From seven top performing GPS watches on the market, reviewers selected winners in the categories of Editors' Choice, Top Pick, and Best Buy.
PRLog - Jun. 16, 2014 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- OutdoorGearlab, a popular website that performs real-world tests of gear, recently published a comprehensive review of popular GPS watches for training and running. This review included models from renown brands in the GPS and gadget market such as Garmin and Suunto. These wearable devices were compared head to head with GPS tracking in the smart phone app Strava.
Lead test editor Jediah Porter examined these watches through thousands of hours running near Leadville, Colorado, mountaineering in the Alaska Range, and backcountry skiing around Mammoth Lakes, California. After multiple weeks trying each individual device, he performed a few comparison tests to evaluate accuracy. His complete review scores each device on ease of use, ease of set-up, features, accuracy, durability, and size/portability. Taking each of these metrics into consideration, winners were chosen in the categories of Editors' Choice, which is the all-around best product, Top Pick, which is the best choice for a specific application, and Best Buy, which is the best value selection.
The Winners:
Suunto Ambit 2S: Editors' Choice Award
Although the Suunto Ambit 2 has more features than the 2S, including a barometric pressure sensor and extended battery life, the Ambit 2S took the prestigious award of Editors' Choice because it is slightly smaller, and therefore more comfortable to wear and easier to use. It has the same easy to use interface as the Ambit 2, and has enough features to accommodate most athletes. This watch can track time, distance, speed, laps, overall performance, and produces a map of where you have been. Porter notes that mountaineers and skiers may prefer the Ambit 2, which also provides temperature and altitude data, but runners, cyclists, and most other athletes who take training seriously will find the Ambit 2S more than adequate. Data can be stored and analyzed on Suunto's website, MovesCount. This data can also be exported and uploaded to Strava.com for users wishing to participate in the social aspect of that app and site.
Garmin Forerunner 110: Best Buy Award
A svelte device with just the right features for the dedicated runner, the Garmin Forerunner 110 is a high performing option that costs just slightly more than half the price of the Suunto Ambit 2S. It is also the smallest in the test group, and the most “watch-sized.” It has less battery life than some of the more full-featured watches in Porter's test, however he concluded that the value for this piece is high. A user can choose to use a software program, Garmin Training Center, to record and analyze their training data, or they can plug into Garmin Connect, the cloud based Garmin site for managing data. The Forerunner took the award for a compact, affordable training companion.
Nike+ Sportwatch GPS: Top Pick Award for Nike+ Users
This sleek and affordable accessory is ideal for those already plugged into the Nike+ social community through the use of a Nike+ Fuel Band activity tracker or other device. The Sportwatch gives the user the added ability to track training, and has the appropriate features to cater towards a serious runner. It even comes with a foot pod included to count steps and help track distance. Cleverly, the sportwatch band itself plugs directly into a computer, eliminating the need for a separate cord, which Porter found to be a huge plus. Porter also described the interface as clean and easy to use.
Porter's review is accompanied by a Buying Guide that walks readers through the decision making process of purchasing a GPS watch. He explains how each device in his test syncs with either a website, an app, or software that allows users to record, store, and analyze training data so that improvements can be noted and goals can be set. He also notes that the smart phone app, Strava, has a strong social element to it that is motivating, fun, and slightly addictive. All except for one of the products in his test allow data to be exported in a compatible format that can then be uploaded to Strava.com. Porter's guide will help both the customer new to high-tech watches and the seasoned consumer looking to update to the latest and greatest model.
Based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, OutdoorGearLab, LLC is a free resource dedicated to helping outdoors enthusiasts make informed purchasing decisions. The website, www.outdoorgearlab.com,
houses numerous comparison reviews of outdoor apparel and equipment, targeted at those who participate in activities such as climbing, mountaineering, skiing, backpacking, hiking, yoga, running, swimming, and cycling. The test team performs detailed head-to-head tests of gear in the intended environment, and publishes their findings in essays complemented with photos. Each test product is scored across a range of weighted metrics, products are then ranked, and awards are bestowed upon the top-performing models. Readers can then easily find the best possible product with minimal time invested in personal research.
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The Best GPS Watch Awards for 2014 Announced by OutdoorGearLab
June 16, 2014 at 11:41 AM EDT
