Garmin has unveiled its ‘newest and most cutting-edge GPS running watch – the Forerunner 630’. In tandem with the Forerunner 630, Garmin has also announced two of its latest GPS running watches –the Forerunner 230 and the Forerunner 235.
Forerunner 630
Featuring Garmin’s most advanced running watch technology, the touchscreen Forerunner 630 boasts more running dynamics than its predecessor, and additional physiological measurements so runners can be more aware of their bodies before, during and after a run.
Runners can stay connected and motivated throughout and in-between workouts with smart notifications and audio prompts via a compatible smartphone and daily activity tracking features. The 630 is also compatible with the Connect IQ smartwatch platform. With Connect IQ, users are able to customize their watch with additional apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields.
“As our most advanced GPS running watch to date, we’re thrilled to bring the Forerunner 630 to market,” said Andrew Silver, Garmin EMEA Product Manager, Fitness & Wearables. “The next generation of running dynamics along with the physiological measurements and Connect IQ compatibility makes the 630 an essential tool for the serious and data-driven runner.”
Building off the advanced running dynamics introduced with Forerunner 620, the new 630 provides more data and physiological measurements to keep runners aware of their bodies while training, help avoid injury and improve overall performance. The new metrics include
Advanced running dynamics:
- Stride Length: Measures the length of a runner’s stride in real time.
- Ground Contact Time Balance: Measures a runner’s ground contact symmetry, which some runners have found to correlate with injuries or strength imbalances.
- Vertical Ratio: The cost-benefit ratio of vertical oscillation to stride length, serving as one indicator of a runner’s efficiency.
Physiological measurements:
- Lactate Threshold: Estimates the level of effort at which fatigue rapidly increases in terms of a runner’s heart rate and pace.
- Stress Score: Measures heart rate variability to make an assessment of a runner’s overall level of stress before they set out on a run.
- Performance Condition: Provides a real-time fitness-level measurement at the start and during a run relative to a runner’s average, which indicates performance readiness.
Runners can train more effectively with the Forerunner 630 by tracking cardio data such as heart rate, heart rate zones and VO2 max estimate with any ANT+ compatible heart rate monitor. By estimating VO2 max, it can predict race times, as well as provide a recovery advisor – so runners know how long to rest after an intense workout.
Additionally, when paired with HRM-Run, the 630 can measure a runner’s cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time. The high-resolution colour touchscreen with updated graphical interface is also easy-to-read at a quick glance, so users can stay focused on their run.
Active and connected
With the Forerunner 630, runners can stay connected and motivated throughout the day. Through a connected smartphone, users can get call, text and email notifications right on the watch at any time, as well as audio alerts for lap and lap times while running with music.
They can also wirelessly control their music from their watch, leaving their smartphones inside a pocket. Additionally, the 630 is compatible with the Connect IQ smartwatch platform, so runners can download additional apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields from the Connect IQ store.
The Forerunner 630 offers automatic uploads via Wi-Fi to the recently updated Garmin Connect mobile app when in range, so users can check in any time throughout the day to view their run data and progress toward goals, track their sleep hours, join challenges and more.
Garmin Connect Mobile’s interface provides daily information and trends over time and can be linked to a MyFitnessPal account to automatically sync calorie and nutritional information, allowing users to view active and consumed calories, and remaining calories (based on goals set in MyFitnessPal).
Between runs, the Forerunner 630 has daily activity tracking features to monitor data including steps, distance, calories burned, and sleep, and its move bar with vibration alert provides motivation to stay active all day.
It is water resistant to 50m and boasts up to 16 hours of battery life in training mode and 4 weeks in watch mode with activity tracking and smart notifications. With all of these additional features, Garmin notes that the 630 isn’t exclusively for running. It can be worn all day, every day to keep users active and connected all day long.
The Forerunner 630 will be available in black/white and midnight blue, and will have a suggested retail price of £329.99; and the performer bundle with HRM-Run will have a suggested retail price of £389.99. The Forerunner 630 will be available exclusively from Runners Need in the UK from 30 October to 22 November 2015.
Forerunner 230 and the Forerunner 235
Tracking distance, pace, time, heart rate and more, ‘the 230 and 235 keep runners on pace for their next personal record.’
The Forerunner 235 is the first product to feature Garmin Elevate wrist heart rate technology, which displays heart rate and zone on an easy-to-read, colourful graphic interface, so runners new to tracking heart rate can train more effectively.
The Forerunner 230 pairs with a chest-worn strap to get all the same data right on the watch. When connected to a compatible smartphone, runners can stay connected with the 230 and 235’s smart notifications and motivated during workouts with audio prompts that announce their lap times.
Daily activity tracking features including all-day heart rate tracking on the 235 keep runners apprised of their all-day steps, calories and sleep. The 230 and 235 are also compatible with the Connect IQ smartwatch platform. With Connect IQ, users are able to customize their watch with additional apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields.
“We’re excited to add two new devices to our line-up of GPS running watches with the Forerunner 230 and 235,” said Andrew Silver at Garmin.
“These watches provide a new form factor and training toolset, plus the convenient wrist-based heart rate in the 235 is one more way Garmin is helping runners meet their training goals, whether it be running a 5K or a marathon.”
The Forerunner 230 will be available in black/white, purple/white and yellow/black, and will have a suggested retail price of £209.99 and the Forerunner 230 Bundle with Premium Heart Rate Monitor will have a suggested retail price of £239.99.
The Forerunner 235 will be available in black/grey, black/marsala and frost blue/black, and will have a suggested retail price of £269.99.
