Garmin Forerunner 405 Review
Seeing has how I seem to have a reputation as “that guy” who always shows up least prepared for races, long runs, or any endurance trek of just about any kind, it seems unusual that I would plunk down $300 for a Garmin Forerunner 405.
But I did.
And if you’re reading this, you probably want to know if it’s worth it, right?
GPS-enabled Sports Watches
As a little background, I first became interested in GPS-enabled sport watches since a majority of my running is on the mountain trails. On the trails there aren’t exactly convenient little mile markers along the way like there are in the running parks; nor can you “drive the course” to get an idea of how far you are going.
The GPS-enabled watches offer the promise of distance monitoring, pace, laps, and more.
I bought the Garmin 205 a couple of years ago. After playing it for about 15 minutes, i found it slow, cumbersome, confusing, and it looked like I was wearing a laptop on my wrist. Thing was huge.
I sold it to another ultrarunner 3 days later.
The New Garmin 405 | A First Look
But this new Garmin is different. The size and shape of the Garmin 405 is about the same as your average Nike sportswatch. I bought the black one, and the design is sleek and dare I say, “stylish”.
You can easily wear it as both your training device, and your everyday watch.
In “training mode” the battery life is rather weak at eight hours, but in “low power” mode, usually just plain ol’ watch mode, the watch will last for two weeks between charges.
The band is strong and sturdy and feels good, but it’s a bit short. I have small joints, but those with large wrists, may find that they need a longer band. There are lots of accessories for the Garmin 405, but surprisingly, no wristbands of varied lengths available at this time.
“Ok, So it looks cool, but how does it work?”
The 405 locates GPS satellites very quickly. Usually, it will lock on to a satellite within 30 seconds of beginning training setup; however, I have also experienced as long as two minutes for it to make a reliable satellite connection - still, a strong improvement over the previous Forerunner models.
Accuracy? Well, this I just don’t know.
With regards to distance, the 405 has been spot-on. I have now clocked over ten runs and one mountain biking trip of known length, and Garmin was accurate each and every time down to the tenth of a mile.
But elevation? I dunno. I think the Garmin could be overstating total elevation during a training period.
A Run on the Appalachian Trail
Saturday, May 30, 2008, a group of us headed up to the Amicalola Falls Lodge to taken on the beautiful, but beastly, 16-mile Appalachian Trail approach to Springer Mountain. While this is a difficult course with a lot of elevation loss and gain, it’s hard for me to believe it’s a total of 12,000+ up and 12,000+ down.
However, since it is an out-n-back course, the elevations seem consistent both ways, so maybe it is accurate.
I’d be interested in other runners’ opinions who may have run this route in their own training. Is it really that much climbing and descending?
Garmin Connect | Use the Web to Keep Track of Training
Managing your training information is simple with Garmin Connect. The approach trail run information shown above is a screen shot from my Garmin Connect Dashboard. The dashboard provides indepth information about each of your runs storing you pace, distance, time, elevantion gain/loss; and if applicable, your laps, heart rate, cadence, calories and much more.
But it’s the Google Maps integration that really makes this online application shine. Below are some of the maps of our Appalachian approach trail run. Notice there are traditional map views, satellite views, and the very cool, terrain view.
Map View
Satellite View
Terrain View
…and of course, you can zoom in various section to get detailed views and information. Check out the close-up view of the springer Mountain summit below:
Springer Mountain summits sits close to 4000′ …Cool huh?
It’s all wireless, baby …well, almost
The 405 tranfers all it’s data to the internet wirelessly using a small USB “key” that is constantly scanning, waiting for your Garmin to get within 20 feet, and BAM! it starts downloading new information. You could be uploading your training information while, well… typing on a blog for example, or answering an email, and you never have to take off the watch or initiate any software manually.
There is also a desktop software called Garmin Training Center that is supposedly even more feature-rich and designed to improve your overall training and route times, but I haven’t dug the deep yet.
I due time, friends, in due time…
So what else?
Since everyone loves bullet points, I’ll list a few more interesting features of the Garmin 405. If this list doesn’t send you out to the store with 300 clams in hand, I don’t know what else to tell ya.
- Virtual Training Partner - Allowing to store routes, compete against a virtual runner, and even share your routes and data with other runners.
- Two-way communication with the PC or Mac - Download training data to the PC, upload goals, challenges and other runner’s data to the watch
- Optional heart rate monitoring and foot pod capability
- Available colors are Black and Green (but get black!)
Already have the Garmin 405 too? Tell me what you think
If you’re already rockin’ the Forerunner 405 during your training runs and races, please share your opinions and experiences. I am sure there are people out there much more serious than me, and have probably squeezed out tons of additional functionality and possibility.
Let us know in the comments below. Cheers!
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Comments
What I want to know about is “drop out” occurances. My 205 was sensitive, but at times it would lose the signal in the forrest. Could be very frustrating. Did you see any of this on the AT?
Thanks for the great review. The main reason I’d purchase the 405 would be for the altimeter feature but the fact it’s so far off is very disappointing. The net evelation gain on the Approach Trail is only about 2,000 feet (not sure what the accumulated would be), but there’s no way it’s 12,000. I doubt even the “2.5x factor” would apply.
Christian - Great review! I’ve been saving my pennies for a new GPS watch so I really appreciate hearing your experience with the 405. I like that close up picture at the bottom. You can see, assuming the red line is the course as seen by the watch, the watch cut off a little of the trail on top of the mountain.
Hello!
I own the 350 myself. I use the MOTIONBASED.COM site, and as you guys experience the elevation is just a joke- UNLESS you tick the box “auto correct elevation” in motionbased.
WHen i do this the elevation seems correct for me and my friends at work and make totally sense.
Since GARMIN CONNECT is the “new motionbased” (both are owned by garmin and all motionbased customers are ported to garmin connect soon) Im pretty sure this option will be on the GARMIN CONNECT site as well.
If not now, it will prob be a service in the future.
AFter you upload your activity, go to EDIT activity and tick the elevation and gps correction boxes.
bye
Hi Christian,
I just found your blog. I am also a local CrossFitter. It looks like I’ll be meeting you at the CF Atlanta Running Cert.
MotionBased does some altitude correction. You can use some features of the site for free or pay for more fucntionality.
I think MotionBased is affiliated with Garmin, for what it is worth.
Hey Christian,
Good post on the Garmin. I think I may get one myself (eventually). The elevation gain during that run isn’t 12K ft though… can’t be!
I see you are running a 50K tomorrow… best of luck and stay cool!
- Greg
http://www.runcolo.com/Product-Reviews/Garmin-405-Review.html
My two cents. I liked your review, good stuff.
The way Garmin does altitude gain/loss is it calculates your total gain and total loss. This means if you run up and 100 foot hill, and down the 100 foot hill, then run up a 200 foot hill, your total elevation gain is 300 feet (even though you only go up 200 feet in total) and your total elevation loss is 100 feet.
Make sense?
Have you had any trouble with the pace feature? I just recently purchased a 405 and at a dead sprint it says I’m running a 13:50 pace. Now, I’m not a lightening fast runner by any means, but that is not correct. My husband who was running along with me was using my old 205 and at times our live pace was up to 2 minutes difference. Happen to you?
The store I purchased the Garmin from says this is very common and the live pace will never be completely accurate. I understand that, but 2 minutes off?
I love new running tech. I have had almost every running watch/ pace/heart rate gizmo made,( I guess to make sure I really am a slow runner!!). Anyhow I like the 405. Battery life is a bummer for a slow runner like me. Also wish elevation profile was graphed along bottom of Garmin Center map after download.
Recently the Garmin Center website was improved so maybe it will get better and better.
OK does anyone out there know how to convert the Garmin files into MapMyRun.com compatible files?
I have tried all app.s suggested with no luck.
Thanks Dan B
Thanks for the review of the 405. I have been using the 205 for nearly 2 years now with no complaints. I would agree that the elevation feature is the most coarse of it’s metrics. In regards to MapMyRun.com, I have loaded files in 2 ways. First, I was able to find an application that downloads all of the watches .gpx files to a destination file of my choice, and then load those into MapMyRun, but also I have been able to load all of the workouts on my watch directly into MapMyRun using the tools available on the website itself.
Thanks for this review. I just got my 405 today. It’s charging as I type. How’s the battery life? Thanks!
Great review! I need your help & didn’t see an email address, so I’m commenting. I recently heard about the Garmin 405 & thought it would be a great b-day anniversary holiday present for my husband who trail runs, is doing the JFK next weekend, & bikes. He does like to use a heart rate monitor, so I wondered if there’s any downside to getting the 405 with the heart rate monitor. Is this really a good product? He does like to keep track of rate, distance, etc. calories, so this seems amazing. What about the complaints about getting wet from sweat & not working? Any suggestions for a reliable online place to order it, should he have problems, or want to return it? Appreciate a quick reply, because his b-day is fast approaching. Thanks, so much. Hope you see this!
HealthyLibrarian:
I think you should definitely buy the 405 for your husband. It’s very accurate, and unlike older ones, reliable on the trails. There is a ton of useful things the watch can do.
I have never had a problem getting it wet. After very long runs, I soak in creeks. Just plop right down in ‘em, watch and all, submerged, …no problem. ever.
He’ll love it.
In general, I find that the 305 records about 2.5x the actual elevation change on rolling types of courses. I have a number of runs where I’ve used my Suunto altimeter over the years and I know the elevation for those courses very well. Almost invariably, the number that the 305 records is about 2.5x the number that my Suunto has recorded.
An exception to this rule is a course that is made up of a limited number of large hills. Recently, I did 3 repeats on a road up Vermont’s highest peak, and the elevation was “only” off by 50%. There is a web site that will correct elevation numbers somewhat for the Garmin units, but I forget what it is.
I got the 305 for a birthday present back in January, so I won’t be upgrading to the 405 anytime soon.
Damon