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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Massachusetts on 9/2/2008
Great to use when training and you want to find out how far you have been running through trails. Never have to map out a run with your car ever again!
Tough to opperate the switches when wet or sweaty!
Don't take it in the shower either.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Cape Cod on 8/6/2008
Excellent product which does what you expect -- tracks speed, distance, etc. consistently and accurately, even in the woods. I owned a 301 model and this is a HUGE improvement in form and function. Battery life is short, I think and I've had some errors uploading to garmin connect. On a positive note, their support folks are terrific.
from Basking Ridge, NJ on 7/30/2008
I stepped up to the 405 after losing TWO 305's that popped off the quick-release wrist strap mounts. The 405 has an intuitive interface, but it requires a lot of navigation to get to different options. It's easy to read, relatively easy to setup different display options and very, very convenient to use. I do miss the 'multi-sport' options that I had in the 305, and hope Garmin adds this in the future.
The biggest downside is that Garmin has moved away from the rock-solid MotionBased site and to the unstable, buggy and unreliable 'Garmin Connect' website. While it is a new site and service, the reliability of the service makes it difficult to use day-to-day. I'm sure that Garmin will eventually get it working.
What I would like to see is a published API that will allow members to access their personal data in the site. Better yet, would be for Garmin to allow members to publish their data in portable data formats in order to be consumed by other web-applications.
Greg
from Jackson, MS on 7/30/2008
I replaced my Garmin Edge 305 and Polar S625X with this unit and have found it to be a useful training tool for marathons and triathlons (with the exception of the swim). I still go old school with my M32 for the swim; but I suppose Garmin will get with the program and improve that aspect in the near future. All in all, I like having one unit that fits on my wrist. Now if only I could combine my Suunto Core with the Forerunner...
from New Hampshire on 7/30/2008
I bought the Garmin Forerunner for my wife while she is training for a half marathon. The unit is great- allows her to set up a virtual partner helping her set and keep a good pace regardless of a short run or long run. Seems fairly accurate regarding distance tracking though pace can be off due to tree coverage etc (too many trees and it says she is running over 15min miles!) Overall she is thrilled with the product and the accompaning program on the computer. But.....
We are both engineers by trade. The GUI/Menu on this unit is NOT user friendly. Can be tough to set up a training run strictly from the Bezel, often taking a few tries to set a simple mile/pace run. There does not seem to be a clear step process for the menu's though they are set up that way. Try it through the computer and that doesn't seem to set pace etc for the run. Overall the concept, product and use would be 5 stars -once you have it set.
The actual programming brings the overall product down 2-3 starts. Also must lock the Bezel as my wife has a small wrist and movement of the unit while she runs will reset things- and really not easy to set while trying to cover miles.
Will keep the unit and hope it gets easier in time. I do recommend it- maybe the menu will make perfect sense to others! The product is very well made and does have a decent battery life.
from North Yarmouth, ME on 7/28/2008
This is a great watch and the functionality on it rocks. I would purchase again if I had to do it all over again.
Cons, the Garmin site is a little buggie and is not the most user friendly UI. Also, had to call the Garmin help desk with a sync problem and they were useless and had to fix the problem myself after hours of trouble shooting.
Overall, worth the money and would purchase it again!
[0 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Redding, CT on 7/28/2008
Really like this for running. Wish the heart monitor didn't require the chest strap and was contained in the watch itself but is probably more accurate with the chest strap. Provides a wealth of information. Have not had a chance to use the PC downlad and advanced features yet but features like the auto lap etc are great. I'm a bit technically challenged but get there eventually and have not had a problem using it. Slowly exploring all of the features. Will try out the navigation portion next weekend.
from Portland, OR on 7/27/2008
Watch is very compact compared to previous models and it has outstanding features. The touch control bezel is very sensitive and the watch sometimes takes a little while to pick up the GPS signal, but over all I'm pleased with the purchase.
from San Diego on 7/23/2008
THere are some bugs with the online updates but once those are worked out this will be pretty good training aid. If you are on the fence about getting one you should do it. It is motivational to get you outside and doing something.
from NJ on 7/23/2008
The best running watch on the market. Easy to use, too!
from Ridgewood, NJ on 7/22/2008
Great product. I may be far from being a triathlete, but very much a multi-sport trainer/enthusiast. This equipment has helped me measure and track my goals better than I could ever before. Now I can train much better than I have been able to on my own.
The 405 is comfortable and well built. Very easy to set up and get running. The touch bezel is a very cool user interface - unfortunately I don't feel that the menus are designed very well to make the most of it.
Also have the HRM and Cadence sensor - all have performed very well.
The Ant+ technology was easy to set up and install and has worked seamlessly - and the website is a great tool to see and track your performance.
In short, I love the product. Was worried that I would have felt some buyer remorse after dropping the coin for this, but haven't given it an 2nd thought! Great value in the end.
from Fort Worth, TX on 7/22/2008
I use this to track my HR, pace, and distance when cycling or running. I am a triathlete and love it. I had the Forerunner 205 before, upgraded to the 405 for the HRM and new watch design and love it!
from Baltimore on 7/17/2008
I had a tough time setting it up. Once set up the way I wanted it, I like it. I don't run without it now.
from New Hampshire on 7/16/2008
I love the watch- it's just that the old 305 has much longer battery life, and even has a kind of map on the screen that the 405 doesn't have. What I do like is the fact that you don't have to think about data transfer- you just bring it near your PC and it automatically connects.
from Bellmawr NJ on 7/14/2008
Third time lucky. Garmin forerunner 405 is an incredible watch for the avid runner and stat recorder. The first watch had problems pairing with my computer, after the first run watch and computer stopped transferring data. Technical support was outstanding but were unable to fix the problem and that might have been due to my computer. The second watch kept resetting to the set up mode, technical support downloaded information to the watch but could not solve the problem. Third watch works like a charm keeps track of all my runs downloads everything to my computer just as it is supposed to. Very happy with my Garmin 405 it gets a little erratic in very hot temps but dont we all but all around a good product for the avid runner.
from Bethlehem, Pa on 7/13/2008
I am using this to primarily train for the Urbanathalon in NYC. So far, so good. Works wonderfully and it is spot on with locating the GPS satellites. Gives tons of valuable information from your results, which helps you learn from your runs.
from Columbia, MD on 7/10/2008
I have been waiting for a product like this to come out for the past couple of years, and this is the first model I have considered purchasing. Prior generations were much too bulky to wear comfortably as a watch. This model might be a bit too large to wear to the office, but it works well for running, biking, and hiking. This device provides most of the same information that you find on modern treadmills, but in a convenient, portable package.
Battery life is excellent when the GPS and/or heart rate monitor are off- I typically turn on these features only when I need them. The GPS works well even in light forests. Garmin provides free software which helps track your workouts. I haven't tried the online version, but the desktop software is relatively easy to use. The desktop software doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, but it does a good job at tracking my hiking and training routines.
Overall, I would definitely recommend the Forerunner 405 for anybody who wants to keep track of their outdoor activities. The GPS with this device has replaced my bulkier eTrek GPS, and integrates well with my PC.
from Summerfield, NC on 7/9/2008
I have used this watch for trail running and hiking and it performed wonderfully for both purposes. The GPS is great and while running the watch will display your time, pace and miles. At first I loved just using that information to challenge myself to go faster. That was until I set up the Courses section of the watch which downloads courses you have already done to your watch. This allows you to run against yourself essentially, it's great for training. That brings me to the interface with Garmin Training Center... I must admit that this is my first watch of this kind, so all this functionality blows me away. I should also point out my husband is what you would call an outdoor enthusiast and he has tons of outdoorsy gadgets, new & old, and even he thinks all the bells & whistles are impressive. Back to the Training Center... once you get back from a run, as long as your computer is on and the Garmin USB stick is inserted, it will automatically download any new information to your computer. It's great to immediately see your workout broken down into parts, to see it on a map, you can even hook up with Google Earth which is pretty cool. I had read so many reviews before purchase (I wanted to make sure it was worth the $$$!) and many complained about using the bezel but I find it rather simple... it's kind of like an ipod and what no one bothers to point out is you can lock it to avoid accidentally hitting the bezel which some users feel is entirely too sensitive, I am not one of those users. Also, people had issues with the strap and how the watch sat on their arm... I am a woman and my wrist is not large by any means... I do have to tighten it up pretty far in but that's fine, I don't want it to fall off! My only complaint and it is minor as it only happened once, is that the battery ran out quickly. I have remedied this by ensuring I always turn the GPS function Off after a run and by charging it after each run as well. All in all, I am completely satisfied with this watch and would recommend it to anyone, actually, I already have!
Great product. This watch was super easy to use right out of the box. The interface is very intuitive and and the setup was a breeze. I went for a mountain bike ride the night of the purchase to test out the 405, and it didn't disappoint. Press the training button and off you go. Return from the workout and the wireless sync detects the watch within 10 feet of the computer and automatically loads your workout details directly from the watch. The software is easy to use and the analytics were awesome. One of the great features is the Garmin community sharing, where you can take courses from others and load them directly to your 405. I plan to use this with upcoming hiking trips through the white mountains in northern New Hampshire. I strongly recommend this product.