Updated: October 20th, 2011
Garmin Forerunner 305

Garmin Forerunner 305

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Heart Rate Monitor now on sale on Amazon.com for only 162.82$ (RRP 299$!!)

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is likely to be the best wrist-mounted GPS tracking device for runners and bikers, and – according to many – even better than its successor, the 405.

The “watch” comes with a heart-rate monitor strap and the amount of information about your training you can get is short of amazing. Let’s see in a nutshell what it allows you to do:

  • GPS Distance Monitoring:
  • You can start your run, the device will lock on a satellite and start tracking your position. For the rest of your run (or bike, or swim), it will know exactly where you are and therefore know how long have you run. The first time you use it, it can take a few minutes to lock on satellites, but after that the location will be almost instantaneous.
    Garmin mounted the GPS receiver on the wrist-strap, so that it is directed towards the satellite during the run.

  • Heart Rate Monitor:
  • The Garmin 305 includes a heart rate monitor strap that allows you to check your heart rate in real time at any given point of the run.

     

    Garmin 305 Software

    Garmin 305 Software

  • Software and Connectivity:
  •  

    Probably the most impressive feature of a GPS device is the software that comes with it and the amount of information (both about the last run and previous runs) you can track and analyse. You can check for any given moment of your run what was the altitute, your speed, your heart rate and so on. You can track your run on a satellite map and much more. Have a look at this video (this video is not done by us, it is done by clymerjeff , click on the name for his youtube page) for some example of the software functionalities:

     

    On top of that, the Garmin is such a standard that you can find all kind of other softwares to integrate it with. For example, the amazing SportTracks free software.

  • Ideal for Triathletes:
  • The Garmin Forerunner 305 comes with an adaptor for the bike and it can be used in water (check here “how to swim with your Garmin Forerunner GPS” and have a look at the pictures below!)

    Garmin 305 - Swim Track Swim Track
  • Thoughts::
  • Garmin is probably the best manufacturer of GPS devices, and the Forerunner 305 pushes the envelop in terms of precision and functionality.

    It is quite large, to accommodate the strong GPS receiver, but nothing unbearable if you are serious about your training.

    A great device well worth its price, it is a bargain at only 162$. For only a few dollars more than the price of a good branded heart-rate monitor, you bring home an incredible array of functionalities.

    Here is the link to the Amazon.com offer:

    Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

     

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