As a long-time user and fan of the Garmin 305, the Garmin 405 was a product I was looking forward to for months as I was excited to see the next generation of the 305 I have enjoyed so much.
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br /I could not be more disappointed with the result.
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br /The Garmin 405 is a classic example of a good product concept and clever design gone horribly wrong as the Garmin team focused on form (looks) clearly beat out the folks worried about function. The watch looks fine (great for a HRM/GPS watch, so so for an everyday watch) but in terms of actual purpose-built functionality, it is terrible. There are multiple reasons for this which I will outline below.
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br /(1) Useless when wet (yes, that includes sweat). The fact that you cannot toggle between screens or do anything with the bezel while the device is wet should have caused the designers to toss out this novel touch sensitive concept and stick with what works. Instead, they decided to go with a neat design concept that works great when the salesperson is showing it to you at the store, but will provide endless hours of frustration when you are out running and just want to see your heart rate. This is my first bullet point because it is the best example of the type of design failures that make this a terrible device.
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br /(2) Use of built in functions/screens - The makers carried over the capabilites of the Garmin 305 and added a virtual training partner functionality, but the display can only show three fields at once and the fields themselves are too small for good viewing while in motion (ie running). Cycling between the displays is easy to do while sitting on a couch, even fun when you run your finger along the bezel, but when you are out running you quickly realize that it is very difficult to accomplish anything with the device. With the 305, if you wanted to change fields on the fly, you could manage to do it while keeping a reasonable pace. With the 405, you need to press buttons and run your finger along the bezel to switch fields - again, great on a couch, nearly impossible on a run.
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br /(3) GPS Accuracy. I have traded messages with people who disagree, and I will say that I sometimes have great accuracy, but have also had multiple experiences where the accuracy of this device is off by so much as to make the pace and distance benefits of a GPS useless. The best example is running a measured mile with typical neighborhood street tree coverage and having the device show I went a total of 0.70 miles (the 305 on the same stretch showed 1.01). I have had this happen multiple times in various locations and therefore have stopped using the watch in races when I want to know my true pace and distance (I am using the 305 again).
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br /(4) Silly things that might (or might not) drive you crazy - There are two buttons on the Garmin 405 - both on the right side of the face as you look at it. These buttons perform some useful functions, including locking the bezel so that you can wear the device in a non-GPS mode and avoid running down the battery needlessly while still using the device as a watch. The problem is that if, like me, you actually own a daily wear watch and when you travel you prefer to put the 405 in your bag or suitcase, having the two buttons on the same side means that if they press against anything they will unlock the bezel and the GPS will start running (or try to). The result will be a dead battery when you pull it out of your bag. It may seem minor, but pulling the 405 out of your bag after you arrive and want to go for a run, only to see it is dead, again and again, is annoying. The positive offset is that the watch actually charges at a pretty decent speed. Oh yes, and when the battery does, in fact, die, you will need to go through all of the intro screens again to get it going which will sometimes freeze on you (check message boards for solution to this as some people have posted them).
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br /Overall, this is a terrible product and if you really want to get a GPS enabled running device, I would highly recommend you buy the Garmin 305. It is much cheaper and while it does not look as good, the size will not bother you after a couple of wears and it will work flawlessy for you. I suspect they will eventually correct the failings of the Garmin 405 but until they do it is not a good use of your money.

The Garmin 405 is not my first HRM watch, but it is my first that has integrated GPS functionality. This watch is slightly complex as mentioned in an earlier review, but not too complex to get used to, and once you work out your process for using the watch it is not complex at all. What makes it initially seem complex is that it has so much functionality you can use it can be overwhelming. To turn on the light simply requires you to touch the bezel with 2 fingers rather than one, same motion for turning it off. They are attempting to match the user friendliness of the iTouch/iPhone with the touch bezel interface.
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br /I have probably the most complex setup for this watch that is possible. I have the HRM, footpod (so I can use it on a treadmill indoors) and the GSC-10 for my bike (a carryover from when I had the Forerunner 50 which does not have GPS). So far pairing and using the various ANT devices including the USB connection to the PC for data downloading has worked very well with no problems.
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br /This watch does not currently work well with Macs. I have many computers at home, including 3 Macs, my main computer being a Al iMac. I just use Parallels and XP for data transfer and analysis for the 405 currently. My hope is that Garmin meets their promise of Mac compatibility in 2008, but the workaround with Parallels works OK for now.
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br /If you are a gadget person and run/bike and love to review and collect data this is the product for you. I definitely fit that segment and love the 405. Only Mac compatibility and the somewhat complex menu system keep this from being rated 5 stars by me. If you prefer simplicity of operation and do not like gadgets much, my recommendation would be to choose a less complex watch with HRM.

I've been running with the Garmin 405 for several months now and love it. Given the mixed reviews here, I was apprehensive about getting it, but it really is a great training device.
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br /Out of the box, it's quite good. After configuring it and just getting used to the way it works, it's much better. For example, mine is set to auto lap every kilometer and I mostly use a custom view with just lap pace and heart rate. That configuration works very well on, say, a Workout set up for 10K. Interval Workouts are also very handy and easy to set up. The possibilities are endless.
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br /As I've progressed as a runner - first marathon this year, 3:52 at 41 years old - I've tried a variety of watches. First, a Timex Ironman, which I loved, but no Heart Monitor. Then a Timex Heart Monitor which I used with the Ironman (for the 100 lap memory). The Timex watches were stolen so next, a Nike Heart Monitor with the Nike+ Sports Band and Foot Pod.
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br /The Nike+ Sports Band looks cool but is not very accurate, even calibrated. Changes in speed, hills, etc. will affect the accuracy of any foot pod system. Once calibrated, it tended to be about 3-5% off. Not the end of the world, but also leaves some doubt as to your real pace in, say, intervals or tempo training. The Nike+ website also is not great. It looks nice, but is hard to navigate.
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br /Now, the Garmin 405. Likes:
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br /1. Everything in one device - HR, pace, distance, elevation, laps.
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br /2. Pace - I thought the whole GPS thing might be a bit too high-tech for a guy who loves the simplicity of running, but it is very, very nice to know your pace as you run. I use Hal Higdon's training plans, which call for all kinds of runs, with warm-ups, intervals, tempo intervals, pace segments, etc. The pace feature makes doing these workouts possible without having a coach at your side.
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br /3. GPS frees you from mapping out your route. You just run until it shows your distance is done. The Garmin Connect site then shows your map. This doesn't sound so amazing, but it is very liberating. You just run wherever you want, explore your neighborhood, whatever. It transforms city running.
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br /4. Auto laps. Great feature. Records all your details (time, HR, pace) for each lap automatically. You can review on the watch or on Garmin Connect.
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br /5. The Garmin Connect website is good, not amazing, but complete enough with nice graphs and it's easy to imagine it getting better.
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br /6. The data seems pretty accurate, based on a track workout. In a recent 10K race, it recorded 10.2K, but some of that variation is certainly due to my weaving among the crowd.
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br /Dislikes:
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br /1. Battery life - with GPS enabled, it needs a charge every couple of days to avoid the dreaded "low battery" warning in the middle of a workout.
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br /2. The USB stick for wireless transfer. It works, but Nike does it better. The Nike+ pop-out USB stick is a much simpler way to transfer data to the computer and a much better way to keep from losing the USB part.
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br /3. It can take a couple of minutes to find satellites and loses the satellites on streets with tall buildings. This is a little disconcerting, but the software seems to correct for it.
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br /4. You need the foot pod to use it for indoor training. One more piece of gear (and not cheap).
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br /All in all, the Garmin 405 is an incredible training device. It is the best choice in the market. Nothing comes close to it. 5 stars.
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br /I hope you find this helpful.
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I've been using the watch for about a month now, almost daily. The watch itself is great. Great functionality, great specs, very usefull. BUT - and there's always a but - the watch basically freezes up when it becomes wet. I sweat more than average and the iPod-like bezel does not respond when wet. I read a bit about this and made the purchase anyway. Big mistake. I am now returning because after about six miles, it is useless. A few other comments:
br /- Strap is comfortable but if you have a larger chest (I'm 44"), and you are forced to wear it tight, plan on buying lots of the $10 straps. Mine is already showing signs of streatching. I had a polar before with a nylon strap and this wasn't an issue
br /- There is some negative play on getting the watch to sync with PC. I'm a fairly technically savy guy and it took more than one try. The instructions online aren't the best.
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br /Takeway, if you are a skinny runner who doesn't sweat, this watch is a five. Otherwise, you may want to avoid.

As a triathlete, I am always looking to improve my skills and my tracking of my progress. This tool is ideal for that.
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br /Before I bought the Forerunner 405, I was using a Timex Ironman Heart Rate Monitor and a Sport Brain pedometer to track various data. While I really like both products, I found they didn't track enough of what I needed and the pedometer, while I did calibrate it, wasn't super accurate in tracking my mileage or pace. Thus, I wanted something that would do everything my existing two gadgets did, only more accurately and with more functionality. The Forerunner 405 is that training tool!
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br /I absolutely love the Forerunner 405 and feel it is the best value on the market for what it does (as some of the other similarly priced products don't have near the capabilities and functionality and some of the more expensive products don't offer enough added capabilities to justify the much higher price.) I also love that the GPS is in the watch unit...not a separate gadget you have to hook onto your waist like most other products with similar capabilities.
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br /What I love about this product is how many things you can program it to track and how you can customize it for your specific needs (and you can change those custom features as your needs change.) For example, I do a lot of hill running. I know the hills I run are fairly steep, but never knew how steep and really wanted and needed to know that. The Forerunner can be programmed to include grade that tells me just that. Now I know the exact grades of those hills. I also love that you can program up to 9 things it tracks while you are on the bike or run (up to 3 items in each of 3 fields) but you don't have to program it to its maximum potential. I don't have the foot pod or the GSC 10 for the bike like another reviewer as I have a computer on my bike already. However, the Forerunner and my bike computer are identical in their data, which just tells me how truly accurate this unit really is. Granted, because I don't have the GSC 10, I don't know my speed by looking at my Forerunner until after I sync up with the ANT stick, but since I have the bike computer, it's not an issue. Another really cool custom feature is that you can program your specific heart rate zones into the Forerunner (which sends that data to the ANT stick and the software programs). I know some other reviewers mentioned it was a bit complex to program. Yes, it takes some time if you're going to really use all its functionality, but if you read the owners manual (the bigger one, not the quick start one) and follow the directions, it's really very easy. Also, if you have questions or problems with anything, the Garmin customer service representatives are super helpful and can help you do or fix whatever you need (I know this as I've called them twice and they were great!)
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br /As for the ANT stick and the tracking software that you download to sync to the Forerunner, it's awesome. The Garmin Training Center shows you line graphs of your heart rate and which zones you were in for each workout, which is very helpful. The Garmin Connect software has much more detail, including pace, mileage, average speed, average heart rate, max heart rate and so much more. I know another reviewer said he wished it was USB vs. the ANT stick, but if you are like me and you only use one computer to upload your data from the unit, this won't be an issue.
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br /Another cool feature is that the the Garmin is compatible with Training Peaks. So if you use that product too, you can upload your data to TP in minutes. What's nice is that when you do that, TP's software figures out how long you were in each HR zone so instead of only knowing your average and max HR (which is what the Garmin software tells you, for the most part), you can see exactly how much time you spent in each HR zone, which I find very valuable. The Garmin Connect software links with Google maps too, so you can see where you went on your bike or run, which is kind of fun, but not really a training tool necessity. That data also transfers when you upload to TP.
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br /My only complaint is that this product is not supposed to be used in the water. So, you can't use it to tell the distance you swam in open water. But, since this is something I don't do that often, it's not that big of a deal.
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br /So, if you're looking for a great training tool that is highly accurate and customizable, I think you will love the Forerunner 405 and feel it is a great value.
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At first, the wireless transfer seemed a little like bells
br /and whistles that I didn't really care about, but it's
br /turned out to be worse than that. I was hoping to replace
br /and Edge 305 with this device, so that I could use it more
br /easily for running. That device uses standand USB cables to
br /sync and charge the unit---I have them at work, at home, and
br /in my car. The 405, however, uses a custom charging clip
br /that I will wither have to carry with me or buy multiple copies
br /of it and dedicate USB ports to their use. If I lose it,
br /it is not widely available, and will likely mean I can't use
br /the device for a while.
br /
br /Same problem with the ANT stick, which takes yet another USB
br /port to use. I have to carry this small, easily misplaced
br /$50 item along with the unit to use it elsewhere. And the
br /data transfer rate is dramatically lower than the Edge 305
br /version which uses USB.
br /
br /Lastly, the MotionBased agent doesn't recognize the 405, so
br /I am stuck with the much slower and less functional Garmin
br /Connect.
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br /The sort-of iPod like bezel interface is good, but takes some
br /getting used to. Overall, it's better that the massive
br /button pushing that would otherwise be required. It is only
br /slightly larger and heavier than a regular wristwatch, and it
br /looks nice enough to wear in a non-training setting.
br /
br /It's OK, but it would have been much, much better with a
br /standard USB interface.

I have owned this watch for about 3 months now. I am a competitive runner and a casual marathon runner. I have several issues with this watch.
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br /1. The watch malfuntions (freezes up, the bezel cannot be used, bizzarily switches from one screen to another) when it is raining. Changing the sensitivity of the bezel has not solved the problem for me.
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br /2. The watch uses a fair amount of energy in relation to the built in barrery capacity. Consequently I find mine constantly drained and often running out of juice when on a long run. It is annoying to always have to fully charge the device before I go for a long run (13 miles or more - let alone marathon preparation runs of 20 miles or more). As a result using this watch on your long runs requires careful planning. Otherwise you find yourself having to wait 30 minutes or more in order to charge the watch before you can go out for a long run.
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br /3. The watch often records all sorts of nonsense. Half of my runs uploaded to garmin connect are nonsensical represenations of my run. (Incomplete, or no gps info, or whatever.)
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br /4. The unit locks up from time to time even in good weather conditions.
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br /5. I am 6'4'' tall and the watch does not fit comfortably around my wrist as a notable portion of the watch's electronics are contained in the wrist band. This renders the wristband stiff. You cannot see this in the pictures. Buy packing much of the electronics into the wristband they were able to make the watch look like it is of regualar watch size.
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br /6. The speed measurement accuracy while running is dissapointing. My speed tends to swing widely on the display although I run at a pretty constant place.
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br /I still use the watch mainly to help me know the lenght of runs when I explore new routes (which I tend to do a lot) but I am less than satisfied. In fact I am back to my good old trusty Ironman Timex (without GPS) for most of my routine runs where I know the mile markers.
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br /One day, I am sure, most of these issues will be ironed out, but until then I can't really recommend this watch (at any price actually) to anyone. It is NOT ready for prime time.

I've found it to be an absolute delight. I do most of my running on the Burke-Gilman Trail in Seattle which is heavily covered with a tree canopy and have had zero problem with satellite connectivity. I have my watch do its sync up routine, with the satellites, when I'm stretching before hand and the watch is off, it goes much quicker when the watch is still and not on your wrist moving about. When I'm done stretching I pop it on and take off.
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br /When I'm done with my workout I normally plug in the ANT stick and leave the watch next to my computer to download the data while I take a shower. The total transfer time is probably 2 minutes tops. I really do love the ability to plug the workout into google earth and let your friends see your work out, exactly how you ran it.

I would recommend buying the Garmin Forerunner 405 as long as you don't sweat when you run/bike/workout. However, if you are like me and sweat when you take part in these activities: DO NOT BUY THIS WATCH! Yeah, you'd think that Garmin would have tested their watch on actual runners, but apparently not. Once you start sweating the watch starts "freaking out." It beeps incessantly for no reason. You can no longer switch between the screens because it totally locks up. This is not an isolated incident either. I took my first Forerunner 405 back for the same reason and foolishly tried another one. Same result. Moreover, I'm not so sure it keeps very accurate distance. I've run on a number of marked trails and even tracks and the watch is always 5-10% off. At least the watch looks cool and works great when you are sitting on your couch. All in all I'm very disappointed in Garmin and wonder how they can look themselves in the mirror when they are charging $350 for a watch that doesn't work.

I only had the 405 for a week and ended up returning it earlier today. Chose not to get a replacement. It's possible that I got a dud*, but I believe my comments are still valid for any Forerunner 405:
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br /So it's a sports watch but the bezel doesn't work when my fingers are sweaty? Um, am I missing something here?
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br /Maybe I was doing something wrong and it takes longer than a week to get used to the bezel, but I could hardly ever get the thing to recognize that I wanted to scroll an NOT select. Ironically, whenever I made the wrong choice I had to push the 'back' button on the side and thus be reminded that advanced technology is not always a good idea.
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br /Garmin Connect (MotionBased not an option): as of 7/22/08 it's practically a joke. Mega sluggish, lacking the MotionBased features I'm used to (like 'Average Pace'), and sometimes returning server errors.
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br /On the up side, the 405 acquires satellites much faster than the 305 and actually looks like a watch. I suppose the latter is somewhat important.
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br /* As I was getting ready to go out for a run today and was going through the menus, the 405 froze and eventually died on me. In the next hour I wasn't able to power it on (yes, I tried charging it to no avail). I'm glad I still have my boxy and Soviet looking 305.

When I was trying to decide between the 305 and the 405, I read every single review from a couple of different websites...it seemed that there was a lot of negative reviews on the 405, but also some hidden gems that make regular use of the watch a pleasure. I was shocked by how much Mac users seemed to hate the thing...since I own a Mac I knew I was going to have to work a bit harder to get the data to my Mac. For me, the deciding factor for the 405 ended up being the usability of the watch as an actual watch....it does look pretty sharp...and for $350 it better get more use than for an hour a day on a run...
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br /Here is what I've seen with my own use over the last couple of weeks:
br /The set up on my Vista PC was actually pretty simple...I followed the directions to the letter and went to the[...] site which helped me get everything set up pretty quickly. There are some pretty good directions there...I can't see how anyone could screw this up honestly...but it seems that some folks have had trouble with it...I was able to update the firmware right then and that went well also (just be patient as it seems to update one firmware version at a time and not all at once)...
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br /Once I got my PC all set up, I downloaded Trailrunner on my Mac...which supports the .tcx files of your runs that you can export out of the Garmin Training Center software (which really isn't good)...I don't know if there is a similar software package for the PC, but since I rarely use my PC, I really didn't take the time to look...
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br /After I got done with some runs, I came home and was amazed at how easily the Ant+ stick picked up my watch...it even picked it up once when I left the watch downstairs...which I thought was pretty cool (but I haven't tried to see if I could do it again, I just bring my watch upstairs)...I would assume that if you have your watch in the same room as your computer it would pick it up pretty easily...
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br /From this point I really wanted to get the data back on my Mac and into Trailrunner...and this seems to be the difficult part for most Mac users (the Garmin site says to get VMware and run it through that way-which is insane, but some might not have a PC box in their house like I do, so it would be the only way at this point)...What I end up doing is importing the data wirelessly, then pull it into Garmin Training Center...then export it as a .tcx file which I email to myself and pull up from my Mac...then save it to a folder and "open" into Trailrunner from there...sounds like a lot, but takes maybe 5 minutes at the most...and the newest version of Trailrunner is awesome...
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br /I also have seen some reviews where the watch is not responsive to the bezel touching...what I ended up figuring out after watching the video on the Garmin site, is that when the watch is in powersave mode you actually have to wake it up before it will respond...which can be done by clicking either side button...then the bezel responds to touch etc...this is really a much cooler feature than you would think...it really helps avoid draining the battery during regular "watch" use...
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br /As far as getting going on runs and using the HRM...it picks the HRM and Satellites up really quickly...which is surprising based on what I've seen in some reviews...it actually picked them up while I was in my house...and as of yet, I haven't had any trouble with using it on my runs...it shows my Heart Rate in huge numbers and the first screen shows pace/total time/total distance big enough that I can see it while on the move...I don't really need it to do much more than that as I am not what you would consider a fancy runner at this point with sprints or crazy heart rate work...I just have it auto-lap my time at a mile and call it good...
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br /The GPS has been darn near 100% accurate so far (I live in Houston TX)...and everything that comes through on Trailrunner is also within 1%...
br /
br /I took the advice of one of the reviewers and bought it from a running store in our area that is known for good customer service (Luke's Locker in Houston) and they have a 30 day no questions asked return policy that covered me in case anything crazy happened...I was nervous with all of the complaints about it not working when wet...but that hasn't happened to me yet (I even licked my fingers to see if anything strange would happen and nothing did)...
br /
br /I really like the watch and would hope anyone considering it would really do their homework...I really like the watch and give it a huge thumbs up!

The touch sensitive bezel is the downfall of this watch.
br /it completely stops functioning when the slights bit damp/wet - like at the end of any workout. I've also had multiple experiences when not only the bezel is non-functional, but also the 2 buttons don't function when damp - which is surprising because these should be mechanical.
br /The Buttons are used among other things to stop/stop/lap and lock/unlock the bezel.
br /While running, the data is great HR monitor accurate and sensitive, pace and GPS functions just fine. The auto-lap feature is particularly useful. The configurable display fields are handy for different activities (I wore the watch on a bike trip and you can configure the display to show things like grade etc..). Multiple displays are handy , but you tend to configure one for each activity and leave it set to that display.
br /A Huge Huge downside is the lack of Mac compatibility. I purchased the watch in May, was told by the store that it was compatible. I found out later it wasn't and a Mac connectivity program was promised for November. The latest word is Jan 09 - it can't be that hard to do.
br /Battery life initially sucked - updated firmware have improved this - with the original firmware , I got 4 hours of GPS/HR function and then it died - in the middle of a Marathon.
br /knowing what I know now - I would not get this watch or recommend it - you don't want to worry about not being able to stop your watch or look at the results at the end of a workout.
br /The watch has also completely locked up on me - although now I know how to reset it - hold both buttons down for 6+ seconds and follow the instructions on the face.
br /for Mac users - until they come out with the Mac "ANT" software - you can't upload your data to your computer , or update the firmware , unless you borrow someone's PC or go to a Garmin store.
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Unless willing to pay top $ for an unfinished product.
br /
br /The list of issues I ran into:
br /
br /1. The altitude and elevation gain/loss data is completely off. For example, once I ran an almost flat loop 7 times, yet the website shows that I have climbed 5,352 ft. during this run. That is impossible. Equally surprisingly, the elevation curve shows no pattern; I would have expected to see an elevation pattern repeating itself 7 times.
br /
br /2. The Garmin Ant Agent application is in the habit of crashing on my computer from time to time. This uploads the data from the watch to the Connect website.
br /
br /3. If the Garmin Ant Agent misses uploading one workout to the Connect site I can find no way to manually upload it from the watch. According to the documentation, one can force-upload all workouts, but I'm wondering if that will not overwrite the already uploaded ones.
br /
br /4. The Pace and Lap Pace functions are so off that one must not rely on them. This means that you have no idea on how fast you're running.
br /
br /5. One cannot press a key to manually record a lap (the Auto Lap/Lap Press Only function does not work).
br /
br /6. The automatic lighting of the screen in response to key presses and alerts works only sporadically: it does not work for approximately one hour into the run. As I start my workouts before dusk, it means that I see no alerts while it is dark outside.
br /
br /7. After I've upgraded the watch's software to version 2.3, I could no longer access the watch's second time zone: if I enable it from the settings, I stop seeing the first time zone.
br /
br /8. The Connect website is amateurish and seems to be eternally "under construction". Is this mentioned anywhere in the marketing documentation?
br /
br /9. If it rains, the bezel does not work: it does not take user input and flips screens randomly.
br /
br /10. The support staff is totally unresponsive: I did fill out two complaints on the website and I have heard no response.
br /
br /Please note that I did not use all the functions this watch offers, so chances are there are more bugs that I did not run into.

I used and loved the 305 for two years, however I am 110lbs and it looks like a 70's startrek communicator on my arm. I bought the 405 because it was a bit smaller and my 305 got ran over.
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br /The 405 is a hugh disapointment. I've sent my 305 back for repair ($106) and they sent me back a refurbished unit. I've stopped using my 405 and went back to the 305.
br /
br /Here is what I hate about the 405
br /- they dumbed down the advance workouts, you can only write them from a computer.
br /- the Ant+ upload only uploads to garmin training center and no other program, and it is slow. It also doesn't always find the device right away so I have to sit around for it to locate it then upload.
br /-the bezel sucks
br /-they removed the "snooze" function on the alarm function.
br /They should have stayed with the buttons,
br /-the bezel either doesn't recongize you are touching it or it keeps getting activated. In fact even with the bezel locked I heard it waking up in my sports bag when I was driving...I go around a corner...beep, hit a bump...beep, stop...beep, speed up...Beep. 3 hours later when I to where I was going to workout, the battery was 50% used up. This happens all the time.
br /- the bezel isn't user friendly...as you go through the menu you accidently touch the bezel to long and it switches screens...or you accidently touch a differnent part with the other hand and it chooses something else. Drives me nuts.
br /The charge clip is hard to get on just right....not difficult but you have to make sure it is charging.
br /
br /Anyway. I love the 305 but I want something smaller and It would be nice if I could swim with it too. So I will keep my 305 but I just bought a Suunto T4. It looks like it will do everything the garmin will (and some) but has a significantly smaller display. I wasn't excited about the seperate gps pod but now that I have it,I think it is better. I just clip it to my water belt or my race belt. As a triathlete the watch stays on and the gps gets put on when I put my race number on.
br /
br /Sorry Garmin...you lost me as a customer over the 405.

Overall I like the watch. Like anyone who has spent $350 on a gadget, I went through a period of buyer's remorse when the negative reviews on this watch weighed heavily in my mind. But I've gotten used to the foibles, and am now preparing to buy a second one of these watches for my wife. The thoughtful negative reviews I've read are generally true, and the question you must face is: will you be ok with it.
br /
br /I use the watch 3x-4x weekly for running heart rate training, following a metabolic test and training routine suggested by the pro at my gym. My wife began this program first, and got set up on workout routines that are like 2 minutes at one heart rate, followed by 1 minute at another heart rate, etc. She was using a Nike heart rate monitor that didn't allow such programming, so she started wearing a second watch so that she could keep track of times and heart rate more easily.
br /
br /The Garmin software for setting up such a workout is EASY, and using it during a run is as simple as it ought to be. I run Windows XP and have had very little trouble with the sync; when I walk in the door with my gym bag, the computer and watch find eachother like long-lost lovers, and exchange information without being prompted. By the time you set your bag down, the computer pulls up data on your run. Really slick.
br /
br /I also like looking over the data that comes out at the end. It's been rewarding to see how my pace is improving and heart rate is recovering more quickly after intense bursts. I'd like to get my 5k below 20 minutes, and I can watch my progress toward that goal. A weakness of the PC-based software is the map. The built-in basemap is so coarse as to be almost useless. Don't expect to use this map to plan routes.
br /
br /You can transfer up to 25 workout routines to the watch, customized for pace, heart rate, distance, calories, whatever. The watch displays are also customizable, showing the data that I want to see at a glance while running (like how long until this interval is over!).
br /
br /I had some initial trouble getting used to the touch screen. I seriously question the wisdom of that design "feature." But I can always get the watch to do what I want it to. Note to Garmin: there is a reason why the Timex Ironman was a popular watch for so long; it's easy to USE!
br /
br /I have experienced some GPS issues. You have to get the watch fired up a few minutes before you begin your run. You can program a warmup period at the beginning of your run so that the watch is finding satellites while you get yourself going. GPS elevation "measures" are notoriously poor, and I think it would have been wiser of Garmin to leave that data off. I live in Colorado and have used the watch to log a bike trip up into the foothills. Even over significant elevation changes (100's of feet) the elevation data were noisier than the hills I was climbing. Another user noted trouble with bias in tree-lined areas. I've seen very little of that in my neighborhood, though the pace estimate does get wonky when I go through an underpass along our bike trail. You can check the watch's "satellites" screen to see the strength of signal. In general, I don't trust the instantaneous pace readouts, but instead rely on the results on the computer when I return home. There I trust data averaged over 2 minutes.
br /
br /As for battery, it hasn't been a problem. One guy described the horror of the buttons getting pushed when he travels. I just put the watch inside my running shoe (face toward the sole) and stuff a sock in behind. I've had no problem there.
br /
br /Garmin support has been good. Apparently the watch I bought (local running store for about the same price as Amazon) had been registered to another user (a return?). Garmin responded to my email request about it within 36 hours. They also helped when my watch got hung up and wouldn't sync. Also, Garmin has released a new operating system for the watch that you can easily download and transfer via the wireless connection.
br /
br /Again, I'm happy with the watch. If you're the type whose glass is generally half full, then my bet is that you will too.

My last running watch was a Suunto S4 and now I'm using a Garmin 405. This review highlights my experience with both watches.
br /
br /Suunto S4 experience (used for 2+ years):
br /
br /I purchased a Suunto S4 a few years ago. It was cutting edge at the time. However, I had to return it to Suunto three different times because it stopped working each time I had to change the battery. My conclusion each time this happened was that the watch had great technology... but it was built with cheap material with poor quality testing. I didn't purchase the PC pod... so, I was unable to transfer my workout data to my computer. I did have a heart rate monitor and a foot pod. The watch worked good when I didn't have to replace the battery. I needed to read the manual several times before getting a good grasp of all the features. I felt that the built in Suunto Coach feature was pretty much useless... it consistently recommended a schedule that was too light for me. Overall feeling of the Suunto S4:
br /* Great watch for runners a few years ago
br /* Still good technology in the watch
br /* Made with cheap material (lifespan of watch was very short in my opinion)
br /* Worked well on a treadmill and outdoors.
br /
br /
br /Garmin 405 experience (after 1 month):
br /
br /I've had the Garmin 405 for a month now. It rocks! It took me one run to get used to the Garmin 405. After one more run I had it configured just right for my needs. I know there are features I still have not taken advantage of... but it works just the way I want it to with the right information displayed during my run. I occasionally use the Heart Rate Monitor to get a feel for my average heart rate on different types of runs. I never installed the software to track my running on my computer. Instead I setup an account with Garmin Connect and it is excellent!!!!! The ability to track my exact course on the map, elevation, distance, heart rate, peaks and low points for each measurement, etc. is incredible. Plus, it's there on the web for me to pull up anytime and anywhere. I've run against the virtual trainer on a few occasions. However, I prefer to monitor my running time, speed and distance (or current HR if I'm wearing the Heart Rate monitor). There is a ton of data you can use to monitor when you run. I can't comment on the longevity of the watch since mine is only a month old (I hope it lasts for at least 2 years). I sometimes wear the watch when I'm not running. Often I'll just snap on the charging clip after a run and leave it until my next run. The ant technology has worked perfect for me to load my runs online. I just snapped in the ant stick this evening and 6 runs loaded off my watch to the internet for my review. One tip that has worked well for me is to lock the watch after I start the run and set the training screen to my preferred view. This will prevent me from changing something by accident and is something I learned to do after running in the rain once. I have not tested the 405 on a treadmill since I have not purchased the footpod. Regarding the GPS signal, it seems to work very well... even with trees overhead. It's cool when the watch tells me there's a sharp turn ahead... and it's right. Also, I like how the watch tells me when my run is half over. In both of these cases, it tells you with a message box and a little sound that prompts me to look at my watch since I wear an IPod when I run. I always strive to complete my workout goal because I get a nice success message at the end with an sound indicating my workout has completed.
br /
br /Overall recommendation: Buy the Garmin 405 and use it with Garmin Connect. If you are a runner that likes to analyze the details of your runs... you will love it.
br /

After two weeks of side-by-side usage, I've concluded that these watches are targeted at very different markets. Furthermore, in many respects, it seems like neither watch is totally ready for prime-time. Both have nice feature sets, but they each seem to be lacking some very important features to make them truly useful across several sports. The Suunto X9i seems to be targeted and more useful to the climbing crowd, whereas the Garmin Forerunner 405 seems targeted at the fitness/jogging crowd. Neither has the complete feature set that the above-average hiker/trail runner/mountain biker needs. Thus, if you purchase either, you have to accept the compromises inherit in one or the other.
br / If I was pressed to recommend one over the other, I very hesitantly lean towards the Garmin Forerunner 405 due to smaller size, better battery life, faster GPS synch, slightly better navigation screen and of course, lower price. I'm hesitant because of several important cons which I elaborate on below.
br /STATS:
br /Battery Life (w/ GPS): 4.5hr (X9i) vs. 8hr (405)
br /Battery Life (w/o GPS): 16d. (X9i) vs. 12d. (405)
br /Size: X9i is larger in every dimension than 405
br /Weight: 74g (X9i) vs. 60g (405)
br /Water Resistence: 100m (X9i) vs. 3m (405)
br /Heart Rate Monitor: No (X9i) vs. Yes (405)
br /Outside Temperature: Yes(X9i) vs. No (405)
br /CONS: Garmin Forerunner 405
br /1) Does not display raw latitude/longitude position on standard screen. You can save a waypoint, which they call "location", and then edit that point to see the latitude/longitude (displayed in non-decimal format).
br /2) Does not have On/Off button to save battery-life.
br /3) Comes with very basic software with limited maps. Cannot export tracks into GPX format.
br /4) Difficult to upload waypoints for future route.
br /5) Limited to WGS84 map datum (limits international usage of tracks)
br /PROS: Garmin Forerunner 405
br /1) Easy to use menu system.
br /2) Fast GPS satellite synching.
br /3) Can connect to heart rate monitor.
br /4) If you can get waypoints loaded, there is a nice screen that shows the direction/distance to the selected waypoint.
br /5) Great fitness monitoring screens and many are customizable.
br /CONS: Sunnto X9i
br /1) Large physical size.
br /2) Poor battery life with GPS on.
br /3) Slow GPS satellite synching.
br /4) Difficult to use and complex menu system with 5 buttons.
br /5) Does not have On/Off button to save battery-life.
br /6) GPS tracks, which they call "logs", tend to have jumps/errors when GPS drops out, which is often.
br /7) Comes with very basic software with no maps.
br /8) No screen to show direction to a selected waypoint.
br /9) Limited to WGS84 map datum (limits international usage of tracks)
br /10) Suggested Retail Price is 25% more than the Garmin 405.
br /PROS: Suunto X9i
br /1) Does display raw latitude/longitude position on Position screen, but in non-decimal format.
br /2) Does have temperature feature.
br /

I switch from my Polar 725x to the Garmin Forerunner 405 and so far I'm happy with the unit:
br /Pros:
br /- Data transfer works excellent. Huge improvement for me as Polar uses IR, which in my opinion is obsolete.
br /- You can create your screens of variables to be monitor and combine them as you wish (3 variables per screen up to 3 screens). Polar has fixed screens.
br /- I really enjoy the Virtual Partner function.
br /- GPS function: The unit picks up the satellite signal very fast. You can download courses in the web site and follow them by your own. The Google earth interface is great to watch your route at home with your family.
br /Cons:
br /- The battery last no more than 6 hours. If you are planning to get lost into the woods for days you better bring another GPS unit as you will run out battery.
br /- No temperature sensor.
br /- The software is really really really bad. Polar is much more advance regarding analyzing data.
br /

I have been using the garmin mainly for running, for a month. I must say that it provides accurate information, such as distance, heart rate, and it is very easy to download workouts from the PC, and upload information from the watch to the computer.
br /
br /The drawbacks are related to the impossibility to receive water, which has created problems with the watch basically while running in a normally rainy day. I have also experienced problems when running with long sleeve, since it touches the watch and it changes the screen.
br /
br /I prefer it over my previous Polar S410, especially for the ease to program workouts and donwload information to the computer. The major drawback is not be able to use it to go swimming, or even at rainy days.

Well, I've been using this HRM for 2 weeks now, and I wanted to share with you all how great it is.
br /Since I was an addicted fan of Polar HRMs, I was afraid to change. But this FR 405 proved to be the best HRM I ever trained with.
br /Although Gramin still has some work to be done:
br /- The PACE is not accurate out of the box, so you need to go to Garmin's web page and update the HRM's firmware;
br /- Lack of integration with my MacBook. So I was forced to install parallels and run windows XP in order to use its PC integration;
br /- Terrible training software and a pain to make the HRM "talk"to the PC....It lacks the appropriate support for installation of ANT drivers.
br /
br /Still, it's a great HRM, and the ability to see your route on the google earth is awesome.
br /The touch bezel is also very nice, and despite of what others said, it's very simple to use.
br /As for the terrible native software, you can replace it with gorgeous Sport Track...It's free and it would accept the data exported from the Garmin's Training Center.
br /By the way, I use the FR405 for running and I'm currently training for the Amsterdam marathon in October.

This is my first heart rate monitor so I don't really have anything to compare it against. I did a lot of research before deciding upon this unit with the heart rate monitor. I didn't find anything that came close for the price. There are a lot of features so for the less tech savy who want to simply push one button and be done this may not be the unit for you. If features are what you're looking for and aren't against actually reading the manual then this is a fantastic device. It works extremely well even under tree cover, even under bridges for that matter! I've not yet had it loose the GPS signal.
br /
br /It's really cool to be able to download the GPS data into Google earth with just one click.
br /
br /I also really like the fairly compact size of the watch. It's small enough to wear as a normal watch and not have people star at you because of this enormous contraption on your arm. I also bought this one because the GPS receiver is built into the watch, no separate unit required!
br /
br /There are lots of accessories for this unit like a foot pod for running in doors and a bike unit to track your cadence, etc.
br /
br /I'm very impressed with this unit and highly recommend it unless you want to use it swimming. It's not intended to be submersed in water.

I bought the watch on July and although it works great I have experienced software problems such as it freezing up. Garmin told me the problem could be fixed by upgrading the software. They promised to have software available for the Macintosh Computer by this Fall and now say Winter 2009. If you use a Mac DON'T buy the 405 until they have the software for the Mac which might be never. Also if you call Garmin Support plan on being on hold for at least 30 minutes.

I originally ordered the 305, but it was so big and awkward looking I returned it. Against some of the less than stellar reviews of the 405, I bought it anyhow. I love it. It just looks better, is lighter, and does not feel like a PDA on your wrist. Granted, the touch dial takes some getting used to, but chances are you are a gadget person like I am, and once you get it wired, it's pretty user friendly. I am bummed that the MAC compatibility is not handled yet, and their support team is fairly unresponsive on this point. When I asked about it their website's statement that the mac software would be out in 4th Q 2008, they simply apologized that they did have a firm date for this. When I asked for clarification as to if they would meet the 12/31 deadline, they had no response.
br /
br /Overall, I'm glad I bought it. I have had no accuracy problems with GPS and the battery life is better than my iPhone. As long as I do not do any 40 hour runs I should be fine, and there is no risk of that happening.
br /
br /

I have used this watch since August and at first I was really impressed.
br /
br /Pros:
br /
br /1. Awesome website to track progress.
br /2. Very motivating to see how you improve performance over time.
br /
br /Cons:
br /
br /1. You will have problems connecting to the Garmin website about every 6th time.
br /2. The GPS will not work about every 10th time - for some reason it has problems connecting to the Satelite
br /3. The GPS will not always be accurate
br /
br /It is a start, but I believe this is version 1.0 for this style and I would wait for the next verson.

I was a little nervous making this purchase having read many of the reviews here on amazon and elsewhere. Having now used the 405 for the last month, I couldn't be more satisfied with the product and would highly recommend it to anyone. I use my forerunner for bicycling and running approximately 6x/weekly. I have never had any issues with accuracy of the heart rate monitor, GPS, or cadence. On the contrary I have found it to be quite accurate and reliable. I have used the GPS on one occasion in a slightly wooded area and the GPS reception was reliable and accurate. I was a little concerned about the complaints concerning the bezel and its dysfunction when wet. I do not perspire massively but I do have many sweat glands. However, this has never prevented me from being able to use the bezel with relative ease, so unless your exercising naked you can always wipe your hand off on your shorts. I also read a complaint concerning the size of the display fields. This seems a little ridiculous as all the fields are of similar size to my prior cyclometer. Additionally, you have the option of displaying from 1-3 fields at a time, so if your visually impaired then display one field instead of three and naturally it will be larger. Further you can program the watch to scroll through three different displays each showing from 1-3 fields. In other words, you can see all the information you want and more during a run or bike. In conclusion this device has been everything I wanted and more and I have not had a single issue with it thus far after over 20 hours of use.
br /

I've owned the Garmin Edge 305 and various Polar heart rate monitors. Overall I'm very impressed with the Forerunner 405 - except for the lack of Mac support.
br /
br /First of all the size of the device surprised me. It's actually fairly small, especially compared with the clunky previous Forerunners. Smaller than my Suunto watch. Second I like the ability to choose different data fields (up to 3) on customized displays. This is like the Edge 305 and much better than the Polar devices. Third the compass proved to be very useful when finding my way out of a mountain biking mess of trails. And fourth of course the GPS giving speed, distance, etc is great for either running or mountain biking.
br /
br /Disappointments are it's not completely waterproof (crazy in this day and age), and the lack of Mac support.
br /
br /I got around the Mac support by loading Vista on my Mac through Bootcamp. Needed to do this for my other Garmin products anyway, but Garmin really need to get over this!

Its a good product, but for the price it should be great. The battery life needs to be a bit longer (It doesn't live up to the promise on the package). Also, the control scheme needs work to be more intuitive. If you lock the bezel, it beeps at you every minute or two to tell you the bezel is locked. Its pretty annoying.
br /
br /The software and the ANT stick work well. So does the heart rate monitor. Satellite acquisition is amazing. Fast and accurate. It even locked on in an interior downstairs room of my house.
br /
br /I recommend waiting for the next generation, which will probably iron out some of the kinks. Or see if you can find one for cheaper than $350, and you'll feel better about the small drawbacks.

I've had my 405 for about a week now. It was fairly easy to setup. When you get the unit, you need to charge it up - that takes about 3 hours. Once it has charged, it walks you through the initial configuration. At that point, I put on the HR monitor, it detected the unit, and I was ready for a run.
br /
br /When I got back from the run, I booted my computer, downloaded the software from the link in the quickstart manual, plugged in the ANT unit. It found the 405 and uploaded my data so that I could look at my stats.
br /
br /The watch has a virtual running companion that you can enable. I've set this for the pace I want to stay below, so at a glance I can tell how far off I am.
br /
br /So far, I am very happy with the 405. I am the type of person who likes stats, so the info collected on each run is a good motivator.

I had one of the first generation, oblong rectangular Forerunners. It was useless. It was uncomfortable to wear, took a long time to acquire location, and lost the satellite with any tree cover.
br /This one is wearable in public without looking too geeky. It picks up the satellites very quickly (about a minute). Finally, it can handle tree cover well. The battery does not last a whole week, but I can live with that as the price of smaller size. The touch wheel is erratic but usable. My real issues are with data transfer. They went with wireless data transfer for some silly geeky reason. I suppose it would be useful if it somehow used the Bluetooth my laptop already has, but, drat, it uses some USB dongle as the wireless transmitter. So, when I want to download data to my laptop, I have to fish through my drawers to find the dongle, set a couple fiddly settings on the watch, and make sacrifices to the wireless vodoo god to bring the data over. So, if I have to hunt for the dongle, where is the advantage over hunting for a cable? Am I missing something? Basically wireless is cool but has no advantage for a laptop user (IMHO).
br /There is no MacOSX wireless driver yet. They promise it within weeks. It does work with XP on a MacBook running under VMWare 2. Too bad they didn't just ditch the wireless data transfer. A driver for USB wireless transfer would probably be easier to write (not that they would have considered developing the Mac driver at the same time as the Windows driver....).

I've used the Garmin Forerunner 405 with HRM on a daily basis for well over a month, and recommend it highly. I'm a multi-Marathon runner and recently did my first triathlon, so tracking my miles run and biked for training and competition is important. Garmin's on-line service (connect.garmin.com) works well, as does the wireless interface (i.e. the watches amazing ability to wirelessly synchronize its data with your PC).
br /
br /I also like how during my run I can easily reset the pace of my virtual partner (like most runners I tend to start out too fast, and having the ability to re-set my Forerunner 405 "Virtual Partner's" pace to my fatigue-induced realistic speed is very helpful!) The touch sensitive bevel to control the watch works well, and is quite intuitive.
br /
br /The small size of the watch is absolutely amazing, especially considering its capabilities. I've worn the 405 at work, and haven't received a second glance (a bit to my chagrin, since I want to show it off!)
br /
br /Bottom line - a great training tool, which I highly recommend.

gps works great on trails where I live in San Diego. pace/distance are quite accurate. only a few complaints are that I the time is set two hours ahead. i haven't been able to figure out if I can reset that and there are no troubleshooting directions for that problem. still need to contact customer support to see if they can fix it. also the watch looks smaller online so the watch is still quite big for a small wrist. i only wear the watch while running b/c its still big. can't wait til garmin comes up with a smaller womans version.

This product has so much potential. As far as I know, it is the only one with built-in GPS (no extra device required like polar) and HRM and all the stuff you would need. I continue to use it even though there are two pretty major issues that need to be addressed.
br /
br /1) Battery Life. I do long distance triathlons including ironman and the watch just does not have the battery life to go the distance. It should easily be able to do 12-16 hours and it does not even come close. I have had it die during a sub 5 hour 1/2 ironman which is beyond frustrating.
br /
br /2) The user interface is horrible. Sure, it is elegant, but it is not usuable. It is very difficult to do the scrolling around and you always accidentally select something. Luckily you dont need that mid-workout, but in order to get battery life you need the GPS off when not using - trying to do that between swim, bike and run (GPS ON, GPS OFF, GPS ON) is impossible. The interface also does not work AT ALL when wet or you fingers are cold and/or sweaty. I dont know why they dont have simple buttons with a little scroll dial.
br /
br /Too bad since the device is almost perfect.

If you are like me..you have been researching this product obsessively. I am here to tell you to BUY the 405! I know there are many reviews about the 405 that aren't very good...but here's something that everybody has forgotten to mention: This unit has wireless technology, which means it can be updated. So, yes, there are some quirks Garmin is still working on, BUT they can and have been addressed with the available updates. I LOVE my 405! Like anything you purchase..sometimes things don't work correctly..return it and try again! I really like the Garmin Connect, a feature I didn't think I'd even use. The 405 is soo..much more comfortable to wear than the 305 and the good ole' 101! I am excited to see just how far Garmin will take the 405, Garmin Connect and it's upgrades! The Forerunner just keeps getting better!

I used to have the Forerunner 305. This is too much better. You can use it as watch (not to go to a formal dine) that was a huge con for the other forerunners. I raced 10k last weekend I it was very accurate, even the instant pace, that was not very good in the previous models. Too much better than Suunto X9i that is worthless.
br /The google interface and garmin connect are cool if you like to review your data in different forms.
br /If you want track calories, go to polar, garmin program still shows values too low, basically because they aimed top runners (olympic type) and the calories is related to speed. I am 10 km/h runners that brings a low quantity of calories spent after a 10 k run.
br /The bracelet also is not the most confortable, but if you think that it is a GPS, Heart Monitor and Watch definately this is very well packed.
br /The imporvement on the firmware also brought it to next to Polar 800 SD in terms of graphics for HR, that it is nice.
br /I recommend it if you a hi-tec runner...

It is a great product, much lighter. Weak point is a shorter battery life, comparing with Garmin's 305.

I love the GPS feature that tracks the distance I have run. I travel a lot, and I enjoy the watch because I always know exactly how far I have run even when I am not on familiar paths. And the Training Center program does a great job of tracking progress. It's nice to be able to compare week to week how fast I am running and see how much further I am running. I was worried that the watch would feel big on my arm, but it does not bother me at all.

I bought this product. Although impressive, it's only good outside. For instance, if you run on a treadmill, you must buy the speed sensor ($120) to get calories burned. You are out of luck if you take spin class. It will not record calories.
br /
br /From Garmin Support:
br /Thank you for contacting Garmin International. Unfortunately, our
br /fitness units calculate calories burned using speed, distance, and time.
br /If you're indoors the Forerunner 405 is not able to calculate speed and
br /distance. Because the unit has no distance value, it's unable to
br /display calories burned. Please let us know if you have any additional
br /questions.
br /With Best Regards,
br /Joe C
br /
br /This is a deviation for how most heart rate monitors work (Polar, Timex). Most monitors calculate calories based on weight, age, and heart rate. Being able to get calories expended even during the indoor winter months is useful.
br /
br /Also, there is no way edit workouts results in the software. So, if I do a spin class or run on the treadmill (w/o the speed sensor), I can't alter the uploaded data and enter an estimated distance.
br /
br /This is different from the Polar software which does allow complete editing of most parameters.
br /
br /Over all, this is a "cool" monitor. However, if you do alot of indoor training, you'll probably want a different monitor.
br /
br /UPDATE:
br /After 6 weeks of use, the touch bezel stopped working. I tried a master reset and the bezel is still not functional. I've contacted Garmin Support for help. I'll update this when I hear something.

This product has renewed my love for running. It is amazing. You are easily able to keep up with your time, pace and distance. I can run or ride my bike and come home and stick the usb stick in and see exactly what I did and where I went. It is a great product for a serious runner in training for an event or for the novice that wants positive feedback. I would highly recommend the Garmin 405 to everyone!

First of all before you purchase this product, I would strongly recommend that you check on the return policy from where it is purchased from. I have been told that Garmin will not accept returns on this watch, unless they consider the watch to be defective. Tricky because I believe this is a defective product being sold. Second, I am suprised to actually see a few positive reviews on this product. I wonder if any of those reviews are from Garmin employees who created this product? My wife bought me the 405 for my birthday and it did not work. We took it back and purchased another one. This time the watch did pick up a GPS sigal, but the touch Bevil has a mind of it's own. And actually it just would not work for me. The tap functionality in general seemed not to be working. I consider myself a person who has no difficulty with technical gadgets. But the 405 is what I would consider a failure of a product. I surprised this watch even made it out of the Garmin quality assurance department. I wouldn't waste my money on this product. It was a big dissapointment. I hope you are spared the unhappiness that I experienced with this product. Possibly Garmin will do it better the next time if they release a successor to the 405.

I'm very impressed with this watch. It have all what you want. And even better is the software to view your stats and your performance.
br /
br /If you can afford it, theres no option that compares to this watch
br /
br /Pedro Urbina

This product is ridiculously complex. The interface will require referring to the manual again and again. Very little is intuitive. Simple things like activating the light require multiple button presses, on two buttons, neither is labeled "light".
br /
br /It's not Mac compatible and says nothing about this on the package. The wireless "ANT" stick requires a PC. There is Mac software for the Garmin Training center, but no way for the 405 to connect to it.
br /
br /On a PC the ANT software runs constantly, that is rather than just running when the Garmin Training center application is running, it runs 24/7 slowing your computer. Data is transfered to it (slowly) then to the Training Center.