Garmin · Forerunner
Forerunner 305
A GPS multisport training watch with wireless chest-strap heart rate, course navigation and USB activity transfers.
- Type
- Smart and sports
- Sizes
- 53.3 mm
- Movement
- –
- Power reserve
- –
- Display
- –
- Battery
- 10 h
- Water
- –
- GPS
- Single-band
- Weight
- 77 g
What reviewers say
Alphr and Surfski.info praised the clear display and extensive training functions. Alphr found the controls straightforward and reception quick, but criticised the bulky fit and basic desktop analysis. Surfski.info valued the improved cradle and robust case, while reporting intermittent heart-rate readings during a race and a loose USB connection on its test cradle.
From alphr.com and surfski.info
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Case sizes
- 53.3 mm
- Always-on display
- Yes
- Display detail
- Backlit 33 × 20.3 mm monochrome display, 160 × 100 pixels; configurable training screens and physical buttons. Panel technology is not specified by Garmin.
Health and fitness
- ECG
- No
- Blood oxygen
- No
- Skin temperature
- No
- Sleep apnoea alerts
- No
- High blood pressure alerts
- No
- Body composition
- No
- Fall detection
- No
- Crash detection
- No
- GPS
- Single-band
- Sensors
- High-sensitivity SiRFstarIII GPS receiver, included wireless heart-rate chest strap and optional GSC 10 cycling speed/cadence sensor; no optical wrist sensor.
- Fitness features
- Running, cycling and other-sport profiles; quick, interval and advanced workouts, course racing, Virtual Partner, Auto Pause, Auto Lap and heart-rate, pace, time and distance alerts.
- Safety features
- Stores 100 locations and 50 routes; basic route display, direction to a stored location and navigation back to the start. No base maps.
Battery and connections
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 10 hours
- Mobile data option
- No
- Works with
- No phone pairing
- Battery life detail
- Internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery; ten hours of typical use.
- Charging
- Docking cradle with AC charger and USB cable.
- Connectivity
- USB computer transfer through the cradle; Garmin Training Center software and MotionBased analysis were supplied at launch. Wireless heart-rate and cycling sensor connections; no direct phone pairing.
- Storage
- Up to 1,000 laps; smart recording or one-second recording.
Design
- Weight (lightest version)
- 77 g
- Software
- Garmin
- Case materials
- IPX7 immersion protection, one metre for thirty minutes; the owner's manual says it is not intended for swimming.
- Size
- 53.3 × 68.6 × 17.8 mm and 77 g. Width is used as the case size.
- Bands
- Vinyl wrist strap with an expander strap; fabric strap available separately.
- In the box
- Watch, heart-rate chest strap, wrist and expander straps, docking cradle, AC charger, USB cable, Garmin Training Center software and documentation.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Heart-rate strap and cycling speed/cadence sensor support
- Configurable training pages and multisport workouts
- Courses, Virtual Partner and interval training
Cons
- Large 77 g wraparound case
- No phone pairing or optical wrist heart-rate sensor
- IPX7 protection is not a swimming rating
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Sizes | Movement | Power reserve | Display | Battery | Water | GPS | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart and sports | 53.3 mm | – | – | – | 10 h | – | Single-band | 77 g | 2006 | |
| Smart and sports | 48 mm | – | – | – | 8 h | – | Single-band | 60 g | Apr 2008 | |
| Smart and sports | 47.75 mm | – | – | – | 8 h | – | Single-band | 60 g | 2009 |
Sources
- static.garmin.com/pumac/984_OwnersManual.pdf
- www8.garmin.com/specs/forerunner205305_0106.pdf
- sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1121788/000114420407010357/v067097_10-k.htm
Photo: tramsoft.ch
