Garmin Forerunner 405 Black GPS Enabled Sports Watch/ HRM (Factory Refurbished)


Perfect partner5

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 ...

Garmin Foot Pod for Forerunner 305 405 and 50


Works Flawlessly4

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 ...

Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor


A Terrible Disappointment - Stick with the 3051

As a long-time user and fan of the Garmin 305 the Garmin 405 was a product I was looking forward to for months as I was excited to see the next generation of the 305 I have enjoyed so much.



I could not be more disappointed with the result.



The Garmin 405 is a classic example of a good product concept and clever design gone horribly wrong as the Garmin team focused on form (looks) clearly beat out the folks worried about function. The watch looks fine (great for a HRM/GPS watch so so for an everyday watch) but in terms of actual purpose-built functionality it is terrible. There are multiple reasons for this which I will outline below.



(1) Useless when wet (yes that includes sweat). The fact that you cannot toggle between screens or do anything with the bezel while the device is wet should have caused the designers to toss out this novel touch sensitive concept and stick with what works. Instead they decided to go with a neat design concept that works great when the salesperson is showing it to you at the store but will provide endless hours of frustration when you are out running and just want to see your heart rate. This is my first bullet point because it is the best example of the type of design failures that make this a terrible device.



(2) Use of built in functions/screens - The makers carried over the capabilites of the Garmin 305 and added a virtual training partner functionality but the display can only show three fields at once and the fields themselves are too small for good viewing while in motion (ie running). Cycling between the displays is easy to do while sitting on a couch even fun when you run your finger along the bezel but when you are out running you quickly realize that it is very difficult to accomplish anything with the device. With the 305 if you wanted to change fields on the fly you could manage to do it while keeping a reasonable pace. With the 405 you need to press buttons and run your finger along the bezel to switch fields - again great on a couch nearly impossible on a run.



(3) GPS Accuracy. I have traded messages with people who disagree and I will say that I sometimes have great accuracy but have also had multiple experiences where the accuracy of this device is off by so much as to make the pace and distance benefits of a GPS useless. The best example is running a measured mile with typical neighborhood street tree coverage and having the device show I went a total of 0.70 miles (the 305 on the same stretch showed 1.01). I have had this happen multiple times in various locations and therefore have stopped using the watch in races when I want to know my true pace and distance (I am using the 305 again).



(4) Silly things that might (or might not) drive you crazy - There are two buttons on the Garmin 405 - both on the right side of the face as you look at it. These buttons perform some useful functions including locking the bezel so that you can wear the device in a non-GPS mode and avoid running down the battery needlessly while still using the device as a watch. The problem is that if like me you actually own a daily wear watch and when you travel you prefer to put the 405 in your bag or suitcase having the two buttons on the same side means that if they press against anything they will unlock the bezel and the GPS will start running (or try to). The result will be a dead battery when you pull it out of your bag. It may seem minor but pulling the 405 out of your bag after you arrive and want to go for a run only to see it is dead again and again is annoying. The positive offset is that the watch actually charges at a pretty decent speed. Oh yes and when the battery does in fact die you will need to go through all of the intro screens again to get it going which will sometimes freeze on you (check message boards for solution to this as some people have posted them).



Overall this is a terrible product and if you really want to get a GPS enabled running device I would highly recommend you buy the Garmin 305. It is much cheaper and while it does not look as good the size will not bother you after a couple of wears and it will work flawlessy for you. I suspect they will eventually correct the failings of the Garmin 405 but until they do it is not a good use of your money.More detail ...

Garmin 010-00658-12 Forerunner 405 with ANT+ Sport Wireless Technology (Green)


Impressive Hardware Poor Software Non-Existant Support4

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 ...

Garmin forerunner Bike Mount


Not for large diameter handlebars.3

This bike mount is not made for larger diameter handlebar tubes such as on my Cannondale CAAD9-5. It would be nice for them to publish more information about what diameter tubes that this is made to fit around. It is made of seemingly good quality soft rubber so will fit around almost any size bar but will become too large for the stiff wrist-strap of the Garmin 405 (but may not be a problem for the 305).More detail ...

Garmin Forerunner 301 GPS Personal Training Device


Do you take your running seriously?5

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 010-00658-10 Forerunner 405 with ANT+ Sport Wireless Technology (Black)


Impressive Hardware Poor Software Non-Existant Support4

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 ...

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch


Misleading: Not a Triathlete watch3

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 ...

GARMIN 010-10644-00 Speed/Cadence Sensor


Excellent compact lightweight wireless cadence sensor5

Another handy piece of equipment from Garmin!



This kit comes in three basic parts; a sensor unit which is about the size of a matchbox and two magnets about the size of your pinky nail. Several zip-ties are included for mounting purposes; the entire kit weighs at most a couple of ounces.



Installation is pretty straightforward but do follow the directions carefully and don't snug down the zip-ties until you're sure you've got all three components just where you want them and have tested the system!



The sensor mounts to the left chain stay with a pair of zip-ties. Garmin thoughtfully added a piece of rubber padding to the bottom of the sensor unit so it won't rough up your fancy carbon frame or your paint job :)



A single zip-tie attaches the crank magnet to the crank although I had to use a large (3/4") shim on my FSA crank (which has a curved profile and a hollow back) to place the crank magnet in the proper position for the sensor to "see" it. The spoke magnet clamp has both a round hole and a square hole; make sure you use the right hole for your spoke profile! I mounted mine on a spoke directly opposite the tire valve just to help keep the wheel in balance.



The sensor unit must be positioned along the chain stay such that it can "see" both the crank magnet as it passes by the cadence sensor (the round part on the side of the sensor unit) and the spoke magnet as it passes the speed sensor (the part that looks like a lever in the picture).



Testing is accomplished by pressing a small button on the sensor unit which prompts it to flash a red LED then a green one to indicate that testing is started. As pointed out by another reviewer the LEDs are hard to see in bright ambient light; I'd recommend testing in a garage if possible. Hi-intensity LEDs would have solved this problem although I suspect these LEDs were chosen for their low power consumption so maybe it's a smart design decision after all.



Once the test button is pressed the next 60 revolutions of the crank should cause the red LED to flash when the crank magnet passes the sensor while the spoke magnet passing the sensor should generate a green LED flash. If you saw the red/green flash when the button was pressed but don't see a flash as each magnet passes the sensor chances are one or both magnets are not properly aligned with the sensor (there are alignment lines on the sensor and both magnets) or the magnets are passing too far from the sensor (this is the problem I encountered and solved with a shim).



When you're sure everything is in the right places snug the zip-ties and cut them flush. Then set up a screen (typically the Biking screen) on your 305 to display Cadence in one of the data fields and go ride!

More detail ...

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor


Misleading: Not a Triathlete watch3

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 ...

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor


Misleading: Not a Triathlete watch3

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 ...

Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue)




More detail ...

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

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)More detail ...