Sunday, March 18, 2012

Garmin Introduces Fēnix 3 Watch

fenix lineup 2

Garmin has finally released details about their newest multisport GPS watch, the Fēnix 3. This awesome watch does, well, everything, and is clearly Garmin’s reponse to the concern that GPS watches are in danger of being replaced by smartwatches. And I have to say, while the watch is a little pricey, it definitely sounds like its worth it.

The watch itself isn’t expected to be available until sometime in the first quarter of this year, and will retail in the $499 – $599 range, depending on which version you buy. The Fēnix 3 will be available in gray and silver with a premium sapphire edition with a sapphire glass screen.

As far as specs, well, this little beauty basically does a little bit of everything, and I can only hope that I’ll be able to get my hands on one to try it out. Keep your fingers crossed! Anyway, here are the details Garmin gave me about the device: read more

Garmin Introduces Hunt View Maps

hunting

When you are hunting, there are a lot of things that you have to be aware of to ensure your hunt is legal and now, with Garmin‘s new Hunt View Maps, you’ll have one less thing to worry about. This series of preloaded microSD cards contain essential map data showing public vs private land so you don’t ever have to question where you are. The maps also contain satellite imagery, 24K TOPO mapping and routable roads. The maps are currently only available for Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Utah.

The maps are $80 each and are available for purchase on Garmin’s website now. Each map comes with information for the entire state and provides borders and boundaries for public and private land as well as rural roads for better navigation. The card also supports turn-by-turn navigation for rural roads to help hunters navigate in unfamiliar country. read more

New Garmin Approach S6 Golf Watch does more than GPS

Garmin Approach S5 Golf Watch

All golf watches provide GPS for on the green, helping avoid traps and get around doglegs, but the new Garmin Approach S6 Golf Watch strives to go even further. With innovative technology, the Approach S6 Golf Watch will measure your swing metrics and provide valuable training aids for getting it just right with SwingTempo, designed to help with backswing and downswings, SwingStrength, so you know how hard you hit the ball, and TempoTrainer to help golfers synchronize their swing mechanics and fine-tune their tempo. read more

Garmin Edge 1000 announced

Garmin Edge 1000Garmin announced their latest cycling GPS this morning, the Edge 1000. New features include a larger 3″ and higher resolution screen, WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and text and call notifications (iPhone 4S+ only for now; Android reportedly coming at a later date). read more

Garmin GPSMAP 64s review

Garmin GPSMAP 64s review

Hands on with the Garmin 64s

When the Garmin GPSMAP64s was announced this winter, I was pretty excited. The older 62s is my go-to handheld, and I was psyched to see new features like GLONASS, smart notifications and preloaded geocaches. So let’s take a closer look at them… read more

Garmin fenix 2 announced

Garmin fenix 2Garmin is updating their fenix backcountry sportswatch with the fenix 2. This new model adds multi-sport training capabilities, advanced running dynamics, smart notifications and dedicated training modes for skiing and swimming. read more

The Ultimate Geocaching GPSr Field Test

The ultimate geocaching GPS field test

If there’s anything to get a discussion going amongst Geocachers it’s the subject of GPS units.  With so much choice out there, knowing which one to buy can be difficult.  And geocachers have a very narrow focus.  We don’t care about all the added features, we just want to be able to navigate to geocaches.  And so with that in mind a few geocachers and I had an idea to have a field test and crown one of them the best for geocaching. read more

A mountain biker reviews the Garmin Edge Touring Plus

Garmin Edge Touring Plus review

The Garmin Edge Touring Plus is the latest model in the company’s line of GPS cycling devices. I’ve shied away from reviewing most Edge products, which have been designed to appeal more to fitness buffs and road cyclists than mountain bikers.  But when I learned that the new Edge series focused on navigation, had a mountain bike routing mode and offered round-trip routing choices, well, my curiosity got the best of me. read more

First looks at the Garmin GPSMAP 64s

GLONASS on the Garmin GPSMAP 64s vs 62s

GLONASS seems to make a difference!

UPDATE: Here’s my hands on review of the Garmin GPSMAP 64s.

I couldn’t resist posting this photo of my Garmin GPSMAP 62s and the new 64s side by side, showing the difference GLONASS makes in reported accuracy. read more

Garmin Oregon 450, 550 series discontinued

Garmin Oregon 450 discontinued

RIP Garmin Oregon 450

Garmin has discontinued the Oregon 450, one of the most popular handheld GPS receivers they have ever made. Also on the chopping block: the 450t, 550 and 550t. read more