Garmin · Forerunner

Forerunner 405CX

Released 2009

A GPS running watch with touch-bezel controls, heart-rate-based calorie estimates and wireless computer uploads.

Model history · 2 models, 2008–2009

2008Forerunner 405 Compare
2009Forerunner 405CX

Type: Smart and sports
Sizes: 47.75 mm
Movement: –
Power reserve: –
Display: –
Battery: 8 h
Water: –
GPS: Single-band
Weight: 60 g

What reviewers say

Vélo 101 praised the compact fit, reliable GPS and extensive training software, while finding the initial setup less friendly to inexperienced computer users and missing the older watches' multisport organisation. PC.net valued the GPS accuracy and activity uploads but criticised comfort, accidental button presses, slow satellite acquisition and poor battery life in its unit.

From velo101.com and pc.net

Specifications

Report a wrong or missing spec

Display

Case sizes: 47.75 mm
Always-on display: Yes
Display detail: Backlit monochrome screen, 27 mm diagonal and 124 × 95 pixels; touch-sensitive bezel and two buttons. Panel technology is unpublished in the maker's specification.

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 GPS receiver with HotFix; ANT+ heart-rate chest strap, optional foot pod and cycling speed/cadence sensor. No optical wrist sensor.
Fitness features: Heart-rate-based calorie calculation developed with Firstbeat; custom and interval workouts, courses, Virtual Partner, Auto Lap, Auto Pause, Auto Scroll and configurable training screens.
Safety features: Up to 100 stored locations and navigation to a saved location; no base maps.

Battery and connections

Battery life (maker's claim): Up to 8 hours
In low-power mode: Up to 14 days
Mobile data option: No
Works with: No phone pairing
Battery life detail: Rechargeable 300 mAh lithium-ion battery; up to eight hours with GPS or two weeks in power-save mode, according to the English owner's manual. Garmin Slovakia instead quotes nine GPS hours.
Charging: USB contact charging clip and AC adapter.
Connectivity: ANT+ computer transfers through a USB ANT stick; Garmin Connect and Garmin Training Center. No direct phone pairing.
Storage: Up to 1,000 laps, 100 locations and approximately twenty hours of track points at one point every four seconds.

Design

Weight (lightest version): 60 g
Software: Garmin
Case materials: IPX7 immersion protection, one metre for thirty minutes; the manual says the watch is not intended for swimming.
Size: 47.75 × 70.5 × 16.4 mm and 60 g, according to the English manual; Garmin Slovakia rounds this to 48 × 71 × 16 mm. Width is used as the case size.
Bands: Standard wrist strap and two additional form-fitting fabric straps for smaller or larger wrists.
Colours: Deep blue.
In the box: Watch, heart-rate chest strap, USB ANT stick, AC adapter, USB charging clip, additional wrist straps and documentation.

Pros and cons

Pros

Custom workouts, intervals and Virtual Partner
ANT+ heart-rate, foot-pod and cycling sensor support
Additional fabric straps for different wrist sizes

Cons

No phone pairing or optical wrist heart-rate sensor
IPX7 protection is not a swimming rating
Touch-bezel controls require practice

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sizes	Movement	Power reserve	Display	Battery	Water	GPS	Weight	Released
GarminForerunner 405	Smart and sports	48 mm	–	–	–	8 h	–	Single-band	60 g	Apr 2008
GarminForerunner 410	Smart and sports	48 mm	–	–	–	8 h	–	Single-band	60 g	2010
GarminForerunner 110	Smart and sports	45 mm	–	–	–	8 h	–	Single-band	52 g	2010

Previous model: Forerunner 405.

Sources

Photo: garmin.sk

Spot a mistake? Tell us