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(More customer reviews)This is the first review, ever, I have written about a product but I am so happy with it that I want to encourage others to buy it.
I bought the Garmin Forerunner 405 package (watch, USB connector and Heart rate monitor (HRM)) in July 2009 and it is one of the best purchases I've ever made.
At the time, I had just committed to yet another attempt to get in better shape and thought being able to track my runs (distance, time and HRM) would be an effective way to keep myself motivated. I'm a nerd when it comes to gadgets and I love keeping track of everything (e.g. I love MS Money) so this watch was just perfect for me.
Here are some cools things about the watch that I am particularly happy about:
1) the HRM (which you snap around your chest): starting from the poor shape I was in, it really helped having something in addition to the time and distance of each workout: while I kept running at a slow pace and at the same speed, I could quickly see progress in terms of a lower HR.
2) the fact that my runs gets imported into Google earth. After each run, all I need to do is approach my desktop and the watch starts sending the details of the run (speed, GPS locations, time etc) to the computer. Thereafter, a neat little program shows me the run (speed, HR etc) in Google earth.
3) it allows you to "lock in" the GPS location of a particular spot and then use that as a guide to find your way back. I use this when I travel. Upon arriving at a new hotel (in a new city), I lock in the hotel's location. The watch then has a feature called "go to location" that will guide you back to a particular location you have stored (i.e. it brings up a little compass that will guide you back to the hotel from whereever you might end up later in the day).
4) the optional footpod is convenient to have if you run on treadmills (inside where the GPS won't work). I also attach it to my shoes when I play squash to see how much of a workout I'm getting (as I said, I am a nerd when it comes to measuring things).
Here are some things which are not superb about the watch:
a) the battery in the food pod had to be replaced within 6 months
b) sometimes it can take up to 5 minutes for the watch to locate satelites. This is frustrating! The problem is particularly severe if you have moved from one country to another. Usually, when I run the same routes (within a country), it "remembers" the satelites and it connects within a minute or two.
I hope this was useful. Best, Lars
Click Here to see more reviews about: Garmin Forerunner 405 Sport Watch with Heart Rate Monitor Kit - Black
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