One of the most familiar names in GPS is Garmin. The maker of several models of portable GPS systems, Garmin knows how to get you where you’re going. But that’s not all Garmin GPS electronics can do for you! The Garmin Forerunner 305 is a GPS receiver that is also a fitness tool.

With its built in heart rate monitor, it becomes the perfect fitness helper for runners, joggers, windsurfers, cross-country skiers and more. Whether it’s strapped to your wrist or to your bike handles, you’ll wonder what you did before the Forerunner came along.

The design of the new 305 surpasses the fitness GPS receivers of past generations. It’s less bulky and more comfortable to be sure. And the design is curved, so that the receiver’s antenna is always facing the sky when you’re wearing it – this is perfect for viewing, but also for accurate signal reception from tracking satellites.

And the Garmin Forerunner 305’s display is clear, with great resolution and clarity. In a successful effort to make operation easy, the buttons have been laid out in a logical design, and respond well to pressure.

Power is provided via a rechargeable lithium-ion battery – you can connect with either an AC adapter (included), or a USB cable, which can also transfer data between your Forerunner and your computer.

The Garmin Forerunner 305 with heart rate monitor isn’t built for in depth navigating. That’s not to say it can’t accurately let you know where you are. This tool is built for tracking your pace, your elevation, your speed and your distance, along with your heart rate, to let you know how effective your workouts are and to help you improve them, while moving to your own next best fitness level.

There is a high-sensitivity GPS receiver integrated into your Garmin Forerunner, which is able to make contact with satellites within a few short minutes of the very first start up, and then almost instantly with subsequent start ups. And the receiver is still able to track, even when you’re moving through densely wooded areas.

For fitness buffs, the most attractive features of the Forerunner 305 are those that can help create training programs and organize data. Real-time information is made available during workouts, and can include calories burned, speed, distance, elevation, grade, lap, pace and heading.

An optional heart rate chest strap can track average heart rate, heart rate zones and lap heart rate. And if you’re a cyclist, the optional wireless speed and cadence meter can help you gather data about your biking performance.

The 305 can be set up to display the data that is most important to you, and you can even use the Virtual Partner if you’re the type that needs someone to encourage you to keep moving. The Forerunner 305 lets you create workouts that range in intensity level and intervals, and the included Training Center software allows you to use your PC or Mac to track performance, graph your data and watch your fitness increase.

If you or someone you know is serious about fitness, this is a small, but very powerful tool that you can use each time you workout. As a fitness gift, the Garmin Forerunner 305 with heart rate monitor is certain to be a favorite on Christmas day, and year ’round.

Technorati Tags: Christmas Gadgets, Christmas Gifts