Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor Reviews

• Excellent workout tool

  
  By A1OH5ITY06RZKP on 2006-05-04
  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.
  
  
  

• An Improvement

  
  By A36L77W2ILY2IT on 2006-04-19
  This is a definite improvement over the 301. I had several complaints with the 301:
  (1) The heart rate monitor did not track well, and would often jump up to 240, which was a problem when looking at average heart rate later;
  (2) The tracking was bad sometimes in the woods, where I run (it could vary half a mile on a four-mile course, and even worse, the elevation could spike 1,200 feet at times and completely change the profile of the run);
  (3) The unit was not ergonomic, the buttons were difficult to push, and the screen was hard to see; and
  (4) It took forever to acquire the satellites.
  
  The heart rate monitor comes with a new sensor that is more flexible, comfortable, and offers more reliable data. The tracking is much better and more consistent. The unit is much more like a watch, the display is great, and the buttons are much easier to push while on the go. However, it still takes a while to acquire the satellite signal. It is a bit improved, and is not dissimilar from other Garmin products, so I'd have to say that it's OK.
  
  The BIGGEST improvement is that this model is more like a typical GPS in that it offers many different modes and screens to track various types of information (one can toggle between three different screens). For example, on one screen, I have the current time, sunrise, sunset, and running time. On another screen I have the grade, altitude, average pace, and current pace. On yet another screen I have heart rate, calories, distance traveled, and heading. It is totally cool.
  
  I use this thing for running, biking, rollerblading, mountaineering, skiing, and just about everything else outside. I am really happy that I spent the money for the upgraded version.
  
  

• All I hoped for!

  
  By A21ZAJVEQJTZC9 on 2006-08-29
  With a few one-star reviews, I was a bit hesitant to order this. Now, after two weeks of use (10 runs of 2 to 2.5 miles each), I have no regrets with the purchase whatsoever.
  
  I haven't had any of the problems reported by any of the one-star reviewers. It syncs to the satellite in a reasonable* amount of time, seems to track my pace very well, tracks distance well, and the heart rate monitor seems WAY more accurate than the dedicated exercise machines at my local gym.
  
  *by reasonable, it does take a minute or two to sync to the satellites each time. That's the only thing I could possibly think of improving, but it's not a big deal. Being the super-impatient person I am, I often turn on the watch, set it on my front porch, go back in and change into my running outfit, and by the time I come back out it's ready to go.
  
  I haven't seen the pacing issues others have reported. I'm a beginning runner... but if I keep a solid pace... it reports about 10mins/mile... if I push a little harder... about 9mins/mile... if I let up... about 11mins/mile. It seems very consistent over my entire 2-2.5 mile run.
  
  I have a 2.1 mile run where I've done the same exact route about 6 times... and when I compare the maps of each run... they overlap almost exactly.
  
  I have thyroid and heart issues, and this watch gives me the confidence to know I'm not exceeding my max hr for too long (I can easily get into the 180's) and gives me the feedback and stats to keep me motivated.
  
  Last but not least, I've bought dozens and dozens of items from Amazon over the years, and this is the first review I've taken the time to write - hope that gives you an indication of how happy I am with this product. ;-)
  
  

• waste of my money

  
  By A18N2RPPBF5MF9 on 2006-08-16
  Mine was a birthday present from my wife and I was thrilled - just what i wanted to help me train for this falls duathlon and long distance running calendarand when it works it is a very good tool
  Unfortunately the device has a myriad of software/harware problems. I had no problems with the GPS or HRM unlike many others but the device often locked up mid event and often recorded data in the wrong segment despite my careful setting. It placed items in multi sports which cannot later be transferred to the right sport in the PC program.
  I can normally reset it by the cold restart or letting the battery run down and then recharging in the cradle. Several times downloading software updates seemed to kick it back into life but not this morning - It is completely unresponsive and I am just about just about to go out on a long run. If this were a car I would have given up a long time ago - it's the Yugo of the sports watch world. The garmin 305 forum on Motion Based Agents webbsite is full of tales of woe about this device and the lack of customer support although in fairness this is anecdotal as I have not called about this problem yet. I think I am beyond the warranty period so I'll just have to put it down to bad ( and a very expensive) experience. My sister in law teased me about this device gfrom the word go - she is a polar fan and I have to say the software is much much better and so is the relaibility of the device. Caveat Emptor
  
  

• A lackluster Performance from a Top Player

  
  By A1RLWLTDC4B0LL on 2006-05-10
  The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a very poor performing product. It is the fourth Garmin hardware product I have owned (in addition to a number of Mapsource products) and unfortunately it is by far the worst. The unit fails to perform most of its functions even marginally well. In principal the idea of GPS enabled workout analysis with combined heart rate monitoring is great. You would know exactly how far you have gone, how fast, over what terrain and at what level of exertion. This is what the Forerunner 305 promises but fails to deliver.
  
  The much hyped Sirf chip is very poor at locking in on satellites. Even after several minutes, it is most frequently unable to lock on more than three satellites. Telemetry is erratic and inaccurate. Sitting in a park where I exercise, it showed I walked well over a mile while I was actually sitting and talking. The next day it did the same thing on another long walk. If you pause in an area of marginal satellite coverage the unit interprets the erratic readings it receives as movement. After I downloaded my data to my laptop, it told me that at times I was "walking" 27-35 MPH. While the included Training Center software is not bad, its limitations prevent you from cleaning up the poor quality data that is downloaded from the unit. At best, you end up with a vague impression of your work out, not a clear picture.
  
  As others have said, the unit's performance is improved by waiting to start moving until the acquiring satellites screen goes away, but I still don't feel this unit is ready for prime time. I have compared the aquisition time of the 305 to my GPS 76Csx and the 305 takes triple the time of the other unit to lock on. This is true even in the midwest in ideal conditions. Overall, the 305 is balky and non-intuitive at best, and at worst wholly inaccurate and misleading. At this price point, Garmin should be providing a well thought out and executed product that rivals its more traditional units
  
  
  
• Pretty Nice, some room for improvement
  By A19IGJF6NR2LJJ on 2006-04-20
  I have had my Forerunner 305 for almost 3 weeks now. Previous to this I used a Polar S150 (wired bike mount) for several years and a entry level Polar before that, so I am used to basic heart rate monitor but not advance data recording or GPS.
  
  I have tested the Forerunner 305 running, biking and swimming and have been generally very impressed.
  
  General: The concept of acquiring satellites before I get going took a little getting used to. After the first couple of times I generally get satellite acquisition within about 30 seconds as long as I am outside or in my enclosed front porch. I set the unit down so that it is completely stationary while acquiring satellites. I get spotty to no reception indoors. The heart rate monitor functions well in comparison to my Polars. I have only had erratic heart readings at the end of one bike ride (fixed by adjusting the strap), which is better performance than I generally would get with the Polars (Except for Swimming, see below). The grade measurements are so erratic as to be totally useless. I have had the grade measurement vary from 8% to 25% back down to 5% within one minute of sustained climbing on the bike. I believe this is due to a poor averaging algorithm (2 point average as opposed to smoother averages involving more points). This is something I intended to test once I figure out how to access the raw data. Data recording is interesting, but is highly dependent on the software used to analyze it. Training center software is decent but unsophisticated (lack of user configurable option is disappointing in a $300+ product). Motion Based has been fun to use, especially the map player. As noted in a previous post of mine errors in distance calculations arise due to Motion Based insistence on connecting erratic track points recorded when you are standing still.
  
  Running: To this point I have done about half a dozen runs of 3-3.5 miles each on a couple of different courses. Mostly I run on trails with trees (no real leaves as of yet) with some street and open field running mixed in. Generally in the trees I average an accuracy of about 25 ft, which I consider to be pretty good. The tracks and distances are both reproducible to within this approximate 25 ft range. I have found the "instantaneous" pace to be somewhat erratic but generally within approximately 5% of the short term mean. The auto stop feature (I have it set to stop if pace falls below 30 min mile) working decently on the run but occasionally does not register that I am stopped. Overall I am very excited to easily track my running distance and have a pretty good idea of my pace.
  
  Biking: Used for approximately 10 bike rides both on and off road. Despite some concerns that the antenna faces the wrong way when mounted on the handlebars (I mount mine by wrapping the monitor around a piece of foam) I generally get great GPS reception on the bike. Accuracy is generally about 15 ft on open road and 25-30 ft.on trails. The speed and distance seems to be very accurate and the precision (reproducibility) is within 1%. The auto stop feature works extremely well on the bike, starting and stopping the unit within 1 second. The one down side is that the buttons you are most likely to use for cycling are on the side of the unit (the up/down and occasionally the mode button).
  
  Swimming: I have only tested in an indoor swimming pool, hoping to be able to record my heart rate. Unfortunately, unlike my Polar S150 the heart rate signal cannot be measured in the water. I did these tests with the receiver under my swim cap, which was pretty comfortable and I could access the buttons easily. There may be more utility for swimming in open water.
  
  
• Logged over 3,000 miles running on G305
  By A1CK6YB6IFQQ5N on 2006-05-09
  I upgraded from my old timex to a 301 unit. Then to the 305. I run with 4 other marathoners who use the 301. Overall they are pleased with the units. This weekend I ran a marathon up in Ogden, UT. At mile 21 my unit froze up and never regained signal. Even after finishing the race. I upgraded to the most recent software using the garmin web update prior to the race & full charged unit. Here is my experience of the G305.
  
  (Unit fully charged before long runs)
  Pros
  -Consistent heart rate over the 301 unit
  -No elevation spikes like the 301 unit
  -Motion Based software works great
  
  Cons
  -Signal dropped on three long runs different locations
  Note: Other runners w/ 301 did not drop signal
  -Takes a long time to get signal
  -Unconfortable compared to 301 unit on wrist
  
  After the unit freezing up during a marathon I'm going to return it and buy the G301 again for $200 less than the G305. In my opinion the signal does not work better than older garmin units. When my unit drops signal my friends w/ the 301 just laugh and say how much did you pay for the unit... Do you homework before paying $350 for this unit.
  
  Good luck!
  
  5/21/08
  I think Garmin has made improvments since this unit first came out. I've had my third unit for a couple of years now and updated the firmware. The unit has not locked during long runs or several marathons in the canyons or downtown in cities. The price has also dropped significantly. I would recommend at the lower price. Happy running.
  
  
  
  
  
• Has changed the way I run
  By A13GYFT45E5NZF on 2007-03-06
  I have had the 305 for about 6 weeks and am very pleased with it. It is my first GPS watch and has exceeded my expectations. I had read the concerns with the altimeter and agree, it does not provide useful or accurate information so no surprises there. The real issue for me was how well it would measure distance. I have found it to be very accurate and reliable. I have several runs that I have clocked with the car and measuring tools on Google Earth; the Garmin hit my mile split expectations anywhere from spot on to 20-30 feet from what I believed the true splits to be. At the end of the 10 mile run I was also within 20 feet of expectation. So maybe one mile measures a few feet long, another a few feet short, but cumulatively it was right on my prior expectations.
  
  The heart rate monitor does jump around a bit on pulse rate but once I settle into a run it seems more reliable and is certainly useful. I have found that if I put the chest strap on a few minutes before running I don't get the wild initial readings when I start running.
  
  As to my headline that it has changed the way I run, because the distance measurements are so accurate the Forerunner has freed me from the old measured courses I have run for years. Instead I just take off wherever I feel like going with complete comfort as to splits, pace and distance (and yes, I am one of those who really cares whether I ran 5.00 versus 5.25 miles when calculating my pace). I set the watch to ring at each mile so I can simply glance down and figure my pace. It is also great when traveling as you can run any distance accurately without any planning effort.
  
  I also enjoy downloading data to Sporttracks (third party free software) to see my runs overlayed on a map. Often it maps so accurately it will clearly show which side of the street I ran on and where I crossed from one side to the other. Running has never stopped being fun, but the freedom this device has afforded me has added a new element of enjoyment.
  
  
• Amazing
  By A2OM5RS6NPAF6L on 2006-06-26
  I bought this product with some trepidation, after reading the mixed reviews on Amazon.com, so I made sure that my supplier had a good return policy. However, I have to say that it is an amazing piece of equipment, and kudos to the people that developed it. Sure it has some kinks that I am prepared to put up with, bearing in mind that this technology is in its infancy (especially at this size). I am training for my first marathon and I have found the forerunner to be great for logging and keeping track of my runs and my overall progress. Sure the real-time pace is not hugely accurate, but I feel very confident that it keeps very good track of my distances and overall pace for each of my runs (if I do an out-and-back run, the plotted course and calculated distances are very close). As I do most of my weekday running in boring suburban DC neighborhoods, it is liberating that I don't have to do the same measured route every time to keep track of my pace. I can wander at will, and head towards home when I am getting close to my desired number of miles. The virtual running partner is a great motivator. How else can you get a running partner to start the run at the same time and place as you and to run at a constant pre-set pace? It was a little annoying when I was ahead of him/her and needed to wait to cross the road; meanwhile I watched him/her passing me out!! I tried the auto-stop function for the first time this weekend, it worked ok, but did have some kinks...maybe it was because of very heavy rain and lightening we were having. The heart rate monitor seems to work fine. I have found signal strength to be no problem (I live in DC area, not sure it that makes any difference). My neighborhood has plenty of trees and the parks that I run in are heavily forested (its summer here). As I drove into the park this weekend during the storm my satellite radio kept losing signal under the (very wet) tree cover, but the forerunner seemed to work fine (except for the autostop). I wish their maps were more detailed, they just have the major streets, I guess Garmin chose to provide a stripped down version.....they should have done a better job there. Overall, as a technophile, I love this piece of equipment, and look forward to seeing how they improve it in the future. You do need to understand the limitations of this device though (e.g. somewhat accurate real-time pace information, undercounting overly twisty routes). I guess I am lucky that I have had no problems with it so far (it has only been a month), but I will update this if I need to call their customer service.
  
  
• Great - when it actually works, HORRIBLE customer support
  By A18BRE1JL293C on 2006-06-09
  I got my first Garmin 305 about 2 months ago. The first day I got it the Enter button stopped working. I returned the Garmin 305 to the dealer and was quickly shipped a new one. I am currently using the second Garmin, however the heart rate monitor function on the watch stopped working about 2 weeks ago. I contacted customer support and they said they would ship me a new one, however they only shipped a new chest monitor instead of the watch. Needless to say I still have the problem. Calling customer service is EXTREMELY painful. The wait time is 30-35 minutes just to talk to someone. I have tried to call morning and afternoons and it does not change the wait time. (I am actually on hold right now as I type and am going on 25 minutes.) I should have known not to give my old Polar to my wife.
  
  The 305 functionality, when it works, is very cool. Mine locks in on satellites within 1-2 minutes and does a good job measuring average pace per lap. I love the auto lap function which I have set at 1 mile. The instant pace is off due to the delay in tracking with the satellites. It is actually showing my pace delayed about 10-15 seconds. I have gone to just using the average lap pace and it gives me what I really need to know. The only problem I have besides the heart rate not working at all, is the distance tracking on one particular trail I run. The trail has a lot of tight switchbacks and the area is covered with trees. The distance registers about 1.5 miles short on a 12 mile loop. It does work well everywhere else I run.
  
  New update: I finally got through to customer support and they are making me send my watch in for service. Maybe I'll enjoy just running with no data for a while, yeah right!
  
  
• poor gps function - updated review
  By A332O93KKYWJ86 on 2006-04-27
  i was kind of surprised at the other reviews because my experience with the gps function has not been very good. the unit takes forever to lock up and when placed side by side with my etrex for comparison it requires three to five times longer to lock up. this morning on a bike ride after three minutes of standing in one place i just gave up and at no time during the one hour ride did the unit ever lock up. my experience so far is the gps receiver is slow and not very sensitive. if garmin ever gets around to using the sirf chipset perhaps this will be a better product. in the meantime i am going back to my casio setup that locks quickly and consistently. also the battery cannot make it through a full day so if you are planning to use this for hiking it is not a good choice.
  
  i am updating this review because it looks like there is some kind of firmware problem i have run into. initially i did not have a clear sky view and the unit never locked. still on i moved it to a clear area and after leaving the unit on for an hour with a clear view of the sky it never locked. when i turned it off and then on it almost immediately locked. it appears that if the unit does not lock right away it will never lock. my work around has been to shut it off and then on again and it seems to lock up the 2nd time fairly quickly. so it does not appear to be a major sensitivity problem as i first thought.
  for some reason i cannot change the number of stars, but now i know the little glitch it has i would actually give it three to four stars.
  
  
• Anyone want to buy mine?
  By AGUUSTQKBL8IM on 2006-05-18
  In the month that I have owed the FR 305 I have taken to leaving it at home because it is so hard to get a signal; I don't even consider it on a cloudy day! This morning, under a cloudless sky with minimal trees (108th in Riverside Park in New York City), I stood there for 10 minutes while it was trying to locate a signal only to be rewarded with the unit asking if I was in doors. Giving up I turned it off and on (so it would look again) and then ran three miles south along the Hudson River - about as "big sky" as you are going to get in New York City. Same question.
  
  The one time I got it to work, in Central Park of all places, it seemed to work fine though the "pace" on two different screens did not agree with each other. Since the unit is collecting dust in my drawer, I have not spent the time trying to figure out if they are telling me two different things. No comment on the HR monitor for the same reason, I never use the thing.
  
  I am no scientist but it does seem like Garmin is asking for trouble by putting contacts for the recharger underneath the unit where it will spend a good portion of its life on a sweaty wrist. Isn't warm, salt, moisture, and metal a recipe for corrosion?
  
  Too bad, I had high hopes for this unit. I'll try again a couple more times but suspect will soon give up as it is very distracting constantly looking at my watch to see if it is working. Seems to me I should drop this all together, map out my distances with Google Earth and just use a $5 stopwatch! Anyone want to but an almost new FR 305??
  
  
• Complete piece of s#*t - don't waste your money
  By ADRXM5HNXGX5R on 2006-05-23
  Great design, poor execution. When it works, it is quite fun and informative. When it works... Problems: won't locate satelites in under 15 minutes (and this is standing still... good luck if you move a footstep, as you'll wait all day); unreliable battery (my unit turns itself on, draining battery, which is also a problem to charge); spotty results on autopause (set for -10kph on bike mode, leading to it pausing anytime between 2 and 20kph); unreliable contacts (the gold contacts corrode easily); bad bad BAD firmware (space isn't enough to discuss).
  Recommendations: buy anything else or rue the day you dropped nearly 400USD on this piece of electronic roadkill.
  
  
• Wow
  By A3KK12FDBHKOAQ on 2006-04-18
  It just came today, and of course it suddenly became time to go for a run. It's simple, works as advertised, and had no trouble picking up a signal in the urban canyon of Chicago before I hit the lake. Once home, uploading the data to MotionBased.com was quick. And it logs everything, with maps (including export to Google Earth), times, heart rate, etc. All presented in slick digestible graphs and charts. Tres cool. Actually useful. I picked it up so I could train _right_ for the marathon this year. All in all, I'm extremely happy with this gizmo, which I think will provide the birds eye view of a multi-month training plan I've been looking for.
  
  Oh, and MotionBased.com provides mac support! Take that Garmin. Garmin will supposedly offer a mac version of their software later this year, but I don't see myself using it given what MotionBased has to offer.
  
  
• EVERYTHING EXCELENT EXCEPTS CALORIES CALCULATOR
  By A2ILKU2HA6DGA4 on 2006-06-02
  This unit is the perfect tool for training. I have used it for about 4 weeks and everything works fine, except the calories calculator. In a 10 km. run (time 57 minutes)it showed that I burned 2.366 calories which is imposible. After checked all the user profile data and other items the unit still presents the same problem. I contacted Technical Support from Garmin and they confirmed me that there is problems with the calculation of the burned calories. They explain that the variation in the altitud of the run has something to do with the problem and that they are working to fix it. I hope that they can solve it soon so the Forerunner 305 become in a 100% sucessfull training device.
  
  
• Great device for running
  By A3NEAETOSXDBOM on 2007-08-16
  I have been using the Forerunner 305 for the past five months and can't imagine how I got along without it.
  
  I primarily use the unit for my running, which has improved dramatically. This is because the unit allows me to easily monitor a wide variety of items on three screens that can be customized to each show four items.
  
  My first screen shows total time elapsed, speed in MPH, total distance and heart rate. My second screen shows the time for my current lap, the time for my last lap, the lap distance covered so far (I set a lap to equal one mile), and again heart rate. My third screen shows calories burned, time of day, paused time and sunset time. There are many other combinations available.
  
  For me these settings have enabled me to improve my running by giving me an accurate picture of how I am doing. I can then download each run onto my computer and compare my progress from week to week. The Garmin software is primitive, but is suitable for my needs. There are more sophisticated software alternatives that you can read about in other reviews.
  
  I have been able to get a GPS signal even on completely cloudy days, and have not lost it when running through paths with lots of trees.
  
  The heart rate monitor readings do not "bounce around" like they do on many execise monitors, but rather are always steady. This enables accurate heart rate monitoring instead of bouncing around 10 or 20 beats at a time.
  
  As a separate accessory you can purchase a footpod, which is a transmitter that attaches to your sneaker so that you can use the 305 indoors on a treadmill, which I do very often during the winter months.
  
  The unit itself is not bulky to wear, and feels pretty much the same as wearing a watch, though of course it is somewhat larger.
  
  When running I especially like the auto pause feature, which stops the time being recorded for laps and records the time standing still, such as a rest stop or waiting for a traffic light to change. This is far superior to manually stopping the timer, because many times you resume running and forget to turn the timer back on.
  
  My one minor gripe is that there is no auto off feature, so that if you forget to turn the unit off, you will drain the batteries.
  
  Overall I highly recommend this unit and have not had any problems with downloading my data or installing software updates.
  
  UPDATE Sept. 23,2008: If you own a Mac, the Garmin Training Center software is even more primitive than the PC version. I highly recommend a Mac software program called Ascent. It is highly customizable and terrific for organizing your data and training. I wish they made a version for the PC as well.
  
  
• 5 stars with better HR display
  By A23V62PDBXZR2S on 2006-04-25
  A worthwhile upgrade to the 301. Much better reception (I run the trails in Colorado and have yet to drop a signal, even on cloudy days), smaller (Garmin separated the charging feature, bringing it outside the unit), doesn't pop off (the 301 would pop its hinge when my wrist would bend too far, when getting up for example), and the hr strap is more comfortable. On the downside, the hr display is now too small and is very hard to read on the run, an obvious drawback when training. The only other drawback remains the same as the 301. Garmin's training software is nowhere near as good as Polar's. Not even close. You can use third party vendors, but for the cost, the 305 should come with its own high quality software. However, I think the Garmin is superior to the Polar 625x, and better software is not nearly enough to sway me back to Polar.
  
  
• Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist-Mounted GPS Personal Training Device
  By A1LKL2V27YJS1P on 2006-08-25
  The Garmin 305 is a vast improvement over my Garmin 301 and 201. The heart rate monitor really does work unlike my 301 that failed with in a month or two. I am a avid trail runner. Most of my training runs involve canyons and forested areas. I have yet to loose a signal during my runs. I recently completed the Pike's Peak Ascent using my Garmin 305 and noticed that I still ended up with issues dealing with the switch backs. The Garmin was .38 tenths off for the total distance, not to bad for the number of switch back. As for the heart rate monitor, it works well and is confortable, but due to my poor experience with the heart rate monitor on the Garmin 301 my vote is still out on it's long term use.
  
  
• I love the Garmin 305!
  By A322HL7ZD71LGF on 2007-01-28
  I've had my Garmin 305 for more than 6 months now and I absolutely love it! It's helped me train and finish a marathon. It was a wonderful help with my 20 weeks of training. I programmed it with my interval training sessions sessions -- it was very, very easy to program my different training sessions (for example, run 4 minutes/wal 1 minute). It also helped me when I got lost on my long runs -- I went from running 3 to 4 miles at a time to running 20 miles (that was my long run) so I got lost. With my Garmin 305, I marked various locations and it directed me back to them so I could find my way home.
  
  I would not have been been able to train for my marathon without it! OK, maybe I could have, but it would have been a lot less fun, a lot harder, and I would have gotten lost.
  
  One more thing -- I'm a pretty small woman, and even though the wrist unit is pretty big, I found it pretty comfortable to wear.
  
  
• Nice Work-Out Tool, Interface needs improvement
  By A1F50KG7O9A0JD on 2006-12-06
  This is my second Garmin GPS, and my second Heart Rate Monitor (my first HRM from Garmin). I'm a light runner, running regurlarly, but only short distances (3 times a week, about 9-10 miles per run). I purchased the Forerunner because my previous HRM could not measure speed nor distance.
  
  First of all, I'm impressed with the fact that Garmin managed to package a fully functioning GPS along with a heart rate monitor (HRM) into such a compact form factor. And it is light (which was one of my primary concerns) - so light in fact, that I hardly notice it while running. GPS reception is also surprisingly good, altough still erratic under adverse conditions.
  
  The Forerunner is definitely not a naviagtional aid (as most other Garmin GPS-based products are) - the GPS is used to determine speed and distance, and together with the HRM can calculate calories consumption etc. Still, it's user interface is noticeably based on Garmin's previous (navigation) devices. And, to put it mildly, the interface can be improved. The various, user-configurable 'pages' are a hassle to set up, difficult to read, and the user interface is inconsistent and counter-intuitive in many places. For example setting up the Garmin to pace yourself using previously run distances is a real chore, and so far I wasn't able to reliably activate it.
  
  On the other hand, the device does work as advertised, and is able to pick up sats where my other (older) garmin would not. The HRM works without a problem, and appears to be accurate. So does the distance measured by the device (and, as a direct result, speed). A few months ago I ran a half-marathon, and the distance measured differed less than a percent from the official distance.
  
  Something I did not anticipate was the fact that using the Forerunner for work-outs is only half it's value. The other added benefit is that you can then download the accumulated data (samples spaced at 4 seocnds) onto your PC for further processing. I have taken a particular liking to MotionBased web service (free and commercial plans are available). You then can, for example, export the route you ran, and have it displayed in Google Earth (a cool feature, but with limited uses). You can, however, also use it to analyze your performance against environmental factores (temperatures), or speed vs. heart rate etc., making work-out planning actually fun.
  
  The Forerunner comes with software for the PC, but unfortunately not for the Mac (there are, however, third party tools, MotionBased among them, that can read data from the Forerunner on the Mac). Using my PC I found the software to be adequate, but also slightly unwieldly to use.
  
  All in all I am satisfied with the Forerunner. Although it's interface is more difficult to use than it should be, it's providing me with important additional information, and has helped me to increase my average speed significantly. It's work-out related features are still not as good as some other products (e.g. Polar's), but they are good enough for me. I can definitely recommend this product.
  
  
• Great for Cycling and Running
  By A16EEKXDTB44WJ on 2006-03-16
  I previously had a cycling computer and a separate HR monitor. This is by far the best cycling computer out there and I can take it out on a run and track all of my statistics using their software.
  Pros: HR, optional cadence(I recommend), elevation, grade%, time in HR, speed, time, etc...there are lots of options. Also there are several Forms that you can modify to have it show the data that you are most interested in. Lightweight
  
  Cons: No bike mount included. Glass is a bit shiny for when you are biking. It is still a bit big while wearing on your wrist.
  
  I have had it for 2+ weeks and I would recommend it. I have since removed my previous computer and wired cadence and gone with the wireless cadence. Enjoy!!!
  
  
  
  
  
• Ok if you don't do any long training or events
  By AUVGVY08NXJB6 on 2006-11-05
  I had a Garmin Forerunner 201. I loved it, but alas I lost it after a paddling session. So with a lot of remorse I ponied up the extra dough to upgrade to the 305. I really like the heart rate monitor, the ability to create courses, the virtual training partner is a neat gimmick, and the training history and data base is much improved. HOWEVER, all of those extra functional elements cost the user battery charge life. I have found the charge to last about 5 hours tops..You would have to stop your work out to plug in somewhere if you are ever to do any long training or events. Also annoying is the fact that if you happened to hit the lap/reset button at the same time as you hit the mode button, a pretty common thing, you will shut of the power and loose all of your data for that workout! Really bad form! Also the display is small so much of the graphics are microscopic.
  
  
• All Garmin GPS units now support Macintosh OSX!
  By A3JI4B0E6ENF6J on 2006-03-07
  The mere fact that Garmin now offers support for Macs* is enough to merit five stars. I'll be returning my utterly useless Magellan eXplorist 400 soon. I never could get it to work at all with my PowerBook. Way to go Garmin! I'll post a full review once I receive my Garmin Forerunner 305 and have put it through its paces.
  
  * http://www.garmin.com/pressroom/corporate/011006.html
  
  
• I've had two defective 305s and working on my third
  By A323DQSID69AO3 on 2006-11-11
  Garmin apparently has big problems with the Garmin 305. I'm currently using my third unit. The first two went defective within 10 days of purchasing.
  
  Be prepared for problems if you purchase a 305
  
  
• Awesome,Awesome,Awesome!!!
  By A2MZTRB0UCZF7X on 2006-11-25
  I trained for 3 months for a 54 mile trail run in VA. During my training i tried running on roads but then started to go to a local park with lots of trails. I tried assuming I was running 10 minute miles which turned out to be a bad assumption. My wife got me a Timex GPS watch but I knew Garmin was the king and the Timex had a separate antenna to wear and a watch. Researched and bot the 305. It is first off very close to wearing a regular watch, it's light and not big at all. Nobody noticed it in the park. I'ld say it's like wearing 2 Casio regular size sport watches. 2. It is very accurate. I tried it along routes I've measured by car. 3. It does not lose it's signal in the woods, I'm talking trails in the woods with leaves on the trees. Not one NO Satellites message. 4. It downloads to google earth if you search for programs I found 2 that would do it for free on my 1st search on Google. Google earth and seeing where you ran is awesome. It's so accurate it shows if you go down one side of the street on the way out and on the other on the way back. 5. It worked on my 54 mile run and it really helped. 6. It has a heart rate monitor which is very cool, but I did not use it on my 54 miler. I hope this helps.
  
  
• Good product when you get a working model
  By A1O7GGFWBFJPP9 on 2007-06-16
  The first one that I received was defective. The Enter key kept getting harder and harder to push until it quit working altogether. The heart rate monitor came with a dead battery. Even after replacing the battery, the watch would not pair with heart rate monitor. The Second one I received work wonderfully and I am enjoying its functionality.
  However I am starting to wonder about Garmin's quality control. I have recently received the cadence sensor and it too is defective. I am awaiting its replacement.
  
  
  
• Generally Good product
  By ALO8Z2I6L6RZB on 2006-08-11
  I use the 305 specifically for running. Distance and pace are very accurate, which is mostly what I'm interested in. Elevation doesn't appear to be close at all, unless you consider a +-200 feet over a 150 ft elevation shift reasonable (I don't). I wish this were better, as I have a heavy hill climb on my next race, I want to train on similar elevation shift and have good feedback from my GPS. Aquire time doesn't appear to be any different compared to my forerunner 201 that I previously used.
  
  For the $200 delta between a 305 and a 205, I'd probably purchase the 205 and save the money. I'm hoping reliability of the 305 is better than the 200 series though... My 201 stopped working after about 15 months of use. Looks like maybe some water/sweat got inside and killed the IC's.
  
  Finally, the software that comes packaged with 305 is mediocre at best. It's especially irritating that you can't scale the y-axis on the pace/hr/time/ plots.
  
  All complaints aside, I wouldn't go without my GPS. It's a great training aid and I'd recommend it. (Still if you can find a 205 for ~$150 or so, I think that's the way to go).
  
  
• Great Concept--Poor Quality
  By A38JHKSW4DJQQQ on 2006-08-20
  I bought the FR305 to replace an old FR301 that finally gave out after almost 2 years. The concept behind the 305 is great, but it just doesn't hold up in terms of quality. I had to send mine back because the altitude function didn't work. The elevation profiles for my workouts looked like I was jumping on a trampelline.
  
  
• Good piece of equipment but some issues
  By A20ZDV9ZEESN5K on 2006-12-18
  Before I got the 305 I had used a Polar RS200sd and the Nike+ system. I liked the Polar system most of the time but hated it when it would turn on and off by itself. However the distance information from the footpod was inaccurate and the footpod itself was too large and heavy. The Nike* system has the same problem with distance accuracy and it does not measure heart rate. The voice is very nice and if you're going to use a Nano anyway it is a great deal.
  
  The 305 does a good job with distance and heart rate. The menu system is pretty easy to navigate and easier than the Polar. Instaneous pace is a bit of a guess but you're in the ball park. My unit only gets fair reception even in a clear area but rarely do I lose the signal even under tree cover. The calorie count is way off. When you down load the information you sometimes get different information from what is showing on the unit. Yesterday I ran 20 miles but the MotionBased software said I ran 21.45 miles. The date is also off. The MotionBased software requires some work to get it set up and you need to pay money to get all of the features that you are going to want to have.
  
  The bottom line is that the 305 does what I need it to do for pace and distance and is, in my view, far superior to any of the pod based systems. Hopefully some of the other issues are being resolved through software upgrades.
  
  
  
• Good unit, a few software kinks still need fixing
  By A3LW8PFWL8OTXH on 2006-04-03
  I use the Garmin 305 to go trail running in areas where tree branches cover the trail 80% or so, and the new GPS chip in the 305 does a good job of tracking. The software problems that caused the original delay in the unit shipping apparently aren't fully solved; I've already downloaded one firmware update from Garmin. Elevation changes are not tracked as accurately as they could be when using the desktop software that ships with the Garmin, but when uploading my results to the free www.motionbased.com site (recently purchased by Garmin), the elevation-related statistics become much more accurate when using the 'auto-correct' and 'gravity' features of motionbased. E.g., on a recent long run, Garmin's desktop TrainingCenter said I gained and lost 2,800 feet of elevation but motionbased took the same raw data and said I only gained and lost 1,800 feet (much closer to reality).
  The calorie metrics produced by the unit are also WAY off, but this appears to be a known issue per various websites and I suspect a software/firmware update will fix it later.
  Otherwise, the desktop software and free motionbased.com site are awesome and I love the unit. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Case Logic GPSP-2 Professional GPS Case for 4.3-Inch Flatscreens
• Case Logic GPSP-3 Professional GPS Case (Fits 3.5-Inch CRT Style)
• BRACKETRON PHV-200-BL Grip-iT Mobile Device Holder (Black)
• Case Logic GPSS-1 Neoprene sport GPS Case (Dark Blue)
• Case Logic GPSS-1 Neoprene sport GPS Case (Red)

• GARMIN 010-10644-00 Speed/Cadence Sensor
• Garmin 010-10889-00 Forerunner 305/205 Quick Release Kit
• Garmin Indoor Foot Pod Accessory for Forerunner 305
• Garmin GPS Carrying Case, Black
• Garmin 010-10889-01 Forerunner 305/205 Quick Release Bike Mount Replacement