Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
Editorial Reviews
Product Description
The Forerunner series provides outdoor athletes and runners with real-time information about speed, distance, and heart rate all on a single device with an easy to read display. With features like auto-lap/pause/learn/scroll, training assistant tools, various alerts, and Training Center, the Forerunner enabled people to use all of that data to train smarter and more effectively. The Forerunner 305 will serve as the next generation Forerunner family. The Forerunner x05 series will incorporate many of the same great features of the Forerunner x01 series such as ease-of-use, large easy to read display, and software training features while improving other areas of the design to better meet the demands of athletes.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.
Amazon.com Product Description
The successor to the Garmin Forerunner 301 is here, and it's better than ever. Weighing in at just over 2.5 ounces, the Garmin Forerunner 305 breaks new ground in terms of comfort, style, and performance. Totally redesigned, the 305 gives outdoor athletes and runners real-time information about speed, distance, pace, and heart rate on a device that's easy to use and amazingly compact. The Forerunner 305 features the powerful new SiRF GPS navigation chip for supreme accuracy, even under tree cover and between tall buildings. A coded chest strap heart-rate monitor prevents unwanted interference from other devices. View larger. |
 The unit's GPS receiver is designed to face towards the sky when you're running. |
 A more watch-like design makes it far easier to use and wear. |
The 305's digitally coded heart-rate monitor--which is worn as a chest strap--sends heart-rate data to the device so you can see whether you're training too hard or not hard enough. Alerts for pace, distance, time, and heart rate are also available. Additionally, the unit tracks speed, distance, pace, and calories burned. Meanwhile, a course feature lets you race against previous runs in order to improve your time or just compare heart rate and pace data at every point of the way.
The 305's easy-to-read, 1.3-inch display has been integrated into a sleek and stylish form factor that is definitely a step up from the larger and more cumbersome Forerunner 301 model. Indeed, the 305 looks and wears like a stylish sports watch, and it's more carefully designed to meet the needs of athletes. The design also positions the antenna with an optimal view of the sky. As an added feature, the case is water resistant to IEC 60529 IPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).
Accuracy is the name of the game with the 305. The vastly more accurate GPS antenna and receiver, which uses an advanced SiRF chip, offer much faster satellite acquisition times. Plus, the unit can hold a fix in places never before possible. Gone are the days of losing a fix under tree cover or when running between tall buildings. All of these features add up to far more accuracy in recording and tracking your exercise data. And because the 305 uses GPS to track how far and how fast you're going, you never have to calibrate it. The unit also doubles as a basic navigator. Mark your starting point as a specific location, see your current position on the plotter display, and follow an electronic breadcrumb trail back to your starting point.
The 305 features a USB data connection and docking cradle for downloading your speed, lap, exercise time, and heart-rate data into Garmin's Training Center PC software. The unit stores up to 1,000 lap histories, which you can download to your PC for a detailed post-workout analysis. Plus, you can create and schedule workouts using the included software and download them to the unit. A rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery offers up to ten hours of battery life.
For additional post-workout analysis, the 305 is compatible with MotionBased software. MotionBased adds a new dimension to training and outdoor fitness that makes the analytical aspects of a sport more compelling and a lot more fun. You can upload data to MotionBased, a Web-based application that has partnered with Garmin. MotionBased provides in-depth analysis of your workouts, as well as online mapping and route sharing that will take your training to the next level. MotionBased automatically calculates time, distance, speed, elevation, and heart rate, and it displays this information through meaningful charts, illustrations, reports, and maps. With MotionBased, you can also race multiple instances of the same route to see how you are improving or to race other members of MotionBased. You can "virtually race" someone you don't even know.
If you like the features of the Forerunner 305 but don't need heart-rate monitoring, be sure to check out the Forerunner 205.
What's in the Box
Forerunner 305 unit, digital coded heart rate monitor, Training Center CD-ROM, A/C charger, PC/USB interface cable, owner's manual, and quick-start guide.
Accessories
Garmin Hard Carrying Case for Colorado Handheld GPS Units Garmin 010-10851-00 Colorado Series Auto Navigation Kit Case Logic GPSP-4 Professional GPS Case (Fits 3.5-Inch and 4.3-Inch Devices) 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)Similar Products
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 ReplacementCustomer Reviews
Designed at a Desk and not by a Runner
I have used the Garmin Forerunner 305 for the last 7 months in my running, and have logged in around 700 miles in that time. I travel a great deal and run indoors on treadmills, as well as outdoors. I use the watch to record my heartbeat patterns at various conditions and log my miles and calories consumed.The watch is OK, but I give it two stars for the following reasons, which are belied by the initial fascination over seeing one's running course on a map.
1. The screen is low quality. The screens use an old cheap Casio digit watch face from the 1980's and could have been done better at the $300 price point
2. The characters and digits are very hard to make out with sweaty eyes, or if you are over the age of 37, as they are too small and buried in the cheap LCD
3. The watch screens are duplicative, complex, small and semi-informative. Except for maybe the pace runner image, they were given about 1 day of thought by someone sitting on a PC in Malaysia, who used to run when they were in high school and designed the screen according to some lame RFP that the product developer put out between their vacations.
4. The software is very inflexible and confusing with Courses, Workouts, Maps, Runs, and a confusing array of pre-programmed athletic sports which it attempts to automatically manage for you including running skiinng swimming and other athletic activities. This renders the software very difficult to use - making one either have to manually intervene in managing their own data per bullet point 5 below, or forget using the watch for any historic tracking.
5. Any alterations to your workout history data has to be done manually in an external text file, you export to, modify and then import back into the watch. Only an advanced user can do this. The software presumes that you have used the watch perfectly during your strenuous workout, and that you have interpreted the 68 feature screen perfectly while using it, despite barely being able to make out the menu items and numbers and characters. You WILL have to modify your data per 4 above if you want your history data to be accurate.
6. A heartbeat monitor strap is included by there is no screen on the watch which actually shows the heartbeat pulse rate to the user. There is a teeeeeeny teeny teeny heartbeat number in the upper right hand corner which cannot be made out except with a magnifying glass - or maybe if you are myopic and hold it real close.
7. The menu sequences are not intuitive and are overly complex.
8. If you delete an workout in the software, the watch will over-ride the workout and re-insert the incorrect data or deleted workout back into your workout history, throwing your data off again.
9. The definition and management of 'courses' 'maps' 'history' 'workouts' 'sports' and all that complexity, combined with an inability to adjust errant data, and re-insertion of that errant data by the watch once a correction is attempted, make the software something that the casual user will give up on.
10. The watch is heavy and will, if worn loosely, beat the heck out of your wrist while you workout. and if worn tight, your arm will be itching from the strap for a half hour after you finish sweating.
11. While the heartbeat/pace graphs in the software are really good, there needs to be an interface to download the data to Excel so that you can do your own analysis and history tracking. For a $300 price point, to extract history into a text file, is pretty lame.
So overall, I am encouraged that workout devices are headed this way, but - once over the fascination of GPS and its new opportunities I am unimpressed by the overall thought and product development which went into this unit.
:)