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The Garmin Forerunner 620 ( FR620 ) is a GPS watch for runner . The watch is one of the only Global Positioning System running watches on the grocery with a colour presentation and touch screen . At $ 370,the FR620(and the compatible HRM - Run heart - charge per unit strap ) is rich in features but fall at the high-pitched end of the price compass for GPS running watch . TheTomTom Runner Cardio , a Global Positioning System watch with a build - in spunk - rate sensor , retails for $ 270 on Amazon . And Garmin ’s Forerunner 220 rails few metrics than the FR620 but will specify you back only about $ 235 .
I wore the FR620 for two weeks , make for it with me on runs and even taking it for a fall in the pool to try out its water resistance . Here ’s what I found :
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Overall rating: 6/10
The Forerunner 620 tracks modern prosody that serious runners will find utile . The twist ’s live - tracking lineament also provides a great fashion to keep your friends and family in the loop during a airstream .
However , the watch lacks the daily body process - trailing feature and smartphone notifications ( such as text and call ) that now come standard on many GPS run watches . [ Best GPS Running Watches ]
Design / Comfort : 6/10
The Forerunner 620 tracks advanced running metrics, including cadence and ground contact time.
The FR620 is a comfortable lookout , and although I would n’t see it stylish , it is attractive enough to wear all day like a regular wrist watch . It has a large , circular face that ’s light to read while running , and the screen is fair brilliant , so you do n’t need to keep pressing the backlight button . I had no difficulty read the watch on outdoor runs or while inside the house . The ticker also has a color display , which is supposed to make the screen even easier to record , but I did n’t consider this feature did much to improve the visibleness of the show .
The FR620 is one of the few Global Positioning System running watches with a contact sieve , but it also has four conventional buttons . This particular combination of strong-arm buttons and touch - blind button did not seem visceral to me . I had to read ( and re - read ) the user manual to get the knack of navigating through the scout ’s many features . Other GPS watches — like theFitbit Surgeand theGarmin Vivoactive — also have touch screens and physical buttons , but I plant them easier to use .
harmonise to Garmin , you’re able to use the FR620 for about 10 hours when GPSis enabled , and the battery will last for about six hebdomad in standby mode ( i.e. , when GPS is switched off ) . I had to tear the watch only once during my two weeks of testing , which conduct me to believe that Garmin ’s battery - biography claims are on-key . I like that you could see how much battery you had leave just by looking at the little battery icon on the rest home screen door . Some watches make you scroll through menus to find out if you still have a charge .
The Forerunner 620 tracks advanced running metrics, including cadence and ground contact time.
The FR620 come in two colour combination : black with downcast speech pattern , and ashen with orangish accents . I do n’t peculiarly like either of these options , and I bid the watch add up in self-coloured contraband or white . However , I was impressed that the watch is fully waterproof . I wore it for an entire swim workout without experience any problems . And if all you really want to do is time your workout in the kitty , you could for certain do so with the FR620 ( though both Garmin and Swimovate make cheaper sentinel built just for tracking swimming metric function ) . [ Best Fitness Trackers for Swimmers ]
User - friendliness : 5.5/10
To get started with the FR620 , you ’ll need to download Garmin ’s software program onto your computer and then plug the watch in using the USB - connect charging port . If you do n’t have a Garmin account already , you ’ll be prompt to make one . Once you have an account , you could examine all the data you pull in with the scout on the Garmin Connect website or mobile app . you’re able to either upload data via Bluetooth from your gadget to the peregrine app or plug the watch into your calculator to transfer data .
Advanced running watches, like the Garmin Forerunner 620, capture in-depth data about your running efficiency.
I try syncing data both ways ( wirelessly and via the USB excite electric cord ) and never had any problems . However , the FR620 also lets you mail data via a Wi - Fi internet , which is great for people who do n’t have Bluetooth - enabled smartphones . However , I could n’t get the Wi - Fi data transfers to work . I tried to set up several different networks through Garmin Express , but I always got an wrongdoing message when I tried to transport data that way . It ’s possible that I was doing something wrong , but numerous Amazon reviewers have encountered interchangeable Wi - Fi connectivity problems with the FR620 .
The Garmin Connect wandering app is fine for viewing an overview of your workout and provide graphs of your cadence , step or peak over time . However , I preferred viewing my stats on the Garmin Connect website , which was easier to navigate and had a less - littered feel than the wandering app .
If you buy Garmin ’s HRM - Runheart - rate strapto wear out during your runs , you ’ll be capable to gather up metrics ( like erect vibration and ground physical contact meter ) that other heart - pace straps do n’t assess . But the watch is also compatible with non - Garmin heart - charge per unit strap that expend ANT+ ( a wireless technology that permit for data to be institutionalise between the strap and your watch ) . Before you start using any sum - rate strap or other sensing element , you ’ll need to manually twin it with the FR620 by entering the configurations menu and selecting the sensors page . This twin physical process was n’t difficult , but other watch I ’ve test can automatically pair with heart - charge per unit monitors without take me to press any buttons .
time value of information : 6/10
The basic metrics that the FR620 tracks are distance and pace . When you geminate the watch with Garmin ’s HRM - Run heart - rate strap , you may also track your gist charge per unit , measure ( strides per minute ) , priming striking time ( the amount of time your infantry stays on the earth with each step ) and perpendicular vibration ( your movement up and down , or " bounce " ) . As an recreational contrabandist , I found these forward-looking metrics to be a little over my head . However , the Garmin Connect site does a beneficial job of explaining what these measurements mean and also furnish data that rent you compare your stats to those of other runner .
Wearing a heart - rate strap with the FR620 will also let you pull together other data about your runs , include recovery meter , or the amount of relief you should take before attempting another arduous workout ; and estimatedVO2 max , or aerobic capacity , which is a good measure of endurance . Both of these metric are worthful for serious base runner or anyone who wants to see how their survival is progress over time .
The FR620 automatically goes into GPS mode when you start a new run , but you’re able to reverse off the Global Positioning System by tapping on the ikon at the top of the screen . Using the GPS way drains the watch ’s barrage fire reasonably quickly , so you should turn off the GPS when you ’re running indoors . I never had trouble picking up a GPS sign with the FR620 . It took longer for the watch to acquire a signaling when I was standing in Midtown Manhattan , surrounded by tall buildings . But out in the suburbs , the watch systematically picked up a satellite signaling in less than 30 second .
I did run into one strange incident when the picket pass over only a tiny portion of my streamlet using GPS information . ( When I uploaded the running , the map only showed me cross the street in front of my house , when I had actually run 3 statute mile , or about 5 kilometers ) . But even though the Global Positioning System cut down out in this example , the watch retain to pass over my other data accurately , and I did n’t go through the problem again .
Although the FR620 was in the beginning secrete as a moon-curser - only GPS watch , Garmin updated its software package to include cycling functionality last year . you may put the watch in Ride mood to track distance while cycling , and you may also pair the vigil with international sensors to get more in - depth cycling data , including hurrying and meter . [ Best Fitness Tracker Bands ]
Motivation / Inspiration : 6.5/10
The FR620 is missing the day-after-day bodily process - tracking capableness you ’ll find on newer Garmin GPS watch out , like the Vivoactive and the Forerunner 920XT . This means you ca n’t use the watch to cut across your steps . And unlike Garmin ’s new models , you ca n’t receive notifications from your smartphone on the FR620 via Bluetooth . However , the scout does have a alive - trailing feature that rent you share your GPS data in genuine time with people who might be concerned ( for instance , family members who are hearten you on during a backwash ) . you could also receive Facebook and Twitter friends to see your live - trailing datum .
The FR620 saves files in a .FIT formatting , which have it easy to shift the data point that the watch collects to third - party sites , like Strava or MyFitnessPal . Garmin Connect also endorse as a societal networking site for athletes who want to share their stats . Through the app , you may share information about your runs with supporter , join fitness - touch groups and connect with other Garmin - toting jock in your area .
Overall , my time with the FR620 was confirming . However , this running watch is definitely a cock for serious athletes , and it might be overkill for passing or novice runners . If your objective is to tag your oecumenical activity and some information about your physical exercise , a GPS spotter with activity - tracking feature film , plus a few different mutation modes ( such as running , cycling or walk ) might suit you better . If that ’s more in dividing line with your interest , then the Fitbit Surge and Garmin Vivoactive are both top contenders in that category .
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