Garmin Forerunner 305 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer (Bilingual) Review

I have enjoyed using this product so far. I have not used the heart rate monitor attachment yet. I have found the Garmin to be very easy to use and it seems to be amazingly accurate. The instructions were very easy to follow and implement. I look forward to exploring more of the features as I become more familiar with the Garmin.
The ordering process was very simple and efficient.

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Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor Review

I bought the Edge 305 as I wanted to be able to co-ordinate information about my rides in a more deliberate fashion. I really like the idea of tracking my rides with GPS, getting an accurate reading on elevation and grade both after the ride and real time through the barometric altimeter while being able to capture HR and speed/cadence information. Sounds like all the information you'd need in a single device.

By and large this is pretty much what you get. I've already benefited from understanding how HR changes as a function of elevation, grade and speed on some local climbs. I also like the way that you can customize two screens of real time data as you ride - I like to see HR, cadence, speed, %grade, ride time and also lap time and distance on my "home" screen. I put time of day, total miles, average speed, total elevation and calories on the second screen. All easy to do and works as advertised.
Interface with Motion Based and Garmin Training Center seem pretty easy and they both provide useful graphical ways to interrogate your data post-ride.

Now for the con's. For me the big one is speed readout. Despite having a wheel mounted magnet and speed sensor, it turns out that the Edge actually acquires speed data from GPS as first default. What's so bad about that? Well, I've found when I ride on tree covered roads, my speed will appear to fluctuate quite substantially (+/- 1 to 2mph) despite a constant effort. After coming from a wired cycling computer previously I felt this a step backwards. It turns out that you can disable GPS speed, but only by switching off GPS entirely - not quite what I had in mind. The second small wrinkle is that I have had some quite stupendous grade readouts, mostly in similar conditions. Climbing up Old La Honda and Tunitas Creek Rd on the SF peninsula, I apparently was climbing grades of >20% a few times, clearly a GPS error.

Despite these niggles, I'm happy with the unit and intend to stick with it. I'm getting valuable training information, which is why I bought it in the first place. If I decide I need more accurate speed readings real time, I might yet get a cheap wireless computer to mount next to the Edge. Garmin Edge 305 Bicycle GPS Navigator with Heart Rate Monitor and Speed/Cadence Sensor (Factory Refurbished)

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Garmin Forerunner 101 Bilingual GPS Review

The economical Foretrex 101 is the wrist-mount GPS that frees up your hands so you can focus on your outdoor activities. This product joins the Foretrex 201 in Garmins growing line of wearable, wrist navigation devices. The Foretrex 101 has all the features and functionality of the Foretrex 201, including PC interface capabilities for downloading waypoints, tracks and routes, but operates on two AAA batteries.Its easy-to-use interface and basic GPS capabilities are perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who would rather replace the batteries than recharge the unit in the field. This unit features Garmins intuitive operating logic, utilizing six dedicated buttons to simplify navigation. Whether its a campsite, deer stand, or other place of interest, users can mark its location, identify the waypoint, and navigate to it later using the GoTo function. Also, with the help of Garmins exclusive TracBack technology, users can retrace their steps by following an electronic breadcrumb trail back to their original starting point.Because the unit is waterproof, the Foretrex 101 is a natural companion on watersport adventures like kayaking, canoeing, boating and sailing. In fact, this device incorporates another feature found on the Foretrex 201 a sailboat-racing timer. Competitors can configure the countdown sequence prior to the start of the race and utilize their GPS location to be in the best possible tacking position when the race begins.







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Garmin A/C Charger for Forerunner 201 (010-10483-00) Review

A charger either works or it doesn't, so there is really nothing to say about how well it works. But, I will say that after first receiving a message that I would be waiting almost a month to receive my charger, I was pleased to get an email just a week later saying that it had been shipped.

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Garmin forerunner Charging Clip Review

This came with my Garmin Forerunner 405cx, but I bought a spare to keep in my travel bag.

This easily clips onto the 405 CX, and is powered via USB on your computer (the 405cx also comes with an AC adaptor for this clip). I just leave my 405cx clipped to this when I am not running so that I know that my 405cx is fully charged when I go running. If you have an iPod AC travel charger, you can use that to power this unit instead of your computer.

Important: Make sure that the contact points on the Forerunner are dry before attaching this unit or you may damage the Forerunner.

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Garmin GPS Carrying Case, Black Review

This case is well designed for carrying my Garmin Forerunner 305 and heart rate monitor. Plus there is room for my ipod, armband, and miscellaneous other items.

The case is a semi rigid "clamshell that offers much more protection than a simple nylon carrying case. It opens in half, and each half has a mesh to hold items in place. There are ventilation holes in the top and both sides, so you don't have to worry about a "gym locker" smell building up. There is a single zipper that easily closes the case.

Unlike other reviews, I don't find the space to be cramped. I put my Forerunner in one half, and the heart rate monitor in the other half, and still have room in each half for other items. Because of the mesh holding the Forerunner in place, there is absolutely no worry about scratching the face of the Forerunner.

Although the heart rate monitor does have to be folded a bit, this does it no harm.

The case does not have a carry handle or strap except for a small finger strap at one end, but odds are you will be carrying this in a gym bag or some other bag, so a finger strap is all that you really need.

I like that this case is reasonably compact, yet roomy enough to hold other items that I use together with my Forerunner. I have tried other kinds of cases, and like the protection and design of this case the best.

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Garmin A/C Charger for ForeRunner 301 and Edge Series (010-10635-00) Review

All that is included in this item is the plug itself, and not the usb that is also pictured in the description. I felt this was a little misleading, since the verbal description just gives the dimensions. I feel that the picture should be just the plug if that is all that is going to be included.

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