| Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor |
Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor Product By Garmin Available From 62 Sellers  |
Technical Details
- 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
Product Description
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 manualThe 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 - 1,000 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)
Amazon.com Review
Amazon.com Review Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 305. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 305 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 305 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. The 305 model includes wireless heartrate monitoring and it can also be connected to Garmin's wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor. If you don't need these features, consider the lower-priced Forerunner 205.View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.
 Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger. |
 The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger. |
 The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger. |
 Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger. |
 The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger. |
The 305's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.
Not so with the 305. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.
Garmin has smartly given the 305 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.
The underside of the 305 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 305's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.
GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 305 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 305's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, the tester had the 305 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 305, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!
 The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap. |
Training Functions
The 305 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 305 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail.
The heart and soul of the 305 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. The 305 adds the ability to track heartrate, lap heartrate, average heartrate, and heartrate zones via the included coded heartrate chest strap. With the purchase of a separate wireless cadence and speed meter, you can also track bike performance data.
Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. The ability to display heartrate is a big plus, too, as it's a fairly good indicator of excercise output, fatigue, and fitness level. The 305 has all the heartrate functions you'd expect from a full-function monitor, including the ability to set target zones and alerts to maximize the effectiveness of your workouts.
Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 305. If you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.
If you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 305 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.
Computer Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 305 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the computer. Not only does Training Center--which is compatible with both PC and Mac--make it easy to track your performance, you can graph data such as heartrate alongside your speed and distance. Over time, this is a great way to view your fitness levels increase, and it also helps you see what types of workouts are necessary to strengthen your weaknesses. For instance, if you see your heartrate begin to spike after a certain distance, you know you need to increase your endurance workouts to train that area of fitness.
In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your computer that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the computer, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.
The 305 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 305 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.
Pros
- Radically new design is better in every way
- Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
- So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
- Okay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful
Forerunner 305, Garmin Training Center CD-ROM, heart rate monitor, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, quick start guide.
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Customer Reviews
2010-04-19By Courtney Walker-Tessendorf (Wisconsin)
My only complaint with the product is that it seems like the battery runs out rather quickly. And it really doesn't alert you of a low battery until right before it's about to die. So if you're getting ready to run and get the low battery signal, there's not really much you can do except post pon the run! It's still an awesome product again, and I would definetly recommend it to others!
2010-04-18
By Gerard Colling
My wife bought me this for my birthday. I love this watch, especially because I mostly only run in the woods on unmarked trails. The maps make it easy for me to mark the trails for my own record, and they allow me to explore new trails too. I'm still playing with all the features the watch is capable of, but so far it's awesome!
2010-04-17
By K. W. Lowery (Raleigh, NC)
I bought this because my budget dictated it. I thought I wanted the Polar RS800, but couldn't afford it. However, after purchasing this watch with both the transition wristband and the speed/cadence sensor, I am very happy my budget DID dictate. The watch is larger than a normal watch, but is big enough to actually read clearly up to four data fields, times 3 because you can scroll through two main screens as well as an activity specific screen. You can input your own running/cycling zones and it will show you where you are (i.e zone 2.5 for mid-zone 2). I love being able to see distance/pace for running. And I like the Garmin connect on-line, which I am now using to track all my workouts. Cycling/running is instantaneous, but I can also input my swim workouts as well. I don't think I would go with the Polar, looking back. I may upgrade to the 310, but only because of a longer battery life (supposedly). The manual says the battery life is 11 hours, but I have not confirmed it yet.
2010-04-16
By P. Patel (Dallas, TX)
I purchased the Garmin Forerunner 505 just last week and have had a chance to use it everyday this week. It is exactly what I expected and more. For starters, let me tell you I am a beginner so I can not verify that all of the data collected (pace, distance, hr) are accurate, but they seem pretty close to me. I jog around a lake and I did a google map point to point search and found the Garmin distance was within .2 miles of what Google maps told me. As stated earlier, I am not a beginner. My short term goal is to work my way up to running nonstop for half an hour and work my way up from there. I hope to accomplish this through interval training doing the run/walk method. Guess what?.... You can actually set the Garmin to beep after certain distances or time to let you know you are now in the next interval. I don't even have to look at the watch... just wait for the beeps. Its incredible. The heart rate monitor seems pretty accurate. Sometimes, I will stop to check pulse and it seems like the Garmin is always within 5 beats of my physical check. Just make sure you have the strap on right side up. One day I had it on upside down and my numbers seemed a little skewed. I love the fact that I can customize what information needs to be displayed on each of the screens. Since I use the interval feature, the first screen will contain information about the lap...number and remaining time. The second screen, I have customized to include additional information about that lap, and the last screen has info about the overall total. I have a whole other screed which I don't use! Overall, I think its a great product which will give you a wealth of information whether your the beginner or ultra marathoner.
The software that came with the unit is a bit limited. I really have not found a use for it and the map functionality could use an update. I subscribed to the GarminConnect site which was a little bit better but not the best. The good thing about it is you can view it from anywhere since all of the data is uploaded to the website. Maps are based on Google Maps here as well. I also downloaded Sports Trax ... for free!!!.... which is the best program I have found. You can get much more data through the graphing tool. You can also upload pictures of your shoes and the software will keep track of the mileage you put on them after each use. This is useful if you rotate your running shoes and need to keep up with when they need to be replaced.
I am happy with this product and it does much more that I expected. The reasons for why I gave it a 4 star rating are due to the software (not very intuitive), and the overall look of the unit. I love the big display, but I wish they would give you color options! Also, I am concerned about the microphone. They placed it on the bottom of the unit and I have noticed every time I take it off, there is a small pool of sweat underneath the case and on my wrist. I hope it is not easily water damaged. And while on that point, I wish they would have put a different material on the bottom keeping it from sliding around when wet. I do not like the feeling of the band squeezing on my wrist so I go just a tad looser. When dry it stays in place but when wet its starts sliding!
2010-04-16
By Raphael Freeman (Modiin, Israel)
Since so many people have reviewed this item, I thought I would be more location specific and also mention a few points that might not be obvious.
One. I live in Modiin, Israel. The GPS maps the route but unfortunately (and I expected this) the Garmin maps are non-existent for Modiin. I suspect that this might change now that Garmin are selling GPS for cars here in Israel. The ability to view your route in Google Earth is cute to, but the roads don't display in Google Earth either. Neither of these things are actually a problem at all for running but I thought I should point it out.
The GPS has multiple configurable screens and I like to have one of the screens displaying (amongst other things) the GPS accurance. This shows you how accurate and quickly it gets a reading. For some of my run the accurance is 8m which is very impressive.
I also love the fact that you can switch the light on and leave it on for the run. I go out for an hour in the morning and it's usually before sunrise (which is also one of the options so you can see what time it's going to get late). It's nice to have the light on the whole time. I plug in the watch into my laptop to sync and whilst it's syncing it also charges and quite kindly lets you know when charging is complete.
I've only had this a week and used it for 4 runs, but so far I'm very happy.
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