( 16 reviews )
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Posted: Jul 19 2009
I was really excited to get this product as I was hoping to train for a triathlon and was pumped that it included a bike setting. I had a forerunner 201 before which I loved. However, I really dislike this model and I felt I needed to warn anyone looking to buy this model. The satellite is CRAP. I can run the same route 4 different times and get 4 different distances. The satellite goes out - it doesn't matter if I am in the city, on a trail, or just main roads in the suburbs. I have found when I have run races and brought my garmin the mileage is WAY OFF - I'm talking 3.7 according to Garmin for a 5.1. Understandably it has a lot of great features, but not worth the price if it can't do the simple things it advertises. Buyer beware!
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Posted: Jul 13 2009
This is a great product in just about every regard. I use it for biking and when I'm on the road I absolutely love it. I then come home and upload my ride into Sports Tracks and it's great. But... when you first start out (or after a long break), it will take anywhere from 5 to 15 (yes, 15!) minutes to sync with the satellites. This unfortunately makes the 301 frustrating and often useless. When I'm riding to work I don't want to wait for this stupid thing to sync. When I'm on a long weekend ride my buddies don't want to sit around waiting either. This just makes the thing useless. I am now shopping for another GPS system that doesn't have this problem.
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Posted: May 25 2009
I have had one of these since February having previously used the Oregon Scientific Heart Rate Logger with Download (until it fell in the kitchen garbage disposal). The question I could not answer easily when searching was: does this work in the Gym, the answer is: Yes (and no) - there is a setting which switches off the GPS and just records your heart rate, and it works well if your working reasonably hard (elliptical, treadmill etc), although for light workouts (me on my Wii) the heart rate monitor struggles at best. I have used it whilst Skiing (theres a nice website that uploads your garmin data and even tells you which runs you were on etc), and airsofting. GPS performance works well except in wooded areas, although useful for navigating the woods, if you need accurate recorded data it will let you down, also as all GPS devices if your out running and you make an accute turn (e.g. 180 degrees) the recorded distance will fall off (the unit records points approximately 4-6 seconds apart. Taking wide loops alleviates this issue though. Battery life does how it says 14 hours on a full charge is no problem, however after I have downloaded into my laptop, I have picked up the unit for the next run and found the battery dead, so now once I disconnect from the PC I cycle the power to make sure it is switched off. The Garmin proprietary software works well, seamlessly syncs and displays lots of useful data. Online motionbased software (provides huge amounts of data on your runs, walks etc) works well and with the downloadable Garmin Connect software pulls data off the device as easy as the software on your machine. As I have said before with skiing there are other more specialised websites that either use .GPX tracks or use the Garmin Connect software to easily upload your data. Any waypoint editors, etc which work with the other Garmin walking/exercise units will read and write data to this device with few issues if any. Summary: This is the lowest priced forerunner with a heart rate monitor. If you dont have a big budget and want a GPS recorder/heart rate monitor get this one. If you can afford more get the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor, apparently this has a better GPS receiver. This unit has provided me with loads of motivation to get my backside off the couch and get out there and run/walk.
