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Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Form meets function with the Garmin Forerunner 305. The Garmin Forerunner 305 additionally provides a wireless heart rate monitor, which allows the user to continuously monitor their heart rate. The wireless heart rate monitor (worn as a chest strap) sends heart rate data to the Forerunner 305 so us...
Average Customer Rating:
(58 Reviews) 58
Rating Snapshot (58 reviews)
5 stars
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4 stars
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56 of 58(97%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Review 1 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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BigKevMatthews
City: Perth, Asutralia
Country:Australia
Age:35-44
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Pro Performance
Featured Review
Date:April 12, 2010
Garmin 305
Pros: Adjustable, Attractive, Comfortable, Durable, Good Fit, Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight, Rugged, Versatile
"For all serious runners this is a MUST ! I run around 3000K's a year and many marathins and ultra-marathons and without my Garmin I'd be lost. If gives you the most important information a runner needs..current pace ! By having this information you can adjust your pace asccording to what sort of run you require. Also the download option onto the Garmin connect website let you download all the data from the run and export to excel. This is my second 305 after my first one broke after a year and a half. I had no hesitation in ordering another one the same day..you cannot live without on of these !! Pricewise it is far and away the best buy for your dollar. A Polar equivalent would be around the $600-$800 mark and not have half as many features. Basically buy one today !
The 305 is my personal favourite but the 405 is the latest model. I prefer the larger face of the 305 and set mine uo with 4 data fields. I have heard the 405 touch sensitive bevel is quite sensitive and the battery life is not as good as the 305."
The 305 is my personal favourite but the 405 is the latest model. I prefer the larger face of the 305 and set mine uo with 4 data fields. I have heard the 405 touch sensitive bevel is quite sensitive and the battery life is not as good as the 305."
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
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Review 2 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Avg 5
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oxfordmario
City: Oxford
Country:United Kingdom
Age:55-64
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Date:November 25, 2009
Incredibly Versatile
Pros: Durable, Great Value, High Quality, Rugged, Versatile, multi sport ability
Cons: Bulky, altitude not too accurate
"Bought to use on bike and run. As a older athlete who is in need of reading glasses the reason I bought this over the 405 was the large clear display. With cadence unit on bike found it far better than using bike computer and heart monitor. Great advantage is the ability to create and keep an accurate training log in seconds. Has allowed me to measure heart rate reduction relative to speed as I have got fitter over the months.
Now using it in my sculling boat. One significant advantage is the range of the pick up on the heart monitor which means you do not need a remote under seat pick up as you would with a Polar. Rowing on flat water does however highlight the inaccuracy of the altitude function which uses map contours and tells me I have gained and lost 100m in 10K on a very flat Thames!
Being able to download onto Google Earth allows me to accuratley check times between timing marks, more accuratley than you can from mid river in a moving boat. Downside for rowing use is it does not measure water speed (how about an optional hull impeller Garmin?) and every steering mistake is recorded for posterity in Google Earth (Yes i've steered into that tree again!). As a rower who has to cross train the ideal training companion."
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TeamLemming
Additional information about TeamLemming could not be loaded.
Altitude accuracy
Posted October 3, 2010
100m in 10k is 1% accuracy. I'll take that.
Review 3 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Microbeman
City: Sheffield
Country:United Kingdom
Age:45-54
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Featured Review
Triathlete
Date:November 18, 2009
Top notch trainer on your wrist!
Pros: Comfortable, High Quality, Lightweight
"I've had one of these now for around 3 years and use it on virtually every run and bike that I do. Can be used as just a GPS and a stop watch but is so much more than that. You can race a virtual partner, set up intervals for pace, time or distance. Race yourself over the same route. Set up separate heart rate and pace zones for run and bike. Downloads onto the computer easily to log all your training. You can even personalise the data that is shown on the screen for what you want to see. It really has so many features that it has useful functionality for many types of uses. The one downside is that it still takes a while to aquire satellites sometimes but this does mean I am forced to do a gentle stretch before workouts so even that isn't too bad."
2 of 2 found this review helpful.
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Review 4 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Albe
City: Bundaberg
Country:Australia
Age:19-24
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Female
Budget:Value for money
Featured Review
Date:October 18, 2009
How did I survive without it?!!!!
Pros: Adjustable, Comfortable, Durable, Good Fit, Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight
"I think of my self of a bit of a gadgit girl when it comes to running, I like to have the latest 'accessories and training aids'.
I love my Garmin Forerunner 305. It does everything I need it to and more. I love being able to get back from a run and see how far I've ran, what my aver/max pace was as well as heart rate and all the other info it provides. The screen is large enough to that while I'm running I can glance down and see my time, calories, speed, distance or what ever information I choose to set it up to see. There are so many features and capabilites I could talk forever about it.
I love my Garmin Forerunner 305. It does everything I need it to and more. I love being able to get back from a run and see how far I've ran, what my aver/max pace was as well as heart rate and all the other info it provides. The screen is large enough to that while I'm running I can glance down and see my time, calories, speed, distance or what ever information I choose to set it up to see. There are so many features and capabilites I could talk forever about it.
All in all though, I definately don't know how I survived without it! AWESOME!"
1 of 1 found this review helpful.
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Review 5 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
brettamorphic
Country:Australia
Age:35-44
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Triathlete
Date:June 5, 2011
Room for improvement
"The Forerunner 305 offers a lot, but I have found it come up short. On the plus side, it provides a good record of the course over which you have run. On the downside, it is bulky, has a relatively short battery life and there are some serious inconsistencies in relation to speed and heart rate. On one workout, it recorded my heart rate at 218bpm, which is highly unlikely. I have had my speed fluctuate by up to 5km/hr within the space of 1km, which is also, highly unlikely. The calories burnt are also highly dubious, with a 2 hour ride supposedly burning 3500 calories. Almost every other measure has that ride at about 1700-1800.
If I had to recognise a positive, it would be that the software from Garmin is good, allowing for a review of data post-workout.
I would recommend saving the money and buying a better model."
If I had to recognise a positive, it would be that the software from Garmin is good, allowing for a review of data post-workout.
I would recommend saving the money and buying a better model."
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Review 6 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
oboy
City: Ak, NZ
Country:New Zealand
Level:Regular
Date:May 23, 2011
Everything I Need
Pros: Great Value, Comfortable, High Quality, Lightweight, Good Fit
"Has all the functions I wanted and is very easy to use. Fast and reliable GPS tracking with one second measurement intervals. Some of the newer models are more difficult to use - a trade off they make to make them look more like a watch I think.
Very light and comfortable on my wrist - also fits my 13yo daughters wrist and doesn't move around. I think it is partly due to the way the GPS antenna wraps around the wrist at an angle. There is also a longer wrist strap supplied in case you have a very large wrist.
Heart rate strap is comfortable and worked flawlessly - though I had to shorten it with a safety pin to fit my daughter when she wore it after me.
When used for orienteering in forested gullies it was still quite accurate.
Very light and comfortable on my wrist - also fits my 13yo daughters wrist and doesn't move around. I think it is partly due to the way the GPS antenna wraps around the wrist at an angle. There is also a longer wrist strap supplied in case you have a very large wrist.
Heart rate strap is comfortable and worked flawlessly - though I had to shorten it with a safety pin to fit my daughter when she wore it after me.
When used for orienteering in forested gullies it was still quite accurate.
This unit is easier to use and performs better than I expected."
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Review 7 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
leakypants
Date:May 10, 2011
Good wight loss tool
Pros: Durable, Attractive, Comfortable, High Quality, Rugged, Versatile
"I thought it best to review this Garmin after a year of owning it. Well.......it been an absolute ideal piece of kit. Dispite the price! its been well worth the money spent. I've lost weight through training with the heart monitor and also proved to push myself in events using the virtual trainer (knock 5min of 10m time) great GPS for the serious and intermidiate user. Only downside is the signal pick up time, but not too much of a problem."
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Review 8 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
tragic
City: Sydney
Country:Australia
Age:35-44
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Advanced
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Mountain Biker
Date:April 26, 2011
No more estimating km's
Pros: Comfortable, easy to use, easy to set up
Cons: battery life of 6 hours
"The worse thing about this watch is now you can’t cheat. Having a GPS is great for training and keeps you on your game. The watch is easy to use and set up. It is easy to download sessions and upload new settings. It is comfortable and sits in the right place on your wrist, which is unusual for a big watch. I didn’t think I would use it this much but now I use in for running, biking, and kayaking."
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Review 9 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
SwimBikeCollapse
City: Chichester
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Road Cyclist
Date:April 19, 2011
Mostly brilliant, partly useless
Pros: Great Value, Comfortable, High Quality, Adjustable, Lightweight, Good Fit
Cons: Bulky, elevation useless
"If using this for distance, average pace and heart rate functions, this is perfect. However, beware that current pace, elevation and grade (and therefore calories consumed) is mostly a nonsense, because of the unreliability of the GPS readings. Especially in trees, it seems to have a hard job working out whether you're moving or not. On one run recently I was resting on a bench with the "auto-pause" feature set at a 15-minute mile. It was constantly starting and stopping, and when I looked at the map for that rest-stop later, it had me darting about at random within an area 80-feet each side. The elevation also showed a 100-ft descent within the space of a few yards (the ground was pretty much flat).
So why the five stars? Because those things aren't really important. Relying on elevation, distance and speed to calculate energy expenditure is silly anyway, since it takes no account of running style or efficiency. And even if current pace isn't reliable, you can set your "laps" to begin and end when you like, so you can easily spot-check your pace over the last 100 yards, with "average pace for last lap" as one of your data display options. The display is clear and the figures large enough even for those with (mild) reading prescriptions, and the ability to cycle through three data screens, each with up to four custom-chosen fields, is superb.
Overall, use it for the basics, and you won't be disappointed."
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Review 10 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
Overall:
InDaRain
City: Manchester
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Road Cyclist
Level:Occasional
Gender:Male
Road Cyclist
Date:April 15, 2011
Superb!!
Pros: Great Value, High Quality, Lightweight, Versatile, Good Fit
"What a great piece of kit. Its packed with features and does the basics of distance and speed/pace perfectly.
Great coverage, even under tree cover and urban areas.
And all at a reasonable price."
Great coverage, even under tree cover and urban areas.
And all at a reasonable price."
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Review 11 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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billythefishlookingood
Date:March 15, 2011
Cracking piece of kit
Pros: Lightweight
"Looks bulky but really isn't when you get it.
Quick alignment of GPS
Easy to set up the displays and easy to read when you are on the hoof or in the saddle"
Quick alignment of GPS
Easy to set up the displays and easy to read when you are on the hoof or in the saddle"
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Review 12 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Martynic
Date:March 5, 2011
Very Happy
Pros: Great Value, Attractive, Comfortable, High Quality, Adjustable, Lightweight, Good Fit
"Very happy with the Garmin Forerunner 305gps. Very quick and easy to upload results and the way it can interface with google maps is mind blowing. The only dissapointing feature is the short battery life"
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Review 13 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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rnla
Date:March 3, 2011
what it says on the box
Pros: Comfortable, High Quality, Adjustable, Lightweight, Good Fit
Cons: Bulky
"a great bit of kit.
It seems to record the tracks well running road riding and mtb.
Altought a big watch it is quite lite so it does not get in the way.
It seems to record the tracks well running road riding and mtb.
Altought a big watch it is quite lite so it does not get in the way.
Does what it says on the box. Does it well and has a quility in its making.
Like it a lot"
Like it a lot"
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Review 14 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Spuffington
City: London
Country:United Kingdom
Age:25-34
Interest:Cross Country MTB
Level:Advanced
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Mountain Biker
Date:February 23, 2011
Good bit of kit, but not great
Pros: Durable, Comfortable, Good Fit
Cons: Unadjustable, Not Enough Features
"I bought this to replace my previous Forerunner 305, which was the old-style rectangular model, which also had poor GPS receiver. Whilst MTBing is my normal sport, I run regularly in order to cross-train when not on the bike. My previous Forerunner was great at helping me to adequately pace myself outside of the gym.
First impressions of the new one are great; solid and chunky but not too uncomfortable to wear. Looks the business. I was quite keen on the new charging / sync dock which comes with it, until I took the watch abroad to train with and the battery went dead - unless you take the charging dock with you, there's no way of charging it (unlike the old model). Being a frequent traveller, it's a pain to have to remember to pack yet another thing!
The GPS receiver works very well, locking on to a signal very quickly and holding on to it even in built up or wooded areas.
It's easy to use, but recently I've been training indoors and this is wear its main limitations arise - I would've thought that it would continue to calculate your calorific burn from your heart-rate even if it knows you're working out indoors. Polar does this with their watches, but Garmin - even though it knows my weight, height and hr - doesn't calculate calories burned unless you're running outside, which is a bit of a pain.
Secondly, the HR monitor is tiny read-out in the top rh corner of the screen. I had thought it would be possible to reposition it in one of the other menu screen, but it remains steadfastly tiny and blurry when you're running.
Overall, it's a great package, but it is spoiled by the minor (but irritating) factors outlined above. I almost feel like I need one HR monitor and the Garmin together, which is annoying when the Garmin should be capable of doing both do a good degree."
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oboy
Ak, NZ
Additional information about oboy could not be loaded.
Choose display data fields
Posted May 14, 2011
Heart rate reading can be displayed on any (or all) of the 3 screens as either 1/4, 1/2 or full screen. The same as any of the other 37 data fields.
Hardest thing about setting up this watch is choosing up to 12 pieces of information that you want to display while excercising.
Hardest thing about setting up this watch is choosing up to 12 pieces of information that you want to display while excercising.
Review 15 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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KOYOTE
City: MADRID
Country:Spain
Age:25-34
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Triathlete
Date:February 22, 2011
Good device
Pros: Great Value
Cons: Bulky
"The best is the big display screen where you can see 4 parameters while you´re training. Apart from that you have more than 30 or 40 parameters to choose.
It's more for runners. You can use it for the bike because you have pulsometer an pedaling rhythm (the sensor is sold apart).
It's a little bit bulky, but it's a good purchase."
It's more for runners. You can use it for the bike because you have pulsometer an pedaling rhythm (the sensor is sold apart).
It's a little bit bulky, but it's a good purchase."
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Review 16 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Bails405
Date:February 21, 2011
Garmin-Excellent
"The purchase from Wiggle was spectacular, so cheap and easy to buy!
When my package came in the mail, it made me want to cry!
I was so excited to use it, and it really works so well,
It makes me work harder, everyone tells me they can tell!"
When my package came in the mail, it made me want to cry!
I was so excited to use it, and it really works so well,
It makes me work harder, everyone tells me they can tell!"
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Review 17 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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Wombattee
City: Perth
Country:Australia
Age:25-34
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Date:February 17, 2011
Great Running Aid
Pros: Great Value, High Quality, Rugged, Lightweight
"These kind of gadgets really motivate me when i exercise and the 305 was no exception!
I love being able to see my workout data after a run!
The 305 has all the features i need in a watch at a great price."
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Review 18 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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bikechris
City: Sydney
Country:Australia
Age:55-64
Interest:Triathlete
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Pro Performance
Triathlete
Date:February 17, 2011
Great product
Pros: Durable, High Quality, Rugged, Versatile
Cons: Bulky
"Enables me to download my activities through Garmin Connect & is compatible with my Edge 500. All activities can then be compared easily."
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Review 19 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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JohnBrooky
City: Swan Hill, Victoria
Country:Australia
Age:55-64
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Value for money
Date:February 2, 2011
Training & Competition Aid!
Pros: Durable, Great Value, Comfortable, High Quality, Rugged, Adjustable, Lightweight, Good Fit
"Make your training and competition more exciting; plot your distances travelled, splits, speed, calories consumed and heart rate. This gps is great value for money with heaps of features for runners and cyclists. As an umpire/referee, my game and training performances can be tracked, compared and shared with my colleagues. As an experienced runner this enhanced my training and game performance. A great idea which has added another incentive to train better."
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Review 20 for Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS
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pieeatingdistancerunner
City: Bromsgrove
Country:United Kingdom
Age:35-44
Interest:Runner
Level:Regular
Gender:Male
Budget:Quality first
Date:January 26, 2011
Good training aid
Pros: High Quality, Adjustable, Good Fit
Cons: Bulky
"I got this as a toy to try to motivate after a 3 month layoff. The chest belt is comfortable (don't notice it). The monitor is slightly large (biiger than a normal watch to accomadate the GPS unit but I prefer it to the seperate GPS pod), but is comfortable after getting the right strap etc.
This is a good tool for motivating myself to go out (takes all sorts).
The display is configurable so can select heart rate and pace as the only displayed items so its easy to read, or have loads of info in smaller windows which is less clear to read but does the job.
Its easy to load the info onto the PC, and it means you have to be honest about how unfit you are as the info leaves no place to hide! Its a bit geeky, but it has got me out running more than I would have done without it which for me makes up for the price of it."
This is a good tool for motivating myself to go out (takes all sorts).
The display is configurable so can select heart rate and pace as the only displayed items so its easy to read, or have loads of info in smaller windows which is less clear to read but does the job.
Its easy to load the info onto the PC, and it means you have to be honest about how unfit you are as the info leaves no place to hide! Its a bit geeky, but it has got me out running more than I would have done without it which for me makes up for the price of it."
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