Forerunner 405
Jan 3, 2008 fitness, garmin, gps navigation, wrist watch
Garmin today announced a GPS watch that actually is the size of a watch. Called Forerunner 405 this GPS watch is really not that bad looking meaning you can almost wear all day every day – something impossible to do with the older 305 and 205.
Expected to cost about $300, the Forerunner 405 can track your speed, distance, heart rate and location. The new user interface is a touch bezel on the face of the watch which makes navigating the menus easier. The bezel responds to tapping, holding or running a finger along it.
Like previous models Forerunner 405 also features the Virtual Partner whose pace you can adjust as you wish – which may defeat the purpose of a challenge for some people.
The watch itself does not come with a heart rate monitor but supports it, in addition to an optional speed/cadence bike sensor which can help cyclists monitor their pedaling cadence and wheel speed.
Another nice feature of Forerunner 405 is the connectivity:
Using ANT+Sport technology, the Forerunner 405 sends workout data to the user’s computer via automatic wireless data transfer… the computer automatically syncs with the Forerunner 405 as soon as the user enters the room… 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’s online training site at connect.garmin.com
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January 4th, 2008 at 5:46 am
garmin forerunner 405 gps watch really looks like a watch…
While there have been several past attempts to create wrist-worn GPS sport devices, up until now they’ve been quite bulky and certainly wouldn’t pass as an ordinary wristwatch. Enter Garmin’s forthcoming Forerunner 405, a GPS-enabled …
January 4th, 2008 at 6:58 am
[...] Forerunner 405 [Navigadget] [...]
January 4th, 2008 at 10:41 am
[...] Forerunner 405 [...]
January 7th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Whoa!
Battery life goes from 10 hours on the 305 to 8 hours on the 405.
Could be deal killer.
January 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
wonder how that bezel will work in cold weather?
January 13th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
what about the price ???
and what if i want to make long distance run like a super-marathon for abhout 110klms??will the battary last???????????????
January 13th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
battery life is good on current models
January 16th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
[...] pace you can adjust as you wish – which may defeat the purpose of a challenge for some people. navigadget Filed under: GPS Systems, Personal [...]
January 22nd, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Why upgrade just because it looks good enough to wear all day everyday if the battery is going to die half way through everyday?
January 28th, 2008 at 11:52 am
The features of Forerunner 305 are better than Forerunner 405.The only improvement was in the design.I suggest for the next model to include a password (robbery protection) that is request as soon as it turns on.It will protect against robbery.
February 3rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm
So….., It will download wirelessly, but you will still have to hook it up to recharge it every 8 hours. Why bother with the wireless?
March 2nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
When you have it in GPS mode the battery will only last 8 hours. I read someplace else that it will do fine functioning as a normal watch for up to two weeks.
March 6th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
If i want to make long distance run like a super-marathon will the battary last?
March 12th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
As long as you can run the super-marathon in 8 hours.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
I have run 30+ ultra marathons, from 8 to 40 hours, 30 to 150 miles. If you get to this level of fitness or are actually running a race, you have no need for GPS&HRM, nor do you want the extra weight. I have the 305, the Edge 205, the Polar s625x, and they are a great tool for training, but for racing at ultra marathon levels, you will not need it. if you are worried about your heart rate during an ultra, you are not prepared to run over 26.2 miles anyway.
March 31st, 2008 at 12:54 pm
spOOky, give me a break mr “Ultra marathoner.” We’re talking about the watch, not your “better than everyone else” achievements. By the way, do you run naked? Wouldn’t want all that extra weight.
As for the 8 hours, that’s with the GPS turned on. Otherwise, the battery will last well over two weeks without recharging. The watch is designed for real runners who are racing or training. If you plan on taking it along for a weekend of camping, don’t plan on using the gps feature unless you have a way to recharge the watch.
The battery is a lithium ion, and will not need to be replaced for multiple years. If it should need replacing, it will have to be sent in to Garmin repairs.
You can find all of this information on the garmin FAQ page.
Cheers
March 31st, 2008 at 1:00 pm
By the way spOOky, lots of professional runners, and even more amateur runners, have considerably improved their race times by wearing a heart-rate monitor. It provides better feedback on how hard one’s body is working than any somatic sense. It’s pretty much universally considered one of the best tools to assist in training, and even in the race when not prohibited.
Can’t believe how full of it you are…
April 1st, 2008 at 11:59 pm
any idea when i can get my hands on tis watch?
April 7th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
It will be released to the public on June 8th. BTW, does anyone know why when I changed the battery on my polar 625, it now goes blank periodically and what can be done about this?????
April 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
The watch is available now.. I got it through REI.com – (hint – if you sign up for their email list you get a 15% coupon AND if you have it shipped to your local dealer, shipping is free) Mine cost $254 plus tax for the $299 model.
The watch is AMAZING. Instantly tells you your pace, distance, total time.. you can set it to run with a virtual partner (little runner icons, showing you if youre ahead or behind your target). Even has a function where you can set your start location and have it compass-guide you back to the start!
When youre done running, you put the watch near your computer and it uploads all the data to a Garmin program called The Training Center, where you have graphical analyses of your workout, as well as a map of where you ran!
It picked up satellites instantly. It’s essentially a thicker version of an ordinary running watch. I wouldnt wear it for anything other than running, but it’s 10000x more attractive and sleek than its predecessors.
Best running watch ever.
April 30th, 2008 at 10:34 am
[...] 405’s have arrived at Chicago’s Garmin store, and a tip on getting 15% off from a commenter at [...]
May 1st, 2008 at 3:56 am
[...] Forerunner 405 — NaviGadget [...]
May 11th, 2008 at 3:26 am
Hi,
What is the different between the 349$ model and the 299$ model?
May 12th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
The difference – one comes with the HRM’s required equipment. The other doesn’t. So, if you already have another Garmin HRM, you can save the $50 and just get the watch. Otherwise, with the $299, you only get a GPS watch (and no HRM – until you buy the ad-on gear). Likewise, there’s the GSC 10 which will add cadence for all you bikers out there!
May 13th, 2008 at 7:15 am
Thank’s Dave!
May 15th, 2008 at 3:45 am
I went to REI to try this on today and guess what, it too small for my wrist. Im gutted!!!. Im a large frame 6ft 4 inch runner so not you standard runner type. I wore the green version, is the black bigger by any chance?
June 15th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Spooky is full of it… I don’t think Spooky was trying to say we don’t need an HRM… I think he was trying to point out that 8 hours of life should be adequate for most users because once you are running races that last 8+ hours you probably don’t need it during those long races…
I can’t wait to get mine. I ordered the 305 and the 405. I am going to try them both, and whichever I like least I am going to give to my wife :)
September 10th, 2008 at 6:32 am
I just ordered a 405… my first gps watch. I’m exicited to try it out and think it’s going to really help me in races and training.
Does anyone know how accurate the pace function is? … i.e. does it give you feedback on your pace as you’re running, or is it just averaging it out over time?
September 13th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Dear Sir/Madem,
I would like to asking you about your product sale .
I’m looking for the Forerunner 405.
Do you sale them ? Can I reguest order to you and internasional delivery order to Singapore .
Because I have small business/personal . If we can deal, Hope we can doing business and the future and make a link business to you in Singapore .
Because many done ready stocks for market in Singapore .
Do you accept Credit cards account VISA/MASTER ?
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If you agree, please your offer prices/unit+shipping cost to Singapore .
I’ll send credit cards account to payment order .
Please need your quick respones and process my order ASAP .
Thank you very much .
Best Regards
Havid Chang
HongLee Trade Goup
Changi Singapore
Phone# :+(65) 67471237
April 15th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I can tell that this is not the first time at all that you write about this topic. Why have you chosen it again?
June 30th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
are the software compatible with mac os?? what is the maximum depth in which this GPS watch performs properly??
July 31st, 2009 at 9:58 am
The battery life is at 8 hours, WHILE RUNNING it… that means if you are wearing it running for a consistent 8 hours. It will last for a couple days if it is in the power save mode and you don’t use it for anything else.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:02 am
A couple weeks I mean
August 11th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
First of all, Spooky: you’re fine. Don’t mind that abusive retard. You obviously said something that touched a nerve in his feeble thought patterns.
Anyway, my review of the Forerunner 405 is that it’s great. I’m still a newbie at running. I’ve been running for 3 months (former couch potato) and I’ve had the 405 for about two weeks now. I must say that I’ve fallen in love with running. And I love the watch. Yes, the battery life is short but that doesn’t concern me. It has helped me so much with my pace, run distance, heart-rate, everything I need to begin improving my performance. My colleague has the Forerunner 305 and it has pretty much everything the 405 has. The 405 just looks better. Maybe it’s worth holding on to the 305?
The GPS capabilities is pretty accurate. It doesn’t like quick turn-arounds and elevation readings are sometimes silly, but for the most-part it can tell me which side of the street I was on. That’s enough for me.
The 405’s wireless might seem unnecessary but it’s great when you’re tired after a run and all you have to do is place the watch around 5 meters to the computer. You don’t have to plug anything in and it’s on the screen before you even sit down.
The touch bezel is cool, less fidgety than buttons on the 305.
In conclusion, I would recommend the 405. See you on the trail!