I've been waiting for this to become available as a gift for my wife, an inveterate walker, but now I may have to buy another. I've been "testing" this wondrous gadget today--this is my first experience with any GPS--and am finding it to be both useful and remarkably easy to use. The unit is small enough to not get in the way while worn on the wrist/forearm, yet the screen is large enough and the display clear enough to use while on the move. I don't seem to be experiencing any difficulty getting GPS signal (I've set it for WAAS), and I've been having a great time driving back and forth over and across my trail all day.
br /
br / August 5, 2004 Update:
br /
br / A couple of good questions have prompted me to update my review:
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br / The 101 performs fine at high speed. We've had it on road trips and haven't found the upper end of the speed it will consistently report (90mph, certainly).
br /
br / It is not sensitive to orientation or movement relative to the wearer. We've taken in on brisk walks, worn on the wrist, and there's no need to keep it steady or in a certain position. I've even jogged wearing it without loss of performance.
br /
br / Only problem we've ever had with it is right downtown (Chicago) in cement canyons. We've had some signal loss when the unit can't "see" the southern sky. It does NOT work indoors.
br /
br / (Thanks for asking, Jim!)
br /
br / Pros:
br / Clear, informative and responsive GPS!
br / Small and lightweight unit
br / Clear display
br / Easy to use pages and menus
br / Uses any AAA battery, alkaline or rechargeable [Update: Very good battery life with regular alkalines.]
br / [Update: The trackback feature is cool!]
br /
br / Cons:
br / The 101 does not come with a PC-connection cable, but even if it did, 9-pin Serial?! Ummmm... Has Garmin heard of USB? [Update: This is still stupid.]
br /
br / Also, no hint of any sort of PC software is given in any of the documentation, so if I were to connect it via a serial port, what would I do with it? [Update: I'm a GPS newbie, but I've been told that it can be used in conjunction with any standard PC-based GPS software. I still think Garmin should have mentioned it in the owner's manual.]

I have never used a GPS system before - the Foretrex 101 was the first system I purchased and I love it.
br /
br /I approached this purchase with much trepidation. My experience with techno-gadgets has not been good. Usually I find that I have to learn how some nerd/designer thinks in order to use the gadget. Life is too short to spend it remembering whether to punch the mode key or the enter key.
br /
br /Yet, I wanted to purchase a GPS system so that I do not get lost while hiking or kayaking in wilderness. I looked at a few GPS models and found the usual techno-insanity: You build a database of maps and routes on your PC, download that information to a small map display in the GPS system, take a hike, then upload your journey back into your PC where you can build and manage a database of journeys. Ugh! All I want is to find my campsite - not learn another database management system.
br /
br /So, I had almost given up on this purchase when I saw the Foretrex 101. No fancy color maps. Just a simple device which you wear on your wrist like a large watch. It displays a small map of your locale, your present location and the most important information required to travel to your intended destination.
br /
br /I purchased it, turned it on and took a walk through my neighborhood. It was brilliant: I watched a little walking person on my screen leave a trail which moved as I moved, and rotated as I turned. In order to get back home, I turned around and followed the trail displayed on the Fortrex screen. No fancy commands to learn - just a few intuitive buttons and I was finding my way around my own neighborhood just fine!
br /
br /But, I wondered, would it work when I went up to the Sierras? That weekend I tested it on trails that I knew - and it was amazing. The ranger station had the longitude and latitude coordinates of the campsite I had reserved - so I punched those into my Foretrex and proceeded to hike to the site. As I hiked, the navigation screen displayed an arrow which rotated as I turned so it was always pointing toward the campsite. It also displayed my present elevation and distance remaining to the site. (Those are two of several possible numbers I could have displayed on the navigation screen.) On the map screen, I saw a perfectly clear outline of the trail behind me as I walked towards camp - along with waypoints of my favorite lakes which I entered into the Foretrex as I arrived at each lake. When I arrived at my destination, it guided me to within 20 feet of my reserved campsite.
br /
br /The next day, when I hiked out, the Foretrex was just phenomenal. I saw the entire trail from the prior day displayed on my map screen - I followed it all the way back to the trail head. I could see the trail drift off the left of the little walking figure as I wandered off the trail to the right - and it was completely simple to walk back to the trail while watching the little guy on the map screen do the same!
br /
br /The Foretrex guided me all the way back to the trailhead - in fact, it guided me back to exact parking spot where my car was parked.
br /
br /Now I'm thinking about doing all kinds of things that I had never considered before: I could hike off trails, I could hike when trails are partially covered with snow, I could kayak in the fog and I am even thinking about giving a Foretrex to my wife - who has a terrible sense of direction - so she can go off on her own in the woods without me worrying about loosing her.
br /
br /I am finding some the the additional features really useful: It is nice to know my average speed and estimated time to arrive at my destination. I like to know my elevation to get a sense of the effort remaining on a tough climb - or my average paddle speed in the kayak to see the effect of wind and current on my progress. I have even discovered the Foretrex works fine in my car - and it is useful to punch in waypoints to show tricky intersections which I always forget, or the location of convenient Starbucks along the way. I even used it to test the accuracy of my speedometer (and discovered that my speedometer reads about 4% too fast, which probably explains why I never get any speeding tickets).
br /
br /I do have three complaints about it. First, I was confused at one point when the map screen showed a weird spike pointing off from the side of the trail. It appeared as if I had made a side excursion in a straight line for about one half a mile, and then returned along the exact same line back to the trail. It was obviously an error - the excursion was perfectly straight, and I know I did not make it - so I just assumed that the Foretrex got one position measurement wrong and I ignored it. But since this occurred on the second day I owned the device, at first I didn't know what to make of it.
br /
br /Secondly, I discovered that it is awkward to save small parts of the day's journey (the "track log") in the Foretrex's list of saved tracks. It is easy to save the entire journey made since the last time I cleared the track log - and with some effort I can select a portion of the journey to save. However, I found it impossible to select just the kayaking portion of my day's journey and save it separately from the car trip to and from the lake.
br /
br /Finally, I discovered that one pair of AAA batteries lasts only about 12 hours. (I intentionally depleted the batteries without changing them to see whether the Foretrex would loose any information or become disoriented in any way. When I inserted a new pair, the Foretrex picked up right where it left off, without missing a beat!)
br /
br /These are very minor glitches. Overall, this device has a very simple intuitive user interface and it has opened up whole new possibilities for getting around. It may even save my life some day.

I have had a Garmin GPS12 for several years and liked it and saw no need to upgrade for my purposes (hiking and geocaching). But when I saw the Foretrex on Amazon I was intrigued and put it on my Christmas list after looking about both this and the Forerunner.
br /
br /I am really impressed. It does just about everything my 12 does but in a smaller package. The ergonomic sense of wearing it on my wrist is just awesome. Being able to wear it while running and see my speed, to see my info while hinking without having to dig for my GPS from a pocket or pouch. If it was just a scaled-down 12 it would be worth it.
br /
br /But, no...there's more. The trip computer page is great. Pick the info you want from dozens of fields and choose where you want them displayed. Simple and easy to configure. It's great. It's like being able to have a purpose-made GPS screen for whatever activity you're doing.
br /
br /Their is WAAS support as well. In layman's terms it makes the GPS more accurate, which, of course, is a good thing.
br /
br /Probably my only con on this unit would be the lack of external power connection. This really only comes into play in the car. (Where it mounts handily on my rear-view mirror using the wrist strap.)
br /
br /Battery life is good for only using 2 AAA's. A Set of rechargables is a logical investment with this unit. Speaking of batteries, the reason I choose the 101 over the 201 is the ability to use batteries. There aren't many power outlets in the woods for recharging and I do enjoy backpacking and longer trips on occasion.
br /
br /

I've been using the Garmin e-trex gps for a few years so it was very easy to use the Foretrex 101 out of the box. It's very accurate and intuitive, satellite reception is good, even when you have it at your wrist and you're driving the car. Of course heavy forest on cloudy days or city canyons do block the signal, but are there portable gps that don't have this problem?
br /Although Garmin makes a running specific unit, the Foretrex is perfect for runners as not only keeps track of speed, average speed, max speed, time, distance, total distance, vertical speed etcetera, but it also plots the track, so it's always easy to return to the starting point even in unknown places or in the countryside. Plus it has all the navigation ability of the classic portable gps, like compass, route, bearing, time to destination and so on.
br /So it's great for hiking, boating (with small boats) but it is also an extraordinary cycle computer (no wheel measure to insert or magnets and pick-ups to fix) and a motorbike navigation aid.
br /I can't wait to check my speed down the ski slopes, wearing it over the jacket, with the wrist band extension.
br /Talking about wrist band, I have a 7"/18cm wrist and I use the wrist band at maximum elongation, so a guy with an 8" wrist would be *******. The extension is good to wear the gps over thick sleeves but too long for big wrist people (over 7").
br /Also, the interface cable is optional (standard on the 201) and you do need it in case you want to download software upgrades.
br /The back light works very well.
br /Oh, one great thing is that you can actually program the screen to display the information you want, so basically you can quickly adapt the GPS to the actual use.
br /It works very well with NiMH batteries and can be kept in battery save mode all the time without significant accuracy loss, so to extend battery life. I do recommend rechargeables as nowadays you can get two AAA 750mA NiMH for 6 bucks.
br /To summarise, the unit is great and I detracted 1 point for the short strap and for the interface cable which in China cost 30 cents to produce and I think should be included in the package.

I like to walk/jog along different routes through my neighborhood. I do have a pedometer, but I do not have complete faith in its accuracy. I have also become fascinated by "Geocaching," a hobby where people hide a cache somewhere, upload its Latitude and Longitude to the Internet, and then other people can go on a treasure hunt of sorts.
br /
br /GPS units have been around for a good amount of time now, but I consider them to be too bulky to use for everyday jogging. These wrist GPS units (the Foretrex 101/201, and the Forerunner 101/201) offer nice alternatives, but which one did I need?
br /
br /In my mind, the first criteria for any GPS system is its accuracy. If the device provides inaccurate data, then any information derived from it is devalued. The Foretrex units are WAAS-enabled, which means they use a separate set of ground-based stations to correct the satellite information. This correction results in higher accuracy, and eliminated the Forerunners from consideration. WAAS is currently available only in North America.
br /
br /The next concern that I had was for battery life: I wanted to be sure that the thing worked when I turned it on! Since I had narrowed my search to the Foretrex 101/201, I discovered that the main difference between these two units was that the 201 uses an integrated battery, while the 101 uses standard "AAA" batteries. I didn't want to have to keep track of a power adapter if I took my GPS on the road with me in order to recharge the unit, but it would be easy to carry an extra pair of AAA's. As a result, the Foretrex 101 was the last unit standing.
br /
br /In actual use, it has been wonderful. I have been able to track time and distance on my walks, regardless of the route that I take. The only concern I have is that if I am going under trees, the Foretrex can lose its signal more easily than I would expect. The loss of signal also affects my ability to quickly locate some "geocaches." I have read that this problem exists in some of the larger Garmin units as well. I don't expect a smaller device to have better performance, which is why I didn't reduce my rating to four stars.
br /
br /The only other item that is worth mentioning is that the Foretrex 101 does NOT come with a PC interface cable. It has the capability, but the cable is sold separately. I strongly recommend acquiring this cable so that you can update the firmware in the device, as well as download your track information from it. With the optional cable, I am getting all of the functionality that I expected from such a compact device.
br /
br /If you are looking for an informational aid for your workouts, then the Foretrex 101 is a great option. I believe that this one device has the features that you will need over its siblings. If you are looking for more robust features from a GPS, including use for Geocaching or for mapping, then you should look elsewhere.

I just got this gadget and have used it around the neighboorhood but not yet in the backcountry. So far it seems to work well. It actually fits on my wrist without being annoying and bulky. If you feel self conscious it fits under the cuff most jackets.
br /
br /The first day I got it I went to a local park, marked a waypoint, walked about half a mile away, then navigated back to within 10 feet. So accuracy and ease of use are fine. I have also used it in the car and it is very accurate at tracking speed, distance, etc.
br /
br /Reception was problematic one day when it was very foggy out. Maybe this is a problem for all GPS units. But beware - this technology is not foolproof!
br /
br /My only gripe is that the instruction manual, while sufficient for basic operation, does not describe all the features in complete detail. I am still trying to figure out the difference between bearing, heading, and course. But I still gave it 5 stars because it is a great little gadget at a price that seems reasonable.
br /
br /By the way, I am very happy with Amazon's delivery. The package came to my house less than 24 hours after I placed the order - even though I selected the slowest option (like 3-5 days?) to get free shipping.

I just got the foretrex 101 for christmas. I have a garmin gps 12 which has worked great for me for years. I chose this model because I wanted something I portable to easily wear on my wrist and handlebars. I also chose the 101 because I didn't want to have to remember to charge the unit. I think it lasts 15 hours on 2 nimh AAAs. Anyway, so far as a data cable, you can easily make one with a 2.5mm phono plug (like the end of cellphone handsfree kit) and a female db9 connector. The tip and middle sections of the plug go to pins 2 and 3 (if it doesn't work just swap 'em) and the back section goes to pin 5. I use EasyGPS among other programs to communicate with it. The advantage of RS/232 over USB is that you can communicate with other GPSs and certain other non-host devices. I hooked it up to my pocket PC for satellite navigation. Negatives: it may be my particular unit, but I get inadequate reception unless I have the screen pointing up. Same thing if I'm near trees. My gps12 works much better in these situations, and based on other reviews here, I feel mine may be defective. Hope someone else posts more detail about satellite reception.

Have tried other handheld gps units, but they were combersome because it required the user to hold it in their hands pointed at the sky. Yeah there are belt clips for the etrex units, but I realized it loses the signal easily. Took a legend to Disneyland and had to hold it in my hand to get good reception. Other wise the screen would always say weak signal.
br /Though the foretrex 101 does not have fancy maps or color, it makes up in size and portability. I mean you can strap it to your wrist or upper arm and forget it is there!! Wonderful for running or walking, then download it (I use G7toWin--google it) and project your route to Google Earth (or usaphotomaps--if you don't have windows XP) or othe mapping software. If you put it on your upper arm, the reception is greatly increased.
br /It has all the features of the legend except the detailed map. AAA batteries, 10,000 trackpoints, WAAS (better accuracy),downloadability of data, it beeps if there is a message (low batteries, lost reception), NOT handheld-- all the features I enjoy.
br /
br /Overall, great gps with most of the features of the etrex legend except maps, not hand held, and uses AAA battries.
br /
br /If you are looking for a basic gps unit with many features (more features than that of the Etrex yellow) , consider the Foretrex 101!!

I wanted a small lightweight GPS with some basic navigation features at an affordable price. I've had the Foretrex 101 for almost a year and am very impressed. I use it hiking, mountain biking, xc skiing, and in my canoe. It's small size and the fact that I can just strap it to my wrist, my pack, the handlebars on my mtn bike (with a small piece of pipe insulation), or the thwart of my canoe, means I actually take it with and us it.
br /
br /I had purchased another GPS about a decade ago and it was almost useless (heavy, couldn't keep a signal, drained the batteries). The foretrex 101 is a world of difference from the older devices. It grabs a signal pretty quick, holds it well under most conditions, and takes 2 AAA batteries that I find last for 8 to 10 hours (I use rechargeable).
br /
br /The biggest downside is it doesn't come with a cable to connect to your computer or any software, but I purchased a separate cable online for about 10 or 15 bucks and downloaded the free version of EasyGPS that I use to download my track and waypoint data.
br /
br /For those wanting maps, this device isn't designed for them. But it does do a great job of keeping track of where you are in relation to where you were (very useful on a some of the trail systems I use) as well as tracking distance traveled. You can't really compare it to a full featured GPS with maps, but then again, you're not going to find a full featured GPS with maps in this small lightweight design in this price range.
br /

This is a fantastic unit. I own 3 GPS units. A Magellan 2000XL, a Garmin GPS V, and this unit. I use this unit far more often than the other units. It's light, accurate, and very easy to use. I really don't miss having maps at all with this unit. I use it for hiking, and dirt biking. I can't think of anything negative to say about this unit. I find it simply perfect for backpacking where weight is an issue, as long as you bring a map which I don't mind at all. Plus carrying extra batteries isn't an issue since it uses AAA's which are lighter as well. I highly recommend this GPS.

I use this for gunkholein' in my Kayak...when you start exploring creeks and coves, this alows me to always find my way out of a swamp. It also great for mountain bikeing when exploring a single track that seems to go on and on...trails when hikeing, and want to try new little cut offs...and to always be able to find it again.
br /
br /Not a real map, but a screen with you in the middle, and you waypoints and trail that you have made...
br /
br /I also use this when I downhill skateboard to track my speed...
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br /This is a limited device, but its what I need, and I am really happy with it...
br /
br /USE THE BACKLIGHT SPARINGLY...
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br /I do prefer the fact that it takes AAA bats...to alow quick changing in the field...
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br /Email me with any questions, I will try my best to answer them.

I needed a lightweight easy-to-use inexpensive GPS device to use during outdoors hiking and backpacking trips, mostly as a distance meter but also as a route tracker. There's a very little competition in this sector, and I selected Foretrex 101 because it uses AAA's instead of rechargeable batteries in 201 (well, not sure about Garmin engineers but I typically don't take an AC power outlet to a backpacking trip with me).
br /Overall, it met my expectations... sorta. COM port communications with a PC, sturdy but ugly looking design, heavier than I thought, very uncomfortable wrist strap - these are the minuses but I could live with them. However, my biggest disappointment was with the GPS chip sensitivity. In 8 out of 10 trips it loses satellite connections every few minutes, pretty much all the time under the trees, even when the forest around is not that dense. When it does, its measurements become extremely inaccurate - once it reported 13 miles on a trip odometer when it actually was just above 8...
br /I wouldn't buy it again, but at the same time I haven't seen a better alternative anyway. I only wish Garmin could come up with a new wrist mount hiking (not running / personal training) GPS device based on a new chip, using USB connector, and having better map graphics. Dreams, sweet dreams.

I did a lot of internet searching for reviews on the Foretrex and other handheld GPS's before I plunged, and having been the proud owner for three weeks am happy to say that the 101 I have is close to perfect for my needs - recording long distance hikes and geocaching. I live in Portugal, where detailed maps for hiking are almost non-existent, and motoring Sat Navs give up as they cross the border (well except in cities), so I can live with the lack of mapping on the device. Signal strength is good and even though WAAS is not available here I often get accuracy figures of about 4m. The Field option list for display is very comprehensive, and I haven't thought of anything else I might need, except a capability to do split times on the Timer - and you probably could if you knew how!! If the Timer worked more like a conventional stopwatch it would have been better for me, but sailors etc probably think it is perfect.
br /The only other gripe is re the PC connectibility - my laptop doesn't have an RS232, and if it is possible to connect using the Garmin Interface 232 cable AND a 232 to USB adaptor, why don't they make it a USB2 connector in the first place. The Garmin USB adaptor costs currently about $60 US, the 232 Interface cable $16 - both plus postage, yet the whole unit itself only cost $114 including free delivery when I bought it. That cynical marketing, when an essential item is left out of the 101 box (the 232 interface cable is included in the 201 for some reason!!!) is why I dropped a star. Having said that, I think it is the best value and best functional unit that I could have got at present. I suggest readers write to Garmin direct and let them know about the connectibility shortcomings! They may not read these!!

I've had the Foretrex 101 for about 4 months and used it primarily for sea kayaking. While it has functioned pretty well over the period, it has now become unusable due to water getting in through the battery cover. Looking at the seal on that cover, it's pretty minimal compared to those on other waterproof gear I own. Would probably be ok for hiking and biking but, certainly in a salt water environment, I'd steer clear of this one.

This is my second foretrex, I love it. For the price, it gives all the data that I need. It is very accurate, holds ample way points, stores tracks, will navigate, and is interface capable with an optional power cord. It has a terrible map. If you want a map, color screen, driving directions, exc... This is not the GPS for you, but if you want a SUPER SMALL, accurate, and cost effective GPS, this is it!!!!!

This GPS is lightweight on the wrist, very readable in sunlight, and easy to use. The optional computer serial cable (get the USB adaptor too) and the Garmin Waypoint Manager make this an even more powerful hiking tool. I do trail running and us it to record the tracks, give speed of travel, and mark my trail waypoints. At home I download the track and waypoints to my computer. I also upload gps lat/lon points and routes to the GPS unit from the computer. When used with paper maps, this is the most powerful small GPS for the money.
br /
br /Garmin PC Interface Cable for Forerunner and Foretrex (010-10484-00)
br /Cables To Go USB To Db9 Serial Adapter USBa/db9m Rs-232
br /Garmin MapSource Trip and Waypoint Manager (010-10215-04)

The battery life was WELL under what was estimated in product info. This is not a bad product, just not what I was expecting. I do alot of backcountry backpacking and found that the unit had a difficult time keeping a signal under tree cover. Once out in the OPEN above treeline, no problem. But what's the point if half you distance might be in treeline and it won't be able to track?? Battery life poor in MY opinion.

The Garmin Foretrex 101 is perfect for the active outdoorsman. It straps right on to your wrist and off you go. I use mine mainly for Powered-paragliding. It allows me to enjoy my flights more because I'm not constantly having to keep track of where I am; and it tells me my ground speed and rate of climb. I would definately recommend this product to anyone who wants a GPS unit that's small, easy to operate and recieves a signal almost anywhere.

I love exploring the forests, but with a rather limited sense of direction, the fear of getting lost is limiting the possibilities. With ForeTrex 101, I can run explore places I most definitely would have gotten lost in earlier. It can route me back the track I took, or point me what direction to go to reach a point I have entered earlier. I use Google Earth to find coordinates for places, enter the coordinates, and let ForeTrex take me there.
br /
br /For running, it tells me how far I ran, how fast I am running, my average speed etc.
br /
br /Unit uses normal batteries, this is a good thing, so you can bring replacements batteries on the trip.
br /
br /DRAWBACKS:
br /* Garmin should really provide free way point management software. This exists, but thats not Garmins fault.
br /* Data cable (not provided, but can be bought) should be USB. Now I have to get a USB-Serial cable in addition. Who sells products with serial cables these days???
br /* Max characters in Way point-names should be greater. 6 is too few. The way point directory is wide enough to hold 12 characters, why is it limited to 6?
br /
br /But all in all, a great, inexpensive way to find your way back home!

Although no single navigational tool should ever be used alone (a backup compass, using landmarks, maps common sense are always necessary), the Garmin Foretrex 101 wristmounted GPS Navigator really works to "bring you home". I used this GPS in the wetland hardwoods of the Cache River NWR in East-Central Arkansas. This refuge, together with the White River NWR are dense bottomland hardwoods of oak and cyprus trees and marshes. Once inside these massive forrests (80+ miles long at points) you can barely see the sky and can get lost almost immediatly. My Garmin GPS was a great comfort as I kept walking deeper deeper into the woods. It's simple to use and always let me know exactly (within 30 ft) where and how far away may my car was. After exploring for hours, I simply entered "Go To" my #1 position (my car), and followed the arrow home. It was simple and really worked. I am still learning to program the unit on how to enter a Long. Lat. off of a topographical map so it can guide me to the exact spot I am interested in exploring. Once I have mastered this last test, I will be confident to take on the world. Good Luck and enjoy this great navigational tool.

As a geographically challenged person I often get lost hiking through new areas and even have great difficulty locating my car in large parking lots. The Garmin worked exactly as advertised and has significantly reduced my walking/parking anxieties.
br /The "bread crumb" trail that appears on the screen has proved to be a simple and accurate way to retrace the route traveled and recently helped me find my way back after a 10 mile hike.
br /Battery life is good and I usually carry a couple of spare AAA batteries for safety. I'm glad it doesn't use rechargeable batteries which can be inconvenient to recharge.
br /The Garmin receives my unconditional recommendation. The price is reasonble, quality is good and performance is excellent.

We looked around for an item like this for a while because we had many different purposes we wanted it to cover. I first wanted it for running. We looked long and hard at the foreRUNNER but it only covered running. We also wanted it for Geocaching (if you don't know what Geocaching is and own a GPS or plan on owning a GPS, check out geocaching.com, it's one of the best things to do with your GPS), and for biking, and for tracking, waypoints, etc. We own a Garmin eTrex, so we pretty much knew the options we were looking for.
br /
br /Then we came across the foretrex. Great for running if you don't mind keeping track of your records and past runs. Great for biking in the mountains, great for geocaching, and great for everything else.
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br /The only thing this doesn't have are maps. But with the eTrex, we were just fine with it.
br /
br /Great product, we're really enjoying it

I don't know if my specific product was defective or if it was a design flaw, but the "weak signal" symbol and accompanying beep were constantly coming up. I had intended to use this during mountain biking, but it would not keep accurate distance. I even tested it while driving, where I could compare the odometer reading in my car with the odometer on the GPS. Still, the Foretrex was significantly lower than the actual mileage.

Being a novice at walking, this device has helped to motivate me. I am constantly trying to walk further and faster, I know that this GPS will record any stops or distance covered while walking. So I think that I better keep going and that has improved my exercise program.
br /The device is simple to use. I was able to purchase this device at a reduced rate from Amazon and that makes it even better!

The Foretrex is fine and I use it about an hour each day. Battery life is extra bad; about 9 hours on alkalines and 4 hours on rechargable NiCads. Unfortunately there is very little warning on low juice prior to shut down.

I've been using GPS's for decades, for work and pleasure. The sensitivity of this product is phenomenal. This GPS does exactly what it is supposed to for a reasonable price. Why only 4 stars? In today's age of technology there is no reason a low power OLED with a map capable SD map slot is not installed. I would pay a little extra for that. Go with the AAA battery version if you plan on using it a lot; especially in the field or on mission.

I bought this for specific purposes that I think its very good for. I use this type of unit to do my photography geotagging. It wears in your wrist and will log where you take your pictures by using additional software that will allow to match up your digital photos to the GPS track log history. being on your wrist its always available to get a signal from the satellites when your taking your picture. Also when I goto Shopping malls or sporting events, I mark my car and use it to find my car in large parking lots. The key to this is you dont have a bulky GPS in your pocket while your at a concert or sportingevent its worn on your wrist, lightweight. has computer interface with additional cable ~$13 (serial only), great uses for portable APRS tracking (an amateur radio application). I choose this over the Garmin Gecko for having a better power button, the Geko was too easy to have turn on while in your pocket, this works well for the purposes I mention if you do not need maps or need your hands free, great for biking or geocaching as well. for the $99 -$130. It will also plot and do auto route back if you leave it on while navigating outdoors so you can find your way back out., handsfree is the key to buying this unit. The also choose the 101 over the 201 for the ability to carry extra batteries and change them in the field vs having to charge the 201.

I like to mountain bike, cycle ride, triathlons, hike and other outdoor sports. This little GPS has been able to handle the load of all of these. Love all the features. I read that this little gem loses signals a lot, huh? I use it in northern Az in the forest, canyons, mountains and river valleys and I have to tell you driving, hiking, and riding in AZ, NM, and Tx I only lost signal 4 times and that was when I was in a tunnel or when I fell into the lake. Moreover, on that note, to make this gem perfect for all out door activities why did not they make it waterproof for swimming. Now its is rank for a 1 meter 30 minute submersion but who swims for only 30mins. Why didn't Garmin design a USB cable connection instead of a serial cable that cost an extra $15-$45 cable if you don't have a serial port on a new computer. What were they thinking? Duh!!!! Battery life, oh come on, with all of this new technology battery life is only 15 hours? I have to change out the battery every week unless I use rechargeable while I have to charge every night before use. Those three reason is why it gets a 4.7 of 5.
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br /Best little GPS for the price. If not the FT 101 get the Forerunner 101 (more so for runnuers)
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br /Pros:
br /Lightweight
br /Easy to use
br /Highly versatile, because of the Velcro strap and many different functions
br /Large display
br /Strong signal reception
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br /Cons:
br /Battery life
br /PC Connection
br /Does not float
br /No stopwatch (F.R. does)
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This is a compact yet fully functional product. Its' tracking and route function is effective. Inputing waypoints are intuitive with a few buttons. I use it for trail and also for my DSLR to retrieve GPS information for my photos (with cable from Pc-Mobile). Lacking of map function is a shame but it is sufficient for my current usage.

Long Battery life, great display, easy to use. easy to configure the screen to see the info I want to see.

The first time I went to course, I recorded the GPS locations for the 18 greens.br /I can measure the distance for every shot, using the trip option. For a beginner like me, it's a wonderful tool to improve my game.br /But I need to use the metric units because statute units jump from feets to miles. Please include yards in the next version.br /I also used it in an airplane trip: it worked very well!

This is my final GPS unit. It does what I want. It's easy to set and tracks quickly and efficiently.
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br /Sure wish these things could see the satellites inside of buildings. I got it partly to find my car in mall parking lots, but it would also be handy to track back to the correct building entrance. Once it's moving around under roof, though, it can't track well, if at all.
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br /I'd like it to have a lanyard hole, so I wouldn't always have to wear it on my wrist. I could use it as a key fob or have other options.
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br /The computer interface cable has to be plugged in HARD to get it to connect. The Iogear USB to serial adapter cable works well with it.

I OWN TWO OF THESE GARMIN GPS's. I USE THEM TO RECORD THE MAX SPEED OF MY REMOTE CONTROLLED CARS AND TRUCKS. MORE ACCURATE THAN RADAR. FOR THIS TYPE OF GPS GARMIN IS THE BEST.

We use this wrist model for Mounted Posse, Search and Rescue and for mapping trails in the forest. The display is bright and clear - easy to read in sun and shade. For the equestrian it stays with you on your wrist, takes one hand to operate instead of the traditional hand held units. Lots of good features packed into a compact size. A good buy at the cost.

Garmin has come up with a fantastic idea, having a wrist mounted gps. It works great both for hiking and driving. It's easy to download tracks and waypoints (with the recommended cable) to a computer so you can see them on google earth. Great investment!
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This is a great GPS device. My only complaint is that it is hard to turn the GPS tracking off. This is only an issue when you are downloading to a computer in a building where you can't get a signal.
br /It is easy to use and gets great accuracy!

i've had my garmin for about 2 years and only used it about 4 or 5 times and now its stuck in the searching for signal mode. none of the buttons work and the only way to turn it off is to let the batteries run out or take out the batteries. i will never buy one of these again.

I bought this unit specifically for my biking trips as a traditional cyclecomputer is hard to mount on a trike-bike. It also has a wealth of additional info compared to cyclecomputers that I need. It's well buillt and UI is simple. Most useful is the traceback function which means you'll always get back to your starting point - somehow. For long trips it's good to know approx. when you'll arrive at your final destination, so you can call and have them prepare some food for instance. Your family also relax more if you can provide them with hard data about your journey.
br /A have another Garmin unit - a pda with gps - called Ique 3600 which came with MapSource software for Windows. I also mainly use a portable computer which has only usb-ports for addons. Tested several adapters (serial to usb) before I ended up with the "original" from Garmin at a crazy price. Extra serial cable + adapter for USB costed 50% of the price for the unit. (260US$ for unit + 130US$ for cable + adapter). Now I plan my trips using MapSource from Garmin (I use City Select v.7 for Europe which is updated about evere 18th month)and download the whole trip directly to the Foretrex. Upon completion, I compare route and tracks as the software isn't very accurate in more rural areas. The software also enables you to get heightprofiles, but they are far less accurate then the mapcoordinates used. Sometimes I've been a few hundred meters below sealevel according to the unit, but individual trackpoints can be edited away in the software so with a little extra work you get a good height profile anyway.
br /GPS have made my life easier in so many ways - this unit is no exeption.

Don't be fooled and save yourself a week waiting until you are informed. Amazon is out of stock until June 06. Buy from a reseller.

Like the product. Great idea. The only problem is trying to find a telephone number for Amazon once you do order it and have a problem with your on-line account that can not be solved via email. I had to use "Google" to find the number. It was on a web site called "Amazon.com: The Death Of Customer Service". Might want to find a phone number before you order.