Garmin 010-00679-25 Forerunner 50 with Heart Rate Monitor and Foot Pod

Jump start your training with Forerunner 50. This sleek sport watch is ideal for running, cycling and other fitness activities, and is available with a wireless heart rate monitor or foot pod or both. Plus it automatically transmits workouts to your computer so you can analyze, store and share data using our online community, Garmin Connect.

Get the Data You Need
Train inside or outdoors. The affordable Forerunner 50 provides you with instant workout data including training time, pace, distance, lap pace, lap time, lap distance, average and best pace, calories, maximum and average heart rate. It also records both lap and detailed data. Available in 3 different versions (see versions tab), Forerunner 50 comes bundled with different accessories to help you track your progress for whatever moves you.

Listen to Your Heart
Forerunner 50 with wireless heart rate effectively tracks and records your heart rate while you work out, providing instant feedback about how hard your heart is working. The included digital heart rate monitor continuously tracks heart beats per minute which is wirelessly transmitted to the Forerunner 50. Even train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level. And well after your workout is done, Forerunner 50 is still working, wirelessly transmitting your training data to your PC.

Measure Speed and Distance
Forerunner 50 packaged with Garmin's wireless foot pod lets you track your running speed, distance and calories burned while on the treadmill or pavement. Just snap the foot pod into a clip on your shoe laces, and it's ready to send data to Forerunner 50 as soon as you start moving. After your workout, Forerunner 50 automatically transfers your data to your computer when within range.

Track Your Ride
When paired with an optional speed/cadence sensor, Forerunner 50 tracks the speed and distance of your cycling workouts. The wireless speed/cadence sensor attaches securely to your bike an

Hey,
Just a quick review. i bought this for around 120 or so when the price dropped, thinking i would get a deal on a pedometer, with heart monitor system for running. I consider myself fairly "tech-ey" meaning i can figure most electronic things out around the house. But this devide still baffled and frustrated me, especially from someone comeing from using the nike system with ipod.

here are the negatives:
1. hard to use at night...i think there is a light, but when i went to use it, it got into some split timer mode, which i couldnt turn off. just beeped at me every 2 minutes on my 5 mile run...trust me, this gets annoying when you are out of gas and just want your eqipment to work.
2. bad button configuration. there seem to be not enough buttons on the watch, so certain buttons do double duty, have double features, light doubles with plit timer (see above). NOT for night runners.
3. software is SOOOOO confusing. When you download the software, garming gives youa choice of an online tracking system or a desktop tracking system. While this is fine, each doftware had their own look, so i was not sure of which one i shoudl download. I come from nike's running community (with the ipod sensor in my nano) so i know those are usually useful, but Garmin's just had so little participation. Their forums directed me to a second party site...not even at Garmin.com.
On top of this, as of last month, 11/08 they only support PC. No Mac.

Bottom line: this is an entry level watch to track your progress on runs or biking. For runners, i HIGHLY recommend sticking with the Nike system, where sending run data is no more complicated than starting up itunes. It took me buying the Garmin to truly appreciate the cross platform support (mac and PC), user participation, and intuitiveness of the nike device. Both are about the same in terms of accuracy, so why not go with the one which actually has developers writing useful software for it?

save the frustration and avoid this thing

For a beginner level runner, its more than enough. All of the features are very accurate and if anything they are easy to calibrate. Comfortable enough for every day wear also. if you wanna get a little bit more serious with training, i recommend more advanced models like the 301 or 401 which include the GPS and/or the training partner features.

I wanted a HRM and after looking at Polar and Suunto (too expensive) and Timex (Just did not like) I settled on the Forerunner 50. The first time I wore it I was walking my dog (80 lbs. Lab) and somehow my wrist hit the start/stop button, but that was the only time it has happened. The foot pod is secure and I have ran about 15 trail miles with no issues, I even played a game of flag football with it on my cleats, although I doubt it was very a very accurate distance. I have not calibrated the footpod, but it showed 3.6 miles after a 5K I did (with Course Markers). I also have the GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Sensor for my bike. There is a calibration for it, you have to download the Edge 605/705 owners manual and go to pager 77 and 78 for the calibration numbers. The owners manual's are extremely basic. The bike sensor just shows how to install it! Garmin Tech support is ok, takes 3 days-ish to get an answer via email, but it has been accurate. I am getting back in to running and would like to do some triathalons, all pods on this watch are waterproof to 10 meters. I have not swam with the HRM belt, yet. I have showered with it and it worked flawlessly, no hiccups. As far as software, I was a bit excited and installed the Garmin Training Center before I got the Foreru

I have had the Garmin Forerunner 50 for 4 weeks now and have run with it 4-5x per week. The basic tools are very useful - speed, distance, etc. But my ant stick is very tempermental. One day it works, one day it doesn't. Now it won't show up at all on my computer and the product manual and website are not helpful. I have tried the basics to fix it but don't know what else I can do. So I called Garmin. Their automated message told me that it was a 30-35 minute wait time for help. It should be just a quick install and never have to worry about it again.

If you need a training watch that measures heart rate, distance, pace, calories, and is inexpensive this is it. The chest strap and foot pod come pre-synched and work great right out of the box. The foot pod's measurement was right on with my car's odometer during my first 8.5 mile run. The watch is easy to use and looks like a watch. A solid 5 stars, way to go Garmin!