Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor Review

Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor – The ultimate running buddy.

I’ll admit that I’m not a natural born runner, and I really don’t enjoy the sport all that much. That being said, I run because I like the way I feel afterwards and it’s usually the most efficient way to get in a solid workout. That being said, anything that helps me push myself when hitting the pavement is a welcome. The Garmin Forerunner 405 is a lot like a mini running partner who knows everything. Well, not everything, but a hell of lot more than I do when I’m about 3 miles in.

If you had ever thought about getting the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor, but didn’t because you aren’t the most technology savvy person, don’t worry. The Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor is really easy to use and is pretty much ready to go out of the box. There is no setup process or calibration settings to worry about. In fact, you could literally take it out of the box and then go for a jog right away and everything would work perfectly. The GPS does everything for you. It calculates your speed, distance, pace, and more without you having to do anything.

Being that I bike almost as much as I run, I was curious if the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor could help me out there. I know some similar products can’t be used to give you cycling information, so I wanted to know if the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor could. While it cant give cycling data as is, you can buy an optional sensor that goes on to your bike to be able to track your speed and cadence. Likewise, there is also an additional unit that can be purchased so that you can use the unit inside on your treadmill where satellites cant reach.

The quick & dirty:

Where you can get one:
Amazon.com: $209.07

Why they rock:

• Touch bezel around display allows users to easily scroll through function screens with a single finger
• Easy-to-use right out of the box, no pace-setting calibrations necessary; GPS satellites calculate speed, distance and pace information
• GPS receiver provides rapid first fix and is sensitive enough to acquire signals in urban canyons and under dense foliage
• Navigation capabilities let you mark locations, find locations or navigate back to the starting point
• Chest-strap heart rate monitor helps you train in your target zone to optimize performance
• Calculates calorie consumption based on user’s weight, distance traveled and hills climbed
• Forerunner 405 tracks your cycling workouts when paired with a GSC 10 Speed and Cadence Sensor, sold separately
• Optional foot pod (sold separately) transmits speed/distance data without the use of satellites, so the Forerunner 405 can also be used indoors
• Share workout information and compete against other users recorded courses by wirelessly transferring data to other 405 units nearby
• Virtual Partner allows you to set time, distance or speed goals and then compete against a runner icon on the 405 display
• USB ANT stick automatically receives data from the Forerunner 405 when placed within 10m of each other

Seat-of-the-pants rating: 9 out of 10

Do I like the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor? Yes. Do I think the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor is super cool? Yes. Will I be buying one? Probably not. While the Garmin Forerunner 405 Heart Rate Monitor is a cool tool, I don’t think I do enough running and cycling to justify spending such a huge amount of cash on such a thing. However, if I were a serious runner or biker, I would definitely think about it.

Looking to Buy? Check out these sites:
Amazon.com: $209.07