Garmin Forerunner 305 Watch
The design on the Garmin Forerunner 305 watch is a radical departure from Garmin’s previous generation of wrist mounted GPS training devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, pretty good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it wasn’t something you would feel comfortable wearing in public. The design was big and bulky and wearing it made you feel like a dork.
Not so with the Garmin Forerunner 305 watch. Garmin’s engineers obviously worked hard to come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit’s antenna to face GPS satellites in the sky when you’re running, while the large display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it’s smaller than the display found on previous Garmin Forerunners, its resolution is far higher which makes it easier to see when you are bouncing up and down on the trail.
Garmin Forerunner 305 Watch - Key Features
- Pace Alert. This shrieking alarm is triggered when you start slacking.
- Interval training. If you intentionally rest during your workout the Garmin Forerunner 305 watch can help you know when to stop and when to get going again.
- Auto Lap. This allows the Garmin 305 to cycle through to all previous laps in your workout.
- Virtual Partner. Run against a computer-based partner. What this feature does is allow your virtual partner to run at the exact pace you set. All you need to do is run slightly faster than the set pace to win, but when you fall behind you will see your partner move ahead.
- Multi-sport. An attractive feature for those who may be training for a multi-event sport. The Garmin Forerunner 305 watch can allow the seamless monitoring of multiple sport activities with the placement of the Garmin device in a cradle designed especially for your bike.
- Heart rate information. As your body gets in shape your heart rate will regulate. You will be able to see this either by viewing the Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS itself or evaluating the data once information is downloaded to your MotionBased account.
Garmin has smartly given the Garmin Forerunner 305 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners by Garmin.
The underside of the Garmin Forerunner 305 watch is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the Garmin Forerunner 305 watch’s embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer. (It will charge much faster if you use the AC adapter though.)
Optional Accessories for the Garmin Forerunner 305 Watch
- Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor
- Foot Pod
- Vehicle Power Cable
- A/C Adaptor for International Travel
- Carrying Case
- USB Cable (replacement)
- Garmin fitness wear
Still not convinced? Check out our Garmin Forerunner 305 review and Garmin Forerunner 305 price!
