Surf report: Gadgets for the Great Outdoors

  An all-in-one watch, Garmin's fenix is a compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer -- all conveniently located on your wrist. Despite its many functions, using this isn't terribly difficult. There are five buttons, each with straightforward functions: up, down, light, back and menu....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inGannett News Service
Main Author Truong, Alice
Format Newsletter
LanguageEnglish
Published McLean USA Today, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc 01.06.2013
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Truong, Alice
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Summary:  An all-in-one watch, Garmin's fenix is a compass, altimeter, barometer and thermometer -- all conveniently located on your wrist. Despite its many functions, using this isn't terribly difficult. There are five buttons, each with straightforward functions: up, down, light, back and menu. Chances are, you'll press the bright orange menu key to do most things, from starting GPS to saving waypoints. Though Runtastic's GPS watch ($150), which comes with an external heart rate strap, isn't as robust, easy to navigate or simple to read as fenix, it comes at a fraction of the cost while still packed with plenty of functionality with four modes: time, compass, GPS navigation and GPS workout. In GPS workout mode, the watch tracks speed, distance, training time and heart rate (when used with the chest strap). GPS navigation mode, meanwhile, can save 10 routes and up to 99 waypoints on a path. While water resistant, this watch isn't meant to be taken into the shower or while partaking in water sports, greatly limiting its use as a sports watch. For your next nature photo shoot, carry your gear in Lowepro's Photo Sport Pro 30L AW ($200). The high-capacity bag introduced in May has a large main compartment, roughly half of which is taken up by a removable camera chamber that can hold an SLR with a large telephoto lens in addition to other photo accessories. The rest of the space is for clothes, snacks and other miscellany, which is accessed through a top-loading opening. Attachment points let you carry hiking poles when they're not in use, and a special pocket capable of holding a 2-liter hydration reservoir makes this great for the trail. If you choose to use the Photo Sport Pro solely as a hiking or camping bag, you can detach the camera compartment, one edge of which is lined with velcro to secure to a flap.