Comments on: Should I buy a Garmin Forerunner 405?

By: Garmin 305 Forerunner UK

Garmin 305 Forerunner UK — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:20:25 +0000

Most users on-line prefer the Garmin Forerunner 305 over the 405. Yeah it’s smaller in design but issues have been raised over the bevel function which is not as easy to operate when your hands are sweaty or when you wear gloves. I’d stick with the Forerunner 305 & if it does ever die just get another one!

By: Suzy

Suzy — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 11:07:40 +0000

Great review, I am not sure whether to go for the 305 or the 405, but this clear review has left me in no mind to go for a 305, I want to use the unit for running and keeping account of my progress, I am not interested in its looks and therefore will not need the 405. thanks

By: Londell

Londell — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:58:25 +0000

I have both. I prefer the 305. Although, my 405 does not lose signal in places my 305 had consistently had issues before so i assume it have better GPS chips? My 305 has over two hours more battery life. I really hate the USB stick for the 405. Works 4 of 5 times and I have to fumble to get it to Work. I have a Mac and Windows machine and am unhappy with Garmin being so far behind the trend and getting a good software for the Mac. In addition, my 405 has a rigid frame for the top half that fits a select wrist, not mine. I have a large wrist and it digs into the sides. When one goes bad, I will without a doubt replace it with the 305, unless there is a 505 I would try.

By: Matt B.

Matt B. — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 17:31:07 +0000

I’ve worn both the 305 and the 405 at the same store. While the 405 looks a sports watch, it is much more bulky then you might expect until you try it on. I certainly would not wear it as a watch. My money is on the 305.

By: Mark M.

Mark M. — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:16:51 +0000

I totally agree with Steve W, 305 is far better than 405. It has more features, much more visible screen while running, more suitable for cycling… 305 is a jewel, there is no alternative product for that. I’m using it for 4 months, so many features that I didn’t use many of them yet, not because they’re not useful, my main concern is the heart rate monitoring and keeping gps data. I am trying to run everywhere I can, I have all my running gear with me in every business travel.

I used it during a maraton, but unfortunately I couldn’t collect the whole data. That is my fault, I forgot to erase the old data in order to have the complete memory for the maraton (if you choose to track your data every sec., than the 305 can keep about appx. 4hrs. of data).

By: Steve W

Steve W — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 11:38:06 +0000

My 305 is the best thing I have ever bought to keep me running. I bought it at around the 405 was released.From what I have read about the 405 it doesn’t seem any where near as flexible as the 305.

I can configure the 305 to show me the right data for pacing myself in races and training, and also use the bike bracket for my mountain bike rides. With Tracklogs OS mapping and SportTracks training software it’s a brilliant piece of kit.

With the 405 Garmin seemed to have sacraficed some of the excellent flexibility for a more fashionable device and I hope Garmin have no plans to discontinue the 305. If my device ever fails I will buy a 305 again in preference to the 405.

By: trio

trio — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:21:41 +0000

I’ve heard that the 405 doesn’t look good at all if you have small wrists that its lugs both stick out. But I haven’t seen on in the flesh as such.

By: Constantine

Constantine — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:49:37 +0000

I have planning to get myself a GF watch because I thinking it will help me in my quest to run a full marathon under 3 hours. I will order one to use in my marathon training

By: ArZka

ArZka — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 06:36:16 +0000

I’ve been going through different GPS wrist computers and been going back and forth between these two in addition to a few others form Suunto, Polar, FRWD and so on. One thing that you should remember is that 405 doesn’t have Mac support. It’s also missing some other features (there was a comparison on the Garmin site which was pretty much useless for me since I didn’t understand what those missing pieces mean (305 has 50 routes, 405 has 0, for example). The missing Mac support is however the thing that made it for me.

Another options I’ve been considering are Suunto T3-6c series (with the GPS pod which is extra, and PC pod which is also extra) but they don’t store the route you’ve gone, only distance and speed. Suunto X9i has the GPS built-in but has no heart rate monitor. Polar has some GPS enabled models (RS800) but afaik it also only stores distance and speed, not the route. FRWD W600 has heart rate and GPS, but the GPS is again in a separate unit, so you have to carry around (and recharge) more than one unit.

So far Forerunner 305 seems to be what I’ve been looking for. 405 looks nice, but apart from the smaller size is has fewer features than 305, and from some of the reports it seems to find the satellites faster than 305 but also loses them easier. All that is on my part just guessing since I don’t have either, but as long as they don’t support Mac, it’s not even an option.

By: Andrew is getting fit

Andrew is getting fit — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 18:27:55 +0000

Yes!