Last week I thought that my Garmin Vivofit (original model) activity tracker was dead. I had replaced the batteries, but they died within a week, and another set did the same. It turns out it was the batteries that were bad – teaches me to buy cheap from Amazon – and a fresh set from […]
Old Tech That Works: Four Running-Fitness Gadgets That Have Stood the Test of Time
June 26, 2016 By 10 Comments
Polar A300 Fitness Watch and Activity Monitor Review
May 12, 2015 By 6 Comments
I’ve been using some form of activity tracker for a few years now. For a while I had a Fitbit (which went missing in Florida a few years ago), but my go-to device for the past year or so has been the Garmin Vivofit. For the most part I really like the Vivofit – solid […]
Review: Jabra Sport Pulse Wireless Bluetooth Headphones With Heart Rate Monitoring
March 16, 2015 By 17 Comments
Over the past year I’ve reviewed a few optical heart rate monitors that allow runners to do away with the traditional chest strap. Both the Mio Link and Scosche Rhythm+ performed well, though I preferred the latter due to the fact that its fabric band was more comfortable and allowed it to be placed in […]
Scosche Rhythm+ Plus Wrist/Arm Mounted Optical Heart Rate Monitor Review
January 7, 2015 By 23 Comments
Last summer I reviewed the Mio Link wrist-mounted heart rate monitor and found it to be a great alternative to a traditional chest strap HRM. It measured my heart rate accurately, and synced perfectly with both my Garmin 620 and Vivofit. I had to return the Link to the manufacturer after writing my review, but […]
Another Example of a Garmin Forerunner 620 Tracking Problem
November 10, 2014 By 33 Comments
Several months ago I wrote a post in which I discussed GPS accuracy issues I’ve experienced with my Garmin Forerunner 620. Though on the whole I like the watch, I still experience episodes where it seems to flip out and lose track of real-time pace and/or the correct track. This often manifests as the watch […]
Biggest Drawback of the Apple Sport Watch For Runners: No On-Board GPS
September 10, 2014 By 61 Comments
The big news yesterday was Apple’s announcement of two new iPhones as well as the Apple Watch. Like most people, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the announcement of the Watch since rumors have consistently hinted at a slew of fitness-related features. Done well, the watch had the potential to be a game changer in the fitness […]
Timex Introduces Ironman One GPS+ Smart Watch
August 7, 2014 By 7 Comments
I’ve reviewed a number of GPS fitness watches over the past few years. One of the most impressive was the Motorola MotoActv – it had a beautiful touch-screen, could play music via Bluetooth, and was solid on the tracking side. Unfortunately the MotoActv had some fatal flaws, namely poor battery life and ineffective waterproofing, particularly […]
Mio Link Wrist Mounted Heart Rate Monitor Review: A Runner’s Perspective
July 28, 2014 By 19 Comments
In the past I have not been a regular user of a heart rate monitor while running. I’ve used them on and off, and have found heart rate data to be a good way to monitor my effort, but I’m not a huge fan of chest straps since they occasionally chafe me and it’s just […]
Garmin Forerunner 15 (FR15) Review: Activity Tracking and GPS in One Watch
July 8, 2014 By 34 Comments
Last summer I wrote a very positive review of the Garmin Forerunner 10 GPS watch. The FR10 is Garmin’s entry level GPS watch, and I was more than a bit surprised by how much I liked it. It provided accurate tracking, stable pace readouts, a small form-factor, and an intuitive, simple menu system. The device […]
Garmin Vivofit Activity Tracker Review: A Runner’s Perspective
July 7, 2014 By 57 Comments
I was a long time user of a Fitbit Ultra activity tracker. I loved that little device, and used it daily for a few years. Unfortunately, the Fitbit had a bad habit of falling off my waistband and getting lost. Or I’d forget to take it off and it would go through the wash, or […]
Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Watch Review
March 5, 2014 By 15 Comments
My first ever GPS watch was the Garmin Forerunner 205. I loved that watch and used it on every run for several years. It was rock-solid when it came to tracking, the battery seemed to last forever, and it carried me through multiple marathons without issue. My only real issue with the 205 was that […]
Garmin Forerunner 10 (FR10) Review: Great Performance in a Small, Low-Priced Package
June 10, 2013 By 77 Comments
Update 7/8/2014 –I have now posted a review of the Garmin Forerunner FR15. The FR15 is basically an update to the FR10 that adds step counting, heart rate monitor sync, and longer battery life. One of the first reviews I wrote here on Runblogger was of the Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS watch. That was way back in April of 2009! […]
Motorola MOTOACTV GPS Workout Recorder Review: Close, But Not Quite There
April 9, 2012 By 24 Comments
For the past three months or so I’ve been using the Motorola MOTOACTV GPS on almost every single one of my runs (disclosure: this product was a media sample provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer for review purposes). About a month into using the MOTOACTV I was prepared to write a review […]
Soleus GPS 1.0 Watch Review: A Minimalist GPS Watch at a Minimalist Price
January 14, 2012 By 27 Comments
Although I tend toward minimalism in my footwear, I’m a major tech geek and stats junkie, and a GPS watch is a constant companion on my runs. I’ve flirted with the thought of running “naked” more often as espoused by my friends Mossy and Robbo of the Naked Runners Podcast, but I can’t seem to […]
Running Gear Review: Garmin Forerunner 205/305 GPS Wristwatch
April 7, 2009 By 25 Comments
This review of the Garmin Forerunner 205/305 GPS Wristwatch follows up on my review of the Nike+ system (see here). I’ve used both of these systems extensively (> six months of regular use each), and my goal here is to explain why I much prefer the Garmin Forerunner. If you want a personal running computer […]
