Garmin Forerunner 210 Review

If you’re serious about your running, and you want to track all your running stats, you need a watch that’s up to the job.

And if you’re looking at Garmin watches specifically, we commend you on your choice. Garmin is not only one of the top brands when it comes to fitness tracking watches, but they often feature GPS as well, and loads of other great features besides. 

The Garmin Forerunner 210 has been designed with runners in mind – hence the name Forerunner. It’s not one of the newest models around, but it doesn’t need to be, depending on exactly what stats you’re after.

Besides, you don’t want a watch that’s too complicated to actually use, or a display that’s too cluttered with detail.

In this article, we’re going to take a close look at the Forerunner 210, what features it has, what it can do, and what people generally think of it.

By the end of the article, you should have some idea about whether the Forerunner 210 is the right running watch for you. (Feel free to scroll ahead.)

Garmin Forerunner 210

List of Features

• Large easy to read display
• GPS location tracking
• Extensive fitness tracking
• Waterproof & built to last

Aesthetic & Display

There are two versions of this watch. You can get a nice, sleek black one, that won’t look at all out of place when you change out of your running gear and into your normal clothes.

Or, if you would prefer something that stands out a little more, you can go for one with a grey wristband complete with green accents.

The display is one inch in diameter, which is very large. And although this means that a lot of data can be displayed on the watch at any one time, I can assure you that the display is still quite minimal and is very clear and uncluttered.

Set around the display, there are just 4 buttons to be aware of. There’s the start/stop button to start and stop the fitness and distance tracking. There’s one button to light up the display to examine the display in low light conditions.

There’s one button to bring up menus, and finally a button to mark laps or intervals that you have run, or points at which you want to reset.

And, in case you forget or get confused about which piece of data is which, there are labels for distance statistics at the top and for pace at the bottom of the display screen. 

Heart rate is easily made out by the use of a heart icon after the figure. It will then also go on to tell you what heart rate zone you are in, so you can see at a glance whether you are in the optimum heart rate zone for burning body fat, which is important to many runners.

There is also a battery level indication bar that is always present on the display screen, so you are forewarned when that battery starts to get low.

GPS Capability

When you are training for running a marathon, it becomes very important to keep a track of how far you can run without burning out. That is the best way for you to be able to gauge whether you are in fact ready for marathon or half-marathon distances.

One of the main things that Garmin is known for is its top quality GPS tracking. And we would argue that GPS tracking is by far the most accurate means to keep track of how far you have run on each session. 

This is by far the best way of measuring your distance run rather than going by number of steps, because the distance of each step in your run can change according to how fast you are running and so on, and this can really vary from person to person.

The GPS functionality in the Garmin Forerunner 210 is nothing short of superb. It has a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that will enable you to maintain your GPS signal even when you’re right by a tall building or under dense tree cover in the woods. 

And that’s not all. You don’t have to have already run a short distance before the GPS signal will kick in. That’s to the FR210’s Hotfix satellite prediction, you can lock onto the satellites as soon as you leave your front door.

The only thing that’s missing however is that the watch won’t display your route on a map on the display. The watch displays figures only and not maps.

Compatible Accessories

Heart Rate Monitor

One of the most popular compatible accessories for the Garmin Forerunner 210 is their own premium soft strap heart rate monitor that’s worn around the chest.

This is the best way to get an accurate heart rate, rather than simply relying on a wristwatch that measures your pulse in your wrist.

And it is from your heart rate that the watch can work out how many calories you are burning as you run. So if this statistic is important to you (and why wouldn’t it be), then we would strongly recommend that you get a bundle deal that includes a Bluetooth heart rate chest monitor.

Foot Pod

And if you want even more data provided on your runs, you could also pair your Garmin FR210 with Garmin’s foot pod. That way, you can also track your cadence and your number of steps per minute. And these are particularly important stats to have if you plan on taking part in any races.

Indoor Fitness Equipment

The  Garmin Forerunner 210 also works with certain indoor fitness equipment via Bluetooth, which means that if you can’t go for your outdoor run because of bad weather, you can instead hit the gym, and not miss a single workout.

Analyzing Your Running Stats With The Garmin Connect App

One of the clear benefits of going for Garmin brand products is how they can be used in conjunction with the Garmin Connect app. The app is free to download and does not require a subscription. 

From this app you can bring up a map of your runs, and summaries of all your workout data. This can be used to help inform your training and decide on your next fitness goals.

Durability & Water Resistance

The Forerunner 210 is both scratch resistant and shock resistant, which means that it can take a little minor scrape or too or a drop onto a hard floor. It’s really built to last.

Moreover, it has a waterproof rating of IPX7. And what this means is that it will still continue to function normally, even when you are running in heavy rain. It could even sustain a brief drop in a puddle. 

Battery Life

The Garmin Forerunner 210 uses a top quality rechargeable lithium-ion Battery. It can last for up to a whopping 3 weeks on a full charge in the Power Saving mode. And that’s pretty good.

Of course, when in training mode, this puts a much greater demand on the battery than the power save mode, and instead it will last up to 8 hours in training mode. 

And what this means is that if you only put the watch into training mode for a 1-hour period each day, you should only have to recharge the battery at a rate of about once a week.

Customer Ratings & Reviews

The average customer rating for the Forerunner 210 is 4 stars out of 5, with more than 50% of customers giving it a full 5 stars out of 5. Customers typically describe the watch as very easy to use, which is probably where it stands out against the more modern models.

In terms of negatives, the most common complaint was that the charging was a little inefficient. 

Value For Money

Since there are so many newer versions of Garmin running watches available, many people are ditching their FR210 for something more up to date.

And this means it’s become really easy to get a second hand or preowned model for a fraction of the price that you would have paid for it back in the day.

And this would make it excellent value for money, provided it’s still in good condition. 

Even if you get it second hand, however, it will still likely cost you over $100. But when you’re buying something of such good quality, from a top brand like Garmin, you have to agree that it’s worth it.

Summary of Pros and Cons

Wrap Up

It’s fair to say that the Garmin Forerunner 210 is hardly the newest, most up to date Garmin running watch out there at the moment. But it’s still up there with the best and has plenty to offer…

It has all the fitness tracking data you need whether you’re running for fitness or to prepare for a race or a marathon. With all your data clearly and elegantly displayed.