| curate than any previous system known to man, | | | | descents, as well as the number of runs (for skiing or |
| GPS (Global Positioning System) are used as | | | | snowboarding, for example). In some watches, the |
| navigational tools to determine specific location data. | | | | altimeter can be used to estimate your vertical |
| GPS tracking watches, use twenty-seven satellites | | | | speed, or sound an alarm when you reach a set |
| and a broad network of computers to calculate the | | | | altitude. |
| user’s latitude and longitude to within a few | | | | The altimeters used in GPS tracking watches base |
| meters. | | | | their measurements on air pressure - in a nutshell, the |
| With wearing a GPS tracking watches, its simple to | | | | lower your altitude is, the more air there is above |
| track your location, speed, direction and distance to | | | | you is, and the heavier it is. So when you move uphill, |
| your destination and many more functions. You can | | | | the air pressure sensor in the watch detects the |
| save and chart trips, retrace your steps back to your | | | | decreasing air pressure, and automatically converts |
| starting point, program routes in advance, and save | | | | the pressure drop into a reading of your increasing |
| the coordinates of interesting locations. | | | | altitude. Of course, it is not easy to get perfectly |
| Even in conditions of low visibility, you’ll know | | | | accurate measurements of altitude, because there |
| how to reach your destination, and know right where | | | | many factors that can cause air pressure to |
| you are. A lot of models also include a Barometer, | | | | fluctuate. |
| Compass, Altimeter, and advanced memory functions. | | | | This is why many altimeter watches feature |
| A barometer is an instrument that measures | | | | "temperature compensation," and why the altimeter |
| atmospheric pressure, or air pressure. With a | | | | must to be calibrated regularly (by simply entering |
| barometer you can forecast upcoming weather, | | | | the current barometric pressure or setting to a |
| low-pressure weather systems tend to bring cloudy | | | | known altitude). |
| skies and precipitation, and high-pressure systems | | | | An altimeter is an important and useful piece of gear |
| usually come with very few clouds or precipitation. | | | | for many outdoor activities, including running, biking, |
| When the barometric pressure drops, its time to be | | | | and hiking, skiing, or snowboarding. Pilots of small |
| watching for more clouds and maybe bad weather. | | | | planes often wear an altimeter watch as a back up in |
| So, a GPS tracking watches that can read barometric | | | | case of instrument failure - although be aware that |
| pressure is a convenient and useful way of staying | | | | an altimeter of this type cannot be used successfully |
| informed of upcoming weather conditions monitored | | | | in a pressurized plane. |
| right on your wrist. | | | | There are also various models that have built in heart |
| Of course a digital compass is an extremely useful | | | | rate monitors and other built in functions. |
| function to have in a watch. Whether you’re | | | | Heart monitors are one of the few pieces of |
| navigating through an unfamiliar city, hiking through | | | | equipment more important in fitness training. Serious |
| the backcountry, or sailing on the ocean. There are | | | | cyclists, runners, and other athletes know that you |
| slight differences in compass functionality from GPS | | | | can only determine how effective your training |
| tracking watch to GPS tracking watch, but most | | | | regimen is by keeping track of the relationship |
| models feature: | | | | between your workout and your heart rate. There is |
| ß Bearing in degrees | | | | not a more convenient way to do this than a heart |
| ß North-south arrow | | | | GPS tracking watches with a built in heart rate |
| ß Bearing tracking | | | | monitor. Some GPS tracking watches use a chest |
| ß Declination adjustment | | | | strap to monitor your heart rate, and send data |
| ß Rotating bezel | | | | wirelessly to the watch. One model allows you to |
| ß Resolution of 1 degree | | | | program the GPS tracking watch with your upper and |
| An altimeter GPS tracking watches is a wrist top | | | | lower heart rate limits and alerts you if your heart |
| instrument that allows the wearer to determine their | | | | rate goes outside the programmed ranges. It also |
| current elevation. Of course, that's not all - combined | | | | monitors how your heart rate changes with altitude, |
| with memory, an altimeter watch can keep track of | | | | and keeps tracks of your highest, lowest, and |
| your total and cumulative vertical ascents and | | | | average heart rate while you’re training. |