I've run 4 times a week with the Garmin 201 for the past 2 years so I was anxious to get the 205. After 10 runs with the 205 (some runs with both) here is my take on the new 205:

Pros:
- better form factor (although still big and same weight as the 201)
- Buttons are more intuitive (less guessing in the dark)
- More accurate - If I run the same run 3 times (e.g. a regular 6 miler) all 3 distances are within .02-.09... the 201 varied by as much as .3 miles. The 205 also appears to be more accurate according to "known distances"
- Less satellite drops compared to the 201 (although see the BIG con below!)
- The strap is rubber so it doesn't act as a sweat band (the 201 was harder to clean and smelled for weeks after a marathon)
- Better software

CONS:
- Fonts are smaller (especially on history and other screens)
- The strap is rubber and doesn't fit as well as the cloth/Velcro on the 201 (although the pro I think outweighs the con!)
- BIG CON: On one regular run along the bay in San Francisco (no hills, trees, or buildings) the 205 lost satellite in a "usual" area (common for my 201 to drop in the same place) one mile into the run, but the 205 never recovered during the whole run. So the 205 doesn't drop satellites as much, but when it does it might not recover - this is a fatal issue if it continues (note: the 201 drops often, but always recovers right away).

Overall I would still highly recommend the unit. I definitely prefer to run with the 205 instead of the 201. I will be watching the drop-recover issue carefully to see if others report a similar problem.

I wrote an extensive six-part review comparing the Garmin Forerunner 205 with my older Garmin Forerunner 201. Here is the URL to the first part and you can find links at the bottom to the other parts:[...]

If you don't want to read the full reviews then here is a summary of my likes and dislikes:

Likes

* Comfort and Form factor: Usage model is very important and while the 205 is big, it feels and wears like a wrist watch. The plastic strap is more comfortable than the 201's velco strap, and the unit also comes with an extension strap if you need to bundle up and wear it outside your clothing. Personally, I want to look at my watch for instant data (i.e. time, pace, distance, etc) and feedback so I'm unwilling to place a device on my upper arm even if I have to sacrifice accuracy. In terms of form factor, the lap and start/stop buttons are well placed and sized on the face of the watch.
* GPS Accuracy: The Garmin Forerunner 205's GPS receiver seemed much stronger. I can lock onto a signal inside my house next to a window, I haven't received one weak signal in a week over routes that caused my 201 trouble. And on my one run over a tree-covered, GPS signal-challenging course, the 205 came out a star, finally allowing me to measure a route that I was unable to with my 201. The GPS accuracy data field and the satellite acquisition screen are also cool bonuses.
* Customization: The 205 allows you to customize 2 main screens and a third activity specific (i.e. run, bike or other) one with 1 to 4 data fields per screen. This is very cool, especially for data-driven geeks like myself. Another great thing about all the Forerunners is you can customize screens and settings on the fly without interrupting your current activity.
* Real-Time Pacing: I'm not that interested in knowing how fast I'm going at a specific moment in time so never was a big fan of the "real-time" pacing feature of the 201. With that said, the 205 seemed to be more consistent and showed a tighter range of paces. It also seemed closer to how fast I felt I was going relevant to the current conditions (i.e. uphill, downhill, flat) than the 201, which showed a lot of variation and lag.
* USB Cradle: Charging and uploading via USB is a nice. Much faster than the 201's serial port.

Dislikes

* Display: The display of the 205 seems smaller and the history screens are dark and hard to read. I wish they didn't use the shading and just had the plain background.
* Real-time elevation: For me this isn't a big deal, but the "real-time" elevation reading lags on the 205. It seems to tie closely with GPS accuracy. For example, after I finish my runs I'll usually walk a little in my backyard to cool down. The real-time elevation reading will then "catch up" to the correct elevation.
* Buttons: My broken power button seems to be an anomaly so far since I haven't read of others with the same problem. With that said, the side buttons seems a bit stiff to me.
* Battery indicator: It just shows 4 vertical bars. I liked the feature on the 201 where it told you how many hours of charge were left when you powered it on.

Cool Stuff

* Tons of features: There are a lot of things the 205 can do such as import courses, advanced workouts, virtual partner and a bunch of other features that I need to explore

Wishlist

* Reduce form factor
* Color screen
* Increase battery life
* Improve waterproofing/water resistance
* Add wireless connectivity for uploading and downloading data and information over the air to PC or mobile service

When I bought this, I was still a little skeptical on whether or not GPS was ready for my use (I normally like to skip the 'early adopters' until they work out the bugs) but I have been blown away by what I can do with this.

Pros:
* Weight/formfactor - At first it felt uncomfortable, but after the first few runs I barely remembered that it was on my wrist.
* Accuracy - I went and drove two of my longer runs and they read between .1 - .2 miles.
* Data! - I LOVE coming back and analyzing all of the data. It'll graph the elevation vs. speed or pace, etc. It makes me very aware of what my weaknesses are in running.
* From motionbased.com, you can also look at other neat trails other people have found, download their trails and virtually 'race' them, or just let the watch tell you where to go.

Iffy:
* The program it comes with is a little clunky. It gets the job done, but it seems that there is so much more they could do with this (like what they do on the motionbased website)
* Speaking of motionbased.com (which Garmin just bought), it's a great website for sharing your trails and your training and for analyzing your runs, but they want you to pay $11/month if you want to keep up with your past runs (your last 10 runs are always free). It includes some nice 'course corrections' and the 'MB Gravity' feature, which fixes a lot of the errors in reading altitude. Because of this I'm keeping my runs on both motionbased and in the program they give you to try to get the best of both worlds.

Cons:
* Altitude. I really don't trust this. On some of my runs it reads 4X feet climbed than the MB Gravity feature reads. I run on mostly streets or trails that are NOT covered by trees and my GPS strength always reads 'excellent'.

Overall I'm extremely happy with this product (I've had it for a little under a month now). Anyone wavering on whether GPS devices are ready for mainstream - they are!

I recently purchased the Garmin Forerunner 205 and entered the world of GPS for the first time. My experience so far has been positive (I've logged 4 runs). The unit, while appearing a bit bulky, is surprisingly comfortable and you easily forget you are wearing it. The 205 is fairly user friendly. You can simply push the timer start and go right out of the box, or go much deeper into its capabilities and upload customized courses and workouts. I haven't gotten that in depth yet, but I love the autopause and autolap functions.
As far as performance, the 205 is extremely accurate in identifying location and distance travelled (I've verified against trail markers). I've used the 205 on tree covered trails and to my knowledge, have not lost signal.
On the negative side, I've found the elevation and current pace information to be extremely variable and of questionable reliability. However, this is not crucial information. The distance and time info. is very accurate and therefore you can always get good average pace information for any portion of your run that you want. If you want to keep looking down during your run to check your current pace, however, you will be disappointed.
I haven't explored the navigation functions much yet. While they are a bit rudimentary, the 205 should keep you from getting lost on a long run or a hike.
The software is fairly easy to use and the interface with the unit is good. I would like to see a little more functionality with the software. There isn't a great deal you can do to process your data once you've downloaded it.
Overall, I'm satisfied with my purchase and I recommend the 205. $250 might seem like alot for a fancy timing device, but it really is much more than that and I find it to be a good motivational training tool. After a run, I can't wait to download the run data and view and compare it to other runs.

I purchased the 205 to mainly get an idea as to how far I was running. This is my first training GPS device. I figured the circuit I ran was about 5k. To my pleasant surprise the 205 told me I was doing 3k more than I estimated so that was great news to me! But the 205 did not stop there. Read on....

If you are anything like me the runs I do at 5:30a on the weekdays are not as strong as the ones I do at 8a on the weekend. A couple hours of extra sleep seems to make a lot of difference. On Saturday I ran my 8k circuit at 8a and came in at a good time (for me). I saved the 8k circuit as a "course" in the 205. The Training Center software that comes with the 205 allows for fairly easy editing of the course adding in markers on when to turn, valleys/summits and saving the course back to the 205. This morning (5:30a) I started the 8k "course" in the 205. Straight away I could go to the navigation page and with the "virtual partner" function turned on there I was racing my(virtual)self! What fun! As expected I could not keep up with my(virtual)self and based on when my(virtual)self would start to break away I knew I had to put on more power. Without a doubt the virtual partner function is going to help me improve my early morning weekday runs. While I intellectually understood the benefit of the virtual partner function until I actually used it I didn't appreciate what difference this function will have on my training.

I find the 205 to have fairly good ability to get satellite signal. I can turn it on in our house (2 story with me on the ground floor) and get a signal. But overhead tree cover does seem to affect the current pace accuracy (see my nits below).

The integration with Google Earth and Maps is incredible. I can save the images as JPGs and post them to my blog so every one can see where I've been. Tres cool!

As I mentioned earlier the Training Center software that comes on the CD with the 205 is good. However, I would recommend going to Motion Based whose URL is provided in a flier that is packaged in the 205. I really like MB and you can check out other people's GPS data/times.

Now that I covered what was important to me there do seem to be some minor nits with the device that I noticed and I see other people have already commented on. The nits I would like to see corrected:

- the extensive menu navigation. There has to be a way to simplify the menu depth and make it a little more intuitive.

- current pace is negatively affected by overhead obstructions. On my 15k I run down a trail that has intermittent clearings and tree cover. Every time I ran into the tree cover and lost signal strength on the satellites the current pace dropped even though I'm fairly sure I was keeping an even pace with the music I was listening to. The 205 has a "pace alert" function that can alert you to when you slow down. Not very useful when every time I ran into tree cover the alert would sound. I eventually had to turn the pace alerts off as it was too inaccurate to be of any use. The overall average pace seems to be accurate.

Overall, if you are on the fence about a GPS training device (as I was) then jump down and join the rest of us that are reaping the significant benefits of owning one. And the 205 works really well so I highly recommend it!

Oh, the reason I did not get the 305/HRM combo is because I get heat rash from wearing an HRM.

I just bought this yesterday and used it for walking and driving. The device can lock on inside building as long as there are no floors above you or you are near a window. The 201 had no chance of locking on indoor. I walked to the store and the path was near 3-4 story buildings and never lost the signal. The 201 couldn't handle that either. The USB is HUGE improvement to the serial port (what were they thinking!). The design is much more comfortable and looks more watchlike and can easily worn all day without discomfort. The software is a HUGE improvement over the last. It will also work with Google Earth and works well! I walked around INSIDE a mall in San Francisco (Stonestown) and kept the signal except on the ground floor inside a store. It would lock back on immediately when walking back into the walking area of the mall. The SIRFstarIII is amazing. Highly recommended for ANYONE who does anykind of activity. Its fun, informative and just plain a great GARMIN product. KUDOS, GARMIN.

Overall the 205 is very good. I bought the Forerunner 101 when it first came out two years ago and returned it in 3 days because it could not keep a GPS signal in a typical surburban neighborhood. Howaver, after the two weeks of use the Forerunner 205 is a keeper.

I like the ability to plan a week of runs on the Training Center software, and load the workouts in advance into the 205. What's troublesome is getting to a day's workout. It's a long series of buttons. Mode, arrow button to Training, arrow to Advanced, select Today's, then select the workout I pre-loaded.

What it ought to do is find the satellites, chirp that the GPS is synced, and prompt directly to the day's workout list. That's pretty much what anyone would do every morning -- go right to the workout list.

I've tried some workout settings but what I'm really settling into is a stopwatch type workout that announces when I've reached a mile split. The workout is set to repeat a 1 mile distance for 22 miles, but most mornings I stop the workout after 6-8 miles. This workout allows me to head out random directions in the neighborhood and not focus on time most days.

Many stopwatches have a feature that when you press and hold the stop button you save the data separately. For example, if you complete your morning run you press, hold, save that day's data. Or if you do a warmup prior to a race, you save that warmup time separately.

It would be nice if press and hold the stop button on the 205 would save the workout and prompt for a new one to start. What you have to do is navigate all over again with at least 5 button presses back into the workout choices to stop the workout, then choose what's next. Too much navigation.

It would be nice if the Training Center software had a page of every single data display on the 205 at a glance. All it offers is a graph of distance, pace, elevation, and a few other things. There are 205 data displays like calorie total for a workout that are not available in the PC software.

I'd also like is the ability to choose sounds for types of alerts on the 205 -- like I can with my Garmin GPSmap 60CS. Some of the alerts are as long as cell phone ring tone, I really don't need to hear a 8-second multi-tone alert when I complete a routine mile lap, for example.

Again, the 205 is very good. I'm hoping for some software upgrades!

Others have covered most of the features in detail in previous reviews so I'll skip over that because I agree pretty much with what was written.

I ran with this in Northern Virginia and had almost no problem with drops, or atleast the smoothing features helped to utilize pace average to accomodate the satellite drops and give a fairly accurate report on the distance run. I have some trouble with the inital acquisition of satellites, i.e. my first run of the day, but after that point, the 205 acquires satellites extremely fast and does a great job locking onto them. I also have an Etrex and this outperforms that model in terms of satellite acquisition.

I next ran with the 205 in New York City and I'll say the results were a little less positive though I'm still glad I made this purchase. I read that the 201 did not perform well in the city so I skipped out on that model, but believe that the 205 does much better. Once I got satellites to start my run, the 205 marked my start point. While buildings caused my signal to drop, I noticed the drop and repressed my timer button to keep the time going during my run. Satellites did not reacquire till I stopped in an open area, but once they did reacquire, the 205 estimated the straight line distance from where I started and gave a pretty good read of the distance I had run because the timer did not stop.

In sum, a no brainer if you live outside of a city, if you live in a city, it's not terrible, but you'll have to keep track of when it drops satellites so that you don't end up running without the 205 recording the run. Software is a bit clunky, but it does as much as a typical manual running log would accomplish so I'm satisfied. The USB cable is so much better than the serial cable I need to use for my Etrex. Definitley a good buy.

This is my first Garmin, although I've used bigger Magellans for hiking.

Advantages:
*tracks total ascent and descent of your run or hike on the training partner. This is a great training feature.
*You can set any distance as a lap and compare your rate on the training Center. I also set it to beep at the mile mark (my lap).
*Rarely loses signal. Dense tree cover doesn't phase it. I only lose signal beside a steep bank or hill for a long time (1/2 mile or so). Re-gains signal without a problem.
*Accurate mileage. Some of the route planning websites quit working after your route exceeds 12-15 miles, which is the only reason I got a Garmin.

Disadvantages:
*plastic wristband not the most comfortable, although I've gotten used to it.
*The charging is totally unreliable. Why is this the case with so many expensive electronic products? When I plug in the charger, it either a)does nothing; b) turns itself on & off, beeps annoyingly, not charging until it dies of low battery, or c)after lots of fiddling, charges. This started the second time I used the product. Haven't tried customer service yet - that's next. Nothing more annoying than showing up at a race with a dead Garmin you thought you had charged.
*it takes a long time to locate the satellite (5-10 minutes) if you haven't used it lately, or if you're using it 50 miles away - you eventually get a prompt for this and it re-sets itself.
*it most likely overestimates calories expended to a ridiculous degree. I decrease my weight by 40 pounds to get an accurate caloric expenditure.

I use my device daily. When finished, I press stop and then shut off the device. I place it on the PC interface and that automatically downloads the runs and takes care of charging. If I don't shut it off, it continues tracking satellites which sometimes works indoors, a testimonial to its great sensitivity. I don't get a good charge though if I have left it on and then placed it on the charger.

Some quirks: When acquiring satellites in the woods or under very humid conditions, I live in Northern Wisconsin, I find it does so better if I can find a good clearing to several horizons and then holding my arm out with the flat watch band part horizontal standing still for 45-60 seconds.

When the trees are thick or the sky is overcast, I find I get much greater vertical distance than I know I am actually running. Hopefully the techs will give an update for this... it exaggerates your calories!!! Also, my base map has me running on the water in the Green Bay part of Lake Michigan. They say I can download a better base map but have yet to figure that out.

Do not put bug spray or lotion near the case or bezel. It will stain! THis is the main reason I give the unit a 4. You would think for an outdoor device the case would be impervious. THis is poor design. When the mosquitos and deer flies are thick in the woods, you cannot run fast enough without bug protection, especially when running up steep hills! :-)

So there you have it. I love almost all of the features, but the case. Oh, I would get the 305 if I did it over again, that way I could avoid wearing a second watch for the heart rate. I love the training info, post race, it is especially helpful for my marathon distance training.

Garmin touts this unit as a trainer for runners, but I use it for hiking and cycling and I love it. I wish the built-in software and the software for your computer that comes on CD would recognize hiking as one of the sports to automatically categorize your activities under, but it only has running, biking, and "other" (very minor complaint).

I've owned (but lost) a Garmin Geko 301 and this Forerunner 205 picks up and locks on satellites so much better (has trouble in narrow canyons, but all GPS units do). I really love how small it is and that it can be worn on the wrist--so much easier to check status of your activity (hike, bike, run) than carrying in one hand a portable handheld GPS unit. The 205 has all the features of my Geko 301 and some, but in a smaller package.

I really like the computer software that you can download your GPS track data to--it shows in nice colorful chart format how fast you were going, where you were, elevation, etc. and displays your route on a basic road map. It also allows you to categorize your activities and automatically files them under the date. The Forerunner 205 itself doesn't have any mapping features showing where you are relative to roads or terrain, just to markers you set.

Overall, if you are interested in portable GPS units and don't need one with built-in maps, then I think you will be very happy with the Forerunner 205...I am!

I'm not an experienced user of GPS devices, so I cannot compare it to the competitive products, however my opinion is that my Forerunner is doing what I expected. Before buying I have read several opinions about that it tends to loose the signal or to present the false data. None of those I have observed after 1 month of intensive use. I use it for running and for windsurfing and in both cases it works pretty well. I run in the forest and among buildings in the city but the signal is lost very occasionally and it is retrieved fast. The waterproof feature has been proven as well :-). The only issue I could have is that one of the 4 pins use to connect to the docking station is getting rust, so I have to clean it up every time I need it to connect to my PC. This is why I give 4 stars not 5

Filip

This new upgrade of the previous Garmin Forerunner serie is excellent. My wife and I both use the Garmin 205 and had previously been using the 201 and 301. The 205 is more sensitive when picking up signals and there are almost no weak signals even in wooded areas.

I like the there are three screens that can be customized with one to four types of data shown on each screen. This allows non-critical data to be displayed unlike the 201 and 301 which only had one screen that could be displayed.

The watch is comfortable and the main displays are easy to read. The history screens are difficult to read without my glasses but that is only a minor complaint as I usually don't look at those until after a run.

I would highly recoomend the Garmin 205.

I just ordered the Garmin and was excited to see that it IS actually compatible with Mac OS X now. The cd included with the Forerunner includes a download for Macs and is working with no problems.

I had the 201 for a while, and love it; but I lost the charger, so I thought this would be a good time to upgrade, and get better reception in the trees. In my limited trials, it delivers as promised, and I have never lost signal. It is a great device except... I received the 205 and charged it up; then went through the set-up, and lost power a few times. By working with it, I found that it had a loose connection; by twisting it, or pressing the mode button it would power off. After a long wait time on hold with the customer support line, I was able to return and replace the device. They over-nighted the new 205, and that one worked for a few hours, but only when plugged into the charger (which makes it difficult to run very far). I still can't connect to the customer support line to get this one replaced.
In summary, this is a great device, but very poorly manufactured, and their customer support is to overwhelmed to handle their issues. I would wait for them to work out the manufacturing issues (as of June '06).

It does a few more tasks than the 201, however:
Wrist strap is not as comfortable or as easy to use.
Internal battery does not last as long.
It does not lock on satellites any faster.
The readout is not as readable, particularly the details such as the last run statistics.

The Forerunner 205 is extremely easy to set up and to use. It enables one to walk or run or a combination along any route. The record of this activity can be automatically downloaded to a computer in a few seconds. Details (distance, time for different segments of the route)can be easily displayed plus a very nice map of the route taken.

Since I enjoyed the previous version of the Forerunner, when the 205 model came out I was anxious to trade up and give my daughter my current model. The training device is awesome, especially for running and biking. The Forerunner provides the same capabilities as a bike computer at a fraction of the cost. The 205 model has enhanced its capabilities for collecting information for different sports. The import features to me as a runner (just added biking) is the split screen showing my pace, time and distance. When I set my goal for a certain race, I enter it into the Garmin and it will let me know what pace I have to maintain to reach my goal. I'm amazed at the accuracy of the finish times with using the satellites. Although each Garmin can be slightly different in end times, after I've finished every race, the Garmin indicates the correct distance of that race each time. The only challenge is it's size. Although the 205 has been upgraded, it is still a little heavy but I wouldn't let that discourage me. I got used to the weight. What I'd like to see added to the device is collecting a total for a particular day. Since I do speed workouts and clear my device with each interval so I can see my progress with each one, I'd like to know (without having to add each one up) the total mileage for the day as it provides for a week. Garmin, keep up the good work!

Bought the Garmin 205, compared it to my Garmin 201.
I'm amazed that the 205 works within 25ft accuracy in areas that the 201 says its lost GPS signal.
Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas that the 201 will not even work.
The screen can be adjusted as to how many features you want displayed and the size and comfort is amazing.

The Forerunner is an awesome device! It totally motivates me to run (which I hate doing, by the way). The only complaint I have is that it loses track of the satellite pretty easily when going under a covered area (i.e. trees, buildings, etc.) but I guess that is to be expected by any satellite device... especially one with a tiny antenna that fits on your wrist. But overall, it's a great training tool and would be a perfect gift for those interested in running/walking.

I bought this as an upgrade to my Forerunner 301 (gave the old one to my wife :-)). I decided to go without the heart rate monitor this time, as it always seems that I have to run way too slow for the suggested heart rate ranges, and it was taking away some of the enjoyment of just running. These devises are extremely useful, especially if you travel a lot (being able to run near the hotel without having a route and knowing how far/long you've gone and the ability to find your way back). I couldn't do without one nowand neither could my wife.

In my opinion this is a good, but not earthshattering upgrade to the X01 series. I like the fit and cleanability of the new wrist strap. The screen is fine for me (I don't ever look at the graphs anyway). I like the new charging/syncing cradle. Start up time is about the same as the 301. It does seem to handle dead-reckoning through heavy trees better than the 301. Functionally though it is equivalent to the old one.

For the money I think I made the right decision in buying this instead of another 301 for the reasons listed above.

I have been so happy about my Forerunner. I am not a person that typically likes to track my training and am not good about keeping a log. This watch is great! It keeps my log for me and calculates my results in ways I didn't even know I could.

A big improvement over my previous 201.

Pros -

Satellite tracking is much improved
More & Better functions (like Auto Pause, Auto Start)
USB interface automatically transfers data
More custom data displayed

Cons -

Seems heavier than 201 and not as comfortable
Sometimes takes a LONG time to find satellites at startup

What a great device this is! The owner of my local running shop recommended it as a way for me to really pinpoint my pace and distance on my daily running workouts. It does all this and more -- I haven't even scratched the surface of what it can do! And you don't have to be a hardcore athlete to justify owning one of these-this is an earlier model so the price is very reasonable (and personally, I didn't need the heart monitor or other bells and whistles that jack up the price on newer models). If you are just interested in setting goals, mapping routes, monitoring distance, and/or really understanding your mile by mile pace, this is the device for you. You can set it up to gauge distance x pace or distance x time or time x pace. You can set up intervals (e.g., mile increments) that will track your average time and pace for each one and alert you when you've finished an interval. You can set alarms that let you know when you exceed or go below a certain pace. You can run against a virtual runner. And if you take it to an unfamiliar place (e.g., on vacation) you can use it to map out a route or determine how far you've gone to reach your distance goals. It saves a history of your workouts for comparison and you can upload the data to your computer for further analysis (haven't done that yet but will in the future). Although not applicable to me, it also has a multi-sport mode that can be used for triathlon work (biking and running components) or even other types (e.g., cross-country skiing), with all the appropriate programmables to get a full gauge of each component. You can use the device for just cycling or walking too. The instructions are pretty straightforward and it's easy to get up to speed with it. It is extremely comfortable to wear and the display is easy to read (I can read it along the way without my glasses). There's a backlight too. There's a straight GPS component too so you can use it to retrace steps or get to a destination. The only downside, which I think is inherent to any GPS system, is the satellites take a few minutes to load each time and you really need to get away from buildings and trees for effective loading. But the upsides of the device so outweigh that minor inconvenience! I have been recommending the Forerunner to all my athletic friends.
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Training Center For Mac software version 2.1.6 is available as of October 14, 2008, according the Garmin site.

I love my Garmin Forerunner 205 except that it is uncomfortable on my wrist when worn conventionally. I have seen this complaint from other females. Turning the watch around so that the face is on my inner wrist fixed the problem completely. This may work for others.

I purchased the 205 in October of 2006. I found that the unit had problems locating satellites in the city or running in areas with tree branches overhead. This included Pittsburgh, PA, Ohiopyle in PA, and Golden Gate Canyon in CO. It worked fine on wide open trails. It also locked up a couple of days ago and appears to have a battery problem or software problem with the unit. This appears to be the same problem I have seen reported by other users. With a minimum repair charge of $89, it seems high given the cost of a new unit. Based on the reliability I have had with my unit, I will not buy another unit or recommend it to any other potential buyer.

This is great for training. It's really nice to able to see your current and average pace. It's also nice that it can automatically start a new lap every mile (or other interval that you specify). It sometimes takes a long time to get a position, however.

There's not much else to say. It works just as advertised and I have yet to have a problem with it. I have not used the virtual training partner function, as I have an actual training partner, but I like how I am able to accurately track my performance, and I like the freedom of not having to map out distances before a run.

My only complaint, and the only thing that prevents my review from being a five-star review is the quality of the Training Center software that is packaged with the ForeRunner. It has limited functionality and is not very intuitive to use. Because of this, I don't use Training Center. Instead, I use a program called SportTracks to record and analyze my workouts.

Overall, I love my ForeRunner, and I don't want to run without it.

This is my first GPS training device. It generally works well. As long as I have captured the satellites before I begin my run, it keeps tracking me through reasonably heavy overhead tree canopy (C&O Canal Towpath, Maryland; Scotts Run Nature Preserve, McLean, Virginia; Great Falls Park, Virginia). There are times when the tree canopy where I begin to run is too heavy and the device does not pick up the satellite signal before I start to run. I just remember to turn device on in a less forested area before driving to begin run. Device has great flexibility and amazing download capacity to included software. Much more information than I will ever use. I at times forget to switch from biking mode back to running mode. Only really seems to affect calorie calculation. Most times the instant pace feature seems to provide too slow an estimate of actual pace. The ending average pace will be significantly lower than the instant paces I have seen on the device during a run. Overall I am very pleased.

I have used this product since April and have been very satisfied overall. I really like the way it synchs data with my Mac.

The menus take a while to figure out. It's like cell phone software in that it takes a number of clicks to get to exactly what you want.

I live in Hawai'i and I was getting irritated walking around in circles staring at my wrist while the unit tried to locate satellites. Then I read a great tip on-line. Just turn the unit on and put it down; go back inside and put on your shoes. When you come back out, it's ready to go.

This device really helps motivate me to get outside and get some walking in every day. The watch has made me conscience of my pace, and has helped me increase the quality and effectiveness of my walks considerably.
br /
br /Pros:
br /*The battery life is very good(I walked a couple of miles every day for two weeks without having to recharge).
br /*Watch controls and software are very intuitive and easy to use.
br /*I like being able to configure the screen layout for different activities, running, biking, other...
br /*A great motivational tool.
br /
br /Cons:
br /*Can sometimes take an annoyingly long time to acquire a satellite signal before starting a workout (note, after using it for several weeks I decided to charge it fully, even though it still had 3 bars of battery left, and the next time I went for a walk it found the satellites almost instantly. Maybe a full battery helps acquire sats quicker?? I haven't really experimented much more than that one time).
br /*Kind of bulky.
br /
br /I highly recommend this product, even if you are not a hard core runner, as a motivational tool to encourage you to be active on a regular basis.

I have been using the NIKE+ that works with my iPod for my training. I never knew how inaccurate it was until I got my Forerunner. I am VERY pleased with this unit and the accurate feedback I get.

I can't even walk to the mailbox without wanting to track it with my new GARMIN! :0 just kidding! I love my GARMIN!!! I am new to this running world, so I love being able to go back and review all my runs to see how I've improved. I especially love downloading them to my computer and see the runs plotted on a graph. I'm kinda nerdy that way! I also hike with my GARMIN, and it's kept me from being lost a couple of times. I've also never lost the signal in the woods on the 205. My friends have had a couple of problems with their 301 models, so I definitely recommend the 205 or 305.

Very happy with the purchase of the 205 Garmin GPS. It first looks bulky on the wrist but it's not heavy.
The program disk for the computer (Mac) is very easy to set up and now we simply click the Garmin into the
cable and "Beep" it downloads in seconds. This device has more functions than I thought it would, many
functions I have yet to learn. We've used it for running and bicycling. My wife and I are thinking about
getting another 205 or 305.

I am a pretty new runner and this watch has help my continued improvement already. It tracks distance and pace which is vital to know if you want to improve on schedule. I am very pleased with the watch and my results. My only complaint is not about the watch but myself. I tend to forget to hit the stop button when I finish my run which requires me to then edit the data after the fact on the computer monitoring and tracking program.

I don't know how I ran outside without the Garmin Forerunner. I absolutely love it. The set up was very intuitive and easy. I recommend it to anyone who wants to run outside, change up their route and be able to review their progress. Highly recommend!

I had been using the Garmin 201 model for over a year and was very anxious to get the 205. Since I got it, I find that the current pace is consistently wrong on the 205. The 201 is much more accurate when it comes to telling you the pace you are currently running at. The 201 does all the same basic things as 205 just as well and is much better on the current pace for some reason. The 201 is also about $100 cheaper and I would highly reccomend buying it, it is fantastic and a great value!

Great GPS. Software interface a bit difficult. A little bulky but then again I am a woman with a little arm. Would like if the battery indicator was on the main screen. It would help me to know when I need to charge it back up.

I was wondering if anyone has tried this for accuracy. I haven't been able to run much lately so I tried my 205 on a track. Either it doesn't work on a track or it seems to be 15-20% off. I don't think that is very good. I do however run on the very outside of the track. Oh, at some point it said I was running 8.5 miles/hr. Never in my life have I run that fast. I feel disappointed.

I have been running a garmin forerunner 201 for years. I decide to step up to the 205 when both of my other forerunners died. The hype is that the 205 is better than the 201 in 3 ways: 1) more sensitive receiver, 2) better training software capabilities, and 3) comfort and fit. The 205 lived up to the hype in both 1 and 2, but feel a bit short on the comfort and fit. I run regularly in San Francisco and in Stockton California. In SF, I run along the waterfront (for the most part). I have found that the 205 aquires the sattelites faster than the 201 and does not lose reception as easily. Kudos! I still need to try it in the "concrete jungle" to see how good it does with tall buildings. As for the software capabilites, I a VERY happy with the data that is recorded. The only glich is that my computer does not recognize my garmin. As a result I've had to download the driver a couple of times. It's easy to do because it comes on the disk, but it's also a bit annoying. However, once this is done, the data you get is pretty nice. It plots is onto a map which is cool. You can also down load a workout from your computer to your 205. I have not tried this feature yet, but hope to soon. The only place where my 205 feel short was on comfort and fit. This is a very subjective thing, so it might just be me. Because of the more wrap around design and weight, the 205 feels a bit klunky. Also, the notches on the strap are a bit off for my wrist size (one hole is too tight, the other is too loose). But like I said these are minor and very subjective things.

Bottomline: If you run where there's not a lot of cover and you're not a big technophile, save your money and go with the 201. I was happy with the 201 for years. However, if you have to have the most accurate data and the cool interface, spend the extra bucks and step up to the 205.

Overall, I'm pleased with this GPS watch. It does everything I expected and I believe it is accurate. The idea of combining the GPS within the watch and not having to attach a separate device to my hip or shoe was especially appealing. I find the display easy to read and like the ability to manage what is displayed on the screens. The setup process was pretty intuitive. The only downside is that I find it takes up to 5 minutes to locate the satellites. May not seem like much, but when you are ready to go, this is an inconvenience. More so as I cannot operate the GPS indoors so there's no way to plan ahead and turn it on while getting dressed or what have you.

Sure it's a little big, but Lando Calrisian had a big watch too and he was cool. This thing is about as user freindly as it can be. The interface is simple, connecting to my PC was easy and the GPS is dead on.

Garmin Forerunner 205 is one of the best gadgets for the health fitness, it is also an excellent entry level gps with applications for hiking.
br /Previously having owned the Forerunner 101 I was excited to get my hands on the next generation of forerunner Fitness watches.
br /
br /The Good: this rugged GPS fitness watch tracks time, distance, pace, elevation gain more accuratly than previous models. very intuitive user friendly GUI. quick to learn. the redesign in shape seems to make picking up sattelite signals quicker and more efficient than older models. still needs a good line of site for initial signal. standing in my living room near a window it was able to get a full Signal. display is big and easy to read. Tactile feedback is intuitive when operating without looking directly at the watch. The main menu preferences allow user settings. Nice new additon of compass is a nice added feature although I don't use too often it is a cool show off feature. It still stores history of workouts AVG speed,elevation gain/loss, distance Calories burned. Even provides basic mapping and location marking,.
br /There is a built in Workout companion with pace alarm or distance alarm.
br /USB or Wall charge options are a huge plus! and who can argue with BLUE!
br /
br /The Software interface is an excellent inproved feature.
br /Overall as with previous models this is a msut have for any fitness enthusiast, actve indivdual or weekend warrior adds motivation, quantifiable data in an intelligent design with excelent support software to keep up to date history on workouts.
br /
br /The not so Good: Garmin innovation in GPS with a fitness watch was Smart and foreward thinking. However, with the upgrades of better sattelite receiver and design features Garmin givieth taketh away, in previous Model Forerunner 201 the battery was a good 12-15 hours, Garmin 205 is at best 10 hours lithIon battery. Also, the battery indicator is an icon with 4 bars not an accurate way to tell exactly how much battery life you have left ( Older model would tell you exactly how many minutes you have everytime you power it on!
br /
br /It does a good job of little idle battery weeping, but lacks the capacity of older model.
br /If I could change anything about the garmin it would be the battery life or power options all together.
br /I owne the original forerunner 101 although it was a bit bulkier, was less accurate in obtaining the sat signal it did have replaceable AAA battery for power, this feature was nice when I went on a day hike and wanted to track my distance ., elevation gain, and my route in avery simple light weight gadget. Forerunner 205 has although the capabilities of tracking distance, time, elevation gain/loss without the battery logevity to support those applications that would be used while hiking.
br /
br /Conclusion: Keeping in mind that this is Garmins GPS designed fore Fitness applications not tracking, orany real in delth navigation, I like products that can be used for many applications, Garmin hit a Homerun with the Fitness application of this intelligent product, I highly reccomend this and think every runner, cyclist even recreational walkers, hikers and joggers should own one. it drives, motivates and will improve your performance. the redisgn looks different but functions better.
br /
br /If it had a better long lasting power source I wouldn't be so reluctant to keep my old garmin 201 which is still working Great!
br /

I have not had any problems with satellite reception or accuracy. The menus offer a tremendous number of display options--too many for a simple wrist-worn device if you ask me, but I suppose someone must be interested in all that stuff.
br /
br /A couple of times I have turned the unit on several minutes before a race or workout to allow it to locate the satellites and when I got ready to start the timer, I found it was already running. I'm guessing that I must have inadvertently brushed the start button against my leg or hip while waiting for the race to start. Seems like it shouldn't be so easy to activate the timer. On the other hand, I sometimes have to push on the mode button five or six times with extreme force to get it to activate. I have an uneasy feeling that the button will one day stop working altogether.
br /
br /The included software, Garmin Training Center, will be adequate for most people for viewing the data and graphs of the data. However, the map database used by the Training Center is a joke, since it only shows major highways and thoroughfares. Fortunately, the software allows you to view the route on Google Earth--a huge improvement.

I am an older, non-technical minded racewalker, and I needed to know how far I have been walking and how many calories, and also my pace - in preparation for my first marathon. I purchased the Garmin and it has been a wonderful companion. There are a few features that I have yet to figure out - but the features that provide my above stated goals, are easy to use and they are well worth the money. If I would just stop walking long enough to read the instruction manual, I am pretty sure, I can master the other features. I have not yet used the virtual partner, but I will figure that one out soon. The size is not a great deal larger than the watch I had been wearing, and the information is presented in a very readable format. I highly recommend the gps features and I am glad I made the purchase.

I am really impressed with the Forerunner. Although the product is LARGE, it is lightweight and you will forget that you have it on. However, the included software SUCKS big time--geared for a single user and NO LOCAL MAP SUPPORT. Tracks are not easily exported to common open formats such as Google Earth. I am now using the freeware Sports Tracks Software (http://www.zonefivesoftware.com/SportTracks/), definitely an improvement.

I have both of these devices. They are both great in their own way. I love the old 301 due to the large face and ability to see things even when you are in the last miles of a marathon and your brain is oxygen deprived. There is alot to be said for that. However, the new 205 is also nice in that I believe I have a better time finding satellites and maintaining a signal even when in woodsy or dense high rise bldg areas. The hook ups to download to your computer are different as well. On the 301 you plug directly from the device into the computer (USB). On the 205 you have a docking device that your garmin sits atop of and then that device plugs into your computer via usb. My only problem with the 301 is that the rubber plug that protects your usb plug from sweat and moisture broke off after about 9 months and as a result, I can no longer download anything to my computer. It continues to work as far as mapping and distance, laps etc and I can review the information but I can't download it. For a mere $65 Garmin will let me send it back to them and send me a refurbished one. Not a bad deal. The 205 doesn't have a plug on it, it has 4-5 copper contacts on the skin side of the device and you are supposed to wipe them off with a damp rag and let dry before using the docking station. That seems to be working fine. The 301 has the heart monitor with it the 205 doesnt. I like them both and would recommend either.

This is an excellent training partner. It keeps you on pace when running alone and is a must for anyone that runs in new places where you are unsure of the distances and don't ant to run for just time. I recently ran a 1/2 marathon and it was absolutely 100 % responsible for keeping me on pace, never going too fast or too slow. If you have ever run a marathon or 1/2, you know how seldom the mile markers are exactly where they are supposed to be.

I am not a 'techie' so I haven't mastered all the things that it can do, but it is wondeful, with just the things I know how to do now. You can use it on your bike, hiking, running, roller blading and so on. It is a great toy, even for an old guy like me.

I bought my first GPS almost 20 years ago. And the last 4 or 5 years I have been getting at least one per year, many times more like 2 or 3 new ones each year. Some are better than others, for sure! Garmin has got this one right. Absolutely. I'm an overweight elderly rockhound and this GPS fills the bill perfectly for me. The computer waypoints and tracks can be imported into the normal Garmin software and/or into the neat workout software that comes with the Forerunner. Really fine little piece of technology.

Thia has been a great GPS tracking device. I hiked to the summit of South Sister in the Oregon Cascades and never loss signal. I talked to a couple of guys who had hand held devices and they lost signal in the tree heading to the mountain.
Also, I run and mountain bike every week, this has been great for tracking my time and pace.

This watch rocks! It's small enough to not become bothersome. Plug into computer and it tracks the route and pace of your run, (walk, bike, etc.) which is ideal for serious athletes and training marathon runners...which is why my husband uses it.
For those that like to change their route often...you can set it to the distance you'd like to go and it will alarm you when you've gone half-way so you can just turn around wherever you are and head back.

I run anywhere from 10-15 miles per week and love to run outside. Also, I like to run 5k races and am currently training for an 8k and am considering a 1/2 marathon. With the Garmin 205 I am easily able to keep up with my pace, how far I have gone, and my total time. The watch has several other features that I have not attempted to use. The only drawback I have found is when running in a downtown area. The GPS sometimes goes in and out, but otherwise I have not had any issues. I have definitely been able to train better and with more purpose using the watch. It was definitely worth the price that I paid for it.

I wasn't going to give a review because I think people really don't actually take the advice, but I have to since I love this watch. I just got this in October, 2008 and I love it. The 205 is great, you don't need the 305 or the 405 unless you are a hardcord runner and really want to know everything about your work out. If anyone is confused about getting it...then don't be. It's a great device and you will hate going out for a run without it.

Hopefully I'm not repeating anyone (I scanned the reviews and didn't see this). There is now a Mac OS X version of Training Center. It is compatible with: Forerunner 301, Forerunner 205, Forerunner 305, Edge® 205, Edge 305, Edge 605, and Edge 705 [...]

I am quite new to running and this is my first GPS device. I just got it last night and have only done 1 run with it, so I can't comment on its longevity, but at this moment I can't ever imagine running without one again. It's small and light, you don't notice you're wearing it. The displays are easy to read and programming it is intuitive, though the manual is simple and helpful if you need it. How wonderful to, in a single glance, see my running time, pace and distance! You can customize the display to show a variety of other measurements as well, such as best pace, average pace, speed (current, average and best), laps, etc. I am just a jogger and have never been good at judging my own speed; now I can tell where I am at all times and adjust according to my own goals for that run. You can save your courses and run them against "yourself" as the Garmin remembers previous runs on the same course to compare on the fly. It tracks through foliage just fine and only "lost" me for a few seconds at a time in heavy trees.
br /
br /This equipment is so helpful in training for any level of run, from my little slow 5Ks to top marathon runners. Anyone will benefit from the accuracy and simplicity of this device. Don't think you have to be an elite runner to deserve one, it will improve your time and your fitness no matter where you're starting. Buy it, or if you want the heart monitor to go with it, buy the 305!

I love my Garmin 205!!! I had a Nike foot pod before which I liked but this is great. I love everything about it. I have small wrists, but it fits well and isn't too big. I can even set it to do 7min run/ 1 min walk intervals. I love downloading the infor and looking at it. It's very motivating! I would recommend it to anyone who runs.

I puchased my Garmin 205 three months ago for a modest 144.00 and it has been worth every penny. I have just returned back to running after 20 years of chips and ice-cream. I am now training for a half marathon and this watch/GPS has put me on pace to make it happen. It has a ton of features and is ready to go right out of the box. I've never lost a signal in the time that I have operated this watch (including tree lines) and with the Motion Based website I'm able to record all of my runs and review each step along the way. It's been fantastic - almost scary!
br /
br /I would highly recommend this watch to anyone who wants to take their running up another step.
br /
br /Some obvious considerations:
br /1. It is a large watch and it may take a day or two to adjust to it.
br /2. If you spend the money on this watch you should want to get your full money's worth by training for a special event (marathon, 10K, etc.)
br /3. Easy to operate - virtually bomb proof.
br /4. Shop around. The price of this watch is all over the board!
br /
br /I wish that Garmin would have place a "battery" signal on the watch. Although I charge it after each use, it would be nice to see the battery strength during the run.
br /
br /Have fun running and hope to see you on the road!

I used my 205 for the first time yesterday and loved it. I have had 3 auto GPSs from Garmin and loved them. So when I decided to try the runner version, I went straight to Garmin. The set up was very easy. Turn it on, and push the start button. I did read the quick start guide, but that was it. I thought I would give it a first test during a race on a measured course. At the end, the Garmin was at 3.07, but the course also zigzagged back and forth a lot in a small area, so I think that was pretty good. I bought this to use for training so I would not have to pre-measure courses, but I really liked having the instant checkpoints during the race as well. I was afraid that the size was going to be an issue when I ordered, but it is really not bad. I did spend a couple of bucks on a sweatband to wear under the plastic strap, and I would recommend this, although depending on the size of your wrist, this might make it difficult to fasten. However, there was a longer strap included in the box. Also, I forgot to turn the power off at the end of the race, so it was on all day before I realized, and it was still going strong, so I hope that is a good sign for the battery life. Hope you enjoy this product as much as I have so far.

I was so excited to use this watch since it was recommended by a runner friend of mine. But this watch seems having difficulty to locate satellites and it takes much longer time than expected getting connected. I wore it for my half-marathon race in NYC in January 2008, the pace was not accurately recorded, and after losing satellite signals in the middle of race, the data stopped being recorded. Now I stopped wearing this watch.

I have had the 201 since 2003 and it has been very reliable, except recently it seems to go from "6 hours of battery time" to zero in about 40 minutes. So I decided to buy the Forerunner 205. Big mistake. While it seems to acquire GPS signals much faster, the secondary menus are almost unreadable, with very small display fonts and terrible backlighting. I have to get a magnifying glass to try to read it, and still can't read it very well. The 201 at least gives you a guess of how much battery time is left. The 205 only has an icon, with 4 display bars. So if 1 bar is on diplay, how much bettery time is left? I tried calling support to get an answer, but on 4 different days and times it was recommended that I call back at another time since the wait time was so long.
br /
br /In short, there are not enough "good, new" things about the 205 to have me throw out a perfectly good 201 that meets all my needs. I will just recharge the 201 when it goes below 6 hours of battery time, and try to run with a fully charged 201 as often as possible.
br /
br /If however this is your first GPS running device, it is a great start. Hopefully you will get as much use from it is I have gotten from the 201. But, if you are thinking of "upgrading" from a 201 to a 205 I wouldn't.

The Garmin Forerunner is the perfect tool for Marathon training which requires varying distance runs. The training computer software is especially handy for setting up training runs of varying distances and paces and keeping a log of the training runs. It is extremely user friendly and the owner's manuel is easy to follow. The first unit I received quit working after 2 weeks but Amazon put a replacement in overnight mail the day after I notified them of the problem. I received the replacement unit the same day I placed the defective unit in the mail to Amazon. Great service!

Nice update of the original model. Main advantage is that it's more sensitive and finds the satellites faster and doesn't lose the signal when I run under trees. Main downside is that the fonts seem a bit smaller but acceptable. Also the angle of the watch on my wrist is not as good as the old one so I have to turn more inwards to read it. But a great value for price overall and I couldn't run without it!

My old Garmin was the Forerunner 201, and this 205 is WAY better. It's smaller, so it doesn't take up half my arm anymore. It's also more sensitive, so it doesn't lose signal in the forest or downtown like the old one did. The ONLY thing I don't like is the relative lack of a battery status indicator. The old Garmin would say how many hours of battery life you had left each time it started up, but this one only has a little battery symbol with 4 bars, and even that you have to go looking for. All in all, however, WELL worth the purchase.

After using my Forerunner 205 a couple of times to get the hang of it I quickly became dependant upon its many uses. You can plot courses, keep track of your pace, count your calories burned, and with the training software for your computer tracking your progress has never been easier. I am in training for my first 1/2 marathon and the Garmin has proved invaluable in helping me achieve my goal.

I had the Forerunner a few years back and decided to exchange it for a foot pod pacing watch b/c it took forever to find the satellites and i did not feel it was very accurate after i exited tunnels etc.

I am pleased to say the product is *much* improved! It finds the satellites easily and the accuracy is tons better! I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to for an accurate pacing watch. Or the 305 if you want your heart rate also.

Be sure to download the software updates if they come out, that will also help the accuracy.

Purchased the 205 for marathon training. Based on a friend's experience with the 301 model, I was concerned about satellite tracking capability on my usual courses - which have dense overhanging trees. After 4 weeks of daily use, the 205 has never lost track on the routes where the 301 would consistently drop for distances in excess of 1 mile or more.
A brighter screen and color would be nice. But overall, I'm very satisfied. Don't know how I would train without it.

I recently started tracking my miles. It works well but is a little heavier than I thought but thats ok. My running partners also have one and it keeps an accurate measure of the distance. It does go out when you are in a woody area but jumps back pretty quick.

Nice GPS running watch, a little big on the wrist, but fits nicely with a wrist sweat band under it, works well.

The watch has been a great training aid for running alone.

I love this product. I originally had this whole wacky watch system, but I very much like the GPS system. It really works. I haven't figured out all of the features yet but i'm getting by with what I know so far and it's very good.

This Garmin product did what my husband wanted. He has had many cardiac problems and is starting to walk again. He is able to track his walks and keep track of how far he walks each walk. The visuals are very good. They even show which side of the street on which your walked.

The only thing it lacks is a website like the Nike+ to log your progress against others and form comptetitons.

This is my first GPS Running watch and I love it. It takes a minute or two to locate the satellite and then you have an accurate measure of time, distance and pace. This makes me run harder and longer because I know I am being measured. The watch snaps into a cradle and downloads the data for each workout, so you have an accurate running log. It's helping me take my running to a new level.

I bought this for my dad who is an avid runner. I also run, so I borrowed this from him and I really liked it. It is very large, especially for a woman, but it didn't really get in the way of anything. I wore it during a 5K race and really felt motivated by being able to see my actual pace throughout the race. It really helped me to run faster because I could see when I was slowing down. I knew that I wanted to keep a minimum pace, so when I fell below the pace, I ran faster. You can also download all of your results into google earth, so you can see where you ran and you can track all of your running history. It really is an amazing product and I would recommend it for serious runners.

This Garmin has provided hours of enjoyment for my boyfriend. He is an avid jogger and loves the functions this device has to offer. The price was better on Amazon than in my local store. The processing and shipping was prompt.

I love the user friendly buttons and screen on the Garmin 205. The watch itself is very easy to set up and start using right away. I am still learning the in's and out's of the training page/web page where you download the Garmin information to. This watch is capable of a ton of stuff - I just need to learn how to use it to it's full capablility with the computer. Overall I am very pleased with the Garmin 205 :)

The unit is easy to set-up, easy to use and easy to download the data to whatever site you wish to use. It's basic, but so is the price. I think it's great to have around to help set goals and see how your progressing. I'd recommend it for the casual to more-interested runner or cyclist.

I've had my Garmin for a little over a month and have loved using it every run. I use it primarily for pacing, but also to record my workouts so I can compare them. It is easy to use and is light enough that I don't even notice it while I run. I have not tried the more advanced features, but I know people who have used them for some time.
br /
br /The only problem I have noticed is that the altitude feature seems to be off -- it really is not that hilly where I live. If that does not matter to you, I would highly recommend this as a tool for anyone serious about distance running. I have used it in one half marathon so far and it really helped level my split times.

It's exactly what I was looking for... Easy to use and full of option for my training. It's a pity that the battery don't last so long.

This device allows me to know how far I am walking and to change my pace at will. It would be great if I could have a map of my walk.

Although I don't train for racing, I do train for general fitness, and wish to keep track of my pace and distance. This helps to ensure I don't start slacking off in my exercise (that, and I love gadgets). I opted for the 205 instead of the 305 because I already had a Polar heart rate monitor. I kind of wish now I spent the extra $50 and got the 305 so that it was all in one, and so I could download my heart rate information on the computer with the running information. Live and learn.
br /
br /The pluses on this are: 1)Adjustable display-I can set it up to show up to four pieces of information selected from a long list including lap time, pace, speed, altitude, time of day, etc. 2)When displaying only one or two pieces of information, the numbers are larger and easier to read. 3)The buttons are easy to locate by feel while running, even when wearing thin gloves. 4)I can use this just as a GPS, i.e. locating and saving landmark coordinates and paths, although it requires a lot of fishing through the menus; not something you want to do while running or biking. 5)Virtual running partner-I set the desired pace in the watch and stick figure runners show if I would be in front of, with, or behind a running partner who held the set pace.
br /
br /The minuses are: 1)The backlighting borders on worthless. I sometimes run in the twilight after sunset or before sunrise, and I can only use this for the downloadable data. 2)The bundled software seems to crash more often than I care for. Downloading the latest update from Garmin usually fixes that, but it is inconvenient. 3)The battery lasts a few hours, but that might not be enough. If I ride my bike to work while wearing this watch, and forget to turn it off upon arrival, I may not have enough power to run it on the way home eight hours later.
br /
br /For someone who is not training for a marathon, this is an expensive toy, but worth it to me. For determining distance on new running routes, this can't be beat. I have tried carrying my heavier hiker's GPS 12XL while jogging, and it is just enough to wear my down after a couple of miles. This is an improvement.

I love the Garmin, my only complaint is that it is a little heavy. But, all in all, I am pleased.

I bought the 205 for my girlfriend and we use it when we run together. It makes running fun. We like how it tracks our per mile time as well as how easy it is to put in lap times. Never had a problem with it going down or finding a satellite.

It's light, easily worn on the wrist and you barely know it's there.

One time a couple of weeks ago, we were running in another city and after running four miles we were completely lost. The 205 helped us get back to our starting point. Without it, we would probably still be out there. :)

We haven't used it for hiking yet, but plan to this weekend and I suspect it will really help knowing how far we have gone and where we are.

I highly recommend the 205.

I could not be happier with this product. No more estimating times. I've already seen improvment in my workout after only a week. No satellite drops. The software is simple to install and easy to use.

I have had my garmin for only three weeks and already I can tell it has helped me run faster. Knowing my pace at each point in time really pushes me. I usually train at an eight min per mile pace but having the garmin makes me want to keep my pace in the seven minute range. Beware if you live in an area where you get poor cell phone reception because the satellites will take longer to load. This is one annoying feature. Sometimes the satellites are loaded as soon as I step out the door and other times, I have run a couple minutes before I pick up a signal. The "current pace" is a little delayed, but as long as you are aware of that its not so bad. I was afraid of becoming dependent on using the garmin, but it really hasn't been like that, I still enjoy just going out for time. I recommend this product for any one who likes knowing how fast and far they run and likes to push the pace on their run sometimes and get the reward of knowing what they accomplished.

I had the old Forerunner 201 and was not sure the new model would be worth the extra expense. I was wrong, it is a much better system. Not only smaller, but quicker response, less dropping signal in trees and more functional. The interval trainer lets me do run-walk with ease and keeps track of total time (in real time) which the FR201 does not. So, I am very happy that I upgraded. I have not used the training package that comes with it, but it is great for keeping track of progress on the go. I do not miss the HR feature in the FR305 so the FR205 is ideal for me. It switches from running to cycling much easier too, for you dual or tri-athletes.

Here in flat Florida - we've never had a problem with satellite reception. The data is amazing to have and I've found free software to plot coordinates onto google maps. My wife and I both use it and love it. That revealed probably the only weakness that we have found. Personal data can only be configured for one person. It is unfortunate.

And if this thing could hold a couple gig of mp3s I could ditch my nano. I bought that originally for the nike+ system, and still run with it for music, but the garmin provides more accurate information and much more of it.

The Forerunner 205 is great. I was concerned that it would be too bulky, since I have very thin wrists, but found that you really need a screen that size to easily read it while working out, and it is not cumbersome at all. This is my favorite triathlon training tool, and (bonus)the GPS even works when you're driving in the car.

Love my garmin forerunner 205! It's wonderful- lets me know how far I've run, tracks my pace, and alerts me if I'm going faster or slower than I want to go. A must have for a runner training for a race!

This is a great device. I was shocked by how well it works and all it can do. I no longer have to run on pre-planned routes to keep track of my mileage. I don't have to worry about pace or distance in races that don't have mile markers. All this information is on the watchface and can be uploaded to my computer and permanently stored at the touch of a button. It also keeps track of calories burned and shows your routes in gps format on the computer. It is extremely user-friendly. The only drawback is the size. I have a small wrist and it is kind of heavy. Definitely worth its weight though. I'm sure Garmin is working on this aspect for future models. If there is a distance runner on your X-mas list--this is the ultimate gift.

I absolutely love this product. I used to use Nike+ but after it broke down I bought this watch. It is excellent I run and bike with it. It is so verstl. It has never lost signal through all the trails i've run. This product will stoke out your runs and is super easy to use for the technologically challanged. It uploads to the computer with free software and you can check out your run on a satilite map.

I ordered my 205 from Amazon.com in late October and started using it in early November. I have been using a Forerunner 201 since Christmas of last year (2006) and loved it.
The 205 has been an excellent upgrade. I am so pleased with it. It never, ever loses reception (I've only lost GPS signal a couple of times and that has been jogging through tunnels), is accurate, user-friendly and a powerful motivator.
It really helped me out running my first marathon by keeping me on a consistent pace and letting me keep track of so much information.
All in all, I have found that after running almost my whole life, the Forerunner's (first the 201 and now the 205) have helped me get to a new level of running (I've lost almost 25 pounds and run my first marathon). My 205 functions as an accountability partner and teacher. I love the fact that no matter where I am I can run out the door and know exactly how far I've gone and how fast I've done it. It really simplifies the planning process for runs. I also like the added navigation features of the 205 (over the 201). They look to be very impressive, but I have not used them thoroughly yet.
If you run more than once a week, you need a 205.

Pros:
-Provides great information (and tons of it: elevation, pace, best pace, average pace etc.)
-Accurate
-Easy to use
-Very comfortable (I was concerned that the plastic strap would be less convenient/comfortable than the 201's cloth/velcro strap, but the 205 has been great to wear.)

Cons:
-So far I really haven't found any, but I'm a pretty low-maintenance guy. I just get out and run.
-The only downside (just thought of this) is that the display is smaller than the 201's which makes reading it at a glance slightly tougher. It hasn't bothered me at all, but I'm 23 and have good eyesight. If you've got poor eyesight than you might want to go with the larger display of the 201.

From the time that I received my Garmin Forerunner 205 it was simple to use. It gives pace, mileage and time as well as other options. Everything is downloadable to the computer. I was most impressed with the map that it stores of my running routes. This watch is a dream.

this watch works great so far. used for multisport and running. even on bike trails, it maintained a good satellite signal. would highly recommend saving the workouts and using a program called tcx converter to view routes superimposed on google maps for free.

I am very satisfied with the purchase as it has helped motivate me to run even more and train better with clear goals.

GPS-the next breakthrough in running gadgets. Many thoughtful and helpful features designed in by Garmin...light years ahead of typical stand alone HR monitors on the market today.

I love this watch. I bought it for my husband for when he runs, but now I use it on my runs!! The design is great. Even though it is large, I never notice it when I run. I love that it tells me when I have hit the mile mark (you can turn that off if it bothers you). It has made my runs very enjoyable. The only issue that I have seen with these (it was with my Dad's).. If you don't wipe off the back after each run, the little tabs that connect the watch to it's cradle get covered in goo and don't work. I recommend wiping it down after each run. (Also, when I called Garmin about this, they were pretty rude on the phone.. you would think for the price tag on their items that they would have better customer service)

Love this product. Easy to use more accurate than the Nike + and great reception even on cloudy days. Must buy for any runner. Helps motivate and improve times. One feature I didn't know it had was a lighted back for night running.

I love this item. I wish I would have purchased it sooner. It has so many great functions...like the interval workouts and auto-pause. Don't even think about a 201...go straight for the 205. Well worth the extra $.

I purchased this item as a gift for my husband's birthday. He has been running several times a week for the past two years and recently signed up for his first 10K. He normally ran the same route every time, because he knew the distance. But as soon as he got the 'watch' (he was very excited about it-didn't even know such a device existed) he has had the flexibility to run different routes and distances. He loves the features, and it really seems quite easy to use. He now loves to monitor his pace, distance, and calories burned, and uploads each run to the computer right afterwards for comparison purposes. Now he wants to sign up for additional races! And it was a great price on Amazon-I did a lot of shopping around!

I am an old school runner and I was reluctant to spend so much money on a technology just for running. My only regret is that I did not buy the Garmen 205 sooner. The lift to my training has been unbelievable. To know exactly the distance I have ran, how fast and the grade of hills has made my training a 1,000 time more effective.

I noticed some of the reviews reference difficulty in reading the data on the screen. Each of the 3+ display screens can be customized to show anywhere from 1 to 4 fields. The less fields/data you choose to display the larger the font is. The 205 comes with a program to load onto a PC but I have not done this. The watch display can be easily configured using its own controls. Overall, it's is very easy to operate.

There are no large buildings or trees where I run so I have not experienced any loss of signal. In fact it seems to operate when I turn it on indoors before I leave.

I was a little worried about the bulk of this watch when I purchased it as friends were dissatisfied with the size of previous generation watch. This unit has proved to be great however and I don't even notice it while running. Esp. like the ability to record workouts incl. path traveled, pace, altitude.

I love the Forerunner 205. It's all I need in a GPS Watch. The only functions it didn't have compared to my Forerunner 301 was the heart rate monitor. I had a lot of issues with the heart rate monitor and was only able to use it a handful of times. This watch is perfect! I highly recommend it.

I love this product! It is so cool to actually know how fast you are going, how far you have run. The pace alerts really helped me be consistent in a recent race. It helps me train appropriately, too. This features many types of settings, so it can be confusing sometimes to remember to turn alerts on or off depending on what kind of training or race you are doing. But, if you remember to set it for the correct settings, this makes a world of difference. I found that it's more comfortable to wear the Forerunner on the inside of my wrist, rather than the outside.

I'm certainly not training for the Olympics so many features are overkill. I travel a lot and when I run in a strange town sometimes I get lost. Not anymore! Its the main reason I got it, the FR 205 has a "return to start (or mark location)" function that gives you a compass (this way, dummy!), and tells you how far and how long at your current pace.

I also like other features - accurate mileage, current pace, avg pace, how fast was your last mile (or lap), stop watch - many features I don't use (biking settings, virtual partner). It is large, but compared to the preceding generation of Garmin Forerunners it feels more like a watch, albeit perhaps Dick Tracy's two way wrist radio. One dislike - battery is rechargable but I've never seen the indicator say 50%, its either full or just when you want to use it, you get a low battery indicator which means it will function for less than ten minutes.

Its usually good at finding the satellites, though when I go to a new town it make take close to five minutes.

I received the watch as a birthday gift. I have used this watch as I run for a few weeks now. It has worked just great! It is so great to be able to see how far I have run as well as my pace. Actually I have placed in my age group in the last two 5Ks and I contributed it to the watch! haha It is very easy to use and to upload the information to my computer. I'm sure it does even more than I have had time to learn. Again a great product.

Having used this on multiple runs now, I can say that it is very easy to use, highly accurate, and a great motivator.

I run along nature trails with heavy tree cover, and have ran in overcast weather without issues. You can actually see (in the phone settings,) that the Forerunner 205 is linked with as many as 10-20 satellites at once, so it does not often lose its uplink.

Without doubt, if you are looking for an easy way to track your runs, improve your training, or just have fun, this watch is for you. And, to confirm previous reviewers, it is surprisingly small, and easily forgotten once you begin your run.

The free software (and the Sport Tracks freeware) is great as well.

This was the best running purchase I have made. Takes a little bit to find the satelites, but once it does it tells me everything I need to know about my current run. Its like have a treadmill readout on my arm. Especially helpful on long runs. It tells me exactly how far I have ran. The workout feature is also really nice. Set the pace, or distance and your racing a virtual partner. Its always nice to see after a good run "YOU WIN"!!

Many of my running friends have this watch and love it. I bought it so I could see my pace at all times which is great for training. I will not run without this watch. I love it.

I owned the Garmin 201 before purchasing the 205 and the 205 works much better than the 201. The reception is better and customized layout on the screen is easier to configure. One complaint would be the wrist strap is plastic which is less comfortable than the more flexible wrist strap on the 201. This device also seems to be biased toward reporting a faster current pace than the 201 did. The 205 current pace does not vary as widely and is closer to the final pace but it seem to report that you are running slightly faster than you actually are. Overall this is a great device for helping during run training or just running for fun.

I've had this since it came out about 2 years ago. Having this little thing takes the guesswork out of figuring how far you've gone. The free MotionBased service included with this is also a very nice way to keep track of your training.

Garmin is constantly releasing software and firmware updates for this device. The biggest improvement I've seen is with the GPS aquisition when you first turn it on. It picks them up very quickly and it rarely loses a signal, even when under a heavy tree canopy.

Enjoying using - I have not used to it's full potential yet - good data and accurate.

I LOVE this gps. I have himmed and hawed over making this purchase and I cannot live without it! I am training for the Chicago Marathon and with kids in sports and an injured running partner, I was forced to do long runs alone and at odd times. I can run where I want and it is very accurate. It has a ton of bells and whistles so to speak, and I can just go for my runs. You will not be disapointed!

The Forerunner 205 does exactly what it says. I have used it on clear and cloudy days with no problems. The accuracy appears to be quite good. The device is easy to use and the software for my computer is as well.

I purchased the Forerunner 205 to help track my distances and pace. I get bored running the same course so I hoped this device would allow me more freedom without the hassle of always planning and checking my routes. It has certainly done that. I find my running now to be more interesting and I also don't have to check my splits and record data when I get home. I simply dock the device and it uploads the data.

Before getting the unit, I had concern that it might be bulky. That has not been the case at all. It was smaller than I imagined and when I'm running I don't really notice it any more than I did my watch. I like it better than the 201 format.

The software displays the map of my run (accurately) and I can view a report of my min/max/avg speeds, my laps and my totals quite easily. It keeps all the history so I can easily go back anytime to compare my progress.

I highly recommend this device whether you're an experienced runner or a newbie.

I had the older model (forerunner 201) and was constantly frustrated with incorrect data because of trees, buildings, etc. The new 205 seems to have improved their signal, as I still get a reading even indoors! My distance is much more accurate now, and I have been very pleased!

I had owned the Nike+ system and found it to be a great way to track my runs. This is even better! It is always accurate (the Nike+ would be off if I significantly changed my pace) and gives you more information than the Nike+ system could. If you care about your pace, are serious about your training and want to improve this is a great tool. My favorite thing is the virtual partner that tells me whether I am ahead or behind my intended pace. This more than anything has contributed to an increase in my performance. I have not had any problems with picking up the satelite signal, though it can take a couple minutes to aquire the signal when I first turn in on before a run.

I ran a half marathon with it a couple of weeks ago to keep my pace even and the thing is amazing: it lets me know when I get below or above my set pace. It has been a great trainning tool. The only two issues I have with it is that it bothers my wrist bone a bit, so now I wear it over a sports wrist band and it is just perfect. Also, I wish I could see the time during my runs, but I have not figured that out yet (I have not read the manual yet).

I bought this because I have multiple bikes, and the thought of buying five computers was not good. Product works great. It's easy to use and the software is easy to set up and very good for keeping track of training rides. I would highly recommend for people with multple bikes, or someone who does multiple sports.

This item was ordered as a birthday present for my 39 year old son who is a member of the Oklahoma City Police Department He would most likley be the best person to respond to this opinion. His coments to me is nothing short of a real rave for what he discribes as a very helpful item in helping him remain physical fit for his line of work. Willie Martinez

Definitely worth the money. Yes, it's bulky compared to most sport watches, but compared to other GPS receivers (since it is a GPS receiver) it's relatively compact. I have run with it in 12-14 degree temps. It works, although the display is slow to switch to the next screen. My only gripe is that it seems to take more than the advertised 30-60 seconds to locate satellites so that I can actually start running. Otherwise it's a great gadget!

Very user friendly. A Nice widescreen display that's quick to set up. It locks onto the GPS satellite and spits out the tracking speed and distance with minutes. Very intuitive; you can define routes that you repeat and save them. Way more real time data that you will ever need (I like the elevation feature). I find it helps keep my mind focused, as it passes the time on the long runs and rides. You can set it up for interval training, break down sections of the workout for time and speed. Great for data transfer. It's been a winner so far, and very durable. I'm glad I upgraded.

I love to run and hate to run the same route over and over again just so I would know how far I have run. Now I run where ever I want, through parks, and fields and now I know how far I have ran and what my pace is. Yesterday I ran 9 miles, came in downloaded my Garmin Forerunner 205 and got a lot of great information plus a map of my run. I love the MotionBased Player, it show me running the route and shows the pace, distance and elevation. One print out shows the Total time, Moving time, Distance, Moving Speed, Elevation gain, Temperature, and wind speed. And it is all saved for you. This is just a little part of the things 205 does, and it does much more. I have had no problems at all with the 205. While I have it connected to my computer for downloading it is also charging so it will be ready for my next run.

This is the best thing I have addedd to my workout routine since I bought a bicycle! Lots of information and a computer diary of your workouts. Alerts for pace and distance parameters. I often sound like a bell choir running down the road. Completely takes the guess work out and entertaining at a minimum! How did I get along without it?

Relatively user friendly, all of the features are great. Sometimes takes longer than others to find satellites, but I just have to press the power button in plenty of time before I start my run.

As a former 201 user I'm pleased with The Garmin Forerunner 205. It does everything I expected and it looks it's pretty much accurate. The only downside is that I find it takes up to 5 minutes to locate the satellites.

This is a great product. I have been using it for about 3 weeks. I am a 6 mile + per day runner. It gives you pace, distance, calories and about anything else you could want. It stays locked on satellites. Battery life is as good or better than the literature. You may catch yourself pushing harder than usual as you watch your pace!

MP from Alabama

The Forerunner 205 has been easy to use, with intuitive controls and menus. The speed and distance calculations are very accurate. The software loaded without a problem, was also easy to use, and the simple road map presented showing the routes traveled is very handy. It has generally taken about 2 minutes to locate the satellites, providing extra time for stretching, and I haven't yet lost tracking during a run or bike ride although, admittedly, I have remained in pretty open spaces. Overall, an excellent value.

I have purchased a lot of running gear and accessories over the past two years, and I consider the Garmin Forerunner to be the best investment I have ever made in such items. I absolutely love not having to guess on mileage (especially on those long runs), I appreciate knowing my pace, and I really enjoy having the histories of past runs available at just a few pushes of a button or two. The Garmin Forerunner 205 rocks!

GPS is very accurte and seldom drops a signal...I used to have to plan ahead and drive courses to get the mileage and this watch eliminates that need...I can go off on a different and know how far I've gone with no trouble. The uploads to their website is easy and provides good tools to chart my progress. There are too many features to mention, but I would not run without this watch. I don't need a heart rate monitor so that saved me $100. Highly recommend this watch to others.

I am very pleased with my new Garmin GPS watch. I walk marathons and the watch has helped me so much with my training. I love seeing my route up on my computer and keeping track of my training day by day. I am not a tech person at all and I found it easy to set up and work.
I love my watch!

I am a big guy, so the forerunner was not too big for my wrist or awkward. It is forgotten a 10th of a mile into your run. Being over 40, it can be hard to read but so is my watch! I have not used all the capabilities yet, but what I have used I like. I have another GPS, but I have to wear it on my upper arm which is very uncomfortable and awkward. The forerunner is great!!

The Forerunner 205 surpassed all my expectations. I previously used a Timex system which had a watch and a Garmin unit that was strapped to the arm. The Forerunner only has a light-weight wrist unit. The display is very clear and easy to read in most daylight conditions while on the move.The history feature is amazing and easy to use: it can be read directly from the unit or by downloading to my pc. The graphing feature is very helpful. You can see your pace for each tenth mile and easily determine where you lost or gained the most time. It also draws a map of the route, tracks calories burned, average and best pace. I haven't even tapped all the features and training possibilities of this tool. It's really great!

A few years ago, when Garmin released the e-trex, a GPS device which was fairly cheap and could fit in a (not tiny) pocket, I thought it would be a great item with which to measure my runs. While I did measure some of my regular courses, it was too big to carry in a way which allowed me to look at it during a run, and also wasn't sensitive enough when there were lots of trees or tall buildings around.

With the hundreds of positive reviews, here and elsewhere, and the price drop to an affordable amount, I figured the idea was worth another try, and have just returned from my first run with the Forerunner 205 on my wrist. Anyone who runs outdoors will love it. Since I haven't made adjustments to the default view, I could see elapsed time, pace, and mileage accrued.

While it appears Garmin is about to release another, somewhat smaller, unit (and this may be why the 205 is so reasonable all of a sudden), this unit is not uncomfortable, and anything smaller wouldn't allow for easy reading of pace, mileage, and elapsed time at a glance, without switching modes on the run.

The obsessive-compulsive among us may wish to download all the statistics about every run we do, but there is no need to own or use a computer to benefit from this training aid.

I purchased this for my boyfriend before his Marathon. What a fantastic product. He runs all over the place and does not have to keep up with his miles.

I gave this to my husband for Christmas and he just loves it! He has had the previous model but this one he much prefers. According to him, anyone that is in to serious running NEEDS to have it.

My wife bought me the Garmin 205 for X-Mas ('07), and I couldn't have asked for a better gift. I workout 7 days a week--running on all days as long as the weather is conducive. I used to have to either guess how far I ran, or measure with my car--tough to do when some routes go through parks/trails.

The Garmin works very well--I have not exprienced the slow satellite loading that some other reviews mentioned--perhaps it is a location-based problem. The screen is easy to read, and the info/data is very usable...especially when used with the software.

The strap extension (included) is great because it allows the unit to fit over sweatshirts when running on cold days. It is made of rubber, and is easy to wash, and avoid odors that plague velcro bands.

Any one looking for an affordable and user friendly GPS for running, biking or walking, I highly endorse the Garmin 205.

I have owned the Garmin 201, 301, and now the 205. It has a rock solid GPS signal ALL the time, is more compact and much more "watch-like" than the 201 and 301, and is much more customizable compared to the older models. It also finds satellites much more rapidly. In fact, it will find satellites anywhere on the top floor at my house. Highly recommended.

My son has used this watch for about 3 weeks now and he loves it. The virtual runn lets him know if he is on the pace he sets. The satelite has not failed once while running, even through a snow storm. Excellent choice.Garmin Forerunner 205 GPS

This is a great product. I walk in my job and was always curious how far I walked each day. This product provides great info and is a lot of fun. Also used it while downhill skiing and it was fun to see how fast I went on a pair of skiis.

picks up signal faster than I thought it would-do not consider it bulky as some have described-distances shown are very accurate-used during two marathons, one on trails thru dense woods, it never lost a signal-very happy with it!

If you run, Hike, walk or Bike and want to track your success, get the Garmin Forerunner 205 or 305 you will not be sorry.

Garmin Forerunner 205 Wrist-Mounted GPS Fitness Computer
This is a great device to wear running. It keeps track of your progress like no pedometer can do. It tells you where you are. It tells you how fast you are going. It's not exactly small, but it's very lightweight, so it doesn't bother you while you're running. Excellent quality and user friendly controls.

I gave this to my husband for Christmas and he cant quite seem to put it down. He is always finding new things about it that he loves. Probably one of the best gifts I have given him in years. We live in Phoenix by South Mountain and he is getting a big kick out of seeing each route he takes and the different elevations he reaches as he hikes. I used it once so far and it really pushes you to keep up with your target pace. I was sore for two days after I used it. A nice gadget to help improve your workouts. I reviewed all of the Garmins on Amazon, I chose this one mainly because of the features and the huge discounted price. For not knowing anything about these little devices, except for my friend's advice and the advice on Amazon, I am thoroughly happy with this product. If you are new at looking at GPS computers, just figure out what your basic needs are and start from there. Some of these have things that we would never use, but this one seems to be ideal so far. Great product!

Okay I have to say with the exception of my dog, the Garmin is the best running partner ever. I love my Garmin. Keeps my miles, time, average pace, and sooo much more that I haven't even used yet. I only wish I had spent a little extra $$$ and gotten the 305 so I'd have the heart rate monitor too. I've had the Timex Ironman Bodylink system before and found this to be less expensive, by far more reliable and no hassle with all the extra parts the Timex system has, everything is in one package here.

I'm not much of a "techie", but I was able with very little reading to set up my Garmin 205 in a matter of minutes and use it flawlessly. I run both on city streets and on trails and the Garmin performed perfectly. I'm finally able to guage how far I run on trails and at the same time get a pretty good read on how many calories I've burned! I recommend this to anyone who is looking for this same info.

No more guessing on distance or pace. Gives you the freedom to just go run without a mapping out a route. The battery lasts FOREVER. I run 3 to 4 times a week at least an hour each time (I run at night so the backlight is always on too). I only have to recharge about once a month. I had an issue with my 205 a few months ago and Garmin tech support was amazing. I've had it for 2.5 years and have trained for and run three marathons with it. The ability to customize the data fields is an excellent feature. Easy to navigate screens etc...while in motion (large easy to find buttons that are laid out intuitively)

The 205 delivers in every category it was designed for. Surprisingly comfortable for how large it is. Great accuracy and display set up make it easy to track your stats without breaking stride. Absolutely love this product.

What a great piece of technology. I can not only track my distance when out on a run I can analyze the data when I get home. I love the fact you can customize the data screens to show what information YOU want when out running. A must for any runner. Only advice, download after each run so you don't lose any info.

I am a long-time runner training for my first marathon. I bought this device for accuracy on the long runs and it's pretty easy to set up and use. I also wear it when biking to get overall distance. The price was very good for this dual-purpose device and I'm very happy with it.

I bought this GPS to help me train for a marathon. Knowing my pace was a huge difference in helping me run longer distances. The watch seems very accurate and is simple to use and configure to your liking. I love it

I loved this watch it does everything. it works great!! I can't believe i waited so long to get one. It is the perfect thing to get any runner!!!

I purchased the Garmin 204 Forerunner because I am currently training for a marathon and it is so cool to track your distance and pace throughout your runs. I haven't used some of the additional functions but am very happy with what I use it for. The PC uploading capability is great too, it lets you analyze your runs and trends the pace, distance, grade and elevation. I would highly recommend the Garmin 204 Forerunner.

I love my Garmin. I wear it for hiking so that I can keep track of my mileage. It's great for hiking the wilderness, too, because you'll never get lost. It is lightweight, sleek, easy to operate. I highly recommend this product.

Love this new 205. I just upgraded from the 201 and really like the functionality of the new 205. I like the fact that it keeps a better satellite signal. Also like the size much better.

I have been very happy with the Garmin forerunner 205. It is particularly useful when traveling so I can keep track of my miles without any trouble. The ability to track weekly mileage and pace per mile and upload all the inofrmation to your computer is a great bonus. The only downside is sometimes it takes a bit longer to load the satellite data, but that is just more warm up time.

The product was in new condition and almost $100 less than it can be found in running stores. I am very happy with it.

I love my Garmin Forerunner 205. It is great to be able to instantly see what pace you are running as well as your distance covered. The device also has interesting features such as a "virtual partner" setting that helps you to run a certain pace over a certain distance. Also, the Garmin functions as a speedometer whenever you take it on a bicycle ride - awesome!
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Better tracking is fantastic (especially as I tend to do a lot of running in urban and wooded environments, with lots of tight turns), and the speed-of-lock is excellent (I had it out of the box, turned on, and tracking in all of one minute--in a moving car!) but what I really like is the re-engineered design. Being able to EASILY pair distance with time elapsed, and being able to stop both at the touch of a very easily-locatable button, is great for water stops and intersections.
br /Also, the shape--no more lozenge, no longer feels like strapping a standard unit to my arm--this was MADE for runners. And the resolution. Screen has shrunk a bit from previous models, but it more than makes up with the greater pixel count--more information, less scrolling, more running for me. Great job, Garmin!

Does Everything it says it does, well. No complaints. If you have old eyes like me set it for one field per screen. If you see well you can do so much more with it. Either way, well worth the money. Great training tool.

I had upgraded from an older version of the Garmin and this one has great reception. I can run in the woods and it never cuts out. That was my main criticism of the older Garmin that I had.
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br /One thing that is misleading from the picture of this product is that it is bigger then it seems.

I had the Garmin 201 for several years and it worked well but it had trouble when I went under trees. The 205 does much better and is very good even when running under trees. A very good product!

Finds satellites much faster than previous design. Fits my wrist better too--doesn't slide around. Very good data fields for my uses and easy to set up. Charges up quickly too. Extension strap as well. Definitely a great buy for the money!

We had the 201 and it works great. But the 205 is a big improvement. It finds the satellites much faster and seems to be much more accurate. We really like the software. It's very useful and it's available for Mac!

i have bought several of these 205's, they worked great and i really hated to run without them but each one has died within a year of purchase. simply will not turn on, tried tech support at garmin but after an hour wait each time and then can't help you with that because you failed to register your product i thought i would give folks a heads up that the break after less than a year at least the three i have bought.

I should accept full responsibility for my purchase, but still feel like I was mislead. Reading only the manufacturers propoganda, is obviously ill-advised and other "reviews" should be consulted first. I read some other "reviews", not from the manufacturer, or so I was lead to believe they were independant. Bottom line is this thing is no where near as accurate as any reviews would lead you to believe. Just standing still, the elevations reading vary by 50 feet, it never stops at one number, or flips between a couple of numbers. Garmin said to do a full reset...which I will do, which will delete all my history and settings but I doubt it will correct the problem which is almost certainly inherent to the device itself.

Run the same course, and when you compare the elevations of each run they are no where close to each other. Not even the patterns line up. Courses I thought were flat apparantly are very hilly.

Even the distance comes in different although I am not certain how to calculate acceptable error in distance, particulary if it is a looped course. I think the error reported for the final distance should be no more than the allowable error in any one reading- which they claim is 10 feet. This should be the error in distance on a looped course, regardless how long.

Generally the device is very twitchy...you see your pace reading jump all over as you run at an even pace, and then see the same range on the graph on the computer. I beleive tree cover does affect the readings, contrary to the so-called indpendent reviews. As for getting decent GIS based maps, forget about it...at over $120 for a set of maps it's not worth it for most people, and comes as a surprise that the maps on the device are non-existant,and can't be added at any cost, and the maps that come with the PC CD are very sketchy, showing maybe freeways and not much in terms of other roads.

The software is okay, but does not let you do everything you think you can do...but again, you can upgrade for a monthly fee.

Other things you do not know until you get it, is that it takes a while to connect to the satelites. In winter, you must stand still for a minute or so while it locates, which is not as good a running right out of a warm house into cold air. So if you want to use your Forerunner in winter, you will be starting runs half frozen.

Also the large numbers are hard to see in the dim light especially if you divide the screen into 4 panes. If you need reading glasses at all, you might as well tuck this into your pocket, as you won't be able to read it at all. You can select a single pain, which is good because the numbers are larger. Turning on the back light in the dark is hard...some buttons turns on the light and others will change what is on your screen. Once you do get the light on you have to figure out how to get back to the screen you were at.

May take some more geting used to....

I think the stop watch function works very well though. It is light weight too.

I have used this product for about 8 months and it has worked fine until I went for an 8 mile run in the rain yesterday. Now there is a waterbubble under the screen which fogs the remainder of the screen area. I have always been gentle with the device and this was my first heavy rain exercise. Now I need to return it and look for something that works better in the rain.

For the most part I think the Forerunner 205 is a useful tool for 1/2 marathon and up training. I've used mine for two months now and have noticed a few things that bother me. The largest being the consistant inaccurate readings for distance. I can run the same 5.0 mile course over and over and get different mileages each time. I feel a variance of .2 miles on that mostly-flat course is too much. When running a race paced effort I can't rely on the 205 for good enough information to see my gains from training. That's a problem because I don't have a known 13.1 mile course to run race efforts on. And I certainly can't use a track for that distance.

What the watch is good for is letting you get a good idea of how far you've run on training days. When it drops a satellite during those days you can get only so upset, again since you're only training.

I think one feature that could be removed from the watch is the pace function. It consistantly indicates I'm running 2-3 minutes per mile slower than I end up running for the whole workout. It has never been a reliable source for pace information. You can only deduct that information from the watch by looking at lap times on key intervals and multiplying in your head. But even that's not accurate because the mileage can easily be off .1 or .2 miles. But its something, which in some cases is better than nothing.

This watch has given me a new attitude about running. No more logging mile after mile on the same old "marked" routes. Now wherever my legs, or bike, or boat, or....well you get the idea. The world is there for me to take. Mileage wise anyway. I love it.

hi, this product is announced as a personal training assistance, yet I didn't got it with this purpose in mind, and probably will never use it this way. My idea was to count with a wrist watch, which could help me in navigation for hiking or something like that. With this in mind, here is my appreciation:

-as a wristwatch, let's say it will be very precise; it will not ask you the time, instead it will get the time from the gps signal, which works with atomic clocks calibrated with another atomic clocks on land. The downside, is that in most watches you probably change the battery and never think of it at least for a year. The battery on this device lasts a day or a little more than that if you turn off the gps functionality (selecting indoor use in the setup), and about ten hours if you are using it for navigation

-for navigation: outdoors, is great for finding a way back if you get back the same path you walked first (it even has an option called take me back, or something like that), is great for setting landmarks (which will not get erased when the battery runs off), and is nice you can set icons on those landmarks, it tells you the distance to each landmark from where you are standing (measured in straight line), and it seems to have an option to watch an altitude profile of the path you have walked, but it does seem to work only in the training modes, so I have not seen it yet. Indoors: the compass gets crazy, so it wont help you find your way in the mall, or in an indoor parking lot; it also gets annoying with the 'lost satellite reception' messages (you can turn off the sound in the setup).

WARNING: it can be helpful for navigation in a one day walk, but I would not recommend it for camping. The battery lasts about ten hours when used for navigation, and if you are in the middle of nowhere, there could be hardly a way to recharge the unit. It comes with a non user replaceable battery, and no car charger for instance (but it can be charged trough a usb connection, and a laptop can be probably charged with a car charger, tough you may not be interested in this if you are camping).

a feature that 'could' be helpful for hiking also would be the 'set distance alarm', which warns you when you have walked a certain distance, but i don't recommend it. Since the device has a 10mt precision, you may be standing quiet, yet the device will increase the distance counter anyway. some uses i can think for this device could be finding your way back to where you parked in an outdoor parking lot, or landmarking a nice shop or place (if not inside a mall), or storing the way back to the hotel

It's very easy to use. Does what I need it to do and more. So far I am very pleased

I have had the Garmin 205 for over a month now. I have also used the 301. I like the 205 because it is smaller and more compact. I find it to be very accurate and finds the satellites faster than the 301. I walk under trees sometimes and have not lost the signal. It is easy to set up and read your stats. I have no problems with the rubber wristband. It is a good training device.

Very cool. Easy to operate the basic functions. Good satellite coverage - almost never drops signal. I use it all the time and love it.

I have one already bought this as a gift for a walking fanatic. I use it as a speedometer for my bicycle. I also use it for logging training mileage. It is a great gizmo. Probably a little pricey but I'm a gizmo guy.

Ed

I gave this to my husband for Christmas. He wears it every time he runs and he loves it.

Got this for my husband and myself although my husband has been the only one to use it so far! He loves it.

I have been running for a while now, but it has always been for a time not distance. Now with this GPS watch not only can I run for a time, but I know how far I ran. Another very helpful feature is the average time per mile it helps you produce consistent times. Great product

I bought this watch for my son and this is what he has say about it. The Garmin Forerunner 205 is worth the price. It is not too balky on the wrist and when hiking or biking the GPS Performance is spectacular.It tracks and puts a lock on your position and even going through trees it still keeps doing its job. It does not cut out on you. Now I know my distance I am going in my work out and I am glad I got this.

The Forerunner 205 is the best runner's tool now on the market. It is GPS based and appears to be very accurate in open sky situations. You get all the information a runner/biker needs at a glance. Choices available include speed, pace, time, time of day, elevation, lap time, lap pace, lap speed, average speed, max speed and much more. It even shows a breadcrumb trail of the route you have traveled. When synced with the included "Training Center" software it gives a record of your workouts to go back and compare to.

my son was thrilled to receive the garmin forerunner for christmas. thank you, amazon!

I might be asking too much. This Garmin 205 is all right but it can't seem to satisfy my needs as I am always on the go, by foot, walking my daughters to school or pre-school. I would actually give it a 3.5
br /1) I forget to turn it on when I leave
br /2) I forget to turn it off when I come back
br /3) When I use it next, it won't turn on because the battery is dead from leaving it on
br /4) Pain to always have to recharge the battery every day or so
br /5) It doesn't seem 100% accurate for the distance walked because it gives me a different value for the same path taken
br /6) It died on me in less than a month but Amazon was great to work with and they exchanged it without a question.
br /
br /

I really like this product. I really think it will help me this year to improve my times in 5k races.

I am sure that this is a great product, but I never received the shipment from Amazon. When I didn't receive the USPS shipment, I called Amazon and they promised to send another Garmin. Then, they informed me that the product was out of stock, so they would have to refund my money. I still don't have a Garmin, so I will be buying it elsewhere.

I really thought that this was a good product. But upon receiving the 205 I saw a warning that states there is a chance that you could get cancer from wearing it! So that was a huge turn off for me. I mean who wants to wear something that gives them cancer. Its stupid! Besides that point the product is really good... but i think sticking with a old fashion stop watch isnt that bad of an idea especially since you can calculate ur distance using sites like http://www.favoriterun.com/home/welcome. And you're really getting the same result and saving a lot of money... It took me a while to realize that...but hey if u like to spend tons of money by all means go ahead.

Buildings tree's and Powerlines reduce the accuracy but it still picks up an accurate GPS signal to run in areas.

So I'll be honest with you guys, I normally have no idea where I am at any given time. It's not that I have a terrible sense of direction, because I don't, it's just that I'm usually so hopped up horse tranqs and loopers that I'm a drooling mess. That's why the Garmin Forerunner is perfect for people like me. When you wake up in a different bathtub 5 days of the week, it's really nice to be able to wipe the mud off your wrist and see EXACTLY where you are! So refreshing. Honestly, there have been times where I woke up hanging-on to the underside of a UPS delivery truck and was like "What?" No idea where I was. Made a few deliveries and eventually ended up two towns away drinking whiskey and popping loopers. Best day of my life, no kidding. But then when I remembered that I was wearing my Garmin Forerunner GPS Watch Computer everything took a nosedive. It was like "Why are you ruining my fantasy, Garmin?" Oh man, yeah, that was actually a bad night. I came down hard. Ended up in some rich dude's bathtub cause I think he thought I was the Tivo guy. His wife found me in there and freaked out...not cause I was in her bathtub, but because she had been suspecting that he was cheating on her and then to find that it was some junkie was the last straw. I tried to tell her that I was just a random dude who took too many loopers and poppers and ended up in her bathtub, and I didn't even know her husband, but the only thing that came out of my mouth was vomit. She freaked again! I kept pointing to the ceiling and then to my GPS device, thinking that maybe something would be communicated to her. I don't know what exactly, but something. Anyway, she took off.
I heard that a few months later she got a ton of money out of him in the divorce settlement, but then it came out that she had been cheating on him with some criminal, so not only did she have to give all the money back, but she also got her new boyfriend caught up in some scandal, and so he got taken off to jail. So now she's like "crap, I got no dude," and she calls me up! What?! So I met up with her at an Applebee's off the freeway, cause that's how I do, and I was a mess from the start. I must have popped three or four vicodin, a bottle of Robutussin, and a couple tabs of something that my dealer called Bumpadoos. Holy moly! Bumpadoos will mess you up! And I'm a guy who can handle his junk....so these really must have been some serious drugs. About halfway through our Bloomin' Onion I could have sworn that I was flying. Hovering, actually. Just like a half inch above my seat. I kept looking at her and going "Can you believe this?" And she was like "I know...this is crazy. I don't know what I'm doing here." And I'm like "You have NO idea." Cause I was literally flying, you know?
Long story short, I was a MESS, but because of this Garmin Forerunner GPS System Watch Machine thing I was able to get home that night and sleep in my own bed. Although.... I was bleeding all over the place from something that must have happened on my way home (Did I get hit by a car?) and I woke up covered in ice. Not water that was melted ice, but ICE. To this day, I still have no idea how I woke up covered in ice.
That was the coldest I've ever been. No kidding.

Four Stars