Garmin Edge 500 v. 705

[Jiffer]

I have a 500 and love it - miles better than the old 305. I do not use it for mapping, however. I have not yet tested it on a more than 6 hour ride, though, so I don't know how long it would last. I am hopeful that it will not need a battery pack for 12 plus hour rides like the 305 did.

Just curious ... how is it better? Dh and I have the 305. He upgraded to ... I think the 500 and decided it wasn't worth the extra money. It actually may have been the 705, I'm not sure now. Anyway, he only used it briefly and went back to the 305, which is pretty shocking since he usually has to have the latest and greatest of everything. He "intended" to sell the newer one on eBay, but apparently lost it!

Anywho, I'm just curious what's miles better about the 500 than the 305. As for mapping and/or finding a gas station, etc., we have an iPhone for the rare times we need that, but you don't even use the mapping.

[maillotpois]

Just curious ... how is it better? Dh and I have the 305. He upgraded to ... I think the 500 and decided it wasn't worth the extra money. It actually may have been the 705, I'm not sure now. Anyway, he only used it briefly and went back to the 305, which is pretty shocking since he usually has to have the latest and greatest of everything. He "intended" to sell the newer one on eBay, but apparently lost it!

Anywho, I'm just curious what's miles better about the 500 than the 305. As for mapping and/or finding a gas station, etc., we have an iPhone for the rare times we need that, but you don't even use the mapping.

The 500 is a completely different animal than the 305. If his new unit looked anything like the 305, then it is the 705 and not the 500. If you think you are able to use your Garmin for mapping then you also do not have the 500.

Why do I prefer the 500 to the 305? The 500 is smaller with a larger brighter display; the battery will last MUCH longer than the 305, which required me to run a battery pack for rides over 12 hours; it doesn't short out and completely shut down as the 305s were known to do (even my newer one started to do this); it is a better looking unit (IMHO).

[bluebug32]

I had the 305, now have the 500. My fiance has the 705.

The 500 has an altimeter and supposedly measures vertical climbing speed (though I have no idea of its accuracy at doing this)

You can program workouts into the 500 just like the 305.

You can also program in courses (ie: maps, but without the actual road names). I'll map a route using Bikeroutetoaster.com and upload to the 500. It beeps when I need to turn and tells me which direction to go. There's no actual map, but I've never gotten lost using the 500 this way.

I also like the 500 becuase it's a little more streamlined than the bulkier 305 and 705. It's easy to program and seems to have everything I need. My only gripe is that I haven't figured out how to display maximum speed on one of the three display panels. Anyone know if I can or if Garmin screwed this up? I can download it after the ride, just can't see it during.

[brodymom]

Thanks for all the feedback. I ended up exchanging my Forerunner 405 for yet another one (kudos to REI for taking it back!). I also went for the Edge 500 based on price and size. From what I could tell, the 500 captures the same data that the Forerunner does plus more. It looks like you need to actually plug it in to upload the data- right? Does the ANT Agent work with it? I will see when I have time to play with it. Looking forward to using the Edge on my next ride...Again, thanks!

[OakLeaf]

Here's Garmin's own comparison page among the 305, 500 and 705.

Bluebug, it's weird you say you can program workouts into your 500 when Garmin says you can't. Do you have to "trick" it somehow?

[Catrin]

This thread has been greatly interesting - it seems apparent that each model fills a different need and that is a good thing. So far I am still focusing on the 705...but we will see what I get when I actually have the money and skills to justify it

[Pedal Wench]

Here's Garmin's own comparison page among the 305, 500 and 705.

Bluebug, it's weird you say you can program workouts into your 500 when Garmin says you can't. Do you have to "trick" it somehow?

*I think* Bluebug is programming in courses, which it can do, not workouts, which it can't. You can create a route online and then use the Garmin's to "beep" at you when to turn. I still love that the 705 beeps and shows a detailed image of the turn as it approaches - nice when it's a three-way intersection and you're not sure exactly which left turn to take.

[maillotpois]

Here's a great review of the new 500:

http://www.cyclingnews.com/reviews/g...500-gps-review

[feral1]

I have a 500 and love it I got mine on E-bay for $250....a lot cheaper than other sites. As for getting it wet...I got soaked in 2 downpours the other day and it seems very water tight.Kinda wished I got the one with the GPS too since I get lost leaving the driveway.....but that's what my husband is for

[bluebug32]

Here's Garmin's own comparison page among the 305, 500 and 705.

Bluebug, it's weird you say you can program workouts into your 500 when Garmin says you can't. Do you have to "trick" it somehow?

I can program specific workouts (intervals, etc.) through Garmin Training center and download them to the 500 to run. I can do this with courses too. I think this is what you mean, right?

By the way, can anyone get max. speed on their 500? I swear it isn't a display option. How strange.

[tattiefritter]

By the way, can anyone get max. speed on their 500? I swear it isn't a display option. How strange.

I can, I'm sure I can. I will check tonight but I'm pretty sure as the last road ride I did I hit a new max of 43.9 mph descending (scared myself a bit, still not very confident descending on the road) and it was there on one of the screens as I had configured it. I think the display option it may have came as part of a firmware upgrade? I had a lot of problems with my Edge 500 initially until I upgraded the firmware and each upgrade introduced new functionality - problems were mainly getting it to talk to Training Centre.

[Jiffer]

The 500 is a completely different animal than the 305. If his new unit looked anything like the 305, then it is the 705 and not the 500. If you think you are able to use your Garmin for mapping then you also do not have the 500.

Why do I prefer the 500 to the 305? The 500 is smaller with a larger brighter display; the battery will last MUCH longer than the 305, which required me to run a battery pack for rides over 12 hours; it doesn't short out and completely shut down as the 305s were known to do (even my newer one started to do this); it is a better looking unit (IMHO).

Cool. Thanks for the info. Your post caused me to dig deeper into researching the Garmin options. The one my husband tried was the 705. I had no idea the 500 was an even newer one. It DOES look nice. We looked at it on the internet together and now I actually know what to get him for his birthday. And what to tell him I "need" for mine a month later. Ha ha! Glad this thread came up.