Garmin Forerunner 305 Review


The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a watch-style GPS, heart rate monitor, and training device used by professional athletes committed to serious training.

Yet, it is so affordable that many amateurs and those who just wish they could one day be a serious athlete are starting to use it as well.

Anyone interested in losing weight, training for a race, toning up their body, or competing at any level in any sport will find the Garmin Forerunner a valuable tool.

You can also use the Garmin Forerunner 305 to make your workouts more interesting when out on the track, in the water, or taking up a new sport.

The more tools you have on hand the more likely you are to stick with your new sport or exercise routine long term, and this is one of the most exciting tools you could ever strap on your wrist!

Are you curious as to what this GPS watch could do for you?

Read on to learn about the features of the Forerunner and what other users have said about this tool in consumer reviews.


Garmin Forerunner 305 Features Garmin Forerunner 305

There are quite a few competing GPS training watches on the market, but there is a lot to like about the Forerunner 305.

For starters, it has an attractive and sporty design that is suitable for both men and women. That alone gives it an edge on many competing GPS watches, but when you strap it on and start training you will notice other differences.

One big advantage that is reported by many consumer users is the strong signal the watch features. This is not a weak GPS unit that will struggle to record all of your data so you are constantly getting half the picture. You will get solid information on courses as well as reliable information on your workouts.

You can count on the Forerunner 305 from Garmin to keep you on pace, help you share and find the best courses for training in your local area, and allow you to analyze your workouts and your progress over time. You can do all of this for many different sports, whether you are training on land or water.

This is definitely one of the more versatile watch GPS training devices being sold today. For virtual trail sharing and selecting other features you may need to use other programs with your Forerunner, but that is to be expected with all similar devices as well. You can still do effective analyzing and pacing with just the Forerunner watch alone.

Another great feature of the Forerunner 305 is the built-in heart rate monitor. Every serious athlete as well as anyone trying to lose weight or get in shape needs a way to ensure they are training within the right fat burning zone. You can't do that effectively without some type of heart rate monitor.

Heart rate monitors can be rather pricey, so getting this built into your GPS watch can actually save you some money. Simply slip into the chest strap that comes with your Garmin Forerunner 305 and the watch will automatically sync with the strap and start collecting heart rate readouts from your body.


Along with your active heart rate, the Garmin Forerunner 305 will monitor a few other things:
  • Speed
  • Distance
  • Pacing
  • Calories Burned


Garmin Heart Rate Monitor All of this is valuable feedback on your workout that will ensure your workouts are effective for the goals you want to achieve. When you download this information into your computer you can do more detailed analysis and tracking to ensure you are growing stronger, getting faster, and progressing toward your goals.

You can also use the virtual trainer feature if you need a little motivation. This feature allows you to compete against a computer generated opponent, giving you something to strive and push toward. This is a great way to stay motivated on days you would rather stay in bed than get out for a training session.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 is waterproof and the rechargeable battery will last up to 10 hours on a full charge. That gives you plenty time to travel to your training location and get in a solid workout before the battery needs recharging. If you are hit with water along the way, the Garmin Forerunner will keep on ticking just like you!


What are Consumers Saying?

There are many serious athletes that have written detailed reviews of the Garmin Forerunner 305 based on their personal experiences. Many of them are multi- sport athletes that have tried the unit out in a variety of different situations. What they all seem to like most about the unit is the ability to monitor heart rate, speed and elevation on the watch simultaneously. This makes training much easier for many sports.

Many recreational or amateur athletes, including runners, have also written great reviews of this Garmin GPS unit. A pair of good running shoes combined with this monitoring device will make any amateur feel like a pro. Good running shoes and a quality heart rate monitor can help many amateur runners stay more consistent.

They find it very satisfying for their needs as well, though their demands are typically not as high as those of a professional athlete in training.

The biggest complaint against the unit is that there are contacts on the bottom of the watch which have to be wiped down after every use. When sweat or water collects on the contacts they can corrode, which means you won't be able to start the unit the next time you use it. Wiping the bottom of the watch down to ensure it is dry after every use is the best way to avoid this.


Final Thoughts

The features on this watch make it one of the more versatile GPS training devices on the market today.

It is suitable for recreational runners, amateur athletes, as well as professional athletes in a wide variety of sports.

It does have one potential drawback with the sensors placed against the wrist, but as long as the watch is properly cared for most people will have no problems.

This is a great product for someone trying to get in shape who wants to be motivated, as well as those who need it for more serious training and workout analysis.

Get a price on the Garmine Forerunner 305 at Amazon (currently on sale).



Return from Garmin Forerunner 305 Review to Pedometer Reviews - Home




Enjoy This Site?
Then why not use the button below, to add us to your favorite bookmarking service?





| Pedometer Reviews | Heart Rate Monitor Reviews|
| Privacy Policy | Disclaimer |


Copyright© 2010-2012