Garmin Forerunner 205/305 vs 405/410 Initial Compare Review

[shawnta2002191]

I'm trying to determine if I want a polar or a garmin 110. First off I'm going to train for my half marathon starting in January but, I also do alot of cross training (spinning, elpitical, stairs, ets). Will I be able to use the Garmin 110 for calories and heart rate zone specifically? Or would u say its strickly for running purposes only? If it can be used with crosstraining is there a screen to display a continuous heart rate (zone) and caloris burned? What do you think I should get?

[thecyr]

@shawnta2002191 I posted a compare review on the 110, but it's a bit limiting if you are not doing running. While it will monitor HR & calories, it does not have the accessories when you are inside doing your cross training. For cross training the 310 / 910 would fit more, but I would steer you towards Polar based on what you've said.

[genepierson]

Found review by DCrainmaker which was good.

[thecyr]

@genepierson yes, his reviews are very thorough and are excellent.

[hokiemule]

So...if the 405 was only $15-20 more than the 305, you'd get the 405?

[thecyr]

@hokiemule yes, the gps chip on the 405 is better than on the 305 and more wearable than the 305

[shawnta2002191]

I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT THE GARMIN 405. IT DOES NOT STATE ANYWHERE IF IT COUNTS CALORIES AND DISPLACE IT ON THE FACE PLATE. DOES IT COUNT CALORIES AND DISPLAY IT ON THE FACE PLATE? ALSO WILL THE HEART RATE WORK FOR OTHER WORKOUTS LIKE SPINNING OR THE ELPTICAL OR IS IT SPECIFICALLY FOR RUNNING ONLY?

[thecyr]

@shawnta2002191 It does have calories as a data field, you can display it on the screen. Look for another video of mine "changing data fields " that should help you. Yes heart rate will work for other workouts but you have to setup and start a workout for it to record. It's a bit more tricky but doable

[tabooretka]

So where 13-15 hours of battery life for 305 comes from if the specifications say 10 hours ? The 405 specifications state 8 hours. It is only 20% better so the phrase "305 is definitily better" probably is not appropriate.

Overall I find the review biased.

[thecyr]

@tabooretka that's 10 hours of typical use (backlight, alerts, HR) , on top of being able to power off compared to the 405, the305 has much better battery life since you can stretch out the time between charges. You are correct, the review is biased, I love the 405, but overall value for price, the 305 is still the best thing going. No wonder it's still a top seller while the 405 has never lived up to its potential. Maybe the 610 will be better.

[chazhuber]

so the 405 says water resistant.... to what depth does "resistant" constitute??

[thecyr]

@chazhuber they should be all IPX7 resistant - which means...

IPX-7 Waterproof Standard

Puddle, stream, beer cooler and splash rated - Protected against water immersion - Immersion for 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter.

[fragu0]

why do you think advanced runners would rather prefer polar than garmin?

[thecyr]

@fragu0 It's due to my impressions that polar was the brand to use when running up until 5 years ago when garmin started to invade the fitness scene. Some of the advanced runners in our run club still hang on to their polar models while the newer runners would go with garmin.

[popolopolopopp]

This was exactly what I was looking for. Very good presentation. You obviously though this through before recording and posting this vid. Thank you.

[laafunamasaya]

is 305 gps can be used in asia? thx b4

[thecyr]

@laafunamasaya yes, it should work in asia. when you first get it, make sure you turn it on outside as it will take a few minutes to figure out where it is.

[viperdude281]

I just found and ordered a new 405 online for $209 (90 bucks off the normal price) so I'm stoked.

[marotoxx]

Con esos mofletones no vas a convencer a nadie sobre el uso de un accesorio deportivo.

Tengo el 305 y 405; mucho mejor el 305.

[mark95427]

nice video

[gd11988]

Does it work also for trekking?

[michaelpmccullough]

terrific review - thanks for posting.

[ConstantWarlock]

I saw on Garmin website that both were the same price, I'm gearing towards the 405

[Benvoyevsky]

i have a mac, 405 works with the mac but the 305 doesn't. should i just get the 405 then?

[TheVerySpecialThommy]

good review, you should make a more in depth review

[tuliusy2k]

Thanks Gert88! I've already bought a 405 and now is in The way to home!

[tuliusy2k]

Does anybody knows if 405 has ALTITUDE?

[gert88]

Yes, it displays elevation.

[YogaGrandmaFilms]

Hey the 101 has a ''app'' that it has a ''partner'' and you set a time for it and it will tell you if you are behind r ahead or just on pace with your partner does the 305 have this app. [PLEASE WRITE BACK IF YOU KNOW]also does any1 know which 1 is better the 101 or the 305 PLEASE COMMET BACK WITH A OPINION AND TELL WHY!!thanx:]

[MikeThe360]

So what you're saying is that the 205 is the same thing as the 305 but the 205 is blue and it does not have the heart rate moniter?

[richandfamily]

Please note: This reviewer doesn't even know the models he's talking about. The 405 is correct, but his 305 is really a 205 (but as he said, it's a 305 without a Heart rate monitor). None of these models are the same as the 301, which is an even older model with a bigger design, worse heart rate monitor, and which doesn't have as strong of a GPS receiver.

[whitehill0004]

I agree with rich. Another thing mentioned that is incorrect is that the 205/305 data fields don't scroll - you can select autoscroll in the options.

Additionally, accuracy for the 405 has been called into question. Keep that in mind.

A for effort, C- for information dissemination.

[robertmartinez]

Where did you find information that the 405 was having problems ????????

[robertmartinez]

Actually, a friend of mine had the 205 and we compared his to my 305. They were NOT the same model at least as far as screen size went. He later purchased the 305.

[neddyt]

any idea when the next forerunner will be released?

[thecyr]

the 405 cx and 310 xt are out, haven't read too much into them yet.

[neddyt]

Yeah, I would love to see a price drop in the 405.

The 305 has the functions I want, but I dont think id wear it when i wasnt running.

[SuperVidCreators]

@neddyt The Garmin Forerunner 610 with touch screen is released!

[thecyr]

@SuperVidCreators I think a lucky few at Boston & London marathon will be able to get the 610 first. I see a ship date of june 16.

[otivaeey]

my suunto x10 can last for 2 month or up w/out gps on.

[ReyhonsProductions]

yea very helpful keep it up

[Lars997]

Very helpful - THANKS!

[FORZA101010]

the 305 can scroll the info. other than that great review!

[thecyr]

You are correct, I never used the scroll on the 301 since I didn't have the HRM. I find that you have to use the scroll on the 405 in order to get the data I want in the BIG font.

[robertmartinez]

Question on 305: When hiking a long loop of 17 miles recently, we were unsure of our location. I hit trackback to view a return to start which showed 9 miles backward. But we knew that would be out of the way because we were close to looping back to the start. So we went forward & the unit then read 1.5 miles ahead to start. At what point does the unit switch from sending you backward to the shorter route by going forward?

[thecyr]

trackback is useful when you are on a linear path. But in your case, where you were on a loop. It would have been more useful to have created a waypoint at your start, then just do a GOTO to that point. That would have given you the straight path from your current position to the starting point.

[Moldenwibe]

really useful.. cheers

[zaphod2]

the 305 is just too big for my taste