Garmin Forerunner 15 Sports Watches
Until the arrival of the Garmin Forerunner fifteen, running watches are the preserve of the intense contestant, trying to shave seconds off their metallic element by fine-tuning everything from cadence to gait.
That exclusivity has been partially as a result of the value of dedicated
sports watches, and also the wealth of hardcore options found on devices just like the Garmin Forerunner 620 and also the Suunto compass a pair of, that delay amateur runners.
At simply £129, the Garmin Forerunner fifteen prices a fraction of the worth of its peers, and is firmly aimed toward the lower finish of the runner’s market, that is a very large, untapped space.
There square measure voluminous amateur racers grappling 10ks and marathons, WHO don’t want associate degree elite runner’s watch, nonetheless need to trace their distances, split times and heart rate; options that square measure on the far side activity bands like the Fitbit Flex, Jawbone UP24 and Garmin’s own Vivofit.
Garmin Forerunner 15: options and style
Aimed at the runner torn between a cheap activity hunter and a heavy sports watch, the Garmin Forerunner fifteen offers the most effective of each worlds.
The Forerunner fifteen packs altogether the vacant necessities for runners: distance, pace, time, calories, splits and pulse (with a strap accessory), that is everything you wish to induce the foremost from your coaching.
Most significantly, the run trailing is finished via GPS, that distinguishes it from alternative activity bands that approximation your distances supported your movement, instead of your world position. this is often far more correct, and also the least anyone endeavor serious running coaching should expect.
Bigger watches just like the Garmin Forerunner 620 (£279) will track cadence, body position and supply suggestions on recovery time, however none of that has been brought across to the Forerunner fifteen. If you’re searching for the foremost elaborated running info, you’ll got to pay extra money, however we’re happy to visualize than shunned here for a additional cheap worth.
There is, however, a dose of activity trailing options thrown in, and once you’re not running, the Garmin can act as a measuring system, calorie counter and distance hunter – supported the quality movement sensors instead of GPS, that drains a fraction of the battery life.
Running watches tend to possess a standardized look, and also the Forerunner fifteen is not any completely different. There’s the classic gaudy chunk, that is slightly masculine – however it actually wouldn’t look out of place on a feminine runner’s carpus. There’s a splash of color – during this case blue, and also the obligatory rubber sports strap and thick plastic edge that repels rain and perspiration. It’s actually a gaudy look, and that we can’t see anyone sporting it with their best suit.
Operation is finished by four massive buttons, and once a few of uses, the navigation is slick, simple and logical. the dimensions of the buttons build it simple to use once running, thus you'll cycle between screens to look at completely different stats simply.
Garmin Forerunner 15: Activity trailing
When you head out on your run, it’s simply a case of striking the massive blue button to induce started. The Forerunner can then rummage around for a GPS signal, that sometimes takes around thirty seconds - that could be a pretty fast lock time in our expertise.
Once you start, the Forerunner fifteen shows live readings of your time and distance on the primary screen, and pace and calories on the second, that you'll flip between with a press of the choice button.
The GPS trailing is very correct, and it’s fast to register changes in your pace, that is superb for runners attempting to form gains in their tempo. quick runs square measure a necessary a part of any race preparation, and having the ability to pay a 40-minute run at an exact pace is very useful.
In terms of the on a daily basis activity trailing, the step tally works well, and you'll work towards daily goals. because the Garmin is intended for runners, this appears a bit supererogatory, and once you’re putting in place 10-mile coaching runs before breakfast, it’s onerous to worry if you walked 10,000 or 20,000 steps that day.
As the Garmin uses GPS info to update your running stats, it’s not terribly adept at indoor running, for those that prefer to get their coaching done on the treadmill. it's compatible with variety of accessories: the primary being Foot Pod for indoor trailing, and there’s additionally a partner pulse monitor.
Garmin Forerunner 15: App
The Garmin Forerunner fifteen affected with its sturdy worth, nice feature set and prime performance, however there’s a black mark against its name.
After our 1st run it came time to visualize the results, as we have a tendency to were aghast to seek out out that the Garmin Forerunner fifteen doesn’t work with the robot or iOS Garmin Connect app; you have got to use a mack / laptop desktop version instead.
Bluetooth isn’t enclosed on the watch, which implies the Forerunner fifteen is absent from the long list of supported devices that employment with the mobile apps. We’ve asked Garmin for a reason why this feature has been omitted, and square measure awaiting a response.
The web app could be a very little gawky, however the results square measure wonderful. you initially got to install Garmin categorical, that could be a little transfer that acts as a bridge between the Garmin device obstructed into your laptop via USB and also the internet app, that you access via connect.garmin.com.
The app itself is quick and responsive, with a bunch of options. you'll read your runs and activity history, additional thereon later, however additionally plot running routes employing a neat mapping tool, set yourself goals, sign on to running challenges, manage your weight and health.
In short, it’s one amongst the foremost complete fitness apps we’ve ever seen, simply with the hurdle of getting to show on your main portable computer to seem at the results of your run. The result is that we have a tendency to didn’t reminisce at our stats as typically like apps like RunKeeper, however the additional options square measure very welcome.
Garmin Forerunner 15: Battery life
Due to the neat segregation of GPS running and general activity trailing, the Forerunner fifteen boasts wonderful battery life.
There’s enough juice to stay you surfing your marathon-sized runs, and once you’re victimization the daily activity trailing options, you'll expect over 5 days of use, that puts it up there with the likes of the Jawbone and Fitbit. That’s a formidable result once you think about that its always-on screen suggests that it’s usable as a standard watch.
The only frustration here is that the want for the proprietary Garmin charger, however that stems from the waterproof style and we’re proud of the trade off.
Garmin Forerunner 15 Sports Watches review