Should I buy a Garmin Forerunner 405?
I’ve had my Garmin Forerunner 305 for several months now, and just as I bought it the new Garmin Forerunner 405 came out. I’m glad I bought my Forerunner when I did though, and I certainly have no regrets about buying it… but I can be ever so impulsive, and so now I’m considering a Garmin Forerunner 405!
How does the Garmin Forerunner 405 differ from the 305?
The main difference is the actual look of the Garmin Forerunner 405. It actually looks like a watch, The 305 is certainly not something you would ever wear as a watch… but saying that the 305 is perfect for running. The display is very clear and it’s easy to set the display up so you have your favourite 4 pieces of data always on display.
The Forerunner 405 meanwhile looks like a flashy sports watch – something you could wear for everyday use.
Instead of using side buttons to switch between modes it has a dial (a touch bezel) that turns to scroll through each option. I’ve read that this can be a bit fiddly, and also difficult in the rain if the dial is wet.
Satellite reception of the Garmin Forerunner 405
I’ve read that the actual GPS chip has also been upgraded in the Garmin Forerunner 405, but as I have no gripes with the reception of the chip on the 305, this isn’t really giving me too much of a reason to upgrade.
Sharing and uploading workouts with the Forerunner 405
One of the big differences between the Garmin Forerunner 405 and the 305 is that the 405 can transfer data wirelessly between your computer or even other Garmin Forerunner 405 units. Again, a nice feature, but I’m happy enough with the USB connection of my 305 to my Mac… and I don’t train with other people, so have no need to transfer data to other units.
So, will I be upgrading to a Garmin Forerunner 405?
I don’t think I will go for the Garmin Forerunner 405 just yet. I’m simply happy enough with my 305. If my 305 ever needs replacing, then the Forerunner 405 will be the one I go for, but until then I just don’t think there are enough extra features to push my to my credit card! It looks like Garmin have addressed the main let down of the 305 – it’s looks… but if you want just an excellent unit for training, and not for everyday use, then I don’t think you can go wrong with the 305.
