June 12, 2008 at 10:53 pm
· Filed under Equipment, Gadgets
As you all know, I think the Garmin Forerunner 305 is the best thing since sliced bread but I’m so fickle it’s taken barely a thought for me to stick it on ebay and swap it for the new version - the Forerunner 405.
I’d like to say the new and IMPROVED Forerunner 405 but is it?
Reading the spec list it’s hard to see where Garmin made any attempts to improve on what had gone before, they missed out by not making it fully waterproof and therefore tri suitable, for example. Instead they appear to have simply repackaged the existing 305 as a sports watch that can be worn all day with the bonus of a nifty touch sensitive bezel control.
Out of the box, I decided I liked the look and feel of the watch very much. Garmin put a lot of effort into design and the strap closure is ingenious, a big improvement on the 305 which kept coming loose, snagging on my clothing and risked falling off. A minor point maybe, but Garmin are big on the little details.
The watch charged fully in 3 hours by the use of a strange bulldog style clip that slips snugly into a couple of recesses on the back of the watch. Another neat design but I fear it is just going to prove an inconvenience. With the 305 you uploaded data to the PC by slotting it into a USB docking station and it would charge at the same time as uploading. I’d leave my device in for a few minutes longer and thereby ensure I always hard a fully charged unit. With the 405, uploading data is automatic and will occur while the watch is still on your wrist, which now means I’ll have to remember to charge the unit separately.
In standby mode (ie time display only) the watch will supposedly last 20 days, although I’m down to 89% charged after 1 day so I doubt it will last much longer than a week. When used in active mode the battery life is expected to be in the region of 8 hours. So that’s another charging gizmo to be added to my pile of wires under my bed.
I thought the software was a bit of a faff to install, it didn’t happen automatically and I had to hunt around to see what it was that needed to be loaded up. It comes with Training Centre but after installing it I immediately removed it again because I remembered how pants it is. Instead I’m using the ANT uploader linked to Garmin Connect which is quite a neat online training log.
Setting up the watch is a doddle and it takes you through the process quickly with a mini tutorial that teaches you the basics of the bezel control. Basically:
- press and hold on the relevant label to access either time/date, training, menu or GPS functions
- slide around the bezel to move through menu options
- tap to accept
- tap in two separate places to activate the backlight
All very easy really. I had no problems using the bezel on the run, not that you need to use it much, you can tap to nudge the screen to a different view and in virtual partner mode you can increase/decrease the pace of your partner by sliding the bezel. I’m particularly fond of that feature as it means I can ensure I win every race now.
I’ve heard a few people fearing that accidental touches of the bezel would mess up the data but they shouldn’t worry. The start, stop and lap functions are all controlled by the big side buttons. Pressing the bezel during a run just alters the view - not a big deal. I haven’t tried it with gloves but as long as they aren’t massive affairs it shouldn’t be a problem.
For my first run I decided to set up a simple interval session, run 90 secs, walk 60 secs. I know that’s lame but I’ve got a cold and needed the walk periods to retrieve my hankies and have a good blow! Easy enough to setup, you don’t even need the manual. Features and settings are much more intuitive on the 405 than with its predecessor.
The intervals were well “signposted”, I was given a 5 second warning of loud beeps followed by a clear “chirrup” that marked the start of the next interval. I didn’t miss one and I appreciated the warning. A good feature.
I personalised the display I wanted to see on the run, you can choose upto 9 features to be displayed on 3 screens. On my main screen I had pace, time and distance and I accepted the defaults for the other screens. It’s well worth playing around though as there appear to be some great features. This is available on the heart rate screen for example and shows progress within your heart rate zones.
I had set the screens to auto scroll but will turn this off for the next run, I think it is more convenient to control the screen I view by tapping the bezel, that way I don’t have to wait for it to get around to the bit I’m interested in.
Back home, I was just unlocking my door, when the watch beeped to say it was uploading data. By the time I’d staggered through the hall to the laptop, my stats were already displayed on the Garmin connect website.
As a simple everyday watch its functioning fine, but I would have preferred the power save mode to be the time and date screen, not just the time display. It’s a fiddle unlocking the bezel so I can access the date feature. Its also quite chunky so if you have a small wrist you are unlikely to find it very comfortable and it will probably overhang a little. I don’t have a small wrist though so I’m alright Jack.
I’m pretty pleased with it so far and think there are clear signs of improvement, I’ll be scrutinizing it further though and am particularly keen to see if there are any improvements with the speed in which it locks on to a GPS signal.
*UPDATE 22 July*
If you are in the market for a GPS running watch, this is the leader in my opinion but as for pros and cons of the 405 vs 305 here goes:
Pros:
- Faster GPS pick up, I’ve seen responses within seconds even when I’m moving but it is still not perfect. In heavily built up areas of London the reception is slow.
- Louder volume on the beep/alarm so you can actually use it for interval training.
- You can wear it as a watch all day - should last about 2 weeks before charging.
- There are a lot of new screens available and it is very easy to adjust - more intuitive than the 305.
- You can adjust the speed of the virtual training partner while you are on the run.
- Easy wireless upload.
- Smaller, lighter and more inconspicuous.
Cons:
- Sometimes the bezel seems to be a little unresponsive, so if I tap the edge to get to a different screen it may not respond, so I tap again and eventually it goes crazy and skips thru multiple screens.
- Because I don’t want the useless training centre on my computer I have to be quick if I want to upload the run to Sportstracks, as it doesn’t seem to save the file on my pc.
- When the watch gets wet - say from splashing at a water fountain - the bezel goes nuts and the forerunner generally doesn’t respond. Wipe it dry and its back to normal again. See comments 22-25 and here’s a link to one bloggers frustrating although amusing communication with garmin about the issue.
Not many cons really but maybe I’ll to them later.
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You’ve just made me feel the desire for a (yet another) new gadget. Damn you. Must-resist-pull-of-amazon.co.uk.
Darrell wrote @ June 13th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Hi WW,
So it’s not really any better, just newer? I’ve read reviews that say it locks onto satellite signals in seconds rather than minutes.
Ohhh, now I have Garmin envy. Maybe my 205 will go belly up and I’ll have a better excuse to go forth and buy one!
Well I think it is better but not everyone will feel the need to trade in their 305’s. I’d definitely recommend trading in the 205 though - have you tried accidentaly putting it through the washing machine RL?
I needed a new watch so I’m content to wear the 405 everyday, if you prefer a dainty watch or just intend to use it when out running you’d need to consider well whether the additional features are worth it.
I have yet to put it through its satellite tracking paces but will update here later when i have. I think the seconds estimate is a bit optimistic. You can set locations in the memory which I imagine will speed up the process. That may well have been available on the 305 as well but everything is so much easier to find on the 405 that I think it is new.
Cool 
g
Great review, I think I need one of them next.
Steve wrote @ June 14th, 2008 at 8:58 am
That’s for the review. Do you think it’s time I update my 301.
Phil wrote @ June 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Thats great now send me your old GPS
Emma wrote @ June 17th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Really useful blog thanks - I’ll make do with my 205 for now, but this is on the Christmas list. Will also check out the Garmin Connect site.
Emma wrote @ June 17th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Quick question - can you only use the Garmin Connect website with the 405, 50 and 605/705, or am I being thick?
The 205 and 305 are practically the same model (205 minus the HR monitor) so I can completely understand you not really feeling the need to rush out.
At the moment I think Garmin Connect only works for the 405 (possibly 50 but I don’t know much about that unit). I think they have plans to open it up to earlier models but my guess is that it is not high priority.
I haven’t even figured out how to use most of the features on my 205 yet. And what the hell is a bezel? How was the visibility of the screen while running, since the watch is so much smaller? I have trouble making mine talk nice to my computer, so the uploading feature sounds nice (if I were ever able to figure it out).
So are you ready to snuggle up with it, give it a pet name, and take it to bed with you?
Why oh why did Garmin put that bezel on there on the 405? It’s impossible to use in rain or with sweaty fingers, or with gloves on. Why did they decide to try and solve a problem that wasn’t there in the first place? Buttons work perfectly in rain, with wet fingers and with gloves on. Please Garmin return simplicity in the next Forerunner; get rid of the bezel-thing.
hi - does this have the biking setting as well as running like the 305 ?
Hi Simon, yes it does. You can choose training mode either running or cycling.
It doesn’t have the multisport mode but I don’t think that is really a problem, you can get something like 4 diff display screens and can set one up to show speed and cadence and another for pace.
Hi thanks for that. 2 more question does the 405 still bleep on the split mile or KM. I read on one blog that it did not but i have not read this any where else.
2nd question apart from it being new, blingy & the latest must have gadget is there any other reason I would upgrade my 305 for this.
Simon - I’ve added a list of pros and cons on the main post which may help answer your question.
Yes, the 405 can be set to beep on each km/mile and the beep is loud enough to make a good interval trainer.
If it being new, blingy and the latest must have gadget isn’t enough for you then I would suggest that no, there is no compelling reason to upgrade from the 305. Unless you want to be able to wear it all day long as a watch.
Phil wrote @ July 22nd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I’ve got a 305 at the moment and my major gripe is the signal loss when running under tree cover or in built up areas
Is it any better at holding onto a signal?
The only time I lost a signal on the 305 was when I ran through tunnels or entered buildings. Tree cover never proved to be a problem so I’d find it hard to do a comparison.
The 405 does pick up signals quicker but it isn’t perfect by any means. I always find the Liverpool St station area to be a GPS no go zone and the 405 fared as badly there as the 305.
Melanie wrote @ July 23rd, 2008 at 3:18 am
Thank you for such a well-written and honest review! I also have a 305 right now, just bought myself a new bike, bought the cadence sensor for my bike being delivered tomorrow, and thought about upgrading, but you saved me a lot of $$! I don’t think that the enhancements are worth the upgrade as yet…. Thank you again!
Melanie
Thanks also for the advice, put my 305 on ebay and should get around £100 for it and managed to get the 405 for £190 so I have to say £90 to get the new blingy one, I have bit the bullet and I am looking out the window waiting for the dhl man to arrive
That’s exactly what I did and £90 doesn’t seem that much for the latest gadget with a fresh battery and guarantee.
I have recently bought the 405 which is my first entrance into the GPS sports watch. I absolutely love it. It took me a couple of hours to play around with it but I got the hang of it and all it’s features very quickly. The best part about the watch is being able to create my own workouts via the software provided. The watch is like my own personal trainer.
Only small issue I had with it was downloading the software took a little time to find on their website. But overall this is such a minor gripe that I highly recommend this watch to anyone who takes their running seriously.
Thanks so much for the review which has been really useful. This will be my first venture into a GPS watch so feel I should invest in the latest rather a 305. I’ve read reviews on Amazon that says the 405 doesn’t like the rain, or any moisture, on the screen when it goes crazy. Have you experienced this at all?
I haven’t had any problems with moisture and it has been thoroughly tested recently with all this rain.
The forerunner 405 is water resistant upto 1m deep in water I think (I wouldn’t test this though) which suggests that the poor reviews on amazon are related to dodgy units - they should send them back. I’ve found garmin to be really helpful and I’m sure they’d repair or swap them pretty quickly.
I upgraded from the 305 to the 405 and have never looked back. A great upgrade is the virtual partener that can be used on every run/ride you do. Set the pace and watch how you get on, if you are ahead / behind and need to alter the pace you can do this mid run/ride. Very motivational for when you are training alone. 10/10 for the prodcut
Blimey Dan, did you jinx me?
I went out for a long run this afternoon and stopped towards the end to refresh at a water fountain. The garmin got a bit wet and the bezel went nuts. I’d stopped the timer and needed to set it off again but it wouldn’t respond. Touching the bezel left it beeping but doing nothing useful.
Pretty annoying.
I wiped it and it started reacting again.
I wonder if its something that will be fixed with a software update?
Thanks for reporting that WW. I think mine might be on order now. My Wife decided to buy me it as a birthday pressie 
I guess Garmin will have to do something if it starts happening to more than a handful.
NorskScot wrote @ September 8th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
I bought a 405 last week - found the set up, use, download and data display excellent. Route maps onto Google Earth were no problem.
The lack of being totally waterproof is a pain as I like to keep my watch on at all times - shower/swimming etc.
The other missing feature to my mind is a hillwalking/mountain mararthon display, namely a UTM coord and an altitude.
HillRunner wrote @ September 28th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Hi, I’m still using an old Forerunner 101 (yes they still work) but currently trying to decide between the 305 and 405 - apart from the style is there really much of a difference and as I have fairly small wrists which of the strap versions are more likely to stay on? (Hence 101and the velcro strap).
If you’ve got a particularly small wrist I would guess that the 405 is not going to be your everyday watch and that is pretty much the major advantage of the 405 over the 305.
If you aren’t especially attracted to the latest must have gadgets and are just looking for GPS to wear on the run then I’d go for the 305, it’s reliable and doesn’t have the annoying quirks found with the 405 bezel.
You’ve gone and done it now. My 405, with HRM, is on order ………apparently I am not allowed it until Christams though.
..til xmas? - that’s a bit cruel.
R Edwards wrote @ November 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
Thanks for great review. I’m thinking about buying a 405 (my first gps). Can you explain about Sporttrack and the garmin connect sites. Is Sporttrack better? Can you upload to Sporttrack from a 405? if so, how??
Thanks
I don’t use the garmin connect site at all, I don’t find it very useful and have all I need with Sporttracks.
The uploading with the 405 is a bit more of a faff than with the 305. You plug in the usb ANT stick and it detects your watch before automatically uploading the file to the computer - and garmin connect and training centre, should you wish.
To get the activity into sporttracks you need to go to IMPORT within the application and navigate to the file stored on your pc.
In Vista the path should look something like:
C:\Users\Warriorwoman\AppData\Roaming\GARMIN\Devices\##########\History
R Edwards wrote @ November 8th, 2008 at 10:43 pm
Thank you very much for your prompt response. I hope I can figure it out - my 405 is arriving from Amazon on Tuesday. Yay!
I’m reading this because my 205 ended up in the washing machine along with my dirty gear. Good way to find out its not totally waterproof! I reckon if I have to buy a new one, I may as well go for the most up-to-datest. The seconds to connect as opposed to minutes makes up my mind.
405 has been in use for several weeks now without any hiccups and it even manages to stay put on a relatively small wrist.
Hi
Buying one as my husband “lost”his 305. Does anyone know if the HR belt for the 305 (which he still has) works with the new 405?
Thanks
steve wrote @ January 2nd, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Bought the 405 for my fiance for xmas…her request. Has anyone else noticed that there is no GB/UK time zone available in the setup? frustrating not being able to get past that on day 1. The GPS hookup was quick, but didn’t seem to make any difference to the avialable time zone. At the moment, her 405 thinks she is based in Iceland. Any suggestions?
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