I buy the Forerunner because I enjoy hike and use gp to map my hike . I realize the Forerunner be really design for runner or bicyclist who want to monitor they training and I can see where it would be a outstanding device for that . for hike , it work okay - but a gp device make for hike will work much easier . my main issue with the Forerunner be that interface be very tedious to navigate with the few button on the device and the tiny screen . if you plan to collect waypoint and give they name beyond the default , then get a larger device with easier navigation . if all you want to do be keep track of you route , speed , and heart rate , then this be definintely the unit for you . the only thing that bother I when I use it be that it make my wrist very sweaty . it be quite large on my wrist and the plastic trap sweat underneath . also , the cautionary orange color really add to the geek factor . sometimes I be okay with that , other time I would prefer something more discrete . transfer datum from the unit to my pc be very simple - as be the case with all of the other Garmin unit I have use . it be extremely easy to view the datum in Google Earth where it be fun to see you route on top of the imagery and terrain base map . I be a gi professional so I end up convert the datum into a shapefile format that I can bring into arcgi and add to my map of hike trail .