Garmin have just announced a new GPS watch into their Forerunner line, the Forerunner 210 GPS running watch. The Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS watch is designed to be as easy to use as the model released prior to it, the Forerunner 110. Like the 110 watch, it is designed for runners who want the power of a GPS watch, but without the complexity and endless convoluted menu systems that were the burden of many of the older Garmin GPS watches. The Forerunner 110 answered the call and now the followup watch, the 210, takes it one step further.

Utilizing the new SiRFstarIV chipset, the Forerunner 210 delivers much more power and accurate GPS tracking ability in a much smaller chip. This allows the wristwatch to be offered in a much smaller, lighter, more comfortable size. The watch uses Garmin’s “HotFix” technology that enables the watch to quickly obtain and maintain a satellite signal. Where the new watch offers benefits over the 110 watch is in some extra training modes it offers to runners. With the Garmin GPS Forerunner 210 watch a runner has the ability to create customized interval training sessions. We have talked about Interval Training in the past, and have harped on about the fact that they are one of the key training workouts for improving fitness and performance. Garmin’s advanced interval training features allow you to view your current pace for each interval.

The new watch also allows you to set up heart rate alert. A heart rate alert notifies a runner that their heart rate is above a max threshold or below a min threshold, effectively allowing you to define an optimal intensity and stay within it for the course of a training session. The 210 Forerunner watch also supports a food pot device in addition to GPS which allows for indoor training and offers additional information such as your running cadence and steps per minute which can be viewed when you transfer your personal training history to the Garmin Connect online community portal.

The new watch is available in a trendy looking glossy black/black design that looks extremely fashionable and high-tech. Like the Forerunner 110, the watch features a lighter battery, that is rechargeable and can sustain GPS/training mode for 8 consecutive hours and will keep the watch running for up to three weeks in power save mode. Data can be transferred to Garmin Connect via a USB connection. The watch does not support wireless ANT+ transfer like other Forerunner watches, however this is not a huge drawback. Both watches support a heart rate chest monitor that allows accurate heart rate information to be displayed on the watch as well as the new heart rate based calorie consumption feature that is present in the latest Forerunner watches.

If you enjoy simplicity in a watch with a blend of power and you are serious enough about your training to utilize some of the advanced features of the Forerunner 210 watch like its interval training feature and heart rate alerts, then considering it’s utilization of the new chipset, it’s comfort, size and lower weight profile, the Forerunner 210 delivers an outstanding package when compared with other Forerunner watches that are bulkier, heavier and have more convoluted requirements when activating features.

This exciting new model is due to feature at the Chicargo and New York City marathons, before being released in retail stores, so look out for it soon.

Tags: Forerunner 210, Garmin Forerunner 210, Garmin Forerunner 210 GPS Watch, Garmin GPS Forerunner 210, GPS Watch