wrist GPS units
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Topic created by markwalsh on Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 12:52 pmI'm new to the sport ...(almost a yr now) and am looking for some reccomendations on somthing I could use GPS wise with route tracker to see where and how I'm screwing up.
I currently use polar F7 heart rate monitor with the chest belt but am considering upgrading to something with a GPS function as well.
Not looking to break the bank .......any recommendations w est cost and features?
I'd also be interested in just an entry level GPS as well .....I could always put one on each wrist.
how difficult is it to upload into route gadget and are there minimum requiremnets for a wrist gps to be useful?
Thanks much
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Reply by furlong47 on Thu Mar 31, 2011 at 3:58 pmBy far the most popular wrist GPS at least in the orienteering community seems to be the Garmin Forerunner 305 (or 205, I believe they are the same thing only the 305 has a heart rate monitor). They seem to be running around $130-140 right now at places like Target/Walmart.
I am sure people have different ways that they get the data off of the watch and process and load it to Routegadget. If you are somewhat computer savvy and can follow steps that someone gives you it should be easy. Sometimes the hardest part is finessing the tracks once they are loaded into RG. They don't come out perfectly and you need to play to make them fit. -
Reply by markwalsh on Fri Apr 1, 2011 at 2:10 pmFurlong,
Thanks 4 the response......I looked into them last night on line and they are somewhat massive compared to heart rate watch.
I guess that's the size they come in.........I did noticed on the West Point upcoming "A" meet event site that they mention GPS rentals ........is that what they are refering to a wrist unit ???? or is there something like the finger punch things that records movement that can then be downloaded?
Thanks much
-Mark -
Reply by furlong47 on Fri Apr 1, 2011 at 7:27 pmThere's a link on the West Point page to what they are renting. It looks like a much smaller keychain-sized unit. That may be more what you are looking for, it is small and doesn't have any display. I don't know much about those types of loggers but maybe someone else has an idea which would work best for orienteering.
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Reply by markwalsh on Sat Apr 2, 2011 at 10:52 amFurlong ....I looked on runners world web site ...and I did find smaller garmin wrist units that are also HR monitors like normal watches but for about 150.00 to 200.00 above the bigger ones.
I'm willing to forgo fashion for a few buks saved......I'll ck the /West Point link.
Thanks again
-Mark -
Reply by hughmac4 on Tue Apr 5, 2011 at 12:36 pmHi Mark:
The 305 is large, but very light, and comfortable too. Once you wear it a few times you forget about the size, and the big screen is pretty nice, as well. And (as you mention) it's significantly less expensive. There are extensive discussions about these watches on Attackpoint as well. There's also the ability to directly upload from a 305 to attackpoint.org, which is HUGE from an ease-of-use perspective. I would probably never upload if it wasn't that easy. What that gets you is a quick easy upload for a cool track like:
Tom O and Hughmac4's Excellent BaToNa Trail Adventure
I had to show off Tom Overbaugh and my track from our hike this last weekend.
To be honest, that track is NOT from my 305, but from my Holux M-1000C, which is a blackbox data logger, with no display (legal for WRE competition -- hah!). It's awesome because it lasts for 28 hours, making it suitable for things like the hike we just did, or 24-hour rogaines (which is why I bought it). Those data loggers are also even LESS expensive, at something like $70 for the one I bought, which is a very small, light, accurate one.
To get an idea of size and feel of the 305, ask someone at a local meet if you could try theirs on for size! I'm sure we all wouldn't mind showing off our toy.
Cheers, Hugh
