Gear Buzz: Garmin Unveils the Forerunner 735XT
Garmin's newest wearable comes with plenty of intriguing features.
The running tech world is buzzing about Garmin’s release of the Forerunner 735XT, which aims to be a jack-of-all-trades wearable for runners and the active lifestyle.
The watch features a wrist-based heart rate monitor, advanced run data tracking and built-in tracking for other activities like cycling, swimming, triathlon, hiking, strength training, cross-country skiing and more.
Even more intriguing is its connectability to outside apps. It is the first device to come with the Strava Live Suffer Score app pre-installed (the Suffer Score is a premium feature of Strava, but those who purchase the 735XT get a free 60-day trial of Strava premium). It also allows users to connect to their compatible smartphone to receive calls, texts, emails, social media alerts and more.
“The Forerunner 735XT is the ultimate GPS smartwatch for athletes who want dialed-in data for training and race day,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of worldwide sales. “It offers comprehensive data for all of their activities, keeps them connected with smart features including notifications and automatic uploads to Garmin Connect, and lets them customize their device to fit their needs with Connect IQ’s free apps, data fields and more.”
Garmin claims the 735XT’s battery life is up to 14 hours in training mode and 11 days in watch mode. The 1.4-ounce watch retails at $449. Runners can purchase the 735XT bundled with Garmin’s HRM-Run strap that tracks cadence, ground contact and other details of your running for $499.