The Garmin Forerunner 305 questions thread

[beelzebabette]

The size never bothers me. I don't really notice it when I put it on, and when I get running, I definitely don't notice a thing.

I definitely notice it. I've had it for a few months now, and I still haven't gotten used to the size. Thus far, it's still been worth carrying for the features though. I recently switched to the quick release bike mount & velcro wristband. I just wish the wristband was an inch or two longer, and it would make a better armband for the size.

[falafel]

She's taller than you by a good bit, but still has small wrists.

[Pheidippides]

I assure you any ball-busting effects of my post were unintentional.

As far as you know.

:moon:

[thesaint258]

I definitely notice it. I've had it for a few months now, and I still haven't gotten used to the size. Thus far, it's still been worth carrying for the features though. I recently switched to the quick release bike mount & velcro wristband. I just wish the wristband was an inch or two longer, and it would make a better armband for the size.

An armband isn't a bad idea. I have an armband for my ipod, so there's an arm that's going to waste. I sometimes wonder if runners will become like the guys that had a phone, pager, and PDA strapped to their belt though.

[SteelBlue]

Put me in the camp that doesn't notice the size of the 305. I love mine and don't know how or why I ever ran without it. One of the funniest parts of the marathon was coming up on the mile splits (I have mine set to autolap so it records my splits each mile automatically). Nearly everyone around me had theirs set the same way and it sounded like a Garmin chorus.

[Surfah]

I don't notice it either. However, my wrists are big. I had to put on the larger band that comes with it. I often rotate it though so it's on the inside of my wrist instead of the outside. It just feels better there and more natural for me to check it that way.

[PaloAltoCougar]

... Nearly everyone around me had theirs set the same way and it sounded like a Garmin chorus.

This reminds me of the Tahoe ride. At each stopping point, I enjoyed the machine gun bursts of a dozen cyclists clicking into their pedals and the Garmins beeping back on as we took off.

And the size doesn't bother me at all. It bugged my wife a bit, so she clips hers to the handlebars (doesn't help the runners, of course).

BTW, I suggested wearing our chest straps and monitors during a certain other joint activity, you know, for the benefit of science, not to mention personal curiosity about heart rates during all forms of physical endeavor. This proposal was not only resoundingly rejected by the missus, but nearly resulted in the termination of said activity. Word to the wise.

[cowboy]

Apparently, size does matter in the falafel household.

[RC Vikings]

BTW, I suggested wearing our chest straps and monitors during a certain other joint activity, you know, for the benefit of science, not to mention personal curiosity about heart rates during all forms of physical endeavor. This proposal was not only resoundingly rejected by the missus, but nearly resulted in the termination of said activity. Word to the wise.

I thought about doing this also until I thought about the disappointment I would feel seeing that her heart rate never got above 100 bpm.

[PaloAltoCougar]

I thought about doing this also until I thought about the disappointment I would feel seeing that her heart rate never got above 100 bpm.

Sheesh, I hadn't even considered that. My wife's heart rate is a bit freakish anyway. Her resting pulse is in the 40s, and while she can get it above 110 or so with extreme effort, an easy 25 mile ride will produce an average heart rate of 85. Had we followed through on my proposal, I would have been lucky if her rate had kept pace with the grandfather clock. Deflating.

[Pheidippides]

I thought about doing this also until I thought about the disappointment I would feel seeing that her heart rate never got above 100 bpm.

SHW and I actually did this (well, she did anyway). I forget what the results were.

(TMI?)

[Eddie]

Just curious as to what folks think about the accuracy of the calorie calculator on these garmin devices.

I noticed that I hadn't updated my weight or age on my 305, and it was set for someone 50 lbs or so lighter than me. So I updated it before a run and when I got back it just seemed like it was estimating a high number of calories burned.

So I jumped online and did some comparisons with on-line calculators - some that just ask for HR and time exercising, others that focus on just mileage and pace, and some that take both into account. Of course, all ask for weight and some include age.

I was surprised to see that my estimated calories burned ranged from 400-800. The 305 gave me a 675 for my efforts.

Maybe I was just used to seeing the lower numbers from when it thought I weighted less, but I went back in and lowered by estimated weight by 50 lbs back to where it had been. For some reason I'm just more comfortable using the lower numbers - don't want to overestimate the burn and start packing on lbs.

[BigPiney]

Just curious as to what folks think about the accuracy of the calorie calculator on these garmin devices.

I noticed that I hadn't updated my weight or age on my 305, and it was set for someone 50 lbs or so lighter than me. So I updated it before a run and when I got back it just seemed like it was estimating a high number of calories burned.

So I jumped online and did some comparisons with on-line calculators - some that just ask for HR and time exercising, others that focus on just mileage and pace, and some that take both into account. Of course, all ask for weight and some include age.

I was surprised to see that my estimated calories burned ranged from 400-800. The 305 gave me a 675 for my efforts.

Maybe I was just used to seeing the lower numbers from when it thought I weighted less, but I went back in and lowered by estimated weight by 50 lbs back to where it had been. For some reason I'm just more comfortable using the lower numbers - don't want to overestimate the burn and start packing on lbs.

I find it to be pretty accurate for running that I do. I think it way over estimates my calorie burn when I ride.

[Eddie]

I find it to be pretty accurate for running that I do. I think it way over estimates my calorie burn when I ride.

Yea - I don't trust it at all for riding.

When you say that you find it to be accurate for the running that you do - is there something you've compared it against? Again - just curious.

[ERCougar]

Yea - I don't trust it at all for riding.

When you say that you find it to be accurate for the running that you do - is there something you've compared it against? Again - just curious.

I've compared it against myfitnesspal on my phone and to runkeeper (also on my phone--GPS based run tracker) and it matches pretty well. Overestimates road bike by about 10-20%