Next Garmin Forerunner Due???

Zak Flaps

I want to buy a garmin forerunner soon. Probably would opt for the 405 as it's GPS seems to be better than the 305 (so would be more accurate I presume? ) and it is smaller. Maybe I won't find the bezel as annoying as some people do!!
I did a small bit of research and found out that the 305 came out in early 2007, the 405 in Summer 2008, the 405 CX in April 2009.
I would hate to buy the 405 now, and then find out a new and improved model (505 perhaps) was coming out next month.
Does anyone have any idea if a new one is in the pipeline?

Zak.

Krusty_Clown

I believe that the 305 and 405 share the same GPS chipset, which means the only real difference will be in the software and the antennae. You missed the 310xt in your time-line (released same time as 405cx), and the FR50, and FR60 (non-GPS watches).

I'm sure there'll be an update eventually, but waiting for the latest product means that you'll more than likely be buying a buggy product, at a very high price. That's the early adopter trade-off. I would go with whatever product is out there at the best price. A new model won't make you run any faster, it'll just tell you more information about how fast you're running. The 405 bezel is fine, as long as you lock it and don't need to use it during a run.

smmoore79

Are these Garmins easy to use? I wouldnt be great at using gadgets but am considering getting a 405. All id want from it is to know a live distance when doing long runs so i dont have to plan a route and perhaps running at speeds based on heart rate pace. Have the advanced P & D marathoning book and a lot of their stuff relates to heart rate pace. And of course a stop watch function!!!

Krusty_Clown

smmoore79 wrote: »

Are these Garmins easy to use? I wouldnt be great at using gadgets but am considering getting a 405. All id want from it is to know a live distance when doing long runs so i dont have to plan a route and perhaps running at speeds based on heart rate pace. Have the advanced P & D marathoning book and a lot of their stuff relates to heart rate pace. And of course a stop watch function!!!

Hmm.. I wouldn't say that they're the easiest things in the world to use (and much of the value comes from hooking it up to a computer afterwards. But if all you're interested in is pace, distance and heart rate (you can't show 4 fields on a 405 so no stop-watch!) then it should be easy enough for you to setup, and work with.

Jip

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

But if all you're interested in is pace, distance and heart rate (you can't show 4 fields on a 405 so no stop-watch!)

The 305 shows all 4 on the one screen doesn't it ?

Krusty_Clown

Jip wrote: »

The 305 shows all 4 on the one screen doesn't it ?

Yes. The 305 can show four data items (larger screen), the 405 can only show three (smaller screen).
You can of course have 5 or 6 data screens (3 standard screens, and some others dedicated to features, such as HRM, workouts, virtual partner etc.) , each one with up to three data fields (but that means fiddiling with the fiddly bezel, or setting it to auto-rotate across all the screens). I tend to stick to one screen, but use a different screen depending on the type of activity (run=intervals/tempo/aerobic/race, cycle, hike, ski).

Zak Flaps

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Yes. The 305 can show four data items (larger screen), the 405 can only show three (smaller screen).
You can of course have 5 or 6 data screens (3 standard screens, and some others dedicated to features, such as HRM, workouts, virtual partner etc.) , each one with up to three data fields (but that means fiddiling with the fiddly bezel, or setting it to auto-rotate across all the screens). I tend to stick to one screen, but use a different screen depending on the type of activity (run=intervals/tempo/aerobic/race, cycle, hike, ski).

Do you use any of them Krusty, ie, the 305 or 405?
Do you think they are worth it?

gerard65

My advice would be go for the 305. Functionally its as good as the 405 but much more user friendly. I'd be very surprised if the next generation of forerunners stick with the bezel.

Krusty_Clown

Zak Flaps wrote: »

Do you use any of them Krusty, ie, the 305 or 405?
Do you think they are worth it?

I'm the wrong person to ask. I have a 405 (two of them technically) and am a huge advocate, so am quite biased. So taking my bias into account:
Yes, I believe they are worth it, particularly if you do much of your training on your own, off the beaten (measured) track. Not as relevant for people brand new to running, where pace is less relevant than time on your feet, but for anyone developing, they are a very handy tool. It's very handy for keeping a very detailed diary of all of your running, including where you ran, heart rate, pace, hill elevations, etc. It's also very convenient if you don't have access/inclination to use a track (for things like intervals, tempo runs etc).

But at the end of the day, it is just a tool, to tell you the distance you've covered, and how long it has taken for you to cover it. A watch will not make you run longer or faster. You still have to get out there and cover the miles.

yop

A blonde question please, but what benefit is the HRM on these?

My vague idea of it would be that it can tell you if you are running too slow or too fast and will help you gauge whether you are working to your optimum or not.

gerard65

yop wrote: »

A blonde question please, but what benefit is the HRM on these?

My vague idea of it would be that it can tell you if you are running too slow or too fast and will help you gauge whether you are working to your optimum or not.

Yep thats it in a nut shell. You calculate different precentages based on your max heart rate and min heart rate and within that you can calculate what your heart rate should be for an easy/recovery run, tempo run, speed work, etc. It gives you feed back on how your body is working - in theory, however I've been reading recently that this may not be an accurate guage as there could be numerious reasons that dictate your HR unrelated to training. Personally I hate the feeling of the strap around my chest but most people feel they benefit from recording their HR.

Zak Flaps

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

Yes, I believe they are worth it, particularly if you do much of your training on your own, off the beaten (measured) track. Not as relevant for people brand new to running, where pace is less relevant than time on your feet, but for anyone developing, they are a very handy tool. It's very handy for keeping a very detailed diary of all of your running, including where you ran, heart rate, pace, hill elevations, etc. It's also very convenient if you don't have access/inclination to use a track (for things like intervals, tempo runs etc).

But at the end of the day, it is just a tool, to tell you the distance you've covered, and how long it has taken for you to cover it. A watch will not make you run longer or faster. You still have to get out there and cover the miles.

Good honest answer Krusty.
I'm new to running myself. Running the C25K programme, and have completed 4 runs. I run outside on my own in the park or on the streets at night when it's quiet.I don't have access to a track. I am enjoying it which is a surprise. I tried running around 5 years ago and gave up after a few weeks.I found it too boring.

But the C25K programme has given me a deadline,and I run using the C25k iphone app. This all helps me enormously as it helps me stay interested. The C25K forums are a great help too as beginners help each other out and encourage each other.
As does the advice from people on this very forum.

Why I think a Garmin would work for me? I have no way of telling how far I ran (and walked) and at what pace. I like the idea of being able to keep a detailed diary of my running, so I can see the improvements (via Grarmin Connect, Ascent or Trailrunner,not sure which is best). This will spur me on I'm sure. Knowing that I am slowly getting fitter will be a great motivator for me.
I was torn between the 305 and 405, and I'm still not sure which. I have no way of seeing any in a shop. I fear the 305 is huge (i have skinny wrists) but it is quite a bit cheaper and some people seem to prefer it over the 405. And vice versa.
It's divided quite a few. If anything,I'm leaning towards the 405 (due to it being better able to pick up satellites,and it's smaller size).
The 405CX doesn't seem to be all that better than the 405.
It offers better info on calories burnt so they say, not much interest in that really!

Anyway, thanks for your earlier advice. Will make up my mind in the next couple of days.

Zak.

nerraw1111

Zak,

Seeing as you are using your iphone, I would recommend downloading the mapmyrun app.

It's basically a mini garmin on your phone. It tracks the distance you have ran, pace, average speend and records your route on google maps.

There is a free version but not sure if it has all the features. The free version is fine if you just want the distance you ran. I'd recommend using that before committing to a garmin.

I have the excellent Garmin 305, can't fault it. Easy to use.

Tau

This guy:

http://dcrainmaker.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-sports-technology-predictions-for.html

predicts a rehashed 405 some time this year. Who knows how accurate this is.

Zak Flaps

thanks for your help guys...it was staring me in the face, yet I was blind to it...the Forerunner 310xt...it seems to be a good mix of the 305 and 405....

Krusty_Clown

I was just commenting on another thread that the 310xt seems to be great value at the moment, in comparison to the 405. So as long as you don't see the size as a problem, it has a lot going for it over the 405 (battery life, waterproof, no bezel!, among other features).

Zak Flaps

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

So as long as you don't see the size as a problem, it has a lot going for it over the 405 (battery life, waterproof, no bezel!, among other features).

I've never seen any of them (305,405,310xt) close up so not sure what to expect, but the 310xt seems to be halfway between the other 2 as regards size.
Cheers Krusty.

catweazle

Throw me your email address Zac and I will email you a picture of me holding a 310xt up. Had to send a picture of the crack to Garmin to see if they would cover it under warrenty

Krusty_Clown

Zak Flaps wrote: »

I've never seen any of them (305,405,310xt) close up so not sure what to expect, but the 310xt seems to be halfway between the other 2 as regards size.
Cheers Krusty.

I don't believe so Zak. Maybe Catweazle or Tunney an confirm, but I think it's the same size as the 305.

Zak Flaps

catweazle wrote: »

Throw me your email address Zac and I will email you a picture of me holding a 310xt up. Had to send a picture of the crack to Garmin to see if they would cover it under warrenty

i sent you a pm

Zak Flaps

Krusty_Clown wrote: »

I don't believe so Zak. Maybe Catweazle or Tunney an confirm, but I think it's the same size as the 305.

Catweazle kindly emailed me a pic to show me his 310xt.
Meanwhile I found some pics online that may give people interested, an idea of the differences in size. 310xt seems a little smaller than 305.

chez-moi

I have to say I bought the 305 about 6 weeks ago and find it absolutely brilliant. It is a bit on the large side but we are only using it for training or races.

Another graet feature not mentioned is the garmin connect site which provides a great log of workouts etc. 3 of us in work bought them of Amazon.co.uk (Zak don't know why it's giving you error above) and we have rss feeds to each others training. Whenever one of us do a session you get an alert in your email with the details. Very geeky I know.

Zak Flaps

chez-moi wrote: »

Another graet feature not mentioned is the garmin connect site which provides a great log of workouts etc. 3 of us in work bought them of Amazon.co.uk (Zak don't know why it's giving you error above) and we have rss feeds to each others training. Whenever one of us do a session you get an alert in your email with the details. Very geeky I know.

Ha ha, it does sound geeky chez-moi, but i can be very geeky at times myself. But having said that, it's a good way of spurring each other on, it'll make you want to compete with them which gets you out running, which is the whole point.
It's stuff like that which would keep it interesting for me.

When buying from Amazon, I was trying to buy from a marketplace seller (not Amazon themselves), which wouldn't ship abroad. Amazon themselves don't seem to have it at the moment.
I found a few sites where I should be able to get it at a reasonable price.
Thanks.

Zak.