Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor by Garmin
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Digital camera reviews of Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor
Digital camera Review: **No REAL CALORIE counter**
Summary: 4 Stars
So I purchased this item and absolutely loved it when I went on my runs, BUT, I took a spin class today and spent my short breaks trying to get the calorie counter to start and had no luck. It is a great RUNNER watch. It is NOT so great for someone who Cross trains with other workouts that would like to see calories burned by simply monitoring our heart beat.
In Short, if all you do is run this is the watch for you. If you cross train I would go for the Garmin FR60 (which is my replacement for this one). First review, hope it helps.
Digital camera Review: .Excellent and easy to use with a good price.
Summary: 5 Stars
Good price , good quality, I dont need more being a 3 times per week runner .
I would like to have a better free software by Garmin.
I bought 2 one for my wife and one for me.
Me wife has problem with the heart rate monitor, take that in consideration if you are a women.
I have also the more expensive from garmin the 405 it is imposible to use.
Francisco
Digital camera Review: 1 week Review
Summary: 4 Stars
I have had the product a week and have worked out 6 times with it. There are a lot of features, most of which I have not yet explored. I know for a fact that I am not using this item to the extent of its capabilities...but I'm ok with that :)
First off, I followed the quick startup guide about basic features of the watch. This includes setting up your displays, heart rate monitor, etc.
I then installed the training center software and checked the watch and the software for any updates. For anyone who is literate and has a 2nd grade Apple 2E basic knowledge of computers, this was, um, easy?
I did my normal run as usual and plugged it in via the dock..and voila...the WORST mapping software I have ever seen! The heart rate charts and the pace charts, elevation, etc...all very cool, but really Garmin? you are a GPS company and can't even have cool maps?
Fortunately, a buddy of mine told me about [...] which allows you to synch your device using Garmin Communicator (download for free).
I use the FREE version of mapmyrun because it gives me fly by video, and a better map (uses Google Earth) Now, again, this is the same information that I have on my Garmin Training Center, but the mapping interface is just better looking on MAPMYRUN...there are tons of softwares out there for this kind of stuff so pick the one you like. However, the Garmin software is better for heart rate trends, paces etc. and it even allows you to compare multiple workouts.
Another feature that I use is the pace and heart rate zone alarms...beeps at me when I am too slow or fast off pace, and beeps at me when my heart rate is too high or too low for the zone I am trying to stay in, annoying to those around you say on the YMCA track that constantly hear your beeping..but it also reminds them to move over when you are running by..kind of like a car horn (a nice bonus feature)
This leads into the downside and something I WISH I would have done: bought the pedometer foot thingy. I ran ONE day at the YMCA track, and was way off. My Average heart rate was about 30 BPM faster than normal, but the watch was saying I was running at an 11 minute mile pace (about 1 m30 slower than normal and I was SPRINTING)...I was indoors so it could not get an accurate fix. if distance is off, pacing is going to be off. THis means I was running ridiculously harder than I needed. If I had bought the pedometer foot thingy, it would have been more accurate.
Again, there are a lot of features that I have not even begun to scratch the surface on. BUT, that aside, this thing is AWESOME. I do not need to keep a running log to track my mileage for training, and remind me when I need new shoes. I can tailor my workouts around my heart rate zones, and it keeps me honest on the pacing. I love this thing and would highly recommend it for someone who is getting serious about running or is already in a training program for a future race
Digital camera Review: 1 week down so far so good
Summary: 5 Stars
Well I have had this for over a week now and I must say this is probably the best running watch I have come across. If this existed back in 2000 when I was in college I am not sure where I would be right now in my running career. This thing does everything u can imagine. I love the fact that I can program my workouts prior to doing them in order to have a set base of what I am going to do. It does not allow you to cheat in you're workout by making shortcuts. I have owned freestyle HRM and Polar HRM. By far this is the best watch IMO.
PROS
Ability to manually configure your workout
upload the results to 3 different mappings - Trainings peak, Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center
Able to change different goals - either you can run toward pace or HR Zone.
Cons
Heart rate only shows up small in the right hand corner - no actual HR screen unless programed for a run for HR Zone
A bit hard to read at night even with the indigo
Overall for the price I cannot complain at all - this does everything I could imagine a watch will do for someone.
Digital camera Review: 100% Satisfaction
Summary: 5 Stars
Have had this watch for a year, used only for running. Very configurable, reasonably quick to find satellites, good battery life, excellent computer/net based software to "play" with stats collected.
So pleased with this, bought my wife one so she'd stop borrowing mine.
Possible shortcomings - really designed only for a single user, no battery life indicator (not that I can find).