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. This multi-sport device has up to 20 hours of battery life, tracks distance, pace and heart rate (optional), and goes from wrist to bike in seconds.  A GPS-enabled training device that isn't afraid of the water. |  Track bike and run data and send it wirelessly to your computer. Click to enlarge. |  Tracks distance, pace and heart rate. Click to enlarge. | Time Your Swim
The swim-proof Forerunner 310XT is waterproof to a depth of 50 meters, so you can wear it in the pool or the lake to time your swim. And its slim design and flexible wristband mean Forerunner is easy to wear in any conditions. Transition Effortlessly
When you're ready to jump out of the water and onto the bike, Forerunner 310XT moves easily from wrist to bike with the optional quick release and bike mounts, making the transition between sports effortless. Forerunner 310XT categorizes multisport activities in one workout and can also log transition time in the process, so you can analyze your performance from start to finish. Collect Workout Data
Forerunner 310XT tracks your position precisely with GPS satellite data and records distance, pace, heart rate (optional), power data (from ANT+-enabled third-party power meters) and more. High-sensitivity GPS and HotFix satellite prediction mean Forerunner acquires satellites quickly and tracks your movement even near tall buildings or under tree cover. And using innovative ANT+ wireless technology, Forerunner 310XT connects seamlessly to an optional heart rate monitor, foot pod and cadence sensor. Heart Rate Monitor Bundle
This bundle includes the optional wireless heart rate monitor. Forerunner 310XT continuously tracks beats per minute and uses heart rate data in advanced calorie computation. Train in a certain heart rate zone to improve fitness and monitor your level of exertion. Run, Sync, Store and Share
Once you've logged the miles, innovative ANT+ wireless technology automatically transfers data to your computer when Forerunner is in range. No cables, no hookups. The data's just there, ready for you to analyze, categorize and share through our online community, Garmin Connect or our optional Garmin Training Center software. You can even plan workouts on your computer and then send them to your Forerunner. What's in the Box
Forerunner 310XT, USB ANT stick, AC charger, Charging clip, Owner's manual on disk, Quick start guide, Heart Rate Monitor
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 310XT is most everything Garmin says it is |
| Review Date: September 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Dayrems, San Rafael, CA USA |
I felt compelled to write a review, because I am disturbed with what some other reviewers are publishing. This is the best watch of it's kind I have owned, and as long as a purchaser understands what it does, and it's limitations, I think they will be more than satisfied. It may be that this watch will not meet their needs, but it should not be a cause to deliver a poor rating.
I have owned the Forerunner 305, the 201, the Timex GPS and a Polar, so I have years of experience. Since I do triathlons, I was most looking forward to the waterproof controls, and 20 hour battery. The charger is a bit funky design, but for me it seems to work just fine. My battery has been lasting at least 16 hours--I haven't tested it further before recharging. One issue that I had with the 305 also, though: the watch should be TURNED OFF while you are charging. If not, as soon as you disconnect the charger, since the watch is ON, it will start "discharging" (as it does normally while it is on. I have been caught several times with a depleted battery on my 305 because of this quirk--I think the watches should be programmed to automatically turn themselves off when the charger is connected).
I have used the new watch swimming, biking and running and hiking, and I am pleased with the performance for each sport. One reviewer pointed out that there should be a "swim" mode--I agree, but I think Garmin may have avoided that mode because the GPS does not work well in the water. Several reviewers complained about that, however Garmin does write on their website AND in their manual that the GPS does not work well in the water (I don't know that I would blame that on Garmin--probably the technology is just not there yet--besides, GPS signals do not penetrate water.) In fact, I did NOT get an accurate GPS distance reading for open water swimming, but it did map my COURSE correctly, albeit with a lot of zig-zags (I know I can't swim in a straight line, but I am not THAT bad).
The biking portion works great. The Garmin matches pretty closely with the distance measured on my bike computer (I don't have the Garmin bike sensor--I want that and the quick-release mount for my next birthday). Of course it also tracks speed, altitude, heart rate, etc. (I used the heart monitor strap from my 305).
Running works well also, basically same as biking although I do set up the display screens differently.
Other, useful new features I have noticed:
1. The watch locks onto satellites more quickly than my 305
2. The watch vibrates, although I wonder how this affects battery life. For instance it vibrates every lap (if I set it) so I know I have completed an autolap without having to look at the watch.
3. The software is more refined (lots of small fixes. For instance the settings function lets me know what sport mode I am in--although I think this could still be made easier and less confusing. And the time zone can be put on automatic--I always wondered why they couldn't do this before--the watch knows where it is for gosh sakes. And there are extra custom screens if you want them--statistic hounds take note.)
4. Wireless data upload. Very nice! Their new "Garmin Connect" site is also pretty useful, and the data can be uploaded directly to the Internet.
5. The 310XT is not much smaller or lighter than the 305 (according to the specs), but it FEELS MUCH smaller and lighter.
6. There is a progress bar for the battery charging. I would like to be able to see how much time is LEFT in my battery--I wish Garmin would add this.
In summary, I think this is far and away the best GPS watch Garmin has made, and is especially appropriate for triathletes (despite the swimming issue). You DO need to become accustomed to using the watch. Although I do not think it is hard to use, you SHOULD read the manual. At least you do not have to keep RE-reading the manual like I do for some other gadgets. I do think this watch is way overpriced, but I am a gadget freak, and I'm sure the price will come down over time, like it did for the 305 (which is a great deal, now, btw, if you don't need a 20 hour battery-life and a waterproof stopwatch :) |
Watch Delivers
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| Review Date: August 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Triguy, Virginia |
I've used the 205, 305, and 405. As a triathlete, the 205 and 305 were both great watches. The best part of the watch for me is the extended battery life. The 305 was limited to Half-Ironmans due to limited battery life. I can now wear the 310xt for an entire Ironman distance. I also like wearing the watch in the water now although sliding the wetsuit over it can be a bit tricky.
Bottom line, the watch is pretty much identical to the 305 so if you are training or competing in races 6 hours or less, I would go with the 305 and save some money. Both the 305 and 310xt have the Multisport function for triathletes which is very important.
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Outstanding product
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| Review Date: September 4, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Ashley Wright, |
I just got mine and I love it. It came with software version 2.5, but I upgraded it to 2.6 after much hassle. For some reason with version 2.5, it wouldnt send anything to the unit, only download from it. It boiled down to 4 hours of searching and finally figuring out the problem was due to Internet Explorer's security settings. It seems to be working fine with v 2.6. (If you're having this problem, turn off ALL your IE security settings and try to download the software again)
My only gripes are that it's a bit difficult to save a location. I wish there was a way that you could just hit or hold a button or two and instantly mark a spot. As it is now, I have to stop and scroll through menus to save a waypoint. My second complaint is that there's no way to import waypoints via a computer. To save waypoints such as feedstations that are already on my mapmyride courses, I have to do it by hand on the 310XT unit. My third gripe is the ANT Stick. It would be way easier to upload directly from USB, but I guess they couldnt find a way to make it waterproof with a USB port. I'll live with it, but I dont want to have to shell out [...] for a new stick if I end up losing it.
As for people who complain about GPS not working while swimming - It's not a function of the Garmin unit, it's a function of the GPS wavelength which cant really penetrate water. I know this from years of being on a submarine that you cant use GPS when you're submerged. Unless you stick an antenna on your head while you swim, it's just not going to work. Sorry, that's life. The product manual specifically states that GPS and heartrate data is not available while swimming. |
Best GPS/HRM Watch Given Tech Limitations
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| Review Date: April 4, 2010 |
| Reviewer: A. Richardson, Napa Valley, CA |
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.
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A great training tool
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| Review Date: December 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Kenneth C. Lotts, Sierra Vista, AZ |
I have owned this watch for about three months and I have no regrets at all. I use it just about every day.
Before I bought the 310XT, I was thinking that the 405 would be the perfect choice but after a little research I realized that the 310 was the 405 on steroids.. Twenty hour battery life, Ruggedized, Bigger more readable screen, more functional buttons.. and still reasonably small. For a while I was tempted to buy the 305 (The 310s older brother) and save some serious money but the 305 is larger and several years older in the technology tree. I wanted something that was going to still be getting firmware upgrades and was not at or near end of life.
I went ahead and bought the 310 and for the first month I just did the basics with it.. I let it monitor my runs and my bike rides.. but then I discovered all the cool stuff.. I started to design workouts where the watch would tell me when to do things based on things like heart rate, distance, time, etc.. I programmed the entire "Couch to 5K" program into the watch and then modified it in ways that the C25K program could never have pulled off.. Like cool down periods in the interval training that were based on heart rate and distance that is actually measured by GPS.. I gotta say this is very cool!
There has been three firmware upgrades since I bought the watch and the latest one TOTALLY FIXED the elevation charting issues. Until the latest upgrade, the elevation data in the charts was noticeably inaccurate. The watch boots up and finds the satellites amazingly fast. I have the foot pod and the heart monitor belt. Both add a lot to my workouts..
The Garmin Connect web site mated up with the Garmin 310 is just awesome.. I have had no problems with the Garmin 310, it links up to my computer just fine and it links to my foot pod and HRM belt fine too. It was very expensive but it is well worth it. Highly Recommended! |
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