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| Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer with Heart Rate Monitor | 
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| Brand: Garmin
Category: CE
List Price: $299.99
Buy New: $201.99
You Save: $98.00 (33%)
New (70) Refurbished (2)
Avg. Customer Rating:  502 reviews
Sales Rank: 73
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Native Resolution: 160x100
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 8 x 10 x 6
Array:
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: 010-00467-00
Model: 010-00467-00
UPC: 753759051945
EAN: 0753759051945
ASIN: B000CSWCQA
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 It's a great tool to track your progress June 4, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I've used the 305 for several months now and just love it. It allows me to keep track of my pace and distance, as well as monitor my heart rate. I like the desktop software as it easily shows me my totals. Being an 'average' runner, I don't use all the 'technical' functions to "improve" or change my workouts. I use it mainly for monitoring my pace during runs, and to keep track of mileage and heart rate changes in the software.
Living in Texas, it's getting harder now to run outside with the heat. I'm now going to buy the foot pod so that I can continue to keep track while I'm indoors.
I'm also going to start using it to track my mileage on my horse rides. I'm doing some training with my horse, and I figured I can at least track how far I'm riding, and at what pace. I haven't done this yet, but I'm sure it won't be hard to set up.
Buy the 305, you can't go wrong.
Great product but battery life poor June 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have enjoyed working out with this watch. It has helped me get ready for three triathlons so far with more to come. I like that it can be configured for running or biking, with several screen options embedded. The heart rate monitor has worked great for me and I like to download my training into the computer.
On the flip side, the battery life is still poor. This thing needs to live on the charger between workouts - I cannot get two workouts in a row without charging the battery. Wish they would address that problem.
 Excellent! June 2, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
Equipment with a lot of useful options. But, to avoid the several clicks to each option, Garmin could develop the watch set up from the computer.
Daknar June 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
The Forerunner 305 has been great. The virtual races are a wonderful way to keep track of where you are either on the bike or on the run. I love how good the heart monitor works. Much better than the three others I have purchased over the past few years. The system is a little bulky but you don't have to wear another unit for the GPS. The battery life could be a little longer as you only get around 8-10 hours between charges. The interface with the computer is slick. The GPS maps could be a little more integrated with Google maps or something like that. Over all I am very happy with the system.
 Overall, very good, but with some limitations June 2, 2008
I bought this because the device I *really* wanted was one I just couldn't justify the cost of. Overall, I've been pleased with the Garmin 305, though. I primarily use it for tracking metrics on my walks, which are training toward walking half-marathons and marathons.
In general, it does a very good job of this. The depiction of the walk on the Garmin software is pretty accurate. Some limitations I've found:
* When I'm walking in downtown Indianapolis, which doesn't have particularly huge buildings, I have extreme difficulty acquiring a satellite if I want to track my pace. I have absolutely no difficulties away from taller buildings, however. At home, acquisition is virtually instantaneous. At work, it can take upwards of 10 minutes, and I rarely have the time to stand around looking like an idiot consulting a very bulky watch while I'm at work.
* It really is pretty bulky. I don't have very large wrists, and it's pretty chunky. That said, it's not nearly as bad as I expected. So, bulky, but not way out of line.
* The heart rate can be difficult to acquire. I was *very* pleased that it's a digital signal, because this is less apt to be confused by other HRMs around me (the one thing I didn't like about most Polars); however, my girlfriend simply can't get it to read her. If you're carrying significant weight around your upper abdomen, you may have trouble. Or, it might just be her. I haven't had any trouble.
* Don't really pay attention to the pace most of the time. If the satellites have trouble tracking you because your under foliage or obscured by a building, it won't read you correctly. And can you really be sure that you aren't being obscured somehow? I do sort of check my average pace, but more toward developing a feel for how fast I'm going. My preference would have been for a foot-pod-driven pace tracker, but I couldn't afford the systems which use it.
The difficulties are why I gave it three stars instead of four. Things I really, really like a lot:
* I get a feel for where my heart rate is throughout the session. I'm generally trying to stay in Zone 2, and this helps me know when I'm there. I'm hoping to notice myself staying in Zone 2 more as I get more fit.
* I can customize the screen for up to four different read-outs. I like that a lot. And there are literally dozens to choose from.
* I can get a feel for what my pace is. Even though I don't pay minute attention to the pace, I do use this as an overall check.
* I have room to grow with the system. No doubt I will find more ways to use this as I go along.
* I already had some familiarity with Garmin because I own one of their GPS'.
Bottom line is that there are definitely better items out there, but probably none that is as reasonably priced as the Forerunner 305.
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