Garmin...Confused!!

holly2

I've been wanting a Garmin for a while, and thinking it'd make a nice Xmas present! Am a technology moron, and haven't a clue which to get. I've been searching the forum but can't find any answers. I'm seeing some people questioning their accuracy. Any recommendations as to which one to get for a distance runner, running fartlek/intervals/LSR etc. And anywhere they can be picked up for a bargain??
Thanks in advance.

robinph

Here is the differences between the units that I can think of off the top of my head, anyone got anything else?

405 and 405cx
Smaller and more like a watch.
About 8hrs battery life whilst recording with GPS on.
2weeks battery when used just as a watch.
CX version has different straps and counts calories better.
Wirelessly connects to PC after training to upload your data.

305 and 310
About 12hours battery life.
Bigger on the wrist.
Bigger screen with extra data field(?)
310 version is waterproof enough for tris, HRM won't work in the water though.
310 has a funky colour scheme.
Transfer workouts via USB ... is that the same for the 310?

Both are probably as accurate as each other in actually recording your routes.

I'm a 405 user myself.

MadHatter

No experience of 405s but on 310xt

- battery life is supposed to be in region of 20 hours, but probably closer to 15 hours with HRM
- it's bulky, if you want something you can wear when you're not in your running gear, 310xt is not for you
- data transfer is wireless via ant stick that plugs into USB port (same as 405 I think)
- Re accuracy, you can see the GPS coverage on one of the screens, I think the most accurate I've seen is +- 9m. Fine for most things, but not for 400m intervals.

310xt is really aimed at multisports (duathlon & triathlon) so if you are a runner with no plans to branch into multisports, 405 is probably a better option. So read the other thread on 405 and see if you can live with the flaws.

For bargins see usual online suspects: wiggle.co.uk, startfitness.co.uk, chainreactioncycles.com, handtec.co.uk. Locally (well Dublin - local for me!) you can get them in Wheelworx and CycleSuperStore amongst others. Shop around for best price.

BJohnson

I recently got the Forerunner 405 and love it. It seems very accurate to me - I have no complaints. The altitude measurements seem pretty flaky, but that's due to GPS technology in general, and not necessarily a limitation of the watch.

There's a great sale on Amazon for it right now too - it's marked down to 189.99 GBP (100 GBP off!). That includes the heart rate monitor too. With the weak pound, now is a good time to buy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-405-HRM-stick/dp/B0012XO4R4/ref=pe_14181_17166361_as_img_2/

xebec

BJohnson wrote: »

There's a great sale on Amazon for it right now too - it's marked down to 189.99 GBP (100 GBP off!). That includes the heart rate monitor too. With the weak pound, now is a good time to buy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-405-HRM-stick/dp/B0012XO4R4/ref=pe_14181_17166361_as_img_2/

Oh, really good price. Must. Keep. Credit. Card. In. Pocket...

holly2

guys thats all fantastic, thanks a million, great feedback. 405 it is so. obviously i will now become much faster now that i'll have fancier gear...watchout;)

BeepBeep67

BJohnson wrote: »

I recently got the Forerunner 405 and love it. It seems very accurate to me - I have no complaints. The altitude measurements seem pretty flaky, but that's due to GPS technology in general, and not necessarily a limitation of the watch.

There's a great sale on Amazon for it right now too - it's marked down to 189.99 GBP (100 GBP off!). That includes the heart rate monitor too. With the weak pound, now is a good time to buy.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Garmin-Forerunner-405-HRM-stick/dp/B0012XO4R4/ref=pe_14181_17166361_as_img_2/

Oh, really good price. Must. Keep. Credit. Card. In. Pocket...

Opps mine just slipped out

littlebug

I just sent the link to my OH..... is that a big enough hint?

robinph

littlebug wrote: »

I just sent the link to my OH..... is that a big enough hint?

Maybe just send them a link to this thread if they still don't get it.

littlebug

robinph wrote: »

Maybe just send them a link to this thread if they still don't get it.

Actually judging from the response I got I think I might just have to order it myself

Krusty_Clown

From Tunney's previous thread, the 310xt for: £244.62 on Amazon.

Given the choice, I would now buy the 310xt. While the 405 is a great watch, the bezel is only an error-prone gimmick, and I'm hardly going to wear the watch socially, so there are no down-sides to the 310xt and a number of advantages, including battery life, water-proofedness water-proofidity.. It's waterproof. It also does bread-crumb trails, multi-sport activity, etc.

ciaran_kdc

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

From Tunney's previous thread, the 310xt for: £244.62 on Amazon.

Given the choice, I would now buy the 310xt. While the 405 is a great watch, the bezel is only an error-prone gimmick, and I'm hardly going to wear the watch socially, so there are no down-sides to the 310xt and a number of advantages, including battery life, water-proofedness water-proofidity.. It's waterproof. It also does bread-crumb trails, multi-sport activity, etc.

The truly mean amongst us will consider the 205. No HR monitor, looks like a Bush B&W TV on your wrist, but does everything you really care about and costs about 120 euro.

BeepBeep67

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

From Tunney's previous thread, the 310xt for: £244.62 on Amazon.

Given the choice, I would now buy the 310xt. While the 405 is a great watch, the bezel is only an error-prone gimmick, and I'm hardly going to wear the watch socially, so there are no down-sides to the 310xt and a number of advantages, including battery life, water-proofedness water-proofidity.. It's waterproof. It also does bread-crumb trails, multi-sport activity, etc.

Did consider that, but doesn't include the HRM, for 100 yoyos I'll live with a few of the 405's 'features' :rolleyes:

lulu09

My parents are in the States now and are thinking of getting this for my other half who is looking for one for xmas. My question is would this US version work here? Is it a good price? Am I better off buying it in Amazon?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Garmin+-+Forerunner+305+GPS/7897715.p?id=1149206158536&skuId=7897715&st=garmin-forerunner&cp=1&lp=1

Cheers

robinph

The US one would work fine here. Shouldn't be any difference at all in the package except it may not have the UK mains to USB plug, you don't need that anyway though.

Krusty_Clown

My power adapter came with US/Euro/UK plug attachments, so you should be fine. I only use the USB cable to recharge it anyway.

robinph

Putting that many plugs in the box may just confuse the Americans who won't know what they are. Never used that plug myself either though.

plodder

HMV are selling USB mains power adapters for 14.99. You can use them for iPods/phones/Garmins or anything that has a USB plug on it for charging.

William72

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

Opps mine just slipped out

How much did you end up paying BeepBeep? Reason I ask is cos I noticed going through the order process (and before I got to postage) that the price had jumped from £189.99 to £200.73. When I queried this with Amazon they told me that because the item was being shipped to Ireland a higher VAT rate applies.

I have to say I've never heard of this before - total cost in the end was £206.11. Is that what everyone else paid or have I been done? (still a good bargain though...)

gerard65

William72 wrote: »

How much did you end up paying BeepBeep? Reason I ask is cos I noticed going through the order process (and before I got to postage) that the price had jumped from £189.99 to £200.73. When I queried this with Amazon they told me that because the item was being shipped to Ireland a higher VAT rate applies.

I have to say I've never heard of this before - total cost in the end was £206.11. Is that what everyone else paid or have I been done? (still a good bargain though...)

Same here, but I expected it, VAT is a pain. But as you said its still a good price.

BeepBeep67

William72 wrote: »

How much did you end up paying BeepBeep? Reason I ask is cos I noticed going through the order process (and before I got to postage) that the price had jumped from £189.99 to £200.73. When I queried this with Amazon they told me that because the item was being shipped to Ireland a higher VAT rate applies.

I have to say I've never heard of this before - total cost in the end was £206.11. Is that what everyone else paid or have I been done? (still a good bargain though...)

I paid £200.73, there was a free delivery option. I'm a frequent Amazon shopper so I'm used to the VAT diff.

William72

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

I paid £200.73, there was a free delivery option. I'm a frequent Amazon shopper so I'm used to the VAT diff.

Fair enough so - thanks for the repies folks - have shopped on amazon before (not frequently though) and have never noticed this. So thats either cos a) I normally just buy books and the VAT diff doesn't apply or b) I've completely lost my mind

at this stage I wouldn't rule out b) - still v happy with my purchase though - can't wait til it arrives

robinph

There is not VAT on books so it wouldn't have come up before, for everything else they just keep the UK rate until you get to the end of the checkout when they add the extra 4%(?) to the costs.

BeepBeep67

405 has just arrived currently at 7% and charging - hoping to take on test run this evening.
Any tips on a quick out of the box set up - before I have more time to break it, play with it, read the instructions?

robinph

Just remember to lock the bezel before you start, hold "lap/reset" and then press "start/stop". Otherwise it may start doing funny things on you on your way round.

Krusty_Clown

The first time you turn on GPS, it has to download the latest almanac. This could take a few minutes. Don't expect to 'wash and go'!

First things you'll want to do is review the data fields, to select what you want displayed on the screen. Maybe start with: Average pace, distance and time. When you've worked out how to do this, you're half-way there.

Head outside. Hold the left bezel to go into GPS mode. Rotate the bezel until you find GPS. make sure this is turned on. Scroll up to Satellite. Press Enter. I usually wait until GPS acurracy is around 30-40 feet (of course, it's probably set to metric by default). This is a good time to do some stretching, unless you're the type who only stretches after warming up.

Next, hold the right bezel to go into training mode. Lock the bezel, by pressing the two protruding buttons simultaneously. Press the Start/stop (upper button) to... well... Start and stop...

hot to trot

I use a polar HRM and footpod. I love it but am obviously not callibrating it quite right. Im never sure whether to put my footpod on the start line or start with the other leg first, when trying to calibrate it . Seems to be ok for short runs but have found on last 2 marathons that it clocks closer to 28 miles which obviously has pacing implications.

I too was considering a changeover to a 405 if I could manage it.
Could I use the polar chest strap or does the garmin have its own one? It is reallly only accuracy on the long runs that I needas I am happy with everything else.
Beepbeep how are you getting on?
Not sure whether to use up my brownie points on a 405 as so many people seem to have complaints about them of one sort or another

BeepBeep67

hot to trot wrote: »

Beepbeep how are you getting on?
Not sure whether to use up my brownie points on a 405 as so many people seem to have complaints about them of one sort or another

Well I not a Garmin virgin anymore, managed to get it set up while on a few calls this afternoon. First run in the bag, splits look a little funny - but I think that was my doing, stopped to change the view for the fist split and stopped at half way to stretch my calves (but I would've thought the bottom right button recorded the laps). But so far thumbs up and by the end of the week hopefully I've moved out of conscious incompetence.

SucCes09

just purchased a 305 on amazon.com and sent it to a friend in the US - 305+HRM+Delivery for €107....
Over there in a few weeks to collect it...
Some price difference between there and here...

uberwolf

SucCes09 wrote: »

just purchased a 405 on amazon.com and sent it to a friend in the US - 405+HRM+Delivery for €107....
Over there in a few weeks to collect it...
Some price difference between there and here...

I've found the 305 for that kind of money, but not the 405

Krusty_Clown

hot to trot wrote: »

Could I use the polar chest strap or does the garmin have its own one? It is reallly only accuracy on the long runs that I needas I am happy with everything else.

Nope, you can't use a Polar HRM. But you don't have to buy a Garmin HRM at the same time as the watch. You can buy one anytime, or even look out for a bargain on eBay.

hot to trot

I would rather run with a HRM than the speed distance part of the gadgets. Am still undecided! MIght try and reacalibrate once again and see how I get on.Thanks

Krusty_Clown

hot to trot wrote: »

I would rather run with a HRM than the speed distance part of the gadgets. Am still undecided! MIght try and reacalibrate once again and see how I get on.Thanks

In that case there's no point in paying €200+ for a heart rate monitor if you're not too pushed about the speed/distance aspects. Better off sticking to a leader in the field of HRMs like Polar. best advice is to borrow someone's Garmin for a few days and see how you get on with it (although most of the usefulness comes from owning it for a longer period of time).

Bally8

Woohoo, my OH just bought the 405 from Amazon for me as my Christmas present, thanks so much for this thread!!!

William72

Bally8 wrote: »

Woohoo, my OH just bought the 405 from Amazon for me as my Christmas present, thanks so much for this thread!!!

Snap! - just collected it from the PO - its feckin huge! OK its not compared to the 3** but compared to the little watch I've been using up to now.... anyway 30% charged - can't wait to play with it

tina m

Does anyone know how Garmin 405 compares to Polar equivalents (sorry not sure of the Polar model names/numbers)?

I have a Garmin FR50, which was good to start with but I'm not that happy with it anymore and I'd like to upgrade it soon but am not sure if I should stick with Garmin or change to Polar?

How realiable is the GPS? Does it ever cut off?

BJohnson

tina m wrote: »

Does anyone know how Garmin 405 compares to Polar equivalents (sorry not sure of the Polar model names/numbers)?

I have a Garmin FR50, which was good to start with but I'm not that happy with it anymore and I'd like to upgrade it soon but am not sure if I should stick with Garmin or change to Polar?

How realiable is the GPS? Does it ever cut off?

I don't know much about the Polar watches, but most running forums seem to be filled with people talking about their Garmins.

I've had the 405 for about a month now, and I've never had the GPS drop signal during a run. Garmin talks a lot about how the GPS receiver in the 405 is much improved over their previous watches - I'm not sure if this is just marketing hype, but it catches a signal pretty quickly for me, and I can't complain about the accuracy or reliability.

tina m

Thanks BJohnson, I think I'll go with the Garmin 405 then....