Nike + sportband or Garmin 405 fore runner??

chrisyoung0422

I recently received a garmin 405 with HRM chest strap unit as a birthday gift. I was also looking at the nike sportband.

I am still unsure which is better for me and my running.

I tend to use an eliptical or treadmill for my running (6-9 mi/5 days a week. I also will be biking a few times a week @ 10-15 mi per trip.

With the weather getting better I will be outside running versus the gym when I can. Due to the beating my body takes from outdoor running I tend to prefer a machine because I can go further and workout more often.

The garmin seems pretty fancy with the touch bezel and all. I did get the chest strap to fit but it is a little tight. I have a barrel chest and the strap I think is made for smaller folks. I have not used it yet but will before next week. I did also notice that if I want to record my workouts in doors I will need to spend another 60 bux to get a foot pod kinda like what comes with the nike+.

The sportband seems a lot simpler and less bulk but has no HRM or GPS. With my running being in the gym mostly will I really benefit from the GPS tracking? I do not like the idea that this usb plug in is on my wrist as I sweat like a monster beast when working out. To me it would seem that sweat could easily affect the connector and in turn the read out.

The Nike+ site also seems more user friendly when I glanced over the two.

Any experiences and knowledge on these items and usage would be GREATLY appreciated. :glasses:

HisPathDaily

Well, I have the forerunner 305 ... I'm a bit of a tech-geek so usually interface and that doesn't phase me but my wife likes it too (and she is most decidedly not a techno-geek) ... so I'm not really sure if this helps but all I can say is that I REALLY like my 305 ... I couldn't be more happy with it and it does far more than I really need ... honestly all I really needed was an accurate trainer to capture my pace, HR, and some other info ... and it does that and more extremely well.

AggieCass09

i have the forerunner 405cx and it is the best running accessory i've ever gotten. as far as the chest strap--if you call garmin they have fancy accessories (sometimes free) to accommodate users. My wrist is skinny and got a free band that was smaller. The touch bezel is really easy to use once you are used to it. The garmin also works in the gym...if you want to track pace there is a foot pod you can get. The internet software that comes with the garmin is really amazing to track progress...i'm not a fan of anything nike other than their shorts so i say stick with the garmin!

Enjoy!

crissa413

If you're ever going to run outside - go with the Garmin. The GPS is so awesome! I got a non-GPS Garmin a couple of years ago and when I ran my a half marathon last year I wore it to see how accurate it was. By the end of 13.1 miles, my watch said I had gone 15 (I had a foot pod). I immediately regretted not going for the 305 or 405. My friend has the 405 and trains for marathons with it - he absolutely loves it and actually had the 305 before. I asked for the 405 for my birthday!!

rachy3344

I love being able to track my heart rate with the Garmin. You'll get used to the tightness of the chest strap, and it's much better tight than loose (when I first started using I didn't strap it on tight enough and it kept slipping, which messed up tracking my heart rate). You received a very nice birthday gift!

Lisamarie1226

I also have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and I love it!!! Got it for Christmas from my folks. I love how it tracks your pace, gives you your average lap time, your best pace, etc. It is a little bulky for me but it is so awesome.

I thought I had wanted the Nike+ but I had gotten some Nike+ shoes and did NOT like them at all. The little pocket on the bottom of the shoe where the chip goes really bothered me. I could totally feel it on the outdoor runs.

chrisyoung0422

How does the chest strap hold up against sweat? I sweat a lot IMO so I worry it would be damaged or short circuited.

Anyone see any issues with using the bezel when it is wet? How is the battery life when using it with the GPS on?

So no one used the nike+ and liked it?

Does the garmin site allow export of data to facebook and such? I see the Nike+ claims to do that on the site.

chrisyoung0422

I also have a Garmin Forerunner 305 and I love it!!! Got it for Christmas from my folks. I love how it tracks your pace, gives you your average lap time, your best pace, etc. It is a little bulky for me but it is so awesome.

I thought I had wanted the Nike+ but I had gotten some Nike+ shoes and did NOT like them at all. The little pocket on the bottom of the shoe where the chip goes really bothered me. I could totally feel it on the outdoor runs.

See I wondered about that lil pocket and if you noticed it was there. I know the store and site claim that you do not but I believe otherwise. Glad someone could validate that for me! :happy:

mlb929

I have the 405 and like it but there are things about it I don't like. I didn't go with the Nike+ because I heard there were issues with accuracy and sometimes hard to download or interface. It works with an ipod app, which the 405 doesn't.

Re: the chest strap. I sweat plenty when doing the Insanity workout with it on. I've never had a problem, with my understanding of chest straps, they work better with a little sweat. My problem is, I'm fairly small (size 0 for female) and I can't get the chest strap any smaller, so it slips down and falls off me at times. I've never had it fall when running, but when doing other workouts I have.

I love it for running. Very accurate, easy to use, great website to track your progress.

My one complaint, it doesn't count calories when the GPS isn't one your you are stationary. So a treadmill or indoors it doesn't work for calorie counts. My other complaint - if you tell it to you want to run 6 miles - it shuts off the workout @ 6 miles. I can restart it - but my 6 miles loop from home I found out was about 6 1/4 miles and it stopped and shut off my run right at 6 miles.

I lock the bezel so I don't have trouble with it. It's not made for "water" per say that is the CX, which is much bigger. This can get wet - like if you are running in the rain - but not for swimming type activities.

It does have a bike pod too - but I've never gotten or used that.

chrisyoung0422

Does the bike meter record more than just speed? I have a comp on my specialized now that covers most speed,distance etc... I do not want to buy this accessory if its just speed.

keith0373

The 405 cx does count calories using the HRM. It is $199 for a refurb on Amazon right now and is the 2nd best purchase I have ever made for running. (I really like my shoes