Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist Worn GPS Personal Training Device (With Heart Rate Monitor)

Similar Products:

Garmin Speed/Cadence Sensor For the GSC 10

Schnellwechselhalterung für Fahrrad / Armband (mit Klettver.) Forerunner 205 For

The Competitive Runner's Handbook

Garmin Footpod for the Forerunner 305

Triathletes Training Bible

Customer Reviews:

• 
  2008-06-17
  By I. Humphrey, Welwyn Garden City, Herts United Kingdom
  When you open the box, you will see a sticker on the device informing you that it contains carcinogenic compounds. It is required to do so under the Californian 'Proposition 65'.
  
  Their website says that they have not attempted to quantify the level of risk to the user.
  
  I have unsuccessfully tried to contact them over the last week using various methods.
  
  I am willing to believe that the risk is negligible, but their recalcitrance on this subject makes me nervous.
  
  This is not a computer sitting passively on your desk. This is a device in direct contact with your skin over long periods in the sun, heat and sweat. Perhaps over long periods of time there is a small but significant increase in your risk of acquiring cancer?
  
  This is a device aimed at people interested in their health. How can this company ignore one aspect of their device that could have a profound impact on the health of their users? We may for instance eschew peanuts for fear of aflatoxins, but efforts of this nature may be nullifed by wearing a Garmin device.
  
  What I want to know is the names of the carcinogenic materials, where they are located, what is the probability of being leaked to the skin, and once on the skin some speculation on what might happen.
  
  Has anyone managed to get a peep out of Garmin on this issue?
  
  I have rated this product solely on Garmin's lack of communication. I will not let my wife use this device until I hear some word from them.
  
  Update 23rd June 2008:
  I received a completely unacceptable response from Garmin UK, who threw their hands up in the air, saying we don't know and we don't care.
  
  However, I received a better response from an international representative. It was in poor English, so I'm not 100% sure of the writer's intent. It seemed to assert that that there is a carcinogenic compound encapsulated in the GPS unit itself. If broken and consumed, this might cause cancer. If true, then my mind is at rest. Why couldn't this have been written on the unit itself?
  
  What I was most concerned about was the possibility that the plastic of the unit's exterior may have been contaminated.
  
  
• 
  2008-07-09
  By Richard Taylor, Hertfordshire, UK
  Having used the Forerunner 305 to cheat myself back into running, I can only say what a great piece of kit it is. The pro/con that it doesn't work on OS-X (Mac) is simply not correct - I use it on one! The battery life allows me to do a week business trip without having to recharge, ad frankly, while the Garmin software is OK, programs, mostly share/freeware such as Sporttracks (PC) or Trailrunner (Mac) make using and analysing the data even better. I find the satellite acquisition a little slow when you're changing continents regularly, but stay in the same place and it's not a problem. Enjoy...
  
  
• 
  2008-07-11
  By Digbydog, UK
  I used to do a fair amount of running up until about 10 years ago. In those days I used a Casio watch to record how long I was out for. I would then guess how far the run was or drive the route I had just ran to get some idea how far I had gone. I started running again in the last six months and I am very impressed by the Forerunner. It is not perfect, the distance climbed is more a guess rather than an accurate statement. I suspect the calories burned is also a little bit of a guide rather than a fact. However the distance travelled versus the time taken is very good, again not perfect, but far better than any guess I could come up with.
  
  Yes it takes a little while to get the satellite signal before your start your run, but I tend to put it by the window, get changed and when I'm ready to go then it has got it's signal.
  
  The more you run in areas with trees or tall buildings then I suspect the less accurate it is. I have done both and I find it more than acceptable.
  
  I hate to go running without it and so it becomes another thing to remember to have with you.
  
  I have never really got to grips with heart rate monitors so I think the 205 would have been as good for me.
  
  The software that comes with the watch for the PC is not very good and I would recommend the free software called SportTracks.
  
  
  
  
• 
  2008-08-06
  By Active Mark, Cheshire, UK
  This monitor provides great information for your training. You get heart rate data, how far you have run, what time, speed and more. It provides an easy way to create small and long term goals, ideal for fitness trainers like me. Signing up to MotionBased (available for free) can get you a Google map reading too, giving you an interactive map. I have not used all of the tools on the watch yet, but what I have used I am very satisfied with.
  
  
• 
  2008-08-17
  By Victoria, Cheshire
  I use the 305 to train my horse for endurance riding competitions - the combined GPS and heart rate monitor work perfectly and are around 4 times cheaper than the equivalent Polar unit. The heart rate belt is easy to fix to my horse - I just attach it to the inside of the girth, wet my horses skin and then use vetwrap to secure it in place and I get 100% accurate heart rate readings. The fact that the unit reads the heart rate wirelessly and has a good reception range makes it ideal (and easy) to adapt to equine use. I can track avaerage speeds and distances which when you ride solo is a great plus as it can be difficult to judge your pace. The virtual trainer is great for competitions as I can set my speed/distance parameters and instantly know when I'm falling behind my target time for completion. A must for any endurance rider!!