Hi John,

Just thought having brought a Garmin 310XT which arrived today, I can confirm that it does work okay with GRG Garmin Uploader.  Looking forward to trying it out over the weekend.

I am not sure if I am allowed to recommend companies on the Forum, but I want to recommend a company that sells HRM/GPS online. The website address for the comapny is:  http://www.heartratemonitor.co.uk/   I have purchased all my running watches/accessories from them using there online site on many occassions over the last 8 years or so with no problems at all.  I have found there prices very competative. They are a UK company, based up in Norfolk and if you order before 1300hrs on a  working week day they deliver by special delivery by 1300hrs the following day.  The staff are very helpful and a guy called Tristain that works there is very knowledgeable on just about every brand of HRM that is about on the market. Well worth checking out if you are looking to buy or upgrade!

Please excuse this very basic question but I am not very great with modern technology.  I am thinking about buying a Garmin 310XT.  Will I still be able to download my training sessions into my training log on this site as I have done with my Garmin 305? 

Hi Helen,

Very interesting that the GPS was shorter than the mapped distance. Was it much shorter? I've found there to be a good correllation unless under a lot of trees or near some high buildings. I only use a 205 but have found it suprisingly accurate and great fun to download all the info later of course.

I treated myself to a Forerunner 405 last week (I had been using Nike+ but the sensor packed up in the snow)...and have had no complaints so far - you just need to take the time to work out how to use it properly (rather than guess like one usually does) - I am sure it will take me a while yet to get the full benefit from it..

Now seems to be the time to get one..sales are on and I got mine for under £200 including P&P and it was delivered next day.

John - thanks for the CRS file download tool. I tried out the navigation function today with my new forerunner 305 on a route that I know (!) and it worked really well. The map display is a bit rundimetary (single line with an arrow) but does the job. I guess in the future when we have 'head-up' display glasses we'll look back with nostalgia at the line and arrow.... as we do with the old ping pong TV/video game?

I think that I will take a map with me on new routes as a back-up but hope to be able to rely on the Garmin.

The instructions on the site also helped - I find Garmin's instruction manuals less than helpful!

Many thanks again PP

Yes once you get over the slight embarrassment of wearing such a large watch you soon forget its there until you wan't to know how far you have gone or how fast you are running and there it is with easy to read when running big numbers! And theres all the fun to had looking at the data afterwards.

I agree with Lisa that the Garmin 405 is not as user-friendly as its predecessor.  OK the 305 doesn't have the sporty looks - in fact it looks as if you could land a helecopter on it - but you don't need to mess about with a touch bezel (tricky with wet hands or gloves) you just press the chunky buttons and it beeps.  You can also see more on the screen 'cos it's massive and you don't need to wait for stuff to cycle through.

I've used my 305 to help me navigate a fell race.  It took ages to programme in the check points because I had to run them through a web-based converter to get from OS grid references to co-ordinate points.  However during the run it was pretty good at pointing me in the right direction and showing the zig zag route that I'd actually taken as a dotted line.

We are often asked by our Members for recommendations on the best GPS devices for running.  During our research into routes for the website we have in the past used Garmin Forerunners 50, 205/305 and 405.  We found the 205 was satisfactory in open areas but was very poor at picking up a satellite signal in woods and areas with tall buildings.  The forerunner 205/305 was an  improvement on this, but still can take some time to find a signal.  The 405 is generally excellent  at picking up signals, but takes a bit of getting used to and can be difficult to connect through the ANT stick system, and of course, is fairly expensive.

So, are there any favourites out there?  is the new Forerunner worth the extra money?  Are there any other makes of these devices that are suitable for running?