Customer Reviews

Garmin Forerunner 101 Waterproof Running GPS

5 star:		(59)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

The Garmin Forerunner 101 is exactly the same as the popular Forerunner 201, with a couple of small changes. Being the case, I won't review the actual product since everything that needs to be said about it's GPS features can be found in the reviews for the Forerunner 201.

The most notable difference with the 101 is that it uses 2 AAA batteries istead of being rechargeable like the 201. At first I thought this was a big detraction to buying it, but it's really not that bad. Battery life is decent, although not as high as with the 201, which gets up to 13 hours of use on a full charge. But if you're not a marathon runner and just run a few miles on your runs, this shouldn't matter much. The only hassle is having the batteries go dead during the middle of a run, which really sucks if you're into knowing exactly how far you've gone. You have to keep an eye on the battery life before going out. The batteries don't really effect the weigh or size of the product though.

The second major difference is that this unit does not interface with your PC. This also isn't too big of a problem because, currently, the Garmin software is really lacking. Hopefully they will improve on it with time, but the PC software is nowhere near as nice as it could be at this stage. You can view a graph of your altitude for your run, and graphs of your pace and speed, and that's about it. Otherwise the software is really crummy. You can't even zoom in on your map like you can with the actual unit.

If you're serious about running, I would highly suggest the Forerunner 201 over this product, mainly because the price difference is so negligible. You can find the 201 for only about $20 more than this model, and the extra money is well worth the rechargeability of the 201 and freedom from the batteries. But if you really can't afford the cost, you're not going to be hurting too much with the 101.

That being said, I only give it 4 stars because I kind of miss the ability to link to my computer (I'm an ultra geek). Still, Lion batteries ONLY have a life of 3 years max - don't let anyone tell you otherwise - and 3 years it won't be NEAR it's original life. EVEN IF it were brand new out of the box, Lion chemistry starts to decay the day after it comes off the manufacturing line - do some research on the internet - that's why the whole slew of ipods are all dying right now.

Enough said - AAA batteries was the primary reason I bought this. Truth is, I rarely keep gadgets long enough to worry about the batteries, but I like passing them on to family and friends and I'd like them to get something that they can use for a couple of years too... Plus, I like putting in a fresh set of batteries every week and not having to worry if it's fully charged... (I use rechargeable AAA's).

All the other reviewers have already covered the basics of the watch. Very easy to use, backlight is amazing at night. History and data compilation are interesting.

What I really wanted to convey is that I was on the fence about this for over a month. Was it worth the money? Would I use it enough? Without a doubt - YES! If it broke today I'd buy a new one tomorrow. The best thing about it is freedom.

I'm pretty anal - most serious runners are. I stick to the exact same path so I can get statistics, make sure I'm sticking to my pace, make sure I ran the distance I intended, compare my run with previous runs. After a while though, it can get a little boring. All of a sudden, I put this on and I'm free from all that. I can run anywhere, I run spontaneously - but a glance down at my wrist and I know how far I've run, I know I'm keeping pace, EVERYTHING. And that little training buddy is pretty cool too - although I usually just like the raw data screen...

I hope in future versions they'll integrate a heart rate monitor. I have one now but can't bring myself to wear two devices at a time...

-jr

The 205 / 305 are about $50-$70 more than this but if you can afford to swing it, here is why you should buy those instead...

The 101 is identical except that is uses 2 AAA's instead of having an internal rechargeable battery.

I bought the 201 when it first came out (~7 years ago) It was head and shoulders above the Timex product with the remote arm pod and I would have rated it 5 stars back then because it was the best of it's kind. I even used it to go geocaching.

The problem is, I have to strongly recommend against anyone buying it today - I was "lucky" to have lost this kayaking a couple of years ago at which point I upgraded to the 305. It is SOOOOO much better that I have to now rate the 201 as one star in comparison. The 205 is the same but without heart rate.

First, the 101/201 have a very unusual shape. The 205/305 is a bulky watch but the looong 201 prevented you from wearing gloves - a real problem when skiing, cycling, etc.

Second - and more importantly, the 205/305 have the SIRF Star III Chipset which means it can lock on and hold the lock better.

Imagine if you will - you're all ready to run and pumped up - whoops, you now have to wait an extra few minutes to lock your position, otherwise it cannot tell you your speed, location, etc.

My old 201 locked on far faster than my running partner's Timex (He had to hang it on a tree while he was getting ready since it often took 5 minutes or more to lock.) the 305 can lock in 5-10 seconds most days while the 201 would lock in ~2 minutes *most* of the time but occasionally would take up to 5 minutes. If you were ~100 miles away from your prior location, the 201 would take up to 10 minutes to get a new lock. ARRRGGGGHH.

Also the 201 would lose lock all the time when running in even moderate tree cover or heavy clouds. With the 305 I can even get a lock in my house most of the time.

Finally, the 101/201 cannot lock IF YOU ARE MOVING! The 305 can lock even if you're riding a bicycle. I think I've even gotten a lock while driving.

Yes the 205 and 305 cost more but with the huge difference in functionality I find it astonishing that Garmin would continue to sell the 201 given how much better the 205 and 305 are.

p.s. Don't bother with the 405. Interesting concept but not practical. Read the reviews.

I use mine for cycling and running, the direct link to see your workouts mapped on GOOGLE EARTH is FANTASTIC!!!! (the included software is far more stable than the junk Polar included with their HRM's.

Heart rate strap with replaceable battery is coded and comfortable. It's better in my opinion than the Polar products (of which I've owned three)

I'd avoid the 405 unless you really want to use this watch as a normal day to day wristwatch (check out the 405 reviews)

My only complaint is that it's easy to leave it on and run the battery down - which is a bummer if you're just about to work out. I wish there was an "auto off" feature which would shut it down if it detects no movement or heart rate within an hour or so. Fortunately, with Li-Ion batteries, as little as a 10 minute charge gives you enough juice for a 90 minute run.

If you've found this review to be helpful, please let me know!

1. Super easy to use. Turn it on, wait until it syncs up with the satellites, push start, and it's off. Push stop when you want to stop. Reset the counters. The run is now in internal memory.

2. The unit's got a pretty sensitive reciever. Our neighborhood is pretty wooded, but it'll gain sync in our driveway, under a giant maple tree and smaller japanese maple. It holds it pretty well on the roads. I haven't tried a trail run - yet.

3. I don't think it's too obtrusive. My lovely wife thought it was a little too big to strap to her wrist. It does come with a band extender; Melissa is thinking about trying it again strapped to her upper arm. The disadvantage would be not being able to see the display, but if you're just interested in recording, it's not an issue. That, and most of the functions (mile marker, etc) have audible cueing. I can't hear the beeps over my iPod, though.

4. Nice features - Clear display, good backlight. The backlight automatically comes on when the unit has an alert (passing another mile, falling off pace, etc). The Training Partner is kind of nice. If Garmin keeps it when the Forerunner is updated, they could speed it up on downhills and slow it down on uphills (GPS gives elevation data).

Gripes:
1. The unit design is not poor by any stretch of the imagination. But, after the iBook and the iPod (not to mention small details like the international power adapters Apple has available that work with both items' power supplies), my standards are high. My gripe is that the UI is 6 buttons, all pretty similar size and texture, on the side of the unit. One of the reasons I'm skeptical of today's third mile split is because I accidentally turned the unit off between the 1st and 2nd miles. I stopped and turned it back on again, but it threw off the "odometer". Yes, I was an idiot for pushing and holding the power button (for like 3 seconds; it's not really easy to do by mistake), but the backlight is turned on by briefly pressing the power button.

2. It's missing the geeky GPS features, like a lat/long display, or the ability to select between different GPS data (WGS 84/UTM/etc - you either know what I'm talking about already, or you don't care). There are some work-arounds I've found (such as marking a waypoint at the current location to get lat/long), but I don't think I'm getting rid of my Magellan GPS 315 any time soon. I think this may be intentional on Garmin's part - why give away a big part of their market on a sub - $100 device. I think it'll work backpacking, especially if I take the time to pre-set waypoints. But I'm still mainly a map-and-compass kind of guy in any case. And the 101's "Back to start" feature ought to bail me out.

3. There's no ability to turn GPS on/off unless the machine can't acquire a satellite. There's also no ability to tell the unit where it is, so initial acquisition of a signal can last up to 30 minutes the first time you turn the unit on, or if you travel more than 500 miles with the unit off. In practicality, mine acquired signal in about 5 minutes right out of the box.

I've purchased heart rate monitors, altimeters, and computer software as training aids in the past. Their quality was always subpar, and their utility was limited to a small set of variables. Inevitibly, I was still required to use a pen, paper and calculator to figure out much of the training info I needed. In addition, few of these gadgets were helpful in motivating me. I purchased the Forerunner 101 so that I could track my distance and my pace accurately while I ran. Because it is so incredibly accurate, I can run on any of the trails around my house and still know how far I've gone. The unit has been designed extremely well. The numbers YOU want to see are large. The readability of the LCD is excellent. The price makes the product a GREAT value for the money. The quality overall is outstanding. The unit itself is well designed--The Garmin design team needs to be congratulated. Yes, it's a bit heavy, but for the functions it performs, it's well worth it. The Virtual Partner is a waste of time for me. But when I run an official race, I'm sure I'll use it. Like many of the other reviewers, I wish the Forerunner 201 was equiped with AA batteries, as I simply don't trust ION batteries to hold out for much longer than 3 years. This is one of the best fitness products that you can buy!!

I chose to buy the Forerunner 101 rather than the 201 precisely because of its power system. First, rechargeable AAA batteries are relatively cheap, and they last forever. They are also small, and while traveling I'd rather lug around two extra small batteries than a recharging cord. Moreover, in a pinch, you can always find a store that sells standard AAA batteries. Additionally, who wants to wait for the internal batteries to recharge - I'd rather always have a fresh set of rechargeable AAA's on hand.
With this said, it was a tough choice deciding between the 101 and the 201. If only the 101 came with the uploading capabilities of the 201. That, in my mind, would have been the best of both worlds. In the end, I opted for the 101.

This thing is an excellent product at a very reasonable price.

It is lightweight and has an ingenious strap system so you can wear it on your wrist or even over a jacket (It get's cold here in Oregon). The batteries last a Long Time, just be sure to turn it off when you are done using it. There is no auto-off after a certain amount of time, like my other GPS unit.

You get the data you need and more.

Pace, altitude, distance, time, lap, and it creates a map of your walk at the same time, so you can use it to back track. The reception is good here and I live (and walk) in a Pacific Northwest forest! When it does lose a signal, it grabs it back quickly.

Be sure to set it outside about 5 minutes before you want to walk or run. It takes a while to get the first fix, which can be frustrating if you are waiting.

You can use it as a basic GPS, so if you hike in a strange place turn it on, start a new run and it will draw you a map and point you the way back to where you started. Pretty Neat.

I have another GPS with much more sophisticated and extensive GPS features, but I find myself using the Forerunner instead most of the time when I am hiking. After getting used to the convenience of the light weight, hands-free Forerunner with it's big easy to read display, the other GPS seems like carrying a brick.


Update 3/2009: Even though I wrote this review years ago and technology has greatly advanced - mine finally got lost and I investigated all of the newer options. I was willing to spend more. But I am buying another one of these again. I usually like the newest stuff - but nothing seems to match the combo of size and utility. If the batteries are a concern - get a battery recharger.

I have owned my Forerunner for a year now. I absolutely love the item. First, it is fantastic to know exactly how far I've run, no matter what roads, trails, or bike path I run on. I am no longer confined to my 'measured routes'...I can explore! The Forerunner also gives the current pace. This is probably the second most useful feature it has. While running, I can tell if I have RECENTLY sped up or slowed down. It is much better than the average pace which a sdm will give you. Think about it, if you are on mile 10 and you speed up 30 seconds per mile, your average pace will not be affected immediately.
Some of the other features I find less useful but harmless. The mapping feature on the 101 is silly since the map must be displayed on the 2" screen. Its simply too small. The virtual trainer could be useful, but I never use it.
Other great features are: if set, it will take your mile splits automatically and if set, the back light will come on at each mile (for those early morning runs).
The battery life is great. I am using two normal Duracell batteries and run about 80 miles before changing the batteries.
The signal strength is fine. I have run on tree covered paths and on cloudy days with very few problems. I lost the signal once, but it was very thick tree cover. It continued to track my distance but I don't think it was 100% accurate with the weak signal. Other than that I've never lost my signal.
This product is simply great and I cannot explain how useful it is. Here is how I use it:
I typically start my weekday runs around 5:00am. I leave my front door and walk for a minute or so. I have my signal. I start off on a 6 mile run. I warm up with a pace around 9 min/mi and keep that pace for the first mile. While thinking about my upcoming race my watch beeps and lights up (it is 5:10 am now) and I see that I ran a 9:08 mile. I pick up the pace until I get to an 8 min pace. I realize I ran this same route earlier this week. I decide to turn and run down a new street for some variety. Before I know it my watch beeps, I look down at the lit screen to see that my second mile was 7:58. This goes on for a couple of miles. Around my fourth mile I my mind starts to wander. I look down and notice that I've slowed down during this time. I immediately pick up the pace and decide it is time to find a way home. The way home takes a little longer than I expected, but I get there. I stop my watch to see that I actually ran 6.67 miles and have found another good route. Once inside I can review my data...distance, pace each mile, average pace, fastest pace, the route, and I can compare that to my previous runs! I see I've had another successful run and feel great! I hope my example illustrates the way I use my Forerunner and why I love it.

First let me say that I am not an avid runner and to be quite honest I have hated the sport of running. (sorry) Because I am in the military we are required to run so I have had to take up the sport. The biggest problem I had though was finding a way to pace myself and train. Everyone has their own suggestion but to follow most regimens you had to know exactly how far and fast you are running.
Now to the forerunner. Since I have purchase this running has become enjoyable. It has always worked very well even in wooded areas and only takes a short time to lock on. It gives you so much information and can do so many things to help one train and pace!! It is very easy to use and to download to the computer. The log book is also excellent and allows one to keep track of distance, time, pace, calories, etc. It has allowed me to run where ever I want and not have to figure out beforehand how long of a run it will be. Only once did it miscalculate my speed (ran a 5 minute mile; I wish).
The only problem I had was when I first got it and had trouble following the instructions for set up. Also one needs to download the new software for the forerunner and log book which fixes freezes.
Again from a non-runner, I would highly recommend it!

I really like this GPS. I use it mainly for hiking and backpacking and it has taken a lot of abuse. It isn't totally waterproof... just water resistant. I have worn it in the rain and it was fine although water did get into the battery compartment during a particularly bad downpour. Its' very light... One of the lightest GPSes on the market. Its' not overly complex and its' good for backtracking and going off trail. I like that the screen is recessed into the unit because I've bumped it many times into rocks and stuff but because the screen is recessed into the unit, there's only very light scratches on it. My other GPS doesn't have this feature. I really like how the screens are setup as well. You can make custom screens to track your mileage, time and other stuff.
That said, I do have a couple complaints. The first complaint is that the battery lasts about 8 or 9 hours. That means I always have to carry extra batteries during backpacking trips that are longer than 2 days. (I keep the GPS on for 4 or 5 hours per day on average.)
The battery compartment is also a pain. Its' hard to get the batteries out without using a screwdriver. I use rechargeable batteries and damaged the top of one. So I now put a short strip of ribbon in the battery compartment to make it easier to take the battery out.
The reception is not as good as my other GPS... A Magellan eXplorist 300. But it is good enough most of the time for me to get around. The only time, I have lost the GPS signal for a long period of time was in the Grand Canyon, where I frequently lost the signals for miles at a time. But that's probably because of the canyon walls. But for most trips, the reception is fine. Reception is poor inside my home unless I'm near the window. I noticed that the eXplorist always has good reception just about anywhere.
This is the GPS I use most of the time. Its' light, simple, cheap and it keeps me on trail.