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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Tags: asics, Forerunner, Forerunner 305, Forerunner 405, Garmin, GPS, review
January 11, 2008 at 12:47 am · Filed under Equipment, Gadgets
What a question – of course I do!
Just check out the ring of light, how have I managed to live so long without it?
It’s not too clear how the new Garmin Forerunner 405 compares to our trusty friend the 305. Sure there are the beauty enhancements and some wizadry that enables wireless upload to the PC as you stagger in from the streets, but I want to know if the satellite reception is going to be improved. It is going to be hard to improve on the Forerunner 305 but speedy satellite lock on is the way to go.
I’m still having one though – just tell me when. I might even consider entering a good ole US event if it means I could get it earlier.
*UPDATE*
Here’s a link to an important FAQ on the new forerunner 405, I’m a little disappointed that Garmin didn’t take the opportunity to make some obvious improvements to the forerunner series. It’s waterproof rating is still only sufficient for coping with sweat and possibly splashing in a particularly shallow puddle. Why didn’t they fully waterproof this beast so that it could become the clear option for triathletes? As it is, swimmers are going to go elsewhere for their gadget fix or continue to shove the unit under their swimming caps.
I can’t pick out any functional improvements at all, it’s just in a different box – quite a pretty one though.
Popularity: 34% [?]
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Tags: Forerunner, Forerunner 305, Forerunner 405, gadget, Garmin, Swimming
March 18, 2007 at 10:15 am · Filed under Uncategorized
I’m a self confessed gadget freak and another close shave with ebay and a ridiculously expensive but absolutely essential running watch has triggered the creation of this page – my homage to sports gadgets, gear and utilities that you can almost not afford to live without.
Asics Gel Kayano 14
This is the latest incarnation of my favourite running shoe. The Asics Gel Kayano 14 is the high end offering in the asics stability range, and as such is designed for the mild overpronator. Like its predecessor the Kayano 13, it is one of the few shoes recommended for the heavier runner, which is perhaps why I am so attracted to it.
I wasn’t expecting a huge improvement between the Kayano 14 and the Kayano 13 but I have to say the new version is definitely more comfortable. I’ve had these two models under the spot light trying to find an explanation for the differences in the ride. There is an increased amount of gel around the rear foot and I’m pretty sure the foam at the heel has increased in thickness too. Apparently the foam is a new springier version and there is a new heel collar. Although I can’t tell the latter points by looking at the shoe I do get the sense that my foot is being held at the heel. It’s an odd sensation really, rather as though my foot is being guided onto the ground as I run. It makes me feel quite stable and sure footed and I found myself ducking and diving a bit on my first run with them.
Runnersworld tagged these as the “best update” in their spring shoe buyers guide and I have to agree. I got mine from Distance.co.uk who are offering the best deal I’ve found so far – the cheapeast price, free delivery and super prompt dispatch.
Nokia N95
Here’s my review of the all new, potential running wonder gadget, the Nokia N95.
This phone has a lot of similarities to the much hailed iPhone, in that it’s a do-all wonder phone. Differences are that the N95 is available now, does more but of course isn’t quite as pretty or desirable.
I got it cos I love Swiss army knife electronic gadgets and I sold it to myself on the basis that I would now be able to run with a lot less stuff in my pocket. This one phone replaces my old phone, an iPod, a 5MP compact camera and a GPS unit. Admittedly I never run with a compact camera, preferring to settle for the rather spiffing model included with my old super slim an’ sexy Samsung D900.
So this now means I am running around with a considerably larger brick in my running shorts. I still haven’t weaned myself off the separate iPod either so I am going to have to work hard to prove the running wonder gadget claim. So far it just pulls my shorts around my ankles as I try to run.
Great features of the phone are its camera – a 5MP number with a load of different settings and in phone editing options. You can crop photos and then immediately upload them to flickr which is quite useful. I’ve never seen a phone camera with as many configurable settings. Quality is good too.
The video is of extraordinarily high quality but I seem incapable of uploading this to youtube without spending 2 days converting and then shredding with windows movie maker. The TdF movie I placed on the blog shows no resemblance to the version you see on the N95. I am clearly inept.
The best bit is the mapping feature. It has a built in GPS which will home in on your current location in a Google Earth style. You can either download the local maps to your memory card in advance or it will download the area as and when required. I’ve downloaded all the Prague maps so that I can find my hotel without recourse to a street map. Fingers crossed this works or me and my phone will become quite unpopular, quite soon.
The media player is again very good but I haven’t yet sussed out a very efficient way of loading my tracks onto the phone. I really need it to link with iTunes so I don’t have to do any faffing with new libraries and playlists and stuff but at the moment I am restricted to the application shipped in the box. I may come back to this when I’ve sussed out my options.
One weird thing with the phone is that shutting the slider doesn’t end a call. That has got me into trouble a few times when I have made comments about the call while still connected. There is a dble slider mechanism which acts to switch the layout between portrait and landscape and I imagine this is way it doesn’t close connections.
Its a doddle to connect up to the internet, using either my service provider network or any unsecured wireless LAN. This is a great thing because now I can access facebook from work and generally bypass their outrageous 15min internet restriction. An amazing number of sites work very well on the small screen.
I also wanted to get rid of my pda when I got the phone so I am now relying quite heavily on the calendar function. This is by no means as good as my dell axim version, as it is not easy to see what is lined up for a future week without looking at individual days. You can sync the calendar directly with google calendar or any iCal calendar by using goosync so I am currently trying to live my life out online. Hopefully I won’t miss anything too important in the teething stages.
It has a standard array of Office applications but unfortunately these are only viewers for reading email attachments. I think you can fork out for editable versions of these packages but that’s just too disappointing.
So in summary, it is not really your common or garden go-faster type of running gadget, more a gentle sauntering along, holding the waist band of you shorts sort of running gadget. It will encourage you to stop regularly to take amazing snaps of cows, edit them on the fly and then publish on-the-move, blog posts direct from flickr. You may also need to stop from time to time to confirm your location on the gps, search for the nearest pub and alter the route accordingly.
*UPDATE* I’ve now moved on to the Nokia N82, check out my first impressions and a comparison of the two phones here.
Garmin Forerunner 405
The latest version of the amazing Forerunner series. The GPS running watch has now been packaged as an everyday watch and is now smaller than a brick. It has a swanky touch sensitive bezel and all new graphical features but it’s still no good for swimming.
Check out my review here.
Garmin Forerunner 305
This is a dream machine, its like one of those tamagotchi pets that you have to look after. My tamagotchi forerunner requires exercise and it’s nutrients come in the form of data – it physically pushes me out of the door with my trainers and forces me to find new routes to entertain it. I haven’t started stroking it yet but its a close call.
The 05-series looks a little more attractive than its predecessor (01-series) but its still a shed of a computer to put on your wrist, its never going to become your everyday watch. The 305 also has added heart rate functionality unlike the 205 model.
The forerunner is first and foremost a gps unit so this means maps, lots of em, you’ll find this blog littered with images of my routes. If you do the same route day in and day out you are rewarded with the same image – here lies the motivator to get out and run new routes and further distances and so on.
It’s been designed with runners in mind so it provides the typical data fields such as pace, distance, time etc but you can also set the exercise mode to bike or other so then you can switch speed for pace if thats more appropriate. Back with running, I have mine set to beep at each km to tell me what my average pace has been which is really useful for hassle free pacing in a race. If you really want to be sure of hitting your target you can set up a virtual racing partner and chase a dot around the screen – just be aware of lampposts, rivers and other obstacles.
The jewel in the forerunner’s crown is SportTracks an independant and free software utility that just rocks! More on that down the page.
Polar RS800SD
I’m a sinner! Despite having proclaimed a serious commitment to the forerunner I appear to be shifting my affections towards another. So far I have been able to resist – it is after all, shockingly expensive – but ultimately resistance is futile, so I will attempt to rationalise my decision to have two all singing, all dancing running machines.
This watch would be the absolute pinnacle of runners watches, if only it had gps functionality.
Polar have rightly chosen to stick with their speed sensor footpod to determine running distances and speed. I’ve mentioned before in my comparison of the Polar RS200SD and the Garmin Forerunner 305, that the polar model actually provides more useful information when you are out on the run as its pace reading is stable and reliable. GPS on the other hand tends to jump around a bit as the signal strength wavers, even on apparently clear days I have to alter my route a little in sporttracks as it keeps suggesting that I was running along the riverside path and alternately jumping from path to the middle of the river and back again.
The downside of the speed sensor model is that it doesn’t enable you to plot glorious little route maps of where you’ve been and also the foot pod isn’t a great way of telling how fast you are travelling on a bike or skis for example. Now if it had a little gps add-on, it would be made! Well what do you know? Polar have announced that a little GPS add-on will shortly be available for the RS800 so all my dreams are about to come true.
One of the other super useful features present on the RS800SD is that it measures cadence and stride length, I could have hours of fun tripping myself up as I try to both reduce my stride length and increase my cadence.
Oh and its waterproof, so if I ever did jump into the middle of the Thames or move to the tri-side I could still collect data.
Right, I’m sold, I’m just off to Ebay again……
SportTracks
If you’ve got a gps unit then you need SportTracks, don’t worry, this one is free so you definately can afford it. Even it you don’t have a gps I reckon its still worthwhile having as your dedicated training log – it just won’t look so pretty without the route maps.
This screen shot just shows the basic activity screen but there is stacks more hidden away – weekly, monthly and yearly reports; splits; athlete stats including weight and injury/illness status. Again the blog is littered with examples.
Asics Barrios Backpack
Not terribly geeky but I’m chuffed with it all the same.
I use it for commuting, where I can get it to hold the bare essentials very snugly and I’ve had no chaffing injuries despite running about 75 km with it (not in one go).
It has a peculiar bottle holder that I haven’t fathomed out how to use and the side mesh pockets are too tight to fit in anything that I’ve tried to shove in there but they would take gels etc.
It has a stowable holder for your cycle helmet and I’ve tried running the Bushy Park Time Trial while wearing the backpack laden with cycling shoes and helmet – didn’t lose anything. Its quite comfortable for cycling too but if was going on a long trip I may need to start looking around for a bigger sac.
*UPDATE* I have now found the larger sack I needed for fully loaded running commutes. After trying both the Inov8 Race Pro 18 and the Salomon Raid Revo 20, I have plumped for the Salomon model. Extremely comfortable, if perhaps a bit sweaty on the back, and holds everything I need.
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Tags: asics, backpack, bushy park, commute, Forerunner, Forerunner 305, Forerunner 405, Garmin, GPS, illness, injury, n82, n95, nokia, polar, RS800SD, runnersworld, salomon_raid_revo, Sporttracks, Swimming, thames
July 22, 2006 at 10:10 pm · Filed under Equipment, Gadgets, Running
My last speed and distance watch, the Polar RS200SD was beginning to get a bit tatty, so I took the opportunity to try out the latest thing in sports watches – the Garmin Forerunner 305.
The forerunner is a massive wrist computer, no chance of wearing it as a day long watch, which is just as well, given that the battery only lasts 10 hrs. It comes in to its own when you’ve finished the run and want to analyse the data on the computer.
The software bundled with the watch is the garmin training centre. It is pretty disappointing actually, and I only use it for programming complex training programs – intervals etc to be uploaded to the wrist unit and for setting courses. Fortunately there are plenty of other available programs to exploit the GPS, heart rate and general work out data. In my mind, the best of these is called SportTracks, it is free and absolutely brilliant. If it weren’t for this program, I wouldn’t enjoy the forerunner even half as much.
This is one of the screen shots, showing the main work out screen. All the numbers are perfectly readable except for the heart rate read out – can you see it in the top right hand corner? I think that is ridiculous! Although there are a number of different views to scroll through, none of them include an enlarged heart rate viewer.
In general I think the Polar RS200SD is a better running watch, at least when you are on the trail. You can switch views easily by bringing the wrist unit close to the chest strap, so no risk of pressing the wrong button. The read out is clear. The pace information seems more reliable – no spurious results, and I can see my heart rate.
Having said that, the polar watch only holds summary data, if you want to know what your heart rate was at any specific point, you will need a watch like the forerunner.
One of the other benefits of the Garmin Forerunner 305 is that it has a useful virtual training partner.
Here is one of the possible training partner views. You can either race against your previous best time on saved course or you can set a distance and target time for it to act as a pace setter. I really like this function – I beat my Chiswick Bridge / Barnes Bridge route by 2 mins this morning.
The GPS seems to work quite well, sometimes I can pick up reception from inside my flat but at other times I have to hang around a bit in the park before I set off. I can’t confirm that it holds on to the satellites during my run yet but certainly the route info seems accurate when uploaded into my mapping program.
UPDATE
Thanks to JS for pointing out the fact that I haven’t RTFM well enuff!
“Hi,
In your review, you’ve done the same mistake as me (the ridiculously small right upper corner heart display)
Page 43 of the user’s manual:
You can change nearly all the data fields, it’s a breeze and much more readable!
select Settings > General > data fields; very easy!
js”
Well he is exactly right, you can alter the fields. I’ve now got my heart rate bold as brass and I’ve added average pace as I think that might be more useful particularly when running under cover.
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Tags: Forerunner, Forerunner 305, Garmin, GPS, polar, Sporttracks
