If you become a professional athlete, you will always certainly get a lot of use from the Garmin Forerunner GPS 201 watch. It has a wide range of features to offer. It contains a GPS sensor, an electronic map, session change and reversal options, calorie tracker, lap statistics and data, performance archives, auto stopwatch with auto-lap and auto pause functions, lap timer, pace alert, distance alert, free Training Center software, a bendy wristwatch strap, and an A/C desktop charging unit with a serial port.

The GPS 201 is suited for a professional or an amateur athlete. It mostly takes care of the speed and tracking aspects. This unit offers plenty of plus points, but its worst drawback would have to be that it does not work predictably. This is the only reason you would not consider it exactly right. Its dimensions of 3.3 ? 1.7 ? 0.7 make it seem chunkier than a standard fitness watch; it is actually lighter than it looks, weighing in at only 2.8 ounces. The watch is safe for use in water and therefore can be employed by swimmers or by sports participants in rainy or wet weather conditions.

The Garmin Forerunner Fitness 201 watch can hold a lap history of 5000 laps and offers many more settings that you may tweak to match up with your own demands and individual requirements. Among the most useful features the watch offers is the Training Center Software. This is a great tool for you to use to save your workout details and can also help you see ways in which they would vary along your path, particularly if you have worked out at different elevations. The Virtual Partner function helps you set guidelines that you yearn to achieve. You just have to compare your actual workout session with that of your exercise buddy.

The GPS feature of this 201 model is criticized by quite a few users because the signal can be fickle sometimes. Added to that, they also dislike the irregularities in features such as altitude and pace data. This model does not have a heart rate monitor. Nowadays, when most of the computer interfaces can work with a USB, this model is behind the times with a serial port facility.

The wristband of the Forerunner 201 GPS is of flexible dimensions, making it possible for you to wear the watch around your wrist or your upper arm as you choose. Its LCD display screen is a joy to view in well-lit areas as well as in darkness. The rechargeable lithium alloy battery lasts for 14 hours before losing power. It seems to be just fine for runners, but may not be quite adequate for bicycling, etc.

On the whole, the Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS is a watch that boasts plenty of virtues. The training Center software and the Virtual partner features merit special mention. Unfortunately, its patchy GPS signaling is its only bad point.

Joseph Aaron helps visitors make wise buying decisions when shopping for the Garmin Forerunner GPS 201 watch with comprehensive reviews & ratings.