Garmin 301 vs 305...
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9,658 Posts
Garmin site has a comparison tool... "better" depends on what you want to get out of it. And they make two "301" models (Geko & Forerunner) and two "305" models (Forerunner & Edge)- which ones are you referring to?
I meant better in terms of in use as a bike 'puter...I didn't know about the different versions of the 301 vs the 305...I'll check out the site.
I suppose I could search the archives but am feeling lazy...
... anyone have any pointers on these?
I suppose I could search the archives but am feeling lazy...
... anyone have any pointers on these?
Joined
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5,576 Posts
I own the Garmin Edge 305 and absolutely love it. It always picks up my heart rate, always picks up cadence without having to be finicky all the time.
Satellite signal is good, too. It works in many buildings near me until you get to the windowless. The Edge/Forerunner (maybe more, but these for sure) have new GPS technology to make them more accurate and retain better satellite reception. Definately worth the $300-it's an invaluable tool.
Satellite signal is good, too. It works in many buildings near me until you get to the windowless. The Edge/Forerunner (maybe more, but these for sure) have new GPS technology to make them more accurate and retain better satellite reception. Definately worth the $300-it's an invaluable tool.
301, 305...205?
...I just (yesterday) picked up an edge 205 and I already love it. The 205 is like the 305 and both are bike focused products, seems the Garmin designation for bike products is Edge. The Forerunner 301 is more for the running crowd as I read it. The 205 comes sans cadence and or heart rate but is still a very robust package. I was pleased to see support for 3 bikes- road, mountain and neighbors kids tricycle, but it only comes with mounts for 2, tricycle might be out of luck. Garmin is slow to roll out computer side mac support but motionbased.com (recently purchased by garmin) has a beta uploader and some wonderful wonderful stuff. Even with eventual support I think I'll use their paid (urg) service.
Seems to me if you're a cyclist you decision should be between the Edge 205 and 305.
hope that helped.
...I just (yesterday) picked up an edge 205 and I already love it. The 205 is like the 305 and both are bike focused products, seems the Garmin designation for bike products is Edge. The Forerunner 301 is more for the running crowd as I read it. The 205 comes sans cadence and or heart rate but is still a very robust package. I was pleased to see support for 3 bikes- road, mountain and neighbors kids tricycle, but it only comes with mounts for 2, tricycle might be out of luck. Garmin is slow to roll out computer side mac support but motionbased.com (recently purchased by garmin) has a beta uploader and some wonderful wonderful stuff. Even with eventual support I think I'll use their paid (urg) service.
Seems to me if you're a cyclist you decision should be between the Edge 205 and 305.
hope that helped.
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629 Posts
Get the Garmin 305 with the Heart Rate and Cadence Sensor -- You're done!
I bought a Foretrex 101 last year and like it. You can download route data into it set it to tell you the next waypoint along your roué. Nice thing about this is that it runs on two AAA batteries so it was easy to "recharge" the device when the batteries died.
Then this year I got a Garmin Edge 305. Nice unit. Has the cadence and the heart rate built right into it. Tracks your route. Everything is wireless and the speed/cadence unit is very small compared to others. If you have the City Select software it will even overlay our route on the map once you download the data to the PC. Also, you can set the thing up to display eight fields of data about your ride (like altitude, heart rate, cadence, incline, altitude, elapsed time, etc.)
The only thing that I am wary about in the Garmin Edge 305 is the rechargeable battery. If you go on a multi-day ride you have to find a plug to recharge it in (probably not too much of a hassle -- find a restaurant and plug it in while you're eating). The charge from the walk-brick is good for 12 hours. I haven't reached the "now I am turning off " discharge state point yet, but also haven't been on a ride longer than four hours with it yet either. Also charges when hooked up to your computer through the mini-USB connector.
So, I use both on my bike now. The Foretrex 101 to download a route to and have it set to track the route and keep me abreast of the next waypoint (also keeps me motivated on the ride) and the Garmin Edge for the real-time speed, heart rate, cadence, and route statistics. I have them both hanging off a Minoura Swing Grip attached to the goose neck, under and in front of the handlebars -- no handlebar real-estate used up -- all handlebar real estate for the hands. If I do a "Tour de Ville" then the 305 will keep track of the route I took and then I set the 101 unit to keep track of altitude and how far I am away from the starting point. (I'm in Colorado Springs and live in the foothills, so keeping track of the altitude while going up and down the hills is an interesting statistic -- you can get 2,500 feet of climbing in on a 10 mile ride here.)
Obviously, there is some duplication in what is being tracked and in some cases overkill instrumentation. I'll be the first to admit that. The 305 will get you about 90% of what you need to know. If you play with the buttons while riding, it'll get you to about 99%. The added bonus is that there are no wires and clean install. Displays are nice size, easy to read, customizable, and back-lit.
I guess the biggest downside to the 305 is that is bicycle specific. I tried it on a walk and the thing kept on "autopausing" because I was moving too slow. I think you can set this down to a lower speed or turn the autopause off, but I haven't took the time to do it. You probably wouldn't use it for hiking out in the woods.
I bought a Foretrex 101 last year and like it. You can download route data into it set it to tell you the next waypoint along your roué. Nice thing about this is that it runs on two AAA batteries so it was easy to "recharge" the device when the batteries died.
Then this year I got a Garmin Edge 305. Nice unit. Has the cadence and the heart rate built right into it. Tracks your route. Everything is wireless and the speed/cadence unit is very small compared to others. If you have the City Select software it will even overlay our route on the map once you download the data to the PC. Also, you can set the thing up to display eight fields of data about your ride (like altitude, heart rate, cadence, incline, altitude, elapsed time, etc.)
The only thing that I am wary about in the Garmin Edge 305 is the rechargeable battery. If you go on a multi-day ride you have to find a plug to recharge it in (probably not too much of a hassle -- find a restaurant and plug it in while you're eating). The charge from the walk-brick is good for 12 hours. I haven't reached the "now I am turning off " discharge state point yet, but also haven't been on a ride longer than four hours with it yet either. Also charges when hooked up to your computer through the mini-USB connector.
So, I use both on my bike now. The Foretrex 101 to download a route to and have it set to track the route and keep me abreast of the next waypoint (also keeps me motivated on the ride) and the Garmin Edge for the real-time speed, heart rate, cadence, and route statistics. I have them both hanging off a Minoura Swing Grip attached to the goose neck, under and in front of the handlebars -- no handlebar real-estate used up -- all handlebar real estate for the hands. If I do a "Tour de Ville" then the 305 will keep track of the route I took and then I set the 101 unit to keep track of altitude and how far I am away from the starting point. (I'm in Colorado Springs and live in the foothills, so keeping track of the altitude while going up and down the hills is an interesting statistic -- you can get 2,500 feet of climbing in on a 10 mile ride here.)
Obviously, there is some duplication in what is being tracked and in some cases overkill instrumentation. I'll be the first to admit that. The 305 will get you about 90% of what you need to know. If you play with the buttons while riding, it'll get you to about 99%. The added bonus is that there are no wires and clean install. Displays are nice size, easy to read, customizable, and back-lit.
I guess the biggest downside to the 305 is that is bicycle specific. I tried it on a walk and the thing kept on "autopausing" because I was moving too slow. I think you can set this down to a lower speed or turn the autopause off, but I haven't took the time to do it. You probably wouldn't use it for hiking out in the woods.
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