GPS Tracking Watches | Review: Garmin Forerunner 305 - GPS Tracking Watches

Review: Garmin Forerunner 305 - GPS Tracking Watches

 

The Forerunner 305 is a step up from Garmin’s Forerunner 205, it includes heart rate monitor and some additional features resulting in it being one of the most full featured GPS tracking watches you can buy.
Notable Features;

 

Unit Size (W x H x D) – 2.1 x 2.7 x .7 inches
Screen Size (W x H) – 1.3 x .8 inches
Weight – 2.7 oz.
Battery type – Rechargeable Lithium- Ion
Battery Life – approx. 10 hours
Water resistant – Yes (IPX7)
Heart rate monitor – Yes

 

Lap memory – Yes, 1000 laps

 

Waypoint memory – Yes, 100

Routes feature – Yes, 50 max

Warranty – One year

Being the big brother to the Garmin Forerunner 205 it might be helpful to read our product review for that model. The two models share basic features, size and functionality with the Forerunner 305 including the heart rate monitor. An optional feature available with the 305 is a cycling cadence counter but we did not test that option. It should be mentioned that the heart monitor and cycling sensors will work indoors since they do not rely on the GPS signal to function. So if you also work out using stationary equiptment these features will be useful.

For those interested in peak training we think a GPS tracking watch must have the heart rate monitor. It works well and when training on varying terrain there is simply no way to gauge heart rate without a monitor. In use the heart rate monitor readings do not “bounce around” to much but instead they remain reasonably steady. This allows a quick glance at the screen less often and with more confidence in the accuracy of the reading at any given time.

Since GPS accuracy is important to most users we paid attention to that while running and also double checked the readings with several other GPS units. To satisfy our curiosity we brought the Forerunner 305 watch along for a highway road trip and verified its accuracy using the highway mile markers. In all tests we found the accuracy to be excellent and cannot imagine the need for greater accuracy, given the presence of a strong signal.

 

 

The Forerunner 305 (and 205) watch itself is not bulky to wear, and is similar to wearing a typical watch, which it is, just a little bigger. Overall the design and functionality is excellent and given the relatively modest difference in cost for the heart rate monitor we’d spring for the 305 over the 205. Garmin has made big improvements over their previous GPS tracking watches.

 

 

 

 

 

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