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With the Forerunner 405, Garmin has finally put the power of GPS location-based date into a sleek sport watch that can be worn all day. Runners no longer have to choose between function and fashion. Garmin's ANT + Sport wireless platform that wirelessly sends your data to your computer and a touch bezel that lets you change screens with a simple tap (no more fumbling for buttons) run make this not just a leap forward in GPS-enabled fitness devices, but in training devices period. Forerunner 405 comes in two color options — black or green.
The Power Of Location-Based Data
Anyone who has used Garmin's Forerunner 205 or 305 already understands the power that attaching location data to traditional measurements like distance, speed, time, calories burned, and heart rate can provide. Knowing exactly where you worked hardest, ran fastest (or most slowly), and lets you tailor your workouts to improve for specific distances, conditions, and types of terrain. It gives a complete picture of how you interact with every portion of your run.
Forerunner 405 comes in two color options — black or green | 
Train with a virtual partner | Watch Results
Loaded with serious training features, Forerunner 405 continuously monitors your time, distance, pace, calories and heart rate (when paired with heart rate monitor). Each run is stored in memory so you can review and analyze the data to see how you've improved.
The high-sensitivity GPS receiver sustains satellite reception, whether you’re tackling a trail or jogging through the urban canyons of skyscrapers. The Forerunner 405 is water-resistant (IPX7) and can be used outdoors or indoors (with an optional foot pod), making it the ultimate year-round, all-weather training tool.
Forerunner 405 is available with or without a heart rate monitor (see the versions tab) to help you make the most out of your training. Versions with a digital heart rate monitor continuously track heart beats per minute. Train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level or compare your pace and heart rate to past performance on the same run.
The revolutionary patent-pending touch bezel on the face of the watch makes navigating the options easier than ever. Simply by tapping, holding or running a finger along the bezel, runners can begin a new workout, access their training history or challenge a Virtual Partner. The Forerunner 405 makes training with a Virtual Partner easy and efficient. Runners can adjust the Virtual Partner’s pace without stopping in the middle of a workout, and the Virtual Partner is always on and ready for a challenge.
Run, Sync, Store and Share
One of Garmin's most ambitious decisions has been to approach fitness devices as a total platform with their "ANT + Sport" connectivity system. All of Garmin's new fitness devices, including the Forerunner 405, Edge 605 and 705 bike computers, and Forerunner 50 heart rate monitor watches, will interface wirelessly with any devices that are compatible wiht the "ANT + Sport" protocol, including devices from other manufacturers.
Once you’ve logged the miles, the ANT+Sport wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when the Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data’s just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through Garmin's online community,Garmin Connect or optional Garmin Training Center software. You can wirelessly send workouts from your computer to Forerunner, too.
Share Wirelessly
With Forerunner 405 you can share your locations, advanced workouts and courses wirelessly with other Forerunner 405 users. Now you can send your favorite workout to your buddy to try, or compete against a friend's recorded course. Sharing data is easy. Just select "transfer" to send your information to nearby units.
Cross-Train
Take your training inside with the versatile Forerunner 405. Pair it with an optional foot pod to track your speed, distance and running cadence indoors when a GPS signal is unavailable. This new design clips onto your laces for easy removal and automatically turns on when you start moving. You can also add a speed/cadence bike sensor to track the speed and distance of your cycling workouts.
Be Part of A Community
In 2007, Garmin acquired Motion-based, the largest shared repository of customer-generated gps-based routes, courses and maps. This was a significant move for Garmin to support the gps user community and bring a wealth of route options to gps users. With a simple connection to your computer, you can join a worldwide network of cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts through Garmin Connect our new, one-stop site for data analysis an sharing.
You can also upload to optional Garmin Training Center software for further analysis. Garmin Training Center stores large quanities of workout and ride data. Some of the things you can do are
- Review your workout data, including pace/speed, distance, time, calories burned; and if available, heart rate, cadence and detailed elevation.
- View a detailed graph of your workout data, plotted over time or distance.
- View a map of your workout that shows the exact path you traveled.
- Categorize your workout history according to type of activity.
- Review previous workouts, which are saved by day and week.
- Create customized workouts with specific goals and rest intervals. Then send them to your fitness device.*
- Schedule workouts for a specific day with calendar.
- Get custom workout templates designed by the experts at TrainingPeaks.com
What's In The Box
Forerunner 405, USB ANT stick, AC adapter, Charging clip, Owner's manual, Quick reference guide
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 Great Real-Time Data Displays |
| Review Date: May 6, 2008 |
| Reviewer: E. Taylor, Huntington Beach, CA USA |
I picked up the 405 at REI, set it up and have taken 2 runs on the huntington beach path. (FYI, I've been using the 305 with HR monitor for the last year.) After the 405's initial charge it took about half an hour to set up all the functions. Based on my first 2 tests it has all the functionality of the 305 and some great new features. Yes, it's smaller and better looking (but not as small as it looks online, and not a fashion accessory). The "touch bezel" is a cool feature and comes with 3 levels of sensitively (I put it on "high"). After using it for a while it's now very easy. The wireless "ANT" technology is a nice feature, but the 305's wired USB connection has always worked fine for me. My first downloads showed an error, but the data transferred anyway.
The 405 satellite locator seems equal to the 305, and I've never had any issues finding satellites outdoors (no buildings around) - but it takes several minutes. The 405 displays a rating of its satellite accuracy, and mine showed14 to 18 feet. The 405 and 305 both allow you to set up advanced workouts, and allow auto-laps (such as every every half-mile) for easy data analysis on the computer.
For me, the HR monitor and the pace info are the critical features. I love the 305 but the HR readout is so small it's nearly impossible to read while running (you have to wait until you download the data). This big frustration is offset with the 305's good "alert" system which communicates if you're above or below your pre-set HR or pace targets.
But the 405 fixes the problem of the tiny HR display! The 405 allows up to 4 personalized data displays to view while running (with up to 3 data fields per screen selected from over 20 data fields: distance, time, pace, speed, HR, elevation, calories, and then averages per lap, etc.) You change the screens by tapping the bezel. Fantastic! I typically train with a target HR zone (recommend reading "Total Heart Rate Training" by Joe Friel) and customized HR on 3 screens: #1- HR, pace, ave pace; #2- Time, distance, HR; #3- Pace, HR, distance. Bottom Line: The 405 is great for runners who thrive on real-time data, and have a little extra cash. If I could change one thing it would be to allow input of my Lactate Threshold HR. Then have the option to display while running my HR/LT% (much more useful than HR/max%). Some readings would exceed 100%.
I'm completely hooked on running with a combined GPS with HR monitor, and will never go back. REI and others have dropped the price on the 305 dramatically and it's now a great deal. I'll continue to test the 405, but will keep it unless something stops working- the newly added features are too good! The battery doesn't seem to have any issues (the 305 never did). However, when the 405 isn't active it goes into "watch" mode and simply tells time 24/365. This appears to have some drain on the battery between charges and between workouts, but I'm not sure how much yet.
(Note to 305 owners- the 405 will immediately connect to your existing HR band. No need to pay the extra $50 for the 405 with a HR band. I was able to combine past 305 workout data and new 405 data on the computer. I recommend saving old data before trying it.)
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This is a great watch, don't listen to the haters
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| Review Date: February 6, 2010 |
| Reviewer: J. W. Peterson, |
| I just wanted to add a positive review to help out anyone still wondering about purchasing this watch and still on the fence due to the numerous bad reviews it has received. The watch works great, fits great, and looks normal enough that I can wear it to work and other places when I'm not running. If you're worried about the reports of the bezel not operating when the watch is wet, I'd say don't worry about it: you can start and stop the watch with the top button and that's pretty much all you need to do while you're running. I lock the bezel 99% of the time, including while I'm running, to prevent accidental taps from changing the mode. It's as simple as that. If you find yourself needing to tap and swipe the bezel to get more information than current time, distance, and pace *while* you're running, maybe it's time to concentrate more on running and less on the gadgets you are using to help you run! |
Takes some fiddling, but I love it
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| Review Date: July 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Blaylock, Mobile, Alabama |
I am a techie geek and love my gadgets. I read all of the reviews, good and bad and weighed each before my purchase. I knew going into it that I would have to work with the bezel and figure it out before my first run. I did just that and I have loved it. It took a bit of fiddling to get the heart rate monitor and foot pod to sync, but once I figured out that I had to move away from my other wireless stuff (mouse) then it was fine. I have no problems with GPS locking and the signal has been very consistent (my Iphone always lost the signal when I ran in the woods).
I lock the bezel while running and have it auto scroll through the data fields that I want. So far, I have had no issues with uploading or viewing my runs in Garmin Connect.
Awesome watch for the running geeks at heart. |
Works great, good support, great to track progress...
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| Review Date: July 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Steven M. Knapp, Grayslake, IL |
I find this to work pretty well, it's accurate enough. The HRM works well.
My wife has a Forerunner 201. In contrast this is smaller, which is nice, tho not small enough for me to wear daily. The 201 has a more traditional GPS map/track page, which this lacks. Given the screen size, I'm not sure it would be useful.
Compared to my past Polar HRM's this is SO much easier to use. With the Polar I'd often not use the advanced features without looking back at the manual. The Garmin is really easy to use.
The touch wheel hasn't been a problem for me yet.
The Ant+ upload is also fantastic. Compared to the polar sonic upload and their SW this just seems to work better. I'd suggest keeping records both in Garmin TC and Garmin Connect. TC has more detail and allows more features. But it's harder to use. Connect is more user friendly.
Garmin support has answered all my questions within less than 24hr. Most faster.
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Excellent product
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| Review Date: August 10, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Paul Szczepaniak, Long Island/NY, NY USA |
I am very pleased with not only the fast delivery of the watch but also with its performance.The gps enabled feature has really changed my runnings entire dynamic. While it did get some getting used to with regards to use and online support overall I am still, after a few weeks of use, very happy with the watch. Now a few words of advice: always lock the bezel when going on a run to prohibit sweat or rain from messing with the sensitivity of the bezel and be use software updates with caution and be sure to read how to redtart the watch if the update fails and leaves the watch unactive. |
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