Will my Garmin Forerunner 205 survive the rain?

It will be okay in the rain. But you're not supposed to swim in it. I think they say it's not supposed to be in water under 5 or ten feet, which tells me not to swim in it at all. But I've run in mine in the rain, and it's so hot this summer in Texas, every time I use it, it's like it's raining sweat anyway, so I think it's fine in the rain.

It will survive the rain just fine. It will not survive swimming.

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No, it will not. There was a thread on here about 3 weeks ago discussing the pluses and minuses. I've got a 305 sitting in a box collecting dust because it was "waterproof". To be safe, don't use it.

Will wrote:

No, it will not. There was a thread on here about 3 weeks ago discussing the pluses and minuses. I've got a 305 sitting in a box collecting dust because it was "waterproof". To be safe, don't use it.

Sure it will. It certainly is supposed to.

I don't think they claim it is waterproof. I think they claim it is water resistant. I'd have to check the docs to be sure.

How exactly did yours go bad? Did you take it out in the rain? If so, it was a defective unit and you can get a new one free from Garmin.

Does it have a light? Can you use it in the dark?

Average_Joe wrote:

Will wrote:

No, it will not. There was a thread on here about 3 weeks ago discussing the pluses and minuses. I've got a 305 sitting in a box collecting dust because it was "waterproof". To be safe, don't use it.

Sure it will. It certainly is supposed to.

I don't think they claim it is waterproof. I think they claim it is water resistant. I'd have to check the docs to be sure.

How exactly did yours go bad? Did you take it out in the rain? If so, it was a defective unit and you can get a new one free from Garmin.

All I did was a 4 miler in a light to moderate rain. I read a few folks returning/exchanging theirs back a few months ago on one of the Garmin threads. Just haven't gotten around to it. Having used probably a dozen HRM's I was pretty disappointed when it died from a light rain.

FWIW, I've run in the rain many times with my 205 with no problems. I ran Boston this year, stood in the rain for the better part of 2 hours before the start and then 3 hours on the course and had no problems.

The specifications page in the manual says it is water resistant "IEC 60529 IPX7 (submersible to one meter for up to 30 minutes). Note: This product is not intended to be used while swimming."

I hadn't intended on swimming with it, but how much rain equates to submersion in water for 30 minutes?

Just as a side note, although I have no idea what the code symbolizes, I am either highly impressed with or baffled by water resistance scientists who devise a 12 character code to express "one meter for 30 minutes."

will wrote:

All I did was a 4 miler in a light to moderate rain. I read a few folks returning/exchanging theirs back a few months ago on one of the Garmin threads. Just haven't gotten around to it. Having used probably a dozen HRM's I was pretty disappointed when it died from a light rain.

Don't worry too much. You just had a defective unit. Return it to them and they will give you a full replacement.

I rinse mine off and dry it with a towel after running every time I use it. If I remember correctly, the instructions suggest doing this.

Average_Joe wrote:

will wrote:

All I did was a 4 miler in a light to moderate rain. I read a few folks returning/exchanging theirs back a few months ago on one of the Garmin threads. Just haven't gotten around to it. Having used probably a dozen HRM's I was pretty disappointed when it died from a light rain.

Don't worry too much. You just had a defective unit. Return it to them and they will give you a full replacement.

Thanks. I will. As much as I like monkeying with data and Excel or whatever application I build, I look forward to not having to do the math on every jot and tiddle (tittle) sp?. Anyway, I'll dig it out of the box.