The easy-to-use Forerunner 110 sport watch tells you how far and how fast. It's GPS-enabled to accurately record your time pace distance and calories burned. When paired with a heart rate monitor the Forerunner 110 provides heart rate-based calorie computations to help you track your calories burned. There's no setup required so you can just press start and run or walk with it. Once your workout's done upload to Garmin Connect to store and share your data see the route you traveled on a map and even create goals. It's GPs made simple!

• GPS-enabled trainer watch accurately records your distance time and pace


• High-sensitivity GPS receiver stays locked on satellites even near tall buildings or under tree cover


• Rechargeable battery provides 8 hours life in training mode 3 weeks in power save mode


• Upload data to Garmin Connect site to view workout summaries create goals and more


• Includes heart rate monitor for heart rate-based calorie computation

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• Loaded with serious training features Forerunner 405CX continuously records your time distance pace calories burned and heart rate.


• And advanced training features will challenge you to step up your pace race against Forerunner's Virtual Partner


• Forerunner 405CX comes with a flexible wireless heart rate monitor to help you make the most out of your training.


• With Forerunner 405CX you can share your locations advanced workouts and courses wirelessly with other Forerunner 405 users.


• Once you've logged the miles innovative ANT+ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when Forerunner is in range.

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Package Includes: Forerunner 305 Heart rate monitor docking cradle expander strap AC charger PC/USB interface cable Quick start guide Garmin Training Center CD & owner's manual

The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS System combines form and function. This combination running partner and personal trainer is designed for athletes of all levels. It features a high-sensitivity GPS receiver new courses feature and robust ANT wireless heart rate monitor for optimal performance. The super-sensitive GPS tracks your every move even working on tree-covered trails and near tall buildings. The heart device monitors your heart rate speed distance pace and calories burned so you can train smarter more effectively. These taskmasters will continually push you to do your personal best. Courses feature lets you download recorded courses and compete against previous workouts Auto Pause pauses and resumes training timer GPS features - GPS with high-Sensitivity SiRFstarIII architecture Wireless communication between system devices via ANT protocol Display Size(WxH) - 1.3 x 0.8 (33 x 20.3 mm) Lap Memory - 1000 laps Rechargeable internal lithium ion battery - lasts 10 hours (typical use) Waterproof - Submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 mins. Alerts - Time distance pace and heart rate Physical Size(WxHxD) - 2.1 x. 7 x 2.7 (53.3 x 17.8 x 68.6 mm) Weight - 2.72 oz. (77 g)

Heart rate monitor features - Transmission Range - approximately 3m (9.8ft) 3V CR2032 battery - lasts 3 years (1 hour per day) Physical size(WxHxD) - 13.7 x 1.4 x 0.5 (348 x 35.6 x 12.7 mm) Weight -. 74 oz (21 grams)

• High-Sensitivity Watch-Like GPS Receiver That Provides Exceptional Signal Reception


• 1 Piece Training Assistant That Provides Athletes With Precise Speed Distance & Pace Data


• Includes Training Center Software Which Allows Users To Download Workout Data For A Detailed Analysis


• Used For Multiple Sports Such As Cycling Cross- Country Skiing & Windsurfing


• Data Acquired May Also Be Analyzed With Motionbased Which Provides Online Mapping & Route Sharing

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Great watch for running indoors or outdoors

After using the Forerunner 305 for over two years I decided to replace it with the 405cx and am very happy with my decision. But first let me address the main criticism of the 405cx and its predecessor the 405--the bevel and touch system.



Garmin is not Apple so the bevel and touch are not on par with the scroll wheel on an Ipod or the touch on an iPod Touch--but they still work fine. Granted if the bevel gets sweaty or I touch it with sweaty fingers (not something unexpected for an exercise watch) it becomes nonresponsive until I wipe off the sweat. But this is not a big deal for me. When I run I simply use auto scroll which is unaffected by moisture. And if I want to override auto scroll by using a manual touch it takes only a second to wipe the sweat off the bezel or my fingers. So don't be discouraged from buying this unit based on the bevel and touch.



While the 305 is a great unit here is why I like the 405cx better. Note: I use this on an Intel powered Macbook running the latest edition of Leopard without any problems.



1. Although the 405cx is as thick as the 305 it is noticeably smaller and lighter.



2. I like the wireless ANT technology that automatically transfers data rather than having to place the unit in a USB cradle as with the 305 (though doing so is not a big deal) and also effortlessly pairs with my heart rate monitor and foot pod (which must be purchased separately).



3. The 305 has no power save mode and I inadvertently drained the battery a couple of times when I forgot to turn it off after running or put it in the charger. The 405cx not only has an automatic power save mode but you can turn off the GPS when running indoors to further save power. With the GPS turned off barely any power is used. Also this ability to turn the GPS off makes it easier to use the footpod when running indoors (the 305 first has to search for a satellite signal before realizing you are indoors and that can take several minutes).



4. I find the bevel and touch system on the 405cx much easier to use than the buttons on the 305 in order to change various features. But I like electronic gadgets and as I said above the sweat issue is not a big deal for me.



Here are some tips:



1.
Rinse the unit the heart rate monitor and the strap after each use with plain water.



2.
Keep the unit in the charging clip after each use to ensure you always have enough power. A simple touch of the bevel will tell you the percentage of power left. The charging clip can be powered via a USB port on your computer or via an electric outlet using an AC adaptor. The included AC adaptor with the 405cx is very clunky; I use the Apple travel charger for the iPod instead. Make sure the charging clip is properly attached to the unit or you will drain the unit instead of charging it (already happened to me).





3.
Although the unit lists three training fields there are actually four if you have the heart rate monitor--by default only the heart rate shows up in the first field but you can modify that to include two additional data items.



4.
Unlike the 305 where you can move forward and backward between data fields the 405cx lets you move only forward. Therefore when I run indoors I turn off my "outdoor only" data fields--grade elevation etc.--so that I don't waste time looking at them.



5. For a first time purchaser to whom cost is important I would say get the 305. My reasons for switching to the 305 may not be important to you.



6. Buy the new version of the footpod rather than the old version (I have reviewed both on Amazon) for running indoors.



7. I use a Mac software program called Ascent that I think is far superior to Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center and unlike the former does not require an internet connection to upload data.



Bottom Line: I have had this unit for three weeks and run over 100 miles both indoors on a treadmill and outdoors in all kinds of weather--light rain cool nights and hot humid days. I really like this unit. Due to the bevel and touch issues I would have rated it 4 ½ stars if I could but since there are no ½ star ratings I gave it 5 stars despite those issues because for me they are negligible compared to the rich features on the 405cx. If you are a serious runner you will love this unit.



Update July 22 2009: I have now been using this for about six weeks and logged over 200 miles. In that time I have had the bevel lock up due to sweat only twice: once in the gym and once outside. The point is that this is even less of a problem than I thought and should not discourage you from buying this unit.



A more serious issue is with the ANT technology. Sometimes I will get a message on my laptop that the transfer of data to the laptop from the 405cx was not successful. I then quit the Garmin Ant Agent on my laptop (and sometimes remove and reinsert the ANT USB stick as well) restart it and have to go through this process three or four times before the data finally transfers to my laptop. The problem began after I updated the ANT software and I see from Garmin forums that other users have experienced the same problem. Hopefully this is just a bug that Garmin will fix in a later update. While I would not let this discourage you from buying the 405cx just keep in mind that a wireless transfer of data while convenient is not always problem free.



Update August 21 2009: Garmin released an update for Macs (and I assume for PCs as well) that solved the download problems using the ANT technology. Now the data transfers work perfectly.



The more I use this watch the better I like it. Here are my latest comments:



1. The backlight is far superior to that on the Forerunner 305. It produces a much brighter light that I appreciate when running at night either outdoors or on the treadmill at my gym (the treadmill area is kind of dim at night).



2. The battery life is excellent. Even with BOTH the backlight AND the GPS on for a couple of hours battery capacity is still 75% when I am finished running. What this means as a practical matter is that if you forget to hook this watch up to the charger after a long run you will still be good to go for your next run. The battery life per charge on the Forerunner 305 is not as good and sometimes when I forgot to charge the 305 between runs the battery would die during the second run.



3. The "sweat issue"--i.e. the watch becoming non-responsive when the bevel gets sweaty--has become a non-issue for me since I haven't experienced any problem in months. Perhaps that is because I periodically "towel off" the sweat on my wrist and forearm during a long run.



Update January 9 2010: I continue to recommend this watch as the best GPS watch for serious runners. Using it this winter has been a pleasure. Here is why:



1. I have run in sub-freezing temperatures where the "real feel" with the wind has been as cold as zero. I keep this watch around the outside sleeve of my running jacket so the GPS function is not impeded (as it would be if the watch was covered up). The bitter cold has had no adverse effect of any kind so far.



2. When I take a break during my run at a local convenience store the watch does not fog up when I go inside and after I have warmed up it does not fog up when I go back outside.



3. I have run in light snow which I just shake off the watch periodically without any adverse effect (and I did not expect any since I have run in light rain during warmer weather without any problems).



In short this watch is performing great during a very cold winter in the Northeast.



Update May 24 2010: I have been using this for almost a year and it still works great. On a recent vacation to Mexico the satellite signal was picked up quickly and without any problem and the same was true when I returned home to New Jersey. Also I ran outdoors in very hot and humid weather and was drenched with sweat. It just took a couple of seconds to wipe it off the unit so that it would function properly. Here is a cleaning tip: At the end of each run I stop the timer then touch the Time/Date at the top of the unit to switch to the time and then lock the bezel before I rinse the watch off. I found that if I tried to lock the bezel while the unit was still on the exercise screen sometimes I would accidentally restart the timer. But that doesn't happen if you switch to the Time/Date before locking the bezel.



I still believe that this is the best GPS watch on the market for serious runners.



Update June 27 2010: The other day after I had finished running and transferring my data I noticed that the time was wrong on my 405cx. I discovered that the screen had completely frozen and nothing was responsive. I did some quick internet research and solved the problem as follows: I connected the 405cx to the charging clip which I plugged directly into my PC instead of into my USB hub. Without touching the bevel I simultaneously pushed in both buttons for about 30 seconds after which the screen unfroze and the charging screen appeared. The watch has worked fine ever since. I have no idea what caused the problem but in case it happens to someone else I wanted to list what worked for me.More detail ...

Excellent workout tool

I like this thing quite a lot. I've had it for about three weeks and have used it on 12 workouts so far. I use it primarily for running with biking a secondary usage. The main reason I wanted it was for the instantaneous readout of distance running pace and heart rate the latter needed for the speed work I want to do this running season.



The core functionality (distance and heart rate monitoring) works perfectly. There's none of the signal drops I've had with other heart monitors. Once the satellites are initially acquired I've only had one dropout when I was outside. The initial acquisition of the satellites can be quirky and can take some time. The accuracy (according to the readout) is +/- 25ft depending on how many satellites can be found. I've compared the distance measurement on the GPS with a known measured distance on one of the trails I run on (the Chicago lakefront path). The GPS always increments a mile when I'm within 5 or 10 feet of the mile marker sign on the path. Well I guess that's the least I should expect from a $350 GPS unit! Of course it's bigger than a normal running stopwatch but that hasn't bothered me at all. The heart rate strap is also very comfortable and well-designed.



The display is crisp and has one outstanding feature: The information presented on the various pages can be completely user-customized. The default screen layout is rather poor but in just a few steps I could replace it with the information I wanted to see while I run. There are almost 40 different data fields you can choose from for display. Examples: current pace average lap pace average run pace heartrate distance.



The only disappointment is the point-in-time (instantaneous) pace measurement: It varies wildly during a run. I see swings as big as +/- 3 minutes/mile. I'm a marathoner and I know my pace is fairly consistent during a run. I just looked at my run today and according to the data the first mile varied from 5:57/mile to 12:06 mile. I suspect the problem is either in the averaging algorithm (too short a distance?) or in the uncertainty that results from different satellites coming in and out of view. The variations seem to get worse under tree cover compared with an open area. Luckily there's a lap-average pace that can be presented and at least that value is useful and more accurate. The bottom line is that you can't look at the watch and say "right now I'm running 9 mins/mile". There is the ability to specify a pace smoothing factor but I have it maxed out and still see the variations. The elevation readout also seems inaccurate but that isn't important to me.



Upload of workout data to the PC software (Training Center) is transparent. The PC software is very good for presenting time/distance/pace/heartrate/calorie data. However the maps it shows are very crude. I've worked a bit with one of the online subscription services (MotionBased). That looks really good and provides some additional functionality beyond the included Training Center software although I still haven't decided if it's worth the $$$ yet for long-term data storage. MotionBased allows export to Google Earth and it's tremendously cool to see your running path superimposed on a satellite image. You can recharge the unit through the USB port on your computer although it's slower than using the dedicated recharger.



I had hoped that owning this device would prove motivational for me and indeed it has. I can't imagine running or biking without it. Updating my training log is trivial now: Plug this thing into my computer and it's done. My hope is that a future software update will do something about the pace calculation (maybe a few additional levels of smoothing?). If so the Forerunner 305 would earn 5 stars+++.





Positives:



Flawless heart rate sampling

Great distance measuring and lap-average pace calculation

Seamless integration with a PC

Fully-automatic training log update

User-customizable display





Negatives;



Wildly-varying pace readout.

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Garming FR60 GPS Not Really.. HRM Yes Sir.

I Purchased the Garmin FR60 Bundle W/ Foot pod to Help me learn run pacing and for Triathlon Training. My old HRM just gave up but the chest strap works still works with most of the equipment at the gym without the watch. But there is no need since I have the FR60 but there are some "Issues" to deal with first. The Look and function is very good. However since I'm new to Garmin the menu's took a little getting used to and programing was a little bit difficult but from what I've heard this is typical. Once you do get the menus down it's very intuitive and similar to other models they offer. The other reason I picked the Garmin unit is the Manufactures of other HRM's in this price range had non replaceable batteries. IE you had to send them back to the factory to be replaced. This is something I really wasn't fond of since I use mine daily. This unit fits nicely on the wrist and can be used as a "Sport Watch" and no-one would know you a Workoutaholic if they didn't know you.



Packaged in the box were the Owners manual and Watch Foot-pod HRM-Strap USB Ant+ stick. There is no software to speak of since it's self loading on the Ant+ Stick. You also need to set up an account with Garmin to download your data and analyze it. BEWARE: Firmware Updates will erase your data and settings on the watch and they need to be set back up!!! There is no Off-line option to review your data :-(. This means you upload your data to Garmin then re-download it in Excel or TCX format then upload it into a training website like Training Peaks(Online) or Sport Tracs(Stand Alone Runs Offline). Granted it takes only a few minutes to do but is a little bit of a pain. Also when uploading you have the option to leave the data on your watch for you to review or when the download is completed the workout date is erased. It takes a little bit of faith to let your data go. When setting up your account you can set up your Heart Rate zones based on age and resting Heart Rate. You can add as many zones as you see fit. For Simplicity I just use 5 now when you look at your data though the amount of time in each zone is not displayed on the website on your HR Graph. The graph look really good but the only data given is Avg HR Max HR. It would be nice if the time in each Zone was given as well. My old HRM(Which was $40) displayed these with times and % in zones on the watch and didn't need to upload the data. Other data that is Give is Workout Time Avg Speed/Pace Max Speed/Pace Avg Cadence Max Cadence. All good Data that is essential for training/racing purposes.



For Running the Foot Pod Sensor tracks steps pacing and speed very accurately out of the box. Pick a spot on your shoes to mount the sensor and pair the device with your FR60 I did a test run at the track and it was spot on after a 1 mile test run. You can either adjust the stride length automatically or manual adjust. There are supposed to be shoe on the market that the Foot-pod will mound directly into the sole under the shoe insert. I believe Nike makes one. Mounting in the laces are just fine for me. The advantage the FR60 has is It can be used indoors without a GPS signal. The combination of the Foot-Pod and HRM gives you very accurate Calorie data when running of a treadmill. I have found that most treadmills are off speed wise to the FR60 for example I warm-up at 10:00 indicated pace on the treadmill and my FR60 shows anywhere from a 9:20-9:35. No a big deal since I'm logging the information for later retrieval.



Since I Cycle I use the GSC-10 Speed and Cadence Sensor for my Bicycle. Same setup as the Foot-Pod with regard to pairing. This can be used indoors as well during winter months on Stationary Fluid Trainer or Rollers to track speed and distance. The downside is NO FREAKING Odometer!!!!!!! what was Garmin Thinking. You get everything else Distance Current Speed Calories Avg/Max Speed Avg/Max Cadence Time Lap/Distance/Time/AvgSpeed/MaxSpeed/LapCalories blah blah blah... I had to add my old Speed sensor back to the front wheel to capture Overall ODO distance.



Functionality: The FR60 is pretty easy to set up once you figure out the page layout and logic. You get your data input(AGE HEIGHT WEIGHT ACTIVITY Class(read the manual for this one) into the devise under SETTINGS/USER. After pairing your footpod and Speed/Cadence sensor You can then set up your "TRAINING PAGES" This is where the FR60 really shines. You can take all the data collected from either your Run/Bike/Other and display up to 3 pieces of data on the screen and have 5 pages to display the data. You can have one screen for Time only and another for Distance and Pace then another for Heart Rate HR Zone Calories and so one. If only One line of info is displayed it fits almost the entire screen and gets smaller from there. the Dot Matrix LCD Screen is fairly easy to read at a glace either running or biking.



The FR60 HR Chest Sensor Foot-pod are all waterproof to 3 Meters so they can be worn during the swim portion of Triathlons or during off road runs that cross creeks or during Steeplechase events. I've worn mine during the swim of a sprint Triathlon. For Triathlon the F60 is not Tri Friendly meaning you cannot change sports easy. I just set it up in Other and Just Press Lap during transitions in and out. Since I'm only concerned with overall time and HR. The FR60 can be set up to scan for Pods so it will pick up either sensor when you press the lap button during T1 or T2. If your set on sport specific Timing press and hold the MODE button and you can then change sports.



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Mostly excellent

I was drawn to the Garmin FR60 as it represents one of the least expensive full-featured heart rate monitors which can download training data to a computer. Since I do a good chunk of my training indoors on a treadmill particularly in the winter a GPS based system was not required.



My experience with the Garmin FR60 has been mostly positive. First it's important to point out this watch is sold in at least 3 different bundles. There's the basic heart rate monitor only (all black watch) this version (red) which includes an ANT+ Stick used to download training data to a computer and a more expensive version which includes a foot pod for measuring distance. When shopping for this watch be sure you know which bundle you're ordering I had to return the black version after ordering it without realizing it didn't include the ANT+ Stick.



The watch itself is a nice form factor smaller than the large Polar S120 I'm replacing. Initial setup is easy the included quickstart guide walks you through the procedure in straightforward fashion. The screen is easy to read and navigation between menus and setting adjustments is easy. My only gripe with the watch is the placement of the Lap/Split and Start/Stop buttons. Quite simply these should be reversed. The Start/Stop button is a large white button centered just below the display area it's quite easy to press. The Lap/Split button is a small button on the side of the watch and takes a firm touch to trigger. When I'm running hard it's takes a bit of concentration to record a lap certainly more than I'd like. I expect I'll get more comfortable with this as I use the watch more.



The heart rate strap fits comfortably and is in most ways quite similar to my familiar Polar T31 chest strap with one important exception it has a door through which I can replace the battery. The Polar strap has to be sent back for a new battery and a replacement strap is $30-40. The replacable battery on the Garmin is a nice upgrade. As for function the heart rate is recorded accurately and I've yet to see it interrupted by interference. Of note the Garmin HR strap does not appear to be compatible with any treadmill I've seen the watch still records HR accurately but the treadmill will not display HR on screen. Polar seems to have cornered the market here.



Once a workout is complete recorded heart rate data can be downloaded to a computer via the ANT+ Stick a simple USB stick. Once setup the download process is quite easy. Garmin offers two options for logging your data the desktop-only Garmin TrainingCenter (which must be downloaded) or the web-based Garmin Connect. I've tried them both and find the TrainingCenter software easier to use particularly when viewing heart rate data graphs. If you spring for the footpod the software will correlate HR time and distance. Workout notes can be entered making this a nice all-around training log. It seems like development is on-going for the web-based Garmin Connect so it's possible it will get improved features in the future. Note that the data can be exported from either program as XML-based TCX files which can be processed into Excel sheets (with third party software) or uploaded to other third-party training log software. If you're comfortable with the format the TCX files can be edited directly to include data not recorded by the watch (distance if not measured by the foot pod calories burned etc).



Overall this setup has allowed me to do exactly what I had hoped; accurately record my heart rate over training runs and download it to a computer for review and analysis and comparison with previous workouts. I'm excited enough about the system that I'll be adding the SDM4 Footpod to record distance as well. If the Lap and Start/Stop buttons we're swapped it would be the perfect non-GPS based running tool and an excellent value as one of the least expensive heart rate monitors which can download to a computer.More detail ...

Impressive Hardware Poor Software Non-Existant Support

Update: after two months of using the 405 I have some additional observations. Based on my experiences I would lower the star rating to 3 stars. The decrease in rating is due to incredibly poor software and support from Garmin. The hardware is still extremely impressive despite the software failings.



Software and Support:



The Garmin Connect (which allows you to track your training progress) is nothing more than a beta with limited functionality and slow response times. Moreover it is still very buggy. The software which automatically uploads the computer data to Garmin Connect just suddenly stopped working a month ago.



Hold times to get in touch with Garmin telephone support is 45 minutes. Email support is terrible - it has taken a full MONTH to have two email exchanges with support. All this and the problem has not been fixed.



Moreover the software is poorly designed. You have to constantly monitor Garmin's website for software updates (there is no "Check for Update" feature). If a problem occurs in the software there are no features to aid in resolving the problem.



Hardware:



First impressions: the form factor is nice but you need to be aware that the watch is somewhat "thick". If you are wearing a button down shirt the 405 will not fit comfortably under a sleeve cuff. However looking at it from above it looks like a normal watch. Wearing it while running will probably not draw a second look from other runners. This is also a downside since you want people to notice your shiny new 405.



Setup - this took only a few minutes and was very easy. TThe 405 walks you through a brief tutorial. Overall setup was very easy.



Navigation - this takes a few minutes to get the hang of. Once you have the buttons down it is quite easy to navigate. The sensitivity of the touch bezel is adjustable for your taste. I've played with the 305 in the store and the 405 actually seems more intuitive to navigate.



Initial lock - finding the satellites takes a few minutes the first time. It will lock on much faster if you are not moving. Subsequent times to find the satellites was much quicker.



Use - After you have turned on the GPS and gotten a lock all you need to do is press start to begin your workout. It was very easy to use. I basically forgot about it while I was running other than to check my pace every mile or so. Kept a lock the entire time (keep in mind this was in Chicago's Lincoln Park - roughly 2/3rds of the sky is clear (except for trees) so achieving constant lock-on should not be a problem for any GPS. I have not tested this downtown).



For those worried about water resistance my first usage of my 405 was in the pouring rain. It didn't seem to notice (or care) about the rain. It can handle a good amount of water without issue.



Syncing - you need to download the software from Garmin (it's actually a web plug in). However the manual was clearly rushed out the door. Not only does it contain typos (at one point it refers to the wrong step) but it is not clear from the manual that you need to download the USB drivers. DO NOT put the ANT USB key into the computer until you have downloaded the specific ANT drivers from Garmin (so you have to download two different pieces of software - the plugin and the USB driver). If you plug the ANT key into the computer w/o the Garmin USB driver Windows will find what it thinks is the correct driver (which is the wrong driver). The syncing will not work if you do this. Just a heads up.



I wish I owned a 305 to compare it to. In the Garmin store the 405 did not see that much smaller than the 305 although the 405 was clearly more elegant. Functionally I hear that they are extremely similar. You just need to personally evaluate whether the 405 is really worth the increased cost over the 205/305. Personally I plan on keeping the 405.



Battery Life - After playing with it for 30 minutes taking it on an hour's run and syncing it with my computer it only used 12% of the battery life.More detail ...

Misleading: Not a Triathlete watch

This device has been represented as a triathlete's watch and the first swim proof GPS watch. If you watch the video from Garmin or see any of the advertisements Garmin leads you to believe that this watch will collect reliable data for all 3 multisport events. It is reasonable for someone to assume this watch can be worn in a race and collect GPS data in the water since of course SWIMMING is the first event in a triathlon.



If you are considering buying this watch realize the following:



-This device does not collect usable data in the water period (other than time which any $20 waterproof watch can collect in a much smaller form factor). No heart rate data and totally unusable and inaccurate GPS data while in the water.



-There are preset modes for run bike and "other" in which "other" shows a person on skis (explain that one?). They intentionally omit a category for swimming despite advertising that this watch is for triathletes (see the photo I added under product photos).



-You will need to purchase a separate quick release kit if you want to use this watch on a bike. It does not get accurate data on a bike if you are wearing in on your wrist. It auto pauses then unpauses for most of the time I am riding if I wear it on my wrist -- even if I have it set to only auto pause when completely stopped. The quick release kit IS NOT the more common one for the 205 and 305 Garmin 010-10889-00 Forerunner 305/205 Quick Release Kit so do not buy that one. They have made a new one for this watch and most places do not have it in stock yet. As of the date I am writing this review it is not yet available on Amazon.com. Go to Garmin's website and look under the accessories tab for this watch. You will see a different model number. I have confirmed this with customer service. The part number for the proper quick release kit is: 010-11215-00. Google it.



-If you want foot cadence or the ability to track distance indoors and assume you get it for spending $400 on this device think again. You will have to buy a separate foot pod which costs $80-100 depending on where you buy it (earlier Garmin Forerunner watch kits included foot pods). Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)



-The watch is large and sits high on top of the wrist (they packed 20 hours of batter life into this watch) so to wear it under your wetsuit will let water in the wetsuit or you will have to wear it on top of (or crammed in front of) the wetsuit which will not allow you to remove your wetsuit without first removing the watch (thus adding time to your transition and sort of negating that whole "triathlete" angle). You can see a photo of this watch on my wrist under the photos section of the product.



-There is no way to turn off GPS tracking for only one of the 3 events in multisport mode. Therefore you will always either have incorrect GPS data recording for the swimming mode (or actually "other" since there is no "swim" mode as previously mentioned). I have called customer support and they confirm this. Their solution was to turn off GPS while I am swimming then reset and manually start a new timer and mode during transition 1 for my bike event. I'll let you be the judge of how to take that advice.



So in conclusion if you want to setup this watch for a bike and run and want the ability to wear the watch in the water before hand (and no start it unless you want some incorrect distance data included) you will need to buy:



$400 - the Garmin 310XT with HR

$25 - quick release mount kit (for wrist and bike) (no link in Amazon yet)

$80-100 - foot pod (if you want cadence)

Garmin Foot Pod SDM4 (ANT+)

$35-50 - speed/cadence sensor (if you want cadence for the bike)

GARMIN 010-10644-00 Speed/Cadence Sensor



You'll be into it for $575 retail. Garmin you did us wrong on this one. Some of us are willing to spend this kind of money on a product if it proves to do what it advertises itself to do. We're not asking it to do anything more than perform as advertised. I realize your fine print saves you from lawsuits but it doesn't gain you repeat customers. It sends them over to Polar.More detail ...

Great watch for running indoors or outdoors

After using the Forerunner 305 for over two years I decided to replace it with the 405cx and am very happy with my decision. But first let me address the main criticism of the 405cx and its predecessor the 405--the bevel and touch system.



Garmin is not Apple so the bevel and touch are not on par with the scroll wheel on an Ipod or the touch on an iPod Touch--but they still work fine. Granted if the bevel gets sweaty or I touch it with sweaty fingers (not something unexpected for an exercise watch) it becomes nonresponsive until I wipe off the sweat. But this is not a big deal for me. When I run I simply use auto scroll which is unaffected by moisture. And if I want to override auto scroll by using a manual touch it takes only a second to wipe the sweat off the bezel or my fingers. So don't be discouraged from buying this unit based on the bevel and touch.



While the 305 is a great unit here is why I like the 405cx better. Note: I use this on an Intel powered Macbook running the latest edition of Leopard without any problems.



1. Although the 405cx is as thick as the 305 it is noticeably smaller and lighter.



2. I like the wireless ANT technology that automatically transfers data rather than having to place the unit in a USB cradle as with the 305 (though doing so is not a big deal) and also effortlessly pairs with my heart rate monitor and foot pod (which must be purchased separately).



3. The 305 has no power save mode and I inadvertently drained the battery a couple of times when I forgot to turn it off after running or put it in the charger. The 405cx not only has an automatic power save mode but you can turn off the GPS when running indoors to further save power. With the GPS turned off barely any power is used. Also this ability to turn the GPS off makes it easier to use the footpod when running indoors (the 305 first has to search for a satellite signal before realizing you are indoors and that can take several minutes).



4. I find the bevel and touch system on the 405cx much easier to use than the buttons on the 305 in order to change various features. But I like electronic gadgets and as I said above the sweat issue is not a big deal for me.



Here are some tips:



1.
Rinse the unit the heart rate monitor and the strap after each use with plain water.



2.
Keep the unit in the charging clip after each use to ensure you always have enough power. A simple touch of the bevel will tell you the percentage of power left. The charging clip can be powered via a USB port on your computer or via an electric outlet using an AC adaptor. The included AC adaptor with the 405cx is very clunky; I use the Apple travel charger for the iPod instead. Make sure the charging clip is properly attached to the unit or you will drain the unit instead of charging it (already happened to me).





3.
Although the unit lists three training fields there are actually four if you have the heart rate monitor--by default only the heart rate shows up in the first field but you can modify that to include two additional data items.



4.
Unlike the 305 where you can move forward and backward between data fields the 405cx lets you move only forward. Therefore when I run indoors I turn off my "outdoor only" data fields--grade elevation etc.--so that I don't waste time looking at them.



5. For a first time purchaser to whom cost is important I would say get the 305. My reasons for switching to the 305 may not be important to you.



6. Buy the new version of the footpod rather than the old version (I have reviewed both on Amazon) for running indoors.



7. I use a Mac software program called Ascent that I think is far superior to Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center and unlike the former does not require an internet connection to upload data.



Bottom Line: I have had this unit for three weeks and run over 100 miles both indoors on a treadmill and outdoors in all kinds of weather--light rain cool nights and hot humid days. I really like this unit. Due to the bevel and touch issues I would have rated it 4 ½ stars if I could but since there are no ½ star ratings I gave it 5 stars despite those issues because for me they are negligible compared to the rich features on the 405cx. If you are a serious runner you will love this unit.



Update July 22 2009: I have now been using this for about six weeks and logged over 200 miles. In that time I have had the bevel lock up due to sweat only twice: once in the gym and once outside. The point is that this is even less of a problem than I thought and should not discourage you from buying this unit.



A more serious issue is with the ANT technology. Sometimes I will get a message on my laptop that the transfer of data to the laptop from the 405cx was not successful. I then quit the Garmin Ant Agent on my laptop (and sometimes remove and reinsert the ANT USB stick as well) restart it and have to go through this process three or four times before the data finally transfers to my laptop. The problem began after I updated the ANT software and I see from Garmin forums that other users have experienced the same problem. Hopefully this is just a bug that Garmin will fix in a later update. While I would not let this discourage you from buying the 405cx just keep in mind that a wireless transfer of data while convenient is not always problem free.



Update August 21 2009: Garmin released an update for Macs (and I assume for PCs as well) that solved the download problems using the ANT technology. Now the data transfers work perfectly.



The more I use this watch the better I like it. Here are my latest comments:



1. The backlight is far superior to that on the Forerunner 305. It produces a much brighter light that I appreciate when running at night either outdoors or on the treadmill at my gym (the treadmill area is kind of dim at night).



2. The battery life is excellent. Even with BOTH the backlight AND the GPS on for a couple of hours battery capacity is still 75% when I am finished running. What this means as a practical matter is that if you forget to hook this watch up to the charger after a long run you will still be good to go for your next run. The battery life per charge on the Forerunner 305 is not as good and sometimes when I forgot to charge the 305 between runs the battery would die during the second run.



3. The "sweat issue"--i.e. the watch becoming non-responsive when the bevel gets sweaty--has become a non-issue for me since I haven't experienced any problem in months. Perhaps that is because I periodically "towel off" the sweat on my wrist and forearm during a long run.



Update January 9 2010: I continue to recommend this watch as the best GPS watch for serious runners. Using it this winter has been a pleasure. Here is why:



1. I have run in sub-freezing temperatures where the "real feel" with the wind has been as cold as zero. I keep this watch around the outside sleeve of my running jacket so the GPS function is not impeded (as it would be if the watch was covered up). The bitter cold has had no adverse effect of any kind so far.



2. When I take a break during my run at a local convenience store the watch does not fog up when I go inside and after I have warmed up it does not fog up when I go back outside.



3. I have run in light snow which I just shake off the watch periodically without any adverse effect (and I did not expect any since I have run in light rain during warmer weather without any problems).



In short this watch is performing great during a very cold winter in the Northeast.



Update May 24 2010: I have been using this for almost a year and it still works great. On a recent vacation to Mexico the satellite signal was picked up quickly and without any problem and the same was true when I returned home to New Jersey. Also I ran outdoors in very hot and humid weather and was drenched with sweat. It just took a couple of seconds to wipe it off the unit so that it would function properly. Here is a cleaning tip: At the end of each run I stop the timer then touch the Time/Date at the top of the unit to switch to the time and then lock the bezel before I rinse the watch off. I found that if I tried to lock the bezel while the unit was still on the exercise screen sometimes I would accidentally restart the timer. But that doesn't happen if you switch to the Time/Date before locking the bezel.



I still believe that this is the best GPS watch on the market for serious runners.More detail ...

Excellent workout tool

I like this thing quite a lot. I've had it for about three weeks and have used it on 12 workouts so far. I use it primarily for running with biking a secondary usage. The main reason I wanted it was for the instantaneous readout of distance running pace and heart rate the latter needed for the speed work I want to do this running season.



The core functionality (distance and heart rate monitoring) works perfectly. There's none of the signal drops I've had with other heart monitors. Once the satellites are initially acquired I've only had one dropout when I was outside. The initial acquisition of the satellites can be quirky and can take some time. The accuracy (according to the readout) is +/- 25ft depending on how many satellites can be found. I've compared the distance measurement on the GPS with a known measured distance on one of the trails I run on (the Chicago lakefront path). The GPS always increments a mile when I'm within 5 or 10 feet of the mile marker sign on the path. Well I guess that's the least I should expect from a $350 GPS unit! Of course it's bigger than a normal running stopwatch but that hasn't bothered me at all. The heart rate strap is also very comfortable and well-designed.



The display is crisp and has one outstanding feature: The information presented on the various pages can be completely user-customized. The default screen layout is rather poor but in just a few steps I could replace it with the information I wanted to see while I run. There are almost 40 different data fields you can choose from for display. Examples: current pace average lap pace average run pace heartrate distance.



The only disappointment is the point-in-time (instantaneous) pace measurement: It varies wildly during a run. I see swings as big as +/- 3 minutes/mile. I'm a marathoner and I know my pace is fairly consistent during a run. I just looked at my run today and according to the data the first mile varied from 5:57/mile to 12:06 mile. I suspect the problem is either in the averaging algorithm (too short a distance?) or in the uncertainty that results from different satellites coming in and out of view. The variations seem to get worse under tree cover compared with an open area. Luckily there's a lap-average pace that can be presented and at least that value is useful and more accurate. The bottom line is that you can't look at the watch and say "right now I'm running 9 mins/mile". There is the ability to specify a pace smoothing factor but I have it maxed out and still see the variations. The elevation readout also seems inaccurate but that isn't important to me.



Upload of workout data to the PC software (Training Center) is transparent. The PC software is very good for presenting time/distance/pace/heartrate/calorie data. However the maps it shows are very crude. I've worked a bit with one of the online subscription services (MotionBased). That looks really good and provides some additional functionality beyond the included Training Center software although I still haven't decided if it's worth the $$$ yet for long-term data storage. MotionBased allows export to Google Earth and it's tremendously cool to see your running path superimposed on a satellite image. You can recharge the unit through the USB port on your computer although it's slower than using the dedicated recharger.



I had hoped that owning this device would prove motivational for me and indeed it has. I can't imagine running or biking without it. Updating my training log is trivial now: Plug this thing into my computer and it's done. My hope is that a future software update will do something about the pace calculation (maybe a few additional levels of smoothing?). If so the Forerunner 305 would earn 5 stars+++.





Positives:



Flawless heart rate sampling

Great distance measuring and lap-average pace calculation

Seamless integration with a PC

Fully-automatic training log update

User-customizable display





Negatives;



Wildly-varying pace readout.

More detail ...

The Forerunner 50 rocks!

After reading about Polar's new running watch I almost bought it but after a couple of negative reviews I decided to check out the market first. I happened to see an ad for the Garmin Forerunner in a runnning mag and thought I would take a closer look at it. I ended up buying it (with the foot pod only not the heart rate monitor as I already have one and don't use it much) and I am extremely pleased!



Pros: The watch is very accurate from what I can tell (admittedly a nonscientific approach) and what a lot of fun! The wonk in me marvels at how a watch can tell you exactly how far you have run your current pace your average pace and calories burned. It is lightweight with an easy to read face and you forget about the foot pod once you clip it into your shoes. It's a fantastically motivating tool ... my only concern is that I will fall on my face as I am constantly checking my progress while I run! Technology nerds will enjoy being able to complete their run immediately check out their history and then once at home download the data onto their PCs. Also the price is very reasonable (although I bought mine with foot pod for $139 just last week and now I see the price has jumped to $169).



Cons: The watch face and strap are really large and obviously made for a man. I'm small wristed even for a woman and have to use the smallest hole to buckle the watch. On the other hand the size of the watch face is probably what makes it possible to see all the data so clearly while running. My other gripe is the owner's manual which appears to be written in English by someone who is not native to the language. Fortunately it is pretty easy to figure out. My first couple of runs weren't recorded because I didn't completely understand how to start/stop/save a run but after I got the hang of it it was a breeze.More detail ...

Do you take your running seriously?

I have recently purchased a Forerunner 301 after having used a Sports Instruments heart rate monitor for about a year. The heart rate monitor was excellent and certainly usefull in the gym - rather than wait a certain length of time between sets wait until your HR is below 120bpm. It allows you to pace yourself much more.

When it comes to running it is difficult to measure your performance (time heart rate and distance) over the days and weeks. A heart rate monitor is good but when training you need to push yourself and will always have a high heart rate.



The forerunner is a completely different animal. So different that there really isn't any fair comparison at all.

With this puppy on your arm you can build a workout (they are quite simple but effective) on your pc slap it on the forerunner and off you go. Great running feedback and excellent info when transferred to the pc. Everything is easy to do - not quite WinXP wizard easy but simple none the less.



If you live in a large city forrested areas or anywhere with sky obstructions then it may give your trouble with reception. I have had a gps for years and with my wifi experience I knew that reliable reception was going to be an issue. However for me I found the reception excellent. Great in fact! In my lounge I can still get a lock with 4 good strength sattelites! If I stop it reacts within 1 second and another second it knows I have stopped (due to the 1 second display update speed). Much better gps calculations than my garmin gps12.



If you are gagety inclined and ARE taking (not just wanting or planning to) your running or biking seriously then without a doubt this is the machine for you.



It isn't too big but big enough to read. Locks on in less than 1 minute in my small back yard and has stellar reaction time. Perhaps even just keeping track of your exercise history is worth it for you? Or the in running feedback? Or the calorie (much more realistic than anythng else I have seen) info?



I am very happy with my buy. I paid $230 for it. Worth every last buck. From my experience I have no trouble recommending the Forerunner 301 to any one who is taking their running seriously!!

More detail ...

Garmin 101

I am training for a marathon and I needed a device to help me measure the distance I have run. I wanted something plain and simple without too many beeps and whistles. The Garmin 101 is perfect and has worked flawlessly. If you are looking for a simple piece of equipment to measure time pace and distance look no further.More detail ...

It has improved

The new charger for forerunner 201 has been redesigned to have an input range of 100-240 V. I damaged my original one in Egypt where the current was 240 V and the charger could not handle that. More detail ...

GPS pops out

I would not buy this product again. It does charge my GPS but I have to put a rubber band around it get it to make contact. More detail ...

cant go without it

As an ironman level triathlete this is an essential training tool that I use everyday. Anyone wanting to have specific information about thier workouts need this device. As far as I can see this is the best unit out there. Once they make it waterproof it will be perfect and that is coming this summer. I prefer it greatly over the other model that looks more like a conventional wristwatch.More detail ...

Disappointed

I had been looking at this sport watch for 6 months and had read the reviews in Runners' World. I felt I had researched well and my husband ended up purchasing this for me for Christmas. I have yet to be able to use the watch while running because it is very difficult to figure out. I have a master's degree and use electronics frequently so one would think I could easily figure this out. I tried several times and my niece also worked on it for a week. No luck. I had one more person to try and he had gotten other runners' watches working. It took him several hours but he did get it working. I have not yet had the time to try it out but I will say that if I still can't get it to work it goes back. All I am interested in right now is my time pace and distance. Another MAJOR complaint is that the owners manual is not packaged with it! There is a quick start guide that was worthless. I did what it said and got nowhere. I spent over $200 for the watch and footpod and then I am expected to print out the owners manual on my printer (40 pages!)? So I hope that once I can use this watch it works and that I have to rewrite this review.More detail ...

Love it!

I love my Garmin watch. It was brand new in the box just like it was supposed to be. Very happy with all the features on the watch and the service I received from Beach Audio.More detail ...

Great for Running

I already own the Forerunner 305 and love it except for the large size of the watch when I am running. I considered getting the new 405 but since I already owned the foot pod and I actually like the larger unit (read as "larger screen")of the 305 while on the bike I decided to just add to my current system with the Garmin 50. The GPS function of the 305 is nice but while I tend to explore on the road bike I also tend to travel the same routes over and over while running so the GPS functions are not really necessary. The Garmin 50 is super light and perfect for running. Via the ANT stick it will update Garmin Connect (the on-line training record) and Garmin Training Center automatically so they are always synched. The display is small and only displays two pieces of info at on time such as heart rate and distance or distance and pace but I find that's all I usually need and I can check the rest of the info at the end of the workout. I tested the foot pod distance readings against a known distance and the 305's GPS reading and it was accurate out of the box and did not require calibration.



The only problems I have had are that the date that the watch records for workouts is 7 days off and according to Garmin cannot be corrected. The date on the Time Display is correct though so it's still accurate as a watch and the date shows up correctly when you upload the workout to Garmin Training Center. I'm sure they will fix this glitch in the future but it's a minor irritation. This is a great unit. More detail ...

Some flaws for bicycling use

Overall the Forerunner 201 works well for bicycling although I wouldn't discard my conventional bike computer for several reasons:



1. In Speed mode (vs. Pace mode) there's no option to average out the readings and the unit is too sensitive to motion. With the GPS mounted on a bike and the bike at a complete stop tiny motions of less than 1 cm continuously trigger the autostop/autostart so it keeps beeping and accumulating elapsed time and distance. Setting the Auto Pause threshold to a non-zero value mitigates this problem at a slight risk of false pauses.



2. The % grade (custom) readout is highly erratic. If you're moving too slowly (less than 5 mph) even if you're burning your lungs on a climb it may read 0% or even a negative number like -3%! Seems like there may be a math underflow bug in the algorithm when the vertical displacement is too small over successive readings.



3. The altitude reading is not credible when you don't have a clear view of the sky. The unit seems to extrapolate from the last trend it had to "update" the readout rather than indicating that it's unable to read the altitude. I was on King's Mountain Road (SF Peninsula) under tree-cover came out into an open spot and the altitude reading jumped by over 500 feet when the GPS got an actual reading from the satellites. There are 2 stretches like this on the climb and it happened both times.



Enabling Auto Lap in the Training Assistant mode sets the GPS to record trackpoints (time latitude longitude and altitude) supposedly at fixed distance intervals the finest preset value being 1 mile. At firmware version 3.40 the current track can hold 3000 points with the oldest points being overwritten by the newest when you exceed 3000.



You might think this means you can go 3000 miles without losing any data but it seems to sample more often than at 1 mile intervals. I've found that after about 7 hours I start getting my oldest trackpoints overwritten. The only way around it is to remember to stop the timer reset then start the timer: this starts a new track (the previous track is still in the unit's memory until you clear History).



The Windows-only Forerunner Logbook application downloadable from Garmin's website is able to download tracks and display (a) speed or pace vs. time (b) map of the route (from timer start to timer stop) (c) altitude vs. time. There were some goofy data for my most recent ride which showed me exceeding 80 mph(!) probably caused by gaps when the GPS signal was too weak to register. The Logbook application can also export the data as an XML file where each data sample contains Zulu time latitude longitude and altitude (in meters regardless of your settings on the Forerunner or in Logbook). However the format seems not be recognized by any program (including Forerunner Logbook; i.e. it doesn't know how to read the XML file it wrote!) making it of rather dubious value. Garmin's more recent Training Center (again Windows-only) app does better. GPSBabel (and MacGPSBabel) can now translate LogBook's XML to other formats including HikeTech (see below). With your track data in GPX format you can use FlightTrack (Mac OS X) to make dynamic 3D maps overlaid on digital terrain models; and the web-based GPS Visualizer (www.gpsvisualizer.com) to overlay tracks on hi-res satellite/aerial photos generate elevation profiles and generate kml or kmz files to load into Google Earth (download from earth.google.com Win 2000 XP OS X 10.3.9 and 10.4.x only).



I found the pins securing the wrist strap impossible to budge with a screwdriver as stated in the manual. I had to take it to a watch repair shop where the repairer used a "jeweler's band pin removing tool" -- with some careful effort -- to pop the pins in order to remove the wrist strap. So it seems you either leave the wrist strap on or off (or buy the jeweler's tool): it's too difficult to switch around.



Why is Garmin still stuck on serial port interfaces? USB has been around for a few years now and is much easier to deal with. It would also be friendlier if you didn't have to use the charger cradle in order to connect to a computer. The standard charger sold in the US is 120v only. It wouldn't have cost much more to design a universal 120-240v charger for worldwide use. Garmin's MSRP for their 240v version is an outrageous $32.90! (It can be found mail-order for around $20.)



The owner's manual is pretty minimal. It doesn't explain the elements of the Map Mode display. Perhaps it works well at walking/running speeds but on a bike I can't pay attention to the road and simultaneously focus on its tiny symbols. And on most rides the display is too small to cover the range of the entire route without the waypoints/auto lap points overlapping.



Once again we Mac (and Linux and even Win 95) users are ignored by a manufacturer when it comes to software support. The only way to update the firmware is with a Windows PC because the firmware is wrapped up inside a Windows-only "Updater" executable. On a Mac you can use a serial-to-USB adapter cable and Virtual PC running Windows 98 or later to update the firmware. You may have to install a Windows driver from the manufacturer of the adapter cable. In my case I also had to tell Virtual PC that COM1 was the "usbserial0" port on my Mac.



For Mac OS X I found a set of 3 shareware programs from HikeTech.com to be useful. They are: (1) Link2GPS for transferring waypoints to/from the GPS and downloading tracks from the GPS; (2) TopoDraw to display tracks as a 2-D map (you can even overlay tracks on digitized maps as long as you have at least 3 waypoints you can identify on the map to establish its scale and relationship to the track data); (3) gpswrite to chart altitude vs. distance speed vs. distance. The 3 programs work together using files in GPX format.



NEWER ALTERNATIVES (at higher prices of course): In 2006 Garmin has 2 newer lines of sports-oriented GPS units. The Forerunner 205 is a wristwatch unit with all the features of the 201 a smaller-but-higher resolution screen and more sensitive GPS circuitry and faster satellite sync. It comes with a 120v/60Hz charger only no international version. There's a model 305 which adds a heart-rate monitor. Another new series is the Edge aimed squarely at cyclists. The 205 is the basic model the 305 the higher-end one which adds cadence and/or HRM and a barometric altimeter. The Edge series has a larger grayscale screen better sensitivity and faster satellite sync and offers a 240v/50Hz charger as an optional accessory.More detail ...

Better than 405 & Polar...GOOGLE EARTH alone is worth the upgrade!!!

I use mine for cycling and running the direct link to see your workouts mapped on GOOGLE EARTH is FANTASTIC!!!! (the included software is far more stable than the junk Polar included with their HRM's.



Heart rate strap with replaceable battery is coded and comfortable. It's better in my opinion than the Polar products (of which I've owned three)



This is much better than the Forerunner 201 which I previously owned (locks on satellites 10 times faster) and I'd avoid the 405 unless you really want to use this watch as a normal day to day wristwatch (check out the 405 reviews)



One nice feature is being able to customize the display screens. Another review criticized the 305 for the numbers being too small to read while exercising. I don't have an issue but would point out that you can significantly increase the size of the display by simply displaying fewer fields.



My only complaint is that it's easy to leave it on and run the battery down - which is a bummer if you're just about to work out. I wish there was an "auto off" feature which would shut it down if it detects no movement or heart rate within an hour or so. Fortunately with Li-Ion batteries as little as a 10 minute charge gives you enough juice for a 90 minute run.



If you've found this review to be helpful please let me know! More detail ...

Stop - read this before you buy this accessory

Stop- This item is a replacement for the quick release bike mounting kit. It does NOT include the new wrist band for the watch. If you want full quick release capabilities you need to buy the KIT not the replacement bracket. Spend the extra $10it's worth itMore detail ...

Better than 405 & Polar...GOOGLE EARTH alone is worth the upgrade!!!

I use mine for cycling and running the direct link to see your workouts mapped on GOOGLE EARTH is FANTASTIC!!!! (the included software is far more stable than the junk Polar included with their HRM's.



Heart rate strap with replaceable battery is coded and comfortable. It's better in my opinion than the Polar products (of which I've owned three)



This is much better than the Forerunner 201 which I previously owned (locks on satellites 10 times faster) and I'd avoid the 405 unless you really want to use this watch as a normal day to day wristwatch (check out the 405 reviews)



One nice feature is being able to customize the display screens. Another review criticized the 305 for the numbers being too small to read while exercising. I don't have an issue but would point out that you can significantly increase the size of the display by simply displaying fewer fields.



My only complaint is that it's easy to leave it on and run the battery down - which is a bummer if you're just about to work out. I wish there was an "auto off" feature which would shut it down if it detects no movement or heart rate within an hour or so. Fortunately with Li-Ion batteries as little as a 10 minute charge gives you enough juice for a 90 minute run.



If you've found this review to be helpful please let me know! More detail ...

Great hardware Garmin Connect still developing

I did a lot of research before purchasing and was down to the 305 405 and 50. I really wanted a GPS watch but the price of the Forerunner 50 with footpod and HR monitor couldn't be beat. I also liked the smaller watch and the fact that it didn't need to be charged.



After owning it a week:

I really like the watch. I don't typically wear them but it is very comfortable. It is only slightly larger than a typical watch and has a fine adjustment on the band. I'm wearing it all the time.



The hardware is impressive. The foot pod and HR monitor worked very well right out of the box and were comfortable to wear. They "paired" right away and were ready to go when I was ready to run. The ANT installation went as advertised on windows vista and the upload works automatically for Garmin Training Center but not Garmin Connect.



Possible improvements:

For the watch itself the number of "views" while in training mode can be confusing. I'm sure I'll get the hang of it with use or reading manual but it is clearly more than I'm used to.



Installation: The process seemed to drive you toward choosing either Garmin Training Center (software on your computer) or Garmin Connect (web sofware) but not both. I didn't know the pro/con of either so I wanted to try both. It was awkward when it wanted me to install ANT drivers again for the installation of the second one. I canceled the installation at that point - but found that Training Center was installed.



Software: It is really not clear to me if Garmin Training Center is still being developed. They seem to be improving Garmin Connect (web) regularly but at its current state it doesn't have any benefit over Training Center. (remember - I'm not seeing the GPS/maps so maybe there is distinction there). So after a week I still find myself bouncing back and forth. There are a few bugs in Garmin Connect and a few notable features that I would really like to see (that is available in other web training software).



Results:

I'm very happy with the HR monitor and cadence results. They seem spot on and reliable. I'm still working on the distance and pace. I did a test 3 mile run on a measured course and found that it recorded 3.1 miles. I messed up a calibration run by hitting the wrong button so I'll be trying that again (a subsequent 8 mile run was recorded as a 9 mile run... argghh). I've found that the instantaneous pace is not accurate but hope it will improve with calibration. Garmin Connect is also doing something weird with the average pace calculation... but I think that is a bug that will be fixed.



Overall I'm very happy with the purchase but hope they continue to improve the software. Currently that is the weakest link. If they don't there may be other sites that accept forerunner uploaded data to fill the gap. More detail ...

Perfect partner

Great tool for your run. Buy with HR monitor as well as the foot pod. That would be an unbeatable combo.

Garmin connect is awesome too great value addition. All in all nothing negative to write about except

some minor things but nothing that can't be overcome.More detail ...

Works Flawlessly

I have my Foot Pod paired with my Garmin Forerunner 305 and am very satisfied. The Foot Pod has a plastic bracket that fits under my shoe string while the Foot Pod fits over my shoe string. It can be a little difficult to get the two pieces to click together but when they do they form a secure arrangement. I followed the instructions in the Forerunner manual and paired the Foot Pod with the Forerunner on the first try. Once this is done it does not have to be repeated since the Forerunner automatically detects the Foot Pod from then on.



The Foot Pod measures my pace in strides per minute and also measures my distance traveled. I am a little disappointed that the Forerunner allows the distance measured by the Foot Pod to over ride the distance measured by the GPS in the Forerunner. I suspect the distance measured by the GPS is more accurate but I can not find an option to force the GPS distance to be used while the Foot Pod is in use. Walking the same course results is a measured distance of 3.26 miles using the GPS and 3.30 miles using the Foot Pod which I feel is good agreement. I did not have to follow the calibration instructions to achieve these results.



Overall I have found the Foot Pod a great addition to my exercise equipment especially when I am inside and out of range of the GPS satelittes.More detail ...