I use the the 405cx and absolutely love it!  I think you can accomplish most of what your looking for with any of the Garmin models relative to pacing and distance.  Personally, I used the heart rate monitor all the time the last two years and found it to be a great tool.  Lately though I've kind of migrated back to running by feel a bit more and have gotten away from using the HR monitor.  I still pace most runs with my Garmin but even those I try to get a couple of easy paced runs in just by feel.  There are times that relaxing and just running by feel helps me train without feeling a prisoner to my watch!  The Garmin is a great tool though and I highly recommend it.  I would also recommend getting the model with HR monitor,  you may find that in the future you might use it as a training tool.  It's very interesting on long runs to see your heart rate start to go up before you actually start feeling the physical effects.  Good luck

Good evening everyone!  I am in the market to purchase a Garmin 305.  I have two neighbors that run a lot.  One has a 305 the other a 405.  They run together all the time and 305 owner says her is more accurate for distance. I believe the 305 (great reviews from a lot of different owners) is the way to go especailly for the money you spend even though it's a lot more bulkier than the 405.

I want to also warn everyone on here -- I tried to purchase a Garmin 305 for a reasonable price off of ebay recently.  There is a seller that goes by "jrodmerchantz" that is listing the Garmins left and right.  DO NOT buy from this guy -- he's a scammer (just check his feedback).  I am working on getting him removed from ebay.  Just wanted to warn any of you who might see a deal on ebay for a Garmin 305 (like I did and several others unfortunately) and come across this scammer. 

Great blog Art.

Be careful buying a watch from anyone on ebay.  A lot of legitimate sellers and watches on ebay, but enough illegitimate ones that make buying a watch on ebay too risky for my taste.  Again, I've had a lot of good experiences, but I had a few bad ones.  So try to buy from a licensed retailer before going the ebay route.  In fact, you can find many watches from licensed retailers at almost the same price as on ebay.  In most cases, the increased cost from a licensed retailer is minimal and worth the extra guarantee.

Good luck!

vcackerman wrote:

 

That's what that was.  I have it around here somewhere.  I assumed it was an extra band if this one broke.

You need to update your signature line -- didn't you run the turkey trot already?

Surfing_Vol wrote:

 

vcackerman wrote:

 

That's what that was.  I have it around here somewhere.  I assumed it was an extra band if this one broke.

 

You need to update your signature line -- didn't you run the turkey trot already?

I'm still running it - should finish it by the next one.

I have the Garmin 305. I love it b/c it has so many tools that help in my running. I usually keep it on the pace, time, distance and heart rate. I do not find the heart rate monitor to be a problem at all. I'm a smaller runner and I just tuck it right under the band of my sports bra. It can be as tight or as loose as you want it.  I recently returned to running after being off for 6 months healing from a lower lumbar fusion. I used the heart rate monitor to help me determine how hard to work and where my conditioning was so that I wasn't over working. Over the last month I've seen my heart rate go down nicely and am able to run longer and harder. The watch is bulky but I really don't notice it at all. You can even set it to start when you start running and stop when you stop. You really don't have to think about it at all.

The cost is minimal for all that it offers. When I bought my Garmin a few years ago the heart rate monitor came w/it at no extra cost.  From some of the posts I've seen here I guess it no longer does. I spent about $150 for my Garmin a few years ago. I can't imagine they would cost more than that now.

I love it, love it, love it. I highly recommend the 305.

I love my watch but hate it when I forget to check the charge and it dies after two miles of a killer seven mile run!