GPS Watches & Heart Rate Monitors

Choosing your GPS, watches heart rate monitor

The integration between Global Positioning System devices and watches is an intuitive and useful one. The former are useful in a vast number of outdoor activities, from trekking and hiking to car rally and skiing. The latter has been a popular fashion piece since the beginning of the twentieth century, and has the advantage of being very comfortably portable. This mix between the two allow runners to measure their runs, keep track of their calories, heart rate, lap speeds and other training aids relative to their exercise. Check below to know more about each half of this clever hybrid category.

Check out Screen Size

When buying a GPS watch, screen size is a conflicting factor. A bigger screen, as one can guess, means that the information is much easier to read. Moreover, they generally indicate that the watch is more complete in its features, needing more space to display all the information available. On the other hand, watches with a big screen are much less discreet, fashionable and convenient to wear in some situations. Screen size obviously has direct consequences on final weight and total size.

Choose GPS, watches heart rate monitors that can recognize your voice

Continuing with software, those GPS, watches heart rate monitors with voice recognition technology are considered to be among the most efficient. It is a wonderful experience when you can bark a command to your smartwatch and it is able to execute it. Life will become much easier for you.

Signal and accuracy

These continue to be decisive factors in these models as much as in standalone GPS devices. It is important to remember that there are some limitations that are set into stone: no model is going to be 100% accurate, and no model will catch excellent satellite signal in a cave below 50 meters of earth and stone. However, it is important to look for GPS models that try their best to minimize these issues. Some of them can be accurate down to 1% and have great signal resistance on cloudy days – which can be a real problem for some other models.

Features and Activities

Basic models generally fulfill the needs of people who practice running and jogging very well. But depending on your activities, you should know that some very useful features are avalaible:

Bikers will want to look for models that support bike sensor and power meter add-ons.

People who are into trekking and skiing might want to look for models that sport barometers for measuring elevation, as well as a very good battery life and efficient navigation / markers system.

For swimmers a waterproof model is absolutely crucial, and built-in accelerometers will also be very useful. A GPS watch might be better for more than one activity, and all of them count with the most basic functions.

A personal record tracker is another interesting perk for any type of sportsman.

Training aids such as Virtual Partner and Virtual Pacer are great ways to boost morale and impose discipline – useful aspects for everyone, from beginners to expert sportsmen.

Heart rate tracking has some way to go

As far as heart rate tracking is concerned, most of the GPS, watches heart rate monitors have miles to go. All these devices can track your heart rate, but accuracy is something that has not been fine-tuned yet. Some use optical sensors and some use bio-impedance technology and some use other modes. However, don’t be overly dependent on these monitors and take their readings with a pinch of salt. This said, it must be mentioned that these devices are still useful because they can give you plenty of information to work on your fitness.

Top GPS, watches heart rate monitors for each use

One of the most important reasons for you to purchase GPS, watches heart rate monitors is so that you can monitor your heart rate. The bestselling products for monitoring your heart include Garmin Fenix 3 (photo 1), Garmin Forerunner 220, TomTom Runner, Suunto Core and Nike+ SportWatch GPS Powered by TomTom (photo 2).

Most of the GPS, watches heart rate monitors have sporty looks because they are mostly associated with your health and wellbeing. Some of these watches are extremely good looking and the products to consider include Garmin Forerunner 920XT, Garmin Forerunner 620, TomTom Multi-Sport, Magellan Echo Fit and Soleus Pulse (photo 3).

If you simply want to look at the highest selling GPS, watches heart rate monitors, then make sure you have look at the top five

1. Garmin Fenix 3 (photo 1)

2. Garmin Forerunner 220

3. Garmin Forerunner 920XT

4. Garmin Forerunner 15

5. Garmin Forerunner 210. This list clearly tells you that Garmin is the best in this category.

Some of the other brands to consider in GPS, watches heart rate monitors are Polar, Suunto, TomTom, Magellan and Soleus Air.