Running Gear: GPS Heart Rate monitor

Hi runners

I am interested in buying a heart rate monitor with GPS enabled, but there are too many to choose from. Some friends recommended me the Garmin 305, but I see the 301 which has similar specs but it costs $100 less. Polar offers others, all types of features and prices... Please if you have done this research and have some experience with some monitors, please post your comments here.

Thanks a lot!

Pedro

My father uses the garmin 205.  I have no personal experience with it but he said that it does everything he needs it to.  It does cost around $100 less than the 305 but it does not have a HRM with it.  You can map time, route, distance, speed and even upload to your computer and several places online (some for a fee).  I used to use the polar S150 HRM without GPS.  This did an excellent job for both running and cycling.  I could map my routes on excellent web sites like this one.  That is until my 1.5 year old son decided he wanted to play with the watch part of the unit.  Now I have 2 chest straps for HRMs and no computer to go along with it.  Oh well.  Your biggest decision is what do you really want in your HRM?  I think Garmin is the best GPS HRM product out there.  For more info go to www.garmin.com and use their compare feature to help you decide.  good luck. 

I've found the best deals on all Garmins at Amazon. 

I have the Garmin 305, which is the smaller, newer version. My friend has the larger 301, so I can provide a useful comparison.

ACQUIRING  GPS SIGNAL

When first turned on, the watch must acquire a GPS signal. The worse the conditions - e.g., partially obscured sky, moving - the longer it takes. The 301 takes noticeably longer than the 305 and is more likely to never aquire a signal under especially bad conditions. It is frustrating when waiting to begin a workout, and infuriating just before a race.

MAINTAINING GPS SIGNAL

The same conditions that can delay GPS acquisition can cause it to be lost momentarily or permanently while working out. This is the reason for the strange numbers that aa78. My friend with the 301 and I run many of the same wooded courses. He constantly complains about this problem on these courses, but I have never experienced it (there certainly are conditions that would cause the same problem with the 305, but it is much more robust).

PACE CALCULATION

The Garmin performs a behind the scenes calculation to determine instantenous pace as well as current lap pace. On both the 301 and 305, the instantaneous pace fluctuates wildly, and I don't rely on it, but the 305 seems a little more reasonable. The current lap pace  (a prediction that is not quite a rolling average) is more accurate; the 305 does a pretty good job (based on the current lap pace estimate versus the actual lap time).

SIZE

 Based on the functional issues above, I recommend spending the extra money on the 305. If that isn't enough, consider style and comfort. The 305 is not small, but the 301 does not look or feel like a watch at all. The new 405 can actually pass for a daily-use watch.

 

I just got a great deal on the Forerunner 301 from Costco online. Better rates than Amazon, but they don't carry the other models. Today I tried the HRM for the first time and found it to be a great tool for training. It seemed to work well for me.

FYI - REI has the Garmin 305 on sale for $165 until May 11!!  Its normally $299.