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Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS

$179.95

(25)

Item # 790321

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With a powerful new high-sensitivity receiver, compass, altimeter and a smaller design than its predecessor, the wrist-top Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS is ideal for hands-free navigation.

Newly updated industrial design offers a smaller, lighter unit than previous models for increased comfort and mobility
Easy, single-handed operational system features 5 ergonomically situated buttons that intuitively guide you through functions
High-sensitivity receiver delivers fast signal acquisition and lock for reception in narrow valleys, dense tree cover and urban jungles
High-contrast 64 x 100 pixel screen with bright LED backlight for use in low light; dual-position display allows convenient horizontal or vertical viewing
Built-in electronic compass and barometric altimeter provide additional navigational aid
Enjoy effortless sharing of waypoints, tracks and routes between Garmin GPS units with ANT wireless communication function
The Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS is compatible with Garmin heart rate monitors and GSC 10 Speed and Cadence Sensor (sold separately)
For the mariner, sail race feature allows you to configure the start countdown sequence with audible alerts at each start phase
View route and follow it back with Garmin's exclusive TracBack® feature
Navigate 20 reversible routes; stores 500 waypoints with name and graphic symbols, and 10,000 trackpoints
Trip computer calculates current, average and maximum speed; plus, it tracks trip time and calculates distance
Computer-compatible design allows you to load waypoints and routes directly from your computer via USB
The Garmin Foretrex 401GPS features waterproof construction, rated IPX7 to withstand immersion in 1m of water for up to 30 min.
2 AAA batteries (sold separately) typically provide up to 15 hours of use

Please note: Garmin products can only be shipped to U.S. addresses.

Imported.

Item 790321

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Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS

3.6

(based on 25 reviews)

72%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Simple controls (18)
Accurate (15)
Great reception (12)
Quick signal (11)
Compact (9)

Cons

Buggy software (3)

Best Uses

Hiking (10)
Backcountry camping (6)
Cycling (6)
Day trip (4)
Running (4)

- Reviewer Profile:
- Enthusiast (8), Outdoor enthusiast (6), Gearhead (5), Avid adventurer (4), Power user (4)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (13), Yes (3)
- How are you with directions:
- Great w/directions (13)

Reviewed by 25 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

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Apr

2013

5.0

Good for tracking Distances

By backpackerdave

from Michigan

About Me Power User

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Battery life
Intuitive Menu
Large Screen
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls
Weight

Cons

No Maps

Best Uses

Cycling
Hiking

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I was looking for a small lightweight GPS for Day Hiking & lightweight backpacking in areas I know well for tracking distances. This little GPS works great and keeps a signal in cover - if you don't need a map this is very handy. Fits in a pocket and really easy to use. Good battery life so far. Used for day hikes and weekenders. I took the band off (easy on and off) and could carry in a backpack hip belt pocket along with a power bar.

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

4.0

On the go Land Nav warm and fuzzy

By shade124

from Tacoma, WA

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Intuitive Menu
Quick Navigation
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls

Cons

Compass Buggy Sometimes

Best Uses

Geocaching
Hiking

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Used it while on the move to mark a location or to double check where I was at.

Comment on this review

Apr

2013

4.0

Everything you need on your wrist

By PeeJey

from Belgium

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Large Screen
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Replaceable Battery

Cons

None

Best Uses

Ultra Trail

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Fantastic for ultra trail runs above 20 hours. No other wristop GPS can give you such accuracy for extra long distances. It only takes to carry spare batteries and you're ready to go

Comment on this review

Mar

2013

5.0

Near Perfect!

By Captain Gage

from Ogden Utah

About Me Casual User

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Quick Navigation
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I've used this for over a year now on Backpacking and Hunting trips, It works fast and is very reliable. If I could improve this I would make the Time font a little bigger/ easier to read on the go.

Comment on this review

Feb

2013

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

4 times more accurate than Iphone app.

By michigantrailman

from Ferndale, MI

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Added Usb Over Old 101
Intuitive Menu
Large Screen
No Data Charges
Pack Strap Or Belt Hang
Quick Navigation
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls
Small Size
Uses Sats Not Cell Towers
Very Easy To Use
Wrist Top Convenience

Cons

Few Accessories

Best Uses

Cycling
Hiking
Kayaking
Snowshoeing

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I love this GPS, I own others but use this one the most, the wrist top setup is so much better than use both hands, I can use it without letting go of my trekking poles.
I tested the 401 with an forerunner 610 an Iphone and android.
accuracy was within:
Foretrex 401 12 to 20ft.
Etrex 20 12 to 20ft.
Forerunner 610 30ft.
Iphone bounced between 60 and 100 ft.
Android was not much better than Iphone

Comment on this review

Jun

2012

(0 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Unreliable

By ThomRose

from Everett, WA

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Quick Signal

Cons

Buggy Software
Unreliable

Best Uses

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I bought this to use biking and hiking.

I originally bought the Foretrex 301. Shortly after getting started, the Foretrex 301 would turn on, show the Garmin splash screen and then go no further. I could not even turn it off without taking out the batteries. Garmin support takes up to three business days to get back to you. I do not have that much time. The 301 went back to the store.

I did decide to give Garmin another chance, and the features of the Foretrex 401 seemed good. The Foretrex 401 is basically the same as the 301, with a few more features. So, I bought the 401 to replace the 301. Guess what - the 401 had exactly the same problem as the 301. So, the 401 is going back, too.

It is really too bad, because this looked like it was going to be really helpful and a reasonable value. I have had good experiences with other Garmin products. I have no idea how they messed up on the Foretrex series.

Comment on this review

Mar

2012

(11 of 15 customers found this review helpful)

1.0

Not an I-Phone App

By Adventure Jim

from Sequim, WA

About Me Enthusiast

See all my reviews

Pros

Light Weight
Small

Cons

Difficult to initialize
Loses Signal
Unreliable

Best Uses

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

I expected to track where I had been and to get speed, altitude, etc. data during the trip. I used or attempted to use it hiking, climbing Mt St Helens, and road and mountain biking.

The Garmin manual in the package and the extended manual available at their website just describes the screens and options available; nothing describes performing typical tasks - i.e. initializing the tracking function or zeroing out the trip data so that you have info for just a specific trip or day or leg of a journey. Saving tracks is easy but choosing a start and stop point that corresponds to anything you can identify except by date is difficult/impossible.

The unit records a track anytime it is turned on. I figured out how to zero everything out to start when I started but that is buried on a menu, not a start-up option.

Garmin does not provide software to analyze your track. The .gpx file can be opened with Google Earth and data is available there but it is not nearly as useful as what you get from an IPhone.

With new batteries it stopped recording during a 9.5 hr climb of Mt St Helens. Useless mountain biking in the woods - very few data points recorded.

A friend used his IPhone to flawlessly track a day skiing at Whistler. It was in his pocket except when he was using it as a phone. His music from the phone was on all day. He turned it on and forgot it until the end of the day. A tiny GPS on a chip in a pocket worked much better than my Garmin.

Comment on this review

Jan

2012

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Great Tool

By HeadehunterSeven

from Eglin, AFB

About Me Power User

See all my reviews

Pros

Quick Navigation
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls

Cons

Compass inaccurate
Short Battery Life

Best Uses

Hiking

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Use the product as an instructor at a well-known Army course (RLTW) to track student's movements during training quickly and accurately. Sunset and sunrise information is useful. Distance and eta of your waypoint is great as well.

Only downside is that the compass does not keep its calibration at all. Also that it's not a 3 axis compass. However it will give you accurate degrees to your waypoint for use with a lensatic compass. So pairing this with an old school compass and map is a great set for quick navigation.

An etrex 20 with topo maps would be best for route planning on the fly.

Comment on this review

Nov

2011

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Excellent Tiny GPS Unit

By Pacific NW

from Portland, OR

About Me Power User

See all my reviews

Pros

Accurate
Intuitive Menu
Quick Signal
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Cycling
Geocaching
Hiking
Jogging

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

The Foretrex 401 strikes me as a marvel of modern technology. Here you can have a high-sensitivity GPS receiver that is small enough to fit on your wrist, but is powered by AAA batteries. While there are no fancy maps or color screens, you get a GPS that is great for basic navigation from Point "A" to Point "B". Excellent unit for recording track logs while exercising, marking spots while hiking, and for augmenting a map & compass. The 401 does have the electronic compass and altimeter -- neat features, although you can turn the electronic compass off to save battery life. Unfortunately, there is no way to display GPS altitude on the 401 (but you can on the Foretrex 301 which has no altimeter.)

Comment on this review

Oct

2011

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Perfect for my use.

By Geordy7051

from OCONUS

See all my reviews

Pros

Quick Navigation
Reliable Reception
Simple Controls

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Garmin Foretrex 401 GPS:

Great light weight unit for dismounted military stuff. Easy to mount on arm or weapon. All I need is something that displays my location. I always carry a map and compass so I don't need a big map display. Only problem was the strap. I removed it and replaced it with one from 215 Gear, then it was perfect. Unit picked up signal while sitting inside an up-armored humvee. Was easy to load track onto Google Earth in order to document routes.

When friends want to borrow a GPS though, I don't give them this one. It isn't for people that only have a casual understanding of land navigation. You should certainly have a paper map and understand how to plot your location using what ever form of coordinates you use.