If you want a flexible sports watch with a wireless heart rate monitor, then look no further than the Garmin Forerunner 405cx Heart Rate Monitor. It effortlessly handles a variety of different recording tasks and will wirelessly transfer all of your training data to your PC. You can easily track how you perform over time and compare different workouts. All ability levels can benefit from using this monitor and you can use it inside or out. There is an optional add-on that allows the watch to be used by cyclists as well.

The Garmin uses a wireless wrist monitor so there is no need to stop your workout and take your pulse. If you are running indooors on a treadmill you can use the built-in heart rate measuring device but you have to grab the handles of the treadmill which is a pain. If you run at night outside you'll love the backlight feature and the readability of the features screen. The 405CX also has a really cool bezel feature that works like an iPod scroller. You can easily move from screen to screen looking at different stats.

Many similar types of GPS sport watches track distance, pace and heart rate. The Forerunner GPS also keeps track of the altitude changes you encounter in your running. The 405CX will also give you a pretty good picture of how many calories you burned during your workout taking into account your speed and distance. If you want to see how you've performed over time you can check the memory of the Forerunner. All data is stored there.

Using the Garmin software you can plot out your running courses and track your path using Google maps. The 405CX really offers numerous ways for you to measure your performance and look for ways to improve. The watch has a feature called Virtual Partner where you can challenge yourself to run harder, faster and more efficiently.

If you like running sprints and interval workouts, the 405CX has got you covered. If you really want to boost your speed and power then interval workouts where you sprint and then go slower are a great way to do it. If you are a multi-sport athlete or just like cross-training, then you can us the Garmin software to keep your sports specific data separate.

When you head out for your run or bike, the GPS will tell you exactly where you are so you don't ever have to worry about getting lost. Arrows on the display point out the right paths to take to get you safely back to your starting point.

If you know other athletes with this watch, you can share data with them through the wireless feature. You can compare courses and performance data. Yo may even find a virtual training partner in another part of the world that can workout and compete against you. You can track your progress and even connect to other users in a special online forum.

You'll get a pretty long charge out of the lithium ion battery as well. Garmin lists the battery charge at 2 weeks when in standby mode and 8 hours when in use. If you will be on a trail for more than eight hours, turning off the GPS function can further extend the life of the battery. You can easily charge the battery using the USB port of your computer or with the included AC charger. The software that comes with the 405cx is Windows PC and Mac compatible.

The Forerunner 405cx is a top performance aid. It will assist any athlete in their efforts to manage and improve their performance, and monitor their heart rate.