Garmin recently announced the availability of its latest GPS running watch, the Forerunner 735XT. As one of the lightest watches created by the company, its unique features are hoping to help athletes better understand their performance data.
Along with its built-in heart rate monitor, the 735XT is the first of its kind to provide a “Suffer Score” through Strava’s pre-installed app. A “Suffer Score” is based on the time spent in different heart rate zones compared to your maximum heart rate. So, “the deeper you dig, the longer you can hold on, the higher the suffer score,” Strava states on their website.
Get The Latest Sports Tech News In Your Inbox!
Garmin’s 735XT can track activities like hiking, cross country skiing, strength training, paddle boarding, cardio, as well as cycling. It is compatible with the Vector pedal-based power meter system and a full line of Varia cycling awareness accessories. Swimmers will want to get their hands on the 735XT as it will help them with their workouts in the pool or in open water at depths of up to 5 ATM (164 feet). Triathlon and multisport athletes can switch between activities with the simple push of a button using this auto or manual feature.
The 735XT can be customized using the Connect IQ store where other apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields are free to download. Incoming calls, texts, emails, social media alerts, and other notifications can be viewed on its 1.23” (31.1 mm) diameter display which has large text for easy viewing. Up to 14 hours of battery life is possible when in activity mode and 11 days while in watch mode.
Meet the new Forerunner 735XT, a GPS running/multisport watch with wrist-based heart rate. https://t.co/pqg3vBvabS pic.twitter.com/0Nh3jxEWq0
— Garmin Fitness (@GarminFitness) May 11, 2016
Garmin’s Forerunner 735XT is available now for $450 when purchasing the watch alone in either black/gray or midnight blue/frost color combinations. Starting at $500, buyers can choose to get a bundle including a run and/or swim wrist-based heart rate monitor (HRM).
The release of the 735XT is just the latest addition to Garmin’s line of wrist-strapped HRMs. About a year ago, they debuted their 225 which was their first GPS-enabled HRM watch. The most notable feature of the 225 was use of an optical light sensor built into the underside of the device. Users no longer needed to wear a chest strap to judge how fast blood is moving through the body; it could be done by a small light being shone through the skin.
Other similar product launches include that of the Forerunner 230, 235, and 630 in the latter half of 2015. The 230 and 235 were the first Garmin watches to display notifications via Bluetooth-enabled phones and give access to Connect IQ. Their starting price tags were reasonably low, too, according to CNET, at $330. The 630, listed at $400, more closely compares to the 735XT, lacking only a wrist-based HRM and “Suffer Score” calculator.