Soleus gps watches would be a second choice. Garmin been around forever. Customer service is great should you need it. Return and repair is the best I have seen. No extra hardware for GPS unless you want to add a footpod for cadence or true indoor mileage. I believe the main difference between the Forerunner 110 and the 210 is real time pace.

210 and up are the better watches.

As mentioned before a Canopy or a bridge may cut the signal.

I used a GPS for about 2 years, but deciding to stop using and just pawned it off on eBay for several reasons:

1. Having my pace in front of me at all times caused me to be overly competitive with myself. I would always end up pushing the pace in easy runs because I'd hate to see a slow pace on the watch. Maybe you're not this way, but a lot of runners are. Many of us tend not to have the best self control with training, so think hard about whether you do.

2. Trail pace is often times pretty irrelevant, especially on technical, steep, or undulating courses. Running an amount of time at a perceived effort level is far more important than running an amount of time at a set pace.

3. GPS are not always 100% accurate on trails, especially with lots of trees. If you know yourself well, your best estimate of distance is probably about as accurate as GPS on a densely wooded trail.

4. You will absolutely become dependent on a watch with this sort of data, which is not a good thing. Simpler is usually better.

5. If you want to get better, just go out and run.

If I haven't convinced you otherwise, just get a Garmin 305. They're every bit as accurate as the fancier versions, much cheaper, and the battery life is really solid (a big plus compared to the others, because let's be honest... you won't always remember to charge between runs).

I've used the Gamin 201 for nearly a decade, and honestly I don't know how I ever managed without one. I prefer to run miles as opposed to timed runs, and when I got a GPS, it opened up an infinitude of routes that I otherwise would not have discovered (at least, not until mapmyrun came around, and even then, there's little room for spontaneity).

I've never used any other model, so I can't give an informed opinion on which one is the best. The 201 is a little big, but you get used to it, and I like the big screen and easy to use interface.

The 305 is a little more compact and stylish, and I know more runners who use this one than my 201, so it is popular. But I believe it is pricier.

Try looking for one on ebay, you can get some good deals there.

It sounds more like he wants a watch that clocks splits and mileage with their respective times.

dependency would be buying a heart rate monitor and logging every bit of data you can possibly break down.

Hypo wrote:

I can't think of any way that a gps watch would do anything but devalue over time, so it's not an investment, it's an expense. .

False

I bought a 305, trained with it all year and won my AG at some races earning $150 that I wouldn't have made before. Best running investment I have ever made. (besides my cho-pat, foam roller, steven strassburg sock, minimalist shoes, compression calf sleeves, arm warmers, hydration belt, Road ID, and of course the McMillan DVD to run faster)

Garmin 210 (no HR) - Everything you need for running. Only thing I suggest is to clear your data once a week or so otherwise it gets slow when opening the features (i.e. History). If you have questions I'm sure we can answer them.

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2010/12/garmin-forerunner-210-in-depth-review.html

I had actually looked at dcrainmaker while I was researching watches. He does an excellent job. I like the in-depth reviews and don't find them to be "too much" at all.