GPS Running Watches - A Review of the Garmin Forerunner 405 With HRM
Major fitness requires major training. Major training requires careful and accurate record-keeping. The Garmin Forerunner 405 with heart rate monitor makes this achievable with the touch of a few buttons.
Marathon runners and athletes alike will derive benefits from the Garmin 405. Nearly all training requires an effort to compile the records that make for a good training regimen. The 405, when equipped with the optional heart-rate monitor, keeps a record of time spent training. It keeps a tally of distance travelled and pace. With the entry of a few basic data points it keeps track of the calories expended during training. It also tracks and displays the heart rate on its 124×95 pixel screen
The Garmin 405 is a great looking watch and comes in black or light green. It weighs 2.1 ounces and the GPS function can be turned off to save the batteries when not training. With the heart-rate monitor it is a little over $300. Garmin invented the touch bezel which means that instructions can be given to the watch by tapping the appropriate spot on the bezel. The water resistant case is also shock proof.
The best feature of the 405 is the ANT+Sport wireless technology. This allows the watch to communicate with other watches so equipped. A favorite training route or routine can be shared with a buddy who has a similar watch. It can even communicate with non-Garmin devices. The watch can also communicate with a personal computer. Garmin’s Training Center software enables the downloaded data from the watch to be compiled to highlight various aspects of the training regimen. Whether keeping track of the training effect on the heart or breaking down improvements on different sections of the routine this watch and software are the ultimate training tool. Routines and data entered on the computer can be uploaded to the watch.
The Garmin 405 includes an additional motivational function called Virtual Partner that tracks a make-believe running partner on the screen next to the user’s display. The 405 can even communicate with Garmin’s bicycle-mounted GPS computers. Cross-training has never been simpler or more fun.