Garmin today announced that they will be launching a brand new running watch, The Forerunner 225.
Partnering with Mio, Garmin have now for the first time integrated a heart rate monitor into their technology.
The Forerunner 225 features a colourful graphic interface showing runners their zone and beats per minute at a glance, and a built-in accelerometer that provides distance and pace data for indoor running.
“After more than 10 years of developing GPS running watches we are very excited to team up with Mio to introduce our first device featuring wrist-based heart rate,” said Andrew Silver, Garmin EMEA Product Manager, Fitness. “Getting and understanding your heart rate is more comfortable and easier than ever with the Forerunner 225’s real time results on a colourful gauge – allowing runners to evaluate and adjust effort quickly so they can focus on their run.”
“We are proud of our partnership with Garmin. When the leading brand in GPS teams up with a leading brand in wrist-based heart rate monitoring technology, it’s a win for athletes at all levels,” says Liz Dickinson, CEO of Mio Global. “More and more, athletes are recognising the role that heart rate plays in their training intensity and efficacy, and it has become evident that heart rate is a must-have feature in wearable technology.”
The heart rate is measured using a built-in optical sensor that shines light into a user’s skin, and measures the amount of light returned. Because there are slight changes as blood pumps through the wrist, the sensor detects those changes and uses an advanced filtering process to determine reliable and accurate heart rate. Additionally, a light seal on the back of the watch blocks out ambient light to help ensure proper heart rate detection.
The Forerunner 225 then displays a colourful gauge to show a runner’s zone and beats per minute in real time. The grey, blue, green, orange and red areas on the gauge show runners at a glance if they are in the warm-up, easy, aerobic, threshold or maximum heart rate zone. Zones are preset based on the user’s age-based max heart rate estimate but can also be customised directly on the watch.
The watch will be available in black/red, launching exclusively at Runners Need stores nationwide and online from June with a suggested retail price of £239.99.
