Garmin Edge 305 or Polar?

[Guest Agteros]

Another option if you like the mapping/tracking features of the Garmin: Get a ForeRunner 405 (Battery life=8hrs), bike mount, cadence sensor(if cadence is important)  and you can use it for running etc as well. Although if  100% accuracy of HR measuring is important I'd stick with a Polar based on observations in HR fluctuations between S720i (See some spikes - especially at the high end) and FR 405 (seems somehow smoothed/more averaged)

 

[HappyMartin]

I have used Polar and garmin and prefer garmin. Easy to set up fields and the display is more customizable. You never have to worry about wheel size with a gps and for some reason I get far fewer odd HR spikes with the garmin

[Minion]

If battery life on the 305 is a problem, you can buy a portable USB charger-type thing for Motorola phones. It runs on AA batteries and plugs into the USB port on the Edge. I think you can read more about it on the old Motionbased forums.

Note: It has to be a Motorola USB adaptor, otherwise it causes the Edge to go into PC-sync mode.

 

[polish eagle]

305 has the edge as the screen can be customized and you can view exactly what matters to you in terms of training. polar has better battery life but screen is small. if only the 305 doubled up as an Ipod!

 

 

 

 

[knersis]

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT seems like the bees knees, Wrist Mounted, GPS, 20 hour battery life, ANT + comp, Wireless transmitter to PC.

 

SportMans Wharehouse has some stock at R4000 excluding Heart Rate Belt. Thinking of buying one on ebay at a later stage.

[Brighter-Lights]

Thanks a lot for all the input!

 

I'm not really after GPS function and mapping.... I want a training tool which tells me speed/HR/Altitude info which is downloadable for review on the PC afterwards...

 

As it seems now... the garmin won't work well for me bc of the short battery life.... I need something that will take me through a 24hr solo...

 

The Garmin could work if I use the external battery pack through the USB port... (somethign I'll be able to make up)

 

After a little more research.... I can get a Polar CS400 for R2000 + duties from the States...

 

But the CS400 is only 'splash' proof.... I wonder how it will hold up in rain and mud... tired of riding with shrinkwrap over my computer...

 

I'm still deciding and Trans Baviaans comign closer....

 

 

 

 

[Matchstix]

Go polar been using their products for the past 10rs and their backup service is awesome .  .so rather buy it here

[intern]

I cannot for the life of me figure out how a polar works - they are immensely complicated. My 305, on the other hand...I have never, ever opened the manual and use nearly all the features. Really simple and provides a whack of useful info, customised for the way I want to see it while I am riding.

 

Do yourself a favour: try a polar out, see if you can see the type of info etc you'd like to see, fiddle with it a bit. Do the same with a garmin. Decide if you want to study a manual or just go out and ride and get the data you want.

 

[Brighter-Lights]

Anyone know of a local shop with good prices for Polar?

 

A PE bikeshop have the CS200 for R1800-00.

 

I can get the CS400 with shipping and duties for R2400-00 from the US. I'll only buy local if it's R200 or R300 diff and if it can be at my door 2 days later.