Garmin Forerunner 610 GPS Enabled Sports Watch Review

Garmin’s Forerunner 610 GPS enabled sports watch is Garmin’s new flagship model intended for serious runners. It features a significant number of performance improvement tools including the new Virtual Racer and Training Effect tools. The 610 can accurately record times, pace, distance, heart rate (some versions), elevation and more while also performing as a timepiece. The big new feature for the Forerunner 610 is the touch screen fronting the high resolution display. The Forrunner 610 is an extremely useful running companion suitable for any weather.

Garmin Forerunner 610 GPS Enabled Sports Watch

Garmin’s new touch screen interface (combined with a couple of bezel touch points) brings all the ease-of-use that consumers find so attractive in media tablets such as the iPad and Galaxy Tab. The video below shows just how easy it is.

Virtual Racer

Rather than rely on only competing with previous bests, runners can use the new Virtual Racer to run a virtual race against an opponent who has upload a training activity to the Garmin Connect site. Virtual Racer accounts for varying speeds and real-time conditions making it a fair contest.

Training Effect

The Garmin Forerunner is the first sports watch to feature Training Effect capability from Firstbeat. Training Effect can measure the impact of a training activity on aerobic fitness helping one to train more efficiently. Why suffer pain with no gain? Calculations are based on the individual’s profile including heart rate and activity difficulty.

A summary of some of the extensive range of training tools available with the Garmin Forerunner 610 are listed below. The inclusion of a vibration is a bonus for those who are forced to train along noisy areas where sound alarms are drowned out.

Virtual Partner – train against a digital partner
Auto Pause – pauses and resumes timer based on speed
Auto Lap – automatically starts a new lap
Auto Scroll – cycles through data screens during a workout
Pace alert – alarm sounds if you vary from a preset pace (advanced workouts only)
Vibration alert: (choose between alert tones and/or vibration alert):
Advanced Workouts – create custom, goal-oriented workouts
Time/distance alert – alarm signifies when a goal has been reached
Interval Training – set up alternating exercise and rest intervals
Run/Walk Alert – Auto Lap and Auto Pause, to remain active during a run/walk session
Heart rate based calculation of calorie consumption
Customization of data display screens
Auto Sync (automatically transferrers data to your computer)

It is possible to customize up to three training pages with more than 30 different types of data. The display of data for each training page can also be individualized. Training pages can be set to automatically scroll through the data you want to see. If required the Garmin Forerunner 610 can store up to 100 Waypoints/favorites/locations and 1000 laps of data (hundreds of hours). Stored data is automatically transferred wirelessly to a PC or Mac when in range of the included ANT+ wireless technology USB stick.

Garmin provide a couple of options for making use of training data.

Garmin Connect – a website for a huge online community of runners and other athletes allowing them to upload, analyze, categorize and share their their training activities. Using the online software it’s possible to display metrics such as time, distance, speed, elevation and heart rate. Information can be displayed using charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic, and elevation maps.
Garmin Training Center Software – for storage and analysis of training data

Both Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center are compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 and Intel-based Mac OS 10.4.11 or later with Safari.

Using its ANT+ wireless communication technology the Forerunner 610 will work with an optional foot pod or speed/cadence sensor. Owners of the heart rate monitor equipped version of the 610 can take advantage of the capability to set one of five heart rate zones for training. The Forerunner 610 will provide heart rate-based calorie computations for more accurate calories burned tracking.

Garmin Forerunner 610 – Included in the Box

Forerunner 610

Premium heart rate monitor (some versions)

AC charger

Charging cradle

USB ANT stick

Quick start manual

Owner’s manual on disk

Battery life for the Forerunner 610 is improved over earlier models at 4 weeks in power-save mode and 8 weeks in training mode. The 610 is water resistant to IPX7 and will cope with training in the rain or being accidentally left on in the shower.

Review Summary – Garmin Forerunner 610 GPS Enabled Sports Watch

Garmin’s Forerunner 610 Sports Watch is a training tool for professional or serious runners with a substantial range of training tools and associated analysis software. Unlike earlier chunky sports watch designs it’s able to double as a smart looking personal timepiece.