IVS Forum - Opinions on Garmins?

Massage_Mary

IVS Half Marathoner

Posts: 50
Gender: female

Opinions on Garmins?
Sep 19^th, 2010, 2:50pm

I'm considering getting a Garmin, and I know I lot of you have them, so...

-Is the Garmin Forerunner 205 a good choice for a first Garmin? Does anyone find them too bulky to want to wear? Do you get used to their size?

-I hear the batteries wear out after about 2 years, is this your experience? Would this make buying used a bad idea?

-I saw an earlier forum post about a sale at Best Buy--has anyone seen any sales lately?

Thanks!!

Mary

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brn2run

IVS Marathoner

Win YOUR race.

Posts: 393
Gender: male

Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #1 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 4:01pm

I have a Garmin 305 (very similar to 205 except with heart rate monitor) which I loved until it quit on me after only 8 months of use. The buttons quit responding and it acted like it had a mind of it's own. I sent it back to Garmin and they sent a "refurbished" one back to me that did the exact same thing. I think they just changed the battery and sent it back to me. So now I'm shipping it back to Garmin International at their expense. They have been very easy to work with despite all the trouble. The size doesn't bother me. In fact if the screen were smaller it might be harder to see while in the middle of a intense workout. Hope they fix it right this time. Good luck.

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Queen of the Dammed Squirrels

IVS Ultra Marathoner

Posts: 1291
Gender: female

Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #2 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 5:34pm

i hate my Garmin 405. The battery almost never lasts for a really long run (if using the GPS, which is of course, what one uses it for). It quit today after 5 hours. When it was new, it would sometimes last for 8 hours or so. If it's cold, it's much worse. It can't get wet at all. It's about 2 years old. Next time, I'll get one of the bigger, clunkier, models with a better battery and actual water resistance. Also, the touch bezel is very sensitive and not exactly user-friendly. In order to get it to work, I have to cuss a lot.

So...I wouldn't recommend the Garmin 405.

p.s. my husband has a 305. He loves it. I wish it were mine.... Roll Eyes

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mike siltman

Ex Member

Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #3 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 6:07pm

I have the 205 and have had it ever since it came out years ago. The only time I really use it is when I do road running and want to use the virtual partner for my speed and tempo running. I never have had an issue with the battery other than it only lasts 12 hours a charge so, I don't use it on ultras I just use my Polar 625X for any of my trail runs and runs over 5 or 6 hours.

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숲 오리 IVS Ultra Marathoner The Original Mucky Duck Posts: 1351 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #4 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 7:38pm what's a Garmin?
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Jaxon IVS Marathoner Posts: 164 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #5 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 9:04pm i use the 305. Works like a champ. Battery last about 11 hrs.....RUN FASTER! Timex has a new gps out that looks interesting also...
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Jeep4x4greg

IVS Ultra Marathoner

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Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #6 - Sep 19^th, 2010, 9:54pm

205 here...love it....no problems since I got it in 2007

I have skinny girlie wrists and I do not have a problem with the bulkiness of the watch.

I'd buy an other.

friend of mine has a 305 he just had an issue with it all of a sudden not turning on after charging.....apparently this is a common problem but can be fixed by performing a hard reset.

Heres some tricks if your Garmins ever start acting stupid:

* Soft Reset: lap + mode (restarts unit when screen has locked up)
* Master (hard) reset hold down the mode button then keep holding down mode while pressing the power button, after a few seconds let both go.

If those don't work you can try a combination soft/hard reset:
Press lap + mode for 3 seconds, then imediately press mode + power. You should then see the prompt asking if you want to erase all user data.

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-Greg

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Schroff IVS Marathoner Posts: 209 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #7 - Sep 20^th, 2010, 5:39am I used to use a Garmin until my dog ate it. Now I use a continuum transfunctioner. (name that movie)
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Jaxon IVS Marathoner Posts: 164 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #8 - Sep 20^th, 2010, 6:32am Dude where's my car! Zoltan!
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Mike Klop

IVS Marathoner

Posts: 321
Gender: male

Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #9 - Sep 20^th, 2010, 8:31am

I've got the 310xt and love it. I had the 305 which was great too but it broke. I would have bought another, but got an awesome deal on the 310xt.

They are both really functional and accurate, even on the trails. Usually on a 10 mile loop it's only off by a couple tenths of a mile.

The thing I like about the 310 is it has a 20 hour battery. It wirelessly loads your run info to the computer-not necessary but kind of cool. It's also waterproof if you're doing triathalons. I'd highly recommend either the 305 or the 310xt.

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Darnyankee

IVS Ultra Marathoner

Posts: 842
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Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #10 - Sep 20^th, 2010, 9:11am

I have the 301 love it. I don't use it much mainly for when I explore new trails. It has the heart rate monitor, I don't even notice the size of it.

Wirlessly to the computer is for those geeks anyway.

I bought it off ebay used for $50 bucks, I have never had an issue with the battery. However I have never used it for more than 8 hrs straight.

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Massage_Mary IVS Half Marathoner Posts: 50 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #11 - Feb 28^th, 2011, 10:27am After much deliberation, and not being able to find a good deal for one on CL/ebay, I have ordered a a 305 on Amazon. Can't wait til it gets here. Thanks for all your inputs!
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Massage_Mary IVS Half Marathoner Posts: 50 Gender:	Re: Opinions on Garmins? Reply #12 - May 19^th, 2011, 6:52pm BTW, I'm loving the Garmin. I'm happy I bought it on every run I take. Best $130 I've spent all year!
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The Big Willi Style

IVS Ultra Marathoner

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Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #13 - May 19^th, 2011, 9:06pm

I can't remember, but I think the brick was the 201. That was nice, but once that thing died, it was kaput! I really like the 305 I got now. Still a little bulky, but still smaller, and love the HR functions. ITs too bad we dont' had a Garmin store around to try this stuff out to find one that floats our boats.

The BWS has spoken

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Terry Whitehead

IVS Marathoner

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Re: Opinions on Garmins?
Reply #14 - May 20^th, 2011, 9:49am

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Nothin' worth having comes without some kind of fight...You gotta kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight!"

Sorry - couldn't resist the following movie trivia question - name the movie and the former governor who said it!

"I Ain't Got Time to Bleed!"

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