The Garmin Forerunner 405

The Garmin Forerunner 405 is a nifty little sports watch/heart monitor and makes a perfect gift for someone close to you who is serious about training and improving their fitness.

In a nutshell, this cool gadget monitors how long you have been running, your distance, your pace, calories used and your heart rate. It stores data from your runs in memory, so you can review and analyse the data and the routes you’ve taken later on.

How cool is that?!

Once you’ve activated your unit for the first time, you’re whisked through a set of simple tests that act as a guide on how the unit works (so no need to read the instructions then). It is a very slick and clever piece of technology with lots of useful functions so much so that it is more a computer than a watch.

Although it actually looks more like a wristwatch than its earlier models (305 and lower which were more bulky).

This later model comes with a greatly improved battery life which is helped by the handy power-save mode.

Despite all of this, however, it still remains an excellent training tool.

It is a lot neater than most of the other GPS watches available and has a simple and clear display with a very effective backlight.
Being able to plot run using Google maps is very handy to have.

However, the things that let this down a touch are that the manual could offer more in the way of help with regards to the software downloads.
Also, downloading data can be problematic and this seems to be mainly due to the instructions not being clear enough.

Features
- Automatically transfers data to your computer
- Garmin Connect compatible (online community where you can analyze and share data)
- Garmin Training Centre software compatible
- Virtual Partner (here you can train against a digital person)
- Courses (allows you to compete against previous workouts)
- Advanced workouts (create custom, goal-oriented workouts)
- Simple workouts (input time, distance and calorie goals)

More features:

- This is a highly sensitive GPS receiver
- Ideal for use with cycling and running
- Has an easy to read display
- Comfortable vinyl wristband
- Comes with a Virtual Partner and has goals, workouts and courses to follow
- Simple to configure display (speed/distance/heart rate)
- Finds GPS satellites quickly and reliably

Basically, this is a speed and distance monitor that is combined with a heart rate monitor that you can wear. So, basically, there are two parts to it: a wrist unit that looks like a watch and a HRM strap which is an elasticated sort of belt that you wear around your chest.

Find out more about the Garmin Forerunner 405 by clicking the link here