The outdoor equipment authority, Outdoorgearlab.com, guides consumers through the purchase of a GPS sport watch for running and training.
PRLog - Jun. 25, 2014 - CHEYENNE, Wyo. -- OutdoorGearLab.com, the web's leading outdoor gear review website, announced the availability of a new buying guide for choosing a GPS watch. After thousands of hours spent of testing seven top products on the market, OutdoorGearLab review editor Jediah Porter wrote a full review comparing these products head-to-head. Using this hand-on research, he then compiled a detailed buying guide to lead consumers down the correct path when choosing the appropriate training companion. The full review included high-end models with barometric pressure sensors such as the Garmin Fenix and the Suunto Ambit 2 as well as scaled down and less expensive models directed at runners, such as the Suunto Ambit 2 S, the Nike+ GPS Sportwatch, and the Garmin Forerunner 110. In addition, this review compares the performance of these GPS enabled devices with the free smartphone app Strava, which many people use as a replacement for a watch or similar device.
Porter begins his Buying Advice with a breakdown of the types of GPS watches on the market, including simple training devices and more complicated devices that assist with navigation. Porter states that deciding if you want navigation features is the first differentiating decision that a consumer needs to make when choosing the right watch.
Second, Porter says consumers should take note of other instrumentation included in the devices. All the watches in his review were enabled with a Global Positioning Satellite receiver, but some also include a barometric pressure sensor. Porter states that this sensor can provide additional information to the standard latitude and longitude data normally given by a GPS. The barometric sensor provides altitude and temperature data that will be more accurate than what data is collected through the satellite signal, which does not triangulate for altitude very well.
Next, Porter walks readers through a consideration of data collection platforms. Each brand has its own way of collecting, recording, and analyzing training data that is gathered by the device, and each platform may be more well suited to different people than others. Garmin offers a web-based platform via the site GarminConnect, or they also have a software system that can be purchased. According to Porter, Garmin's system is more numbers-based than some of the other systems. Suunto offers a web-based platform through the Suunto MovesCount website. Nike has the robust Nike+ community which has a social aspect to it as well as a simple to use interface for data collection. For those that enjoy the competitive aspect of the social network but do not want to own Nike products, Porter states that Strava is the perfect complement. Data collected from Suunto and Garmin devices can be exported and loaded onto Strava's website, or the Strava app can be used on a smartphone as its own data collection device. Porter notes that one of the biggest factors in product selection is how the data collection platform and accompanying social network can motivate and inspire further goal setting and harder training regimens.
Lastly, Porter describes accessories that can compliment a GPS watch, such as heart rate monitors, step counters, and cadence or power monitors. These devices either use ANT+ or Bluetooth's BLE system for communicating with the watches. He also lists the different types of activities that frequently use tracking devices such as a training watch. These include, running, cycling, swimming, triathlons, mountaineering, hiking and backpacking, and backcountry skiing.
This free buying guide is available for any curious consumer looking to find the best product without spending hours conducting his or her own independent research.
OutdoorGearLab, LLC is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and is a free resource dedicated to helping consumers make informed purchasing decisions about outdoor equipment. The site, www.outdoorgearlab.com, contains comparison reviews of outdoor apparel and equipment, and complimentary buying advice guides for each category. The test team performs head-to-head tests of gear in the real world, and publishes their findings in detailed essays. Each test product is scored across a range of weighted metrics, ranked against its competitors, and awards are given to the top-performing models. Readers can then find the best possible product with minimal time invested in personal research. The reviews will inform anyone who participates in activities such as climbing, skiing, mountaineering, backpacking, hiking, running, swimming, and cycling.
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OutdoorGearLab Publishes Buying Advice Guide for Best GPS Watches
June 25, 2014 at 11:29 AM EDT
