Is the Garmin Forerunner 301 a Good Value? Where Can You Get a Great Deal on this GPS Watch?

The Forerunner 301 is a more advanced version than the 201 of the Forerunner models by Garmin. It builds upon the Forerunner 201 while adding the addition of a heart rate monitor and a few other advanced features. Forerunner 301 is a personal training device for athletes, recreational runners, bikers and hikers.

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The unit consists of two pieces, a wrist unit and a digital heart rate transmitter strap. You wear the strap on the chest. The strap transmits heart rate signals wirelessly to the wrist unit which collects the data for monitoring heart rate during work outs and exercises.

Like the Forerunner 201 the unit is compact, lightweight (2.8 ounces) and waterproof and has a large easy-to-read display. It collects data for speed, distance, time, pace and heart rate.

The device tells exact locations, marks the specific locations and traces the path on which you ran. The Auto Lap feature automatically starts a new lap after a preset distance.

The Auto Pause stops the timer if you stop or go below a certain speed. You can set up an alarm that goes off if you go above or below a specific pace or reach a certain distance or time. You can store history of your work outs -- time, distance, average pace and heart rate -- for 5000 laps. You can do all the data analysis with charts and graphs with the software provided by Garmin. Data generated by Forerunner 301 can also be analyzed at Motionbased.com or TrainingPeaks.com, web based applications popular among athletes.

Like in the Forerunner 201 the Forerunner 301 permits you to create a Virtual Partner which is a tool that lets you set goals for yourself. You preset the distance and time for your companion and you can see whether you are keeping up or falling behind.

The heart rate monitor is a particularly important addition in Forerunner 301. With the help of the heart rate zone chart which is provided you can target specific heart rate zones and train more effectively. If you don't wish to use the chart, the AutoLearn feature calculates the heart rate zones automatically.

The heart rate monitor comes particularly handy if you are recovering from an illness and want to carefully monitor your heart rate. Multi sports capability allows you to transition seamlessly between running, biking and another sport, all in the same workout.

The forerunner runs on a lithium ion rechargeable battery that typically runs 15 hours per recharge. This GPS device works fine in most cases, except in some situations around tall buildings or under heavy tree cover.

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