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GPS, FORERUNNER 305 BILINGUAL

User Reviews about Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor (Bilingual)

This is a great buy overall; from my perspective. I have few criticisms with the Garmin, though, is the software they provide to analyze your workout data. The software has very limited capability and frequently makes errors in associating the type of workout. At least once a week it combines a bike workout with a run workout, even though the two workouts were on separate days and I was very careful to reset the watch. Combining the two makes it a varied workout and puts all the data into a separate category. One suggestion to Garmin is to make a version that can be worn in the water. Since I dabble in like to exercise I'd love to gather readings in the water, too. I'm very, very pleased with the Garmin 305. So much so, that after 3 months of use, I bought one for my wife. The biggest selling points for me are the relatively small size, and the great reception. -- durable and easy to use

I've been running with my Garmin for several weeks now and I love it. It's not perfect, but it certainly gets the job done. Let's start with the attribute keeping it from 5 stars...satalitte lock-on still takes a little longer than I'd like in my area. I run in the city and I have to find a spot away from buildings (even 5 story ones) for it to find satellites. It usually takes about 3 or 4 minutes for it to get a lock, which seems like an eternity when you're ready to start your workout. But once it finds some satellites, it rarely loses the signal.

Other than that, I love it. Yes, it's a large watch, but it doesn't bother me while running and that's the only time when I wear it. There are just so many great ways to track your run on the watch. I toggle several of the screens while running...usually between HR, average pace, and a time/distance screen. I've also been using the interval function and the feature that lets you race against the computer. In the end, this watch makes me train harder, and keeps track of my progress, which is exactly what I needed it to do. If you just want to know your pace or how far you rum, you'll probably get bored with this easily. But if you are using it as a training tool, I highly recommend it. -- Love my Garmin!

Works as well as you would expect. But, I can't figure out how to make it count my calories on a treadmill. -- works great

It is improved over earlier versions. I demo-ed my friend's same model, but older version. It does take about 30 seconds to find a sattelite, so I take mine off and put it on the ground and do a few streaches while waiting and then I'm ready to run! here is a tip- you can share your run data on facebook like this: when you are on Garmin Connect website, you will see a share button under your run map, then right click on it. You will see "accelerators". Click on that, then choose facebook and it will prompt you to log onto facebook and then your run will post. Not super-easy right now, but do-able.
I've run streets and trails and so far, no dropped signal. -- Garmin Rocks!

I bought this watch based on serveral triathlon friends' recommandation! My major concern was the waterproof when I am doing the swim. My friend assured that the watch can handle the swimming part of the tri event so I ended up getting the watch. Following are my finding of this watch after two weeks of use.

Likes:

* The watch tracks the route/distance very accurate(Swim, Bike, Run, walking, ski, and other sports).
* The workout can download to P.C and upload online via Garmin Website (Share your workout with friend).
* The graphics for the workout displays your heartrate, cadence, and speed(Use on P.C after downloaded).
* Customization of the watch is easy and fast(Show speed, average speed, distance, time, lap time etc).
* The GPS route tracking allow easy to navigate back home in case you are lost.
* The waterproof (Only submergable in water no more than 3 feet of water for 30 minutes).
* The instance overall track speed (Virtual compititor) keep me motivated.
* Elevation compensation function(on/off) for hill training run/bike to ensure more accurate distance.


Do not Likes

* Heart rate reading failed/not acurate during firt half of my swim (90bpm then 130bpm).
* Slow GPS signal acquisition.
* Bulky
* Did not show Bike Cadence on the watch during bike training (Only shown in P.C afterward)
------ This feature only if you order the Cadence Sensor with the package which I had ------
* Tall buildings or big tree can block the GPS signal and caused misreading.
* Wildly reading speed
----- (I hit a bump for cycling so the reading was 70mph shown on P.C screen) -----
----- (My swim speed was 2.7mph then 28 mph when I hit waves generated from boats this could be caused by
turned on "Elevation Compensation" function) -----
* Small heart Rate reading like font size 4 or something on the watch on upper right corner.

Overall Rating

I would give 4 1/2 stars overall rating for this watch Garmin 305 and it is much cheaper than Garmin 705. The Garmin 705 seems to tracking the watt output unless you are cyclist but for twice the price tag-no thanks. Others warmed about this watch for short battery life and I found out that 7 hrs is good enough. I am trying not to charge the watch as many time as I needed to because it could shorten the life of the lithium ion battery just like any other batteries. The idea is charge once every two workouts since my typical workout is about 2-3 hrs.

I paid about $220 for Garmin 305 with Heart Rate monitor and Cadence Sensor. You can add a footpod if you are a runer. I hope my overall review helps. Happy training! -- Great multisports Workout Tool