It might seem like something from a James Bond flick – if of course James Bond was an athlete instead of a British spy. The Garmin Forerunner 405 may appear a harmless timepiece, but inside beats the heart of a mini computer that powers a GPS unit that transmits via WI-FI and is smart enough to let you know when you’re slacking.

It’s unassuming appearance may not leave you breathless, but don’t be deceived by common looks. This is fast becoming a ‘must have’ tool for sports enthusiasts.

The touch bezel allows you to easily access all areas of your watch/GPS/training device (even with thin gloves). Garmin Connect is an online feature that allows you to download and share your exploits using your Forerunner 405. Click here to get an online tutorial on how this unit works in the shared environment of Garmin Connect.

The 405 was not designed to be especially flashy, but it’s not intended to draw a lot of attention. It was built with simplicity of design in mind and then elevated to the status one of the best bundled GPS unites available to athletes. This is important because when you look at phone bundles you will find a cell phone with a camera, mp3 player and Internet connectivity. Consumers are demanding better bundles in their electronic gear. That’s what makes the size of the Garmin Forerunner 405 so remarkable considering everything it can do.

Utilitarian Features

Watch - Use this devise for your everyday watch, that way you will have it when you’re ready to go out for a run over your lunch break. There’s no need to keep changing watches – this one provides the time, the month and the date on a single display.

Software Updates – Garmin will supply updates to the software of the 405 and consumers will be alerted when new updates are available. This will keep the unit operating at peak efficiency.

Charging – You can bring a nearly drained 405 back to life using a USB clip and your computer to recharge the ion lithium batteries. This process can take as much as three hours, but a quick trip through the touch bezel and you can check how much power is left. When used exclusively as a watch the 405 will last about two weeks. In training mode the power will last about 8 hours.

Calorie Counter - We all want to know that the time we spent in physical exertion is worth it. Some individuals simply will not exercise if they don’t know how many calories they were able to knock off their body mass. The Forerunner 405 provides this information along with actual distance run. For some this will be a prime motivator in their drive for a refreshed body.

GPS - Perhaps I should have talked about this sooner, but the 405 is a fully functional GPS unit and can map the routes you take when running or biking. This is important for accuracy in distance as well as helping you reconnect with a route you really like or one you haven’t been on in a while.

Heart Monitor - the Garmin Forerunner 405 also has an optional heart monitor to help users stay in a safe zone for the duration of their exercise. The heart monitor is placed around the chest and sends information wirelessly to the 405.

Foot Pod (optional) – This device is a bit like the heart monitor in that it wirelessly sends data to your Forerunner 405 indicating the information it needs to track distance and calorie burn. The Foot Pod can also work in tandem with the GPS to fill in the blanks when you may lose GPS signal due to urban areas, forests or tunnels. To save power you should turn the GPS function off when using the Foot Pod.

Speed/Cadence Bike Sensor - Like the Foot Pod this unit can provide information on the revolutions per minute on biking expeditions you might take. You can adjust settings within the 405 to manage average calories and pace, but it will not be as accurate as the revolutions per minute (RPM) with this sensor.

Data Transfers – Whether it’s from your 405 to Garmin Connect or information sharing in a highly specific sports social network. This can allow your friends who use a Forerunner 405 to access the routes you take to give them some variety in their workout. This is also done wirelessly.

Simple Training - This function is one of the quickest ways to get moving. You can enter the amount of time you want to workout and allow the unit to monitor distance and calorie burn while it counts down the total time of your workout. The unit will let you know when you’re finished.

The Garmin Forerunner 405 integrates the best of multiple tools in one small package. The end result is an effective tool for training that includes a watch you shouldn’t be ashamed to wear in almost any situation. The ability to track your progress and view results online is a potent motivational tool that may go a long way in helping you maximize your goals. It may even be possible to see your goals exceeded along the way.

The cost for the 405 is $299.99 retail, but may be found less expensively through online price comparisons.

Garmin has done a great job meshing the actual needs of athletes with GPS technology. It is likely you will continue to see advancements as time goes on, but the Forerunner 405 remains a powerful tool for the serious athlete.

Garmin even called on a staff member named Ben to use the 405 to train for a triathlon. Ben’s report indicates he performed much better from one year to the next. The inference was that the 405 helped him work to achieve goals and improve on them in preparation for the event.

What is known is Garmin was among the first to explore the many potential applications for GPS and in the minds of many they have succeeded brilliantly.   

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