Whether you’re into biking or jogging, going out for a morning run or an afternoon ride can be one of the best times of the day. Just you and the road as you push yourself to get a little further, go a little faster, or try out a new route. However, for loved ones at home and your own peace of mind, it’s important to make sure someone knows where you are going and when you’ll be back.
Recently, Strava’s safety feature Beacon was integrated with Garmin’s LiveTrack so riders and runners can share their location with up to three trusted contacts. First launched as part of the Strava app, the Beacon feature is compatible with the following devices:
Garmin Edge 520- Garmin Edge 820
- Garmin Edge Explore 820
- Garmin Edge 1000
- Garmin Forerunner 230
- Garmin Forerunner 235
- Garmin Forerunner 630
- Garmin Forerunner 735XT
- Garmin Fenix 3
Through the app, trusted contacts with the completely randomized URL can see your tracks in real time and check your device’s battery life so if it dies they know what’s going on. The coolest thing is that contacts do not need a Strava account to see the tracking information, making it usable for anyone with an internet connection.
However, there is a downside. From what it looks like, the Beacon app is only available to premium members with Strava v4.22.00 or higher. Some users have commented on various forums that Garmin’s LiveTrack makes more sense to use, but personally I don’t have much experience with it so I can’t say if Strava’s Beacon is better or worse. Regardless, it’s nice to see Garmin working to keep athletes safer while out and about.
Have you used Strava Beacon or Garmin’s LiveTrack? What did you think of them?? Tell us in the comments below!
Nice post! I wrote an article about GPS trackers for team sport athletes, and it was interesting to learn more about the technology. The uses are slightly different for team sports, and are more based on metrics such as number of accelerations, collision intensity, running vs resting times between plays, etc. That might be a good topic to write about for your blog.