Garmin does it again with their impressive Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor . I know it’s not your conventional GPS navigation system, but I couldn’t resist writing a review on the Garmin Forerunner 305, one of my favorite Garmin products!
The Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate Monitor is like having a personal trainer monitoring your work out sessions 24/7, 365 Days a Week!
With the Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer you receive a professional personal trainer along with the impressive features of modern technology. Now, your personal trainer is an affordable ONE-TIME cost!
The Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer combines GPS technology, Stored Workout Sessions, Organized Workout Information, and Workout Tracking Capabilities to ensure a productive, smooth, and happy workout!
Satellite Signals
Utilize basic navigation capabilities with the built-in high-sensitivity GPS receiver that can track your location under trees, and buildings.
Wireless Heart Monitor
Monitor your heart rate using the wireless heart monitor!
Compare Workouts
Compete against previous workouts that are stored in the Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer With Heart Rate Monitor. Compare paces, heart rates, and use it to train for sports!
Get Data At Any Time
The Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer With Heart Rate Monitor has three main data screens that allow you to gather and view data at any time. Plus, each workout is stored in the device. You can analyze any workout and watch your workouts increase intensity!
Track Your Workouts
Plan, analyze, and store data from workouts using interactive graphs and charts created using Garmin’s Training Center software, included with the Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer!
Overlay runs on maps and view areas of elevation that affect your performances.
Key Product Features
* High-Sensitivity GPS Receiver with Basic Navigation Capabilities.
* Monitoring Capabilities of your Heart Rate, Speed, Distance, Pace and Calories Burned!
* Training Center™ Software to Create, Manage, and Analyze Workouts.
* One-Button Push Changes Heart Rate Profiles, a Stop Watch, and an Auto Learn Feature That Adapts To Your Fitness
* Waterproof Construction So You Can Bring Your Personal Trainer ANYWHERE!
What’s In The Box…
* Forerunner 305
* Heart rate monitor
* Garmin Training Center® software
* Docking cradle
* Expander strap
* AC charger
* USB cable
* Owner’s manual
* Quick start guide
Overall Pros
* Affordable price for its capabilities!
* Radically new design is better in every way
* Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
* So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it
Overall Cons
* No Mac OS compatibility
* Okay, it’s bigger than a sport’s watch — but so much more powerful
Where You Can Find Great Prices On A Garmin Forerunner 305 Personal Trainer With Heart Rate Monitor
Read Other Customer Reviews
All I hoped for!
By: M. Leuzinger
With a few one-star reviews, I was a bit hesitant to order this. Now, after two weeks of use (10 runs of 2 to 2.5 miles each), I have no regrets with the purchase whatsoever.
I haven’t had any of the problems reported by any of the one-star reviewers. It syncs to the satellite in a reasonable* amount of time, seems to track my pace very well, tracks distance well, and the heart rate monitor seems WAY more accurate than the dedicated exercise machines at my local gym.
*by reasonable, it does take a minute or two to sync to the satellites each time. That’s the only thing I could possibly think of improving, but it’s not a big deal. Being the super-impatient person I am, I often turn on the watch, set it on my front porch, go back in and change into my running outfit, and by the time I come back out it’s ready to go.
I haven’t seen the pacing issues others have reported. I’m a beginning runner… but if I keep a solid pace… it reports about 10mins/mile… if I push a little harder… about 9mins/mile… if I let up… about 11mins/mile. It seems very consistent over my entire 2-2.5 mile run.
I have a 2.1 mile run where I’ve done the same exact route about 6 times… and when I compare the maps of each run… they overlap almost exactly.
I have thyroid and heart issues, and this watch gives me the confidence to know I’m not exceeding my max hr for too long (I can easily get into the 180’s) and gives me the feedback and stats to keep me motivated.
Last but not least, I’ve bought dozens and dozens of items from Amazon over the years, and this is the first review I’ve taken the time to write – hope that gives you an indication of how happy I am with this product. 
Pretty Nice, some room for improvement
By: J Joyce
I have had my Forerunner 305 for almost 3 weeks now. Previous to this I used a Polar S150 (wired bike mount) for several years and a entry level Polar before that, so I am used to basic heart rate monitor but not advance data recording or GPS.
I have tested the Forerunner 305 running, biking and swimming and have been generally very impressed.
General: The concept of acquiring satellites before I get going took a little getting used to. After the first couple of times I generally get satellite acquisition within about 30 seconds as long as I am outside or in my enclosed front porch. I set the unit down so that it is completely stationary while acquiring satellites. I get spotty to no reception indoors. The heart rate monitor functions well in comparison to my Polars. I have only had erratic heart readings at the end of one bike ride (fixed by adjusting the strap), which is better performance than I generally would get with the Polars (Except for Swimming, see below). The grade measurements are so erratic as to be totally useless. I have had the grade measurement vary from 8% to 25% back down to 5% within one minute of sustained climbing on the bike. I believe this is due to a poor averaging algorithm (2 point average as opposed to smoother averages involving more points). This is something I intended to test once I figure out how to access the raw data. Data recording is interesting, but is highly dependent on the software used to analyze it. Training center software is decent but unsophisticated (lack of user configurable option is disappointing in a $300+ product). Motion Based has been fun to use, especially the map player. As noted in a previous post of mine errors in distance calculations arise due to Motion Based insistence on connecting erratic track points recorded when you are standing still.
Running: To this point I have done about half a dozen runs of 3-3.5 miles each on a couple of different courses. Mostly I run on trails with trees (no real leaves as of yet) with some street and open field running mixed in. Generally in the trees I average an accuracy of about 25 ft, which I consider to be pretty good. The tracks and distances are both reproducible to within this approximate 25 ft range. I have found the “instantaneous” pace to be somewhat erratic but generally within approximately 5% of the short term mean. The auto stop feature (I have it set to stop if pace falls below 30 min mile) working decently on the run but occasionally does not register that I am stopped. Overall I am very excited to easily track my running distance and have a pretty good idea of my pace.
Biking: Used for approximately 10 bike rides both on and off road. Despite some concerns that the antenna faces the wrong way when mounted on the handlebars (I mount mine by wrapping the monitor around a piece of foam) I generally get great GPS reception on the bike. Accuracy is generally about 15 ft on open road and 25-30 ft.on trails. The speed and distance seems to be very accurate and the precision (reproducibility) is within 1%. The auto stop feature works extremely well on the bike, starting and stopping the unit within 1 second. The one down side is that the buttons you are most likely to use for cycling are on the side of the unit (the up/down and occasionally the mode button).
Swimming: I have only tested in an indoor swimming pool, hoping to be able to record my heart rate. Unfortunately, unlike my Polar S150 the heart rate signal cannot be measured in the water. I did these tests with the receiver under my swim cap, which was pretty comfortable and I could access the buttons easily. There may be more utility for swimming in open water.
