Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch

GENERAL/RUNNING/BIKING:

Pros: - The watch is easy to set up out of the box. ANT+ pairing is quick and simple, and the online tools are much improved from previous editions.
- Display is customizable, with up to 4 items per screen with easy scrolling to another screen with different layout and information. You can include pace, heart rate, heart rate map, caloric burn, time, distance and several other options (those are the ones I use).
- Auto-multisport allows for pre-programmed hot swapping between sport modes (i.e. bike to run to "other") by pressing the lap button.
- The watch also includes a virtual "rabbit" (a.k.a. pace maker) that will simulate a preset pace and tell you how far ahead or behind that pace you are. Awesome in-training motivation!
- The watch also tracks your individual fitness once you enter your height, weight and fitness level. You can even pair it with the Tanita BC-1000 scale and have it automatically update this information wirelessly through that scale. Haven't tried this myself, but it sounds sweet.
- People complain about OTHER mode being on the options menu, but as someone who also snowboards and windsurfs I appreciate Garmin expanding this watch's functionality beyond the three triathlete sports (see SWIMMING section below)
- There are several other features and options you can customize here, but those are the primary ones I use.

Cons: - The watch works very well in the trees, but not so much on switchbacks. If you like running or biking switchbacks, the GPS mapping mode does not interpret these very well and will likely cut off some distance on your route. The Forerunner 305 is better in this regard.
- Elevation accuracy has a lot of noise, and goes from mediocre to worthless on your route. This isn't a big deal for me, as I'm familiar with the elevation of the routes I run, but it would be irritating for serious users of the elevation feature.
- The watch and PC software are not forgiving if you don't set it up correctly prior to the workout. If you change modes mid-workout outside of the pre-programmed hotswapping it drops any previous data rather than appending the old data to the beginning of your new workout. I found this shortcoming reading other reviews and then testing it myself. Just be sure you set the watch up correctly prior to training and you'll be fine.


SWIMMERS/TRIATHLETES: Before you read any other reviews, there are some basic facts about GPS and ANT+ technology you have to understand before you set your triathlete expectations about this or any similar watch. GPS and ANT+ signals do not penetrate water effectively. You are not going to find an ANT+ HRM that works well submerged until they upgrade the ANT+ standard, and until the government switches out the orbiting satellites, GPS will simply not work when you are submerged.

That said, if you wear this watch in the back of your swim cap facing the sky, the GPS is a lot more functional. DC Rainmaker does some great testing ([...]) that demonstrates how the 305 and 310XT both fare in GPS tracking using this technique. The short answer is "It actually works pretty darn well." If you want a good, aquatic HRM, I recommend the FINIS Aqua Pulse ([...]). Garmin did not include a dedicated SWIM mode, because it understood the tech's aquatic limitations, and before you buy any product you should understand those limitations as well.

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Enabled Sports Watch Features

• Finally, a GPS-enabled training device that isn't afraid of the water
• The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete's indispensable training tool
• This multi-sport device has up to 20 hours of battery life, tracks distance, pace and heart rate (op

Rating :

Price : $24.99



Availability : N/A

Overviews

Finally, a GPS-enabled training device that isn't afraid of the water. The rugged Forerunner 310XT is the triathlete's indispensable training tool a GPS-enabled, swim-proof trainer that tracks bike and run data and sends it wirelessly to your computer.

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Customer Review

Best of forerunner series but critical design flaw - J. Peters -
I've had it over a year. Easy to use. Battery life is good; I cannot attest to 20 hours, longest I've used it is 5 hours straight with gps and had over half left. Smaller than previous models though won't be mistaken for a regular watch. I've had the 305 and 405 also; much easier to use than the 405 and battery much better than both plus waterproof.

Cons: 1. heart rate monitoring is spotty depending on how much you sweat- I've used it indoors lifting weights and it underreads. I've heard others comment on garmin heart rate monitoring that it may be inferior to polar or others.
2. ** The screen cracked after a drop from waist height. It landed on the face. I've read on the garmin forums of this happening to others. Someone noticed the design flaw in that the glass screen isn't recessed like the 405 and lesser extent the 305. It will cost me either or to get this repaired. Once I get it back it will have to rig it with a piece of rubber or something to create a recess.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 19, 2010 16:51:07

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