Garmin Forerunner 405 review

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2008-06-03 7:10 AM

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Overland Park, KS
Subject: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I know it's still pretty new and I tried searching the forum and haven't seen much feedback on the 405.  Has anyone bought it and used it?  Are you happy with it?  I have "permission" to go get one and I've been doing the 305 vs 405 debate and they are the same price at the local store I will get it from.  Any reviews?

2008-06-03 7:14 AM
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Sneaky Slow
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review

push that button at the top of your screen, there is at least one review there. 

2008-06-03 7:26 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
All I know is I love my 305. Sure its larger, but so is the screen. I cant imagine trying to read the data off the 405. Plus the 405 doesnt have the 1 button multisport mode... seems like for the prices you can find a 305 at, the 405 just isnt worth it.

2008-06-03 9:11 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I have had the Garmin 405 for about 6 weeks. I love it. I never tried the 305 in action so I can't compare, but I have seen the 305. Now I am a big time metrosexual (so you may want to take this with a grain of salt ) but there was no frakking way I would put that thing on my wrist. The 405 is much more stylish and can be worn as a regular watch. I know most people on this board don't care about this, but I do.

Battery life is about 9 hours when you are using the GPS function - much longer without the GPS on. It charges pretty quickly. Some people also complain about the lack of multi function sport on the 405. I don't know - I guess it is a downside, but it wasn't important enough for me to not buy it.
2008-06-03 9:17 AM
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Alpharetta, Georgia
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I have heard from a friend (who works at Garmin) that one of the most-heard complaints about the 405 is that when it automatically and wirelessly downloads your workouts to your computer (COOL!), it only downloads the most recent workout. So if you have done multiple workouts since the last time your 405 was near your computer, you will have to manually download all but the most recent one.

Her other complaint was that with the newer technology, for some reason, paces would sometimes jump around sporatically - even though she would be running pretty consistently. Like it would jump from 8-minute miles to 15-minute miles in a matter of seconds. Her guess was that it might be tracking her arm movements at certain points, as opposed to her total body pace.

2008-06-03 9:57 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review

run_carmen - 2008-06-03 7:10 AM I know it's still pretty new and I tried searching the forum and haven't seen much feedback on the 405.  Has anyone bought it and used it?  Are you happy with it?  I have "permission" to go get one and I've been doing the 305 vs 405 debate and they are the same price at the local store I will get it from.  Any reviews?

Not sure how much you're looking to pay, but this thread shows that Costco has the 305 available for $180. Let us know if you're getting the 405 that cheap...

I'm still using my 301, almost three years old. I would have a hard time giving up the multisport function to get the 405. Now if they made one you could swim with...

2008-06-03 10:24 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
My wife bought a 405 after using the 305 for the past six months. Took it back the next day. It was one frustration after another with the 405. The setup was difficult. The bezel ring kept switching menus unitentionally. Was not as straightforward as the 305.
2008-06-03 10:43 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review

If I want to be stylish, I'm not wearing a GPS.  Being able to see 4 fields at once is huge (I wish I could see more).  Pace, HR, Distance, Time are all important to me, and I like the readability.

Course I will drop it like a hot potatoe if they make one that's waterproof enough to swim with.  I don't get why it's hard, my timex ironman from the 80s was waterproof to 100m no matter how many buttons you pushed. Oh and the multisport function totally kicks if you're racing with the watch.

 

 

 



Edited by Khyron 2008-06-03 10:46 AM
2008-06-03 10:59 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I cant figure out why they arent waterproff either... is it a cooling issue or something with the batteries?
2008-06-03 12:09 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review

I guess it's pretty safe to assume that I am going to be happy with the 305 as soon as Costco gets around to shipping it .... $179.99 + tax is a steal --- that's the same price some of the hacks on eBay are selling refurb's for!

 

2008-06-03 12:34 PM
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Elite
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I've got to concur with the majority of posts here. Originally I was just looking for a bike computer (as I already had a Timex HRM), but then stumbled across the 305 when doing my searches. I love the functions - multisport is a huge plus - and only gripe is that it isn't waterproof.

Unless you need the "look" of a watch, the 305 (especially considering price) is the way to go.


2008-06-03 1:21 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
For real.. the 305 only seems huge when you look at it. When you wear it, it is perfectly comfortable, and I dont even notice I am wearing it.
2008-06-03 10:04 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
Have used the original, then the 305, and just bought the 405. I was frustrated with the setup until I figured it out. I havent run with it yet and am 50/50 before I even start. I really hope I love it. I will post my opinion after a few days.
2008-06-04 12:40 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review

popsracer - 2008-06-03 8:24 AM My wife bought a 405 after using the 305 for the past six months. Took it back the next day. It was one frustration after another with the 405. The setup was difficult. The bezel ring kept switching menus unitentionally. Was not as straightforward as the 305.

I have a 405 and it's doing the same thing. Also it locks up often and needs a "master reset" Garmin has told me to take it back to REI. When REI has more I will exchange it for a new one. REI told me I am not the first to report this problem. Without the malfunctions I would like it well enough. The smaller size has more than an  appearance value to me. For me there was learning curve too. REI is such a good store I am not worried about getting stuck with something full of bugs. I think Garmin is a pretty good company also

2008-06-04 6:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
masterchief - 2008-06-03 9:11 AM

I have had the Garmin 405 for about 6 weeks. I love it. I never tried the 305 in action so I can't compare, but I have seen the 305. Now I am a big time metrosexual (so you may want to take this with a grain of salt ) but there was no frakking way I would put that thing on my wrist. The 405 is much more stylish and can be worn as a regular watch. I know most people on this board don't care about this, but I do.

Battery life is about 9 hours when you are using the GPS function - much longer without the GPS on. It charges pretty quickly. Some people also complain about the lack of multi function sport on the 405. I don't know - I guess it is a downside, but it wasn't important enough for me to not buy it.


Fred, is that you?
2008-06-04 9:08 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin Forerunner 405 review
I've had a 305 for over a year and bought the 405 about 3 weeks ago. I wear it as a watch every day, and I haven't had a single problem with it in training. I bought the non-HR version and just use my HR strap from the 305 with it (saving $50.) The screen is smaller, but it's not so small that you can't read it. The touch bezel is actually pretty cool, and you can adjust the sensitivity of it. You can also lock the bezel. The 405 acquires the satellites MUCH faster than the 305, usually in under 10 seconds and not yet has it taken more than 20 seconds. There are a few things that could be better, like any product, but I'm hoping that software updates will fix/add things to it as they did on the 305. Overall, I'm very happy with it. I know there's no multisport, but my 305 now lives on my bike permanently so I'm only planning on running with the 405. And I'm ok with that.

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