Best Training Watch Money Can Buy

By Coast Ranked #87 - Trail Running Accessories February 20, 2009

This watch does everything you need for hardcore disatance training. I've trained with a heart rate monitor for years, but stayed away from GPS watches because they were obnoxiously big. This watch is about the same size as a CASIO G-Shock, not bad at all.
The Virtual Trainer is the best part. I can monitor my average pace, how far ahead/behind pace I am(with a moving picture of 2 dudes running) and total distance at the same time. Then I can tap over to check my heart rate & time. Also, many of the displays can be modified by the user.
The touch bezel is money and you can change its sensitivity level if you have meat-sticks for hands, like me. Finally someone has taken what we've seen on the iPod and put it on a watch to make it easy, fast, and save on buttons.
The Heart Rate monitor is excellent and displays my heart rate immediately (my old HRM took a few minutes of sweating before it got a signal). The watch senses the HRM before I even have it on.
After a workout, I just have to walk within a few meters of my computer and the info gets downloaded. How cool is that?
The battery lasts about 1-2 weeks with normal usage, but if you're going to do a training session with the GPS on, its good for 8 hours. Fortunately my training sessions only last 6-7 hrs, except when I'm running with Chuck Norris. The smaller battery allows for a much slimmer/sleeker design.
It doesn't calculate/show elevation, but it doesn't claim to either. This is not a mountain climbing/hiking watch.
It does everything it says it will prefectly. I recommend it. Good luck on your next race.

View Details: Garmin Forerunner 405 GPS Watch

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