Garmin

If you want a top of the line heart rate monitor and fitness watch, then you need to get the Garmin Forerunner 405CX. In this review I tell you why it’s a must-have.

Imagine you are running through the woods. The trail starts to thicken and soon you’re in the middle of the deep forest, no houses, roads, or people around. You start to hear some growling sounds. Is it your stomach or could it be a grizzly? What do you do?

A) Cry out for your mom.
B) Stay where you are, eat some red berries, and hope the park ranger is looking for you.
C) Glance down at your Garmin Forerunner 405CX and follow the navigation arrow back to the path, out of the woods.

Now, you’ll probably never be in this situation, but if you ever were, the Forerunner has got you covered and then some. I have to say, of all the sports watches and cardio speed measuring devices out there, the Garmin Forerunner 405CX is the most amazing technology-wise. It is a deluxe, luxury vehicle type model with dozens of incredible features all designed to help you perform better and become more healthy and fit.

Combining the latest advanced GPS tracking, heart rate performance measurements, and electronic data collection, the Garmin Forerunner 405CX is a must-have for serious runners and cyclists. Here are some of the coolest things that I found that you can do with the Forerunner.

Plan Your Own Road Course

Now this Forerunner feature is really awesome. You set the Garmin up to follow a route or course that you did in the past and was recorded on your monitor. Then you can have the wrist watch track you as you try to beat a previous time. Or you can create a new course on your computer. You get to plan the route and distance beforehand. It’s like plotting out your own race.

 

You can even add the little Virtual Partner (see below) to race against you. Plus you can load up your courses to the Garmin website where others can follow it and compete against you. You can also download other people’s workouts and see if you can beat their times. This can really get you motivated!

Before you start the course, you can jog or bike around to warm up, then as soon as you are on any part of the course path, the Forerunner will start recording, and the race begins! It will even tell you if you stray off course at any time through an icon on the display. You can then use the navigation page to find your way back. How cool is that!

Compete Against A Virtual Partner®

Think Tamagotchi here, but instead of feeding it food, you feed it miles. And you compete against it and try to kick its little ass. Well, maybe not so much, but it can be really motivating to finish out a run strong and cross the finish line before your virtual partner. You can set the pace and speed of the partner before you start your run.

This video shows the Virtual Partner in action.

Know Where You Are At All Times With Garmin’s GPS (Global Positioning System)

Now this is where Garmin really excels. Your Forerunner is programmed with GPS using a network of 24 satellites.The GPS works anywhere in the world, in any weather conditions, 24 hours a day. There are no setup charges or monthly subscription fees to use the GPS. In the navigation mode you can set an original location and a destination location. You can then pull up a compass on the Forerunner 405 and follow the direction arrow and distance reading to get to your destination. Different locations can be saved and selected from a scroll down list on the wrist monitor.

Choose from A Variety of Different Types of Workouts

The Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS heart rate monitor can take your cycling workouts to a whole new level. I feel it’s the best cycling computer on the market. Find out why.

If you’re serious about cycling and becoming faster and stronger then you need the best equipment. Of course your bike is going to be the most important item you own, but there are also other pieces of equipment that can help you train smarter and get the most out of your workouts. I highly recommend getting a top notch vascular pace calculator and GPS tracker. And one of the highest rated cycling monitors is the Garmin Edge 500.

It’s really amazing what this technology has to offer today. With the Garmin Edge 500 you can track your speed, distance, altitude, and how many calories you’ve burned. You can even see how your body performed, according to your pulse rate measure, during steep climbs and rapid descents. You can map everything out according to detailed GPS readings, upload routes to your computer and the Garmin website, and compare your times to look at areas where you can improve. Using the Garmin Edge 500 as your training partner you will definitely improve. Here is some more about what you can expect from this outstanding cycling cardiovascular beat recording device.

The Garmin Edge 500 Is Full of Amazing Features

 

The Garmin Edge 500 is a lightweight computer with GPS tracking; perfect for cyclists who want to keep a detailed account of their performance and heart rate; statistics that are useful in any workout. The Edge 500 guarantees accurate recording of speed, distance and location when in use through its super sensitive GPS capability. The Edge comes with the ability to track 42 data fields and you can show one field up to eight at a time all on one screen. You can program the Garmin to autoscroll through all of the data pages while you’re working out.

The Garmin Edge 500 comes with cadence as well to help guide you through your workout. So all you have to do is peddle, walk, etc. while the monitor takes care of everything else. Using a speed/cadence sensor allows you to choose the optimum speed to get you that perfect workout while constantly measuring your heart rate even when switching between speeds. When you can read your heartbeat, you can find the cadence that is both safe and beneficial for you. The Edge 500 also has Auto Lap, Auto Pause and a whole lot more features you would enjoy using.

The Edge 500 Is Simple To Mount On Your Bike And Use

You can easily mount the Garmin Edge 500 cycling GPS on your bike with its simple bike mount that you need only turn slightly to fasten in place. The Edge comes with a rubber disk that hooks onto the bike stem or handlebars using two heavy duty rubber bands. The actual Edge device then locks into place on the rubber disk.

When you are ready to go, just turn on the Garmin Edge 500 and acquire a satellite signal and you are good to go. The GPS is very accurate, to within about 20 feet or so, with the Edge 500 because it uses HotFix receivers to acquire your exact position while you workout.

When you begin your workout, all the features start working and you are able to measure your speed, time, distance, the calories you burn and even your altitude. All this data is recorded while you workout and stored on the gadget’s memory for you to review at leisure. A barometric altimeter is used to gauge your altitude as you climb up and down hills.

The unit comes with four control buttons two on each side; the ones on the right side are used for navigation while the ones on the left are used for scrolling through the menu. When mute click is enabled, you will not accidentally press the buttons while you cycle.

In this video a competitive cyclist talks about some of the features of the Garmin Edge 500, what he likes about it, and shows some of what you can do on the Garmin Connect website.

Measure Your Workout In A Variety of Different Ways

The Edge uses your bike’s weight, wheel size, and odometer value to calculate an array of highly accurate riding data. You can even have multiple bike profiles. This is ideal if you are into both on road speed cycling and off road mountain biking for example.

If you purchase the Garmin Edge 500 Cycling GPS Heart Rate Monitor you get ANT enabled power meters that show you how hard your workout is by displaying output in Watts so you can make the necessary adjustments to create the perfect workout. This essential tool tells you if you are working hard, so you do not rely just on guess work.

Other features you can expect with the Garmin Edge 500 are a Course feature that you can use to compare results from your regular routes. With the courses feature you can look at a course you did in the past and try to beat your time. For example, if the first time you did a course took 45 minutes you can try to beat that time during your next workout. There is even a virtual trainer icon that shows up on the screen of the Edge 500 that you can race against. The screen shows your position relative to the virtual partner and how much time and distance you are ahead or behind. Pretty cool.

The Edge 500 works by tracking beats per minute and doing some computing to assess your calorie count while you workout. This is important information if you really want to find out just how effective your workouts are on your body. In order for the Garmin Edge 500 to count calories for you, you have to enter some details about yourself such as height, age, weight, the weight of your bike and so on.

In order to get the best out of a workout, the Edge 500 enables you to find the perfect zone so that you burn the most calories without the possibility of slipping into a workout plateau. You can also track your heart rate zones so that you can stay in a set zone and not over or under train. For example if your workout for the day is a recovery workout, the cardio rate zone settings will be lower than if you were doing an intense sprint workout. If you push yourself too hard and your pulse rate rises above the set training zone, the Edge 500 will beep letting you know to back off a little and slow down the pace.

Load Your Data Onto Your Computer

In order to get the readings of your workout, you must connect the Edge 500 to your computer using the included USB cable and if you want to, you can access a worldwide network of successful cyclists where you can connect and share your experiences and have plenty of fun. This website connects outdoor enthusiasts and cyclists from all over the world and it is only one click away.

The Garmin Edge records and saves up to 180 hours of ride data (50MB). When the memory is full the Edge will tell you and you can delete it manually. Be sure to upload your history to the Garmin training center on your computer or to the Garmin Connect website to save and keep track of all of your riding data.

What’s In The Box

1. Garmin Edge 500 cycling GPS
2. Heart rate monitor
3. Bike mount
4. AC charger
5. GSC10 Speed/Cadence sensor – This device measures the rate of your pedaling or spinning.
6. Garmin Edge 500 Owner’s Manual
7. USB cable

Pros

• Long battery life – Battery power will be shown in percentage and will decrease according to how you use the unit. When the backlight is on, the device will lose power faster. You cannot access the battery but you can charge it with the adaptor that comes with the unit or through the USB cable that you connect to your computer. After fully charging the battery, it will last up to 18 hours while turned on.
• Easy mount – Using the rubber plate and tight elastic bands.
• Plenty of information – There are over 42 data fields you can track and you can control what data you see on the screen.
• Cool software and website – You can analyze your data ’till your heart’s content using the Garmin software your computer. The Garmin website is also a whole community of users that you can share information with and get advice from.

The Garmin Forerunner 110 heart rate monitor sports watch has all of the basic features you need like GPS tracking, and is one of the least expensive of all of the Garmin models. Find out more in my review.

If you’ve used the Garmin 405 or 305 models you know that they are loaded with features, buttons, bezels, and the works. Some people love all of these features, which is shown by the big sales and positive reviews on most all of the Garmin advanced GPS heart rate monitor watches. However for a lot of people, it’s just too much. They want something that is easy to operate and just provides the basic information like where you are, how fast you’re going, and how far you have gone. And most importantly for heart rate monitors you want to know are you staying in your heart rate zone while you’re training.When it comes to exercise sometimes less technology is better. Now I’m not talking about running barefoot in the streets of Manhattan wearing just a loincloth. (Although some people do run barefoot and swear by it – however they typically don’t wear just a loincloth. What I am talking about with less tech though is a scaled down Garmin fitness watch, namely the 110.

The Garmin Forerunner 110 provides all of that information in a package that is easy to see and understand. This article will acquaint you with this fashionable and efficient watch by discussing its technical specifications, special features, and reviews from consumers just like you. Here’s what you can expect.

Setting Up and Using the Garmin Forerunner 110 Is A Piece of Cake

As previously mentioned, this Garmin watch model is one of the easiest fitness watches to use, even for a novice. It comes in three different models: men’s (which is black and red), women’s (which is gray and pink), and unisex (which is gray and black and does not include the heart rate monitor).

Each model boasts a simplistic design without sacrificing efficiency. All you have to do upon opening the box is charge it up, answer a minimal amount of setup questions, and take it outside to get a GPS signal. After that, all you do is press start when you start your workout and stop when you are finished. It is THAT easy.

This video from Garmin talks about setting up the 110.

The paragraphs below will highlight some of the more prominent features of this watch that functions as much more than just that.

The Garmin Forerunner 110 Rocks It With Superior GPS

The superior GPS chip that is included in the Garmin Forerunner 110 model lets you get all of the important data without unnecessary features cluttering up the device and making it more complicated. The GPS chip, along with the HotFix satellite prediction, used in these models is so good, in fact, that it keeps track of where you are and stays connected to the satellites even when you are near tall buildings or under lots of tree cover.

The GPS feature is used to accurately record the distance traveled, the time it took to travel, and the average pace that you kept over the duration of the run. Not only does the watch collect and display the data, but it also stores the data (up to 200 hours) so that you can view your progress over the last month or so. This excellent feature allows you to train for a marathon or just work towards fitness and wellness goals.

Analyze Your Heart Rate To Reach Your Performance Goals

The men’s and women’s models of the Forerunner 110 come with a built-in heart rate monitor. This feature makes the product an excellent choice for a variety of reasons. First, it allows you to monitor your heart rate and keep it at an optimum level to help you reach your goals, whether they are weight loss, aerobic training, or anything else.

Second, the watch can use this feature to calculate the calories being burned based on your heart rate. If you are working toward weight loss goals, this feature is especially helpful because it allows you to keep track of your daily caloric intake and outtake.

You’ll Be Able To Upload Your Data to the Garmin Connect Website

Another great feature of this watch is that when you purchase it, you automatically have access to Garmin Connect, a free data analysis and sharing website. (You do still have to sign up the first time you access it, of course.) The site allows you to track your routes, view your workout history, summarize and share your data, create goals, and so much more. Head on over to check it out at Garmin Connect.

The battery life of the Garmin Forerunner 110 is good as well. Once you have fully charged it the first time, it will last up to 8 hours in training mode and up to 3 weeks in power save mode.

This Garmin 110 video shows the monitor in action on the trail.

To summarize, this watch is super easy-to-use, accurate and efficient in data compilation, easy to use to create goals, and has a good battery life. You can read more on Garmin’s website. All that information, though, is straight from the manufacturer. What do other consumers have to say about the product?

What Consumers Have to Say about the Garmin Forerunner 110

On Amazon alone, there are over 170 customer reviews. Of those, over 140 customers rated the Garmin Forerunner 110 sport watch with heart rate monitor as 3 stars or above. That is a pretty strong statement about the quality of the product. Here’s what some of these customers had to say in their reviews.

Another reviewer who wrote his review in June of 2010 made quite a few helpful observations about the product. He noticed that while the watch is on the expensive side, it does have redeeming qualities. Some of these qualities include using buttons instead of bezel controls (the ones you have to rotate) and only including information that is really needed. Another excellent feature that this reviewer mentions is the direct USB cable connection so you can upload your information to your computer easily. While to some these may seem like downgrades compared to bezel controls and wireless capability, in some ways these are improvements because by going back to basics, Garmin has eliminated some of the major issues they ran into with some of their other products.One customer, who seems to be a loyal Garmin product user, wrote a lengthy review in August of 2010 comparing a previous Garmin product with the Forerunner 110. He likes that the display numbers on the 110 watch are large so that they are easier to read while running. He also liked that there were fewer menus to navigate through on the 110 model. He did, however, make the observation that the 110 does not provide a current running pace. It only provides an average per-mile pace. While this was not an issue for him, it is something to consider when thinking about making the purchase for yourself.

One negative reviewer in October 2010 noted that there is a supposed bug that sometimes causes the watch to malfunction and wipe out data. Another reviewer noted that Garmin’s customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Still another customer complained that the water resistance feature was not as foolproof as advertised.

More Good Points

• Small and nice looking – The Forerunner 110 looks like a high tech sports watch and people won’t even be able to tell that it houses a GPS along with all of the other technology it has.
• Finds satellite signal very quickly – You won’t have to wait around long for an accurate signal, even in the city.
• Split timer – You can set the split timer to beep when you want it to. You’ll be able to record your split times for each mile, or any distance you want, with information like your average pace and average heart rate.
• You can use the 110 on your bike – You’ll need to buy a bike handle attachment so that you can see the display better or you can just use it on your wrist, your choice.

Bad Points

• Not recommended for water use – So if you’re a triathlete you’ll need to leave the 110 on your bike and not use it for the swimming phase.
• Doesn’t show current pace – This is not a huge problem for me as I like to see what my average pace is over a set distance, say 1 mile. Other people like to see what their pace is right at that exact moment. The 110 does tell you what your average pace is for the current mile so if you are under what you want to do you can speed up and the average pace figure will slowly start to drop.

What You Get In The Box

1. Garmin Forerunner 110
2. Heart rate monitor and chest strap
3. Charging clip which plugs directly into USB port
4. AC adaptor for charging in a standard outlet
5. Garmin Forerunner 110 Owner’s Manual

Best Places To Shop

I found the 110 at few online sports stores but the prices weren’t that great. My researched showed the best deal on Amazon.com. Their prices were running 25 – 30% lower than most other stores, which is really good. Amazon also has free shipping which is a nice bonus. When you go there, the prices for the 3 versions of the 110 will vary slightly. Remember the black base model doesn’t come with a heart rate monitor but the ladies pink model and the men’s red model do. Click here to get the best price on the Garmin Forerunner 110 Heart Rate Monitor.

Where to Read More Reviews

There are over 175 owner reviews on Amazon.com as of the publication of this article. Most of these are really insightful and well written. Almost all of the reviewers seem to really adore their 110′s. Over 75% of owners give their Forerunner 110′s a 4 or 5 star rating, which is really impressive. Click here to read more Garmin Forerunner 110 heart rate monitor reviews.

In Conclusion

Basically, if you are looking for a stylish and effective runner’s watch, the Garmin Forerunner 110 sport watch with heart rate monitor is a good choice. It is simple to use, has excellent GPS service, and allows you to upload your information to your computer. Make no mistake – the Garmin Forerunner 110 is an excellent choice for almost anyone.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 heart rate monitor has everything you need to improve your fitness level. You’ll find all kinds of tracking data, goals setting tools, and accurate measures of your heart rate and location.

 

My sister was competing in a duathlon a few weeks ago. It was a run/bike combo with a 10K run followed by a 50K bike ride. Now I’m just a runner myself. I just haven’t yet put out the extra cash and made the serious investment in a nice bike and all the other accessories you need to get into biking. But I do know that after running a 10K I’m pretty much ready to lay down for a while and have an ice cold drink. The last thing I would want to do is hop on a bike for another hour or so and go another 50K.

Now my sister is really in fantastic shape. She trains hard and consistently. Surprisingly too she’s really seen her times drop over the last couple years despite the demands of motherhood (my nephew is a real handful) and a full time career in counseling. I asked her what she was doing, because goodness knows I need some of that.

She told me it was about training smarter, not harder, and held out her wrist. I looked down at the high tech gadget she had strapped on. At first glance it looked like a sports watch on steroids, but sleek and cool. After she started showing me what it could do, I said to myself, “Self, you need to take a serious look at this Garmin Forerunner 305.” And so I did. Here’s what I found out.

The GPS Navigation Is The Best In The World

 

Garmin is really the king when it comes to GPS features. There is an interface on the screen where you can look at all of the satellites in orbit that are in range of your Forerunner. The screen will show you where they are located, give each one a tracking number, and tell you which ones are the strongest and most accurate.

When you start setting up road courses on the Forerunner 305 you’ll be able to use the GPS feature to view the course you’re running or biking on a map. You can then save different locations that you want to remember later, and create new routes where you’d like to work out. Workouts can be mapped using Google Earth. If you ever get lost, the 305 will even help you find your way home. Locations on the screen are shown on a map and positions are listed by longitude and latitude as well as elevation. There is also a compass built in to the 305.

Heart Rate Zone Training Means Smart Training

If you didn’t already know, you can measure and greatly improve your fitness by knowing your heart rate zones and which ones to train in and for how long. Your heart rate is an excellent measure of how intense you are exercising. By training in certain zones you can enhance your strength and improve your cardiovascular capacity. Knowing your individual personalized heart rate zones can help prevent you from over or under training and decrease your risk of injury.

You can set up five heart rate zones on the Forerunner 305. The heart rate zones are based on a percentage of maximum heart rate (1-lowest, 5-highest). You will need to enter your maximum heart rate and the Garmin 305 will calculate the percentages.

Zone	% of Max Heart Rate	Perceived Exertion	Benefits
1	50-60%	An easy pace, very relaxed slow breathing.	Reduce stress, beginner level aerobic training.
2	60-70%	Deeper breathing but you can still hold a conversation, comfortable pace.	Good pace for recovery and warm-up. Builds basic cardio ability.
3	70-80%	Moderate pace, harder to have a conversation.	Optimal cardiovascular training level, really improves aerobic capacity.
4	80-90%	Fast uncomfortable pace, breathing is hard.	Boosts your speed and anaerobic capacity.
5	90-100%	A sprinting pace, really hard breathing, you can’t keep this up for long.	Increases power and strength and improves anaerobic and muscular endurance.

Choose A Workout Type That Meets Your Goals

The Garmin Forerunner 305 has three basic workout options to choose from.

• Quick Workout – You enter your time, distance, or pace goals, which is basically how far and how fast you want to go. Then just start working out.
• Interval Training – Enter the time or distance you want to go, and how many repetitions you want to complete and the 305 will record all of your data. Using this type of training you can run a certain distance and then rest for a certain amount of time. You can even add extra laps for a warm up and cool down. As you get close to the end of each lap an alarm will sound and a message will appear on the monitor counting down the time until a new lap starts.
• Advanced Workouts – You can plan workouts in advance and save, edit, and transfer them from your computer to the 305 using the Garmin Training Center software. This type of workout lets you add complexity to your training. You can vary your distance, time, and rest laps. Advanced workouts can also be set up as sports-specific workouts. This means so you can do a biking workout in biking mode and the Forerunner will record all of the data that is relevant to that type of workout.

Create Your Own Awesome Courses

You can plan and set up all sorts of really cool running or cycling courses with the Garmin Training Center on your computer and then transfer them to the Forerunner 305. You are able to give your courses creative names. You can set up a whole new course to run and challenge yourself, or you can use a course that you’ve run before and try to beat a previous time. The Virtual Partner (the little digital man icon that appears on the display) will help you keep track of your previous pace time while you’re out on the course.

If you are hooked into the Garmin Connect website, you can even download other people’s courses and try them out for yourself. You can try and beat others on the same course in a virtual competition.

You can also add course points using the Garmin Training Center. Course points are specific things on the trail that you’d like to remember, like water stops, traffic lights, or a playground so that you can add some calisthenics to your workout.

When you’re running a course, the Forerunner 305 screen will show you the distance and time to the end of the course and your next course point. You can also see a course map showing you where you were on a previous performance and where you are currently during your workout. You’ll see both yourself and your previous performance position as little grey and black triangles on the road on the course map.

If you ever stray off course you just need to follow the direction arrow on the screen of the 305 and it will navigate you back.

You can even include a warm up before you start your course. When you get to the course the Garmin 305 will automatically register your location via GPS and start recording all your training data.

Program Multi-Sport Workouts For A Complete Fitness Program

The Garmin Forerunner 305 lets you setup and store all of your multi-sport workouts in its memory. You can add your typical sports like running and cycling as well as unusual sports like cross-country skiing and windsurfing.

You can check your total time and distance for each sport during a workout. This feature is great for triathletes, duathletes, and other multi-sport competitors. While you’re training you can look up data on your average heart rate, and calories burned for each sport. If you’re going to be in a race or event, you can set up the Forerunner to automatically transition from one sport to the next. You can even include transition time as you go from biking to running for example.

The Forerunner stores up to 2 years (1,000 laps) of data in its memory. Some of the data that is recorded in the history data includes heart rate, time, distance, average pace, calories burned, best pace, and detailed lap information. You can view your history data by the total, or by day or week. Data can be shown and sorted by sport.

For each sport’s setting you can change the speed units and you can enter your bike’s weight or any extra gear you may be carrying. This will affect how calories are calculated. If you carrying a heavy pack while you run on a trail, for example, then you are definitely going to burn more calories.

Set Up A Range of Different Alerts to Stay Focused

You can use Forerunner Alerts to target certain goals associated with time, heart rate, distance, and speed. When you’re out doing a long run and have the time or distance alert set up, the Forerunner 305 will beep and display a message when you hit, for example, 5 miles if you’re targeting distance or say 35 minutes if you are targeting time.

You can set the Forerunner to alert you if you exceed or drop below a certain pace. So if you start slowing down, you get a friendly beep to pick it back up again. This is a great motivator and an excellent way to maintain a consistent pace throughout your workout. You can set up to 10 pace/speed zones. These range from walking to sprinting.

You can also have the 305 alert you when your heart rate drops or exceeds a certain number of beats or a specific heart rate zone. There are 5 heart rate zones based on the intensity level of the workout.

Garmin Training Center – Software to Help You Reach the Next Level

The Forerunner 305 comes with software for you to load onto your computer. The software offers tools for you to analyze your workouts. You can see charts, graphs, illustrations, and reports of different aspects of your training. You can also create and schedule custom workouts and courses, first mapping them out on your computer and then downloading them to your Forerunner 305.

The Garmin Training Center has the ability to overlay your workout data onto maps of the route you just ran or biked. You will be able to see how your heart rate handled a tough hill for example. You can also track your historical performance on a particular course and see if you improve over time.

Garmin Connect – Join Garmin’s Virtual Community

There are a ton of really cool features on Garmin’s website. You should definitely check it out. You can load up your training data to the site and analyze it using charts and graphs. You can overlay maps onto your routes and see where you’ve been and how fast you traveled. You can set goals for yourself like the number of miles run in a week or month.

One really cool feature of the website is the sharing function. You can easily share your workouts and sports with your friends and family using a sharing widget that syncs up with all of the big webmail providers where you have your contact list, like Hotmail and Gmail. You can also share with Facebook friends.

With your workouts and courses loaded up to the site you can virtually race another member of the site and invite family and friends to participate. This is really fun and really motivational, especially for us competitive types.

The 305 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, which is a really awesome training website.

Some Other Unique Features

Autolap – This feature lets you automatically start recording the information for a new lap after you have travelled a certain distance or passed a set point in your bike or run. You can use this information to compare different sections of a course. You can see how you did over a steep hill or over each mile for example.

 

Autopause – You can set the Forerunner 305 to automatically pause the timer when you stop moving during your run or when your pace drops down below a certain level. If you have to stop your run and cross some busy streets this feature is very useful.

Virtual Partner – This electronic training tool competes against you while you workout. On the monitor of the Garmin Forerunner 305 you see the virtual partner at the top of the screen and you will be at the bottom (picture). If you are behind the Virtual Partner the bottom field is black and your distance behind will be shown. If you are beating the partner, then the field is white.

 

Optional Accessories That Can Really Enhance Your Experience

• Garmin GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor – The GSC 10 is used for tracking your performance while biking. When you sync it up with the wrist monitor you can access all of the biking related features. One type of alert you can set up will beep you when your cadence drops or exceeds a specific number of revolutions of the crank arm per minute. The crank arm is the part of your bike where the pedals attach.
• Garmin Foot Pod – The foot pod attaches to your shoe and lets you measure pace, speed, and distance. You use this when you’re working out indoors on the treadmill and you can’t get a GPS signal reception on the 305 wrist unit.

The Good

• Easily readable display – High resolution and clarity on the 1.3 inch display ensure that all readings are very crisp. Also the wrist display is larger than most standard wristwatch heart rate monitors, which really helps with readability. The 305 has 3 main data screens with a total of 12 data fields that you can view.
• Large, easy to use buttons – All of the buttons are positioned for easy accessibility around the face of the 305. The buttons also respond very well to the touch.
• Excellent GPS tracking – The Forerunner 305 is integrated with a SiRFstar III GPS receiver which is highly accurate, down to about 10 meters (32 feet). It also receives the satellite signals very well, often even through dense trees and tall buildings.
• Garmin Training Center – This is very easy to set up and is PC and Mac compatible. You can track your performance and look at all your data in a graph. You’ll see things like how your heart rate was at different speeds and distances. This can very helpful in identifying strengths and weakness in you fitness level. For example, if you start to really feel tired at a certain distance, and your heart rate spikes on the graph, then your body is telling you that you probably need to increase the frequency of your endurance workouts and build up this weakness in your game.
• Great value – For all the features you get with the Garmin Forerunner 305 heart rate monitor it is a really good deal and priced much lower than many monitors on the market.
• Reliable and accurate – Triathlete Mathew Honan tested the Garmin Forerunner 305 and found that it never lost its signal, which was something he rarely sees in GPS watches. Also, several University of Arizona researchers tested four GPS watches on an outdoor track with athletes going at different speeds. They compared the data from the monitors with an accelerometer and a podometer. They found that the Garmin 305 was the most accurate of the four.
• Long battery life – Everyone likes the long charge that you get with the 305′s battery. Garmin says you get about 10 hours out of a full charge, which should be long enough for several workouts, unless you’re an ultra marathoner.

The Bad

• Big and kinda bulky – The 305 is not something you’d wear to a business meeting for example. Most users though felt that the big easily readable display offset the bulky size of the 305 wrist monitor. The Garmin Forerunner 405CX model is designed slightly smaller and looks more like a sports watch than the 305.
• Can’t swim with it – This means you’ll have to take it off for the swimming leg of the race if you’re a triathlete. If you want to record your heart rate and other training data while you’re swimming, I recommend the Sunnto t6c. It has a special device that can record data underwater.
• It can take a couple minutes to pick up a GPS signal – This really depends on where you are. In some large cities it can take a couple minutes, whereas in more rural areas, a couple seconds. You can just stretch and warm up while you’re waiting, so it’s really not a big deal.

What’s Included

1. Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS wrist unit
2. Heart rate monitor
3. Wrist strap
4. Extension strap – If the standard Forerunner 305 strap is not long enough for you, you can add this extension on.
5. Docking cradle – This is for connecting the 305 to your computer and recharging it. The cradle has a single mini USB port and connects to the AC adapter or to the USB cable.
6. Garmin Training Center disk
7. USB cable – You can also use the USB cable as a charger when you hook it up to your computer.
8. AC charger
9. Quick start guide
10. Users manual

You can read some more information in the Garmin Forerunner 305 Owner’s Manual.

HeartRateMonitorAdvisor.com Consumer Reviews Summary

There are more than 1,700 owner reviews on Amazon.com alone, and hundreds on other websites. Needless to say, the Forerunner 305 is extremely popular. There are over 1,100 5 star reviews which is pretty incredible. The overall average rating for the 305 is 4.5.

Summary of the most helpful positive reviews:

Owners love that you can see the screen so well and track several different measures at once. They say that the 305 is very accurate and dependable with the GPS signal rarely getting dropped. They also like that you can customize all of the different screens with 40 different options. Owners loved the software and being able to track all of the different fitness measures. They also liked the integration with Google Earth where they could superimpose the course they ran on a topographical satellite map. Owners think that uploading data is very easy as well. Everyone feels that the Garmin 305 is a fantastic training tool and a great motivator.

Summary of the most helpful negative reviews:

Some owners said that the pace measuring feature was not as accurate as some of the other measures and that it varied too much when looking at specific points. The average over a certain distance seemed to be accurate though. Some users would like to see an auto-off switch on the 305. They said that they accidently left it on and ran the battery down. There were some older reviews, a couple of years old, which reported having trouble getting an initial satellite reception. Garmin seems to have improved this situation recently though with some upgrades to the 305 and satellite system.

Where Can I Read More Reviews About the Garmin Forerunner 305?

You can read reviews for hours on Amazon.com. They’ll give you a ton of info and opinions on the Forerunner 305. Read more reviews.

Where Can I Buy the Garmin Forerunner 305 Heart Rate Monitor?

Amazon.com again is the best place to buy the 305. They are always running some type of discount and they have all the accessories you need like the foot pod and the bike sensor. The Forerunner 305 is one of the most popular and best selling heart rate monitors on Amazon. Search for the best deal.

More About Garmin

Garmin has been making GPS devices since 1989. You can find Garmin products for almost anything that moves, from boats, to planes and helicopters, to cars. With their Forerunner models there are now even personal GPS devices that you can wear on your wrist. Garmin’s worldwide headquarters are located in Olathe, Kansas, USA.

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor can take your multisport training to a whole new level. Find out what I like about this stellar little marvel.

 

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is a powerful GPS cross training device that can be worn during practically any sport or activity. With an array of advanced technological features, this monitor has a big “Wow” factor. It is the perfect gadget for all types of athletes, as it can accurately monitor distance, pace, and position from both land and water and even heart rate while you work out on land. Moreover, all data can be sent wirelessly to a computer, so athletes can analyze and share their figures at the touch of a button. Garmin truly went above and beyond with this model, which is why it gets overwhelmingly positive reviews from experts and newbies alike.

Slick Packaging

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor gets rave reviews for its stylish and functional design. The watch is compact and lightweight, so it can be worn during any activity. It has a flexible wristband so it can be easily removed and switched from the wrist to a bike mount with ease. This is great for people who do multi-sport activities and want to monitor all segments of the workout. In addition, the large screen makes it easy to read the data, even while moving.

Water Ready

This is one of the only GPS training watches that works both on land and in water. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters, so it is great for tracking data while swimming, surfing, kayaking, or rowing. Users can set the watch to swim mode, and the device will monitor open water swim distances and swimming speeds. Garmin says in the user’s manual that you should only swim freestyle outdoors to make sure the device can get an accurate GPS reading. When the activity is finished, you can press the lap button, and the device will take the time and the GPS data to compute how fast and far you swam. This is also a great feature for runners who tend to sweat a lot, as perspiration is no match for the durable waterproof materials.

The only knock against the Garmin Forerunner 310XT is that the heart rate monitor functionality will not work while you’re swimming. The reason for this is that the wireless transmission between the chest strap and the wrist unit gets garbled and distorted as it passes through the water. This is the case with most wireless heart rate monitors, not just the Garmin. There are only a couple of models that offer heart rate recording under water and those typically use an optional chest strap accessory that you need to purchase separately. While using this special device, your heart rate information will not be transferred to the wrist unit but will instead be recorded directly at the chest unit. If being able to record your heart rate while you swim is essential to you, then I recommend you check out the Suunto t6d heart rate monitor. I have a full review of this model on the site. If you can get by without heart rate data while swimming, the Forerunner 310XT is still a fantastic choice because it offers so many other features for swimmers.

No Wires Necessary

Another great feature of the Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is that it can automatically sync data from the device to a computer in range. The device uses ANT+ technology to wirelessly send information, so there is no need to deal with cables. Users can analyze their stats online, gauge progress, and share details with the Garmin Connect online community. Workouts can even be pre-planned on the computer, and then transferred wirelessly to the fitness training device.

What the Forerunner Can Do for You

The sheer amount of information that the Forerunner can provide puts this training device ahead of the rest. The watch uses advanced GPS technology and HotFix satellite prediction to monitor your exact position, even when running between buildings and under bridges or trees. It can track your distance, pace, and laps in multiple sports modes. There is also an optional heart monitor, which you can set to a specific heart rate zone to ensure you are getting a solid workout. The monitor can also compute the amount of calories you burn per session, and track weight and body fat.

You can even set the watch to show a virtual training partner. The screen will show two icons, one that represents you and another that is the training partner. It will then show who is ahead in a simulated race as you run, bike, or swim. You can program the virtual partner as you want. For example you can program it to keep the same pace that you ran a particular route last week so that you can try to improve and beat your previous time this week.

The Garmin Community

Garmin Connect is the online fitness community where you can upload your data wirelessly with the Forerunner. It contains many features that allow you to analyze your fitness data, set goals, and monitor your progress. The data is displayed in easy to read graphs and charts that can be grouped by the sport, day, month, or year. You can also create fitness goals that can be sent to the GPS device so you stay on top of your training. Progress can be monitored through the records of your activities. In addition, you can share your progress reports and statistics with other people on the site to stay motivated and even partake in friendly competition. The Garmin Connect website is compatible with all Garmin devices.

If you want to read a little bit more about setting up and using the 310XT you can check out the Garmin Forerunner 310XT heart rate monitor owner’s manual.

What Customers Like About the Forerunner

Reviews of the Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor are very positive. People love the fact that the watch is small and lightweight enough to wear in any conditions, and that the quick release makes it simple to slip the watch on and off. Many people comment on how easy it is to set up and use the Forerunner. You simply turn on the watch, enter in your personal data, and it is good to go. The fact that the screen can be customized to show up to four different types of data is also an appealing bonus for customers. Many people like the fact that the watch has a vibrating option to notify you when you finish a lap, or when you are straying from your heart zone. The GPS tracking system seems to be very fast and responsive no matter where it is used, as the system receives rave reviews from people in places as diverse as Japan, Brazil, and the United States. Many people also comment on how long the battery life is, with reports of it lasting up to 17 hours, even when using the display lights at night.

Overall the Forerunner 310XT comes highly rated with over 110 reviews on Amazon.com with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 stars. 65% of owners gave this monitor 4 or 5 stars, which is excellent. You can read many more Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor reviews by clicking here.

What Customers Do Not Like About the Forerunner

Although reviews of the Forerunner are mainly positive, there are a few issues that some people have with this watch. A few people have commented that the GPS tracking does not work when in the water, and that the distance calculations for swimming can be off by quite a bit. Garmin has recently remedied this problem with a software update that allows the Forerunner to give accurate readings of swimming distances and times. Another thing that people dislike about this watch is that it must be turned off to charge, otherwise the power drains when the charger is disconnected. This problem can easily be solved by remembering to switch off the device before charging it.

Best Place to Buy

This is a popular sports watch so there are a lot of stores selling the Forerunner 310XT. I looked around and found the best deal on Amazon.com. They were even selling a few used and refurbished models for a discount when I checked. You’ll get free shipping with this unit as well. I’ve always had a really good experience buying products from Amazon. Click here to get the best price on the Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Heart Rate Monitor.

Conclusion

To sum up, the Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is a highly advanced multiple sport training device that receives great reviews from customers. The sleek, waterproof design is perfect for all types of activities, including water sports, and the wealth of information that the device can record goes above and beyond other training devices on the market. In addition, the automatic wireless syncing makes it easy to upload your information so you can assess your progress and work towards your fitness goals. Despite a few small complaints, this cross training device gets extremely high ratings from satisfied customers all over the world.

Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch symbolizes the subsequent generation triathlon or perhaps multi-sport watch by Garmin. Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch creates on several parts that the alternative designs had – such as a slimmer report than often of all those watches, along with an innovative pool swimming function to observe your length although swimming laps. Yet are these adjustments and others adequate for getting you working to grab the most current product? Well, stay and I’ll describe.

General Details

Like almost all my critiques, they are generally quite detailed (maybe overly so) – yet that’s merely my approach of carrying out things. Consider of them far more like guide manuals than speedy and effortless summaries. I consider and cover any likely thing you could carry out with the unit and next poke in it much more. My aim is to handle all information.   Since I desire to be translucent about my critiques – Garmin dispatched me an advancement product to experience. It’s practically equivalent to that with the ultimate production product that’ll be about store shelves inside a bit (could have slight coloration differences). Once products are accessible in retail outlets I’ll post this returning to Garmin thereafter step out and acquire my own. Type of like hiking inside wilderness tracks – abandon only footprints.

In case you locate my review beneficial, you could employ any sort of links via this website to help aid future critiques.   Ultimately, at the conclusion of the time consider I’m merely like almost any other typical athlete in existence. I compose these critiques since I’m actually a wondering human being with any technology foundation, and hence I try along with be as total as I could. Yet, if I’ve overlooked something or in case you recognize anything that doesn’t pretty jive – merely permit me realize and I can be content to acquire it all fixed out. Furthermore, since the technology planet continually changes, I consider and rewind and replace these critiques as new characteristics and features are increased – or in case bugs are repaired.

In the Box

• Forerunner 910XT
• Premium heart rate monitor
• USB ANT Stick
• Speed/Cadance Sensor
• Quick Release Kit
• AC charger
• Charging clip
• Expander strap
• Manual

Thus – with that guide, let’s start items. First, let’s commence with a number of unboxing. Whenever you first (ultimately) get your Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch, it’ll seem basically extremely excellent.   A few quick seconds eventually you’ll possibly be shredding through the package, in which circumstance, it’ll likely be showed and offer you accessibility to your unit. Once you eliminate all that masking, you’ll get the whole elements. You can get all your strength benefits coming via this pack. This pack can furthermore offer you watch along with manual. This pack can offer you all different gadgets to aid you acquiring the finest benefits while employing this unit. You may be content to acquire all these elements at one spot in order that you could use them quickly.   You can acquire all the necessary power plugs. Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch comes with almost all the necessary sorts of power alternatives in order that you could have the wanted connections for offering power.

Physical Features

Item Weight	2.6 ounces
Product Dimensions	2.4 x 0.6 x 2.1 inches
Batteries	Lithium ion
Display Size	1.5 inches
Battery Life	20 hours

Accessories for Easy Operations

Subsequently we’ve received the strap regarding obtaining heart rate. This can contain the strap along with the particular transmitter pod. Notice that this can be a diverse strap layout than the earlier premium strap. Consider the heart rate equipment part eventually for the specific information of what’s altered (and it can be excellent news there!). Subsequent we’ve received the ever fascinating handbook. You can furthermore download it via Garmin’s site. Merely surf over here. However, there’s basically nothing inside the handbook which can be not dealt with here inside this thorough assessment. Subsequently we’ve received the clip regarding USB charging. This connects into often your laptop or computer, or perhaps the offered AC power system. It won’t transfer information.

The USB can be just what truly does the data transport. It does it by means of a minimal-energy transmission approach used to relate with Garmin gadgets wirelessly. A lot more about this eventually will be covered for your assistance.   And ultimately…the particular watch by itself! Here will be a number of quick items which will aid you to employ your unit in the finest achievable way. In addition to once we’ve received it all started up, here can be the product in shining fame! For those accustomed to the particular charging clips connected with other gadgets, Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch employs the similar two pronged method.

Checking Items in Details 

For reviews sake – I walked ahead and taken outside the trustworthy rolling pin along with compared that to an amount of other frequent triathlon targeted watches. Commencing first, I decided with merely the Garmin collection. Subsequently I broke outside other things and discovered them properly.   When verifying the items meticulously you will acquire several crucial details and get fun in the course of this method regarding unpacking your things. While you could notice, Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS-Enabled Sport Watch can be the minutest multisport unit that Garmin has produced up to now, being both leaner than the several other designs. However while it’s nonetheless greater than some gadgets, consider the several others won’t have GPS included into it, along with instead needs an independent pod.   I decided I’d examine that to my different two favored Garmin working watches – for acquiring a clear perception. And ultimately, two more researching the measurement of the unit on a hand, with the several other gadgets, for getting more clear results. With the reviews prepared – let’s get into the facts!

Garmin GPS Forerunner 910XT Quick Release Kit

This unit aids you to discover your speed together with all information although you will be cycling. This unit once preset to your cycle starts shifting data together with your watch inside wireless surroundings. Nonetheless if you previously have an earlier model of any sensor which you obtained for a prior GARMIN model it is appropriate to perform with the several other devices too.

Garmin Hook and loop wrist strap

This can be basically the new model of the straps regarding heart rate that the particular GARMIN supplied. Yet with the innovative layout along with the textile strap this innovative version looks wonderful. Nonetheless the heart rate strap can only be integrated in the deal if you acquire the bundled model of the business. But the earlier variants of heart rate straps can work great with this along with other related gadgets.

Foot Pod

This unit could be basically attached on your shoe along with subsequently it starts transferring details like the length you walked or perhaps ran, your current average while you indulge in a inside routine employing some sort of a exercising equipment like a Home treadmill.

Heart Rate Strap

This is simply the newer version of the heart rate straps that the GARMIN offered.But with the new design and the fabric strap this new version looks lovely.However the heart rate strap will only be included in the package if you buy the bundled version of the GARMIn forerunner 310xt.But the previous versions of heart rate straps will work fine with the Forerunner 310xt in here as well.

Pro’s and Con’s

Pros

• This device can give details about triathlon activities which help in better performance.
• Display of this device could be checked easily.
•  Size of this device is perfect and easy to be used.
•  All required items are provided in a complete package.
• Accurate track distance,heart rate and other metrics

Cons

• Price of this product is large and out of reach of many people.
• Not recording heart rate under water
• There are some limitations in automatic functions of this device which are not present in other similar devices.
• Only support one person at time on watch

 

 Summary

This device is made for triathlons who want to monitor and improve their routine activities. Many athletes are using this device and they are happy with the results. If you are willing to have good control on your sports activities then you can try this product. You will get benefits through advanced features and details through this product. It is good to have this product in your possession as it can last for a long time period with all the required details for your assistance.If you like this device Buy from amazon and  don’t forget to leave your review below