Thursday, January 29, 2009

Need Garmin Advice Please

Rich and I are finally serious about getting a Garmin but we have lots of questions. Is the newest model (405 I believe) everyone's favorite or is the older model just as good but bulkier? Is it water resistant to rain and sweat? What would you say are the pros and cons, what are your biggest complaints or what do you love the most. Can we just get 1 and share if we do runs together? Is it practical for us to each use when we run at separte times? I don't really know anything about them so all advice is helpful. I would like to have it and use it in the Myrtle Beach Half in 2 weeks since Rich will be running ahead of me trying to have his best race this time so I can't count on him as my pacer. However it is and expensive piece of equipment so we need all the info we can before we buy. Help?!?!

14 comments:

Carolina John said...

you can fight over it like we do when you want to run at different paces at the same time. We got a garmin forerunner 205 for christmas and it is fantastic. the only complaint is the size. that bizzle gets heavy after about 18 miles, and it has the curve built into the bottom that is smaller than my wrist. fits kelley's wrist just fine, though.

i think the newer models are shaped more like a watch. but the size is my only complaint.

it's awesome! i get lap data, overall summary data, and i can switch it into bike mode or multisport mode for when i'm running tri's. it was so cool to see a max speed of 31.9 mph on the bike and 8.0 mph running. The software that comes with it is really easy to use, and you can't pick a bad model.

like i say, we have no problem sharing one garmin. if you want to pay for two, feel free. During the initial setup, you have to enter weight, and it will count calories burned for you too. i forget if i put in my weight or kelley's, so the cal counter might be skewed one way or the other.

Marlene said...

I have the older model, 205, and love it. It's bulky, but you get used to it. I won't switch to the 405 b/c the display is smaller and will not show as much info simultaneously as the 205/305 will. I like to see distance, time, pace and avg. pace. It is my understabdxing that the 405 will scroll through the data, but can't show everything at once.

Aka Alice said...

I would ditto what Carolina John and Marlene said about the 205/305 model. I have the 305 and LOVE IT... I needed the bigger screen (I'm pretty farsighted when I have contact lenses in...which I do when I run...and I need the bigger screen so I can see it!)

I also read/heard somewhere that while the 405 is smaller, it also has pressure sensitive buttons, which makes it too easy to "accidentally" reset the data as you're running.

That being said, the 305 is pretty big. It fits me better when I have a long sleeve compression shirt on than on my bare arm (which is fine right now, but will be problematic when it gets warm). I'm looking at wearing a thin sweat band on my wrist underneath it when it get's warmer, but I haven't done it yet.

Hey, thanks for checking in on my blog!

Lisa said...

I have the 205. It was a budget choice, but I have NO complaints. I don't need the heartrate monitor because I already had one. I share it with my hubby who uses it for mt. biking. It is water resistant. It gives me all the info I need.

I suppose I would like the 405 better (less bulky), but for the amount we wanted to spend, the 205 works perfectly.

Aron said...

i have the 205 and really like it. its the same as the 305 minus the heartrate. i just didnt want to fork out all the money for the 405 :) AND i got 2, one for me and one for my husband. i like having my own, but if you guys always do your runs exactly the same you could probably share. oh and about the bulk - you totally get used to it and i dont know if i would want something smaller because i am used to the larger screen (easier to look at).

Anonymous said...

I have the 205 and love it. I have pretty small wrist and the bulkiness doesn't bother me. I actually wear the face on the inside of my wrist.

Kim said...

You need two in my opinion. I can't imgine sharing mine...especially if you want to go out together and run-but run different paces.

Promise-It's so worth it. I love mine.

audgepodge said...

I have the 305 and love it. I'm only 5'2" but I've never been bothered by the extra bulk. I've also used it in excessive rain conditions and it kept on ticking. (My ipod did not.) I really like the HRM aspect of it, especially for running races - so for that, you guys might want separate ones. But if you always run together and you only care about mile splits, then one should be fine.

Denise said...

I haven't heard anything good about the new model yet. Most people I know who have it, miss the 305 and are having tons of problems with the 405. It might be too new?? I have the 305, and while bulky, I love it!

Alisa said...

I have a 205 (the blue one) and have found it to be nothing but the best! It's certainly rain and sweat proof (I would know I live in the rain capital)!

However, the 405 has some cool newer features...not to mention it "looks" cooler.

205 is a bargain compared to 405. I think both are sold at Costco (maybe...I could totally be pulling that out of my ass...but I thought I saw them there.)

MCM Mama said...

I have the 305 and love it. I wore it for the marathon with no problems whatsoever and I have really slender arms. My only worry about sharing it would be the wrist strap. I'm pretty sure mine came with two and one was longer. My dad tried to wear the strap I have on it and couldn't, but I haven't tried putting on the longer one and seeing if I could wear that one. (OK, I'm not sure I made any sense there...)

Brian said...

I got the 305 for xmas, love it. It is a lil big but I wouldnt consider wearing either the 305 or 405 on anything other than a run. You can upload your workouts to MapMyFitness.com too with the 305

Aka Alice said...

Also...on my blog you asked about having bloodwork done recently & my bruise. Actually, I just had an annual physical about a month ago and did the whole bloodwork thing as well this time. Everything came back normal as far as I know...at least that's what the doctor's letter said when it came back to me. I was thinking of asking for the full report. Is there anything specific I should look for (or ask her to look for?)

I've always been borderline anemic and I do bruise pretty easily (always have). I think this is just a result of an overused, slightly torn muscle. My husband pulled a hamstring a couple years ago (pretty severely) and it bruised the same way.

I am (maybe unfortunately) the complete opposite of a hypochondriac. I tend to thin no injury or illness is a big deal...so I also have a tendency to not have things looked at.

You're so sweet for your concern. I'll keep

Brooke said...

I know you already got your garmin...you will love it! Just a couple things no one mentioned: it is sweatproof and rain proof...even waterproof to a certain extent...many have gone through the washing machine! I would like the heart rate monitor of the 305 (I have 205) but see no need for the added expense of the 405. I agree: get two. You will want to know your own data. Also it may be difficult to share because it takes quite a while to charge between uses. My only garmin complaint is that it can easily be knocked askew on charging dock and not charge. Other than that I love it!