The Garmin Forerunner 110 is and entry level GPS watch for runners – and only runners. Unlike many other other Garmin Forerunner watches, the 110 does not offer the option to add cycle support. Sorry tri-athletes you’ll need to look into the pricier Garmin 405 or above to have the option of adding a cadence sensor. While lacking cycle support, the Garmin 110 does offer a bundled version that includes a heart rate monitor. This is type of comprise is the central theme of the 110.
Unlike 405 and the 410, the 110 has not been updated to use a touch bezel for controls and sticks with traditional control buttons. Given that problems with the responsiveness of the bezel controls (especially when wet) is a key complaint of 405 and 410 owners, this might not be an entirely negative decision.
One controversial feature the 110 does have is the clip-style charger. The watch uses a proprietary clip -connector for charging and data transfer. The spring-loaded clip is not as durable as the old-style dock used in previous generations and has an annoying tendency to slip off. This can be especially frustrating if charging the device overnight – only to wake up for an early AM run to find the clip slipped during the night leaving you with a partially charged or dead watch.
While differing in control design, the Forerunner 110 does have the smaller form factor of it’s more expensive cousins. While none of the Forerunner watches is likely to help you win a fashion contest, the slimmer, sleeker styling of the 110 will easily pass for an ordinary watch – where as previous generations could easily pass for a wrist mounted brick.
The last key compromise the budget minded runner needs to be aware of is a curious display mode decision. The Forerunner 110 will only report your pace for the current lap – not your overall average pace (unless you have turned off laps in which case your current “lap” is the entire run). While mildly annoying on short runs, this can be a major problem when pacing yourself in longer distance events. The marathoner relying on his or her GPS watch to to achieve an overall pace target – without regard to mile splits will be sorely disappointed.
Despite the feature trimming, the Garmin 110 is still a quality product. The actual GPS accuracy, history and heart rate data are at the same exceptional level as other Forerunner products at an attractive price point. The Garmin 110 will synchronize with Garmin Connect on-line and give you all the detailed distance, elevation, heart rate and pacing details. The 110 also uses the standardized .FIT file format to store your run data which makes it compatible with many third-party training tracking websites and software solutions.
Does the Garmin Forerunner 110 make some serious compromises? Without a a doubt. This is not to say however, that that it is not a good product. With a street price of around $158 or $210 with a bundled heart-rate monitor the Forerunner 110 offers a lot of bang for the buck as long for the average runner.