Garmin FR70 Fitness Watch with Heart-Rate Monitor (Blue) (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

Don't let negative reviews of this watch scare you from giving it a try! You don't need/want a GPS watch because this watch paired with a footpod is so much better. No need to worry about getting a satellite signal in bad weather, you can use it on a treadmill, indoors or out. The feedback and data gathered is more information that I know what to do with! You can calibrate the footpod to increase accuracy (more accurate than GPS watches).I've owned an FR60 since 2011. I've really liked my FR60 despite a few flaws. But as I first strapped on the FR70 I'm pleasantly surprised. The band is so much more softer and supple and the engraving is a nice touch. Since this seems to be so much less stiff I think that the problem with the band breaking (mine did on the FR60) won't be a problem. So 5 stars on improving the comfort and the band. I would have never considered wearing the FR60 beyond a workout but this one is super comfy, lightweight, and not too big.It appears to function just the same as the FR60 and I like the training pages and the virtual partner. If you are unused to training pages it can take some getting used to what the watch is doing and what it is capable of. PLEASE don't feel the watch is too complicated until you take a little bit of time (or maybe a bit more time) to figure out the cool information and feedback it can give you in real time. Read the manual, watch online videos and spend a little time seeing what the buttons do when you push them. Really, it is worth it.I like having the ability to change the battery in the watch and footpod (I don't use the HRM). It is pretty straightforward and if you are careful you shouldn't have any issues. The batteries are cheap and I only need to change them about one time a year.As far as the buttons being difficult to push I would say they are stiff but certainly not overly difficult to push.My FR60 is still going strong. Just changed the battery a few days ago. I figured out a way to fix the band (Sugru!) and have been wearing it with a broken band for about 2 years. I've liked it well enough that I was willing to take a chance on the FR70.I haven't paired it with the footpod yet or attempted to upload to Garmin (Garmin Express seems to be getting better). If I have issues with any of these processes I will certainly update this review. You can rest assured that if I don't comment you will know that it all went well.(I purchased my watch refurb, I hope that I can continue to give it 5 stars as time goes on.)

The watch provides the time, heart rate, metabolic zones and calories burned. Overall, the product meets the basic functional needs as desired. It is simple in design but the operating buttons are hard to manipulate and the battery died in the heart rate monitoring strap after the first week of operation. However, the replacement battery has been working now for several weeks. I wish this watch was more stylish and easier to use; I only wear it to the gym and working in the yard.

I purchased this watch to replace my Suunto equipment, which was giving me problems of connectivity and other issues of accuracy. This solution was the best one for me. The Garmin FR70 gives me everything I need in the three most important activities I do: Circuit Training, Cycling (both indoor and outdoor), and running. I've been using the chest belt that came with this watch and it's very accurate but a bit uncomfortable--it's somewhat bulky. However, after a few minutes into your workout, you basically forget that you have it strapped around your chest. I'm also using the Scosche Rhythm + Armband Heart Rate Monitor Bluetooth ANT and the great news is that it does pair up with the Garmin! The Scosche has the advantage of being an armband instead of a bulky chest strap. The trade off is that the Scosche does have a hard time adjusting to rapid changes in the heartbeat, so for example, if you do an very intense minute or two of workout activity, the Scosche will not detect the max heart rate, but some sort of average between the max and what your heart was at the two minutes prior to the spike. The Garmin strap, on the other, hand, does keep up with such rapid changes in heart rhythm and it's very accurate--unlike other brand names (Suunto, etc.). The Scosche is just a good alternative for activities where your heart rate won't spike up all of a sudden and then go back down.The buttons on this watch like many of the other reviewers had stated, are very hard to press, in part because this watch is waterproof to certain depth, so you can see how the buttons are wrapped by the rubber material that covers most of the watch. Nevertheless, once you get used to the hard press on them, it's really no big deal.Finally, the Garmin FR70 does offer a slew of data that you can upload to the Garmin website via your computer, if you like to keep track of your activities. All in all, for its price, accuracy, compatibility with other equipment, and the amount of information it provides, the Garmin FR70 is a solid winner all around!

Do not buy this watch if you: 1) run regularly, 2) might run in the rain, or 3) sweat. I have been through 4 of these watches. (You think I would learn.) They do not last more than about a year. I want to like this watch because it is everything 90% of runners need: time, pace, heart rate, and a reasonable price. The problem is that once you remove the back of the watch to replace the battery, it will never again keep out moisture, no matter how careful you are in replacing the back cover. There is a very flimsy gasket inside the back panel that is not adequate to keep out moisture once disturbed. Moisture will eventually get in and glitch out the watch. If you don't run very much, never run in the rain and don't sweat, this watch might work for you. Otherwise look elsewhere. Sweat is all it takes to destroy this watch, heaven forbid you should run in the rain. The button issue is over emphasized in the comments here in my opinion. I thought perhaps Garmin was trying to keep water out by better sealing the buttons, thus making them a little hard to press. If that was what Garmin was up to, it did not work.

I had (have) an FR60 with heartrate monitor, both still work fine after many years. but I lost the ANT usb plugin for the computer. I bought this FS70 set to get a new ANT, and it gives me a spare watch+monitor. the buttons are now all sealed over by rubber coating, that feel takes a little getting used to but works fine. I bought one, it worked once then 2nd time just would not register except very intermittent. returned it to amazon (THX Amazon for great return policy) and got replacement. the replacement is working fine. If I lost it or broke it somehow I would not hesitate to buy another.When I originally bought my FR60 I also bought the footpod for use on my treadmill. it never worked well on treadmill (just outside). I returned that first one and got a 2nd one but it still never worked well. both gave/give consistent low speed regardless of treadmill running speed. so I just ignore it and use the treadmill distance.

after using a Polar HRM, i realise how good this is. Syncs nicely with my computer loading all my work outs online automatically, dont need a a foot device to do my interval work outs as well. With my polar which i spent more money on i would have needed to by the footpod. intervals on this are very easy to set as well with audible alerts. The biggest pro is that it does not have the same HRM strap that the polar ones have as standard. The polar ones smell after a while and if you make the mistake of hand washing it , you totally destroy it. The garmin version has a washable part which you can detach abd the bit that has the monitor has no material that will absorb sweat and smell.. only reason i didnt give 5 stars is because of lack of gps.. i had to jugle between this feature and battery life and cost..I think the lack of gps means you dont charge it every other day and dont want to do that since i actually use it as a watch as well

I must say that I am a bit disappointed in the watch. I have only had it for two months and already the buttons are giving me a headache. The buttons do not seem to go in with the watch on my hand. In order for me to get them to move I have to remove the watch from my hand. and push really hard on the buttons. Really?! What's the point of having a strap if I have to remove the watch to do something as basic as pressing the buttons?The strap broke on my last Garmin and I used to pin it to my shirt. Now it looks as if I have to do the same thing with the new one.

Good quality HRM. I actually like the fact that the buttons are a bit stiffer. It prevents the watch from inadvertently stop the stopwatch or change screens etc. My old Timex used to do that all the time and I had to be extra careful.I also like the fact that you can customize the view and that I can input my heart rate zones for the run and the bike.There are way more expensive watches out there but frankly the need for GPS is lost on me. It does what it does better than any other HRM I've ever owned.The foot pod is useless in my opinion because we all have our own favourite routes already mapped out.I will be getting the bike cadence attachment next.For less than $200 you can have a watch to run and bike with that gives you HR, Cadence, Speed, and distance when paired with the cadence attachment. That's the best deal out there in my opinion.

J'ai utilisé des moniteurs Polar pendant plusieurs années et j'ai toujours déploré de ne pouvoir changer les piles moi-même. Garmin y a pensé et permet de changer les piles pour la montre et pour le moniteur cardiaque. C'est un avantage indéniable sur les modèles GPS de ne pas devoir recharger la pile et risquer de perdre vos données en cours de séance. Pour quelques dollars de plus, je vous suggère d'acheter le moniteur de chaussure (foot pod) et de la calibrer. Cet ajout vous permet de connaître votre distance, vitesse, vitesse moyenne, cadence de pas, etc. Toutes ces informations sont disponibles pour un affichage à l'écran dont vous pouvez disposer à votre goût sur 3 lignes et jusqu'à 5 pages.Le guide de démarrage rapide n'est pas très utile et vous devez télécharger la version complète en ligne pour comprendre tous les menus et sous-menu pour utiliser toutes les fonctions de cette montre. Pour ma part, j'ai désactivé le Virtual Partner, car je n'y vois pas d'intérêt. Le transfert des données vers Garmin Connect se fait sans trop de problèmes avec windows 7. Le compte chez Garmin Connect est gratuit et ce site présente avec détails et graphiques les données téléchargées. C'est intéressant, mais une analyse plus précise ne semble pas possible.Voici mes points négatifs, puisque la synchronisation se fait automatiquement, il est impossible de partager la montre avec ma conjointe sans que les données soient transférées dans le mauvais compte Garmin Connect. Le seul vrai désavantage par rapport à un modèle GPS est l'absence de parcours cartographique permettant l'analyse des dénivelés du trajet vis à vis des données de la séance.