Garmin advice

Running Shoes/Running Gear Other

15 years ago 10/09/2008 12:22am EDT

I\\\'ve been reading over the Garmin 405 accuracy thread and it got me thinking about upgrading.

I bought the Garmin 201 almost 4 years ago, and it has simply been sensational. I love all the features, I\\\'m happy with the accuracy it offers, and the battery life is great.

Should I buy the 405? I\\\'ve been reading reviews for the past couple of days and I\\\'m getting mixed opinions. Could any current owners clarify any problems with the bezel? How is the battery life? I love only having to charge the 201 once a week. Is the 405 accuracy inferior to the 201 accuracy? How much stronger is the signal strength on the 405? I typically have to wait 5-6 min to get a signal on the 201, and I cannot run on a trail with many tree(40ft) or next to tall buildings, will the 405 eliminate this problem? Is the heart rate monitor good?I\\\'m curious to do some training with that. Is synchronizing it to your computer easy? The 201 had a cable which my new (and old) laptop could not connect to.

Also feel free to add any other insightful advice. Any new exciting features I should know about? Are the Garmin 300s version a better buy (cost doesnt worry me)?

15 years ago 10/09/2008 6:51am EDT

re: Pro GPS

I have a 201, two 205's and a 305. They are all wonderful devices. I found that the 205 & 305, which are pretty much the same device except the 305 has a heart monitor, are significantly more accurate than the 201. The 205 & 305 also seem to do a better job in limited sky-view conditions like runnning on a trail that is shaded by trees. I believe they utilize more satellites and have a better receiver. My friend has a 405 and he thinks it has that same accuracy of the 205. The advantages of the 405 is that it is much smaller.

All that said, unless you have to be dead on in your measurements, all four devices are fine I am sure.

Good luck with your choice.

15 years ago 10/09/2008 6:52am EDT

re: Pro GPS

I had a 301 for a couple of years and was pretty

happy with it.

Purchased a 305 when they first came out and liked

it better than the 301.

The screen on the 305 faded out after about 21 months,

so I bought a 205 which I have used for about 8 months.

Got the 405 in August and never used it for a run.

The bezel on the thing was a pain.

Get a 205 and wait for Garmin to work out the bugs

before you consider a 405.

15 years ago 10/09/2008 10:39am EDT

re: Bob Wildes

i have had a 405 since april '08. i really like it.

i use garmin connect to track all of my workouts...they just upgraded it and it is easy to use. i don't need to use a workout log...everything is done automatically when i sync the watch to my computer.

the battery life is about 8 hours of workout time in gps mode. you will get more if you turn off gps. that means i charge it every few days. isn't a big problem.

i am completely fine with the accuracy...not such a nut about it. but read the other thread if you are really crazy about those details.

the bezel indeed acts up sometimes. i have had moments where the buttons freeze up too, but they usually resolve spontaneously. the bezel is affected a lot by rain/sweat and long sleeves, but you can lock the bezel if you want during a run and it won't automatically change on you.

it is expensive. but it is fun. and i find it useful for mapping my progress and targeting my workouts.

15 years ago 10/09/2008 11:24am EDT

re: Shaggy

I have had the 305 for over a year -- and LOVE it!

Zero complaints. (Sometimes it can take a few minutes to

catch the gps reception in some areas).

I also am wondering when to upgrade to the 405.

I will -- as soon as the price comes down a bit and they get rid of the some of the bugs i have heard about.

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