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Ray E.
Ray E. Sendmail

Garmin 205 vs 305 vs 405

posted over 3 years ago | Report

Hey everyone. I'm thinking about making the "big purchase" and going for a garmin watch. My questions:
Q: Is the 305 worth the price difference from the 205?
Q: Is the 405 worth the price difference from the 305?
I tried on the 405 and it was about 2 or 3 links short of a perfect fit. It was a bit snug and the rest of the band wouldn't quite fit under the strap holder.
Q: Is it possible to change out the strap on the garmin 405?
Q: If the 405 didn't quite fit... would the other garmins?

Q: If you have had the 305, then purchased the 405, how does it compare? That much better?

Thanks for the help! I love gadgets, but I'm just not sure if it is worth the $350 with the heart rate monitor! Especially since every review I have read recommend the foot pod accessory which is another $150 at least! That is a $500 stop watch!!!!!!!!!!!! WHOA!

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10 posts

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  • Johnny H.
    Johnny H. Sendmail

    It's a lot more than a stopwatch :-)

    If you really want to track your fitness you should consider using a heart rate monitor on every run and manage the time you spend training by heart rate rather than by speed, distance, or calories.

    If you have a Garmin GPS with a heart rate monitor, download SportTracks and the training load plug-in. It provides a graphical view of fitness from your training history using some scientific formulas. This will help you see how your training regimen contributes to fitness. The basic premise is that your performance (Form) is your fitness (chronic training load or CTL) minus your fatigue (acute training load or ATL).

    This is why professional trainers and training plans recommend a taper before a race.

    Unless you run in heavy tree cover or indoors you don't need the foot pod.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Ray E.
    Ray E. Sendmail

    Great tips. How does the heart rate monitor compare between the 305/405? I heard that the monitor is the same, but the 405 has better communication with the watch so it never "misses a beat". Any truth to that?

    Thanks.

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Stephen R.PRO
    Stephen R. Sendmail

    You can get the 305 for about ~$150 if you stalk Amazon.com or shop around. Patience will pay off :) That price drop makes it a worthwhile upgrade from the 205, in my opinion.

    The extra cost to have the "option" of using a heart rate monitor is worth it. But don't expect to use the heart rate monitpr for EVERY run unless you are seriously determined—it's a definite extra few minutes or so of fiddling and adjustment each time. It would just be a shame to not have it, and decide later you need to wear two gizmos to keep track of heart rate along with speed and distance!

    I ran about two thousand miles with my (still perfectly fine!) 201 so I figure I'll get my money's worth of of the new one eventually :)

    posted over 3 years ago | Report

  • Robert V.
    Robert V. Sendmail
    in reply to what Ray E. said:Great tips. How does the heart rate monitor compare between the 305/405? I heard that the monitor is the same, but the 405 has better communication with the watch so it never "misses a beat". Any truth to that? Thanks.

    I know that the #05 comes witha longer buckle strap that really helped me and i don't have that big of wrists so i cant imagine that Garmin would not include the same for the 405 if its in the same case

    posted about 3 years ago | Report

  • Ben W.
    Ben W. Sendmail

    Have you bought anything yet? I used to work at Garmin and may be able to offer some insight if you are still looking.
    I have a also have a 405.

    posted over 2 years ago | Report

  • Ray E.
    Ray E. Sendmail

    Update: I'm still looking. I've been using my iphone (blah).
    Still debating older model vs newer model. Newer model is getting cheaper and cheaper! The new Tech in it makes me leery of the 405.
    Thanks for all the input.

    posted over 2 years ago | Report

  • Christie
    Christie Sendmail
    in reply to what Ray E. said:Update: I'm still looking. I've been using my iphone (blah). Still debating older model vs newer model. Newer model is getting cheaper and cheaper! The new Tech in it makes me leery of the 405. Thanks for all the input.

    I've had my Garmin Forerunner 205 for over a year now - and love it! I've never lost a signal unless I was in a building - not near trees or near tall buildings. It's helped me find my way back to the house on a vacation near Yellowstone (thank heavens for the "get me back to start" feature when running somewhere new and also helped me get back when I got lost running trails for 6 hours in the Boise foothills. It's seriously worth every penny to have a "coach" on my arm who will always let me know my current pace, my average pace, when the sun's going to go down (or come up), what elevation I'm at, what grade the big hill I'm running is, how many calories I've burned, how far I've gone, etc. etc. And, then the pleasure of getting home, hooking it up to my pc and reshashing every mile in detail. :) What fun!

    posted over 2 years ago | Report

  • Clem G.
    Clem G. Sendmail

    I bought a 305 on Ebay after the 405 came out people were upgrading and that made the 305 much more affordable. It has some nice features and I would recommend the 305 as it is "tried and true" in the running world. No surprises, and everything you need.

    posted about 2 years ago | Report

  • Dustin Q.
    Dustin Q. Sendmail

    I have a 305 and it's phenomenal. The 405 is sleeker, other than that it seems to mostly do the same things as far as my needs are concerned.

    Love my 305 :D

    posted almost 2 years ago | Report

  • Dave J.
    Dave J. Sendmail

    I have Garmin 305 for a year and half. I would say that it is the best compromise you can get if you are thinking about money/quality/what you get.

    You can read more about differences on my site:

    http://garmin-305-review.com/garmin-305-vs-405/

    posted 9 months ago | Report

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