Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor

The unit performs perfectly right out of the box. It is a must have to maximize your workout. Have not had any problems what so ever. I have been using it for a month.

I have had two Ironman watches with the Garmin GPS technology and now the Garmin Watch/GPS. With each purchase the GPS has gotten better in it's accuracy and ability to respond in tree cover or other obstructions. I am completly satisfied with the accuracy and repeatability of this unit.

I just got the 305 this week and love it. I use it for running and biking. It set up and worked fantasticically. The set-up took a couple of minutes and adding the cadence sensor to the bike took another 5 minutes. They both worked first time out. The software loaded right up and the data from my workouts downloaded without a hitch. The software is very cool. You can view simultaneous plots of HR, speed, cadence, distance, elevation... and watch how your workout went. Very slick. I could write a page more on why I like it, but will stop here and say " I wish I got this sooner."

Although I haven't used it to its full potential yet. This GPS Watch is really cool. It seems dead on accurate with distance and pace. If you use the aftermarket website that you can upload your runs to it will overlay them on Google maps which is very cool. Great product. A bit heavy though.Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Heart Rate Monitor

I wish I could say I loved it, but it's really only OK. The software is terrible. The graphs of your workout, heart-rate & speed, etc are basically useless because you can't set the scale. It always autoscales to show the max & min in each data set. So for examle, if you start out with your heart rate at rest, say 60, but most of your workout it is between 150 and 170, the part that you care about is all squished together because the screen is wasting space showing you the fact that it was 60 for 5 seconds.

It gets worse with monitoring your speed. The GPS is really flaky with measuring your instantaneous speed - you get wild variations. Most of my runs have a spot where it thinks I was running 20 mph. I'd be happy to ignore it if I could, but when the scale goes from 0 to 20, and 98% of my run was between 6 and 10 mph, I can't see the variation that I care about b/c it's squished into a tiny fraction of the 0-20 scale. Oh, and don't even try swithcing to pace - if you stop for a moment, then for that moment your pace is "60 min/mile" and the rest of your workout looks like a flat line on that scale.

Enough about the software. The device itself is decent, but it still has wild variations in measuring your pace. I regularly see it range from 7:10 to 9:20 pace when everyone in my group is pretty confident that we didn't change pace more than a couple percent. Beyond that failing, it's fine. It's total distance is great, it's nice to not have to measure your runs on a car or a map to know how far you've run. And the heart-rete monoitor works well if you like to monitor or train to a particular rate range.

Would I buy it again? Yes, I think so. I just wish they had an exporter for Excel so I could get the data into a tool that is actually useful.

I wish I could say I loved it, but it's really only OK. The software is terrible. The graphs of your workout, heart-rate & speed, etc are basically useless because you can't set the scale. It always autoscales to show the max & min in each data set. So for examle, if you start out with your heart rate at rest, say 60, but most of your workout it is between 150 and 170, the part that you care about is all squished together because the screen is wasting space showing you the fact that it was 60 for 5 seconds.

It gets worse with monitoring your speed. The GPS is really flaky with measuring your instantaneous speed - you get wild variations. Most of my runs have a spot where it thinks I was running 20 mph. I'd be happy to ignore it if I could, but when the scale goes from 0 to 20, and 98% of my run was between 6 and 10 mph, I can't see the variation that I care about b/c it's squished into a tiny fraction of the 0-20 scale. Oh, and don't even try swithcing to pace - if you stop for a moment, then for that moment your pace is "60 min/mile" and the rest of your workout looks like a flat line on that scale.

Enough about the software. The device itself is decent, but it still has wild variations in measuring your pace. I regularly see it range from 7:10 to 9:20 pace when everyone in my group is pretty confident that we didn't change pace more than a couple percent. Beyond that failing, it's fine. It's total distance is great, it's nice to not have to measure your runs on a car or a map to know how far you've run. And the heart-rete monoitor works well if you like to monitor or train to a particular rate range.

Would I buy it again? Yes, I think so. I just wish they had an exporter for Excel so I could get the data into a tool that is actually useful.

The price was right and the item was in perfect condition, just as it said. I had no problems whats so ever with the payment and mailing. Wonderful product. So easy to use. If you have used any of the earlier models it is exactly the same format. the 305 gives you more information and the program that goes along with it is outstanding. Even if you arn't an avid runner, the 305 can help you with other sports and walking. I'm telling you this is an awesome product. I stared with the 201 and I had that for 3 years, I thought I would never need or want anything else. But the difference between the two is huge. trust me on this one, spend the extra money and get the 305.

I had a Forerunner 201 for years. I spent plenty of time stretching waiting for the 201 to sync up. Also the 201 would lose connection just about every run. Then Garmin came out with the 305 w/heart rate monitor. The 305 is a more comfortable and smaller watch than the 201. The software is great and the heart rate monitor works flawlessly. The battery seems to last longer also. I run 40 miles a week and have run 10+ marathons. I think you can't go wrong with the 305. Pile on the miles!

Great product!! Makes training alot easier because I know how far i've gone and how much further. No need to map the course out before hand, just head out the door and go!!



Yeah, this thing rocks. Really enjoy just jumping out the door and running knowing how far I've gone (and can come home and see it on the map) with the GPS feature. Ran a marathon, and a did a lot of training with it. Gives you great instant feedback as to speed, does intervals, and the best part if you are a computer guy...you can put all the stats on an overlapping graph and see how you did visually. Haven't played with the hrate monitor yet...if they could integrate it into the watch it would be nice.

Overall...very cool toy.

I use this neat little gizmo for biking and running.

For running, I'm not aware of any other way to get accurate pace information for a course that includes substantial up- or down-hill sections; I think the closest contenders are accelerometer-based pedometers (like the popular Nike/Apple one), but my wife's experience is that these don't always work well if there are changing grades. Plus, the ability to record heart rate information and match it up with speed and elevation is pretty neat.

For biking, the speed information is probably slightly less accurate (and updated slightly less frequently) than a standard cyclometer, especially for rides under heavy tree cover, but I rarely really care _exactly_ what my speed is at any given moment, and the Forerunner provides plenty of accuracy and temporal resolution for my needs.

My favorite feature is the ability to "race against yourself": I have programmed in a few standard courses, so when I go out for a run or a ride I can compare my current performance to my previous one: "at this point in the ride, I'm 67 feet behind where I was last time." This is a great motivator, especially when I'm just not in the mood to go hard: I can't stand gradually (or quickly) falling behind my previous pace, which after all I know is within my power, so I push harder. I really like this feature.

I also like the ability to customize the various displays. For running, I like to see lap time, lap distance, and heart rate on my main screen; for biking, I like current speed, lap distance, and heart rate. On the secondary and tertiary screens (selected by a single button push), I display total time, total distance, average heart rate, and so on (up to 4 variables per screen).

Uploading the data to a computer is a snap, and although I don't do any sophisticated analyses I do like to look at my heart rate versus time (for example) to see how much time I spent at various heart rates, and how the tough sections matched up to my location on the course.

There are a few limitations, though. (1) The GPS accuracy for elevation does not seem to be sufficient to give a reliable estimate of grade (i.e. slope), at least not enough to be useful in the course of a bike ride. I had hoped to gradually learn to recognize different slopes and what they mean to me in terms of effort, but in fact the gizmo sometimes says I'm going slightly uphill when I am going slightly downhill, and such. It's fine for things like total elevation gain, but not accurate enough on a second-by-second basis to be useful for grade. (2) The GPS accuracy for horizontal distance isn't good enough to free me from the track for sprints. From my experience, on my track a lap can be measured as anywhere between 390 meters and 440 meters, which gives an impression of the level of accuracy. For a longish course, the distance will be accurate (or pretty accurate) because errors will cancel out over time, but if you are just out for a jog (not on a track) and want to do a 200 meter sprint, and you aren't willing to tolerate a 5% or 10% distance error, then this isn't going to do it for you. But that 10 or 20 meter error is utterly trivial if you're running a mile or a few miles, so for most circumstances this is not a problem.

The computer software that comes with the Forerunner is pretty rudimentary. It allows you to display heart rate as a function of time, speed as a function of time, distance as a function of time, or anything else as a function of speed, but not (for example) heart rate as a function of distance or heart rate as a function of speed. (When you choose to see "speed versus distance", it overlays a plot of distance versus time on a plot of speed versus time). It also makes odd choices for plot intervals, so each tick mark might represent 53 feet or some other inconvenient interval. And the maps included with the program show only the really major roads, so most of my road rides and all of my off-road runs just show a bunch of points off in the middle of white space. There are online services that remedy this, so that one can see a route overlain on a detailed map or satellite photo and such, but these cost extra.

There is lots of room for improvement in the included software, and the inherent GPS limitations might sometimes cause problems, so I'm not quite giving this product the highest possible ranking. But it's very good.

I purchased the Forunner 305 from Amazon last month and its been a good tool to prod me back into fitness.

I live in Newton, MA (one of the suburbs of Boston). The Forerunner works well most of the times - except true to Murphy's Law (or its very many variants)- "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong, and at the worst possible time".

A couple of times over my long runs- (when I was keen on checking my performance) along the Charles River - most latest over last weekend the device simply went on the blink. From around Fenway it simply faded off and never quite got a reception till I got back closer home.

That said - Forerunner works well most of the time and I would still give it 3 stars out of 5. Maybe they should bundle the footpod and that would complete the package!

Update 6/13

The unit I had completely stopped tracking satellites and after an interminable (I guess inevitable) wait to get across to a tech rep at Garmin - they have agreed to have me ship it back. Have got a new unit now - have not checked it as yet - will update my review in a couple of weeks.

Srini

I bought the 205 for my wife and the 305 for me. We both love them. I makes running fun and enjoyable. No more driving around to see how far you've run. It has a great mapping feature too.

I had a few doubts when I initially made the purchase. But those were quickly put to rest. I have been extremely happy with this watch and have strongly recommended it to friends and family. It takes a bit of getting used to and is a bit big on the wrist. But that falls by the wayside once you get the swing of using it. For distance, heart rate, speed training and general situational awareness, it has completely changed my running and cycling. I have been injury-free since I started using the Forerunner 305. I attribute this to the watch "keeping me in line." If you are serious about training, then this is the watch for you.

It is a good product. The GPS functionality is awesom. The pace counter, the distance and timer functions, the virtual partner, the heart rate monitor, all these are cool features and work well.

However, the calorie counter is a joke, they should disable that feature... After an hour run, it told me I used 1200 calories... please! And the Altitude meter is bogus too. And so is the gradient measurements. It is better to disable these than sell features that don't work. Come on Garmin, what happened?

But these are not the main features of the device that I use anyway... I use the timer, HRM and GPS features, and they work well. I would have given this product 5 stars if all advertised features worked. But now I give it 3.5 - rounded up, it becomes 4.

Works great. After each couple of activities, it is important to recharge the watch as I notice the charge doesn't last for more than a few workouts.

This is by far the best "all-in-one" runner's gadget. The heart rate monitor works flawlessly, the GPS distances are reliable, and best of all, it's all in a lightweight, easy-to-wear package (much more comfortable to wear than it may appear from the online pictures). Without hesitation I would buy this again, and I look forward to the next revamp of it from Garmin whenever they figure out how to make it even smaller!

The Forerunner 305 works perfect for my use (speed inline skate) and is already a valuable tool for enhancing my training (just a happy amateur).
It's very easy to set up and use. Have lots of praise for Garmin for this product.

great product, essential training aid, works well and data is reliable. only downfall is that it is a little bulky.

This is a must-have for any runner or cyclist. It's compact, comfortable and easy to use. Not only does it help you keep a log of your workouts, it helps you analyze your progress. The most used features for me are heart rate, average pace, time elapsed and distance. I use the Motion Based agent to put my activities online so I can view them anywhere. The maps for the Garmin Training Center are not very detailed. The Motion Based agent gives you better, more detailed maps and offers comparison charts for things such as heart rate vs. speed.
The Forerunner's GPS does not work well indoors.

Prior to my purchase, I read a very comprehensive review at amazon.com and on the strength of that review and taking the Garmin name into consideration, I purchased this gps/heart monitor combination. In fact, I have already recommended it to three of my buddies who run in other states. As I always run alone, it is nice to have a "partner" that helps me keep pace and not over or under train.

This item is a fantastic aid to training. I am a triathlete and switching between training activities is a breeze.
pros: Excellent battery life, super intuitive menus, plenty of data collection, great tracking of wokout history
cons: A little big for smaller athletes, outdated mapping software (for the computer), NOT OK TO SWIM WITH! (this is rediculous for a unit in this price range, I fried one swimming so believe it when they say not to swim with it.)

Because of the water issue, I can't give it a 5 out of 5. However, I have been using this unit for a year now and I believe it has helped me get stronger and train injury free. I don't go out without it!

This does everything, the more time you spend with it, you wonder how u have trained without it. The GPS is awesome! I havent had any problems with connecting at all. I originally bought the Sunnto t6, and used it for about 3 weeks. I hated it. The display was limited to 3 lines of text, the altimeter had to be reset before every workout, the pods were ok, but i just thought not having them was a better solution. Yes it was smaller, but after getting used to the 305, I dont even notice its a little big now. And when on a bike I have it on the handlebar anyway, so no problem. I would recomend this to everyone.

I am a casual runner (2 or more miles 3 to 4 days a week). I do not run long distances and I am not training for a specific event. However, I am interested in making sure that I do run at least two miles at least every other day. And, I hate doing the same path over and over again (what's the fun in that). For me, this devise is an outstanding solution. It allows me to go somewhere completely new and still make sure I get the amount of exercise I'm targeting for a particular day. I had been using a Polar RS200. This is a very good device as well. However, you either need to change the footpod from shoe to shoe (I use different shoes when running on dirt versus concrete or pavement) or you need multiple footpods. With this device, no footpod is needed.

What's more, the device dumps out a ton of information. My favorite is the heart rate and elevation information. I've done some running on know paths and I've found the elevation information to be fairly accurate. This device looks (and is) big. However, it's very light. I hardly noticed in until it told me (via an alarm) that I had reached 2 miles. I travel a bit with my job, often internationally. I am very excited that I will be able to keep up my exercise routine on the road without having to do a detailed mapping of running paths in advance. One last surprise. I have another Garmin GPS device (eTrex). As such, I have City Navigator North America loaded into my computer. I was pleasantly surprised when the Garmin Training Center software used this information when showing my course on the computer. I am equally excited that I will be able to see my routes when traveling using the MotionBased program (web-based and free to use). Nothing but good things to say about this item. Very happy with my purchase.

I bought this device a month ago, and I have really enjoyed using it. The interface on the watch is very intuitive, so I had it working three hours after I took it out of the box (mandatory charge time). I have yet to lose a signal, and I often start satellite aquisition inside my home before my workout. Battery life is very good, and the watch warns you well in advance of a diminishing battery. I was able to go at least another hour after my warning and maybe longer. Data can be easily uploaded to your computer for analysis, and as a computer and exercise geek this really appeals to me. However, the only thing that keeps me from giving this 5 stars is the software. I like the ability to map out my route afterwards, but I found the overall interface to be a bit clunky - not as clean and intuitive as the Polar software that came with my other HRM (S625X).

There are sites available on the web that seem to add a bit more functionality. I've checked one out that allows you to share your routes with others on the site, and I really like that feature for planning bike rides in an unfamiliar part of town or planning runs while on vacation.

Great job Garmin!

I still haven't gotten to explore all of the options that are available with the watch. I currently live in Europe and travel to Africa often and have no problem picking up satelites anywhere. Most of the time it will take several minutes, so be patient. It generally doesn't take more than 2-3. My fiance' did have trouble picking up satelites with hers one time so you might have to set it down in the open and let it locate without interference.
I think it's a wonderful tool to improve my run times and training. Especially if you don't keep your own notes (I don't). I have been wearing it every time I run, and I downloaded my history the other day and realized I had only run 3 times in the past 2 weeks! That was motivation enough to get me up and going! On the down side, it is a little costly. There are older models like the 201 which is under $100 I believe. I would not recommend someone with limited finances, buy the 305. There are plenty of other ways to train without having to spend a paycheck. However, if you can afford it, don't hesitate!

I must say that I am thoroughly amazed at all of the functions this thing has. The functionality of this HRM is superior to anything you can put beside it. To go along with being able to give the user an accurate measure of bodily functions, the 305 also gives the user a GPS locator so he/she will never get lost again.

The 305 is definately worth every penny if you're a serious runner.

This product works very well for its GPS capabilities and has a great interface for graphing out your workouts. The distance that can go between the chest strap and the watch is great for doing Kettlebells. It can go up to about 3 meters.

I've been using the 305 for running and cycling and it is sweet.
I use it with google earth and get some really nice mapping out of it also

I bought the 305 for my fiancée a month ago. She is an avid outdoor runner and wanted to track her progress. After being suspicious (costing under $40... to good to be true) of the Nike+ hardware for the ipod I decided to investigate and look for a good quality product. I decided on Garmin. I must say... I am pretty impressed so far. I love her, but she is not the most technical savvy person, but she learned the functions in no time. Sometimes companies are so concerned with one-size-fits-all wrist straps that the people with really big wrists (myself) or tiny wrists (my fiancée) are left behind. Not with the 305. It accomodates both of us and with room to spare. Satellite locating has not been an issue (took 2 minutes once... but that is expected every now and then). Software is easy to use and really fun to play with. Syncing the 305 is a piece of cake too (place it on the dock... hit receive... and bingo!) The only issue (very minor) is when I was installing the software... afterwards... when I was syncing... the software was prompting me to install new hardware. Even if you installed (detected)it before you may have to do it a few more times. Soon it will recognize the 305 consistently. Overall... very happy with the purchase. I'll write another review if problems occur.

I couldn't be happier with my Forerunner 305. I have used it now for over three months in all kinds of conditions. I have owned 2 other running GPS computers before, one of Timex' first GPS models, and Garmins' Forerunner 201 and they don't even come close to the 305. The 305 REALLY works great. Its precision is astonishing! It has never lost coverage on me and I have used it in the city with high buildings, under very leafy trees and any other conditions you can think of that could interfere with its operation. When I run indoors I use it with Garmin's Foot Pod and it works great (except for some inconveniences and considerations [See reviews]).

I love how reliable, precise and feature-rich it is. There's no room in this review to mention all its features, but they all work very well and show that it is a mature product where experience form designers, as well as users has been taken very seriously into account. Battery life is great and I love how quickly my 305 recharges on my Mac's USB port. (less than 30 minutes).

I also love, that opposed to the way the Polar monitors work, once you match your HRM waistband and your Foot Pod to your own Forerunner 305, you don't have to pair them again anymore. This allows you to turn it on while in the middle of a crowd without worrying of picking up somebody else's signal or not being able to get a "coded" transmission. It recognizes your accessories INSTANTLY. If you have used other monitors for years, you know what I'm talking about.

Another thing, this is the first wrist GPS I have that includes full Navigation features, something really good if someday you want to take it out while trekking or mountaineering. I do!

I have some comments on how to improve it: one is that I think it could be a little more ergonomic, Sometimes, after running a LONG distance (10~20 miles) my wrist gets sore (for which I wear it very tight to keep it from bouncing and helps). I would recommend to add a way to scroll while on the map view, not only to zoom in and out. Also, I think it could use more memory. I prefer to use it to its maximum recording capacity, which is one reading per second, and in doing so, I am limited to one or maximum two days worth of data. That forces me to download the information into my Mac at least every other day. And while talking about computers, I wish the Mac version of Garmin Training Center software had the same features as the Windows one. But don't take me wrong, it's not bad at all, and not many companies that make this kind of running computers support the Mac yet. Still, it would be nice if we could get all the latest features.

That's it, I suggest you run out (or click in) and buy one now. I'm glad I did!

Pablo

This tool has made me a better runner. The workout options provide variety and fun when running along the same route. It picks up the signal easily and I have yet to lose it during a workout. You don't have to calibrate it like the polar or suunto foot pod models. The computer program is very easy to use. I love the maps to see where I have gone and the ability to compare interval times.

I recently upgraded from my Polar to the Garmin, and I have to say it has far exceeded my expectations! Never again will I get lost! Never again will I forget to take a split (the watch does it for me!), never will I question the accuracy of my calculations. This watch works well in forest or bold sunshine, records heart rate, altitude, direction, and more! Software is included for storing data and makes it easy to compare previous routes against one another. The only downfalls are the low battery life, not being able to have it double as a wrist watch, and the sheer size of the thing - as a small female it looks large enough to throw my gait off and caused an initial "bruising period" for a friend of mine.

These things aside, this is an amazing tool that has done nothing but impress me. I have no regrets on making the switch!


The 305 is the ultimate training tool. Just turn it on and go and it tracks your distance, heart rate, pace, speed, grade, elevation, calories burned, max heart rate percentage, weekly totals, etc. Download the software and Garmin's training center is very user friendly. All information is organized and displayed in colorful graphs and maps. I mainly bought it for running but works just as great for tracking your progress for biking too. Its never let me down and I wouldnt go without it. Also you can not find it any cheaper than on Amazon. Other websites might come close. I found that all the local sporting stores usually sell it at full retail price of $350.

The 305 is amazing. It tracks distance perfectly. The time to lock satellites is extremely quick! The included software makes preparing and tracking your training extremely easy. I definitely am satisfied with the purchase.

I am very pleased with my Garmin Forerunner 305! I love the fact that I can monitor my heart rate, distance, pace, and time all in one glance. I also love the auto pause when I have to break for traffic. I do believe that the distance is a little off though. A regular running route of 3 miles was clocked in at 2.87 by my Garmin but to me it's no big deal. Also, on a recent trip to NYC it failed to pick up the satelite as I ran along the Hudson River. Overall, I believe it is a great gadget and I'm happy "as a lark" on my runs.

I cannot function on a run now without this. Though I don't spend the whole run engrossed
with the thing I am often devastated if I forget to recharge. Etc. It works well so far. But this thing picks up satellites in my house - but not in the basement. If it isn't accurate it is at least consistent. The real test begins this summer when the leaves appear. THe only disappointment is that the software doesn't work with Apple computers. I spoke with Garmin and they told me not to expect anything this year but they are
working on something. Thanks you guys are on top of it.

I love this product, it's made my runs a lot more fun recently. The things I like about it are: it's fairly lightweight, seems fairly accurate, is easy to use and customize, has a ton of features I haven't even started to use yet. Also, the HRM feature is new for me, I've not used one before. So while I'm not trying to zone train right now, I am wearing the strap just to see how I'm doing, and it's very comfortable. I hardly notice I'm wearing one while I run.

Mainly I use the forerunner to interval time my runs (run 3 minutes, walk 2 minute, repeat) and track the distance I run as I prepare for a 10 mile race this summer.

Things that I don't like about the forerunner at this time is that as Mac user all of the functionallity isn't compatible with Mac yet. Things like the ability to upload courses to the watch from the computer don't yet seem to be supported - but they are working on it.

Overall, most of the functions do work with the Mac. Things like analyze your time, distance, speed, HR, pace, etc.

It's a great running gadget, and I would highly recommend the product to everyone. I just caution my fellow Mac users that you might feel the same frustration I feel waiting for all of the features to be available to you.

The unit works exactly like it's billed. It was easy to setup, works great for running, biking even tracked my golf course to see how far I walked. (6 miles for 18 holes, depending on how straight I hit it.) Uploaded to my computer to save training data. I liked that I could export the route to Google Earth. Looking at the route I hiked in Arizona was very cool and I can't wait for my bike trip in Italy to try it there.

Only disadvantages, it's a bit bulky and heavy. Running with it was uncomfortable at first. Wireless/Bluetooth connection would nice; especially if it could connect with other map devices like my phone etc.

But still, its a great unit that does what it says.

This runners watch delivers everthing. It is light, comfortable and accurate. The software provides a terrific way to review your training history and plan for improvement.

Pros:
-Great display screen & display options
-I ride/run in tree covered areas... never lose GPS signal, great GPS
-Optional cadence meter works well with the 305
-Lightweight and comfortable when I run, mounts to handle bar w/polar bracket
-Quick Satellite link-up, before your done stretching, the Garmin 305 is ready to go

CONS:
- Calories burned function does not seem accurate... on rides where I have been burning 12-1400 calories, the Garmin says I'm burning 5500 cals... I don't think so!
-would be nice if software had a calendar display option.

I upgraded to this Forerunner from a 2005 model Garmin Forerunner 201 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Personal Training Device. I live in a heavily forested area. With the old device I would have to remember to turn it on 5 minutes before my run in order to lock in the satellites. Then, I would lose the satellite connection during my runs and would have to do mental gymnastics to approximate my actual time/distance/pace.

NO MORE! The antenna on this 305 is so powerful, I can locate the satellites from inside my house within 60 seconds. And, I keep a connection through my entire run.

The device also ships with Garmin Training Center so you can easily upload your history to your computer. The BEST improvement of all is that Garmin has added a Mac version of this software. THANKS GARMIN!! They also have added features such as built-in workouts, course memory and support for multiple activities (run/bike/Ski). It's also very cool to see your courses displayed over a computer map of your run area once you've uploaded your run history.

The heart rate monitor is comfortable and seems to work well. The alerts help you to stay within your preferred range.

The device is very compact in comparison to older models. It is comfortable and not clunky to wear.

If you like tracking detailed data about your runs and need to keep an eye on your exertion levels, this 305 is a great gadget for you!

For any serious runner it's worth the cash. Hardly noticeable while running. I'm glad I got it.

This watch is awesome. I recommend it. The only way it could improve for me is if it could detect satellites faster. It can take up to a few minutes to do that, but other than that, this watch works great! Great training tool. Currently using it to train for both Philadelphia's Distance Run and Philadelphia's Half-Marathon.

Last year I bought the Timex Trail Runner Bodylink system. I'd lose signal running city streets, under a tree, even standing in a crowd of people at the starting line at a race... frustration set in.

Finally I bought the Garmin, a leader in the GPS market. Forerunner 305 is a little bulky on my wrist, but it gets the job done. Its not limited to three satellites like the Timex, it can zone in to quite a few. In fact, even when I go inside my place it still maintains connection. I have to explicitly turn it off. Awesome.

And the GPS and data collector are all in the same unit. No need for separate GPS and data collector. And it sits in the cradle for charging up the battery. So far great functionality and easy to use. I have yet to read the manual for more sophisticated use.

Get it, you will not be disappointed.



I'm a semi-serious runner - 15-20 miles per week and was using the Nike+ iPod system for about 6 months. While I found it to be adequate, I became interested in features such as pace alarms, the heart monitor, auto-pause, etc. I naturally looked at the Garmin models and selected the 305 because of the heart monitor.

I have found it to be an excellent tool for monitoring my runs, improving my performance and setting goals. The ability to create and upload workouts to the unit, configure the display and map my runs is exactly what I wanted and needed.

Many reviews with this item complain about the size of the unit - I have found it to be reasonably sized - Of course I'm used to strapping an iPod Nano on my wrist, so I suppose it is all relative.

The other complaint I often read was slow acquisition of satellites. Overall, this has not been an issue with me, though every once in a while it takes 2-3 minutes to acquire. That is pretty rare though.

I highly recommend this unit for semi-serious and serious runners.

I love it. Quite a lot of folks on one of the running boards I read had spoken highly of them, so I ordered one. I really love the ability to run anywhere I want and my Garmin takes care of the pesky details of how far and how fast I went. Traffic lights - no problem - the Garmin's auto-pause takes care of it. Mile splits? Yep - it takes care of those automagically too with auto-lap.

The other things I really enjoy are the quick workouts (distance/pace is my favorite) and the ability to program "advanced workouts". For example, I can program it have me run 5 miles at "Easy" pace followed by 10x100m strides with 1 minute rests.

This is a great training tool especially for the long runs. I used it today actually for a half-marathon and it kept me on pace. The "virtual training" partner is a fantastic feature.

The product works just like it is supposed to. It is very accurate and the Heart rate monitor portion is better than my Polar. Excellent product. I am very pleased.

It gives you everything you want to know of every training session, hr, altitude, total ascent, speed, average speed, etc, etc,
4 data field in each screen, durable battery, important to recharge it after long rides.
Interval training useful tools.
I don't use it a lot for Navigation, but the basics are excelent for mtb long rides.With tools like inmotion, you can download a picture of your last ride and see it in your pc.

Much lighter than the 301, but still a little heavy for a 10 or 15k race,
To me, calories are pretty accurate in running sessions, but too high on the bike.



This is a great tool for tracking your run or bike rude. Compared to my friends 205, this is much smaller. The laptop software also does a good job of tracking history.

warnings:
1. It takes a minute or more to acquire the gps satilites. You can not just strap on and run.
2. Trees and buildings can interfere with signal. But, the watch recovers.

Great product a little tricky to figure out but once you have it down it is a breeze to work with. Great training tool

Great watch. The different training features rock. When I do hill workouts I can set a lap by mark and it automatically does the laps for me and I dont have to push the button after the first time. I used it hiking across the tallest mountains on the east coast. Great reports. I customized my own screen to make it easier to view the heart rate. Setting the heart rate alerts for interval training is a great way to make sure you are pushing yourself.. The only complaint would be the band. Not that big a deal.

I have both the 201 and 305 (201 was lost then found). The 305 has a nicer display and I appreciate the ability to customize more of the displays. I recently wore the 305 on a 50 mile trail run and had to take if off because it was irritating my wrist bones. The elevation chart I got from the 305 matched up very well with the elevation charts on the run site. But I still am a little concerned that the pace shown and the distance isn't as accurate as the 201. Perhaps the extra sensitivity of the 305 shows too much variation in pace too quickly. At the end of the race there was 1/2 mile difference between the race distance and the Garmin. Your guess is as good as mine about which is right... I've never calabrated the garmin against a series of measured miles.

I recommend both products for anyone who wants to know how far/fast they are running, and do not have the convenience of mile markers.

I use the 305 for all of my training as well as geocaching (GPS scavenger hunt). As a personal trainer I can take my clients on a different route every time and still have an accurate distance, time and pace. I can also use the garmin software to track my clients progress. One feature that my clients love is the Motion Based web sight where I can map out out and track our route on google earth. Its a great way to add value to my training program. I'm also looking forward to getting the cadence package for my bike.

Less than a week after buying this in the United States I was in Buenos Aires, Argentina running the Palermo park system. It took maybe 5 minutes, then the Forerunner knew where I was and worked great! Later, back at the hotel, I uploaded my information to the online community Motion Based (yes, you want to subscribe to that with these devices!) and watched it replay my run on aerial shots from Google Earth.

Since then I have used it on various trails in suburban and park settings, always without a problem, and often with excitement as I look over my runs to see variations of pace during the same or similar runs.

Guys, I don't know what to say, but WOW! I am an amateur running working hard at training for his first marathon, and the Forerunner combined with Motion Based makes my life so much easier. Occasionally if I have a question on my training I can email a link to a particular run to my friend, who is a competitive runner, and she looks it over including heart rate and pace, and gives me feedback.

Get it. Wear it. Run with it.



This is the perfect companion for anyone who runs or bikes. It offers very easy navigation and set up to quickly get going. I would recommend this for anyone who like to exercise outdoors.

This is just about the coolest running gadget ever! I recommend reading the manual to get familiar with all the features. And there is better mapping software out there (Sport Track is one).

"Current pace" doesn't work that well, so what I do is take laps every 1/4 mile or so instead and then track "Lap Pace". But I really like this product. Great for running and biking, but can also wear it hiking. Map feature is great for new areas or travel, as you can use it to aim back to your starting point.

What doesn't this thing do? If you find yourself running everyday with no idea of how far or how fast you are going, this will be a helpful tool for you. Everything your treadmill tells you, this tells you from your wrist....outdoors!! It has been very accurate and the Heart Rate is definitely a bonus. This is the future of distance training. It is a little big on the wrist, but it isn't heavy and it has way more pros than cons.

Just received this product in the mail, it does ship with software to connect it to a mac computer. Amazon's specifications for this item doesnt reflect this. This was a big plus for me because the only windows computer I use is at work.

I got my 305 on saturday and took it out on it's first run today, Sunday. It performed excellent, I took it to a trail that is marked off in 1/4 mile increments and my 305 was dead on. The trail also has a lot of tree cover and the satelite never failed. Now when I run I can go anywhere. If you need a GPS that will do the job this is it. Also, with the[...] rebate it was close only [...]. A great deal, money well spent. Thanks Garmin.

If you are interested in the GPS aspects of the device, you can read the other reviews--like they nearly all say, the 205 and 305 are excellent. I wanted to specifically point out how much improved and how accurate the heart rate monitor and strap are over the previous version (Forerunner 301), as well as how favorably the 305 HRM functions in comparison to the benchmark Polar monitor.

The 305 has not dropped my heart rate once in nearly three weeks of daily workouts ranging from one to two hours. I have and have used the 301 for the better part of a year, and continually had problems with interference, which caused extended data dropouts and extremely high, inaccurate readings. The 305 is nothing like the old 301, which is reason enough to purchase if you require a solid HRM with your GPS data. A side benefit--it's accurate! I've compared it with my Polar Accurex monitor, and it's dead on. If anything, the Polar updates a bit slower than the Garmin.

All in all, a huge improvement, and a great product. Highly recommended. Also, as a number of other reviewers have said, get the SportTracks software. It's free and it will greatly enhance the viewing of the data from your new ForeRunner 305.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is awesome. It tracks numerous metrics about your run including distance, pace, heart rate (with optional HR monitor), grade, elevation and also real-time averages for all these metrics. Then with the docking station you can dump all your training info to the computer software that allows you to review it and do things like create courses from your workouts. The only reason I gave it 4 stars rather than 5 is that the included software leaves a bit to be desired. The maps have very little detail and in my case I know they are actually incorrect. I know Garmin can do a better map since I have one of their GPS units for my car and it works great and knows every little street. The Forerunner is a very good product that has really improved my training.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is one very impressive product. I have used it on several of my marathon training runs. This has totally enhanced my monitoring and logging of my progress. I am no technical wonder, so I am still learning everything it can do. However, from the start, it was easy to use, reliable and flat out fun. I know several people using this; some are mountain bikers, some runners, some roadies, and we are unanimous in our reaction of being very impressed.

Can't say enough about this GPS watch! It has helped me so much in my quest to do my first marathon. There is no guessing on my mileage. I also recommend the 305 with the heart monitor because monitoring your heartrate is very important for continuous improvement. I almost purchased the 205 and I'm glad I went 305. For those of you that are going to be serious with running, you will find that monitoring your heartrate is key to improving your running times. I only wish that they built the monitor into the watch instead of chest band. Other than that, I give it a huge thumbs up! Great going Garmin!

P.S. Use MotionBased Agent and SportTracks along with Garmin Training Center and you will be amazed! Those programs will show your route on google maps... just plain awesome!

I have owned the Forerunner 305 for about 3 weeks. Mine has performed exactly as advertised.

The GPS rapidly acquires satellites and I have not had a problem with it losing connection. I live in Hawaii and the GPS had no problem finding satellites (updating the Almanac data) and providing a fix while I sat in my living room on the initial start. Since then it occasionally seems to take longer to find satellites, but while I input my planned workout it continues to find the satellites and by the time I am done, it is ready to track my progress.

The heart rate monitor has worked perfectly. It has not once failed to immediately display my HR. So far it has worked better than my Polar dedicated HR monitors.

The display feature allows you to customize different displays with up to four attributes each out of a list over twenty different parameters. For example, if you want to know how long you have left, how far you have gone, your current heart rate, and sunset while you are exercising you can make a display just for that! The display illuminates well at night.

I have found the pace information to be very useful and not at all jerky. Since GPS does not provide speed directly, the 305 like any other receiver calculates speed based on measured position changes over time. Since those calculations tend to provide pace information that is naturally jerky, the 305 allows you to smooth the data to varying degrees. It records the raw speed information, but the pace it displays with "high" smoothing is very steady and useful. I have not tried other pace settings because I am getting useful information. Bottom line, pace information is useful, but may require you to adjust the settings to your personal preference.

The best part of the 305 is how it effortlessly provides useful summaries of your workouts, tracks lap to lap performance, and allows you to transfer information to a computer. I did update the software for the watch (firmware), the USB connection, and the computer program so I may have avoided problems that plagued earlier versions. I was very impressed how fast and easy moving training plans and routes to the watch and historical workout from the watch to the computer. The entire process took no more than 3 minutes and didn't require any complex setup. Once your training records are on the computer, they can be displayed on the Garmin software or a number of different third party web based software solutions that provide different analysis tools, workout plans, and trails to explore. Most of the features available online are free. Even if you don't use a computer, the watch stores a long history of previous workouts and displays your previous workouts with useful summaries.

In summary, the 305 is a great tool for runners who want to monitor their workouts or keep an accurate record of their training with very little effort!


I am very pleased with this product. When I go out on a run, I don't have to worry about running on a measured course to figure out how far that I have run. As far as GPS reception, I have had no issues in San Diego even when it is overcast. I'm not an elite runner and when I purchased it the HR monitor was not necessarily high on my require feature list but now that I have it, it has been a valuable tool. I would agree with other reviewers that the elevation data is not very accurate. I cannot comment on the Training Center software that is provided because I use it with SportTracks software available on the internet. Either software provides the capability to download the Run/GPS data from the Garmin so you end up with a automated training log.

The Forerunner 305 w/ Heart Rate Monitor is outstanding I must say. Compared to many other wrist GPS devices, this one is the most accurate I have found and it has not lost GPS signal once in my two months of using it almost every day. I ran the same course 11 times and it gave identical distance readouts each time, regardless of weather conditions and the fact that I live in a densely housed area.

The Heart Rate Monitor is extremely accurate, and the options for viewing data on the screen are practically endless. With the ease of viewing what you want, the reliability of the GPS, the hundreds of options for data to record and monitor, the training partner and training features, the heart rate monitor - and all the other options I must give this 5 stars. I wouldn't want anything else now that I have used this Garmin device.

Very well done, Garmin!

As a woman runner, I found the 305 a bit bulky for my wrist. It was bigger than I imagined it would be from the photo on the box, and from reading other reviews. This thing is definitely bigger than a regular sports watch. Also, the flat underside part of the watch has a distinct "v-shaped" angle (where it is designed to rest on the charger), which makes it sit on my wrist a little awkwardly, facing slightly more toward the ground than toward my body (I keep feeling like I need to twist it so I can see the watch face better).

However, when looking at the overall size and mechanics of this thing, I always have to keep in mind that it has GPS capabilities, which I suppose isn't something Garmin has been able to make "lady-sized" and compact... yet. But I'll definitely be interested in an upgrade when they do!

I love that I can monitor my running pace with this watch, and the "virtual running partner" function is great. I have trouble motivating myself to run sometimes, and this helps a lot. The heart rate monitor also keeps me from "cheating" and exercising at a lower level than I could be.

I haven't had much trouble with the GPS finding satellites, though a couple of times it took over a minute for the satellites to be located. Not sure if it was clouds, or if the location was at the edge of a "dead spot." In any case, both times this happened, the watch eventually came online, after some prolonged waiting.

As far as monitoring your running pace goes, it seems like there is a slight "lag" between what the watch displays as your running pace and what you are actually running, but the delay doesn't seem too bad to me. I am mostly interested in my overall average running pace at the end of my run, anyway.

Overall, I am very happy that I bought this. I feel that it is really helping me monitor my progress and performance in my half-marathon training program.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is easy to use out of the box.
The software is also user-friendly to explore on one's own, without a lot of research through the manual. There are a few items which need reference, such as how to build courses and upload them from PC to the unit, but all-in-all, this is a fairly easy to use device.
My favorite function is the charting that you can perform on your downloaded activities, and the ability of the software to display your location on the map as you reference the chart with your cursor.
The only downside that I have encountered is that upon power up, it can sometimes take up to 2 full minutes to locate satellites. If you are prepared for this, turn it on and allow it to perform it's location as you are performing your pre-walk (run, skate, etc... ) activities, you should be happy with the performance of the unit.

While I often work out in the gym using a treadmile I do occasionally run outdoors and I will do more outdoors as the weather in MN improves as we move into spring and summer. What I really like about the 305 is its ability to track what I do outdoors using the GPS (location / distance / heart rate), and indoors on the treadmill using using the foot pod (purchased separately) and then upload the data to my PC so that I can track my progress (and for the outdoor runs see on a map where I went). It's very encouraging as I lose weigh and gain stamina to actually see how my heart rate is now lower with higher levels of exercise, and how my average speed is increasing as well. I also like being able to always monitor my heart rate - which while I'm running outdoors is important for me to know as I don't want to exceed the maximum rate for my age (and before I got this unit I wasn't sure how close I was getting). So the combination of all these things makes this a winner for me. The only downside I've found so far is that I'd rather see my speed in MPH vs. my pace in min/mile but that's pretty minor. Also you can't display maps on the 305, just show the track of where you have been. I wasn't expecting to be able to load maps so this was not a take away for me, I just wanted to mention this for other potential buyers.

I am fairly new to the running lifestyle and as I train to add miles each week, the 305 has been an absolute necessity for training, motivation and entertainment.
I love that it does everything. I can save my courses and race against my last run of that course. I set it up to alert me at every mile and keep track of each miles stats (distance, pace, heart rate, etc). It alerts, and keeps me within my heart rate boundries. When I want to push myself, I use the Virtual Running Partner to stay at my desired pace. You will not believe the motivation of a little stick figure kicking your butt in a race, It's amazing how motivating that little guy is!
I have heard people talk about the signal strength, well all I can say is, the thing works even inside my house, so I'll say I've had zero problems with it.
I can't even pick out a best part of owning the Forerunner 305, but I really do enjoy analyzing my run each day when I get home. It comes with the program to put it on your computer then you just plug the watch in the cradle and it uploads all the stats of your run, cycle or other, workout and lists it for you.
Everthing you need to know about your heartrate, pace, distance, location, speed, and more...
It even shows you a gps outline of your run. When you are looking at a graph of your stats, you can click on it and it shows you where you were on your run when picked up your pace or stopped for a drink of water.
I am obviously amped about this thing and the cool part is, I haven't even tapped into all it can do.
I know this goes without saying, but I highly recommend all runners, walkers, cyclers, triathletes, and athletes in general get a Forerunner 305.
One more thing, I ordered mine off of Amazon.com from one of their stores and it took freaking forever to get here, like 2 weeks! So I got impatient about 10 days in and printed off the best price I could find on the internet then took that print out to Sports Chalet and they matched the price. I wish I would have done that before I ordered the one from the internet.
So I'll have a Forerunner 305 on Ebay soon I'm sure!

If you have any other questions about the Forerunner that I might be able to answer for you, feel free to drop me an email!
Heidi fmxheidi@hotmail.com

I have a cheap Casio watch that can tell me how much time I have run or walked. But I purchased this expensive product (the Forerunner) because, among other things, I wanted to know how far I was going for each unit of time. Although it worked well at first, after six months the distance has become increasingly more inaccurate. For instance, several times today, I walked two blocks, and the distance had increased by only .01 mile. I have even noticed the distance going backward (which it did three times today). As a result, the distances are completely unreliable. I would have thought that the device could at the very least keep time and distance accurately. And six months is much too short a period for the product to quit working properly. I am very disappointed.

I'm delighted with the performance and functionality my new Garmin 305. I bought it from amazon for $100 less than the lowest price I've seen elsewhere, so I also consider it to be a real bargin.

Its very easy to use, and is impressively sensitive. When I opened the box, I pressed the 'power on' and was surprised to see it lock onto satellite signals, even though I was indoors (and my house is surrounded by trees). So, there is no problem getting a signal outdoors (at least here in N. California). I've just worn it for a run along my neighborhood streets - the GPS distinguished between me being on opposite sides of the street for the outward and homeward legs.

In terms of size, the watch is reasonably bulky, but, it fits well on my wrist, and the soft rubber strap is comfortable in use. I like that it now looks more like a regular watch than the earlier 301 model.

The software does everything I want it to do, and a lot more besides. I'm an Apple Mac person, and I've not found any problems with the software running under OS X (I belive the Mac software is a recent development).

The readout is clear, and easy to read. Especially at night when its illuminated.
Moreover, you can configure the readout to display all the information you want, and eliminate the stuff you don't care about.

I've not used a fraction of the Garmin's capabilities, such as the training partner mode, etc. But, in time, I think these will be very useful.

All in all, I'm very happy with this purchase. I'm guessing I will use it every time I run or cycle. I doubt I will ever need to upgrade to get better/additional functionality. More than likely, I will upgrade to the next (or later) generations of the Garmin when the size shrinks to that of a normal watch, and the battery can last a lot longer (it would be nice to be able to take the watch with me on vacation, and not have to worry about remembering the charger).

Bottom line: If you run, or even walk, for exercise, fun, or competition, the Garmin is well worth the cost.

there's still no all-in-one product. adding the garmin 305 and the polar 710 would be the perfect device. the garmin was easy to setup and configure and gps comes up within a minute or two. heart rate monitor also works really well, haven't had any problems getting it to read HR. something my polar occasionally gives me trouble with.

couple things that are lacking in the 305: the altitude i guess is from gps...at any rate its really poor. i did a flat sea level run but the watch thought i was going up and down hills. downloading data into a computer was easy. but the computer application is very rudimentary and not very configurable which was disappointing. after doing all these workouts i'd like to see more stats etc...

finally if they made it waterproof would be a great triathlon product at least for events less than ironman (battery life is only 10hr).

I got the 300 last year, and loved it. Since I bought it after the 305 came out, the price was right and in spite of some of the harsh criticism, had NO problems with it. Granted, the receiver had trouble occasionally when surrounded by heavy tree cover or high buildings, but it was generally very reliable and since I had used GPS in my profession (Trimble backpack unit) my expectations for accuracy in a little watch unit weren't very high.

I noticed that there was a rebate on the 305, and happened to peek on Amazon and was amazed at the price. Was able to sell my 300, and with the rebate it cost about $10 more than I paid for the 300.

Whoever designed the 305 is a GENIUS. My only real complaint about the 300, the flimsy little rubber gasket for the port, was solved with a cradle...so no moving parts or worrying about making sure it's sealed so sweat/water won't get in. Its sensitive receiver recognizes the satellites in a fraction of the time. I like the watchband much better than the velcro band. And honestly, while still large, the 305 is so much cooler looking (not that I care).

I started running again 2 years ago (after a 15 year hiatus), and I think Garmy has made the difference for me--an ever ready running companion. I just love the data and the graphs too. It allowed me to really get a clear picture of how to get the most out of a run and how to keep challenging myself without pushing too hard. I think I would have slogged along at 11:00 min miles forever without it, and probably would have given up.

I ran my first 1/2 marathon, and am going to run my first marathon in October. I am looking forward to exploring more of the features for training.

It was such a treasure on my trip to Europe last year, running is such a great way to really see an area. I just started it and ran, didn't have to worry about getting lost, or how far to go....just used the map to get back to where I started.

I try not to be too attached to things and am not one to get the newest, coolest gadget when they come out. But this is a tool that really brought out my inner runner (and data geek), and for that I will be forever grateful.

I've had my Garmin forerunner 305 for nearly a week, and can say it's the greatest technological running product on the market. I recieved the forerunner, charged it and began running. No setup required! Very easy to use, software installed in one or two minutes, and I was able to began analyzing my previous run. This thing revealed information about my run, heart rate, elevation, grade, pace, and speed I never new was available.
Heart monitor works great and is really quit comfortable. Comes with great software, easy to use, and Motionbased free account, I couldn't ask for more. Stop running blind and go get one of these things, their worth EVERY PENNY.

This is the greatest training tool I've used for my running. It is very accurate and reliable. I love the Training Center software that comes with it and the free Motion Based Web account that allows me to view my runs in Google Earth and compare them to other runners. It allows me to run anywhere and do any kind of running workout without pre-measuring the distances. It keeps me from getting bored because of the variety of paces and laps I can run without being on a treadmill or track. The heart monitor is also accurate and useful. I don't have to worry about tiring out before the end of a workout when I use the heart monitor.

I bought this "VERY EXPENSIVE TOY" for my husband . He got to use if for a few times before it stop working, we went to the Garmin store and they couldnt do anything for us more than give us their costumer support phone number. They give us some pointers, but nothing has worked, next...keep on calling until we can have it fixed or my money back.... 8(.


Great improvement over the previous basic model. I have not had a chance to do much with the heart monitor since it is dark when I run and I can't read the watch. Especially like the large buttons on the front for starting and stopping the watch. Smaller design is a plus also.

Garmin has released Training Mgr for Macintosh as of Feb 2007. Works on intel and non-intel macs running OSX.

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 found the Garmin 305 Forerunner, easy to use, accurate, with plenty of good information. Runners need to know how far they have run. Garmin does this and more. The weight is good.

The product is good. The GPS antenna is better than previous versions, but still needs some improvement. In some locations the recorded position is still out of the target. The whatch is a little big, mainly because of the antenna

I find that monitoring my statistics makes me want to try again and see how I do. This product does that very well. Two areas for improvement: 1) Add mapping functionality that is already available in the free "SportTracks" sofware. 2)Allow multiple users. Still, I give the product 5 stars for getting me to exercise more.

This watch has everything a runner/cyclist could ask for! Takes awhile to get use to using it but once you have figured it out the rest is heaven.

Garmin Forerunner 305 helps you to train more, and to be more motivated. The training assistant and analyzer to help you to focus more.

Not being familiar with the Forerunner series I purchased the 305 and couldn't be happier. It works well when you running in coverage, the distances seem to be accurate. The heart rate monitor is very a handy feature, not a necessity but a nice to have. I compared this to some of the timex models and believe that garmin has the edge. Enjoy your purchase.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor is not a fancy high-tech watch replacement for general purpose 24/7 usage. On the contrary, it's strictly a nice accessory to be used only during workout by a dedicated runner or biker fan, interested in getting good enough measurements related to performance, especially those that can be directly derived from GPS technology, which is Garmin's main area of expertise.

These are some of the GPS directly related measurements that the 305 consistently delivers with an accuracy of plus or minus 30 feet: altitude, distance traveled and distance per lap.

The 305 gives very precise readings of heart rate, as well as the time related readings, such as total time traveled, time per lap and time of day.

The composite measurements, such as pace or speed, absolute or per lap, evidently can only be as precise as the accuracy of the relevant, above described GPS directly related measurements.

In contrast to the above niceties, Garmin's 305 algorithm to measure the workout calorie expense is currently (March '07) notoriously wrong, hopefully Garmin will be able to correct it in a future software release. Of course, calorie expense is not a GPS related measurement, and is therefore not within the reach of Garmin's recognized main area of expertise.

When working out indoors, the GPS derived measurements will not work, and so the 305 becomes a time keeping machine only, with additional accurate heart rate readings. The 305 is not designed to go into the water, and so cannot be worn while swimming. The 305 will not provide temperature readings, and is not an alarm clock, although can be programmed to provide notice when certain thresholds related to performance are crossed.

Finally, the workout readings can be downloaded and analyzed in the PC with Garmin's unsophisticated proprietary software.


The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver with Heart Rate Monitor is one the best coaches I've ever had. I'm a distance runner and with a glance I can see how far I've run and how long I've run. I can also see how hard my heart is working and my current pace. When I finished with my run I upload all the data from my Forerunner into my PC for analysis and keep a history of my progress.

This is the most amazing running gadget I have ever seen. I live in Mexico City and it works perfectly. I can use it where other GPS units simply can not even find any satellite signal. I strongly recommend this product.

I sent this e-mail to Garmin "Customer service" 2 days ago ( and still no answer from them): After more than 45 min. waiting on the phone I decided to e-mail you. My wife owned a forerunner 301 no problem with heart beat record. I decided to give her a present the forerunner 305 ( big mistake). Before L.A. Marathon she had a lot of problems with the heart beat data, not recording. We read about to make the contacts wet and the use of electro gel, we purchase the gel for the marathon and the big disappointment after the Marathon 90% of the data is not there ( the heart data) and when recorded running at a pace of 10.5 the reading 64 ( too good to be truth).
We are really disappointed there is anything that you can do, I purchase the unit on January 24th 2007.
Believe it or not still on hold on the phone line your customer service is kind of slow ( 52 minutes and still waiting).
Thank you in advance

Mariano Perez

Well done !!
My first heart rate monitor - works great.
GPS works great - fast acquisition
Heart rate and pace alarms are loud and very helpful.
Used on treadmill (nice "indoor" mode shuts off gps).
Software provided was excellent for tracking my training !!
Very pleased.

I have used this intermittantly for the past few weeks for cross country trekking with my son. I am training for a mtn hunt. I have had no significant problems and it works completely as advertised. I think it is a valuable training tool and to a lesser extent a navigation tool. The training/download software is adequate, intuitive and the display options are more than sufficient. HR, time, Distance, altitude are solidly accurate on my unit.
The minor issues are: The "needle" on compass display while moving is contradictory and shifts wildly, it is easier to just use the trail display. The unit is a bit larger than you would like, but smaller than you could imagine considering all it does. Rarely the gps has problems finding signal, but which one doesn't. Rarely I have a difficult time seeing the smaller features on the display without reading glasses my problem basically. I will need more time to know if it is tough enough to count on.
I wish it ran off of over the counter batteries too, for times when you can't get to recharge source, ie wilderness. mike

Big step in advance against the forerunner 200 series.
Readble, precise and with a very fast satellite acquire procedure is a very good solution for the wrist gps solution.
The comibination of the HRM and the GPS is the best way to verify the training condition.



Sometimes it takes 10 min for it to lock onto a satellites upon start-up, and it loses signal easily.

I have had the 305 for about 6 weeks and am very pleased with it. It is my first GPS watch and has exceeded my expectations. I had read the concerns with the altimeter and agree, it does not provide useful or accurate information so no surprises there. The real issue for me was how well it would measure distance. I have found it to be very accurate and reliable. I have several runs that I have clocked with the car and measuring tools on Google Earth; the Garmin hit my mile split expectations anywhere from spot on to 20-30 feet from what I believed the true splits to be. At the end of the 10 mile run I was also within 20 feet of expectation. So maybe one mile measures a few feet long, another a few feet short, but cumulatively it was right on my prior expectations.

The heart rate monitor does jump around a bit on pulse rate but once I settle into a run it seems more reliable and is certainly useful. I have found that if I put the chest strap on a few minutes before running I don't get the wild initial readings when I start running.

As to my headline that it has changed the way I run, because the distance measurements are so accurate the Forerunner has freed me from the old measured courses I have run for years. Instead I just take off wherever I feel like going with complete comfort as to splits, pace and distance (and yes, I am one of those who really cares whether I ran 5.00 versus 5.25 miles when calculating my pace). I set the watch to ring at each mile so I can simply glance down and figure my pace. It is also great when traveling as you can run any distance accurately without any planning effort.

I also enjoy downloading data to Sporttracks (third party free software) to see my runs overlayed on a map. Often it maps so accurately it will clearly show which side of the street I ran on and where I crossed from one side to the other. Running has never stopped being fun, but the freedom this device has afforded me has added a new element of enjoyment.

Besides the recent Mac upgrade of the TrainingCenter app from Garmin, check out Ascent, available as a download from montebellosoftware dot com. Ascent is fully compatible with the 305 and 205 and offers features that go far beyond the Garmin Training Center, like the ability to superimpose your route on Terraserver aerial photo-maps and playback an animated heads-up display tracing your route with speed, altitude, cadence, HR, etc. Mac-heads should check it out as an alternative to the Garmin s/w.

Although a little bulky on the wrist, this device logs your location according to GPS and heart rate from the chest transmitter, during your training and allows you to upload it to a PC for further analysis. This is probably the feature I find most useful as it allows you to monitor your improvement (or otherwise) over time by comparing the results of your training sessions.

I personally do not find the display too useful and tend not need to look at it during training as there is far too much information on it to take in, although I understand that it is possible to reduce/customise this. If Garmin could reduce the size of the device by taking the display off altogether, it would be great...

The only other dislike is that the hear rate monitor transmitter is a little bulky and is not compatible with most standard Gym equipment, which is annoying, however as the watch is logging all the data anyway, it is not too bad.

The time taken to lock onto the satelites from switching the device on is a bit variable, sometimes connects in seconds and other times upto 5 minutes. I could understand this behaviour if I were turning it on in a very different location to where I turned it off, but I always turn the device on and off outside my house...

All in all, a very useful gadget.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 has two MAJOR problems. First, Garmin's algorithm for altitude recording is poor. It apparently records every foot of elevation it thinks you gain or lose. Since there will always be some measurement error in altitude, you could run a mile on a track and the Garmin Forerunner 305 will say you've done 300 feet of elevation when you're done. I've had Polar and Avocet altimeters and both gave accurate readings on known elevation climbs. The Garmin typically doubled the true elevation gain!

Garmin's bigger problem is customer service. After using the Forerunner for two weeks, I had a software problem and emailed Garmin's customer service. No response. I emailed again. No response. After five emails over four weeks with no reply from Garmin I gave up and returned the Forerunner.

Until Garmin gets some customer service, I'd advise getting a Suunto or another brand.


I've owned the 305 for a couple of weeks now and have found it to be quite a motivator. I was a little disappointed that the training software was for PC's only. Then I went to the Garmin site and saw that as of late Jan. 2007, Garmin has a 61 mb download for making the training software Mac compatible. Haven't used the heart-rate monitor strap yet but have a friend (who recommended the 305 to me) who uses it regularly and says it's great and comfortable. If you're near Moab, Utah you may just see my dogs and I out somewhere walking, and wearing our Garmin.

Had a 301 for about two years worked good, not great. Had problems with signal drop on the trails, if i attached it to my hat than it would work great..
Knock on wood, so far with the 305 every run has had a excellent signal, Love it with [...] great web site for storing, comparing & sharing data

I have used garmin fitness GPS fitness monitors exclusively since their introduction. About a year ago I upgraded from the 301 to the 305. The 305 does a great job of tracking time and distance as well as well as features like interval workouts & setups. However, the heart rate monitor simple does not work as well as earlier models. The HR monitor most times doesn't work or is ridiculosly inaccurate. I actually sent the product back to Gramin for repair and it still doesn't work correctly. So I recommend that anyone considering Garmin fitnes products that you purchase those products without HR features. hc jones, providence forge, va 23140

The Garmin Forerunner 305 has changed the way I run. Instead of spending time planning and measuring routes, I just put on the chest strap and watch. It does take anywhere from 2-10 minutes for the GPS to locate you and during that time you have to remain relatively still. Another complaint is the updater software is cumbersome and unreliable and the watch is somewhat difficult to use. You will spend plenty of time in the instruction manual if you plan to use advanced features, but once you overcome those obstacles you will be very pleased with what the watch can do. I'm very happy that I made the purchase. I've never owned a heart rate monitor or gps before and recommend one to runners of all levels - I can't say for certain that there's not a better gps/heart rate watch out there. Although I did my research before purchase and this was this highest rated one at the time. There certianly could be something better soon, but for now I'm happy with my Garmin 305.

I've had my Garmin 305 for more than 6 months now and I absolutely love it! It's helped me train and finish a marathon. It was a wonderful help with my 20 weeks of training. I programmed it with my interval training sessions sessions -- it was very, very easy to program my different training sessions (for example, run 4 minutes/wal 1 minute). It also helped me when I got lost on my long runs -- I went from running 3 to 4 miles at a time to running 20 miles (that was my long run) so I got lost. With my Garmin 305, I marked various locations and it directed me back to them so I could find my way home.

I would not have been been able to train for my marathon without it! OK, maybe I could have, but it would have been a lot less fun, a lot harder, and I would have gotten lost.

One more thing -- I'm a pretty small woman, and even though the wrist unit is pretty big, I found it pretty comfortable to wear.

The Forerunner delivers on all the advertised benefits and more. It is complex and takes some work to learn...set up like a computer rather than a time piece. Remembers all details about each run...time, pace, elevation, heart rate, etc. for each lap and even gives you a graph showing each as a function of distance.

Only knock is the need to experment and learn. The owner's manual is helpful but not complete.

I love my Garmin! It's hard to remember how I ran without it! Great watch! Easy to use and navigate through!

I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He loves it!

The unit provides excellent feedback on workouts. Easy to use and even I have little difficulty uploading data to my computer. Heart rate and data seems to fluctuate, I've had stray readings of over 225 to 240 during some training rides. It does provide a very handy log of training activities.

I got this critter for Christmas, having asked for it, and am increasingly impressed as time goes by.

Yes, you have to take a minute or so to allow the GPSr to aquire the sats but it is a GPS accruate receiver. Hello? I find that I turn it on and set it on my car or nearby while I do a little pre-stretch or get my iPod ready to go and it's ready when I am.

I've been through the manual and still find new cool stuff. Admittedly a Tri geek, I like all the available data. The functionality of the training software that comes with the unit is great. All the info I want is dumped onto the computer. Graphs, averages, elevations, HR, Speed, Pace, Cadence(extra sensor), etc. Set up courses you do and race yourself. Multisport capability during the same workout for triathletes. I could go on and on.

I am doing the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon in June and found the run and bike courses available for download on their site right to my computer and the F305. I can see the course and especially the elevation changes. Cool. I love this thing and it seems to be accurate as well. I've been using the Timex bodylink and will definately stay with the F305.

My only minor complaint so far, I'd like a wrist mount that would stay put when I rotate the unit on my wrist for the bike part of races. Like I said, very minor. Highly reccommended.

I bought this for my husband for his birthday. He loves it. It takes a little effort figure out all the features (he has been reading the manual). He has had no problems with it and once you know the features, it's very user friendly.

This thing is loaded with options for tracking data from your workouts: distance, time, heart rate, % of max. h.r., pace, avg. speed, max. speed, gradient, cadence, etc., and the way that the data can be displayed is highly customizable, as are the workouts you can set up etc. For all that I regret the purchase.

I was looking for a way to track my workouts/progress conveniently, since I'm not the best at recording them with pencil and paper. I'm frustrated by trying to work out all of the details of the display etc. however, even by the fact that I have to stand still and wait for the unit to get a fix on the satellites when I may be in a hurry to bust out a quick 30 minute run in the limited time I have to get in a workout that day. All in all, I find the unit to be more of a distraction for me than an aid.

A good product for outdoor use. GPS seems spot-on, calorie expenditure and elevation are approximately correct for this type of device. Overall, I would recomend it to my friends if they were wanting a GPS with heart monitor for general fitness use.

I really enjoy using this device. Entering run information is easier on the computer than manually in the watch. Getting to check out my pace and HR encourages my runs.

I live in Colorado. I have found the 305 to be an excellent tool and an excellent companion in my fitness pursuit and enjoyment of my running and mountain biking activities. There are so many ways you can use this device to make your walk, run, or bicycling for each day more interesting. A great motivator.

It is very nice product (when it works properly) but sometimes it looses the satellite sign and does not turn back. For this instance I have to stop the training and to locate the satellites from the beginning (it takes almost 1 min). This problem is not so often but is really makes me mad. The garmin company says that it has the best sign receptor and does not lose the sign even if you pass near high buildings. There are not very high buildings in my area and I run along the sea nevertheless it looses the sign >:-(.
PS I follow the instructions of the manual step by step and when I locate satellites before I start training I am completely unmoved .


What a deal...I was concerned about how low the price was...but everything works as the much as the pricy one in the store. Delivered fast..and as promised! A runner.

I love my Garmin. I use it for trail running mostly. It's a great training tool. The data can be used so many ways.

It was a gift for our son who is in the Navy - he LOVES it!!

I have been using technology to track my exercise progress for several years now and when the old unit I was using died I started looking for something to replace it. That's when I discovered the Garmin Forerunner 305. This has all the advantages of anything I've ever used and none of the disadvantages.

Because it works in any outdoor location I'm no longer confined to places that I've measured. I can run anywhere and know how far I've gone and even what elevation changes I was challenged by.

It is highly accurate over any distance, and when combined with the free internet service that comes with it or with Sportstracks software it is possible to chart your progress in ways that I've never been able to do before.

I would recommend this product to anyone who wants to run, walk, or bike and know how far they have gone and how many calories they have burned.

arrive almost in time...but is a great item ,works great and I save more that 100euro ,is the difference of cost between Italy and amazon...

this is a great gps unit--I have small wrists and it doesn't feel too bulky. love the multitude of data it provides, it does take a few minutes to locate satellites (seems a little longer than timex). would recommend spending extra money for all the data

I have been working out my entire life. It can be tough to be continuously inspired. The Gamin instrument makes working out much more interesting and informative especially if you workout outdoors. I have shopped around all types of devices and found this is the most flexible device for doing all types of workouts. The display is easy to read, except the heart rate monitor of the main screen. The map feature of the software which comes with the device is very good but it can also be linked to Google maps if you need greater accuracy. I would recommend this for any triathlete or anyone looking to punch up their workouts.

I love the 305 GPS receiver and heart rate monitor. It does everything I wanted plus more. If you are thinking about an item like this, give it a try I'm sure you won't be disapointed.

There is nothing like running anywhere you want and knowing exactly how far, how fast, consistency, etc. You also don't have to worry about getting the calibration right (Nike+ reference) because there is none. The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a great investment for all types of runners. I highly recommend it. There are multiple websites out there that are compatible with the Forerunner. They allow you to actually see a satellite view of your path. You can also map out a route and upload it the the Forerunner. I can't say enough oabout the Garmin Forerunner 305.

I purchased this as a gift for an aerobics instructor, personal trainer and overall fitness junkie. She really likes the heart-monitor and pacing alerts. Everything worked right out of the box. No complaints.

I've owned a 301 since they came out in 2004 - invaluable training tool (marathon/Ironman/triathlons). Finally decided to upgrade to 305 - very glad I did. Improved functionality and realiability, sleeker unit (although I want the next gen to be even smaller) and durability. Best in class.

This product is actually very good and i give it 5 stars. But I am writing this because I want to get the word out that Amazon as totally changed they way they are doing business. If you look to the right up top and see the list of other sellers, you will see that amazon is selling this watch about $80 more than all other sellers. This is one result of their policy to use 3rd party merchants instead of buying from amazon. With 3rd party merchant, you no longer get Amazon coustomer service, which is almost non existent anyway.

Many of these merchant are fly by night selling out of their garages. Many do not even have website or contact phone #'s. I have several Items I order over holidays that I thought were through Amazon. Now after paying huge shipping charges and having many messed up orders I am having to deal with these merchants. Amazon will not refund your money until you spend weeks trying to contact merchants and resolve issue with them.

I wll no longer be doing business with Amazon until they get rid of 3rd party merchant. If enough people do this, then I think they will go back to the way they orginal set this company up and provide oustanding prices and services to their customers.

A great way to buy products without having to go through Amazon is to use the wonderful search engine on Amazon for the product you are looking for and then go to the many other reputible shopping web sites and Merachants and by through them.

Just purchased the FR 305 last week and have done 10 runs on it so far. I must say I was skeptical after reading many of the negative reviews, but this product has performed nearly flawless. The thing you MUST do prior to using it the first time is go to the Garmin website and download the latest firmware, unit software, USB drivers, and Training Center update. I did these before I even charged the unit and it has performed great.

I'm not sure if the new firmware and software updates fixed problems people were having, but my heartrate was spot-on, my elevation in my area of Alabama was VERY close (not exact by any stretch, but within 25-50 ft of nearby benchmarks), and the satellite lock-on and reception has been PERFECT (even with 2 runs in a wooded area of pine and hardwoods).

The pace issue people were having is still there, but mine was way less of an issue than others. My fluctuations only ranged about 1:00 or less and my overall average pace at the end of the runs was fairly close to my estimate (I'm a 7:00/mile runner, and the FR 305 was showing anywhere from 7:00/mile to 8:30/mile averages--not bad).

As for the "gold" contacts on the back of the unit, if you just make sure you clean them after each workout and dry them off well before placing on the USB charger, there are no corrosion issues (so far).

The only negative item I can think of is the overall size of the display screen--it's a little difficult to gauge your data when running because of the small font and numbers. However, I think Garmin did the best they could considering they had to pack a lot of nice features in a wearable GPS system.

Overall, my experience with the FR 305 has been outstanding and the item does exactly what it is supposed to as long as you follow the manual, update all firmware and software, and clean the unit as per the manual.

Good luck and keep running.

Before I got the 305 I had used a Polar RS200sd and the Nike+ system. I liked the Polar system most of the time but hated it when it would turn on and off by itself. However the distance information from the footpod was inaccurate and the footpod itself was too large and heavy. The Nike* system has the same problem with distance accuracy and it does not measure heart rate. The voice is very nice and if you're going to use a Nano anyway it is a great deal.

The 305 does a good job with distance and heart rate. The menu system is pretty easy to navigate and easier than the Polar. Instaneous pace is a bit of a guess but you're in the ball park. My unit only gets fair reception even in a clear area but rarely do I lose the signal even under tree cover. The calorie count is way off. When you down load the information you sometimes get different information from what is showing on the unit. Yesterday I ran 20 miles but the MotionBased software said I ran 21.45 miles. The date is also off. The MotionBased software requires some work to get it set up and you need to pay money to get all of the features that you are going to want to have.

The bottom line is that the 305 does what I need it to do for pace and distance and is, in my view, far superior to any of the pod based systems. Hopefully some of the other issues are being resolved through software upgrades.


I ran with it for the first time and was impressed with it right out of the box. Hooked it up to the USB and everything downloaded just like it should. The data this thing stores is just phenomenal! It took a bit to get use to the pace feature but I found out I didn't have it set quite right. I thought it bounced around alot but when I downloaded it onto my pc, it graghed it out smoothly. Also, the latest update will help with the pace feature, should keep it smoother while running. I bought it from Amazon. Good company, shipped in 6 days, no problems.

I just returned my Garmin Forerunner 305 that I purchased last September (less than 4 months ago) because it died on me. When I walked in the store, the cashier at REI told me that it's the third unit returned that week at that store.

I plugged it into the USB port to get recharged, a few hours later removed it, took it on a run only to find out that it would not turn on. Thank God I bought it at REI (at full price). They refunded my money, no hassels and no questions asked.

These are some of the other problems/issues I had with the unit:
- The altitude function does not work. It's just absolutely garbage data. I took it on a hill loop and repeated the hill 7 times and the altitude plot did not look anything like a loop.

- The calorie counter function is useless as well. It's way off.

- It takes a half a mile for the heart rate monitor to monitor accurately. Before that the heart rate is way high, usuall, in the 200+ range.

- There is a feature that is supposed to detect if you run in loops and then show loop timing/distance data. This feature does not function at all. On my unit it failed to detect I was on a loop, even though I repeted it several times in a row.

- The PC software leaves much to be desired.

- Apparently Garmin has customer service issues, although I have not tried contacting anyone at Garmin myself.

All these said, I like the unit and will consider purchasing another one if all/some of the flaws are addressed by Garmin.
Be careful when buying this abd be ready to experience some problems.

This is my second Garmin GPS, and my second Heart Rate Monitor (my first HRM from Garmin). I'm a light runner, running regurlarly, but only short distances (3 times a week, about 9-10 miles per run). I purchased the Forerunner because my previous HRM could not measure speed nor distance.

First of all, I'm impressed with the fact that Garmin managed to package a fully functioning GPS along with a heart rate monitor (HRM) into such a compact form factor. And it is light (which was one of my primary concerns) - so light in fact, that I hardly notice it while running. GPS reception is also surprisingly good, altough still erratic under adverse conditions.

The Forerunner is definitely not a naviagtional aid (as most other Garmin GPS-based products are) - the GPS is used to determine speed and distance, and together with the HRM can calculate calories consumption etc. Still, it's user interface is noticeably based on Garmin's previous (navigation) devices. And, to put it mildly, the interface can be improved. The various, user-configurable 'pages' are a hassle to set up, difficult to read, and the user interface is inconsistent and counter-intuitive in many places. For example setting up the Garmin to pace yourself using previously run distances is a real chore, and so far I wasn't able to reliably activate it.

On the other hand, the device does work as advertised, and is able to pick up sats where my other (older) garmin would not. The HRM works without a problem, and appears to be accurate. So does the distance measured by the device (and, as a direct result, speed). A few months ago I ran a half-marathon, and the distance measured differed less than a percent from the official distance.

Something I did not anticipate was the fact that using the Forerunner for work-outs is only half it's value. The other added benefit is that you can then download the accumulated data (samples spaced at 4 seocnds) onto your PC for further processing. I have taken a particular liking to MotionBased web service (free and commercial plans are available). You then can, for example, export the route you ran, and have it displayed in Google Earth (a cool feature, but with limited uses). You can, however, also use it to analyze your performance against environmental factores (temperatures), or speed vs. heart rate etc., making work-out planning actually fun.

The Forerunner comes with software for the PC, but unfortunately not for the Mac (there are, however, third party tools, MotionBased among them, that can read data from the Forerunner on the Mac). Using my PC I found the software to be adequate, but also slightly unwieldly to use.

All in all I am satisfied with the Forerunner. Although it's interface is more difficult to use than it should be, it's providing me with important additional information, and has helped me to increase my average speed significantly. It's work-out related features are still not as good as some other products (e.g. Polar's), but they are good enough for me. I can definitely recommend this product.

I trained for 3 months for a 54 mile trail run in VA. During my training i tried running on roads but then started to go to a local park with lots of trails. I tried assuming I was running 10 minute miles which turned out to be a bad assumption. My wife got me a Timex GPS watch but I knew Garmin was the king and the Timex had a separate antenna to wear and a watch. Researched and bot the 305. It is first off very close to wearing a regular watch, it's light and not big at all. Nobody noticed it in the park. I'ld say it's like wearing 2 Casio regular size sport watches. 2. It is very accurate. I tried it along routes I've measured by car. 3. It does not lose it's signal in the woods, I'm talking trails in the woods with leaves on the trees. Not one NO Satellites message. 4. It downloads to google earth if you search for programs I found 2 that would do it for free on my 1st search on Google. Google earth and seeing where you ran is awesome. It's so accurate it shows if you go down one side of the street on the way out and on the other on the way back. 5. It worked on my 54 mile run and it really helped. 6. It has a heart rate monitor which is very cool, but I did not use it on my 54 miler. I hope this helps.

I like the look of this high tech gadget. It's no small watch but the overall shape and the placement of the antenna is quite intelligent. Functionally, it gives me everything I wanted for my long distance running. Elapsed time, distance traveled, heart rate and pace. I am not 100% convinced that the instantaneous pace was accurate but it's consistant. The beauty of this watch is the downloaded data. Along with the numeric data, a trace of your path is also displayed on a map. It is very accurate as far as the route in the Houston area.
I am also using this watch in Singapore while I am on assignment there. The accuracy fell off as I ran near the East Coast of Singapore. According to the downloaded data, I was running in the sea! I am wondering if other users have a similar issue while running near the US coast line?
All in all, I love this watch, I would wear it as casual wear as long as I have the battery charged the night before. This watch is a battery hawk!
You can customize it's display and the controls are fairly intuitive.
I paid less than $300 via a mail order company on Amazon and the shipment was very quick.
I did have one issue when it was locked up and would not start once. I called Garmin and was told to "reboot" the watch by holding the mode button while pressing the reset button. Lo and behold, the watch came back to live and I had to do that one more time while in Singapore.
Hope this helps.

Garmin apparently has big problems with the Garmin 305. I'm currently using my third unit. The first two went defective within 10 days of purchasing.

Be prepared for problems if you purchase a 305

Wonderful training aid for runners. Better heart monitor than the Garmin 301. Better signal reception than the 301. Better training software that the 301. The gadget person will love the 305!

I have had this "gizmo" for about a month and am extremely impressed. It worked right out of the box with no problems. I have used it for running and mountain biking and found it extremely easy to use. The wealth of information that it tracks is astounding. I have used a Polar RS200D with a footpod for the last year and got a little frustrated with its inability to correctly track speed on a changing terrain - it's fine for flat surfaces but then has to be recalibrated when the terrain changes. No such problems with the Garmin.

I have used the Forerunner with the MotionBased and TrainingPeaks websites and found it very easy to do so. Both websites require some additional downloaded drivers and/or software in order to work but it was worth the extra effort. The mapping capability of this device when used with Motion Based is absolutely amazing! This "gizmo" blows away my Polar as far as information tracking, usability, and flexibility goes.

Delivery was within timeframe (just in time for the Chicago Marathon training)... and I am completely satisfied with the performance of this equipment. Every avid outdoor runner should own one!

The Garmin Forerunner 305 has got to be the best product out there for runners! With its advanced GPS, heart rate monitor and great battery life, I can't see how I was running long distances without a good monitor of my progress! I do wish there was better Mac OSX support, as of yet... just promises from the company and no progress status to customers. :(

This product is really well done and useful for those interested to improve their performances and to get a better awareness about their capacities.
Maybe the software associated on PC should be improved to be at the same level.

I purchased the device, along with heart monitor, to aid in my preparation for the Chicago Marathon. I have never trained with a watch of any kind prior to this purchase and now realize the benefit. I have to say it lived up to my expectation as far its accuracy and performance. Naturally, it comes with cavaets due to the fact that it relys on satellite coverage which in Chicago never was a major hinderence. Right in the heart of the loop it took a while to acquire a signal but I expected that.

It is a great stuff if you want something to "drive you" to do your exercises. Gives you a brief of what your run was and you can even joing a Motion Based, a web based service to see the area map of where you runned.
It was great for me beacuse I work with international business and have to travel all the time overseas. This made me buy it so I know how much I runned, it's important even to let me know when it's time o return.
The only thing that made me desapointed was while I was in Europe on a very clouded day it did not work and it's not good to workouts inside buildings since it doesn't make a timeline with the calouries burned.

For outside runners, it's exelent...

I had a Garmin Forerunner 201. I loved it, but alas I lost it after a paddling session. So with a lot of remorse I ponied up the extra dough to upgrade to the 305. I really like the heart rate monitor, the ability to create courses, the virtual training partner is a neat gimmick, and the training history and data base is much improved. HOWEVER, all of those extra functional elements cost the user battery charge life. I have found the charge to last about 5 hours tops..You would have to stop your work out to plug in somewhere if you are ever to do any long training or events. Also annoying is the fact that if you happened to hit the lap/reset button at the same time as you hit the mode button, a pretty common thing, you will shut of the power and loose all of your data for that workout! Really bad form! Also the display is small so much of the graphics are microscopic.

I have had my Garmin Forerunner 305 for a couple of months now. I love it. I use it for running, biking, and occasionally hiking. Recently, I have had trouble getting it to make good connection with the syncing/charging cradle. I called Garmin's Customer Service about it. They are sending me a new cradle! It was a very postive experience. I was definitely impressed with Garmin's Customer Service!

I bought this about a month ago and currently have 10 runs with it, including a few 5 milers. I'm not a top of the line runner but I am very interested in making myself a better runner through the information gathered with this device. I have great things to say about this product. It's very comfortable to wear, light on the wrist and the heart rate monitor is hardly noticable. Even my wife will wear this - and she is not into wearing any devices when she works out. I have to think that if I was to wear this for 26 miles though, it might become a little irritating, but then what wouldn't be irritating after 26 miles? The best part is that I don't even have to think about logging my activity. It's very easy to get the data from the device and the information that you get is incredible! If you are looking for a toy to help you train, this is it!

Works well most of the time; however, occationally will "yo-yo" between the pace I'm holding and about 7-8 minutes above that (e.g. - at a 8 minute pace, will fluxuate between 8 and 15:30 pace while I'm maintaining speed). This usually only lasts for about 5 minutes or so and doesn't happen often - but is annoying when it does.

I have had my 305 for a couple of months and I love it. This is the best tool I have ever used for tracking runs with heart rate, mileage, and pace statistics all right there at your finger tips. When you combine this device with the Motionbased web site (free) you really can not beat it. Yes it is expensive but for what it does it really rocks!!!

My experience is that I have no problems connecting to satellites and in fact I can even pick them up when sitting here inside my office. On two occasion since I've had the unit I have had to reboot it to get it to find the satellites but other than those two time it always connects within about 15 to 20 seconds. If fact it works so well that I've stopped sitting it on the ground and now I just leave it strapped to my arm and let it locate the satellites because it is so quick. As for keeping the GPS siginal I've had no problem. I run in the woods under trees and I have yet to lose my GPS signal and when the data is applied to the map functions in Motionbased it is spot on. It is amazing how well this thing works.

The complaint I have seen several people make about the unit not measuring altitude correctly is mostly resolved by using the Motionbased web site to correct the altitude readings. My unit is always +- 10 feet from one day to the next which is close enough for my purpose.

The one problem I have had (mostly operator error) is that when I'm done running I will press the stop button, the unit confirms the counter has stopped, but on two occasions when I've gone to up load the data I