Garmin Forerunner 405 Review
December 1, 2009 by Running Watch Reviews
Filed under GPS Running Watch Reviews, Garmin Forerunner
There are many options available for GPS Running Watches; however, the Garmin Forerunner Series stands on the top of the list for the “best of the best.”
Garmin Forerunner 405 Wireless GPS-Enabled Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor
Retail Price: $373.32
Amazon Price: $263.49
The Garmin Forerunner 405, while admittedly a high end product, is a feature rich and sleek looking training gadget that can surely catch anyone’s fancy.
But questions arise as to how does the design help your training and if you can actually use these features.
Out of the box, the most noticeable Garmin Forerunner 405 features are the:
- Sport watch
- Auto Lap®
- Time/distance alerts
At its core, the Garmin Forerunner 405 is a sports watch. It can give you the features that you need when running from block to block or at your local park. The Garmin Forerunner 405 would provide you with the necessary tools to track the usual data.
The auto lap feature automatically starts a new lap as your run, and the time/distance alert provides you with an alarm whenever you reach your goals. Used in conjunction with each other, these features of the Garmin Forerunner 405 gives you your time, lap splits, lap times, distance and overall pace that would help in determining whether you had a good training or not.
Of course if you are happy with those features then you can simply select lower end models. The Garmin Forerunner 405 shines when you delve into its more advanced functions.
More advanced features of the Garmin Forerunner 405 include:
- Faster satellite uplink time
- Intuitive Controls
- A host of compatible accessories
- Easy connectivity between devices and computers
The quick satellite uplink of the Garmin Forerunner 405 truly stands out. Now you don’t have to wait long hours when using satellite guidance for its data. With it faster tracking of waypoints, routes, or even measuring just how you are doing at a specific area or place in your usual training route becomes much easier. The improved GPS system can truly help you analyze your data more precisely.
Another thing that’s good with the Garmin Forerunner 405 is its host of wide ranging compatible accessories. There is the Foot Pod for tracking speed distance and cadence when indoors, or even bike speed or cadence sensors if you fancy yourself as an indoor cyclist.
The Garmin Forerunner 405 is also proud of having:
- Intuitive interface to set watch while training
- Compact and lightweight construction
- Easy connectivity with computers
What makes the Forerunner 405 more amazing is that it is quite easy to use. Aside from its lightweight and compact design, Garmin has also made the Forerunner 405 much more intuitive.
They have included 2 buttons on the side of the Forerunner 405 that users can easily press to adjust the necessary settings. Users would not have to fiddle around much when trying to customize their training.
After all the training that you do, the Garmin Forerunner 405 also shines in synchronizing data to your computer. As long as it recognizes a connected “USB ANT stick “ to a PC it would automatically transmit your workout data to the PC.
This makes it much easier to store, share, and analyze your training data to find out your areas of improvement.
Conclusion:
Given all the functionality of the Garmin Forerunner 405, you would be able to see how it is a great fit for runners who truly take their training seriously and are not too shy about spending for the additional benefits.
While a bit higher in price compared to the other Garmin models, the added features, improved capability, and more lightweight and compact build that can truly advance your training makes spending that additional money worth it.
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Great review, thanks. I like how Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS watch is so easy to use and easy to connect to my computer.
Considering how far the technology has come for these watches and quickly, the price is not that bad for a serious runner. My neighbor has an older model and likes a lot, he uses it daily. Garmin’s are also built well.
I agree with you. Forerunner 405 gives you the best of both worlds in a sleek, stylish package. This high performance watch is easy to use and comfortable to wear.
Hi, I’ve been distance training for 16 months. I’m looking for a GPS nav. watch that:
(a) supports uploading maps (from whatever source and format–is not critical)
(b) provides turn indications for the uploaded course.
I’m not looking for map visuals or voice instructions on the device. Rather, something like sounds and arrow indicators for turns.
After reading these reviews, it does not appear to me that any of these watches actually do these functions.
Any insight or guidence re: a device that provides these functions would be most helpful.
Thanks!