Garmin Forerunner 60 (FR60) Fitness Heart Rate Monitor Watch
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Garmin is noted for it’s GPS technology used in car navigation systems and hand-held devices, and is also very highly regarded in the running community with several popular GPS sports watch innovations. Garmin also have non-GPS sports running watches that offer many of the features found in their GPS watch models, without the expense or burden of the power-hungry GPS systems.
The Garmin Forerunner 60 (FR60) is their most recent offering in this non-GPS category and is effectively an upgrade to their highly popular Forerunner 50 sports watch. The older Forerunner 50 measured speed + distance by using a footpod device, but a few of the advanced sports features in the GPS Forerunner were sorely missed. The FR60 addresses some of these missing functions.
This new watch features more hours of memory, better water resistance and some notable watch modes that were missing from the Forerunner 50 like the Virtual Partner feature.
To briefly sum up. The FR60 runners watch offers the following advantages to it’s users:
- Built in digital heart rate monitor
- ANT+ technology for compatibility with exercise machines and other heart rate monitor straps
- Wireless uploads to a PC or Mac and the option to import your data into GarminConnect, Garmin’s online fitness web portal
- Virtual Partner sports watch feature
- Improved waterproofing
- 100 laps or 15 hours of detailed data storage
- Foot pod compatibility for speed + distance tracking
What the FR60 is NOT, and a few disadvantages of the FR60 include:
- No GPS and no navigation functionality
- Pricey footpod, around $70, which must be attached to your running shoe
If you seek a fully fledged GPS sports watch, we recommend the Garmin Forerunner 405CX or Forerunner 310XT.
Support for Interval Training Workouts
In the past we have talked about how an interval timer features in a watch can assist serious athletes in sessions that alternate between hard and easy training efforts. We even consider this one of the features needed in a running watch.
The Forerunner FR60 Garmin Watch can be used for interval training sessions based on time and distance (if used with a footpod device) and has a more sophisticated interval timer features than the Forerunner 50, making it a much more practical choice for serious athletes.
Virtual PartnerTM Feature
One of the standout features of the GPS Garmins, the Virtual PartnerTM feature is a computerized “stick man” that can be configured to run at your target pace during a run.
If you are lagging too far behind your goal pace, your “virtual partner” is displayed ahead of you on your display, or behind you if you are running faster than your goal.
Compatible with Garmin Connect
Garmin Connect is an online fitness portal that allows you to set up a customized fitness profile that you can use for tracking and sharing your training data.
The website is compatible with Garmin devices and allows you to share experiences with like-minded athletes from around the world. Not only can you track your fitness progress with Garmin Connect, but the online community nature of the service allows you to find and stay connected with a group of likeminded people from around the world.
Wireless Technology
Like the Forerunner 50 and other Forerunner Watches, the new FR60 watch supports ANT+™ technology. With support for ANT+ the watch can seamlessly communicate with your PC or Mac computer and potentially a speed cadence foot pod and other ANT+ compatible devices including heart rate monitors from other manufacturers and a host of exercise equipment.
Buy Garmin FR60 Fitness Heart Rate Watch
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Garmin FR60 Men’s Black Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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Garmin FR60 Men’s Red Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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Garmin FR60 Women’s Black Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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Garmin FR60 Women’s Lilac Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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Garmin Forerunner 50 vs Garmin FR 60
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| Garmin Forerunner 50 | Garmin FR60 | |
| Buy on Amazon for $194.99 |  |
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| Water resistance | 30 meters | 50 meters |
| Lap history | 100 laps or up to 7 hours of data | 100 laps or up to 15 hours of data |
| Heart rate monitor | Some versions | All versions |
| Virtual Partner |  |
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| Auto Pause (pause/resume based on speed) |
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| Auto Scroll (cycle through pages during workout) |
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| Time + Dist alerts | |
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| Interval Training | Only based on alarms | |
Detailed Comparison
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|---|---|---|
| Garmin Forerunner 50 | Garmin FR60 | |
| Buy on Amazon for $194.99 | |
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| Specifications | ||
| Unit dimensions, WxHxD | 1.7″ x 2.3″ x 0.8″ (4.2 x 5.8 x 2.0 cm) |
men’s: 2.2″ x 1.5″ x 0.5″ (5.6 x 3.8 x 1.3 cm) women’s: 2.0″ x 1.5″ x 0.6″ (5.2 x 3.8 x 1.4 cm) |
| Weight | 1.5 oz (42.5 g) | men’s: 1.6 oz (44 g) women’s: 1.4 oz (41 g) |
| PC transfer | Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer) |
Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer) |
| Battery Type | coin cell battery (CR2032) | coin cell battery (CR2032) |
| Battery Life | 1 year | 1 year |
| Heart Rate Support | Some versions | All versions |
| Display Data Fields | 2 | 3 |
| Bike speed/cadence support | yes (optional) | yes (optional) |
| Foot Pod support | yes (optional) | yes (some versions) |
| Water resistance | 30 meters | 50 meters |
| Memory | ||
| Lap history | 100 laps or up to 7 hours of data |
100 laps or up to 20 hours of data |
| Software | ||
| Garmin Connect™ | |
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| Garmin Training Center® Compatible |
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| Mac Support | |
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| Sports Features | ||
| Virtual Partner | |
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| Auto Pause® (pause/resume based on speed) |
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| Auto Lap® (automatically starts a new lap) |
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| Auto Scroll (cycle through pages during workout) |
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| Pace alert (triggers alarm if you vary from preset pace) |
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| Time + Dist alerts (triggers alarm when you reach goal) |
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| Interval Training (set up exercise and rest intervals) |
Only based on alarms | |
| Customizable screen(s) | |
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| Watch Features | ||
| Time of day (12/24h) | |
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| Dual time zones | |
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| Calendar (day/date) | |
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| Daily alarm | |
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Conclusion
The FR60 watches will be sold on Amazon for around $199.99 without a footpod and for around $199.99 with a foot pod device included. With ANT+ technology, Virtual Partner, heart rate monitor support and support for interval training, this watch is a cheaper, yet viable alternative to a GPS enabled sports watch
Purchase Garmin FR60 Fitness Heart Rate Watches on Amazon
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Garmin FR60 Men’s Black Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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|---|---|
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Garmin FR60 Men’s Red Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
|
|
Garmin FR60 Women’s Black Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
|
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Garmin FR60 Women’s Lilac Fitness Watch
(with Footpod)
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