Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS Sportswatch with Heart Rate Monitor

The Garmin Forerunner 410 is the replacement for the Garmin Forerunner 405 and Garmin Forerunner 405CX and as in this respect is a second generation device. The Forerunner 405 was almost a great device, small enough to be used as an everyday watch and a fully functional GPS runner's tool, but when the reviews started trickling in it became clear that it had a major problem, the sleek touch sensitive (iPod like) bezel didn't work too well when it became wet (with rain or sweat). The Forerunner 410 looks and works much the same as the Forerunner 405 but the troublesome bezel is now much improved.

The Forerunner 410 is primarily a runner's watch with just enough features to make it useful to cyclists; it's not really suited for the tri-athlete for several reasons. Garmin states that the Forerunner 410 is rated at IPX7, this means that it has been tested and found to be water resistant at a depth of one metre for 30 minutes. The GPS signal does not penetrate water so will not work anyway and the Heart Rate Monitor will not work in water.

The Forerunner 410 came with no charge at all in the battery, but charging is quick and simple; it was fully charged after about 2 hours. With the GPS enabled the battery will last up to 8 hours; this is borne out by experience. One improvement over the earlier Forerunner 405 is that you can now disable the GPS function and this extends battery life to around a week (apparently).

The Forerunner 410 has three available screens to view and each can be configured to display 1,2 or 3 of the 35 available data fields. Three of the 35 data fields will require the additional foot-pod for cadence information and a further eight fields will require the optional heart rate monitor. The Foot Pod is useful for capturing cadence (steps per minute) and for distance/speed when no GPS signal is available (in the gym and on the treadmill). The heart rate monitor strap is worth the investment and provides a wealth of additional data.

The GPS facility is excellent, it typically picks up the GPS signal well within one minute and so far it hasn't lost it. Tracking appears to be very accurate, typically within a few metres of the actual distance run. The elevation calculation can be a little vague (this is not the fault of the watch but a result of how GPS calculates elevation) but even this seems to tally on the Forerunner 410.

One of the most useful features is the Virtual Partner, this enables you to set a target pace for your virtual partner and track progress against him/her on your run. This is a fantastic feature for pacing yourself, especially in a race when it's so easy to start too quickly. It's easy to switch between the Virtual Partner page and the data pages on the watch by simply tapping the bezel. I've tried this in the rain and deep into a run with sweaty hands with no problem. I've even tried it with gloves on and it worked fine. The display can also be locked to prevent accidental activation.

The PC software setup was simplicity itself (I use Windows XP) and the watch automatically downloads the run data as soon as it's within range of the USB antenna (about 3 metres). The GarminConnect web site is free and gives a very good analysis of the data. It will show the route you took, heart-rate, speed, elevation and cadence and will even animate it to show all the readings as you ran - really impressive. There is also some free software available on the web (Sports Tracks 3.0) that is compatible with the Garmin 410 and that enables you to analyse the data still further.

The Garmin 410 is a really impressive piece of equipment and now that the bezel issues appear to have been largely fixed is definitely worth getting if you're a runner. If you're more of a Tri-athlete I may be tempted to go for the Garmin Forerunner 310XT as a more suitable device.

All in all I have been impressed with the Forerunner 410 and think that it has some very powerful features, although it does have a couple of annoyances which I will explain in my review below.

What's in the box?

The box contains the following items:

Garmin Forerunner 410 GPS watch
USB charger with multiple plug adapters for UK, US, Europe
USB cable with charging clip
Heart rate monitor module
Electrode strap (to which you attach the HR module)
USB ANT Stick (for wirelessly syncing the watch to your PC)
2 x velco wrist straps (including some additional links and a tool to attach these to the watch)
A quick start manual (both in multiple languages and on CD-ROM)
Operating manual (CD-ROM only)

Main features

The Garmin Forerunner 410 comes with a number of features that you would expect for a mid range GPS running watch (apart from simply telling the time!):

Virtual Partner: Before or during your run, you can configure a virtual partner to run at a particular pace or speed. Once set, you effectively race your virtual partner and feedback is provided on whether you are ahead or behind and by how far. This is a great feature to motivate you to run at a target pace during your run or bike ride.

Workouts: You can create three different types of workout on your Forerunner 410:

Simple Run for a specified time, distance or number of calories
Interval Run for a specified time or distance, rest for a specified time or distance, repeat for a specified number of times
Heart Rate Run at an intensity as specified by a heart rate zone or beats per minute. The time and distance is set as per the simple workout

Advanced workouts can be configured through the device's companion web based analysis tool - Garmin Connect - and allows you to configure combinations of simple, interval and heart rate workouts into one single workout.

Courses: Through the Garmin Connect website, you can create custom courses with location markers to track progress. These courses can be uploaded to the device and can be selected when you go for a run or bike ride. As you run or cycle the course, the device will track your progress and will help you navigate back onto the correct route should you stray off course. You can also run against your virtual partner whilst following a course.

Location Marking / `Back To The Start': If you are starting your run or cycle ride from an unfamiliar location, you can save the start point to the device and, should you get lost, you can navigate back to this point using the arrows on the display. You can also set location markers at intermediate points during your training session to help you find your way should you get lost.

Wireless Sync: The USB ANT stick supplied with the Garmin Forerunner 410 enables wireless sync both to and from the device and your PC. You can download all saved activities and associated data from the device whilst also being able to upload goals, courses and location markers from Garmin Connect via your PC.

Goal Setting: Through Garmin Connect, you can create your own goals such as 5km, 10km, half marathon and marathon (or any time or distance goal you like) and send these to your device to allow you to track progress against them.

Custom Data Fields: The device can be configured with up to three training pages which can be cycled through as you run or cycle. Each training page can be configured with a wide range of different data fields such as elevation, grade, average heart rate, laps completed and average time to complete a lap.

Garmin Connect: Data from the device can be uploaded to Garmin's web based training analysis tool - Garmin Connect. This is a very comprehensive analysis and general health tracking website which will store all your activities, display routes on Google and Bing maps, break down activities to show elevation, heart rate, pace and speed trends, allow you to create custom goals and courses and provides many different options to export your activities such as embedding in a web page (see below), sending to a friend via email and posting to Facebook and Twitter.

Sport Mode: The sport mode can be changed from the default of running to cycling and a separate bike mount accessory can be bought to allow you to attach the device to your bike.

Auto Pause: The device will automatically pause the timer when it detects a drop in speed below a specified level or when you actually stop. This is handy if you are running or biking on the street and you would like to pause your activity whilst waiting for traffic lights (or just because you need to stop!).

Auto Lap: Auto lap allows you to specify a GPS point or a particular distance at which you would like to track lap times. For example, you can press the lap button at any point of your run and if you pass that point again, the device will mark this as a completed lap. You can also use Garmin Connect to create a course with specific lap markers and upload this to the device.

Auto Scroll: The device will scroll through each training data page while you are running or cycling so you can see how you are performing without having to press any buttons.

Power Save: The device will automatically go into power save mode (displaying date and time only) after a period of inactivity (when not in training mode).

Training History: The device will automatically store your training data whenever the timer is running and can store around 20 hours of detailed tracking data. Once you sync the device with Garmin Connect, the history is permanently saved online allowing you to delete the data from the device.

Review

General Operation

The first aspect of the Garmin Forerunner 410 to get to grips with is the touch interface. The bezel around the face of the watch is used to navigate through menus and to select options.

A tap on the bezel is used to make a selection, toggle menu options and change pages. Holding down on one of the four areas - date / time, training, menu and GPS - will take you into the specified mode. Dragging your finger around the bezel is used to scroll through menu options and to increase or decrease values such as times and distances. Finally, holding down two fingers anywhere on the bezel will turn on the backlight.

In theory, this is quite a nice way of navigating around the options and bridges the gap between touching the screen (found on more expensive devices such as the Garmin Forerunner 610) and simply pressing buttons to make choices (a little bit old school).

In practice, navigating around the options using the bezel is a little hit and miss. Sometimes the watch will register a press or long hold correctly, other times it will not do anything. There is always the temptation to use two fingers to steady your hand as you move through the settings which causes the watch to get confused and either stops navigating or turns the backlight on.

After using a smartphone for a number of years, I have been spoilt by how little effort is required to move through the phone interface using a finger. In comparison, the Forerunner 410 is a bit of a blast from the past and takes a bit of getting used to. After a while, you get used to the slightly clunky navigation technique and realise that you have to be really deliberate about the use of your finger on the bezel.

The menu structure can also be a little difficult to get your head around. Once you get down to a certain level in the structure by tapping the bezel, another tap on the bezel takes you back up to the previous menu option which is signified by whether the display moves to the right or the left when you tap. Again, this takes a while to get used to and can lead to multiple corrective taps of the bezel before you finally get to where you want to be.

Perhaps the most frustrating element of the touch interface is scrolling through values using the `hold and drag finger' technique. The Forerunner 410 seems to take a while before it realises that you are dragging your finger which leads you to think that you aren't pressing hard enough. Inevitably, you take your finger off and put it back on the bezel, at which point the watch thinks that you have tapped or held the bezel and either moves to a different menu option, or sets the value before you had finished increasing or decreasing it.

Once you have mastered the touch interface and the menu structure, the Forerunner 410 is generally quite straightforward to use and the simple, interval and heart rate workout options will be adequate for the vast majority of runners and cyclists. If you are looking to simply start and stop the timer manually, this can be achieved within a single bezel hold on training and then pressing the start/stop button.

Interval training is probably the most involved activity to set up as you have to choose how far or long you want to run for followed by how far or long you want to rest for. On average, I found that setting up an interval training workout took around 3 to 5 minutes.

Display

The Forerunner 410 features a 27mm x 20mm LCD display which is clear and easy to read while you are training. The backlight is a useful feature when you are training in times of low light or darkness.

Locating Satellites

Before you start out on your run or cycle ride, the watch must locate the GPS satellites it will use to track your route. Sometimes, the Forerunner 410 can find the satellites almost instantly although generally it can take a little while, especially if you have just stepped outside or are near a tall building. Read more ›

Impressed is the first feeling the Garmin 410 provides me. How cautious I was after reading so many split reviews on this and other models but made a leap of faith after the more positive reviews and purchased the Garmin 410GPS with heart rate sensor for the same price as older models.

The 410 is a very sleek GPS/watch, not too thick and large enough screen to provide a clear and easy to read display which is all user defined. After a look at the Quick Ref leaflet provided, I immediately placed the 410 on charge for just over 2 hours (3hrs is specified for a flat to full charge) then I had a little play just to get the feel for buttons and menu options available before tackling the instruction booklet and I found it very easy to operate and soon remembered the pathways to the various menu options.

Before you start getting frustrated because you can't see the information you would like to see...READ THE MANUAL PROVIDED ON THE CD. The manual is well written and easy to understand. Once I had completed this I was whizzing around and soon selecting the 3 different Training fields (Settings, Data fields, Training 1, 2 or3) and editing the fields to show specific info on my runs. I only used the first 2 trg screens and opted to turn Trg 3 off. Everything is user defined and it all depends on how much data you want access during or after your run.

The Bezel.. I have had no issues with the bezel. It is very sensitive so be very clear with your presses or your touch and scroll, I'm finding it easy to use and practice makes perfect. I do lock the bezel on runs to show my key data Time, Pace, Distance.

GPS..The GPS was very quick to acquire satellites, under 2 minutes on the first test at Exeter, Devon. On runs it again had no problems acquiring or tracking my location

I downloaded the Garmin Training Centre software and have paired the 410 with my Mac without too much stress. Data has transferred automatically when I'm in range, though I tend not to leave the Ant stick connected to my laptop (being mobile a lot) but once i plug it I choose to "Force Send" on the 410 to transfer immediately.

I have not used the Heart Rate sensor yet and I will update this review once I have.

Overall..after a couple of days of use I am still a very satisfied customer. Word of advice.. Read the manual first, Fully charge the unit before you play with it and the rest is childs play!!