Best Buy GPS

The Forerunner 405CX is the evolution of GPS-enabled training. This sleek sport watch tracks your distance, pace and heart rate, then wirelessly sends the data to your PC for later analysis. The 405CX features heart rate-based calorie computation and comes with a second wrist band option suitable for smaller wrists.

The evolution of GPS-enabled training.

Continuously records your time, distance, pace, calories burned and heart rate. Click to enlarge.

Transfer data to your computer when Forerunner is in range--no cables, no hookups. Click to enlarge.

Watch Results
Loaded with serious training features, Forerunner 405CX continuously records your time, distance, pace, calories burned and heart rate. Each workout is stored in memory so you can review and analyze the data to see how you've improved. And advanced training features will challenge you to step up your pace--race against Forerunner's Virtual Partner to improve your times, or set up interval workouts without having to circle the track. You can even download recorded courses to compete against previous workouts. To use the watch, simply tap the touch bezel to change screens without fumbling for a button.

Track Heart Rate
Forerunner 405CX comes with a flexible, wireless heart rate monitor to help you make the most out of your training. The digital heart rate monitor continuously tracks heart beats per minute and uses your heart rate for advanced calorie computation, so you know how many calories you're burning. Train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level or compare your pace and heart rate to past performance on the same run.

Share Workouts Wirelessly
With Forerunner 405CX, you can share your locations, advanced workouts and courses wirelessly with other Forerunner 405 users. Send your favorite workout to your friends to try, or compete against someone else's recorded course. Sharing data is easy: just select "transfer" to send your information to a nearby device.

Run, Sync, Store and Share
Once you've logged the miles, innovative ANT+ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data's just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through our online community, Garmin Connect or our optional Garmin Training Center software. You can even plan workouts on your computer and then send them to your Forerunner.

Train Year Round
Take your training inside with the versatile Forerunner 405CX and optional wireless accessories. Pair it with an optional foot pod to track your speed, distance and running cadence indoors when GPS signals are unavailable. The wireless foot pod clips onto your laces for easy removal and automatically turns on when you start moving. Or pair your Forerunner with an optional speed/cadence bike sensor to track the speed and distance of your cycling workouts.

What's in the Box
Forerunner 405CX, USB ANT stick, Heart rate monitor, Two additional wrist straps, AC charger, Charging clip, Owner's manual on disk, Quick reference guide

User Reviews about Garmin Forerunner 405CX GPS Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor (Blue)

After the initial setup of the Forerunner 405CX and linking which I admit took some time (10-15 minutes with the ANT agent software) with my MacBook Air (Leopard I think the latest 10.6.2 OS) I have been pleased with the performance of the product. The ease of use on setting up the watch, which has nothing to do with your PC isn't intuitive. For example, setting up your pace and other settings took a little bit of playing around with the watch. Also, as stated the bezel is a bit sensitive as you are making these settings. I've not had any uploading or downloading issues on the Mac with the watch and I've had the product for about 3 months.

One thing I'm truly impressed with is after linking the data to the website being able to see map and satellite views of your runs. As someone else stated the GPS functions as well as the mapping makes it easy to run when you are traveling. I did decide to buy the foot pod which greatly aids you in starting your runs without necessarily having to stabilize GPS signals.

I guess a few issues from a "husky" person's point of view is the Heart Rate monitor isn't as loose as stated by some... I guess this is more of a ergonomic best fit trade-off. I guess us big guys need to run more to be able to complain about the looseness of the strap (LOL!) Also, doesn't quite make sense to not include the foot pod with the watch given you may want to do some training indoors and outdoors. The foot pod seems to be more beneficial than the heart monitor as a add-on because you can take your heart rate the old fashioned way with your fingers...

The bezel is fairly sensitive but it's manageable... Just to note, I don't use this usually as my primary watch because the watch is a bit bigger than my others and I don't find the strap as comfortable. I haven't tried to change out the included velcro strap because for a 1-2 hour run for me it isn't necessary.

As far as the website I haven't had many problems reviewing my data directly or on the calendar. I would also say it also isn't as intuitive as I would like but you can navigate to what you want without spending an inordinate amount of time to do it. Please note I'm a longtime fully Mac person and I would say the the website could be optimized for better ease of use.

The GPS function as already stated takes a little time to find the satellites (about 20-30 seconds) and if you can afford it I would buy the foot pod as stated..

Overall, you can monitor progress; log your distance; see where you've gone; measure heart rate; have a virtual partner run with you; set your pace; and believe it or not tell time. It's really a good tool to have once you get past the price. -- Great exercise aid and I own a Mac

Excellent device for runners, really great, it will become your inseparable friend during races! The manual is a little complicated and not easy to understand, but if you have patience and friends who have got one, go for it! -- Garmin

I have been using the 405CX for a couple of weeks now and connecting it to my new iMac 27 running Snow Leopard. I'll break this down into 2 sections:

The Watch
I got rid of the plastic strap and use the velcro one instead. I love this strap, very comfy, good for different wrist sizes. The GPS locates very quickly and judging by the google map uploads it tracks extremely accurately, even down to 5 meters in some cases. It found my ANT+ heart rate monitor straight away and works very well. The customization for the scrolling multi pages is great. It's also a nice feature that it beeps AND lights up when you finish/intermediate distance. The pace monitor means you know how fast you're running each kilometer/mile. My wife has the more advanced triathlon watch but for me, the 405cx works perfectly for running and cycling.

The Software
I've read loads of OLD reviews about how flaky the upload software was particularly with a Mac. I can report that as of now, Feb 2010, I have not had any of these issues. The ANT+ stick is permanently in my imac and picks up the watch every time. The upload AND download to/from the ANT agent is perfect. The training center software is OK but nothing special. I don't bother with it anymore. I skip straight to the online Garmin Connect website which is awesome. The Google maps and google earth feature is fantastic. And I love the splits and playback function. The latest drivers fix all the connectivity problems with the mac.

Overall, a great device considering it looks like a normal watch and therefore does not make the owner look like a dork. The fact that it contains a GPS with playback course setting is also amazing. It's a very good product.

And for all the reviews before 2010, I would ignore anything about reliability as it's all been fixed now. -- A very good COMPACT all in one unit