Forerunner 405CX - Five Reasons to Love This GPS Sport Watch

I have been using the Forerunner 405CX for 6 months now and I got my initial impressions of this watch confirmed. After I have experienced some technical issues with the previous Forerunner models, now it seems that the guys from Garmin have done pretty decent job.

Well, I keep reading about some people still facing few problems, but my conclusion is that either they don't get familiar with the instructions first, or they are too fastidious. Sorry to say that but I can't find any real weaknesses besides the price. Anyway, it worth every single penny and I must wholeheartedly admit that the Forerunner 405CX will change your understanding of training.

Why do I love it? Well, simple as it is:

1. The Look

Compared to the previous 405 version, it is much lighter and not that bulky. It perfectly fits your hand and sometimes you can't even remember it's there. Yes, my arm got really tired with some of the previous models. It still feels good even when your wrist get sweaty.

The bezel system is fantastic - you slide your finger around the bezel to change options, and tap it to confirm. It is similar to iPods, but has one major advantage - it works even if you're wearing gloves. The user interface is fairly intuitive and the screen options are fully customizable.

2. The GPS function

First of all, if you use the GPS all the time, the battery won't last longer than 7 or 8 hours. Anyway I don't think you need that. By just switching on the GPS whenever needed, the battery worked almost 2 weeks for me. After all, we recharge batteries on our laptops, digital cameras, etc. so the Forerunner 405CX is not an exception. Recharging itself is simple and quick though; it only takes an hour or so from empty to full battery.

Let's get to the point. With the 405 I previously had, it'd show me a distance of 5 miles on one direction and 6 miles on the same way back. Not with Forerunner 405cx though. The accuracy is amazing, as well as the distance measured. I've been testing it in different circumstances and it works perfectly in any environment. Trees, buildings, hills - no problem for Garmin Forerunner 405 CX. You'll be fairly stunned when you upload your data to your PC, it literally shows every single step you've made.

3. The Heart Rate Monitor

The first few times that I used the device, I quickly discovered that I was running much too fast, that is, my average heart rate was too high (well over 160bpm). When you upload your data to the Garmin Training Center, you get a graph of your pace and heart rate. You have to set up the device so that the heart rate zones apply to you — you can do this by entering your age, gender, and maximum heart rate and after that you get a good idea of the level of exertion for your activity. There’s a lot of research about heart rate zones that you can do. Another thing is that the heart rate monitor which you strap around your chest, is surprisingly comfortable.

4. The Virtual Partner

Well, the name of this functions speaks well for itself. You can set up a certain speed, time, or route and race again your virtual partner. Then simply record your workout data and analyze it to improve your results.

5. The Information Sharing

I think these are some of the best features - the Garmin Training Center and Google Maps. Not only it does give you some more accurate information such as good map/satellite/terrain/Google Earth view of your route, it also works as an online library of all your activities. You could also easily share all your data with another Forerunner users. And all of the best is that the Forerunner 405CX stores all data in internal memory and then uploads it wirelessly to your PC or Mac. (yep, with the recent updates there are no more problems with Macs)

In two words, this device has simply changed my training for good and it worth every single penny. It has given me everything that I've ever needed in order to become more serious about my training sessions. It's also given me a way that I can analyze and improve my workouts.

Here is some more information and detailed review of Garmin Forerunner 405CX that you may find interesting.