GARMIN 010-00466-00 Forerunner 205 GPS Receiver

i have been using this mainly for trail running and mountain biking-- generally in VERY wooded areas. while it often takes quite a while to find a satellite signal, once it finds one, it is not too often dropped. i find that the speed on the bike lags a bit behind actual, but overall it seems quite accurate (i have nothing to compare it to). i LOVE this thing!!! it's so nice to have when trail riding when using books gives approximations and you know exactly how far you have left!!!! i'm addicted! can't wait to start using more of the trail/workout features!

I love it! Great, accurate results. I love the upload capability to Motion-Based to monitor my training and even see my runs on satellite pictures. Absolutely awesome!

I bought the Garmin Forerunner 301 at first and returned it for the newer Garmin Forerunner 205. It seems to have a much stronger signal which isn't lost next to high buildings, tall trees, or under bridges. One negative seems to be that it takes longer (maybe a total of 3 minutes) than I expected to obtain the initial satellite signal. This may be a problem for me because of where I live. Once the signal has been acquired, it isn't lost very easily.

The Garmin Forerunner 205 is a little big for a woman's wrist and I've heard comments such as, "What's on your wrist? A mini computer?" I just smile an nod because I am more concerned about the abilities of the device than what it appears to look like to others. It's basically like wearing a man's large wristwatch. The 301 model is even more awkward looking and takes up more space from the wrist to the elbow than the 205 model.

This GPS Personal Trainer is great for keeping track of time, distance, pace, and personal goals. I use it daily to track my progress. The battery lasts several days before needing a charge. It takes less than 2 hours to charge it to full capacity.

I can't say enough about the satisfaction I have from this product. Although the Garmin Forerunner 301 is a great product as well, I like the 205 model better because of the watch-like shape and strong satellite signal. Both the 301 and 205 have similar features and abilities. They are user-friendly and come with clear, understandable directions.

I bought the 205 on a recent trip to the US. I live in Australia so not sure if the poor performance of the GPS function is due to my geographic location or if it just doesn't work that well at all. I've read all of the previous reviews several times before making this investment and must say I have been terribly disappointed.

I run at lunch near my office so there could be issues with building shadow as well but I walk to an open space and the watch still routinely takes 10 minutes or more to satisfy itself that it has located satellites. That's fine if you are waiting around prior to a race or have plenty of time for a weekend run but when pressed for time the watch just becomes a giant timepiece - not a GPS. If you start too early the GPS either doesn't work, or as was the case yesterday was 3 km off on a known 10km run.

I also question the elevations the watch determines. I run 12km home from work a few times a month and the run has two hills that are easily 1km long and gain 50-100 meters. The watch seems to track some elevation change but it does not seem to be accurate - often placing the elevation change at a later point in the run and showing it as a massive spike that happened all at once. Makes me question the accuracy of this device if it is not able to accurately capture this information.

I know a number of people with GPS watches, including two people with multiple brands. One of them is selling his Garmin and the other doesn't use his anymore. I still use the watch and when it works it is pretty cool and the form factor doesn't bother me a bit but I still wonder if a better, less troublesome watch is not too far down the track.

One of my biggest pet peeves is not knowing exactly how far I'm running. When you don't know the area or haven't mapped it previously, it's difficult to gauge. Now I can run ANYWHERE and keep track (no pun intended). It frees up my options. And it's great for keeping pace. It's a bit large on the wrist at first but you don't notice it once you get going and then are appreciative of the size for quick glances at the numbers. Did I say I LOVE this device? It's renewed my motivation for getting out.

i've had my forerunner 205 for 6 months now and it is great. i trail run and it works great in the woods. and if you turn one of your runs into a course you can race yourself. way cool. the included software is very limited. i use mine with a free site called mapmyrun.com they even have an upload utility that will interface with the forerunner and upload the runs onto google maps, and google earth. very nice site. i must say that if i could only use garmins software i would not rate it 5 stars, but because the third party software is so good i don't mind.

i purchased a Garmin 205 a couple of weeks ago based on the advice of my son and one of his friends. They described it as "the best purchase I ever made", that might be strong but it is a great training tool. I use the basic features, elasped time, distance, current pace, and average pace. In other windows I have a map of my route, the time of day, and several other items. I am impressed with the charts available when the Garmin 205 is plugged into a P.C. after the run, i generally focus on the time vs elevation chart and the breakdown of times for each mile of the run. I have only used it for running so far, I have not used it for biking, kayaking, or any other activity. Excellent training tool.

I love it. It's easy to use and provides a great record of your routes, pace and distance run. It's great when you travel and want to run a set distance.

Once worked through the directions (set up display , etc) this has become totally addictive for my training runs! A bit bulky, but otherwise very satisfied.

I bought this to help me train for the USMC Marathon. It has provided a great deal of motivation. I keep track of my runs each day and use the workout feature to develop custom training routines. The Forerunner is an easy to use device which delivers very accurate information. I like the virtual partner and course features allowing me to run against myself and measure my improvement. I did have some problems getting a lock on the satellites but this was resolved by updating the firmware with the latest patch from Garmin. The training center software is easy to use but remember to update this if you update the Forerunner firmware. I am very pleased with the unit and recommend the Forerunner to any runner from novice to expert.

The watch is great but the software is terrible. I tried to install the included software(ver 4.0) and it would not recognize the watch. I tried to install it on 4 different systems with 4 different versions of windows, vista, xp pro, xp home, 2k pro. It failed on all three. I was able to go to the garmin website and download a previous version 3.2.3 and it installed correctly but doesn't include map overlays. Garmin Tech support hasn't to this point been able to provide me with an answer. I would give this 5 stars if the software worked.

The Garmin is simply awesome! I love it! It is so easy to use and tracks everything for you. I never have a problem with the GPS unit and the information it keeps for you is so helpful. Everything can be saved to the computer very easily. Knowing your specific pace and elevation is so helpful with training. I would highly recommend this product!

Serious training and doodling with technology don't mesh. This unit works best for me compared to the competition. Quick, I mean sometimes almost instantaneous satellite positioning lock on. It's not overengineered, has all the right features, and the interface transfer from watch to computer to analysis is very quick. I don't want to play with gadgets during the training, but it is fun to analyze at the data it shoots out after the fact. This is a good value, and very efficient.

I have run for several years with the previous Forerunner product and often noted the loss of GPS signal with any significant tall building obstruction or when running in Forested areas. I have only a few runs under my belt with the 205, but it would appear that it has better sensitivity for the GPS signals. The control and display similarity to the previous product made if very simple for me to use out of the box. I find this to be a great tool if you tend to train on ad hoc routes.

No problems in 2 months of use. That's not very long, but if it didn't work very well, I think I'd know it by now. Easy to set up workouts and great feedback as to what pace you are running now and during your efforts. Sure beats having to have a route of known distances and guessing at your pace.

The Garmin 205 is the best helper I've ever used for keeping track of workouts, pacing, and distance. I'm a racewalker and it's very important to me to know whether I'm at my goal pace or not while I train. I previously used the Garmin 201 Forerunner, but after I dropped it on a concrete floor once, I couldn't get it to power up any longer. So when I went to buy a new one, I decided to get the 205 because it is smaller and has many more features. I like the versatility of the 205 - you can customize what you want displayed, set it up for different types of sports (running, walking, biking, skiing), set up pace alarms (too fast/too slow), interval workouts, pretty much anything you can think of for getting instant feedback on how you're doing during your workouts. And then you can download your workout history to your computer to view every lap for every day's workout.

I debated dropping my rating to only 4 stars because there are a couple of features that are great to have, but they don't work that well.
- The instantaneous pace you see still jumps around, just like with the 201 model. I do a lot of my workouts at a fairly constant 10:00 min/mile pace, but the watch tells me I'm going 8:30 one minute, then 11:30 the next. There is a "pace smoothing" feature you can use, but it doesn't seem to help much for this instantaneous feedback. My guess is that it jumps around so much because of the way GPS works, and you're going to get that effect with most any consumer receiver, because you can only receive the 3-5 meter resolution GPS signal.
- The pacing alerts are affected by the limitations of the instantaneous pace calculations. They have several options for alerts at different pace settings - walk, fast walk, slow jog, jog, fast run, etc. Each of them has a specific time associated with it (say 11:00/mile for slow jog, 10:00/mile for jog). The alerts tend to go off constantly while you're moving because the instantaneous pace displayed is seldomn in agreement with your overall average pace (which is what you set up the alerts for). Fortunately you can choose to keep the pacing alarms turned off, which is what I do.
- Setting up and using the interval workout feature is a bit difficult and confusing. Plus you can only save one type of workout at a time. Say you want to do 10x 1/4 miles one day, then 4x 1 mile the next. You have to go through the set up again every time you want to use it for a different workout. Once you've finally set it up, it is confusing to use the interval trainer. The screen asks if you are done setting up, and there's no yes or no option - all you can do is hit start/stop. Then it's not clear whether you're starting your workout or not, because you're still on the set-up screen and there's no timer or anything to tell you whether you should be moving in accordance with the workout you just set up. If you go back to the main display with time and distance, there's no indication that you're doing the intervals. Maybe I just haven't figured out this feature yet.

Despite these annoyances, I still really like the 205 and still give it 5 stars. It also seems more durable than the 201 (I've dropped it a couple times already with no ill effects). I recommend it to anyone who wants great feedback and tracking on their workout pace, time, and distance.

We love the Garmin Forerunner. Living in the Black Hills there are many trails and paths to run. The Garmin accurately tracks where we've been and how long it took us! We love it! Thanks!

I found the Forerunner 205 to be an excellent GPS device to help track time, distance and record personal achievements in running, walking, biking and other time/distance events.

I would like to see the 205 have an add-on for use indoors such as the Forerunner 305 has (extra cost but...).

The device is accurate and fast to aquire sat's, and seldom loses them even in heavy cover. This is a very addedd plus for the device.

The accompanying software is excellent for tracking your progress.

This unit picks up satellites better than the 201, but it still drops them. It backtracks the lost mileage, but with a plus or minus factor of 50 feet or more, your mileage may vary -- mine did and that's why I sent it back for a refund. GPS may work for cars, but for personal tracking devices, the distance variation makes it too unreliable for an active training program. I'm going to try the accelerator watch from Silva to see if it gets it any better than Garman does.

Works perfectly, no problems so far. I am very, very happy with it!

This trully is the best running product that I have ever used. Other than the size, it's almost perfect. The bulky size is the reason why I gave a 4 instead of a 5. I think that I would have liked to try the model with the heart rate monitor Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Heart Rate Monitorbecause this is something else I like to monitor. But wheather I'm downtown or in the mountains, the 205 provides information that I need during the run, but upon my return home, I can then download the information onto a computer and analyze my run.

This unit, while looking like something out of Star Trek, performs nicely. It reads consistant routes and distances, and acquires satellites rather quickly. The setup is a little much at first, but most of the settings are one time deals. The display itself and the display options are great for quick viewing. The only downsides I have noticed are the mapping features (it plots my running route out in the ocean) and the battery life (10 hours max, but I usually get around 7-8 before I have to charge). All in all, not a bad running partner.

This product exceeded my expectations.

Out of the box, the first thing I noticed was the build quality. It felt solid in the hand and on the wrist. Joints are tight and the rubberized coating on parts of the watch felt like a quality build. The base that hooks up to the computer and AC is equally solid.

Software install and watch setup was very easy. For a watch as complicated as this, I did not even use the manual. Clicking the buttons a few times was enough to get started, this is good design.

I'm a runner, not a gadget freek. So I don't need a lot of bells and whistles. This watch does it job very well. I'm not going to recite the entire feature list, but everything advertised it performed. Two major draw backs.

1) Satilite acquisition takes a long time. Even starting at the same place, it's not instantanious like Amazon claims. It's takes 3-4 min each time. So get out, turn on the watch, stretch a little and I'll be ready. But it is annoying to have to wait.

2) It does not automatically tick on miles. I would love to have a feature built into the watch where it would sound on each mile and give me a quick split. Then on the computer tell me what my each mile splits were. For now, I have to look at the watch when a mile is coming up and click on lap.

Overall, a great watch. Drawback 2) can probably be fixed with firmware in the future. Drawback 1) is not a show stopper.

I had the Garmin GPS for a few weeks now. I love it, i can track my miles without now problems. I run different roads all the time and it tells me and shows me where i have ran. I do have a few things that i can't get together but it should workout in time. I did have one problem when i ran the Cherry Blossom race in Washington DC .. The sighal drop from time to time . I guess because so many other people had GPS units ???? That was the only time i had problems with this unit.

I bought the Garmin 201 about 2 years ago. What a great watch. I love it. It is so good that it took me a good 6 months to decide to go for the 201. Why did I change? Well I was training for the marathon and I wanted to have as much accuracy as possible in my actual pace as I tend to get excited in the beguinning of my runs so I need to control myself. The 201 bounces around a lot, depending on tree cover and buildings. The 205 does a great job! On the other hand with the 201 I would have to set the watch outside for a minute before I got a GPS fix, with the 205 I set the watch by the window and it gets a fix from inside the house! I just love gadgets and this is one of my favorite ones. By the way, I have had it for 4 months now and no problems.

I wanted to get something that I could track my running. I looked into the nike+ system but it just seemed too commercial and not really applicable to what I was trying to do. So, I decided to give this a try.

I love it. It is a terrific product. Even though I do not go for long adventurous runs (I usually do the 3-5 mile runs), it gives me more than enough info to see what I am doing and how I am doing it. It gives me more than enough information such as distance, calories burned, elevation, grade, etc. I have had no problem with the satellite locater either as it has kept track of where I am whether I am walking among tall buildings downtown, or in the suburbs or in a more tree filled secluded location.

The best part is to come home after a run and plug it in to the computer and really begin to analyze how far I went and how I did. Some of the interesting things that I have learned about my running is that I actually increase my speed when I am going up hills...and my speed decreases as I am going downhill. These are things that I was not aware of but now I can follow more closely.

I download this on to the Garmin software and then I can upload it to a variety of sites such as motionbased.com or Sportstrack to see just how I am doing and what I can improve on. It has made running fun again for me and it was well worth the purchase price [...]

i've been looking for a way to measure my runs more accurately for awhile now, and this watch is the best i've found at a reasonable price. my biggest worry about this watch was the size. i figured for it to do what it does it would have to take up most of lower forearm. when i got it out of the package i was suprised at how small it was and how well it fit. really not much bigger than the watch i was wearing but with tons more features. feature-wise, it does a bunch. the screen can hold from one item to four items, depending on what you want to see. i have mine set to show time, distance, pace, and average pace. the training software is nice, even though i haven't got around to using it much. it does allow you to set up different workouts and then download them to the watch. as far as reception goes i have had no problems. it takes my watch about a minute or so to locate the satilite and then it is ready to go. this watch has many more features, some i find useful and others i haven't tried yet. overall a great investment and i recommend it to anyone looking to measure their runs more accurately or are looking for a "coach" to help them through their training.

Perfect for me as I get bored with the same running route. Now I can just take off and I can tell how far I have gone. I also like the pace feature that shows me what my pace is for my run. Downloading of workout onto computer is really cool and I am just starting to play around with these capabilities. I really enjoy having this unit.

Initial start up couldn't be easier. Seems to be very accurate (I checked it for 200 miles against the speedometer and odometer in my car).

The only thing I really care about is max speed. I have only skied with it twice so far and have yet to break the 60mph barrier. It measures altitude, however, I don't know yet if it tracks vertical feet.

Con: The current time display could be bigger.

BTW, the photos in the product description make the 205 look bigger than it really is.



This product with the assoicated software (included) is everything you hope it is but really don't believe it will be. The x-ray glasses you saw advertized in the back of the comic book when you were a kid cost you $1.50 to learn a lesson why you should be skeptical. The Garmin is the real deal. I bought it for my son (a high school state (Indiana)level miler). When he took off for his first workout and got home an hour later, he uploaded his entire workout onto the computer and low and behold his whole course with speeds, times, street names, etc., showed up on our computer, starting with the satallite photograph of our patio!!!!

I love this device. It tracks miles, pace and calories. I save lots of time not driving around after my run to see how far I went!

As an aspiring triathlete and self-admitted gadget freak, I'm always looking for something new to track my progress. This little device is fantastic. I was contemplating upgrading my Polar HRM to the one with the "footpod" that tracks speed/distance - but I'm glad I bought this instead. Pro's and con's:
Pro's:
1. INCREDIBLY easy to use, program, and manipulate. My overriding thought since I got it has been that Polar could learn alot from Garmin. I've had my Polar S450 for 3 years and still can't get it to do everything it's supposed to.
2. Lightweight, wristwatch style configuration is imperceptible while wearing it. In fact, it's lighter than my Polar HRM, which I wear on the other wrist.
3. Incredibly accurate. Used it while biking the other day...distance and other measurements were right on with my cyclocomputer.
4. Very user-friendly software interface, and uploading a run takes seconds, without any additional user involvement other than plugging it into the computer.
5. Price - very, very reasonable.

Con's:
Only one, and it's a stretch...can't use it while swimming. As a triathlete, I would have liked to be able to accurately measure my distance & speed during open water swims.

Now I kinda wish I'd bought the 405 (with built in HR monitor). Maybe when the Polar wears out! A great tool and terrific value.

Bought this for my wife to replace a Timex gps running watch that died. She is still learning the functions and has not used the computer but she seems to like it. The only draw back is the time it takes to pick up a satellite, but maybe it's because she's in a more remote area.

Great product. Lots of features. Easy to use and set up. Couldn't ask for more! Works as advertised.

Device is good with following buts.... it losts the satellite quite often, navigate into the daily work outs may not seem not that easy as compared with a Polar, the Greatss, it's rechargable batery and the ability to shift into more than one sports...

DEVICE: It has been a very fun little gadget. It boots up in the house by a window; no need to leave it outside on a post or the hood of your car. It gets ready to run in about 30 seconds. It worked right after charged, and the software responds to just plugging the device into the USB port, downloading data automatically. SOFTWARE: The map underlay shows city names and interstate highways, and is more attuned to vehicular mapping than mapping a run in the neighborhood, and that's a disappointment. Totals show up only on the watch - not on the software, surprisingly. There's also no way to manually enter any data on the software. I hope for a revision.

I am very pleased with the Forerunner 205 training device. I have just used it for 50+ miles over the last month and so far haven't had any major trouble. It takes anywhere from 30 secs - 1 min to locate the satellites. It lost signal momentarily on a couple occasions when I was running under shade but I guess any GPS device would probably do that. I haven't had a chance to play around a lot with the software except reviewing the running history. My only regret is that I should have bought the Forerunner 305 as I am now looking for a heart rate monitor. This is my first GPS device so I can't make comparisons to other devices available. Overall, I am satisfied.

I saw the Garmin 205 in an ad around Christmas and ended up buying one for my wife, who's training to run her first marathon. She loved it and let me borrow it for a run. When I kept asking her to borrow her watch, she sent me out to get my own and I can say it's made a big difference in my training (I promised I'd train with her and run a marathon too).

It's been quite a few years (almost 20) since I trained to run any distance farther than from my car to the house and when I was running consistently in high school it was as a sprinter/hurdler/400M runner. While I did run cross country in the fall to stay in shape, the longest race was a 5K and practices rarely went over 6-8 miles. I was not a distance runner and my biggest issue was (and still is) going out too fast and running out of steam.

The Garmin 205 has helped me track my pace and distance so that I can maintain a steady pace, start off slower, but end strong. The watch has no problem getting and keeping a satelite lock, is lightweight and, contrary to some reviews, is not too large and fits nicely on my wrist. The accompanying software, together with the motionbased website are great for tracking progress and the watch has more features than I've been able to explore so far.

I'm nowhere near the speeds I ran in high school (or the weight for that matter), but the watch is helping me pace myself and build up my milage without bonking on every run. I have had no problems with the watch, nor has my wife had any problems with hers. It's worked great, has good software and is a great training tool.



Glad for the Mac OS Training Center support, I got mine about 6 weeks ago. Contrary to all the glowing reviews I'm really quite disappointed. Warnings!!!

1) The pace and elevation data are pretty much garbage. For instance, I often run along a river where the max elevation change can't be more than about 15 ft (a couple of overpasses), but the unit shows me random hills of over 100 ft. Out and back runs over hilly routes? Successive runs over the same peak shows > 100% variation from time to time. Pace data? When reality is 6:30-7:30/mi, it's swinging from 3:30 to 9:00+/mi on these flat runs (and that's with option set for maximum smoothing.)

2) Tech support's suggestion to update all the unit SW sounds good, but SURPRISE -- YOU CAN'T UPDATE FROM A MAC!!!! I'm hunting down a PC for this purpose, but the Tech Specs ought to say *Mac OS not supported* in flaming red letters. Frankly, if the unit performance is this bad with end-of-2006 code, I'm not holding my breath.

[I'm not generally a tough customer, but in this case I'm one step from seeking a refund.]

The title says it all -- garmin has a mac version of the Training Center (OS X only, 10.4 or later). You can get it from their site. I downloaded it for use with a 205 -- works as well on my intel mac as the PC version did on my PC.

The only remaining problem is that garmin does not have any mapsource or topo maps for the mac world. This means that you'll be stuck using the basic (but certainly functional) maps included with training package.

I read the reviews before I purchased it and I am not sorry. I am petite, yet it is not too big for my wrist. I have never lost satelite contact and it is very user friendly. That is big for me since I am close to being computer illiterate. I now track all my outdoor runs on my computer.!!!

I have been a long distance runner for 28 years. Prior to my Garmin 205, I had a Fitsense (the first accelerometer-in-a-foot-pod unit) for six years. I have been totally pleased with my Garmin 205. I have used it in snowing weather down to single digit (degF) temperatures. I use it on wooded trails. I like the configurable screen and the computer link. I also use it while bicycling. Tip: I turn it on and place it facing out of a window sill 5-10 minutes before leaving to get it to locate the GPS satellites. The Garmin Training Center software is just ok. I much prefer some shareware called SportTracks.

I really love running with the Garmin 205. I had the 201 before this one and I traded up for this one mostly because of the size. I can't imagine running without one since I have been using this for the last 3 years. The only thing I like better about the 201 was that it would tell me how many hours I had left on my battery. I went to a race with the new one and didn't have enough battery to keep my time.

This gadget is essential for anyone who hits the road for a while...
How far, how fast, how many calories....all answered. Can't run without it.

This watch is incredible. All the information that you ever need is right there with you on your wrist while running. Makes running outdoors more enjoyable for us dataheads that need that constant feedback of distance, pace, etc. Never drops its satellites, even while running through tunnels.

I had heard about wrist-mounted GPS devices for running and training, but I never imagined owning one. It makes you wonder how people tracked thier training before having one. I really enjoy using mine for running and I am just beginning to scratch the surface of what the 205 is capable of. I haven't used the multi-sport features, but for anyone who competes in triathlons this is a great buy. The size of the 205 is just right for my wrist and the instructions and quick start quide are very user friendly.

My plan was to only use this GPS unit when I was charting out new courses, but I'm finding myself always strapping it on now! It's less cumbersome than I expected and works very well. Out of about 20 runs, it lost contact with the satellite once for about one mile - otherwise it has been faultless. It takes about 3-4 minutes to initiate contact when turning on and you need to leave it someplace still while it is finding the satellite.

Started using it last month to train for my next marathon. The pace alert really helps. I also enjoy not being a prisoner to my premeasured courses. Now I can run where I want and still know my milage. Even in heavy forested areas in northwest Washington I have no problems picking up signals. The GPS navigation system should be quite useful this summer when I head out to the Olympic Mountains.

Many years ago I had a large GPS that I had to wear on my upper arm. I love the wrist model, but it is still a little bulky. I haven't lost the signal yet while running. Seems very accurate. I love the downloadable feature that lets you look back at past runs and compare on your PC.

This is a fun device for running and bicycling. Once you've tried it out a few times, take the time to read the little book that comes with it. It details many features that I found to be useful and enhance my training. For example, you can set it to start a previously run/biked/etc. course by setting a course point for the beginning and hitting Start. The timer and the virtual partner won't start start until you actually get to the course start. This is helpful for warming up, adding a little distance without impacting your training goals, etc.

I have enjoyed my Forerunner 205 and have not had any problems with it. It was exactly what I was looking for.

I have been a runner since 1982 and a cross country and track coach since 1998-99, and this is by far the best piece of running equipment I have ever purchesed.

I have found that my training has taken on a new meaning with the Garmin Forerunner. My ability to monitor my pace has made my running more consistent and efficient. The exciting part is getting home to down load the information on the computer and visualize my performance.
Great gadget to have for serious runners.

This is an excellent tool if you want to increase your running/walking/biking distance or speed. There is not cheating. I can now explore the city and take routes that are not calibrated by my car.

Also, there is a 'return' feature. If you are running in a city and get lost, it will direct you back to the start.

The watch easy to use and you can track your progress on the computer.

The Garmin 205 is a great training tool. I am using it for every run while I train for the Boston Marathon. Very simple to use, keeps track of pace and mileage. One word of advice: make sure you wipe the back of the unit clean and dry before setting it on the charger.

Nice widescreen display, very user friendly and quick to set up. It locks onto the GPS satellite and spits out the tracking speed and distance with minutes. Very intuitive; you can define routes that you repeat and save them. Way more real time data that you will ever need (I like the elevation feature). I find it helps keep my mind focused, as it passes the time on the long runs and rides. You can set it up for interval training, break down sections of the workout for time and speed. Great for data transfer. It's been a winner so far, and very durable. I'm glad I upgraded.


What a great device! It is very accurate and easy to use. A perfect GPS for running. Very light weight and not so bulcky. I really like that you can switch miles/meter and 12h/24h. I just started running and never owned a device like this before. I'm very satisfied with it. I would recommend it to everyone.

This thing is amazing. I''ve had the 205 for a few days now and have gotten several runs in with it, although I plan to use it for biking as well. There are obviously lots of cool things you can do with it in building maps of your runs, then taking those runs, turning them into courses, and then racing against yourself later.

However, the core reason I wanted it was for:
- Mileage estimates
- To get feedback on speed/pacing

First Mileage Estimates - I never knew how far I was running and just took a guess. Now I am training for a marathon and that wasn't cutting it. I tried to use a mapping website where I digitized my routes using a mouse on the PC. Turns out if I mapped the run 3-4 different times, I'd get as much as a mile difference in a 15 mile run. Not good enough.

So this thing nails it on mileage and now I don't too far or too short in training.

Feedback for speed/pacing - As I've never known how far I have run, a stop watch didn't do much good for estimating how fast I am running - only how long I ran for. When I tried to do speed workouts or slow 10+ minute per mile recovery runs, I never knew if I was going slow enought to truly recover.

Now I know how fast I am going. The instant pace feedback is not that great, but the lap pace is very good. I realize now I have a tough time running slower than 10 minutes per mile so it is helping to discipline myself. I haven't done a speed workout yet, but it will be great to see how my training is coming along and if I am on target to meet my pacing goals to run a 1:45 half marathon.

Also - calories burned. Some reviews mention this is way off. There is a firmware update that corrects this and it is fairly accurate now. I've compared what forerunner says with some web based estimation tools and I'm comfortable with the 205's calorie estimates.

The reason for only the 4 star rating:
- Garmin training software is fairly simple. I have opted to use a freeware SW version called Sporttracks by zonefivesoftware.com. Great mapping capabilites and the reporting, analytical tools are better. Not as intuitive to use, but for a free package it is better than what Garmin provides.
- Also, some of the extras on the Garmin are useless. Stuff like the % grade is way inaccurate, and the elevation is questionable.

Bottom line - if you want a tool to improve your training and don't want to be tied down to a system that uses a footpod and/or want to build maps of your runs, this is a winner.

I have bought this GPS running watch about a week back. For the past year and a half, I have been training with the Garmin Forerunner 201, but with the recent falling prices of the 205, I could not resist upgrading.

First off notices:
Charging and transferring data via USB is much faster then the 201. The battery went from empty to fully charged in less than two hours, where before with the 201, it would be overnight before I could use it.

Comfort:
The 201, although bulky, was not that heavy, especially during the run. The one thing I hated was how it limited the wrist movement due to the prolongated size. The 205 does not suffer from this problem as it's much thinner.

Accuracy:
With the 201, it never had a hard time finding the signal, just that randomly during my runs it would loose signal, or say I was running at a 10 min/mile pace, when in reality, it was near a 7:00 mile pace. With the 205, I have never experienced and weak signals, and it will even "find itself" from inside my house - something that I could NEVER do before.

Fixed Annoyances:
-With the 201, when you stopped the time, it would create a new lap - with the 205, it will continue with the same lap until you hit the lap button.
-USB dock. I don't know why Garmin decided to sell the x01 series with a Serial cable in 2004 when all PCs had a USB port. Neither of my new computers had a Serial port, so my 201 was useless unless I wanted to use my PC from 1999.
-A/C adapter size. The new one is about 1/3 the size of the old one

Cool stuff:
You can customize the fields to include everything you wanted to know:
Sunrise
Sunset
Time of Day
Direction (N,NE,S,SW etc)
Average pace
Lap Pace
Distance

I'm loving the 205 a LOT more then the 201. I hope you love it as much as I do.


I have heard it compared to the microwave -- you just don't know how you got along without it after you buy one. It is the truth. As a numbers junkie who can't trust his body for speed, I now can tempo train with the best of them because my pace is on my wrist. Highly recommended.

Excellent purchase. I recommend this device for outside training. It's very accurate and easy to operate.

I am on my second Forerunner 205 experiencing similar issues: It won't power up after recharging. I am working with Garmin tech support on the second unit. The first one I returned to Amazon after a month. The second one has now lasted just over a month before experiencing a problem. This is a great unit when it works, but I'm hesitant to give it good marks if this same issue happens twice and the usual troubleshooting recommendations do not work. The one star rating I feel is deserved when the same problem has happened in two units.

Amazon was wonderful in facilitating the return of the first unit - I'm seeing what Garmin can do right now. Else, it's back to a map & a compass.

As a regular jogger, I was very excited to buy a forerunner 205. One running partner had just bought the older version - forerunner 201 - and was very pleased. I was also pleased - until about the third run. Part of our normal run is on a bike path that is partly covered by a building. For the first couple of runs I had no problem. My garmin didn't even lose the satellite signal. Then on the third run, on the return under the building, the distance on the forerunner suddenly showed .08 less than a moment before. Later in the run, toward the end, it just froze completely. At home I downloaded the latest firmware and tried again. On the next run, all was well. Then on subsequent runs it always 'backed up' the distance at the same spot. One moment the distance would accurately show 3.68 miles; a moment later it would show 3.63 miles. It never froze again and it was off a little less than before, but it also never corrected the mileage after decreasing the distance. Of course, this made the time and distance for my run not accurate. So I decided to return the watch. Amazon was wonderful. They arranged for UPS to pick up the watch. My card was credited four days later. In summary, I probably just got a bad one - I may try again when a newer version comes out.

My running partner and I log 25 to 30 miles a week. She uses the 201; I use the 205. The 205 pace is often erratic, shifting back and forth within a four-minute range. Also, the measured distances aren't always consistent. By the end of a run, the difference between our Garmins can stretch up to a half-mile. This may not seem like a lot to some, but if you're trying to calculate your speed, it makes a difference.

I purchased this item in order to train for an upcoming half marathon. Using the GPS in conjunction with the supplied software is outstanding. It allows me to adjust my training schedule with ease by utilizing the abundance of information it provides continuously. In addition, there are websites(for a fee, of course) that can use your and others' data to show you good areas to workout and to compare yourself. Finally, I have never had the GPS lose signal and I have ran in all types of weather and trails. It was a great buy.

I love this product, I do not go running without it. It's great, ALWAYS find the satellites, great display. The Software is OK, nothing great. If you want to GeoCache with it you can enter data directly to the watch or use a third party software like EasyGPS.

Nice compact unit, with good menus. Good pick up of sats and responsiveness. I'm not a big fan of built-in rechargeables, but I understand that it accounts for the units small size. The bigger drawback is the fact that it appears to charge only via a USB connection. As something I would look to use a lot on vacations, this is a big drawback as I don't always wish to lug a notebook computer around, just to charge a unit that I got primarily due to it's small size.

happy to say that it showed up on time but i never got an email from the company themselves other an that great job thanks rfj

Prior to getting the 205 I was driving aroung neighborhoods to mark out run routes to help train for distance running. Not anymore! With the 205 I just go for a run, monitor the distance and time while out and come home to sync with my PC. I get a record with very little effort and make routes from each run. I am so pleased with it!!!

I have owned this for two years and it has taken me through two marathon training sessions! I can honestly say it has made my running twice as enjoyable. With the capabilty of transfering your running data to your computer hard drive you can literally throw your old running logs away!

Great investment. Accurate. Good motivator with immediate satisfaction and gives you the ability to mark improvement or decline. Really like the ability to view route on Google earth using the MotionBased Agent.


I have used the Garmin 205 for several months now and highly recommend it. Here in Arizona it acquires satellites generally in less than one minute, and I have never had any problem with it not holding onto the signals. Accuracy is amazing - I have checked it on local school tracks and it is right on target. I used the unit for the PF Chang half marathon last weekend in Phoenix, and it worked flawlessly - it was great to be able to check my average pace along the route, and it really helped me try to stay near my target time for the run.

Unlike some reviewers, I have had no battery issues - as suggested by Garmin, however, I usually charge my unit between significant runs, so it is always fully charged. The longest I have have tested it was in the half marathon, and it performed flawlessly for the 2 hours that it took me to finish.

The main screen can easily be reconfigured if you don't like the default screens - I have mine configured for elapsed time, average pace, and total distance. My for purposes, I like the average pace setting better than the instantaneous pace. The numbers are a bit hard for me to read in dark conditions, but I have difficulty reading my wrist watch in the dark while running as well. If you really need to see the numbers on the run in the dark, a brief pause or slow down under a street light generally does the trick.

For those reviewers who seem to be having problems with the unit, especially with erratic pace readings, I would suggest going to the Garmin website and downloading the Web Updater, then using this to update the software on your 205 to the latest version. It is very easy to do. Some of the pace issues are specifically addressed with the new software, smoothing out the data somewhat to make instaneous readings more consistent. You can also easily sign up for email updates should new, updated software become available.

Overall I highly recommend this unit. It performs much better than the Nike + iPod unit that I briefly tried. I highly recommend using it with the free MotionBased web site as well - you can see your runs plotted out on either a street map or a satellite map, or with a combination of both, and can also access other routes downloaded by other users that you might be interested in.

Overall, this is a really fun, well designed, easy to use device. It has added a fun element to my exercise, and I highly recommend it.

I had the Forerunner 101 for about 2 years before purchasing the 205. The 205 is better in many ways. Smaller, more compact, finds satellites faster and holds the signal stronger. The rechargeable batteries have a greater capacity. On the 101 I had to recharge much more often. Downloading the results to the computer is nice for long term record keeping, since the unit only stores 2 years of running data. The 101 only lasted 2 years before ceasing to function. I hope the 205 has a greater longevity.

My forerunner 205 works great for walking, running, driving, even on a plane!
I used it on a cross country plane trip, and then loaded the the trip online to see maps of where I'd been, and what I'd seen. During the trip I could see our elevation, heading and speed.

The device works as advertized, and it's very customizable.

The GPS works great! It is much better than my old Timex model which burned through batteries like crazy and didn't hold the GPS signal well. It is worth every dollar.

Had researched the product before receiving and have found it lives up to the hype of this next generation GPS training device. Smaller then previous versions which I had tried out and although reception in full tree cover can be hit and miss, I wasnt looking for perfection from a wrist mounted unit. Have enjoyed 205 beyond running and biking and the software and web based monitoring tool just added to the overall experience.

Very pleased with this product. Had the Forerunner 101 for about three weeks and realized spending a little more money would be worth it, and it was.

I only got to use it twice before it was broken. It definitely took longer to aquire a signal on an overcast day, rather than clear. The last I used it was on a track; the quarter mile alert kept beeping earlier and earlier on the track.

But I really liked the virtual partner option.

For the 2 times that I actually got to use it, I liked it.

It seemed to work okay when I received it. Soon I started noticing the battery life was much less than the specified 10 hours. 5 1/2 weeks after I purchased it it died 7.33 miles into a 9 mile run, less than 1 hour after it was "fully charged." Now it won't charge at all and it won't accept any input from the keys when powered by the charging base. After paying over $200, I'm awfully angry that I have to go through the trouble and expense to return it to Garmin.

P.S. They did replace it under warranty, less than 10 days after they received the defective Forerunner. The service rep I spoke to for a return authorization had the nerve it insinuate that I had it in water. he also didn't apoligize for the poor quality until the end of the conversation when I made it a point to tell him how disappointed I was. the new unit seems to work fine.

I bought this for my son as he is a runner and he loves the watch. He goes home, sinks with his computer and knows his route, how far he's run etc. It's been a great tool for him.

Got this for my wife who is getting more into running. She is always asking me to estimate how far she ran. Not any more! The 205 works great. Has some bells and whistles on it but the basic screen of elapsed time, pace, and distance is all that is truly needed. One slight draw back is the software that comes with it. It's great except the map used to review the course that was run is very basic and unhelpful. It will show a loop where you run but the map only shows the highways and interstates. I thought it would have the local streets.. You can get this map addition for $80-$100. Overall very pleased....

After about 1 month of use, I find the 205 easy to use and accurate. None of the rumors I had heard about lost signals have come true. Note that I am using product in NE US in winter with no leaves on tree, etc., so problem could occur in spring. Link with computer is foolproof and easy although software app is pretty basic and not very flexible. There is room for improvement here. Also learned I can get wireless cadence counter for bike from Garmin for use with bike training. I will definitely do this even though I have bike computer on my bike (not GPS. For anyone interested in knowing how far and how fast you are running, this is the product.

After using a Garmin 201 for a couple years I finally talked my wife into getting a GPS watch for herself. Since the Forerunner 205 is a big step-up from the 201, I purchased the 205 for her. After running a couple of weeks with it, she couldn't be happier with the results. The 205 is a great improvement over the 201 in just about every way, so good that I purchased a 305 for myself (which I will review soon)!

I love that I can just run without a route that I already know the mileage of. I also like that it keeps my pace and tells me the calories I've burned. I am more excited about my long runs now and more faithful too.

I had previously tried hand held navigation devices, for walking and hiking, and was very disappointed in their ergonomics and accuracy. With all the favorable reviews about the Forerunner 205, I had to try it. I was most impressed with the accuracy, which I would bet is about 97-98% accurate. As long as you stay in one position at start up the sattelite searching is pretty quick. The options of viewing are very comprehensive giving average speed, instant speed, altitude, distance, time, time of day, etc., all that you could possibly want. It is also very light and comfortable. The charging works well with the USB when you synch with the training program. The only negatives are with the software which doesn't provide enough editing capabilities, within specific runs. However, the software shows some pretty interesting things like the altitude changes during your run/walk, as well as your instant pace. I have only had the Garmin for a couple of months, so I really can't comment on overall reliability and the battery capacity. The longest I have used it has been two hours. After each outing, I load the information onto my computer. In doing so I charge up the battery, which eliminates the battery charge chore. Overall this is some great product.

OK, I haven't used all the functionality yet but I do love it for helping me monitor my pace for running (if you call 12 minute miles running!). The only thing I'm not crazy about is the fact that it twists on my wrist unless I have it so tight it cuts off circulation. So I'm constantly turning it back so I can read it. Battery seems to be lasting a LOOOONG time which surprised me.

This thing works great. I am a military soldier and have to run. I have always struggled with my run times for physical fitness test. Now I have a virtual partner that keeps me on pace and helps to inprove my times by keeping track of my laps, mileage, and splits. Get this product. You will not be disappointed!

I'm not a runner or a triathlete, by any means. I bought the Forerunner 205 for when I go on walks / hikes on the many trails around where I live. Despite the large size (as compared to a standard watch), it fits my fairly small wrist and is not heavy. I actually forget I'm wearing it... Oh, and it does have the date and time in nice large easy to read characters. If you've ever owned a Garmin eTrex (the original yellow GPS that cost about $100 when it came out), then you can expect about the same amount of features. There is no base map built in, but you can mark waypoints and there are other basic GPS functions. The real feature, though is syncing to your PC with the included training center software. It logs each trip, displays a calendar and map of your route and graphs your performace (pace, elevation, speed, etc.)

Great product, no regrets!

I purchased the Garmin 205 to replace a running watch of the variety that includes a "foot pod" sending data to my watch. The Garmin watch has proven to be significantly more accurate in its measurement of distance. Furthermore, I have not had any problem whatsoever with maintaining a GPS signal while running on overcast days or through areas of dense foliage. The watch picks up a signal quick enough when I first turn it on (usually allowing me time to stretch a bit while waiting). Recharging the watch is very easy and much more affordable than the special batteries I needed to purchase for both my old watch and its foot pod. Another big plus in using this watch compared to my old watch is that this watch can be used for biking as well. The only downside to this watch compared to my old system is having to connect the watch via USB to the computer to upload data (the other watch sent data without any kind of physical connector). Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase and would definitley recommend it to other runners.

I bought this as a replacement for my Forerunner 201. I like it a lot more. It is easier to use for those of us who are not super savvy with digital devices. It also has better reception in areas with lots of trees and finds the satellites much more quickly and easier than the 201. My favorite thing about it is the new shape. Although it is larger than a watch, it is square instead of rectangular so it isn't as obtrusive and in the way as the old shape. I love my Forerunner 205 !

Works great except for a little slow getting the satellites on occasion. Love all the features. Have been running longer distances just because it's fun to take new routes, knowing you can track your mileage. Readouts are easy to see. Pace times tend to lag behind actual running speed but "catch up" when you review your average at the end. Seems especially bad in wooded areas even without leaves on the trees. Love it regardless as I know my running speed fairly well without the watch to tell me. Highly recommend it for any runner or walker.

The only problem I have is that sometimes it takes a REALLY long time to locate a satellite. Sometimes it never even finds one by the time I finish my 5 mile runs. That is really frusterating! When I go on long runs, I turn it on a few minutes before I leave the house and it usually finds one okay. But I do love the style and training aspects of it.

Great training aid, the Forerunner is a little sensitive when you first turn it on - requiring you to maintain stationary until it locks in the satellites. Once locked in it is great and hardly ever losses it's signal. My watch locked one time, so I called Garmin technical support, they were great.

Having recently ran my first marathon (July 06 - SF) and half-marathon (Oct 06 - SJ) I was eagerly looking for something I could use outdoors to track all the essential data. I was very used to, and tired of, running on the treadmill to figure this out. I took a chance and got the Forerunner 205. I couldn't be more happier.

When I opened the package I immediately turned it on, indoors, and it found the satellites in about three minutes. Before I ran on it I took it with me to work, while driving, and tested the speed, distance and elevation to see how accurate it was. The speed was a little slow in catching up as I accelerated but it was always accurate once I was at an even pace. Top speed was correct. Once in the office I compared Yahoo Maps and Google Maps distance: their's said 5.4 and the 205 said 5.38. Elevation was off by about 10 ft.

Next up was my running. I took it out for a 4 mile run. The pace, again, fluctuated some as I was running, but that could be my own faulty running style. Elevation and speed seemed to be accurate though and was absolutely essential to maintaining a steady pace (which I wish I would have had for both the half and full marathon). Once I got back to the house I uploaded my history into the Garmin Training Center. This software is amazing. It breaks down your time, pace, average speed, max speed, calories burned, and elevation (descent and ascent) for your overall run and/or for each mile (if you set the Auto Lap to a mile). The mapping part of the software is amazingly accurate. I purposely would run a circle around a tree and cross over my out and back path to see if the 205 kept track of it, and it did! Every turn I made was recorded.

As a previous reviewer stated, the only time I noticed my speed wasn't accurate (it would say 0) is when I went under an overpass but it immediately started up just before I ran from under it. Also, as the same reviewer stated, at this exact time there was a spike in the data for that short section. Also, every time I turned the 205 on it found the satellites from 30 seconds to two minutes, but the one time I turned it on in the hills while driving it took about five minutes, which is still not too slow. I have since turned it on while driving, but not in the hills, and it found it very quickly.

With many marathons, half marathons and triathlons coming up this year I cannot wait to be running with my 205, something I cannot believe I ran without in the past. I would whole heartedly recommend the Garmin Forerunner 205 to any runner, biker or combination thereof. A definite recommend.

5 stars.


Excelent service.
The GF205 keep all the promises made in the specs.

Really superb tool.

The only remark is the software:if you want to download your history into an excel file just can't do it!

This arrived quickly and worked perfectly. It was given as a gift to my son and he couldn't haven't been more pleased. He has since lost the Garmin and has purchased another 205 to replace it.

I gave it 2 starts initially, but would raise it to 4 bars if Amazon would let me change the stars level (I am real slow to give 5 bars; everything has room for improvement). When I first got the device, it had lots of trouble tracking satellites, and would loose track right in the middle a run, and never be able to resync even when I stood still. However, I called Garmin, and found I had a device with fairly old firmware, and they have an easy way to update firmware. There are two types of firmware in the unit, one for the GPS chip (2.9 is latest as of Jan 2007) and one for the displays (2.5 is latest). The updated firmware fixed the issue it appears, and the device seems to be tracking the satellites well. As soon as the snow melts in Denver, I am really looking forward to checking if my long run route is really the 20 miles I am estimating it to be.
One hint: It will be extra slow in locking onto satellites if you start it indoors and then walk outside. It is better to start the unit outside, standing still, with good reception already available.

This is the first GPS watch I have owned. I have been running for around 8 years now, and would never have an accurate idea of how far I was running.

My wife bought me this product and I couldn't be happier.
Likes:

small enough not to bother you
seems accurate enough (out and backs are pretty much dead on accurate, off by .01)
find home feature is great on vacations, no more just run straight, turn around and run back
has about every statistic for running available
great data fields, 4 then 3 then 3 to show tons
auto lap
auto multisport
great great workout tools, including virtual partner

dislikes
locating satallites takes a bit of time (not a huge problem, but i like getting up and going)
elevation is no good if you don't have motionbased account
spikes in data from time to time, usually around overpasses



overall

I have nothing which to compare it to but I love that thing. I am running more often, just to use my watch. Virtual partner is like a race everytime you go for a run. works great for interval training. If you would like to run your first marathon, I highly suggest looking into this watch.

I bought this for my girlfriend's birthday. She runs seven miles every day of the year but this purchase was a long-shot as she despises technology, also she is very petite and I was afraid the unit would be too large for her tiny wrists. The short story is that she absolutely loves it! She raves constantly about its features as well as the software included. I tried it myself (I walk long distances) and was so impressed I bought a Gamin Foretrex 101 for myself. Great product and great manufacturer!

This little gadget, is a lot esier to use, lighter, more accurate and better than the 201, if you enjoy running, you should buy it, the virtual training partner works pretty good, the workout program you can download from your computer is easy to use and you can actuallt program farttkleks, repetitions, long run with goals or no golas on time and/or distance.
I am training for my 2nd marathon with the 2005 forerunenr and it is making it a lot easier and better to train, if you want to have your heart rate measure to you should buy the 305.


When I attempted to use the 205, it took an hour to aquire a satellite signal. After the first time it aquired the signal, it never again was able to locate a satellite. I sent the product back and got excellent customer service from Garmin and they replaced it in a weeks time. THe second Garmin was working quite well, though I was disappointed in the time it still took to get a signal. Sometimes, it takes 5 minutes from a location I have used it in before. After using the product for a couple months, I am finding that the 205 is not working as well as it was after I received the replacement. I tend to loose signal quite frequently. Most recently, while running a marathon, I lost signal at mile 18 and it never aquired the signal again. I was running around a small island with no buildings nor large trees that could have interferred with the signal. What a disappointment. The product is very unreliable and it is definately not worth putting your confidence in the product. I would not purchase another Garmin. I originally purchased the Forerunner 201 (the older model) and it was even more unreliable. It seized up, lost signal, and the pace was never accurate. I had to ship that one back to the factory twice. The forerunners are definately not what they are advertised to be.

best running companion I've ever had-- don't know if I will ever be able to run without it again!

I never have to wonder if a race course is accurate. This Garmin Forerunner 205 is comfortable, and extremely accurate.

I had been using the Garmin 201 model for over a year and was very anxious to get the 205. Since I got it, I find that the current pace is consistently wrong on the 205. The 201 is much more accurate when it comes to telling you the pace you are currently running at. The 201 does all the same basic things as 205 just as well and is much better on the current pace for some reason. The 201 is also about $100 cheaper and I would highly reccomend buying it, it is fantastic and a great value!

I have had the Garmin 205 for over a month now. I have also used the 301. I like the 205 because it is smaller and more compact. I find it to be very accurate and finds the satellites faster than the 301. I walk under trees sometimes and have not lost the signal. It is easy to set up and read your stats. I have no problems with the rubber wristband. It is a good training device.

This is great for training. It's really nice to able to see your current and average pace. It's also nice that it can automatically start a new lap every mile (or other interval that you specify). It sometimes takes a long time to get a position, however.

The Forerunner 205 is extremely easy to set up and to use. It enables one to walk or run or a combination along any route. The record of this activity can be automatically downloaded to a computer in a few seconds. Details (distance, time for different segments of the route)can be easily displayed plus a very nice map of the route taken.

Since I enjoyed the previous version of the Forerunner, when the 205 model came out I was anxious to trade up and give my daughter my current model. The training device is awesome, especially for running and biking. The Forerunner provides the same capabilities as a bike computer at a fraction of the cost. The 205 model has enhanced its capabilities for collecting information for different sports. The import features to me as a runner (just added biking) is the split screen showing my pace, time and distance. When I set my goal for a certain race, I enter it into the Garmin and it will let me know what pace I have to maintain to reach my goal. I'm amazed at the accuracy of the finish times with using the satellites. Although each Garmin can be slightly different in end times, after I've finished every race, the Garmin indicates the correct distance of that race each time. The only challenge is it's size. Although the 205 has been upgraded, it is still a little heavy but I wouldn't let that discourage me. I got used to the weight. What I'd like to see added to the device is collecting a total for a particular day. Since I do speed workouts and clear my device with each interval so I can see my progress with each one, I'd like to know (without having to add each one up) the total mileage for the day as it provides for a week. Garmin, keep up the good work!

I use my device daily. When finished, I press stop and then shut off the device. I place it on the PC interface and that automatically downloads the runs and takes care of charging. If I don't shut it off, it continues tracking satellites which sometimes works indoors, a testimonial to its great sensitivity. I don't get a good charge though if I have left it on and then placed it on the charger.

Some quirks: When acquiring satellites in the woods or under very humid conditions, I live in Northern Wisconsin, I find it does so better if I can find a good clearing to several horizons and then holding my arm out with the flat watch band part horizontal standing still for 45-60 seconds.

When the trees are thick or the sky is overcast, I find I get much greater vertical distance than I know I am actually running. Hopefully the techs will give an update for this... it exaggerates your calories!!! Also, my base map has me running on the water in the Green Bay part of Lake Michigan. They say I can download a better base map but have yet to figure that out.

Do not put bug spray or lotion near the case or bezel. It will stain! THis is the main reason I give the unit a 4. You would think for an outdoor device the case would be impervious. THis is poor design. When the mosquitos and deer flies are thick in the woods, you cannot run fast enough without bug protection, especially when running up steep hills! :-)

So there you have it. I love almost all of the features, but the case. Oh, I would get the 305 if I did it over again, that way I could avoid wearing a second watch for the heart rate. I love the training info, post race, it is especially helpful for my marathon distance training.

This is my first Garmin, although I've used bigger Magellans for hiking.

Advantages:
*tracks total ascent and descent of your run or hike on the training partner. This is a great training feature.
*You can set any distance as a lap and compare your rate on the training Center. I also set it to beep at the mile mark (my lap).
*Rarely loses signal. Dense tree cover doesn't phase it. I only lose signal beside a steep bank or hill for a long time (1/2 mile or so). Re-gains signal without a problem.
*Accurate mileage. Some of the route planning websites quit working after your route exceeds 12-15 miles, which is the only reason I got a Garmin.

Disadvantages:
*plastic wristband not the most comfortable, although I've gotten used to it.
*The charging is totally unreliable. Why is this the case with so many expensive electronic products? When I plug in the charger, it either a)does nothing; b) turns itself on & off, beeps annoyingly, not charging until it dies of low battery, or c)after lots of fiddling, charges. This started the second time I used the product. Haven't tried customer service yet - that's next. Nothing more annoying than showing up at a race with a dead Garmin you thought you had charged.
*it takes a long time to locate the satellite (5-10 minutes) if you haven't used it lately, or if you're using it 50 miles away - you eventually get a prompt for this and it re-sets itself.
*it most likely overestimates calories expended to a ridiculous degree. I decrease my weight by 40 pounds to get an accurate caloric expenditure.

I bought the 205 for my girlfriend and we use it when we run together. It makes running fun. We like how it tracks our per mile time as well as how easy it is to put in lap times. Never had a problem with it going down or finding a satellite.

It's light, easily worn on the wrist and you barely know it's there.

One time a couple of weeks ago, we were running in another city and after running four miles we were completely lost. The 205 helped us get back to our starting point. Without it, we would probably still be out there. :)

We haven't used it for hiking yet, but plan to this weekend and I suspect it will really help knowing how far we have gone and where we are.

I highly recommend the 205.

There's not much else to say. It works just as advertised and I have yet to have a problem with it. I have not used the virtual training partner function, as I have an actual training partner, but I like how I am able to accurately track my performance, and I like the freedom of not having to map out distances before a run.

My only complaint, and the only thing that prevents my review from being a five-star review is the quality of the Training Center software that is packaged with the ForeRunner. It has limited functionality and is not very intuitive to use. Because of this, I don't use Training Center. Instead, I use a program called SportTracks to record and analyze my workouts.

Overall, I love my ForeRunner, and I don't want to run without it.

This new upgrade of the previous Garmin Forerunner serie is excellent. My wife and I both use the Garmin 205 and had previously been using the 201 and 301. The 205 is more sensitive when picking up signals and there are almost no weak signals even in wooded areas.

I like the there are three screens that can be customized with one to four types of data shown on each screen. This allows non-critical data to be displayed unlike the 201 and 301 which only had one screen that could be displayed.

The watch is comfortable and the main displays are easy to read. The history screens are difficult to read without my glasses but that is only a minor complaint as I usually don't look at those until after a run.

I would highly recoomend the Garmin 205.

It does a few more tasks than the 201, however:
Wrist strap is not as comfortable or as easy to use.
Internal battery does not last as long.
It does not lock on satellites any faster.
The readout is not as readable, particularly the details such as the last run statistics.

Garmin touts this unit as a trainer for runners, but I use it for hiking and cycling and I love it. I wish the built-in software and the software for your computer that comes on CD would recognize hiking as one of the sports to automatically categorize your activities under, but it only has running, biking, and "other" (very minor complaint).

I've owned (but lost) a Garmin Geko 301 and this Forerunner 205 picks up and locks on satellites so much better (has trouble in narrow canyons, but all GPS units do). I really love how small it is and that it can be worn on the wrist--so much easier to check status of your activity (hike, bike, run) than carrying in one hand a portable handheld GPS unit. The 205 has all the features of my Geko 301 and some, but in a smaller package.

I really like the computer software that you can download your GPS track data to--it shows in nice colorful chart format how fast you were going, where you were, elevation, etc. and displays your route on a basic road map. It also allows you to categorize your activities and automatically files them under the date. The Forerunner 205 itself doesn't have any mapping features showing where you are relative to roads or terrain, just to markers you set.

Overall, if you are interested in portable GPS units and don't need one with built-in maps, then I think you will be very happy with the Forerunner 205...I am!

I'm not an experienced user of GPS devices, so I cannot compare it to the competitive products, however my opinion is that my Forerunner is doing what I expected. Before buying I have read several opinions about that it tends to loose the signal or to present the false data. None of those I have observed after 1 month of intensive use. I use it for running and for windsurfing and in both cases it works pretty well. I run in the forest and among buildings in the city but the signal is lost very occasionally and it is retrieved fast. The waterproof feature has been proven as well :-). The only issue I could have is that one of the 4 pins use to connect to the docking station is getting rust, so I have to clean it up every time I need it to connect to my PC. This is why I give 4 stars not 5

Filip

I could not be happier with this product. No more estimating times. I've already seen improvment in my workout after only a week. No satellite drops. The software is simple to install and easy to use.

This is my first GPS training device. It generally works well. As long as I have captured the satellites before I begin my run, it keeps tracking me through reasonably heavy overhead tree canopy (C&O Canal Towpath, Maryland; Scotts Run Nature Preserve, McLean, Virginia; Great Falls Park, Virginia). There are times when the tree canopy where I begin to run is too heavy and the device does not pick up the satellite signal before I start to run. I just remember to turn device on in a less forested area before driving to begin run. Device has great flexibility and amazing download capacity to included software. Much more information than I will ever use. I at times forget to switch from biking mode back to running mode. Only really seems to affect calorie calculation. Most times the instant pace feature seems to provide too slow an estimate of actual pace. The ending average pace will be significantly lower than the instant paces I have seen on the device during a run. Overall I am very pleased.

I bought this as an upgrade to my Forerunner 301 (gave the old one to my wife :-)). I decided to go without the heart rate monitor this time, as it always seems that I have to run way too slow for the suggested heart rate ranges, and it was taking away some of the enjoyment of just running. These devises are extremely useful, especially if you travel a lot (being able to run near the hotel without having a route and knowing how far/long you've gone and the ability to find your way back). I couldn't do without one nowand neither could my wife.

In my opinion this is a good, but not earthshattering upgrade to the X01 series. I like the fit and cleanability of the new wrist strap. The screen is fine for me (I don't ever look at the graphs anyway). I like the new charging/syncing cradle. Start up time is about the same as the 301. It does seem to handle dead-reckoning through heavy trees better than the 301. Functionally though it is equivalent to the old one.

For the money I think I made the right decision in buying this instead of another 301 for the reasons listed above.

The Forerunner is an awesome device! It totally motivates me to run (which I hate doing, by the way). The only complaint I have is that it loses track of the satellite pretty easily when going under a covered area (i.e. trees, buildings, etc.) but I guess that is to be expected by any satellite device... especially one with a tiny antenna that fits on your wrist. But overall, it's a great training tool and would be a perfect gift for those interested in running/walking.

I have been so happy about my Forerunner. I am not a person that typically likes to track my training and am not good about keeping a log. This watch is great! It keeps my log for me and calculates my results in ways I didn't even know I could.

A big improvement over my previous 201.

Pros -

Satellite tracking is much improved
More & Better functions (like Auto Pause, Auto Start)
USB interface automatically transfers data
More custom data displayed

Cons -

Seems heavier than 201 and not as comfortable
Sometimes takes a LONG time to find satellites at startup



I really thought that this was a good product. But upon receiving the 205 I saw a warning that states there is a chance that you could get cancer from wearing it! So that was a huge turn off for me. I mean who wants to wear something that gives them cancer. Its stupid! Besides that point the product is really good... but i think sticking with a old fashion stop watch isnt that bad of an idea especially since you can calculate ur distance using sites like http://www.favoriterun.com/home/welcome. And you're really getting the same result and saving a lot of money... It took me a while to realize that...but hey if u like to spend tons of money by all means go ahead.

I had the 201 for a while, and love it; but I lost the charger, so I thought this would be a good time to upgrade, and get better reception in the trees. In my limited trials, it delivers as promised, and I have never lost signal. It is a great device except... I received the 205 and charged it up; then went through the set-up, and lost power a few times. By working with it, I found that it had a loose connection; by twisting it, or pressing the mode button it would power off. After a long wait time on hold with the customer support line, I was able to return and replace the device. They over-nighted the new 205, and that one worked for a few hours, but only when plugged into the charger (which makes it difficult to run very far). I still can't connect to the customer support line to get this one replaced.
In summary, this is a great device, but very poorly manufactured, and their customer support is to overwhelmed to handle their issues. I would wait for them to work out the manufacturing issues (as of June '06).


I purchased the 205 to mainly get an idea as to how far I was running. This is my first training GPS device. I figured the circuit I ran was about 5k. To my pleasant surprise the 205 told me I was doing 3k more than I estimated so that was great news to me! But the 205 did not stop there. Read on....

If you are anything like me the runs I do at 5:30a on the weekdays are not as strong as the ones I do at 8a on the weekend. A couple hours of extra sleep seems to make a lot of difference. On Saturday I ran my 8k circuit at 8a and came in at a good time (for me). I saved the 8k circuit as a "course" in the 205. The Training Center software that comes with the 205 allows for fairly easy editing of the course adding in markers on when to turn, valleys/summits and saving the course back to the 205. This morning (5:30a) I started the 8k "course" in the 205. Straight away I could go to the navigation page and with the "virtual partner" function turned on there I was racing my(virtual)self! What fun! As expected I could not keep up with my(virtual)self and based on when my(virtual)self would start to break away I knew I had to put on more power. Without a doubt the virtual partner function is going to help me improve my early morning weekday runs. While I intellectually understood the benefit of the virtual partner function until I actually used it I didn't appreciate what difference this function will have on my training.

[Update Dec 2006: The virtual partner function has indeed improved my training. I have shaved 6 minutes off my 8k run since I bought the 205. Each time I make a new PR I save that as the course and work against that on subsequent runs. At worst I try and keep pace with myself. At best I beat myself!]

I find the 205 to have fairly good ability to get satellite signal. I can turn it on in our house (2 story with me on the ground floor) and get a signal. But overhead tree cover does seem to affect the current pace accuracy (see my nits below).

The integration with Google Earth and Maps is incredible. I can save the images as JPGs and post them to my blog so every one can see where I've been. Tres cool!

As I mentioned earlier the Training Center software that comes on the CD with the 205 is good. However, I would recommend going to Motion Based whose URL is provided in a flier that is packaged in the 205. I really like MB and you can check out other people's GPS data/times.

Now that I covered what was important to me there do seem to be some minor nits with the device that I noticed and I see other people have already commented on. The nits I would like to see corrected:

- the extensive menu navigation. There has to be a way to simplify the menu depth and make it a little more intuitive.

- current pace is negatively affected by overhead obstructions. On my 15k I run down a trail that has intermittent clearings and tree cover. Every time I ran into the tree cover and lost signal strength on the satellites the current pace dropped even though I'm fairly sure I was keeping an even pace with the music I was listening to. The 205 has a "pace alert" function that can alert you to when you slow down. Not very useful when every time I ran into tree cover the alert would sound. I eventually had to turn the pace alerts off as it was too inaccurate to be of any use. The overall average pace seems to be accurate.

[Update Dec 2006: As I travel a lot the only comment I have here is when I start up the 205 in a "new" city it takes a long time to lock into the satellites. Subsequent startups are fast so there must be some initialization process that is skipped on subsequent runs. I have run in San Francisco without GPS issues so not sure why others are having problems. ]

Overall, if you are on the fence about a GPS training device (as I was) then jump down and join the rest of us that are reaping the significant benefits of owning one. And the 205 works really well so I highly recommend it!

Oh, the reason I did not get the 305/HRM combo is because I get heat rash from wearing an HRM.

I just bought this yesterday and used it for walking and driving. The device can lock on inside building as long as there are no floors above you or you are near a window. The 201 had no chance of locking on indoor. I walked to the store and the path was near 3-4 story buildings and never lost the signal. The 201 couldn't handle that either. The USB is HUGE improvement to the serial port (what were they thinking!). The design is much more comfortable and looks more watchlike and can easily worn all day without discomfort. The software is a HUGE improvement over the last. It will also work with Google Earth and works well! I walked around INSIDE a mall in San Francisco (Stonestown) and kept the signal except on the ground floor inside a store. It would lock back on immediately when walking back into the walking area of the mall. The SIRFstarIII is amazing. Highly recommended for ANYONE who does anykind of activity. Its fun, informative and just plain a great GARMIN product. KUDOS, GARMIN.

I recently purchased the Garmin Forerunner 205 and entered the world of GPS for the first time. My experience so far has been positive (I've logged 4 runs). The unit, while appearing a bit bulky, is surprisingly comfortable and you easily forget you are wearing it. The 205 is fairly user friendly. You can simply push the timer start and go right out of the box, or go much deeper into its capabilities and upload customized courses and workouts. I haven't gotten that in depth yet, but I love the autopause and autolap functions.
As far as performance, the 205 is extremely accurate in identifying location and distance travelled (I've verified against trail markers). I've used the 205 on tree covered trails and to my knowledge, have not lost signal.
On the negative side, I've found the elevation and current pace information to be extremely variable and of questionable reliability. However, this is not crucial information. The distance and time info. is very accurate and therefore you can always get good average pace information for any portion of your run that you want. If you want to keep looking down during your run to check your current pace, however, you will be disappointed.
I haven't explored the navigation functions much yet. While they are a bit rudimentary, the 205 should keep you from getting lost on a long run or a hike.
The software is fairly easy to use and the interface with the unit is good. I would like to see a little more functionality with the software. There isn't a great deal you can do to process your data once you've downloaded it.
Overall, I'm satisfied with my purchase and I recommend the 205. $250 might seem like alot for a fancy timing device, but it really is much more than that and I find it to be a good motivational training tool. After a run, I can't wait to download the run data and view and compare it to other runs.

Others have covered most of the features in detail in previous reviews so I'll skip over that because I agree pretty much with what was written.

I ran with this in Northern Virginia and had almost no problem with drops, or atleast the smoothing features helped to utilize pace average to accomodate the satellite drops and give a fairly accurate report on the distance run. I have some trouble with the inital acquisition of satellites, i.e. my first run of the day, but after that point, the 205 acquires satellites extremely fast and does a great job locking onto them. I also have an Etrex and this outperforms that model in terms of satellite acquisition.

I next ran with the 205 in New York City and I'll say the results were a little less positive though I'm still glad I made this purchase. I read that the 201 did not perform well in the city so I skipped out on that model, but believe that the 205 does much better. Once I got satellites to start my run, the 205 marked my start point. While buildings caused my signal to drop, I noticed the drop and repressed my timer button to keep the time going during my run. Satellites did not reacquire till I stopped in an open area, but once they did reacquire, the 205 estimated the straight line distance from where I started and gave a pretty good read of the distance I had run because the timer did not stop.

In sum, a no brainer if you live outside of a city, if you live in a city, it's not terrible, but you'll have to keep track of when it drops satellites so that you don't end up running without the 205 recording the run. Software is a bit clunky, but it does as much as a typical manual running log would accomplish so I'm satisfied. The USB cable is so much better than the serial cable I need to use for my Etrex. Definitley a good buy.

I've run 4 times a week with the Garmin 201 for the past 2 years so I was anxious to get the 205. After 10 runs with the 205 (some runs with both) here is my take on the new 205:

Pros:
- better form factor (although still big and same weight as the 201)
- Buttons are more intuitive (less guessing in the dark)
- More accurate - If I run the same run 3 times (e.g. a regular 6 miler) all 3 distances are within .02-.09... the 201 varied by as much as .3 miles. The 205 also appears to be more accurate according to "known distances"
- Less satellite drops compared to the 201 (although see the BIG con below!)
- The strap is rubber so it doesn't act as a sweat band (the 201 was harder to clean and smelled for weeks after a marathon)
- Better software

CONS:
- Fonts are smaller (especially on history and other screens)
- The strap is rubber and doesn't fit as well as the cloth/Velcro on the 201 (although the pro I think outweighs the con!)
- BIG CON: On one regular run along the bay in San Francisco (no hills, trees, or buildings) the 205 lost satellite in a "usual" area (common for my 201 to drop in the same place) one mile into the run, but the 205 never recovered during the whole run. So the 205 doesn't drop satellites as much, but when it does it might not recover - this is a fatal issue if it continues (note: the 201 drops often, but always recovers right away).

Overall I would still highly recommend the unit. I definitely prefer to run with the 205 instead of the 201. I will be watching the drop-recover issue carefully to see if others report a similar problem.


Overall the 205 is very good. I bought the Forerunner 101 when it first came out two years ago and returned it in 3 days because it could not keep a GPS signal in a typical surburban neighborhood. Howaver, after the two weeks of use the Forerunner 205 is a keeper.

I like the ability to plan a week of runs on the Training Center software, and load the workouts in advance into the 205. What's troublesome is getting to a day's workout. It's a long series of buttons. Mode, arrow button to Training, arrow to Advanced, select Today's, then select the workout I pre-loaded.

What it ought to do is find the satellites, chirp that the GPS is synced, and prompt directly to the day's workout list. That's pretty much what anyone would do every morning -- go right to the workout list.

I've tried some workout settings but what I'm really settling into is a stopwatch type workout that announces when I've reached a mile split. The workout is set to repeat a 1 mile distance for 22 miles, but most mornings I stop the workout after 6-8 miles. This workout allows me to head out random directions in the neighborhood and not focus on time most days.

Many stopwatches have a feature that when you press and hold the stop button you save the data separately. For example, if you complete your morning run you press, hold, save that day's data. Or if you do a warmup prior to a race, you save that warmup time separately.

It would be nice if press and hold the stop button on the 205 would save the workout and prompt for a new one to start. What you have to do is navigate all over again with at least 5 button presses back into the workout choices to stop the workout, then choose what's next. Too much navigation.

It would be nice if the Training Center software had a page of every single data display on the 205 at a glance. All it offers is a graph of distance, pace, elevation, and a few other things. There are 205 data displays like calorie total for a workout that are not available in the PC software.

I'd also like is the ability to choose sounds for types of alerts on the 205 -- like I can with my Garmin GPSmap 60CS. Some of the alerts are as long as cell phone ring tone, I really don't need to hear a 8-second multi-tone alert when I complete a routine mile lap, for example.

Again, the 205 is very good. I'm hoping for some software upgrades!

When I bought this, I was still a little skeptical on whether or not GPS was ready for my use (I normally like to skip the 'early adopters' until they work out the bugs) but I have been blown away by what I can do with this.

Pros:
* Weight/formfactor - At first it felt uncomfortable, but after the first few runs I barely remembered that it was on my wrist.
* Accuracy - I went and drove two of my longer runs and they read between .1 - .2 miles.
* Data! - I LOVE coming back and analyzing all of the data. It'll graph the elevation vs. speed or pace, etc. It makes me very aware of what my weaknesses are in running.
* From motionbased.com, you can also look at other neat trails other people have found, download their trails and virtually 'race' them, or just let the watch tell you where to go.

Iffy:
* The program it comes with is a little clunky. It gets the job done, but it seems that there is so much more they could do with this (like what they do on the motionbased website)
* Speaking of motionbased.com (which Garmin just bought), it's a great website for sharing your trails and your training and for analyzing your runs, but they want you to pay $11/month if you want to keep up with your past runs (your last 10 runs are always free). It includes some nice 'course corrections' and the 'MB Gravity' feature, which fixes a lot of the errors in reading altitude. Because of this I'm keeping my runs on both motionbased and in the program they give you to try to get the best of both worlds.

Cons:
* Altitude. I really don't trust this. On some of my runs it reads 4X feet climbed than the MB Gravity feature reads. I run on mostly streets or trails that are NOT covered by trees and my GPS strength always reads 'excellent'.

Overall I'm extremely happy with this product (I've had it for a little under a month now). Anyone wavering on whether GPS devices are ready for mainstream - they are!

I wrote an extensive six-part review comparing the Garmin Forerunner 205 with my older Garmin Forerunner 201. Here is the URL to the first part and you can find links at the bottom to the other parts:[...]

If you don't want to read the full reviews then here is a summary of my likes and dislikes:

Likes

* Comfort and Form factor: Usage model is very important and while the 205 is big, it feels and wears like a wrist watch. The plastic strap is more comfortable than the 201's velco strap, and the unit also comes with an extension strap if you need to bundle up and wear it outside your clothing. Personally, I want to look at my watch for instant data (i.e. time, pace, distance, etc) and feedback so I'm unwilling to place a device on my upper arm even if I have to sacrifice accuracy. In terms of form factor, the lap and start/stop buttons are well placed and sized on the face of the watch.
* GPS Accuracy: The Garmin Forerunner 205's GPS receiver seemed much stronger. I can lock onto a signal inside my house next to a window, I haven't received one weak signal in a week over routes that caused my 201 trouble. And on my one run over a tree-covered, GPS signal-challenging course, the 205 came out a star, finally allowing me to measure a route that I was unable to with my 201. The GPS accuracy data field and the satellite acquisition screen are also cool bonuses.
* Customization: The 205 allows you to customize 2 main screens and a third activity specific (i.e. run, bike or other) one with 1 to 4 data fields per screen. This is very cool, especially for data-driven geeks like myself. Another great thing about all the Forerunners is you can customize screens and settings on the fly without interrupting your current activity.
* Real-Time Pacing: I'm not that interested in knowing how fast I'm going at a specific moment in time so never was a big fan of the "real-time" pacing feature of the 201. With that said, the 205 seemed to be more consistent and showed a tighter range of paces. It also seemed closer to how fast I felt I was going relevant to the current conditions (i.e. uphill, downhill, flat) than the 201, which showed a lot of variation and lag.
* USB Cradle: Charging and uploading via USB is a nice. Much faster than the 201's serial port.

Dislikes

* Display: The display of the 205 seems smaller and the history screens are dark and hard to read. I wish they didn't use the shading and just had the plain background.
* Real-time elevation: For me this isn't a big deal, but the "real-time" elevation reading lags on the 205. It seems to tie closely with GPS accuracy. For example, after I finish my runs I'll usually walk a little in my backyard to cool down. The real-time elevation reading will then "catch up" to the correct elevation.
* Buttons: My broken power button seems to be an anomaly so far since I haven't read of others with the same problem. With that said, the side buttons seems a bit stiff to me.
* Battery indicator: It just shows 4 vertical bars. I liked the feature on the 201 where it told you how many hours of charge were left when you powered it on.

Cool Stuff

* Tons of features: There are a lot of things the 205 can do such as import courses, advanced workouts, virtual partner and a bunch of other features that I need to explore

Wishlist

* Reduce form factor
* Color screen
* Increase battery life
* Improve waterproofing/water resistance
* Add wireless connectivity for uploading and downloading data and information over the air to PC or mobile service

Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas.

Bought the Garmin 205, compared it to my Garmin 201.
I'm amazed that the 205 works within 25ft accuracy in areas that the 201 says its lost GPS signal.
Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas that the 201 will not even work.
The screen can be adjusted as to how many features you want displayed and the size and comfort is amazing.