Invaluable information
submitted by McTri on March 24, 2008
Pros:
Loads of information when uploaded to garmin training and even more on Motionbased.com. One button multisport.Cons:
Not waterproof. have been using the watch for 3 months now and the way you can break down the data is great. you can tell at which speeds, grades, cadence, etc, etc that you are struggling at. Great device. I only wish I could wear it swimming.
Price Paid:
$202.19Model Year:
2007
Forerunner 305
submitted by TriGUS on January 13, 2008
Pros:
Very accurate, no problems with finding and holding satellite signal. It is relatively intuative to use. Data screens are extremely customizable, which is very nice. Heart rate strap is very comfortable, moreso than others I have used. Software works well with windows XP, however on my new Vista laptop, I am having problems with connectivity (I have not taken the time to contact customer support, however). I purchaced the cadence sensor for the bike, which is working well, as well as the quick release bike mount and wrist strap for quick bike to run transitions. I find the strap more comfortable and stable than the wrist strap that came with the watch. I have just started using some of the training tools, which has been fairly easy so far. Cons:
Microsoft Vista compatability, unable to use when swimming.Overall, this has been an extremely useful tool in helping me to greatly improve my fitness. It is nice to have this GPS unit all in one package, rather than having a separate GPS "pod". I would (and have) recommend this product.
Price Paid:
$225.00Model Year:
2007Garmin Forerunner 305
submitted by TriGuyInDavis on January 3, 2008
Pros:
Small, useful features, good information Cons:
Difficulty locking on satellites, battery finicky I have mixed feelings about my forerunner 305. When it works, which is about 95% of the time, I love it. It gives terrific information (with very little useless bling) and is customizable. PC interface is straightforward and very helpful. But... there have been problems. I've had mine for over 2 years and note that it can take up to 30 minutes to lock on satellites (clear day, open field); worse, the battery sometimes drains itself overnight, leaving you with nada when you need it (happened to me the morning of a 1/2 IM... arg!). Mine is an early edition, and I've heard Garmin has made improvements; iron out the bugs and this is a terrific training tool.
Price Paid:
$300.00
Really like the forerunner
submitted by cjhoffmn on December 17, 2007
Pros:
Very simple to use, powerful tool to assist with training. Really intuitive to use, very easy to understand and setup for own individual training. Superb feedback when training. Large display, easy to read. Handles multisports really well.Cons:
Some data isn't as accurate as I'd like; Oriented towards being outdoor gps unit and doesn't transition well to do indoor workouts etc, so it won't collect as much data as I'd like. Not easily usable for swimming (I saw a post somewhere about hiding it under your swim cap, but that's hard to do).I really am happy with this unit. It is very easy to use, provides very good data and feedback and is great to design training runs etc to really help me stay on target. The display is also really great, and its been engineered really well - many small details were designed in. The troubles/cons I mention below are far outweighed by how great this unit is to actually use.
I also got the bike mount kit, which is superb, and I bought the wireless cadence and speed sensor so it goes from biking to running and visa versa really well.
Only drawbacks that trouble me: 1.) the data can vary a bit due to satellite drift, and also calories are based on distance traveled, and seem a bit high. 2.) it doesn't capture all my data well, for example, if I do an indoor run/ride, the Calories won't work 3.) The software seems to lump multisports workouts together so that I can't analyze the individual legs against solo sport workouts.
Price Paid:
$350.00Model Year:
2007
Review
see pros and cons