The Forerunner 305 by Garmin is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. The 305 model includes wireless heart rate monitoring and can be connected to the wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor also made by Garmin. The Forerunner 305 boasts post-workout analysis, data recording and a sophisticated, yet easy to use, GPS tracking tool. While the GPS tool is sometimes a bit slow to acquire a satellite lock, the problem seems easily remedied by taking the Forerunner 305 off and allowing it to remain motionless for about a minute. Additionally, it is important to be outside when trying to acquire a satellite lock; as with all GPS it has to sync up to a satellite using a line of site method.
The size of the new Garmin Forerunner 305 is quite smaller than its predecessors. The new sleek design allows the Forerunner 305 to be incorporated into everyday wear and looks more like a “real” watch. The Forerunner 305 is also much lighter than previous versions with a more stream-lined feel.
While the $350 price tag may seem a little steep to some, the thing to keep in mind is that the Forerunner 305 is packed with features and utilities. The cost of buying a portable heart rate monitor and portable GPS separately would far surpass the cost of the Forerunner 305 and not have a fraction of the features. And even more important than the fact that the Forerunner 305 is loaded with features, is the fact that the features can all work together and all the information is located in one place. The system also includes a CDROM which allows you to incorporate your Forerunner 305 with your PC.