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A GPS Watches Primer
There are currently two manufacturers of GPS watches: Timex/Garmin and Suunto. Casio used to have one, but it's been discontinued.
Timex/Garmin has a line of eight GPS watches. They are marketed as speed and distance systems for athletes - they do not provide location information. The speed and distance systems are composed of two parts: a GPS receiver and a watch that are wirelessly connected by a radio signal. The GPS receiver can be worn on the arm or clipped to a belt. However, the following GPS watches do provide location information. One of these GPS watches is reviewed here.
For an article on GPS running watches for health and physical training, click here.
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Garmin Forerunner 101 & 201
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| Garmin Forerunner 201 |
Garmin has just come out with a new product for athletes. And its all in one piece! The
Forerunner 201
 will display longitude, latitude, and elevation, so it's not just for athletes. Sure it's a little bulky, but some people may like it better than having to have an extra piece. It does a lot for a small price - $150. It also includes an A/C desktop charger and serial interface.
The
Forerunner 101
 has all the same features as the 201 but runs on 2 AAA batteries. It sells for $100 US.
Garmin Foretrex 201
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| Garmin Foretrex 201 |
The
Foretrex 201
 has special features that will appeal to mariners as well as hikers. It includes a unique application for sailing and paragliding racers that allows them to configure the start sequence of a race. The countdown is displayed in a large-number format that audibly alerts the user at each phase of the start sequence.
The Foretrex 201 weighs less than 3 ounces and is waterproof. It has all the features of Garmin's handheld Geko 201. It will run for 15 hours on a single charge of its lithium battery.
The newer
Foretrex 101
 has all the features of the 201, but it runs on 2 AAA batteries for those who would rather replace the batteries than recharge in the field.
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The Casio Pathfinder
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| Casio GPS Watch |
Casio introduced the world’s first wristwatch with built-in GPS capability at the January 1999 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It is now discontinued, but perhaps it can be found on eBay. The Casio is nice in that it provides location and altitude. It is a little bulky but at least it's all one piece. The Casio also can be connected to a PC for data exchange with the included software. With all it does, it is a good value - its price new was about $200.00.
The Golf GPS Watch
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| Suunto G9 |
Yes, there is a GPS watch just for golfers. The principle idea behind the Suunto G9 is to measure and process data to help you make the right decisions while playing and practicing golf. The watch collects all the information during your round, and enables you to analyze your exact performance and thus improve your game.
The Suunto G9 tells the distance from the teeing point and gives you instant feedback on the length of each shot - an actual measure of your own performance. It also suggests the correct club by combining your game history (average length of your normal shots) and distance left to the green.
The Sailing GPS Watch
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| Suunto M9 |
How about a sailing GPS watch? Suunto M9 Personal Sailing Instrument can track speed and bearing in addition to providing you meteorological trend information from the integral barometer and thermometer. It also detects changes in wind direction and provides the information necessary to take the shortest course. What does it take to get all this technology into a wristwatch?
About $699.00.
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