Friday, October 5, 2012

How You Can Judge and Select a Good Running Watch

By Janiece Stojanovic



Whether you prefer running for enjoyment, personal exercise or as a competent sportsperson, you will find GPS running watches to be extremely helpful. Running wristwatches not only help you time your cycles but will also aid you in tracking your distance and speed developments. Models of running watches from simple models to heart monitors and even more importantly GPS running watches are in the current market. Though GPS technology has mostly been utilized in auto technology as well as other state-of-the-art security applications, it's been modified for fitness use and particularly for specialist athletes.

Primary advantages of GPS fitness watches

Just like a basic watch will only indicate the time, other specialized watches like heart rate watches will only monitor one specific aspect of your running session. Most GPS running watches combine all these functions into one device. Simple GPS watches will monitor time, distance, speed, calorie usage, heartbeat and preloaded workouts to help you monitor your performance. In addition, advanced GPS running watches measure the altitude, which is an important factor for certain professional endurance athletes. These watches are installed with software to enable you to analyze your data on the computer. Since they are GPS enabled, they can sync the data online to your preferred online data centers.

What to consider before purchasing a GPS running watch

There are many GPS running watches on the market. Choice depends not only on the functionality of the watch but also on your needs and finance. Factors to consider include:

1. The features. Think about whether you would like a sophisticated or a straightforward running watch.

2. The dimensions. The running watch should not hinder your normal movements, especially if it is included with other devices like a heart monitor.

3. The cost: Most GPS wrist watches range from $200 to $500 in cost. Beyond a particular price, going even further up in cost may not always be much better.

Sample running watches available in the market

The most popular GPS watches available in the market include:

1. The NIKE SportWatch GPS. With a record amount of sales, the Nike's GPS hardly ever gets disrupted and it will map the paths and laps you have run as well as the time, mileage, pace, calories burned and heartrate. You can set alarms and critique previous runs with this running watch. Another comparable GPS running smart watch from Nike is the Nike SportBand.

2. The Motorola Motoactv. For sale in 8GB and 16GB models, this includes a music player to inspire you and is suitable for sportsmen, golf players and bikers. For $150, the Motorola Motoactv will synchronize your data on the web, amid other benefits.

3. The Garmin Forerunner collection. This GPS watch has probably the most advanced statistical capabilities. For example, make use of the virtual partner to set a speed for yourself as well as previous run data. As you are active running, the Garmin Forerunner will determine the energy you are burning up, your heartrate, the routes that you use, pace and of course time. You can download this information onto your pc to monitor your improvement.

4. Timex Ironman trainer with GPS. Its main edge is the customizable easy-to-read display. Its online management software package, Training Peaks, makes it possible to analyze your workout data online. With water proofing and a 15 hour battery lifespan, this smart watch is a serious challenger.




About the Author:

One of the most recent brands of running watches on the market at present is the Motorola Motoactv. The new workout watch from Motorola is shaking up the current market with additions to the GPS writst watch concept such as smart song player, accelerometer, golf tracking and an Android based operating system.

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