Super! usefull

The only thing truly interesting about the 405 (compared with the 305) is the automatic use of the footpod (if worn) when the satellite signal is lost (in tunnels for instance). The very small absolute difference in weight, and the difference in looks is a non-issue for a runner. Instead it might be that the screen is too small now. And why is GARMIN taking up "half" the screen??? Also, the bezel will obviously be a nightmare for people when they accidently touch it 23 km into their marathon. Or for people in colder regions who wear gloves. I'll take the proven and rugged buttons of the 305 any day in the week. I'm looking forward to Garmin bettering the 305 style instead of selling their souls to the fashion pack.

In reply to Threeoffive above:

Does the bezel have a "lock" feature similar to what's found on an iPod today that prevents accidental button presses?

@EDFROST, the 405 does have a lock feature — just press enter and quit simultaneously and use the same combo to unlock.

You can see a video showing how the touch bezel works here: http://tinyurl.com/5u89fd

I'll second the desire for a 'locking' feature. I've ruined the data for many long runs by hitting the lap button accidentally - usually when fumbling with the bottles strapping on my back.

Does this actually track your position and generate the map/route for you after you upload your data? Or is that something you need to build yourself? That would make all the difference for me as sometimes I have no idea where I actually ran/biked too.

1) Quality GPS? Check
2) Water resistant? Check
3) Smaller profile? Check
4) Lock feature? Check
5) Wireless data transfer? Check

Already pre-ordered this on Amazon.

@NICK, you can upload your runs to Garmin Connect (see screenshot above or visit http://connect.garmin.com — you can see your runs on a standard map or in Google Earth.

Nick - yes, it is a GPS tracking device. It stores coordinates as well as elevation, heart rate, foot pod, and cadence (for bicycle) in memory until you sync it up with your computer.

I have had the 305 for some time now, and I don't run without it. My wife is looking forward to the 405 for the improved looks ans smaller size. I think I will stick with my 305 because they have not given a compelling reason to upgrade for me.

Any idea when this unit will be released through the retail channels?

I know its out via the Boston Marathon, and I have read of a few being available via the the Garmin Store (not sure if true), but there does not seem to be an confirmed date for the rest of us. Anyone?

I've been anxiously awaiting mine. I ordered it the day they became available on Amazon after CES.

Garmin was advertising availability for the Boston Marathon, but all the reports I've seen have had that date slipping frequently. My Amazon order has been bumped back twice, and currently has an expected ship date of Aug 8. Garmin customer support hasn't replied to my requests for a ship date.

I still can't wait. I really want mine. Preferably sooner than seven months after my order was placed.

Charlie White, I'm not much into outdoor exercise but I sure do like your writing style, subject selections and pictures.(do you take these digitals?)Must have a real good camera..ha!
I have a son who would really like one of the beautiful and useful instruments.

@Andy, GARMINBLOG

I did not realize that people had been waiting that long since doing a pre-order.

I don't understand why Garmin is being so tight lipped about the retail channel release date.

If GARMINGBLOG is affiliated with Garmin, could you tell us when we can expect retail shipments. Thank you.

Thanks, bluegoose! I used a Nikon D300 to take those shots, with a Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IF ED lens. Appreciate the kind words.

This watch is known to desynchronize after performance testing and it is not recommended for people who require accurate timing to the nanosecond.

I received my 405 today from REI. They have them in stock.

It can be found on rei.com. The site indicates: "Inventory available for purchase!"

Can anyone tell me why they cant or dont invent the ability to take pulse from the wrist instead of a heart chest strap as the device would be so much better if it had this feature.

I notice on the Garmin website there is a US mode, Europe model and Pacific model. What is the difference b/w these different models? I live in Germany now but travel to USA and would like to use the watch in all regions.

I got mine at Boston on the Friday before the marathon. I figured out enough by Monday to use it for the race,at a base level-time,distance,and heartrate monitor. Though, the heartrate recorded probably indicated several heart attacks!(205-245). I felt bad but not that bad-probably too much interference. It was pretty nifty to see the whole course laid out from Hopkington to Boston,When I got home and uploaded it. I'm still struggling a little bit with the whole upload procedure. A big upgrade from my original Timex GPS.

Fibble

I enquired about the different models and its just for the AC Adaptor it comes with apparently. I have ordered a US model to us in NZ.

Hey anyone who has bought this and is using the altitude feature. Can you get a reading of increased altitude as you are climbing, like when out running up hills etc. I'm training for an Ultra and I would like to know altitude ascent descent while I'm running.

The honeymoon is over! A little over a week, and the watch went blank in the middle of walk with the wife and dog. It was fully charged that morning, and died a hour into the walk. It won't even respond to the charger-just a blank screen.

SAMROOT, I am sorry to hear that. Please inform the comment thread if you get it working or if Garmin is responsive in getting this resolved. My 405 is arriving Tuesday. Looking forward to testing it out with a nice 15 mile run next weekend.

Greg,

I hope you got yours today. Yesterday, when I got to work, I plugged it in one more time, before I was going to call support, and it started charging. I ran 6 miles at lunch time, but in data transfer it dropped the data, when I transferred it to garmin connect. I've changed the setting to not deleting history, and I'll see if that helps in keeping the data somewhere.

Does anyone know whether the 405 supports maps in regions other than where it was bought? In the past I was able to get maps in Training Center for my US-bought 305, when I had used it in e.g. Europe, but no longer. This is annoying for people who travel frequently; I wonder if it's a way to reduce grey import?

What kind of heart rate displays can be utilized on the watch? Can the display be customized, for example to show duration, pace and heart rate? Is it possible to move from one display to another while running? Thank you.

I read the manual and still could figure if some kind of track/waypoints can be uploaded to the 405. Can I draw a route in some goolge earth interface and the simply uploaded it to the 405 before going to run? Can I upload some GPS coordinates in order to use the 405 to geocache? The garmin connect website is poorly advertided. I don't know garmin products so I can't figure if garmin is trying to hide some missing features or it's just the marketing department lack os competence.

I read the manual and still could figure if some kind of track/waypoints can be uploaded to the 405. Can I draw a route in some goolge earth interface (in garmin connect)and then simply uploaded it to the 405 before going to run? Can I upload some GPS coordinates in order to use the 405 to geocache? The garmin connect website is poorly advertised. I don't know garmin products so I can't figure if garmin is trying to hide some missing features or it's just plain lack of competence from the marketing department.

What is the difference between USA/Europe/Pacific models? I'm living in Europe but planing to buy one from webshop in united states.

So, I just got my 405 last night at REI (had pre-ordered it). Won't really have a chance to try this out much until Monday, but did pair up with computer and HR monitor easily. Garmin Connect website seems really slow, so I'm downloading the stand alone application to try out as I type this.

Watch feels really nice, and is about size I expected. Menu system is confusing, but I haven't had any device like this before, so will just take some time (I'm replacing pre usb etrex vista.)

One nice surprise, was that the watch does have a ridingmode vs. just running sports mode. This tag gets carried over when you download, and also changes some of the data fields.

I received my 405 today and I must say that I'm really impressed. I'm a new marathon-runner and I almost bought the Forerunner 305 in the winter, but waited because I saw Garmin was launching the 405. I'm really happy, that I waited. The watch is in stock here in Denmark (northern Europe) and I'm really satisfied with it (so far). It was really easy to set up, and I took it for a testrun within 15 minutes. when I returned it connected to the software without any problems and despite some missing features on the webportals (ability to put in real notes about the training etc.) everything was great.
When running I had no real problems. 305 users might think the screen is too little on the 405 - well I can't compare since I never used one. But for me it worked fine. I just changed settings on the watch to flip between information while jogging. It showed heart-rate, speed, time etc. in large characters. I used the medium speed to flip between information but this could be changed as well.
Coming back I just started working on my laptop, and the watch connected immediately to the USB-stick wirelessly and transferred the information by it self - really nice. Some small things, that irritate a bit is that the watch-strap seems to be a little to short, and might come of if you practise some heavy sports. I'm sad I didn't have it at the Hamburg Marathon in Germany (a really great event) but now I'm looking foreward to take it to Berlin Marathon and try it for real.

Got mine in time for my half-marathon this past weekend and it worked great. It went blank on me during this mornings run but reset ok by keeping the enter and reset buttons pushed in for 7 seconds. Came back to life and recorded the rest of the run. I'm cautiously optimistic that this was a one-time glitch. I had the same issue in my last Garmin and it ultimately would never power back up. Otherwise the watch is great!

So, still happy with the watch. One thing I haven't figured out is how to create separate activities between data transfers. Stop/Start seems to act like lap, but with a pause, and holding lap to do re-set had undesired consequences. Seemed to keep the totals for data but dropped gps track. I assume I'm missing some obvious setting. Maybe I'll look through the manual.

Signal strength has been great. Works in car and bus, and even get 20/30 foot signal in my office when away from any windows (although we are on top floor, but still nice that it goes through roof ok, also kept signal in coffee shop that wasn't first floor but was near edge of building.

I was going to see how much I walk at work today, but am afraid I may get to much false data from little GPS drifts while I'm sitting still. Auto Pause kept going on and off on its own, so I didn't find right setting for that and turned it off.

So one little annoying thing with the watch is that when in watch mode it defaults back to time only, vs. Time, date, and day of week. Has anyone found way around this. I emalied Garmin but have no heard back.

One last note, viewing in GoogleEarth. The default way to do this displays as tons of data points, vs. a gps track. Now the good side of this is each data point shows heart rate and other data. If you just want a nice track in GoogleEarth a GPX file makes nicer looking path that can also be played back in GoogleEarth. I had to go through TopoFusion to do this. Would be nice if direct option in Garmin's software to export as GPX file.

Also meant to point out that works fine on Mac using VMware and Windows Vista; although still look forward to native mac version.

Transfer started even if VMware was not the active application.

I've only had mine a week or two, but my last couple of runs the display changes during the run and of course I panic, think that is stopped, so I stop and push training, then start, then menu, I tap, etc etc, finally somehow I get the display I want back......... what is up with that... would the scroll (i mean) bizel lock (and i do not have that auto scroll on)take care of this problem. I.e I want to see my time, pace and distance at all times......

Hey!

Just ordered this from Moosejaw (expected to be sent 08/05/20). I live in Sweden, and would greatly appreciate it if somebody could confirm that the US-model will work properly with the European maps etc.

Cheers
TH