Dag nabbit! Garmin just launched the Forerunner 405, a sexier, sultrier GPS watch that doesn’t look like a domino is trying to rape your wrist. It can be used indoors and outdoors and measure heart rate. There’s also a Virtual Partner feature that will challenge you during your runs. Umm… and there’s no damn dongle. It’s all wireless. And you can rub the bezel to change functions.
And it starts at $299. Shoot me now.
Runners can track their speed, distance, heart rate and location accurately and effortlessly, and the revolutionary patent-pending touch bezel on the face of the watch makes navigating the options easier than ever. Simply by tapping, holding or running a finger along the bezel, runners can begin a new workout, access their training history or challenge a Virtual Partner™. The Forerunner 405 makes training with a Virtual Partner easy and efficient. Runners can adjust the Virtual Partner’s pace without stopping in the middle of a workout, and the Virtual Partner is always on and ready for a challenge.
The Forerunner 405 is water-resistant (IPX7) and can be used outdoors or indoors (with an optional foot pod), making it the ultimate year-round, all-weather training tool. And the high-sensitivity GPS receiver sustains satellite reception, whether you’re tackling a trail or jogging through the urban canyons of skyscrapers. When a heart-rate monitor is used, the Forerunner 405 helps athletes train in their optimal range of effort. An optional speed/cadence bike sensor helps cyclists monitor their pedaling cadence and wheel speed. At only 60 grams and available in two colors – black and sage green – the Forerunner 405 fits in at the gym, the office or out on the town.
Once the workout is done, the training is far from over. Using ANT+Sport technology, the Forerunner 405 sends workout data to the user’s computer via automatic wireless data transfer. There’s no need to take off the watch or bother with cables as the computer automatically syncs with the Forerunner 405 as soon as the user enters the room. And the data transfer is a two-way street. Runners, joggers, cyclists and hikers can send courses, goals and workouts to their Forerunner 405 before they begin, and then the data gets sent back to the user’s computer when the workout is over. Athletes can log their workouts, track their totals, set goals, share workouts with coaches, friends and family and participate in an online fitness community at Garmin Connect™ — Garmin’s online training site (connect.garmin.com) previously known as MotionBased. Users can also share courses and workout data from one Forerunner 405 to another through wireless data transfer.
I love my Garmin 305. I would make a quick leap to the 405, if I found out they made some sort of improvement to the calorie burning algorithm. From what I understand, the 305 doesn’t adjust calorie burn when going up-hill. It’s only based on speed. Speed up: burn more. Slow:down burn less. Up-hill doesn’t make a difference in calorie burn.
What good is it to advertise it as a regular watch also, if you still have to plug it in every 10 hours to recharge it???
It’s good for 2 weeks in watch mode (aka non-workout mode)
Calorie algorithm are usually based on heart rate for devices that measure it. Otherwise it is not accurate whatsoever.
is it water resistant? can swimmers use it?
No, not water resistant.
I just purchased the Garmin 405 forerunner at the Boston Marathon expo Saturday April 19th. $350 including the heart rate monitor..I was told before then that the new release date would be in june..so glad that the Garmin booth had the units for sale. I wore the watch during the marathon and it worked perfectly…awesome, easy to use. I was able to dump the info to my laptop simple enough, but am unable to send info from my computer to the watch as of yet…I’m sure it’s something that I’m not doing right??
Anyhow, the watch is awesome and not bulky like my wife’s 305. It’s about time…way to go Garmin.
I ordered through REI online and am recieving my 405 Tomorrow!!! Can’t wait!
From the second quoted paragraph:
The Forerunner 405 is water-resistant (IPX7) and can be used outdoors or indoors (with an optional foot pod), making it the ultimate year-round, all-weather training tool.
I just bought the FR405. This is my first Garmine device. I was able to handle the setup. (no biggy if you follow the directions) Figuring out sleep mode/awake mode left me without battery juice a couple of times. My biggest complaint is figuring out how in the world to record my runs/hikes everytime. Sometimes I get them and then other times, it’s a dismal site to come back after a hard workout and see that nothing, not a single step has been recorded!
I am working under the premise that it will be trial and error for a while, but boy is it frustrating to come back empty handed after putting my whole heart into burning workout…..
I agree – not the easiest device to use – where can I find lots of video or instructions which could take me through teh staps of using it?
The bezel does take some getting used to but I find it to be a solid product.
http://www.runcolo.com/Product-Reviews/Garmin-405-Review.html
The bezel does take some getting used to but I find it to be a solid product.
http://www.runcolo.com/Product-Reviews/Garmin-405-Review.html
405 DOES NOT WORK WITH MAC!!! YOU CAN’T USE THE ANT. I’ve had one for 3 moths and all their web site says is “mac users – software support planned for fall 2008″. 3 months and I have never downloaded anything. The bezel is difficult. Wish I had not left my 305 on the car hood. It was way better.
405 still does not work with MAC and now they are saying the first quarter of 2009 – come on! Having a MAC is not unusual these days and there is no excuse for the lack of compatibility. Why do we have to pay for potential software and functions that we have no access to?????
i hear that. frustrating huh? hopefully 1st quarter of 09′ is for real.
i just bought a 405 for christmas to myself. i was so excited to use it and check out my workout on my computer. how disappointed i was when it didn’t work on my apple laptop. i keep faith that this problem will be fixed the first quarter of 09′ as i later learned it would be. why wouldn’t it work for mac and pc before it is sold or at least advertise that it wont work with a mac. crazy i tell ya!!!
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. To read heart rate monitor buyer guide, please visit http://www.coolcheapest.com/HeartRateMonitors.aspx