Discussion: Garmin 405 discount on Amazon

There appears to be a sale on the Garmin 405CX on Amazon; it is available with the accompanying heart rate monitor strap for $130, discounted from the nominal price of $270. I do not own the 405, so I cannot speak to its merits. The 405CX has been replaced by the 410, but I don't know of any particular reason why it's on sale.

They did the same thing with the 305 a couple of years ago - presumably everyone's buying the newer kit, so they start heavily discounting the old ones.

I was pretty stoked to pick up a 305 delivered to Aus for ~$135, given that the shops here were still asking $300 at the time. Nothing wrong with it either - lasted about 3 years before my constant abuse sent it to its grave. :)

The main gripe I've heard from people about the 405CX is the bezel, which I find mildly annoying, but generally just lock. As long as you don't want to toggle through data fields etc while actually training, it's pretty irrelevant.

Mine (ie my wife's which I now use because she wasn't) is still going strong. Then again, so was my 305 except I wore out the rubber on the buttons and the sound effects got real quiet. Wasn't real confident about waterproofing when you could see the metal bits inside the watch, but it still goes.

Considering getting the 405CX. Does anyone know if it'll beep at you to keep you within a certain HR zone?

It won't do that in normal training mode, but it can if you start it in "heart rate workout" mode. You have to enable that each time you want it because there isn't a way to make it the default. (the same is true for most other forerunners)

hold menu > pick Training > Workouts > Heart Rate

Nice! Thanks!

What advantages does the 410 have over the 405CX?

http://sport.woot.com/

Today's deal is a refurbished 405CX with HRM for $99.

Bah. And I went for the Amazon one yesterday. (But at least it's new...)

Speaking of GPS watches I know a guy who is looking for "a good GPS one that has an altimeter feature, and 20hrs+ of battery life (ideally 30-40hrs)."
My 405 and 610 don't come close to that much battery life.
Any recommendations?

The new Garmin Fenix might do the trick. It's not a fitness/runner/triathlon watch, but rather intended for hikers.

You might also try the Garmin 310; its battery life is listed as 20 hours.

Yes but it has a wireless download function so will eventually stop working.

A guy at work mentioned this: Garmin 410 with HRM strap (new, not refurb) for $150. From Walmart.

RTFM guy here. I basically want an FR305 with a barometric altimeter. What is this called?

FR910 is the closest thing. The Fenix is the only other sporty Garmin with a barometer. Suunto's Ambit is good too, though more expensive.

Garmin 410 with HR strap for $130 from Sport w00t!

(Oh---Refurbished.)

Has anyone seen any good deals lately? My 305 bit the dust. Thanks!

How about the 310xt for $169 or maybe refurb 210 (pick the refurb "alternative" on the page) for $155. You can keep your old hr strap.

You can send your 305 back to the factory and get a refurbished replacement for $76.

"Has anyone seen any good deals lately? My 305 bit the dust. Thanks!"

Before you toss out your dead Garmin 305, have you tried the hard reboot?

Press Mode (bottom left side button) and Reset (left front button) simultaneously, let go, then press On (top left side button).

When my previous 305 "bit the dust" unfortunately it wasn´t only dust...
I hit it hard against a rock when I fell and it came out in several smaller pieces.
Reboot didn´t solve the problem - although it actually "worked" to a certain degree when the pieces were put together again.