Timex IronMan Global Trainer GPS Watch with Heart Rate Monitor Review

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(More customer reviews)I'm sending this watch back for several reasons. Here they are:
1. GPS Accuracy - It's not that great. When I run on the track I always run in the outside lane. However, this watch has me anywhere from the soccer goals in the infield to the street beyond the bleachers. When I'm running through town, there are times it's half a block off. From the map created with the GPS data, I couldn't tell if I was running on the street or in an alley. I don't expect a GPS watch to pinpoint my location exactly, but this was totally unacceptable.
Also, it takes forever to acquire a signal. Sometimes I'll be in my front yard for 5 minutes waiting for a signal. It's frustrating to be ready to run & have to wait. Once it locks on though, it doesn't drop it.
2. The Software - You must use this watch with TrainingPeaks ([...]) software. It's OK, but there are tons of other options out there. Being tied to one vendor is a recipe for disaster. TrainingPeaks is OK, but the really good stuff requires a paid membership. Not cool Timex.
3. It only records data every 2 seconds. Garmin watches record every second.
4. The elevation feature is a joke. There's a 5k route I take around town. I start/stop at my house, so the elevation gain/loss should be even. Nope, not according to Timex. Sometimes I gain hundreds of feet, sometimes I lose hundreds of feet. It's never the same, or even close.
5. Can't use a Foot Pod (or similar device) with it. No treadmill running during the winter.
Some good things...
I have a feeling a lot of this will be fixed in firmware updates (I'm running the latest firmware), but I'm not going to suffer through it. The watch it very sturdy; I never worried about hurting it. Also, it's more customizable then any watch I've ever used. - great for the geek in me.
Perhaps in 6 months or a year this watch will kick ass. However, as for right now, I ordered a Garmin Forerunner 310XT.

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