The Garmin Edge 705 HRM Review

Does The Garmin Edge 705 Still Hold Shape in 2023

The Garmin 705 was quite a good bike computer in its day. It has now been fully replaced by the Garmin solar version in 2023. Then Wahoo came along, placed several top-quality computers into their domain, and gave them some competition.

Now both of these have been replaced with a mobile phone setup which gives me everything I need on my handlebars, and I will never forget my mobile or need to dig into my back pocket again.

Consider the Quad lock system instead of either the Garmin or Wahoo. For me personally, it is a far easier setup and much cheaper to your wallet. Check out my mobile phone setup.

Garmin Cycle Computer, the Edge 705 Heart Rate Monitor and the bike-specific tool have been around for several years and have been replaced by the Garmin Edge 800, which is due for replacement. (Garmin Edge 810 was released in January 2013, and a Garmin 820 and the Garmin 1030 were released in 2018).

The Garmin Edge 705 HRM unit is small, sturdy, lightweight, and easy to install. The software includes a training program and a mapping program. I bought mine with the Garmin map card, which made my club rides a real pleasure (no need for cue sheets).

When I get home from a ride, I upload the data into the Garmin Training Center software or Strava.com, and I can compare every ride aspect to previous rides (distance, speed, cadence, heart rate, elevation, etc.). I’ll upload the ride onto the Garmin Connect webpage if I feel like it.

I can’t say enough good stuff about this GPS/bike computer. I haven’t used it to figure out routes from Point A to Point B, but I can see where that would be a tough task for any system (how to choose safe bike routes from among the many alternatives?).

The Garmin Edge 705 is one of the best GPS units I have ever owned. The unit was easy to mount ( I have mounted it on both of my bikes), and can also be used in a car. It’s easy to set up, and has multiple display settings to customize how you see your workout or current location.

There are many choices on what is viewed on the screen, from 1 to 8 screens. Garmin has a free downloadable program to upload your data and maps. The price I paid at Amazon was one of the lowest prices I have seen. I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who spends time.

The Garmin Edge 800 has now replaced the Garmin Edge 705 and is normally as cheap if not cheaper, to get hold of, making it a bit of a bargain. The Garmin Edge 1030 HRM is now the new bells and whistles Garmin Heart Rate Monitor.

This is currently around the $700 mark, so only for those not faint-hearted.

This makes the Garmin Edge 705 worth looking at (or 800 if cheaper) if you are looking for a tool with many useful functions and is recognized by most cycling websites that monitor your fitness. They are a superb piece of kit and are well thought of in cycling.

You can get a Garmin edge mount from eBay for peanuts for your road or mountain bike and use it for both.

Garmin Edge Explore 820 High-Resolution GPS Bike Computer

HIGH-RESOLUTION TOUCHSCREEN DISPLAY

Lightweight and compact with a 2.3-inch high-resolution capacitive touch display that works with gloves and when wet.

GROUP TRACK

Keep in touch with other riders in your pack with Group Track: You can see where your fellow riders are -offering peace of mind and enhanced situational awareness.

NAVIGATION FEATURES

Preloaded Garmin Cycle Map for turn-by-turn navigation. Includes round-trip Course Creator and on-device course planning.

CONNECT IQ

Download free custom apps and data fields

BATTERY LIFE

New extended battery life for longer, more adventurous rides. Up to 15 hours; Battery Save mode will extend battery life up to 50% while still tracking the detail of your ride.

Garmin Edge 520 Plus

Advanced GPS bike computer for competing and navigation
Features advanced navigation, including new rider alerts and the pre-loaded Garmin cycle map with turn-by-turn directions on and off-road
Preloaded Strava Live Segments let you compete second by second with your previous best or another rider’s PR; see real-time results right on your screen
Stay connected with your compatible smartphone using LiveTrack and Group Track, smart notifications, rider-to-rider messaging and built-in Incident Detection
Monitors cycling-specific Vo2 Max and recovery time when used with option power and heart rate monitors

Garmin Edge 1030 Cycle Bundle

The Garmin Solar, the top-of-the-range Garmin, has now superseded the Garmin Edge 1030.

Garmin Heart Rate Monitor Good Points

It is universally recognized by most sports websites that monitor your fitness training
Build quality is excellent
Easy to download information
Easy to build your maps and upload them
Superb list of facts displayed on the LCD screen for you to view
Easy to transfer from bike to bike
Backlight for use in dark conditions
Lap Timer
Stop and start
Reroute if you get lost and need to backtrack
Two different screens that you can flick through with up to 8 functions on each screen
Great battery life
Easy to read

Using External Websites

One of the bonuses of buying a Garmin instead of a Suunto t6d or a Polar FT80 is that it is universally recognized by almost every website with some form of integration that allows you to download or upload information about your training. This is vital if you want a good analysis of your actions.

Some of the websites that I talk about are:

Strava.com

A website for cyclists and runners alike. This website works with the iPhone and Garmin products and allows you to go out, do a cycle ride or a run, and then upload your information directly to their website.

It will then show your route on a map that you have done and give you other factors like speed, time, calories, distance, etc. The biggest bonus, though, if you are serious about your fitness training, is that it allows you to build up climbs on your routes and shows you climb that others have put in.

It then shows you your times compared to others who have climbed it. This is a great motivator and makes you want to ride that climb again to better your own time or try to beat someone else’s.

On top of this, if your time is the best, you are classed as king of the mountain.
RidewithGPS.com

Not quite up to the standard of Strava if you are into your cycling, but a great place to download and update your maps.

Garmin 705 Heart Rate Monitor

This is the heart rate monitor that I recommend. Not only is it a superb piece of kit that you can use on any bike you own but it is also compatible with Strava.com, which enables you to track every mile or kilometer you pedal and compete against others who cycle the same routes as you.