Review Garmin Forerunner 405
Description Review Compare Garmin Forerunner Heart Rate Monitor Buyer Guide Compare Price
Pros :
- Sexy and stylish heart rate monitor watch
- Very accurate GPS and quick times for acquiring satellites
- Fast and simple navigation (touch bezel wheel)
Cons :
- Touch bezel wheel does not like rain or sweat
- No map screen like previous models
- Multisport functionality not as good as Forerunner 305
The Bottom Line :
First off, I love this heart rate monitor’s style! It’s small enough to wear as a watch without realizing it’s there, and yet it has all the functions of the much larger Forerunner 305. Garmin have been able to make the Forerunner 405’s GPS even more accurate and the touch bezel screen (when it works) is a great way to navigate through your device while running or cycling.
If you aren’t particularly turned on by the Forerunner 405’s dazzling looks, maybe have a look at the Forerunner 305 instead. The Forerunner 305 is also a much better heart rate monitor for triathalons and duathalons where the change between activities needs to be fast. It has much of the same functionality with a less scary price tag and is also a lot more reliable without the touch bezel screen. If you love the style but don’t particularly care for the GPS, have a look at the Forerunner 50. If you want both, have some fun using the Garmin Forerunner 405!
The Garmin Forerunner 405 is undoubtedly one of the most attractive heart rate monitors out there, sporting a host of features to go with it. It is targeted at runners and cyclists mainly, though of course walkers, hikers and skiers will find equal value in it. The Forerunner 405 is a sleek and slender design, a vast improvement over the previous bulkier models. This heart rate monitor watch uses what it calls a “touch bezel screen” (similar to the touch-sensitive wheel used to control iPods) to navigate through the menu structure quickly and easily.
Product Details
- Screen : LCD, 124 x 95 pixels, monochrome, backlit
- Battery : Rechargeable lithium iron (8 hour)
- Weight : 60g
- GPS-enabled : Yes, uses the SiRFstar III chipset
- Base maps : No
- Computer interface : ANT+ wireless connection, automatically uploads when within range
- Heart rate compatible : Yes
- Speed/cadence compatible : Yes
- Footpod compatible : Yes
- Power meter compatible : No
Product Features
- Touch bezel wheel means you aren’t fiddling for buttons anymore
- Transfer workouts with other Forerunner 405 heart rate monitors with ANT+ wireless technology
- VirtualPartner lets you pace yourself against a digital athlete moving at a set speed
- Compete against your previous activities so you’re always improving your time
- Monitor your heart rate so you’re always staying in the right heart rate zone
- Automatically syncs data from the heart rate monitor to the computer when in range
Computer Analysis
- Garmin Connect compatible (basic subscription is free)
- Garmin Training Center (bundled with the Forerunner 405)
- SportsTracks (freeware software)
- Training Peaks (an advanced computer analysis tool)
Performance
There may be many fitness GPS’s that you can mount on your wrist, but the Garmin Forerunner 405 is the first one that can legitimately call itself a “watch”. The Forerunner 405 is compact in size, weighing only 60g, and is a good deal more comfortable to wear while running. You also get to choose the color of your heart rate monitor (light green or black). I’ll even stretch as far as to say the Forerunner 405 has a good dose of sex appeal…!
There’s more to this GPS than just its looks: it’s the first heart rate monitor to come with a touch bezel screen, making the navigation of the menu structure much simpler while you’re running or cycling. It works a lot like the touch-sensitive iPod navigation wheel - press your finger on the wheel surrounding the Forerunner 405’s screen and drag it in a circle to flick through menu options.
It must be said however that the touch bezel screen is not perfect. It often gets confused when your fingers are wet from sweat or rain, making it choose options at random. Locking the device (like you would lock your cellphone keypad) and decreasing the bezel’s sensitivity will prevent this from happening, but it takes away from the fact that the touch bezel screen is supposed to be making your workout easier.
It is very simple to use the Forerunner 405, but even still there is a startup guide on the device itself which guides you through the basic functions when you first use it. I found the display to be very clear and the backlight also very effective.
The Forerunner 405 has improved the way it positions the GPS antenna so that you get a much quicker time for acquiring satellites. The Forerunner 405 however sees the loss of the map screen that was in the Forerunner 305.
When it comes to multisport activities, it’s also quite valuable to compare it against the Forerunner 305. With the Forerunner 305 you were able to change between activity profiles (eg. running and cycling) with the click of a button, which if you’re competing in a timed duathalon is very important. There was also a quick release bike mount for fast changes between sports. The Forerunner 405 however has neither of these. It has a bike mount for the device, but it is not a quick release one. In other words if you need fast changes between activities, the Forerunner 305 might be your better option.
I found the heart rate monitor strap to be comfortable and I had no problem getting the strap and Forerunner unit to talk to each other. Connecting the speed/cadence sensor for your bike is also a painless process. Then again we have become to expect this from Garmin.
I like the fact that Garmin has made the Forerunner 405 compatible with footpods and speed/cadence sensors. So often people think of “cycling” or “running” as the race you will do on the weekend when actually there’s a lot of training that goes on during the week at the gym. The Forerunner 405 lets you keep logs of all your training, whether it was on a treadmill on a Tuesday afternoon during lunch, or a 10K race along the coast.
When I first saw the specs on the Forerunner 405 I must admit I was quite disappointed. Garmin is yet to include a baromic altimeter in any heart rate monitor in the Forerunner range. The Forerunner 405 still measures altitude, but it’s done by using GPS which has a much higher degree of inaccuracy compared with the baromic altimeters found in the Edge range (Edge 305 and Edge 705).
The automatic download to computer of all your workout data seems to becoming standard on new Garmin heart rate monitors. The ANT+ wireless connectivity of the Forerunner 405 means when you walk within range of your computer your workout history is automatically uploaded to Garmin Connect. Certainly this is a good deal quicker than any other heart rate monitor I have used before - you don’t have to push a single button.
I confess: I’m a big fan of gadgets. And it’s for that reason that I love the ANT+ wireless transfer function in the Forerunner 405. Basically you can swop courses with anyone else who owns a Forerunner 405. Why you would need this functionality I’m really not sure(???), but you have to admit it’s got great novelty value! I suppose if you wanted to swop a route with your friend for a certain mountain biking route it would be useful, but we can do that already with Motionbased or Garmin Connect. Either way, I like it!
I find it pleasantly refreshing to see that the newer heart rate monitors from Garmin no longer rely on the Garmin Training Center. Garmin is pushing it’s new online analysis tool, Garmin Connect. Aside from being an analysis tool like the Garmin Training Center, Garmin Connect is also a network of athletes who have uploaded their workouts for others to download. You can download routes from around the world and try them out when you go on holiday.
Compare Garmin Forerunner for Athletes
Description Review Compare Garmin Forerunner Heart Rate Monitor Buyer Guide Compare Price
Starting with the Forerunner
305 Garmin finally started producing GPS-enabled watches that
didn't make you look like a total goof while tracking your pace and
vitals, but these still weren't timepieces you'd be comfortable
wearing to the office or even a bar. Then came the Forerunner
50, which had the perfect watch-like form factor, but
unfortunately, no GPS. So fans of this line will be pleased to learn
that Garmin has somehow been able to shoehorn a satellite receiver
into a casing not much bigger than the 50's and dubbed it the
Forerunner
405. Besides monitoring and logging speed, distance, heart rate
and location, the 405 also features a touch-sensitive bezel for
controlling its various functions, as well as the same proprietary
ANT+Sport wireless syncing technology as the GPS-less 50. Available
in either black or green. However, Calorie computation of Forerunner
405 is based on speed and distance. The new Forerunner
405CX has an improved method of calorie computation based on your
heart rate that is more accurate than previous.
Garmin enhances Forerunner
305 to Forerunner
310XT by improving waterproof to 50m and compute calories based
on your heart rate like Forerunner
405. However, It looks like Forerunner
305 so that it is more suitable for swimmer.
Take the highly popular Forerunner
50 and make it better. The Forerunner
60 is a fitness watch with automatic PC sync, gym equipment
compatible (ANT + compatible devices), wireless heart rate monitor,
coin cell battery, Virtual Partner
|
Features
|
Forerunner
305
|
Forerunner
50
|
Forerunner
405
|
Forerunner
405CX
|
Forerunner
310XT
|
Forerunner
60
|
|
Color Option:
|
No
Option
|
No
Option
|
Black,
Green
|
No
Option
|
No
Option
|
Male: Black,
Red
Female: Black,
Lilac
|
|
Unit dimensions, WxHxD:
|
2.1" x 2.7" x 0.7"
(5.33 x 6.86 x 1.78 cm)
|
1.7" x 2.3" x 0.8"
(4.2 x 5.8 x 2.0 cm)
|
1.88" x 2.78" x 0.646"
(4.8 x 7.1 x 1.6 cm)
|
1.88" x 2.78" x 0.646"
(4.8 x 7.1 x 1.6 cm)
|
2.1" x 2.2" x 0.8"
(5.4 x 5.6 x 1.9 cm)
|
Men's:2.2" x 1.5" x 0.5"
(5.6 x 3.8 x 1.3
cm)
Women's:2.0" x 0.5" x 0.6"
(5.2 x 3.8 x 1.4
cm)
|
|
Display size, WxH:
|
1.3" x 0.8" (3.3 x 2.0 cm)
|
0.9" x 0.7" (2.4 x 1.8 cm)
|
1.06"(2.7 cm) diameter
|
1.06"
(2.7 cm) diameter
|
1.3" x 0.8"
(3.3 x 2.0 cm)
|
0.8" x 1.1" (2.0 x 2.8 cm)
|
|
Display resolution, WxH:
|
160 x 100 pixels
|
NA
|
124 x 95 pixels
|
124 x 95 pixels
|
160 x 100 pixels
|
56 x 31 pixels
|
|
Weight:
|
2.72 oz (77 g)
|
1.5 oz (42.5 g)
|
2.11 oz (60 g)
|
2.11 oz (60 g)
|
2.5 oz (72 g)
|
men's: 1.6 oz (44 g);
women's: 1.4 oz (41 g)
|
|
Battery:
|
rechargeable lithium-ion
|
coin cell battery (CR2032)
|
rechargeable lithium-ion
|
rechargeable lithium-ion
|
rechargeable lithium-ion
|
coin cell battery (CR2032)
|
|
Battery life:
|
10 hours, typical
|
12 months
|
2 weeks in power save mode; 8 hours in training mode
|
2 weeks in power save mode; 8 hours in training mode
|
20 hours training, typical
|
12 months
|
|
Water resistant:
|
yes(IPX7)
|
yes(IPX7)
|
yes(IPX7)
|
yes(IPX7) 1m for short time
|
yes(50m)
|
yes(50m)
|
|
GPS-enabled:
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
|
High-sensitivity receiver (search for GPS signals very quickly)
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
|
RoHS version available (environmentally material):
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Basemap: world map or country map
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
Ability to add maps:
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
Accepts basemap data cards:
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
Lap history in memory: such as lap time, lap distance, and
average pace
|
1000 laps
|
100 laps or up to 7 hours of data
|
1000 laps
|
1000 laps
|
1000 laps
|
100 laps or up to 15 hours of data
|
|
Number of waypoints / favorites / locations in memory:
|
100
|
0(sports watch is not GPS-enabled)
|
100
|
100
|
100
|
0(sports watch is not GPS-enabled)
|
|
Heart rate monitor:
|
yes
|
yes
(some versions)
|
yes(some versions)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Bike
speed/cadence sensor:
|
yes (some versions)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
|
Foot
pod: to give speed, pace, distance, and calories burnt while
running
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (optional)
|
yes (some
versions)
|
|
Automatic sync (automatically transfers data to your computer):
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Garmin Connect™ compatible (online community where you
analyze, categorize and share data):
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Garmin Training Center® software compatible:
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Virtual Partner® (train against a digital person to see if
you are ahead or behind your goal :
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Courses (compete against previous workouts):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Auto Pause® (pauses and resumes timer based on speed):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Auto Lap® (automatically starts a new lap): The default lap
distance is 1.00 mile but can customize it
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Auto Scroll (cycles through data pages during workout):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Multi-sport (changes sport mode with a press of a button):
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
|
Simple workouts (input time, distance and calorie goals):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
|
Pace alert (triggers alarm if you vary from preset pace):
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes (for advanced workouts only)
|
yes (for advanced workouts only)
|
yes (for advanced workouts only)
|
yes
|
|
Time/distance alert (triggers alarm when you reach goal):
|
yes
|
no
|
yes (for advanced workouts only)
|
yes (for advanced workouts only)
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Interval training (set up exercise and rest intervals):
|
yes
|
yes (alarms only)
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Heart rate-based calorie computation (compute calories based on
your heart rate which is better than based on speed and distance)
|
no (calories based on speed / dist)
|
no (calories based on speed / dist)
|
no (calories based on speed / dist)
|
yes
|
yes
|
no (calories based on speed / dist)
|
|
Customizable screen(s):
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
|
Barometric altimeter : measures the atmospheric pressure
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
Unit-to-unit transfer (shares data wirelessly with similar
units):
|
no
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
no
|
|
Power meter compatible (displays power data from compatible 3rd
party ANT+Sport™-enabled power meters):
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
no
|
|
Sport Watch look like:
|
no
|
yes
|
yes
|
yes
|
no
|
yes
|
|
Additional:
|
NA
|
Watch functions include time of day (12/24h), dual time zone,
calendar (day/date), daily alarm.
Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center are currently
compatible with Windows® 2000 or later. Mac® compatibility
coming 3rd Quarter, 2008.
|
Watch functions include dual time, date and alarm.
Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center are currently
compatible with Windows® 2000 or later. Mac® compatibility
coming 3rd Quarter, 2008.
|
Watch functions include dual time, date and alarm.
Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center are compatible with
Windows® 2000 or later and Intel-based Mac running OS 10.4 or
later with Safari.
|
NA
|
Watch functions include time of day (12/24h), dual time zone,
calendar (day/date), daily alarm.
Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center are compatible with
Windows® 2000 or later and Intel-based Mac running OS 10.4.11
or later with Safari.
|
Heart Rate Monitor Buyer Guide
Description Review Compare Garmin Forerunner Heart Rate Monitor Buyer Guide Compare Price
If you're trying to lose weight and get in shape, a heart rate
monitor (HRM) is a great way to monitor your intensity and make sure
you're working in your target heart rate zone. Many monitors not only
provide a continuous heart rate reading but also tell you if you're
working in your zone and how many calories you're burning.
With the variety of HRMs out there, it's hard to know how to
choose the right one for you. Before you spend your money, check out
the factors you want to consider when buying a heart rate monitor.
The type of HRM you buy will often depend on your fitness level,
needs and goals:
For Basic Model: Look for a basic model and
functionality that offers your heart rate monitoring like the Omron
Heart Rate Monitor HR-100C, Timex
T5G941 Heart Rate Monitor, Polar
FS1
- Omron
Heart Rate Monitor HR-100C is basic heart rate monitor that
is inexpensive, easy to use and doesn't require hours of time spent
reading a manual to figure it out. You get a continuous reading of
your heart rate, an alarm that tells you when you're in your heart
rate zone, time of day display and a daily reminder alarm. At around
$30-$50, this is a great price for what you get and users will be
pleased with how easy this is to use.
- Timex
T5G941 Heart Rate Monitor is basic model that's easy to use,
offers basic heart rate and workout information and is a favorite
among exercisers. The display is large, so you can easily see the
numbers and it includes an activity timer to rack exercise time as
well as information about minimum, average and maximum heart rate
for each workout. Most exercisers like the fact that you can change
the battery yourself (something you can't do with all HRMs) and that
you can figure out how to set it up without spending hours reading
the manual. At around $30-$60, this HRM is perfect for people who
want the basics for a great price.
- Polar
FS1 is the perfect choice for the exerciser who doesn't want
to fool with a lot of buttons during their workouts. The extra large
display and the one-button functionality make this monitor easy to
use and easy to see. The basic features include your heart rate, a
visual and audible alarm that lets you know if you're in your target
heart rate zone, a stop watch and, of course, a clock. At around
$50-$60, this monitor will give you what you need without all the
bells and whistles. There are the higher models of Polar
FS1 which are Polar
FS2 and Polar
FS3.
|
Features of basic model
|
Omron
HR-100C
|
Timex
T5G941
|
Polar
FS1
|
Polar
FS2
|
Polar
FS3
|
|
Continuous Heart Rate Monitoring (see what your current
heart rate is on your wrist watch and how it fluctuates while you
are exercising )
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Heart Rate Training Zone with Alarms (manually set your
heart rate alarm zone, lower and upper heart rate limits in which
you will be doing your exercise)
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Duration of Exercise Session (tells you how long you
have been exercising)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Average Heart Rate of Exercise Session
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Maximum Heart Rate of Exercise Session
|
No
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Basic Time Keeping (for example, won't let you set the
date and a wake up alarm)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Backlight
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
No
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
The aged-based automatic setting of heart rate training
zone (Max Heart Rate = 220 - Your Age)
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
No
|
Yes
|
For Weight Loss: Try a HRM that tracks time spent in
your heart rate zone and calories burned such as the Polar
F6. Polar
F6 does more than just display your heart rate, but isn't so
high-end that you'd have to get an engineering degree to figure it
out, the Polar
F6 is an excellent choice. The F6 has a variety of functions,
from tracking heart rate and workout intensity to calculating
calories burned and time spent in each zone. It also provides a
weekly summary of your workouts that can help you stay motivated and
set new goals. There is the lower model which is Polar
F4. The higher models are Polar
F7, Polar
F11 and Polar
F55.
For General Fitness: Try one that helps you improve
fitness with information about intensity and training zones, like
the Polar
FT60. If you're into fitness and want to improve your workouts
and/or lose weight, the FT 60 offers personalized workouts that
adapt according to your workout habits and goals. The FT 60 gives
you weekly targets (such as to workout a certain number of minutes)
based on your goals and tracks how you did. Aside from your heart
rate, the FT 60 also offers a fitness test, calories burned and it
keeps track of all your workouts. The FT 60 is also compatible with
the Polar GPS Unit (which is Polar
FT60G1) and FlowLink which allows you to transfer data to your
computers. At around $197, this is a pricey heart rate monitor but
offers great motivation for people who have specific goals. The
lower model is Polar
FT40 and the higher model are Polar
FT 80 and Polar
FT 80 w/ G1 GPS.
For Athletes: Consider a HRM, like the Garmin
Forerunner 405 HRM, that offers multi-sport support, workout
feedback and advanced features such as GPS and downloadable data. If
you're a multi-sport athlete, you may want a more serious heart rate
monitor like the Garmin
Forerunner 405 HRM. You get a heart rate monitor, GPS tracking
and the ability to create your own workouts as well as analyze
everything from your pace and distance to calories burned. One
stand-out feature is the courses, which lets you compete against
your previous workout by comparing heart rate and pace - a great way
to see if you're improving from workout to workout. This is also a
good one for triathletes because you can transition between sports
without resetting it. The lower model is Garmin
Forerunner 305 HRM and The higher model is Garmin
Forerunner 405CX HRM.
Description Review Compare Garmin Forerunner Heart Rate Monitor Buyer Guide Compare Price