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Review:
Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 305. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn't just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 305 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we've ever tested. Yes, it's that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 305 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. The 305 model includes wireless heartrate monitoring and it can also be connected to Garmin's wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor. lf you don't need these features, consider the lower-priced Forerunner 205.

View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.

Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305's screen. View larger.

The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you're running or walking. View larger.

The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger.

Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger.

The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger.

Design
The 305's design is a radical departure from Garmin's previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn't quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn't much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.

Not so with the 305. Garmin's engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit's antenna to face the sky when you're running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it's smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.

Garmin has smartly given the 305 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.

The underside of the 305 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. ln addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 305's embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.

GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 305 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar lll GPS receiver. What does this mean? lt means that the 305's ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, the tester had the 305 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 305, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn't faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap.

While the Forerunner 305 isn't billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. ln addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There's also a 'go to location' feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. 0nce you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you'll see below, the 305's new 'Courses' feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides.

Training Functions
The 305 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can't use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it's worthless. When it comes to these factors -- and here's the take home message on the 305 -- this device is successful where many other devices fail.

The heart and soul of the 305 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. ln fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. The 305 adds the ability to track heartrate, lap heartrate, average heartrate, and heartrate zones via the included coded heartrate chest strap. With the purchase of a separate wireless cadence and speed meter, you can also track bike performance data.

Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that's most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. lndeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you'll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. The ability to display heartrate is a big plus, too, as it's a fairly good indicator of excercise output, fatigue, and fitness level. The 305 has all the heartrate functions you'd expect from a full-function monitor, including the ability to set target zones and alerts to maximize the effectiveness of your workouts.

Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they've decided to keep a good thing going with the 305. lf you're the type that performs best when you've got a competitor egging you on, you'll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.

lf you're looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 305 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, lnterval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. lnterval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.

PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now -- a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 305 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC (Sadly, Training Center is not Mac-compatible). Not only does Training Center make it easy to track your performance, you can graph data such as heartrate alongside your speed and distance. 0ver time, this is a great way to view your fitness levels increase, and it also helps you see what types of workouts are necessary to strengthen your weaknesses. For instance, if you see your heartrate begin to spike after a certain distance, you know you need to increase your endurance workouts to train that area of fitness.

ln a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you're on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.

The 305 is also fully compatible with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the lnternet. While we weren't able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you're a serious endurance athlete, you'll be glad to know that the 305 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.

Pros

• Radically new design is better in every way
• Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
• So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it

Cons

• No Mac 0S compatibility
• 0kay, it's bigger than a sport's watch -- but so much more powerful

What's in the Box
Forerunner 305, Garmin Training Center CD-R0M, heart rate monitor, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, quick start guide.

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The successor to the Garmin Forerunner 301 is here, and it's better than ever. Weighing in at just over 2.5 ounces, the Garmin Forerunner 305 breaks new ground in terms of comfort, style, and performance. Totally redesigned, the 305 gives outdoor athletes and runners real-time information about speed, distance, pace, and heart rate on a device that's easy to use and amazingly compact.

The Forerunner 305 features the powerful new SiRF GPS navigation chip for supreme accuracy, even under tree cover and between tall buildings. A coded chest strap heart-rate monitor prevents unwanted interference from other devices. View larger.

The unit's GPS receiver is designed to face towards the sky when you're running.

A more watch-like design makes it far easier to use and wear.

Plus, the 305 is engineered to help folks train better and smarter. Training assistant tools, various distance and time alerts, and bundled Training Center PC software combine to make the device an essential part of any athlete's training program.

The 305's digitally coded heart-rate monitor--which is worn as a chest strap--sends heart-rate data to the device so you can see whether you're training too hard or not hard enough. Alerts for pace, distance, time, and heart rate are also available. Additionally, the unit tracks speed, distance, pace, and calories burned. Meanwhile, a course feature lets you race against previous runs in order to improve your time or just compare heart rate and pace data at every point of the way.

The 305's easy-to-read, 1.3-inch display has been integrated into a sleek and stylish form factor that is definitely a step up from the larger and more cumbersome Forerunner 301 model. lndeed, the 305 looks and wears like a stylish sports watch, and it's more carefully designed to meet the needs of athletes. The design also positions the antenna with an optimal view of the sky. As an added feature, the case is water resistant to lEC 60529 lPX7 standards (can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes).

Accuracy is the name of the game with the 305. The vastly more accurate GPS antenna and receiver, which uses an advanced SiRF chip, offer much faster satellite acquisition times. Plus, the unit can hold a fix in places never before possible. Gone are the days of losing a fix under tree cover or when running between tall buildings. All of these features add up to far more accuracy in recording and tracking your exercise data. And because the 305 uses GPS to track how far and how fast you're going, you never have to calibrate it. The unit also doubles as a basic navigator. Mark your starting point as a specific location, see your current position on the plotter display, and follow an electronic breadcrumb trail back to your starting point.

The 305 features a USB data connection and docking cradle for downloading your speed, lap, exercise time, and heart-rate data into Garmin's Training Center PC software. The unit stores up to 1,000 lap histories, which you can download to your PC for a detailed post-workout analysis. Plus, you can create and schedule workouts using the included software and download them to the unit. A rechargeable internal lithium-ion battery offers up to ten hours of battery life.

For additional post-workout analysis, the 305 is compatible with MotionBased software. MotionBased adds a new dimension to training and outdoor fitness that makes the analytical aspects of a sport more compelling and a lot more fun. You can upload data to MotionBased, a Web-based application that has partnered with Garmin. MotionBased provides in-depth analysis of your workouts, as well as online mapping and route sharing that will take your training to the next level. MotionBased automatically calculates time, distance, speed, elevation, and heart rate, and it displays this information through meaningful charts, illustrations, reports, and maps. With MotionBased, you can also race multiple instances of the same route to see how you are improving or to race other members of MotionBased. You can 'virtually race' someone you don't even know.

lf you like the features of the Forerunner 305 but don't need heart-rate monitoring, be sure to check out the Forerunner 205.


What's in the Box
Forerunner 305 unit, digital coded heart rate monitor, Training Center CD-R0M, A/C charger, PC/USB interface cable, owner's manual, and quick-start guide.









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Buyer's feedback: - * Can't run without it ...
This is my second Garmin 305. I lost the first one and couldn't stand running without my Garmin. I thought about upgrading but I was so happy with the 305 that I didn't want to take the chance of not liking another. I don't go for a run without it.

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Buyer's feedback: - Accurately tracks my pace, easy to use
The forerunner 305 gives exactly what I expected: an easy to use device that accurately tracks my pace and heart rate. I definitely recommend this product. My runs/usage are in neighborhood areas with only occasional tree coverage.

As for the accessory bike attachment (sold separately), I almost bought that until I read the reviews that the quick release sometimes inadvertently released. I wouldn't want to accidentally loose this expensive piece of gear, so I didn't get it.

Pluses:
- Easy to use
- Accurate
- Customizable data screens
- HR monitoring
- Easy to use tracking software for analyzing your workouts afterwards
- Easy to program "advanced" workouts on the computer and upload to unit

Minuses:
- Elevation data jumps up and down a lot and doesn't appear to have short duration accuracy, maybe just the overall trend is accurate
- Plotting software does not have an option for changing the scaling of the Y-axis, so sometimes your data is cluttered, and it's hard to see the resolution
- Watchband : some people don't like it (rubberized plastic), but doesn't bother me much

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Buyer's feedback: - * Garmin watches are great for recording training and racing statistics ...
The Garmin 305 replaces my Garmin 205, which I gave to my husband. I upgraded only to get the heart rate monitor. Both models are great to record training and racing statistics.

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Buyer's feedback: - Advanced workout tracking
I have used this watch for everything. 14'ers, triathlons, adventure races, canyoneering, basically anything that can get the heart rate up and a nice sweat.

first, the watch unit is big. I am over 6'2" and 180 lbs, and the watch is big on my wrist. however, after 1 or 2 weeks i have gotten used to its size. I have taken it on long runs and long rides (12+ hours) and of course it gets annoying, but everything does after that amount of time exercising. the rubber does generate and trap a bit more sweat, but its better than a cloth band that just soaks it up.

the gps is highly accurate, i have compared it against several other units i have. I also have worn and used the polar s-625x, and the garmin unit is very accurate. i much prefer the complete cloth and clasp mechanism of the polar, but not enough to reduce usage of the garmin.

the watch is fairly rugged and water resistant, i have had it (often!!) completely underwater when kayaking and canyoneering, and it has not leaked or been destroyed for it. despite abusing this thing fairly regularly, it has continued to work day after day.

the downsides to this watch are few: it has to be recharged daily, or at least twice weekly if you workout more than 20 hours a week. it takes up to 3 minutes (average of 1.5) to get a signal unless you turn it on before putting it on and let it sit and gather signals for a minute. moving even slightly (scratching your head) will make you wait for the signal to catch up. the previously mentioned bulk is only an issue if you are very small, like my wife, or if you are worried about wind resistance when in the aero position in a tri. also, the software really does leave much to be desired, but it does not detract from the overall use of the watch as an HRM and distance tracking mechanism. (don't get lost in the woods during an adventure race and expect it to guide you faithfully back!)

overall, excellent product, well worth the money if you are an exercise fiend.

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Buyer's feedback: - * Good product, but could be better ...
I bought the 305 to help maintain pace while training for a marathon. My thoughts:

GPS RECEPTION: I have had no problems. Only once did it take more than a minute or two to find the signal. It also keeps signal on trails through the woods that I like to run.

BATTERY LIFE: Could be better. I put the 305 on the charger whenever not in use to avoid a dead battery minutes into a run. The first time I used it, I got only about 2 1/2 hrs of total life (2 1/2 separate runs). It has a battery life indicator, but it does not show one on the page that I usually view (pace / distance / time).

COMFORT: I do not have huge wrists and the 305 is not the most comfortable watch. I find it more comfortable if I loosen it up just a bit and push it further up my arm than where I would wear a typical watch. The 405 looks more comfortable, but for the cost and potential other draw backs I chose the 305. Still glad I did.

ACCURACY: Appears to be fine. It seems to agree pretty well with my Garmin Oregon 400. I have not done the "to the foot" testing that other GPS reviewers do.

NEGATIVES: Battery life, comfort, not waterproof (I would love to wear this in triathlons).

PROS: Reception in woods, stores your workouts, MUCH better than any of those "foot pod" gadgets (I tried the NIKE+ Ipod thing - don't waste your money), keeps me on pace!

PURCHASE AGAIN: Yes.