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Garmin 10

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Garmin 10 Review}}
The {{Garmin 10}} is a simpler watch than most, with only a few functions, which makes it good for the technophobe. However, the [[GPS Accuracy| GPS Accuracy of the 10 is grim]], which prevents it being worth considering, even at this price. The 10 is the cheapest [[Best Running Watch| GPS enabled watch ]] that Garmin makes, and price wise it fits between the cheaper {{Soleus 1.0}} and the slightly more expensive {{Garmin 310XT}}. I think it's worth the extra $30 over the {{Soleus 1.0}} for the ability to download data and automatically maintain your [[The importance of a training log|training log]]. However, the price of the {{Garmin 310XT}} has been steadily falling, and I believe the upgrade is well worth the price difference if you can afford it and don't mind a larger watch. For a simple evaluation of a GPS watch, I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and sadly, the Garmin 10 has appalling GPS accuracy. * '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Sadly, the Garmin 10 does not support a [[Footpod]], so it can't display your current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS. * '''Where am I? '''The Garmin 10 has no navigation functions. * '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. The Garmin 10 has no support for [[Cadence]]. For ultramarathon running the Garmin 10 doesn't have the battery life to be of any use if you expect to be moving during the Second Dawn. See [[Best Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning| Watches for Ultrarunning]] for more details.
[[File:Garmin10.jpeg|thumb|none|200px|The {{Garmin 10}} showing the variety of colors and the two sizes that are available.]]
=Garmin 10 Pros=
* Smaller than the 910XT/310XT and closer to the size of a traditional watch.
* Available in two sizes with either a 2.5cm or a 2.1cm screen, as well as several colors.
* The limited functionality makes it easy easier to use, though the menu system is unfriendly.
=Garmin 10 Cons=
* The [[GPS Accuracy | GPS Accuracy of the 10 is truly awful]].* The lack of data upload is a major flaw, and is even worse than the 620I'd urge you to get a watch that supports this.
* The battery life is rather short. It is claimed to provide 5 hours, and this is likely to cause an issue for slower marathon runners or ultrarunners.
* Not the range of accessories that the 910XT/310XT has, such as [[Heart Rate Monitor]] or [[Footpod]].
=What's Missing=While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches. * '''GPS Pre-cache'''. Most of the time, even GPS watches without satellite pre-cache will locate the GPS signal quite quickly provided you've not traveled far from the position of the watch was last used. However, those times when you have traveled, a GPS watch without satellite pre-cache can take several minutes to locate the GPS signal. This can be remarkably annoying when you're freezing cold and wanting to start your run to warm up.* '''Altimeter. '''GPS is far less accurate vertically than horizontally, so a barometric altimeter can provide a much better idea of your ascent and descent. It can also be useful for navigation if you're ascending or descending a mountain. In some races I've been far more interested in how much ascent is left rather than the distance to the top.* '''Navigation.''' The navigation capabilities are useful if there is a risk of getting lost. I've made good use of this feature when running in an unfamiliar city, or when running remote trails.* '''Downloadable Apps'''. Smart watches have got is used to the idea of a device that can be extended with new functionality, and this concept is being introduced to running watches.* '''Extended battery life'''. Some porches can extend the battery life by turning the GPS reception off for short periods. This can dramatically reduce GPS accuracy, but it's a useful trade-off for some ultramarathons.* '''[[Firstbeat| Training Effect]].''' The Firstbeat Training Effect gives you a sense of how hard each workout is, and this sometimes includes the time for recovery.* No '''Graphs'''. Instead of simply displaying a numeric value for things like heart rate, some watches will display a graph of the value over time, giving you a sense of how things are progressing.* '''Running Dynamics'''. Some of the newer Garmin watches can show and record Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). * '''Alerts'''. Some watches will alert you when a metric is out of range. The alert for [[Cadence]] is really useful and one of maps my favorite features. * '''WiFi/Bluetooth Uploads'''. While the automatic upload of workouts via WiFi or other navigationBluetooth to a Smartphone is nice, the upload will typically only go to the manufacturers web site. * '''Web Configuration'''. Some watches allow you to setup the configuration via a web site, and then download your changes. This is vastly easier than fiddling with the watch. {{BuyAmazon|AZID=B0090C7A3O|AZN=Garmin 10}}
=Comparison Table=
{{:Best Running Watch-table}}

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