Fulfills the Promise

I purchased the previous iteration (the 301) of Garmin's GPS/Heartrate monitor and was terribly disappointed. Tempted by good reviews, I purchased the 305 from Costco for $159.00.


The Verdict: The 305 actually DOES what the 301 was supposed to do.


The heartrate strap is much improved. It is not quite as comfortable as my Polar strap, but--and this is a shocker-- I've found that it's more accurate than my trusty Polar. The heartrate function on the 301 was flawed on many levels. The strap on the 301 was uncomfortable and the readings were unreliable (imagine my surprise when I discovered that my heartrate suddenly soared to 270!) The 305's heartrate function has been faultless.


The 305's improved GPS system is the big story. With the 301, running near trees or buildings caused pacing havoc. I often run along the Embarcadero under the San Francisco Bay Bridge; the 301 would go into fits and either forget where I was, or it would vacillate between unrealistically fast/slow pace rates. The 301 might work well if you regularly jogged on the Bonneville Salt Flats. The 305, however, is a marvel. I jog through the city, I jog under the bridge, I jog under trees and near power-lines, I jog with long-sleeved shirts, and so far the 305 has not had a hiccup. The longest access time I've experienced so far was a couple of minutes. I don't use the GPS for alpine running, so I've not paid much attention to the elevation feature.


Also unlike the 301, the 305 and the supplied software synced with my computer without drama. I've not had to call tech support. Downloading and installing the latest software/firmware upgrades was simple and speedy.


It's a bummer that I need a cradle to charge and sync the 305, but the 305's smaller form factor makes it worth it. The form factor is improved over the ginormous 301, but still isn't something you'd wear anywhere but running. The 305's plastic strap is better than the 301's canvas strap (oh, the smell!).


Garmin's 405 has a smaller form factor, but I don't like it--the display is too small. The 305 was never intended to be used as a watch--it's a training tool, period.


Bravo Garmin--you've created a winner.