Garmin Forerunner 205 & 305 GPS
Garmin have released a new version of the Forerunner series of wrist mounted GPS units that have become popular with paddlers. Like their predecessors (the 101 and 201) they come in two models: the Forerunner 205 and the Forerunner 305. The 305 combines a heart-rate monitor with the GPS functionality of the 205.
The 305 includes all the features of the prior models plus:
- Sleek, stylish, lightweight design that "wraps" the GPS antenna around part of the wrist for a better view of the sky, improving reception during training
- High-sensitivity GPS receiver provides faster acquisition times and improves tracking under trees and near tall buildings
- Robust wireless heart rate monitor with softer, more comfortable chest strap eliminates cross-talk with other devices and helps you train in your zone
- Customizable screens let you view up to 12 data fields on 3 data screens for immediate feedback on the information you need most when training
- Courses feature lets you download recorded courses and compete against previous workouts
To Garmin’s credit they have honoured their guarantee by replacing units that have corroded. It remains to be seen if Garmin have improved the waterproofing on the new models.
We will be strapping a loan Forerunner 305 to Rob Mousley this weekend and if he gets dunked half as well as he did when finishing the Cape Point Challenge we'll have a good test of the level of waterproofing.