Review on Garmin Forerunner 235: Black/Gray GPS Running Watch - Ultimate Fitness Companion by John Kahsar

FR235 I have a week now and here are the details. -- Appearance -- FR235 is very light. You'll find it hard to believe that the folks at Garmin managed to fit a vibration motor, accelerometer, GPS + GLONASS, audio, and a decent battery, all sealed with 5ATM water resistance. ending with the USB end. I love the large display that really shows off the beauty of the custom watch faces you'll find on Garmin Connect IQ. The strap is interchangeable and I was surprised to learn that there is actually a Nike-exclusive Black/Volt over Marsala, Black Gray and Frost Green. The slightly elastic strap is full of holes for ventilation and fit. What I particularly like is that the FR235 looks good enough to wear in and out of training. With a colorful strap, they can even look like a fashion watch that doesn't scream "FITNESS TRACKER"! - Heart rate recording - I compared the heart rate data to Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart HRM data and the comparison is shown in the attached images. The two heart rate graphs are not the same as you can see numerous spikes in the FR235 heart rate graph. That being said, I think the FR235 did pretty well in smart shooting mode; This means that HR/GPS data is not recorded every second, it can vary from once per second to once every 6 seconds. The final file size is smaller and the recorded data is usually sufficient for the average user. With the recording mode switched to every second, the FR 235 performed admirably. While the specs aren't quite the same as the Polar H7, they're very close. I understand that there are users who do not get the same response from the FR235 as I do. Optical heart rate sensors are complex and depend on many factors. I must emphasize that I am talking about personal use as an individual. -- Teaching -- There are 4 activity profiles.1. RUN2. INNER BARREL3. CYCLE4. OTHER You cannot remove any of these, but you can hide them if they are not used often. A special feature of the FR235 is that all 4 modes can be configured individually. For example, for outdoor runs, I would like the GPS feature to be available but have all smart notifications turned off. But for indoor running on a treadmill, I want the GPS feature turned off and all kinds of smart notifications turned on. Thus, FR235 allows you to set your preferences for all 4 activity profiles. In addition to activity profiles, you can also use training tools such as E.g.: 1. Training calendar2. intervals3. My Workout 4. End Time To use features like the workout calendar and My Workouts, you must log in to the Garmin Connect web interface and complete a few planning steps. The FR 235 allows the user to set interval distance, duration and time directly from the watch device. As for target time, all you have to do is set your distance and start running, while the FR235 shows you roughly how fast you can go based on your current pace. The screen during activity tracking can be set to 5 screens. 2 of these can be further subdivided into 4 data fields each. So in total you get 4 + 4 + 1 (heart rate) + 1 (HR zone sensor) + 1 (hours) = 11 stats to view during the recorded activities. And they can be configured differently for each activity profile. - Smart notifications. With the FR235 you can expand and read smart notifications or set the alarm mode, be it sound, vibration or both. -- Physiological stats -- After more than 10 minutes of running, the FR235 gives you an estimate of your VO2 max. The recovery advisor also tells you how many hours you need to rest before your next hard workout. The data is analyzed by the Finnish company First Beat, which also offers services similar to those of Samsung, Garmin, Suunto, Sony and others. Protocol. -- Activity tracking all day long. The FR235 tracks steps, distance, calories burned, sleep, all-day heart rate and intensity minutes, but doesn't track climbed steps due to the lack of a barometer. It is also 3rd compatible. If you've been sitting for too long, the FR235 will alert you with a beep or buzz to get up and move. If you're willing to put in the time, you can actually customize the FR235 to suit your personal preferences. I was able to set alarms during my activity tracking session to buzz when I exceeded a certain heart rate. I also set up the auto pause function, which kicks in when I slow down below 10km/h; can wait for traffic lights etc. The FR235 also connects to an ANT+ pedometer, heart rate monitor, and Garmin VIRB action cameras. Belt. Otherwise, the FR235 is a serious contender on any GPS fitness watch list. Pros: • Fitness tracker that works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Tracks steps, distance, calories, sleep • Measure your all-day heart rate and heart rate during recorded activity sessions • GPS + Glonass enabled with smart or second-by-second tracking • Vibration and sound for smart notifications, alerts and alerts Driving information • Expand and read full news on the FR 235 display • Answer calls only • Highly customizable • Compatible with Garmin Connect IQ for downloading apps and watch faces • VO2 max score, race time prediction, recovery advice • Automatic laps for 1 km / 1 mile or user configurable • Auto pause during recorded runs • Interval running features • Water resistant to 5ATM • Large touchless screen • Sunlight readable backlit screen • Connect IQ compatible • Reads lap number and time from Garmin Co-Mobile app nnect from a connected smartphone • Shows weather and calendar events readings from a smartphone • Water resistant to 5 ATMONOS • Navigating the FR235 takes a bit of getting used to • No virtual pacemaker feature — Updated January 28, 2016 — Well I've had the watch for a long time. It's still great and I rarely wear a fitness tracker for so long. One thing that worries me is the bluetooth connection, especially after a firmware update. I've found that I have to turn the FR235 off and on again when the BT connection is having trouble.