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| Home > Garmin Edge 305 Waterproof Cycling GPS With Heart Rate Monitor |
| Product Description: | | | | | Rugged, lightweight Edge attaches easily to the stem or handlebars of your bike with the included bike mount. Just turn it on, acquire GPS satellites and go. Edge 305 automatically measures your speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, and records this data for your review. For extra-precise climb and descent data, Edge 305 also incorporates a barometric altimeter to pinpoint changes in elevation. Wireless Cadence sold separately. High-sensitivity GPS receiver measures pedaling cadence, heart rate, speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb and descent, plus much more. Training Center Software-manage and download courses and create a detailed post-ride analysis that charts your performance. Optional wireless heart rate monitor eliminates cross-talk and interference and sends heart rate data to the Edge via a chest strap. Optional wireless speed & cadence kit is self-calibrating, includes wheel sensor for use on a trainer. Waterproof. Attaches to stem or handlebars. Two mouting brackets included. Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts over 1,000+ charges. 88 grams. Unit dimensions: 1.75 x 3.7 x .9". Item Specifications: Color: Grey. Wireless: Yes; Heart Rate: Included; GPS-Enabled Included Optional | | | Amazon.com Product Description Whether you're prepping for your next century ride or want a more accurate way to measure your performance on the trails, take your training to the edge with the Garmin Edge 305HR GPS-enabled Personal Trainer and Cycle Computer. The Edge 305HR is easy to use, requires no calibration, and features customizable screens and data fields to meet your needs. Measuring speed, distance, time, calories burned, altitude, climb, descent, and more, the Edge 305HR will help you to always know where you are and how far you've gone.
Main menu. View larger. | 
Bike computer display. View larger. | 
Course with elevation profile. View larger. |
The Edge 305HR with heart rate monitor is the ultimate GPS-enabled fitness partner for cyclists. View larger. |
With a built-in barometric altimeter and heart rate monitor, the Edge 305HR goes a step beyond its little brother--the Edge 205. The altimeter delivers extremely accurate elevation readings, and a chest strap monitor sends your heart rate data to the 305HR via a robust wireless transmission. In addition, the 305HR is compatible with the Garmin Speed/Cadence Sensor. This optional, self-calibrating wireless sensor attaches to your bike's rear chain stay and delivers speed and pace data while you train. The Edge 305HR couldn't be easier to use. Simply take it out of the box, snap it into the included bike mount, and hit the road. The high-sensitivity GPS receiver knows your position in tree cover and canyons, making the Edge 305HR an extremely reliable navigation device. And with the customizable cycle computer, you can select from up to eight different data fields for continuous feedback. Garmin goes well beyond typical cycle computers by integrating GPS technology for basic navigation. In addition, the Edge 305HR gives you the ability to overlay your ride data onto a course map and even "race" a virtual partner, making your training fun while helping to push you toward your goals. The included PC-based Training Center software gives you the tools to create workouts, manage and download courses, and create a detailed post-ride analysis that charts your performance and measures your speed, distance, climb, descent, and heart rate data against varying terrain, elevation, and more. And with the Edge 305HR 's built-in USB interface, it's quick and easy to upload and download information. The virtual partner screen depicts a digital cyclist (representing your desired speed) in relation to your real-time speed. From this set of data the icons will show how far ahead or behind you are from your digital competitor. The Courses feature allows you to race against a recorded course to try and match previously set speeds at every point along the way. Training in urban areas can be tricky, and undesirable traffic can skew training data. To help remedy this problem, Garmin has included an auto-pause function that pauses the training timer when you slow down below a specified speed and resumes when you speed up again so you can focus on your ride, not on your data collection. And with the auto lap function, this smart little device automatically triggers a lap every time you pass a specified location or travel a preset distance. With its sleek, waterproof design (the Edge 305HR meets IEC 60529 IPX7 standards, which means that its components can be submerged in one meter of water for 30 minutes), the 305HR is the perfect companion on any bike, and it attaches to either the stem or handlebars. This lightweight device (88 grams) is powered by an 800mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery and delivers an average of 12 hours of use per charge. The rugged case frames an easy-to-read, large, backlit display that makes it a breeze to view the data fields. So whether you're racing against your virtual partner, fighting to shave precious seconds off your old record, or training for the next big race, the Edge 305HR will help to monitor your progress and make you a better cyclist.
What's in the Box
Edge 305 with heart rate monitor, bike mount, Training Center CD, A/C charger, USB PC interface cable, Quick reference guide, and owner's manual.
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| Customer Reviews: | |
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 A decent GPS, so-so cyclometer, so-so training tool, May 16, 2006
By E. Varisco (Baltimore, MD)
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I can appreciate Garmin's effort to get into the cycling/training market. BUT.....
These are issues that I've found:
(1) The GPS tracks in forest but the MPH becomes slower and therefore inaccurate. I compared with the Cateye cyclometer already on my mtn. bike and there is almost a 1.5-2 mph slower difference on average because of inaccurate GPS.
(2) Calories burned is also not accurate. I called tech support at Garmin, and they admit as much. I was going downhill for about 3 miles on my road bike and calories burned showed 345! When I went uphill for a 6 mile climb of 1900 feet the Edge showed 350 calories burned--definitely not right. They need to re-figure their algorithm, and they admit it.
(3) The cadence sensor can be a pain to use. It doesn't seem to work all of the time.
(4) Expensive--it may have the combo of GPS/cyclometer/HR but it's still pricey, and really doesn't any of them well. If you want GPS then take the $350.00 and invest in a pure GPS unit. A cyclometer/HR training monitor can be had for less than $350.00
48 of 55 people found the above review helpful.
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Nice unit, poor software [Roadie perspective], September 3, 2007
By R. King (Auck'a'lofa, NZ)
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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.
43 of 44 people found the above review helpful.
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 Track every juicy detail of your next bicycle ride..., July 9, 2006
By Justin Moore (San Antonio, TX USA)
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I upgraded to the Edge 305HR after owning the 205 for about 5 months and after deciding that I wanted heart rate information to accompany the wealth of information that was already being captured by the 205.
I've used the new Edge 305HR for about 60 miles of combined road and mountain biking. Like the 205 it captures a wide range of information about your ride - distance, elevation, calories burned, etc.
After following the directions (which involve wetting the sensors prior to putting on the heart rate monitor), I've found that the heart rate information is incredibly reliable. It is great to see, for example, that on a recent 32 mile ride in a hilly area of Northwest San Antonio that over an hour of the ride was at my target heart rate (80% of my maximum heart rate). I upload my info from the Edge and take advantage of the free Motionbased.com account in order to chart my progress.
I have experienced ZERO problems with erratic heart rate readings, etc. that have been indicated in previous reviews of this unit. I'd suggest owners of the 305HR that are having these problems should review the instructions carefully (making sure that the sensors are wet and the unit is snug on the body...just below the breastbone) or contact Garmin to order a replacement.
This unit is working exactly as advertised and will provide a great deal of quality information to help you achieve your training goals.
24 of 27 people found the above review helpful.
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 Great GPS, but unreliable HR and speed readings, May 24, 2006
By Daniel H. Cole (Indianapolis, IN United States)
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The Garmin Edge 305 is a very cool looking unit, and the GPS system is useful for anyone who does not know the territory well. However, my particular unit almost constantly displayed inconsistent and highly variable speed and heart rate readings. For example, on a recent recovery ride, during which I road at a pretty steady pace of 15 mph, the unit displayed HR readings that varied between 120 to 247!!! I have also had problems uploading data from the unit to the Training Center and the Motion Based Agent. On one occasion, the data was simply lost; on another, it showed up with the wrong date (even though the Edge 305 itself displayed the correct date).
When I called Garmin customer service about these problems, I had trouble getting through. When I finally was able to speak with a customer service representative, she kindly offered to exchange my Edge 305 for a new one. The only problem was, they didn't have any in stock -- at the manufacturer!!!
My experience with the Garmin Edge 305 confirms my theory that the more you pay for a cycle-computer/heart rate monitor, the less reliable it is.
11 of 16 people found the above review helpful.
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 Slightly disappointed, July 12, 2008
By Lee Abraham (Cheyenne, WY)
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I have had the 305 for 2 weeks now. I like it, but it isn't all that I hoped.
Installation is easier than any other computer you can get (unless you get the cadence meter). Strap it to the stem and that's it. It does come with mounts for 2 bikes, but if you want to mount both to the stem you will have to realign one mount from the handle bar mount angle (just takes a little prying, but I almost did break it in the process). Stem is the preferable mount just because it is a bit big for a handle bar mount. It comes with one piece of rubber that is for mounting it on bars/stem smaller than 1" diameter. The rubber also helps prevent slipping. Also it only comes with one angled spacer that makes it easier to read from a stem mount. If you want to mount on the stem for an additional bike you will probably want to purchase an additional mounting kit just for the angled spacer. I did, and the extra kits should be a lot cheaper than $17.
I do have a problem on one of my bikes with the 305 rattling against the handlebar mounting screws on the top of the stem. It hasn't damaged the 305, but I don't like that it constantly rattles against the bike so I am going to try to pad it.
After a little playing around, it is easy to use. Doesn't take long to figure out the screens. I have profiles set up for two bikes, but I am not sure of the purpose of this if you don't have the cadence package (if you had it on one bike on not the other you can set this in the profile). The profile asks you to enter each bikes weight, but I have no idea why it needs this information. I was disappointed that it doesn't save the screen settings for each bike, so there really doesn't seem to be a point to switching profiles (unless you do have the cadence meter). It would have been nice to set custom displays for each bike (for instance I don't wear the HR monitor when commuting on bike 2, so I don't want to waste screen space on this).
Most of my disappointment comes from it's accuracy. Calories burned is worthless. It just computes the value from distance traveled, so it's so far off it's laughable. Since people have been complaining about this since the 305 was released I am surprised Garmin hasn't fixed this.
Elevation is all over the place. Sometimes when I do a a loopback it shows a difference of up to 50' difference in the same areas. I realize that weather fluctuations will throw off a barometric altimeter, but the 305 is supposed to use the GPS to help stabilize it. From when I turn the unit on, after waiting a minute for the satellite reception, it takes another minute for the elevation to settle. And even when it's settled and sitting perfectly still it's constantly fluctuating +/- 10'. It also seems to lag a bit behind too so when you crest a hill it still shows you as climbing for a couple of seconds longer (sometimes for quite a few seconds). This affects grade too. Going up a hill it said I was on a 6% grade, going down that same hill 30 minutes later it said it was a 4% grade.
Heart rate is hit and miss. Sometimes it's perfect, sometimes it reads very high and I get warnings to lower it (in the impossible 230 area). I know all HR monitors can be finicky and it depends on your clothes, power lines, amount you sweat, etc, but I used to use a Polar and had less trouble with it (although it wasn't perfect either). I have some HR monitor gel coming to see if that helps.
The distance traveled is also off, but this is fairly common for a GPS to be a bit off. It isn't enough to worry about, but if you want exact measurements every time you are better off with a traditional computer.
Where the 305 is really great is the virtual partner. For a quick work out you can set the partner to a time/distance/speed and race against it. It can be fun to set it to run 20 miles at an 18mph pace and try to beat it. Sure it's just basically setting a time to beat, but as you are riding it shows you how far ahead or behind your goal that you are. It can be a real motivator.
Courses are even better. Once you ride a route and set lap points, you can ride the same route again and try to beat your past performance. You can also set up other training programs such as intervals, but I have not used this feature.
Also as others have said, the 305 is of no use to find your way around. You want a 605/705 if that is what you are looking for.
The screen isn't hard to see when riding. Most screens you can customize how much you see, and if you set too many fields it can be a bit hard to see everything easily. At first you also find yourself playing with it a lot when riding, which is a bit dangerous. This week I looked up from playing around with it and rode right through a broken bottle flattening my back tire. (Yes I felt stupid after the fact.)
GPS reception has been good, but I live in area without any trees. When riding through a tunnel on the local bike path, it auto-paused itself when it lost contact but picked up contact immediately as I came out the other side.
Software is bad. I have it on my Mac and PC but haven't played around with the Mac version enough to comment. You can't really do much with the software besides look at graphs of your ride. Which is nice, but it isn't done very well. The included maps it uses are pathetic and you can't even click on your route to highlight on the ride's pace/elevation graph to compare where you were. Although if you click on a section of the graph it will show you where on the map you were. It also doesn't mark your lap sections on the maps or graph of your ride. You can't edit your courses either. Motion Based (which Garmin owns) looks neat, but it's almost $100 a year or $12 a month. Seeing I am lucky if I get 5 months of riding where I live, $60 for this service seems a bit much.
Battery life has been excellent so far, but it is a new unit. Lithium Ion batteries decrease in performance as they get older. You can charge it all you want, and it won't kill the battery, but age will. If kept in a warm place the battery dies at a quicker pace. This would be less of a big deal if you could change the battery yourself. But after a couple season you can forget it lasting for any longer rides. I searched Garmin's site to see how much they charge to replace the battery, but couldn't find anything. If you do a Google search for Edge 305 battery you can find people talking about using cell phone battery boosters to give the 305 a longer life.
Overall I like the product, but think it could be vastly improved. Garmin doesn't seem to be listening to users though since the 605/705 suffer the same problems, so it doesn't look like we can expected an improved 305 or better software anytime soon. In the end I think I would suggest a normal computer over the 305 if accuracy is important to you.
10 of 10 people found the above review helpful.
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Sensor Frustration, March 24, 2006
By grayrock (Scottsdale, Arizona)
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I had high hopes for this unit. Trying to get some one from Garmin on the phone to help may take up to an hour! The sensor is not easy to setup for cadence etc.. Can't get the sensor to work on the road bike. Too much of a pain for this feature to work. Riders need candence. Need to go back to the Polar. Too bad, because I liked many of the features, but perhaps Garmin has too many different products to worry about satisfying the bike rider market.
9 of 12 people found the above review helpful.
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Read all the Reviews, July 26, 2007
By Ian (Brisbane Australia)
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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......
8 of 8 people found the above review helpful.
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The best training tool I have ever used!, February 21, 2006
By Ron (Kirkland, WA)
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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!
8 of 11 people found the above review helpful.
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The best bike accessory I've ever purchased!, June 9, 2008
By konaboy (Burnsville, MN United States)
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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.
6 of 6 people found the above review helpful.
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 Flexible bike training tool, July 26, 2007
By J. Hopfield (Culver City, CA USA)
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Very flexible data display.
Computer-side software (PC & Mac) could use some work. Ships with PC only software, but slightly less functional Mac software can be downloaded.
Almost everything worked great on my ride up 10,000 foot Haleakala on Maui (really), but the "percent grade" number fluctuates too much when you're going up hill at low speed (like when your at 9,000 feet and feeling the altitude).
Battery life adequate but not great.
5 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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Great product, but the associated SW and Web service could be better, January 31, 2007
By B. Grande
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Great product which adds a new dimension to your cycling. Tracking your route, elevation, heart rate, etc is wonderful. Product works as advertized, but may not meet your full expectations: Altimeter function is not consistent, PC Based SW is spartan unless you purchase a $100+ map set, and the Web based service is very slow, cumbersome, and confusing.
Having said all that, it is a cool toy
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Bad Product to Buy, August 4, 2009
By Greg Mainis
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I have owned an Edge 305 for my bike for 2 years and ride between 50 and 100 miles per week. In that 2 years it has been back to the mfg 7 times, each time something doesn't work again! Now maybe I've just had bad luck, but I originally recommended it to several friends and they have all had to send theirs back at least twice. Maybe they had better luck then I did because they only sent it back twice.
For any type of regular riding buy a Polar CS400 or CS600.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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Wonderful tool, so much potential, lousy software, July 15, 2007
By Andrew H. Stone (Salt Lake City, UT USA)
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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.
4 of 4 people found the above review helpful.
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The Edge is the best Cyclocomputer out there, February 20, 2006
By Cory (Ohio)
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I have been waiting for the Edge 305hr for the past 6 months and it was worth the wait. I also purchased the CAD accessory so that the unit would also work with my indoor trainer ((Most speed functions are tied to the GPS. With the speed/cad sensor the GPS does not need to be "on" to get accurate data while indoors). Not only can you upload your rides and compare data, you can upload your outdoor rides to Motionbased.com and get a flury of data, race against yourself (your previous times over the same track), against a virtual opponent...etc. Just AWESOME.
4 of 7 people found the above review helpful.
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Best Cycling Computer Yet, February 1, 2006
By J. Weber (Indiana)
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Garmin really has a winner with the Edge. Heartrate and Cadence information is right on. Training Center software lets you build workouts, and view your data. The Edge has many options to let you personalize the display. Not cheap but works. GPS and elevation are much better then early Forerunner products. Worth the wait.
4 of 9 people found the above review helpful.
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Great, but I'm on my 5th unit..., August 25, 2008
By C. Matthews (NorCal)
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Clearly a great tool for cycling, and I love it - when it works. But I've now had to return mine for the 5th time, due to the unit shutting itself off mid-ride. Very annoying, and dealing with Garmin customer service is super slow (usually 30-45 minutes on hold before you can find a human)
Love it, just wish it were reliable.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Garmin 305 Review, May 6, 2007
By Erik N. Larson (San Diego, CA)
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Works great, with a few minor notes:
1. heart rate monitor battery was dead after first use. Was giving erratic readouts, which was due to the bad battery.
2. Garmin needs to get rid of the Adobe SGV Viewer application since it did not load properly on my Windows XP w/Explorer. Garmin has indicated that a SW update will soon correct this and remove the need for the SGV Viewer. Most key functionality was still present without this, and it only applied to the MotionBased application.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Excellent tool for training, March 12, 2007
By Rich (Dallas, TX United States)
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The Edge 305HR is an excellent tool for Mountain Bike training. There are no wires to get caught on things and nothing to install on the fork or wheel. Only negative was my heart rate monitor was shipped with a dead battery.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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device might be nice but garmin customer service lacking, August 14, 2009
By Chuck B (Colorado)
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I recently purchased the Edge 305 package (hr monitor & cadence). One of the features that interested me was the altimeter which unfortunately didn't work - kept registering 65000 ft. I checked the firmware which was up to date and then called Garmin. Was left on hold for about 15 minutes, before receiving assistance. The rep was helpful until we determined that the unit was defective and needed to be returned. Garmin wants me to pay for shipping which I could sort of accept if this was an inexpensive device, which it's not. I've had it less than a week, it doesn't work, so I'm at a loss to understand why I need to pay to have it replaced. I'll be taking it back to Target for a refund, and will no longer do business with Garmin.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Garmin Edge 305 Bike, May 18, 2009
By me="R240IURXV3VX5S">
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
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I bought this item because it's cheaper than Garmin Edge 705, but only in Amazon.com. In the stores, the difference of prices between 305 and 705 not justify when you compare the features.
The screen is too small and how the display is not in color, it's more difficult to see the values.
For the "old guys", it's an important feature.
3 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Quality/Service Poor, August 12, 2009
By D. Sowder
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I had my Edge 305 for less than a year before it started having problems. The unit just simply powers itself off during high speed descents and rough road patches. I thought this might be due to excessive vibration...so I tried to come up with some different mounts to remedy the problem. The next spring the power issue became overwhelming and I contacted service for repair. To their credit, even though I was about 3 months past warranty, they agreed to cover the repair. I FedEx'd my unit and was told there would be a 10-day turnaround. After 3 weeks I called to find out the status of my RMA...at which point I found out Garmin had LOST my unit. They sent me a refurbished unit. The refurbished unit arrived on a monday. It worked that first day. On Tuesday, the GPS would not acquire any satellites and was worthless. I called Garmin the very next morning and they have agreed to send me a new "in the box" unit. However there will be another 10 day lead time.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great product, July 10, 2009
By Trish Hoff
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I have owned many GPS' and this acquires a signal faster and under more cover than any of them. Recorded data doesn't include drop-outs or random points like some other models. I bike to work every day, as well as bike recreationally and competitively. Excellent product at an excellent price.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Works for me and the price was great!, June 1, 2009
By J. Grant (Great Lakes State)
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Performs flawlessly. Great price. I use it on my MTB to monitor my HR and track my rides. Afterwards, I usually import into Google Maps and check out where I've been... It's fun.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Think twice about buying this product!, November 17, 2007
By S. C. Hagar (Phoenix, AZ)
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I have the edge 305 and the forerunner 305! Both suffer from the same problem. They quit working! I bought the Forerunner first. I thought it was a nice product. It gave me all the readings I wanted. Then one day it just stopped working! In a couple of days it started again, but my lesson had been learned! Support was useless. I did not want to be with out my HRM so I bought the Edge 305. I was thinking it was a better product! True it has a few more viewable functions. I liked that! The screen is bigger! I liked that. The GPS is good! I like that! Soon I was using the Edge 305 all the time!
It (the edge 305) has just quit on me for the second time! I am pissed! The features I like are nice but Garmin is not the only HRM out there that has GPS! Even though I was not that happy with my Polar HRM I plan on gong back to them because of the lack of relability of Garmins HRM! BEWARE BEFORE BUYING THIS PRODUCT! If you can not afford more than one unit you will be stuck when it stops working!
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Accurate,User friendly and Fun, November 9, 2007
By Jordan Meshil
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I have been using the Garmin Edge 305 for the past month for mountain biking, riding 3-4 days a week on average and have used it on a gruelling 3 day 150 km trip. I find it a great training tool for mountain biking. Easy to set up and use. Accurate for all parameters except calories. The Motion Based software is simple to use, fun, and a great way to share workouts with riding buddies, borrow courses from others and review workouts visually and physiologically . It would be nice if it would be possible to share the info from Garmin Training Center software as well. My only regret is not having purchased the device earlier.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Garmin 305HR, March 8, 2007
By coachart (Chandler, Arizona)
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Device works great, but HR strap did not work out of the box and had to have it replaced. Other than that, it's a great product. Takes a bit of time to learn all of the functions but the buttons are big and self explanatory.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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excellent partner for your rides, January 15, 2007
By Carpo (Quito Ecuador)
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At the beginning the HR sensor didn't work, I had to install a new battery in the chest band to make it work. Besides that little problem, the installation was very simple.
I've used the edge 305HR for a month. Excellent partner. For improved accuracy I applied the latest firmware and also upgraded the Training Center Software.
It does what is supposed to do. The time, speed and distance alarms are good features for training.
2 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Not waterproof, June 16, 2009
By Oxbow (Gold Coast, Australia)
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Contrary to the advertising this item is NOT waterproof, as admitted by Garmin when I booked my unit in for repair after leaking saltwater whilst on the deck of my kayak. I was immediately offered a replacement at a VERY good price.
Other than that, I found it very good with the ability to customise the display, excellent logging of heart rate and speed over time, with ready access to the data via a Mac.
I will use it in a waterproof pouch in future, and consider replacing it with the new Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS/HR Monitor.
2 of 3 people found the above review helpful.
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Dead On Arrival, September 13, 2009
By D. Black
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The unit arrived and my first thought was "this has been repacked". Usually, electronics have a protective plastic cover over the LCD, this one didn't.
Then I charged it up and it indicated that it was charging. The next morning, it indicated that it was completely charged. I unplugged it from the charger, tried to turn it on and nothing happened. I've tried the published method for resetting it...still nothing. It's literally a paperweight.
I had timed the arrival with a big mountain bike trip this weekend. I'm very disappointed
I'm going to contact Garmin and Amazon tomorrow to see what to do. I'm fairly certain that a working unit will be great (according to my friends who own them) and a 1 star rating may seem unfair, but they need to take lump for this quality control issue.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Power on problem, August 20, 2009
By ESF (Washington)
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I've had the 305 for 11 1/2 months now with no issues, and now it fails to power on. Up until now it has worked nearly flawlessly. This unit was not abused, dropped, emersed in water or put through anything negligent. Just normal usage - 75 to 100 miles a week - mostly dry rides. I was very happy with the unit - it has all the features that I need for basic cycling without the 705 bells and whistles. I've tried the FAQ's at the Garmin site and the unit does respond (reset + mode) - but only with it hooked up to a computer via a USB cable. Without the cable, nothing! I searched the web and it turns out the power on issue is a common problem (among other problems). I will attempt to contact customer support to see if they'll fix or replace this unit, otherwise, beware before purchasing the Edge 305!
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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simple to use and excellent performance, August 10, 2009
By Tal Sliwowicz (Tel Aviv, Israel)
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I've used the edge 305 for over 300 miles now on my mountain bike without a fault. It was very easy to mount. It's very easy to program and to download workout data. The fact that it is mounted (and not on my hand) makes it very usable during the ride. I also like the fact that you can customize what counters appear on your screen.
Overall - an excellent return for my money.
I got it at Amazon for $186.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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garmin 305 for mac, almost, April 10, 2007
By T. Schmidt
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Great gizmo, except for that you can't update firmware from a Mac (yet). It should be noted that the GPS software on the device is a little old, (it was purchased 3/07) but seems to work just fine. I'm not sure what the newer versions provide. The device works as advertised.
1 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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Wonderful Tool for Cyclists, July 13, 2008
By Senior Cyclist (Baltimore, MD)
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I have found the Gramin Edge 305 to be an outstanding tool for cyclists. It was SO easy to install and modify the data I wanted to observe. Being a senior cyclist (over 60) I was just amazed at the amount of data this unit collects and calulated. I remember when just having a simple mechanical bike speed indicator was a BIG deal. Now I can download all the data I ever wanted to observe about every ride. Now my only problem is my wife is tired of looking at my ride analysis after every ride.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Great price, quick delivery, May 31, 2008
By globiesan (Redwood City, CA)
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I purchased the 305HR as a replacement for a lost unit. I didn't think about purchasing a different product as I was happy with the features with the 305HR. What really impressed me was the quick delivery and great price.
1 of 2 people found the above review helpful.
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Shuts off, April 15, 2010
By Max E. Marsh (Wichita Ks.)
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I got my first 305 Edge about 4 yours ago but after about 6 months, the unit would just shut down and turn off during rides. When contacted Tech Support, the first thing they asked was if software updates current. I could never figure out how that should effect the unit turning off but whatever. Long story short, I had to send the unit back in and they replaced it. The replacement model worked fine for about two years and then whenever the temperature reached about 90 degrees or above, it would shut off like the first unit. Same question from tech support about software updates. Weather got cooler last fall and worked fine all winter and early spring. First day the temperature hit around 80 degrees, unit shut down. Also now even when cooler or warmer, if you hit a bump or go across runble strips, it shuts down.
Great unit when it works but when it doesn't, good luck.
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Overpriced, January 25, 2010
By Jeffrey D. Dillard
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For what it does, the cost is excessive. Map is hard to use. No streets at all.
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Track your progress, November 16, 2009
By johnsrinx (Vergennes, Vermont United States)
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This is actually the second Edge 305 that I have owned. I bought one in January and recently lost it because I did not make sure that it was securely clipped into my bicycle mount. I would recommend this to anyone that likes to keep track of details and improve performance. Everything you need is here. It tracks heart rate, distance, speed, time, elevation, cadence and maps your ride automatically using GarminConnect or MapMyRide websites. This particular one only had the heart rate monitor in the box. I would recommend getting the one with the speed and cadence sensors also. Mounting it to the bicycle was a breeze and the heart rate monitor just clips around your chest. If you get the box with the other two sensors they are a little trickier to place, but not too bad. I like that it is wireless except for the connection to the computer which is a standard UB connection. I have also used this during hiking and snowshoeing excursions to monitor my performance and map my hikes.
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big improvement over 205, September 12, 2009
By Andy Atherton
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this unit is great, especially for the price that amazon offers. key additional features relative to 205 are autopause and barometric altimeter. heart rate monitor is fun too. definitely worth the extra money. Would give top marks for service also. The unit started behaving erratically about 90 days after purchase. I sent a note to amazon support, got a quick response with contact info for garmin support, sent a note to them and received a quick response with simple, clear instructions to reinstall the units firmware. works great again.
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Bike Computer, May 5, 2008
By Robert G. Casto (Colorado)
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Great Bike Computer, no wires. GPS very sensitive, can pick up signal indoors. Easy to use. Easy to upload rides onto internet for further review. Elevation seems to be very accurate.
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Nice HRM bike computer, April 24, 2008
By Mike in Hilo (Hilo, HI)
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I've had this for a couple of weeks now and it's great. HRM works great and the unit has completely customizable visible fields (up to 8 visible at once); hr, time, distance, speed etc. I don't have the cadence sensor and with the gps, I don't think I need it. I like that the unit can go from bike to bike without needing a sensor and spoke magnet on each bike. I love plugging the unit into my computer after a ride and seeing my route on google earth. I have a Polar s720i and I like the edge much better--I've removed the Polar hardware from my bikes. The software isn't beautiful but it works--the Polar software is nicer and more full-featured. I'm hoping some software updates for the garmin are coming. Good product--highly recommended.
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Excellent GPS and HR tracker, April 12, 2008
By RTB (San Antonio, TX USA)
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After trying a GPS device from another well known company, I gave up and bought the Garmin Edge 305HR. I checked the device's elevation indicator against a topo map and found it to be quite accurate. Another nice thing is that the 305HR syncs up with satellites quite rapidly where the other device took up to 15 to 20 minutes longer to sync and in some cases, not at all.
Finally, the device can be mounted on the handle bar stem so that you can reference it at all times.
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Great when it works, December 18, 2007
By 2911 (Shoreline, WA United States)
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I loved everything about the 305, except for its proclivity for ceasing to function. I went through three of them in a year. The first one went back to the store where I bought it, the second one was returned to Garmin, the final one was exchanged for a Suunto T6 which I have been very happy with (i.e. it works.)
Garmin has released several firmware updates that did address the early problems I was having with the unit, but after the third one simply turned off several times on a commute home I gave up. The low (MUCH lower than the advertised) battery life per charge was frustrating as well. I could have lived with that if the unit had been reliable, but as is, I could not recommend this product. Hopefully the new version will work better.
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Amazing piece, November 11, 2007
By Eyal Zohar (Israel)
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The GPS gets a signal indoor ! I have two more GPS devices at home, none of them ever did it. My mio P350 sometimes even looses the signal outdoors. But this thing never lost a signal. The main drawback is that the HR strap must be really wet before it reads your BPM correctly. And I also don't like the attached PC software. But for the price, it's doing much more than I have expected. A friend just got his Polar for the same money, and he doesn't even have a GPS...
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Just Works!, August 23, 2007
By Rodney D. Pruitt
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So far no problems with the unit after a month or so of use. No satellite drops, unit functions superbly. Here in New Mexico we do have more open space, so maybe that contributes to the stability of satellite connection. May add the cadence module at a later date, but for right now it's good.
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Ingenious device, August 21, 2007
By kpeffley (Tempe, AZ USA)
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The thing I like most about this product is that you can configure the display just about any way you'd want to see it. Most cyclometers don't allow this kind of customization. Another thing I like is that through the motionbased.com web site you can upload your workouts to Google maps or Google earth. Excellent for bike riders that want to share routes with others. One last thing: I have had other wireless cyclometers that pick up interference from other sources, and this ends up skewing your results, making it look like you've ridden much faster than you ever really could. This has happened to me frequently with Polar and Cat-eye devices, and it can be very frustrating. The Garmin has NEVER done this! There are other features that are fun to use, like the Virtual Partner, which allows you to race against a course you've previously ridden. The Garmin points you in the right direction all along the way and allows you to see your progress against the time you set for the course.
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Awesome!, October 9, 2008
By Shigeru Okumura (Palo Alto,CA,USA)
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I believe,it is the best cycle computer.
It also works on the training roller.
0 of 1 people found the above review helpful.
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garmin edge 305, June 23, 2009
By Dorie Lustig
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This was a gift and I returned it to get the better one(the one with more bells and whistles. Thank you.
0 of 5 people found the above review helpful.
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