Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $234.99 You Save: $65.00 (22%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $150.00 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
Customer Review: Great For Us Walkers Too!
Summary: 5 Stars
As an old retired Marine Infantryman, my running and orienteering days are over, so I try to stay active and fit with walking and other low(er) impact pursuits. The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a superlative tool for figuring out my pace and allowing me to push the envelope, improving my time, my heart conditioning and calorie burn as I walk (with my loving wife, of course!). It has a built in heart rate monitor, so my goal in pushing my pace is not actually abt time or speed - it's about better heart fitness and health (longevity). The Garmin Training Center software and Garmin Online are easy to sync up with after a jaunt, and allow me to tally overall miles walked, speed throughout, heartrate throughout and other neat/useful fitness elements of my new passion. Some folks complain here abt the small screen, and yes some things are hard to read while actually engaged in activity - especially for us older over-50 types. So what's the alternative? A larger screen? That's silly. The Forerunner 305 is a perfect compromise of size and functionality. The map detail while walking/running is scant - but perfectly adequate. After all, most users are NOT traversing unknown courses/distances. Likewise the heart rate monitor readout is hard to see with old eyes while actually engaged in activity, but not a show-stopper. There are screen functions that would allow me to do splits if I wanted to - but I'm really only interested in staying on a miles/hour pace. Another aspect of this for me is the gadgety interest of the item itself, and the wealth of personal fitness information it tracks that are all accessible after the fact online. Even walking can sometimes be a chore - when I'm trying to push thru to the next level. Reviewing the data on this tool while walking increases the interest factor for me. I think that would be an even more welcome feature for runners. I am curious to know now how GPS has impacted the wonderful sport of orienteering. Compasses, maps and land navigation are somewhat going the way of slide rulers - but I'm dating myself! I may have to look into orienteering again. The Quantico Marine Base is just up the road - and orienteering is still big there I hear, just as it was when I was a whippersnapper.Customer Review: Garmin Forerunner 305 - Buy Yourself One!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Having researched the various GPS & HRM running watches on the market, I settled for the Forerunner 305 due mainly to its outstanding value for money compared to others on the market and have not been at all disappointed. I use it for running but the fully customisable screens (up to four data fields per screen; two "general screens" and one dedicated one each for running, cycling and "other") allow for a full multisport workout.
The 305's features are easily understood and useable and, whether you're a casual runner or a serious athlete, it will give you what you need in terms of logging and analysing workouts. It's a great running companion as well, with the ability to know exactly how your current pace, average pace, heart rate etc are tracking during your workout.
You can simply hit "start" and begin running, or create your own workouts (intervals, endurance, speed training, specifying paces, heart rate zones and can include warm-up & cool-down)in either their "Training Centre" software or on the watch itself, then compete against a "virtual partner" in the unit itself.
I've also used the watch as a GPS navigation tool, entering a specific navigation point and using it out on the boat to get to exactly the the fishing spot we wanted!!! The 305 told us the heading to take and how far we were from our deestination and even how long it would take us to get there at our current speed!!!
There are no base maps, so it's not a navigation unit in that sense - its main function is to tell you where you've run, how fast you did it, what your heart rate was, what your splits were etc.
While the unit itself is awesome, the "Training Centre" software or the online "Garmin Connect" site are OK but they're not the best for actual analysis. I use the free to download "Sporttracks" which will overlay your workouts onto a map (either "map view" or a satellite picture) and give you everything you need to go back over your workouts, review them and create a training schedule to remedy areas that need attention.
All-in-all, at around $US150, its an affordable "must-have" tool for anyone vaguely serious about their running, cycling or multi-sport!
Customer Review: Totally love it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a new runner, and I loved it ... very easy to use, super powerful, and it made me more interested about running. The GPS is very good, good accuracy, I've used it in the USA and Mexico and it works really nice.
Pros:
- I run on some streets/parks that I haven't marked and with this I know the distances I run, GPS is very accurate
- Everything is very useful, you can customize the screens, the defaults are pretty good, you can see your pace, HR, lap times, best lap, etc etc
- After a workout I can easily transfer the data to my laptop and see all the charts/logs ... amazing, I really love it, I can chart everything, and with another software I can even see the satellite views of where I ran.
- I tend to plan better my workouts, and then I just transfer the workout I want to do to the device, and I just follow it. Super nice.
- Myself, being a rookie runner, trained some of the very first days with just a chronometer: I'd skip miles, do less laps, etc etc ... with this, I don't do that any more, because I want to see everything on my charts.
- I have almost 2 months with it and I am still discovering new stuff. It was really easy to use at the beginning, then I moved to the charts, then to the workouts ... and I haven't used the "Virtual Partner" function that I thought I was going to be using ... it will be fun!
Cons
- Not a big one for me, but a friend warned me that it would take a min or 2 to get the Satellite reception ... it's faster when you start on the same points, it might take a little more some times when you switch locations. But so far, I haven't had any big problem with it.
- Another small one for me, but a friend an I looked at the elevation charts and they don't seem accurate. Elevation is not a big issue for me, so it's not a problem ... maybe for cycling. It actually has showed some "good" measures of elevation in different cities I've been, but I don't think it's that accurate.
So to me this has been a great great addition to my training. BTW, it's not that huge, I've a small frame and I thought it was going to be huge but it's not ... it's big, but very light, so I feel OK with it.
Customer Review: My most beloved possession
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the 300 last year, and loved it. Since I bought it after the 305 came out, the price was right and in spite of some of the harsh criticism, had NO problems with it. Granted, the receiver had trouble occasionally when surrounded by heavy tree cover or high buildings, but it was generally very reliable and since I had used GPS in my profession (Trimble backpack unit) my expectations for accuracy in a little watch unit weren't very high.
I noticed that there was a rebate on the 305, and happened to peek on Amazon and was amazed at the price. Was able to sell my 300, and with the rebate it cost about $10 more than I paid for the 300.
Whoever designed the 305 is a GENIUS. My only real complaint about the 300, the flimsy little rubber gasket for the port, was solved with a cradle...so no moving parts or worrying about making sure it's sealed so sweat/water won't get in. Its sensitive receiver recognizes the satellites in a fraction of the time. I like the watchband much better than the velcro band. And honestly, while still large, the 305 is so much cooler looking (not that I care).
I started running again 2 years ago (after a 15 year hiatus), and I think Garmy has made the difference for me--an ever ready running companion. I just love the data and the graphs too. It allowed me to really get a clear picture of how to get the most out of a run and how to keep challenging myself without pushing too hard. I think I would have slogged along at 11:00 min miles forever without it, and probably would have given up.
I ran my first 1/2 marathon, and am going to run my first marathon in October. I am looking forward to exploring more of the features for training.
It was such a treasure on my trip to Europe last year, running is such a great way to really see an area. I just started it and ran, didn't have to worry about getting lost, or how far to go....just used the map to get back to where I started.
I try not to be too attached to things and am not one to get the newest, coolest gadget when they come out. But this is a tool that really brought out my inner runner (and data geek), and for that I will be forever grateful.
Customer Review: repeat customer
Summary: 5 Stars
I originally purchased the Garmin 305 in 2006, and mostly used it for cycling and running. As luck would have it, I left my 5 year old Garmin at the gym recently, and no one returned it to lost and found. The next day I researched Garmin's products for a replacement to my 305, and briefly considered the 310x, but the current price of the 305 as well as its reliabilty convinced me to purchase another 305 - this time through AmazonGarmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor. At the time I lost the Garmin, it was still going strong.
The one thing I love about the 305 is the virtual training partner. Since I am not very good at maintaining a steady running pace, I find the VTP to be an amazing way to bring consistency and challenges to my traning. Further, I have run half marathons and set my goal pace for the race, and the Garmin enabled me to finish on track. Recently, I upgraded the 305s software on the Garmin website, and noticed that satellites began downloading much faster than when I originally purchased the unit. The heart rate monitor is great, and I used it for 5 years before the battery required replacement. In 2006 I experienced a problem with the original elastic heart rate monitor strap, and Garmin's customer service gladly replaced it with a new strap.
Some might consider the size of the GPS unit to be clunky, but it's really not a big deal - you get accustommed to it quickly. The Garmin rechargable battery has a long life. I have used my Garmin on bike rides up to 7 hrs before the unit indicated the battery was in need of recharging. Another pro for the 305 is the data field settings, which enables you to set up to 4 variables on the screen, such as heart rate, distance, speed, pace, elevation etc., to view as you train.
Probably the only con I can think of with the 305 is that you can't swim with it because it's not waterproof. However, some say it's possible to put the GPS unit in a ziplock baggie and tuck it into a swim cap, though I have never tried this, myself.