Train In High Gear With The Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS
People who have used the Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS think it’s a wonderful resource for athletes who are into serious training. This wrist-mounted unit is a bit bulky, but it’s still quite comfortable and packed with all the features you could want. In fact, it even has some features that aren’t available on the more expensive 405 unit. At a price you can afford, the Forerunner 305 will allow you to easily switch between workout modes (i.e. from running to cycling) by pressing a conveniently-located button. The 405 doesn’t have this capability. The Forerunner 305 will also record your route for you so that you can use it again if you like. So what if it isn’t quite as small as the 405? It has more features at a fraction of the price.
It’s possible that you may only have thought of a GPS in terms of maps and driving directions, and the Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS wasn’t designed to give you that kind of information. It will never guide you from point A to point B, nor will it help you avoid getting lost, but it will give you all the features you need for a great training workout. Since the unit is waterproof, you’ll be able to use it when participating in sports such as kiteboarding or kayaking without fear of damaging it. In addition, you can download your routes onto your computer and then overlay them onto maps. These are great features for any athlete to have at their fingertips.
A Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS should never be confused with a GPS navigation device, although it does have rudimentary versions of a few of the same functions such as mapping, routing, and waypoint marking. The display will show you your direction and route on simple maps which also have the capability of being zoomed in and out. Using the “go to location” feature you’ll be routed back to where you started. Routes can be saved on your Forerunner 305 so that you’ll have them on record in case you’d like to follow them again and compare times.
The Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS is designed to be used as a training tool, and Garmin made it simple and functional so that you’ll be able to include it in your daily routines. In real-time it provides you with information concerning the calories you’re burning, the distance you’ve traveled, the height of grades, and elevation. With the coded heartrate strap that comes with the unit, you can monitor information regarding your track and lap heartrates, average heartrate, and heartrate zones. Since the display is customizable, you’ll only see the information you’re really looking for without the screen being cluttered with data you don’t really need.
Athletes who would rather have some competition are going to enjoy the Virtual Runner feature of the Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS. Maybe you’re one of those people who enjoy having a little competition in order to train at your max. Just program your competition into this unit, be it a runner, cyclist, cross-country skier, or some other type of athlete, and then try to beat your virtual opponent.
It’s true that the Garmin Forerunner 305 Handheld/Trail GPS is about 4” square, but since it was designed for comfort and weighs only 2.5 ounces, that shouldn’t cause you any problem. It’s definitely larger than any sports watch you’re going to find, but it’s also going to give you more functionality than any sports watch you’ll ever strap onto your wrist.
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