Garmin Edge 305 Waterproof Cycling GPS With Heart Rate Monitor
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $285.00 You Save: $64.99 (19%) Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
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for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Edge 305 Waterproof Cycling GPS With Heart Rate Monitor
Customer Review: Nice unit, poor software [Roadie perspective]
Summary: 2 Stars
Despite a large number of user and site reviews to the contrary I believe this item is let down by poor software design and quality. The Edge products are something of a 'hook' item in that they are sufficiently crippled out of the box to require subscription to online services or other products. Having used the unit for about 3000km now I think I can offer some addition perspective to what is already out there...
Don't get me wrong the concept of a GPS based cycle computer is great - I regularly and easily swap it between the bikes I frequently use without wires or calibration. The unit feature set is also pretty comprehensive, in fact one has to be quite judicious in display setup options so as not be overwhelmed by data. The GPS chip is plenty good for road, quick(ish) acquisition and tracking sufficient for speedo accuracy etc. With the good stuff out of the way...
But - and for me this is considerable but - the unit firmware is flakey (you will have to figure out how to do a soft reset as the unit will freeze up on you), and the Training Center software is even worse. Here come the hooks, for me (in NZ) the basemaps included for course planning are practically useless (though there is a way to create your basemaps own if you have the time and data), the cost of correcting this the Garmin way is horrendous [h1]. A great alternative, however exists in MapMyRide (though you don't get to insert course waypoints). But you still have to resolve the following...
Getting data in and out of the unit becomes more problematic over time, in fact I have installed Training Center on 3 separate PCs (all of the XP variety) and all of them stopped receiving data from the GPS with an error sooner or later. Sometimes they would receive sometimes they wouldn't - final resolution was a complete uninstall (AND manual user dir delete). The alternative is use of the MotionBased site, (2) though paid subscription is required [h2] for a full suite of services. An alternative exists again in the form of SportTracks, a great donorware piece of software (no affiliation).
Other minor gripes include the usual - HRM interference, at times poor barometric related elevation performance - especially in the wet [don't even think about it in heavy rain]. GPS related gripes - the Course following option is a little flakey if created via software as opposed to ride history. Lapped or complex courses (retracing sections) also problematic - a moving snake option highlighting the current, say 1km, section of the course would alleviate this somewhat though. Finally you'd think you would be able to 1. insert an autolap point on a course *before* you rode it (like a lapping waypoint), and 2. insert more than one autolap points. But no, you cannot achieve either of these with the 305 Edge.
In summary, yes the Edge 305 is full featured and bloody convenient for multiple bikes. After you get the unit turned on, the on bike features even work pretty well. The great letdown comes when you want to download, analyse and share all that data you collected out on the road, or heaven forbid do some planning before you hit the road to take advantage of a GPS platform. If you are prepared for multiple workarounds on the SW side of things the Edge 305 is still a great option, if not its power (and potential) is wasted and you'd be better off with a Polar or similar speedo.
Edge 305 Firmware 3.20
Training Center Version 3.2.3
Hope this helps.
Ron
ps. I wouldn't even think of dropping money on an Edge 605/705 until these SW issues are sorted. More bug testers and actual cyclists involved in the next edition please Garmin.
Customer Review: Wonderful tool, so much potential, lousy software
Summary: 4 Stars
Ok, I really love this gadget. It's great to have heartrate, speed, distance, cadence, grade, and averages all on one unit. After a ride, you can review, graphically, the entire data for the ride. Also great to have your entire history of rides on your computer. But it takes a fair amount of effort to keep that history. The software just randomly loses your history from time to time--so you have to back up frequently. This is not just me--check out the forums on Garmin's sites, and you'll see that everyone seems to experience these glitches from time to time. Calory calculation is, well, bizarre---I don't really need exact calory counting (though the forums at Garmin's site certainly suggest that others do), but I'd like it to at least serve for comparison purposes. Not so--the same exact ride, with very similar speed, can show up with dramatically different calories burned. The unit also interfaces with Garmin's web-based program, Motion Based--- a very interesting concept that lets you look at your own and other people's rides, and search for them using key words. You can then download these rides to your unit and follow them on your bike using the course map. That's a really cool idea---essentially a community created trail guide, but it could be better. The ability to comment on these rides would be nice---much like this Amazon review system, users could choose or modify routes that are posted according to their own purposes if comments were permitted. It would also be nice to search for rides by GPS coordinates (this is Garmin, after all) but right now that doesn't appear possible.
If you back up frequently, it is nice to compare one ride (say a favorite route early in the season) with another (same route later in the season). You can watch your heartrate lower as you train from ride to ride. But as I mentioned above, you will lose this ability if you don't back up often. You also have to occasionally reset the device, or it will begion to misbehave both in interfacing with your computer and on the bike.
Honestly, I've had my Edge for 3 months and I've enjoyed it tremendously. I will continue to use it, and really wouldn't want to do any significant ride without one. But it's software is finicky, and you have to use the user forums on Motion Based from time to time to figure out how to get the thing unstuck or on or reset or backed up. The Motion Based idea is absolutely killer, but I fear that with Garmin's apparent weakness in the software area it will be a long time before they start to really exploit its potential. Let's hope they hire some good software developers and make this thing really fly.
Customer Review: Read all the Reviews
Summary: 5 Stars
I read all the reviews on Amazon and then purchased an Edge 305. I have been using it for about 1 month now and can say I love it. I used it overseas(all across France and Italy)with a compatible course creating software ([...])and can confirm it's a great bit of kit to navigate around with. Used it on the bike and in the car and it's great. It has all the data you could want for training etc, but the software is a little less mature than the Polar stuff. I did have it lock onto the start point of a course and refuse to drop the start point despite what course I was on, simply reloaded the software on the GPS (easy if you use their web update software).
It's not the greatest every day speedo as you have to charge it and it's far too high powered for the daily commute.
Update Feb 08.
My Garmin Edge got water in it whilst riding in the rain at low speed. This is the reply from Garmin Warranty Dept. What a Joke. How can they claim IPX-7 Rating then write this.
Quote
Thank you for contacting Garmin International.
Ipx-7 rated means the device have been submerged in one meter of still water for up to 30 minutes. Please keep in mind the water was still and did not have a current to it. Current created by rain, swimming, or showering with the device may cause the casing of the device to leak in water. Using the device in water related applications will void your manufactures warranty. In the Forerunner manual it is suggested a triathlete can take advantage of the Forerunner's multi-sport workouts. However, although a triathlon is usually long-distance swimming, bicycling, and running; a triathlon is not limited to these activities only and it is not recommended these units be used for swimming.
Unqoute.
Be warned it's not waterproof in the rain on a bike. Make your own judgement on Gramin's ethics around this claim. They offered to split the bill for repair......
Customer Review: The best training tool I have ever used!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recieved my Edge 305HR on 2/20 so I thought I would charge it up and take it for a quick spin to see how it works. After 20 miles, I can trully say that "I love it". I have had no problems with the battery life nor any other features at this time. I find this a great tool for fitness training and measuring your heart zones. Set up was fairly easy and we measured accuracy against my old cycle computer on my son's bike. You must be aware that this is a training computer and not designed to be a GPS map like other GPS systems. However, I would strongly recomend using Motionbased.com as a add-on tool (basic account is free). Motionbase has done an excellent job in allowing you to upload your data onto the internet to view your course as well as download other courses from other riders onto your Edge.
Unit also works well with Google Earth to get a satellite view of your ride.
The Gramin preovided software is ok, and could use a manual on how to use it. Once you have downloaded a ride and are able to "copy and paste" that ride into a "course" or "workout" to use again against the "Virtual Trainner". This is very helpful while preparing for centry rides. Various features are really helpful as reviewing your heart rate against various climbs to allow you to pace yourself as well as improve endurance. Also if you are like me and want to burn some extra calories, it's nice to look down and see how many you have burned so far during your ride then view your progress on various software.
The screens are completely customizable and very easy to change.
I have odred the cadence as well and should arrive in the next day or so just so I can also messure my RPM's.
I haven't mastered all the features at this time, but I can truly say that this is the best thing I have compared to the following: Polar 725, Suunto X9, and Garmin Forerunner 301 and 305.
Hope you enjoy!
Customer Review: The best bike accessory I've ever purchased!
Summary: 5 Stars
Excellent, excellent, excellent!...
A lot of other folks have gone over the various pros and cons so I'm not going to do that. If you do your research on what you need and what this unit provides you won't go wrong.
Let's be clear... this unit was not designed to be like your car GPS with the nice mapping that you follow. It HAS some basic mapping features but it is meant to be a training tool. And, with that in mind, it is one of the best. It has all of the stats I want with heart rate, mileage, elevation, cadence (if you get the add-on), averages, etc.
The 'race yourself' features, the training workout setups, and the courses are all great features and very cool if you decide to use them. I, personally, love the 'virtual partner' feature. It allows me to race myself whenever I'm on a course that I've done before. This can totally change the mentality of your workout. You can also 'race' someone else's recorded course if you get it from online.
I bought a cheapo armband and now I can use this for running, hiking, canoing, etc as well. Cool!
This unit is well constructed and has held up supremely in rain, mud and, yes, even wet snow! If you spend a little quality time with the menu system before diving in, you'll find that it's pretty easy to use (but... please spend at least a little time).
If you're a serious biker and want a good training tool, you should definately check this unit out. If you REALLY want the complete mapping of a standard GPS then check out the Edge 705 as well.