Garmin Releases Three New Exercise Watches To Keep You Unflabby

Garmin added, “Forerunner 630 uses extended physiological metrics to help you get the most out of your workouts and feel confident with what you can accomplish when you toe the line”.

Garmin says all three wearables will be available before the end of the year in a variety of colors. The watch is being stocked exclusively by Runners Need from 30 October to 22 November.

Garmin has launched a trio of Global Positioning System running watches, including the first equipped with the company’s new wrist-based heart rate sensor. (Its last model, the Forerunner 225 also has an optical sensor, but it was designed by Mio.) That means you’ll be able to ditch the chest strap, though you’ll pay a considerable $329 for that luxury.

The Forerunner 630 has a high-res touchscreen that remains permanently on.

Garmin has posted a news release on the Forerunner watches on its website, which can be found here. The Forerunner 235 has been estimated to last 11 hours on a single charge, while the Forerunner 230 will last longer at 16 hours, presumably because of the lack of a heart rate monitor.

Stride Length: Measures the length of a runner’s stride in real time.

When connected to the user’s smartphone, the Garmin Forerunner 630 provides notifications for calls, texts and emails, along with audio alerts during running, and the ability to control a user’s music right from the display. Daily activity tracking3 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.

Garmin also unveiled its “most advanced running watch”, the Forerunner 630. “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”.

Measure more than just distance and pace with the 230 and 235 by tracking other essential data such as heart rate, heart rate zone and VO2 max.

With a colorful display the watches present the data in an interesting graphical format.

Along with cadence and stride measurements, the Forerunner 630 also tracks various stress-related measurements such as the user’s overall level of stress provided in a stress score. Plus activity tracking and sleep get measured even when in normal watch mode.

Garmin claims the 230 will last up to 16 hours in training mode or up to 5 weeks if you’re simply tracking your activities and displaying smartphone alerts. Both the 230 and 235 are also water resistant to 50 meters4 to withstand the elements.

The Forerunner 230 will be available in black/white, purple strike/white and force yellow/black, and will begin shipping in Q4. The price, however, stings at $399, and that’s because it not only doesn’t have the optical heart rate sensor of the Forerunner 235, but it doesn’t even include the chest strap that is needed. It’s £270 (about $420/AU$580) although we only have United Kingdom pricing so far) and comes in a choice of black/grey, black/marsala and frost blue/black.