I’ve got a Garmin eTrex GPS (hiking model) and I’m trying to figure out the best way to carry it while running to trace my trail runs. Holding it doesn’t help because my hands block the receiver and signal and it misses distances. I could look like total choad and hold it out in front of me the whole time, but that’s not worth it.
Anybody out there with narrow synapses who has figured out a way to mount it to the body for running?
Scott
I use Duct tape and tape it around my forehead. GGW 
I’ve seen arm mounted holsters for them online somewhere. That’d be the best way to carry it and still get a good signal, IMO.
Sean
I thought I saw…couple of runners with a wrist mounted model…small…kinda like a very large very lite watch/calculator.???
I have a Geko 201 and use a cell phone case attached with a velcro strap.
Duct tape wins again! Except I’ll do a top of the head mount to get the best signal and make a nifty silver tape chinstrap to hold it on…
S.
Scott,
You’re not going to like this, but the best way to capture your run is to buy a Garmin Forerunner 201. $130 on Walmart.com. It is so nice to run with, you’ll be much happier and you’ll never look back. People that buy them are generally hooked.
Option #1:
If you read old posting on rec.running, you’ll see holding it by hand IS the preferred method.
Option #2:
You can take a fanny pack with a clear top and place it FLAT on top of a bunch of stuffing and farther up the back.
Option #3:
You can use the belt holder as was stated, but the GPS patch antenna doesn’t work all that great in the up and down position. But Amazon has the case. My experience is that this doesn’t work with my eTrex.
Option #4:
If you are willing to mountain bike the trail after running it, the Garmin bicycle mount will really work well. But then you probably already have a speedometer… Right?
Option #5:
Another idea is that bikers sometimes put it in their camelbak. You could run with an empty one…
–
“Peter, High King of Narnia,” said Aslan. “Shut the Door.”
Peter, shivering with cold, leaned out into the darkness and pulled the
Door to.–The Last Battle, C.S. Lewis
–
I have a Garmin Forerunner it’s great but it does have its limitations. If your running in a heavily forested area or sometimes even on a sidewalk with a low canopy of trees you will lose your signal. Also I have noticed that there is some slight discrepancies in accuracy. I have run the same course on many occasions and the splits and finish seem to vary slightly almost every time.
Norm,
You will get more repeatable distance measurements if you turn smoothing all the way down, especially if you run a course with lots of curves or turns. Smoothing on such a course will shorten the course. The disadvantage is that your speed/pace will jump around more.
The complaint about trees is really true; in general, GPS accuracy is directly proportional to the amount of sky the receiver can see, but any GPS you carry running also has to contend with your shadow.
My biggest complaint about the Foreruner is that it takes so long to acquire position when you turn it on. It seems to not store any satellite info. If I turn it off today on my front porch and turn it back on tomorrow, it seems to start acquiring satellites from scratch.
Ray