Summary: This product is great. I would recommend it to others seeking this kind of information for workout or training purposes. The Garmin 305 is comfortable to wear and easy to operate during training. The options allow you to monitor your workouts in a variety of ways.

Summary: I wasn't sure about this gizmo when I started out -- I mean, it is bigger than your usual watch, and I'd never worn a heart rate monitor strap while running before. Now I can't imagine running without it.

Find the heart monitor much more useful than expected (including when doing things like stationary bike). Greatly like the ability to track actual distance covered, actual pace, etc. A hundred times better and more useful than the basic pedometer and stopwatch I used to try and make do with.

The unit certainly has room for overall improvement. The size can surely come down over time. The software can be improved (though SportTracks is worthy freeware). Elevation accuracy leaves something to be desired. I'd love even more ability to customize displays, or have a selection of color, etc., etc.

But there's no better product out right now, and I can no longer imagine workouts without the tracking and comparison ability that the Forerunner 305 provides.

Extremely useful (especially if one shops around for a good price), and though I'll be looking forward to the improvements of the next iteration, this Forerunner has already markedly changed my workouts for the better.

A product in the category of \"how did I ever live without it\"....

Summary: Forrunner 305 Watch/GPS unit.............................
Pro's:
A runners dream watch!
Time, pace, distance, automatic lap count, a GPS, a Heart Monitor rolled into one.
Compete against yourself from prior data.
Watch how your speed affects your heart rate.
Pace,Dist, HR appears very accurate, Grade and elevation useably accurate.
Nicely waterproof, should last a few years (gaskets) if not severely impacted or scratched.
Lighter than many everyday watches, comfortable to wear (I'm an adult).
HR monitor strap has good pickup.
If you can change settings on a cell phone you can setup the 305 for your liking.

Con's:
Larger than most everyday watches.
Elevation has resolution of feet so given accuracy of 10 M. For flat ground it varies due to nature of GPS. It is significantly noisy (inaccurate) but is usable and surely better than having no elevation readout at all....
buttons quite firm to push, may be difficult for those with not so strong fingers.
Beware sunscreen can plug audio holes!
HR monitor strap feels like it may slip down, could use a vertical strap like a bra (or \"bro\" from Seinfeld).


Included Software...............................................
Pro's:
Easy installation.
Easy to use display of data and maps
Easy to delete unwanted sessions

Con's:
Software presumptuous to leave a visible icon in the task tray.
Cannot run software without 305 connected to computer, the software will not start without it.
Map is not very detailed, it does have major roads but no neighborhood roads or less significant water bodys.
Cannot \"mark\" landmarks from using the computer and transfer it to the 305
Cannot change user profile in computer and transfer it to the 305


Conclusion:.........................................
To me the 305 is near the leading edge of technology, the 305.... a runners dream watch with time, pace, distance, automatic lap count, a HR monitor, a GPS, rolled into one, it's big, but light and conforms to the wrist. It's waterproof enough to use windsurfing...I hit 18 mph today! It's fun, informative, useful to maximize performance, but a bit techy, and better not bang it around.