Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor
by Garmin
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Category: GPS or Navigation System
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: GarminBrand: Garmin
Edition: Electronics
Model: 010-00741-01
Color: Gray/Orange
Publisher: Garmin
Studio: Garmin
Music Label: Garmin
Product features:
- Waterproof to a depth of 50 meters, so you can wear it in the pool or the lake to time your swim
- Tracks bike and run data and sends it wirelessly to your computer
- Track your position, distance, pace, heart rate (with bundled monitor), add accessories to measure power data and more
- 20 hours of battery life
- One-year limited warranty
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor
Customer Review: Updated - Product getting better, still has issues.
Summary: 3 Stars
First, I must say I am a Mac user, your PC experience may vary.
There is a lot to like about this product, when it works. But the product is, in my opinion, still only at the Beta level of readiness. I have lost multiple events due to data corruption. The firmware update that is supposed to fix the product will not load. I was more patient with Vista before I got rid of my PC and went to Mac. Frankly, I feel like that is a good analogy for this product. Vista was awful at roll out. It isn't great now, but it is much better. If you spend 300 dollars on this product, you should be prepared to deal with customer support, or dig through the Garmin forums. Maybe I come back later and change my rating, but for now, stay clear of this product. Eventually, the bugs will be worked out and the price will come down. At the very least, before you pull the trigger, look at the Garmin support forums and see what the general tone of the posters is at the time. Caveat Emptor.
****** UPDATED 12/13/2009
The 310xt by Garmin is a part of a system of workout peripherals designed to aide you with your athletic training. As you read this review, consider that my perspective is that the entire system is a whole and not a bunch of disconnected parts. You can not slap a Polar chest strap into this system.
Cost - This is an expensive part of your training system. The 310xt is the head unit for you computer system and runs north of $300. But if you add the heart rate monitor and cadence sensors for bikes and shoes, you can double your costs. I have a chest strap, cadence sensors on two bikes and a foot pod. The $600 dollar price tag of the system may still be less than a comparable Polar system. When comparing price between the various systems, make sure you look at all the parts.
Head Unit - First, it is big. I don't have a problem with that, because I look more like shot putter than a distance runner, but smaller wristed folks have complained. As a 40+-year-old athlete, big is advantageous in the fact you can see the data elements even if you are displaying three data points at a time. However, you have to know what each element is, because there is no way you can read the titles on the data element windows. The buttons are easy to use, even in gloves. I don't find myself hitting the wrong buttons or having accidental changes like I have had on some Polar watches or the Garmin 405. The problems I have with the head unit are the ugly Orange and Gray color scheme and the lap and start/stop buttons are - for the way my brain works - backwards. Both are subjective and easily overcome.
Software - Oh the software. You can always tell when a company starts messing in things that are not core to their business. Garmin is a GPS company. They do not write good code. On the plus side, the Garmin software does support the Mac platform, on the downside, Mac support lags greatly. They are trying to overcome this by pushing a good deal of core functionality to the Web, but they have not gotten there yet. The code that runs the actual head unit was buggy out the door. It has become much more stable. But before you do anything else with the head unit, patch the firmware. The firmware it ships with will drop your workouts and cause you do have to do multiple hard resets. But all in all, the latest firmware seems to be stable and acceptable. But the software story goes beyond the head unit. Gathering data is useless unless you can analyze it. Because of the ANT+ interface, you are slaved to at least a portion of the Garmin computer software. You can not directly upload to Training Peaks or your favorite online software tracking/log system. Make sure you can send files from Garmin if you use something like Training Peaks (you can) if you intend to use a legacy logging system or work with a coach. Garmin's web based platform is Garmin Connect. As long as it has been around, it still seems like a beta product. You can't create workouts on the web-based platform, you can't edit your workouts or even analyze a portion of a workout. The system seems sluggish. It is getting better, but support for the web site feels more like a hobby than a business priority. If you want to create workouts for your head unit, you will do so in the Garmin Training Center. The Mac version is just pitiful. It is counterintuitive and has the look and feel of a program that was written by someone whose last program project was "Hello World". You can't create a workout based upon pace, you can do so based upon speed. Anyway, Garmin has created a situation were you will be forced to maintain your data in three locations. Create your workouts in GTC, analyze in GC, setup in the head unit. If anyone in Garmin is reading can you explain why I have to setup my profile in three spots? Which way does the data flow? Can I place my Heart Rate zones in one of these three systems and just have it flow? Why do I have to enter an age, why don't you set age based upon birth date? Why do I have to reenter everything on the head unit manually after an all too frequent reset? Why can't I set the display preferences for the head unit in GTC and synch that to the head unit? I can't think of any other product I use were I am forced to do repetitive data maintenance in three locations.
The old style heart rate strap - It was fine while it lasted. Not real comfortable if you are a barrel-chested guy. I understand that smaller folks have issues with comfort as well. My problem is that it died after a couple of months. I am hoping it just needs a new battery because....
The premium soft heart rate strap - Awful. A waste of your money. I kid you not, there is a part of the forum dedicated to the tendency of the chest strap to spike inaccurate readings that advocates smearing the contacts with honey or peanut butter. To be fair, those are user suggestions. Garmin suggests you (1) wear tight fitting (2) cotton (3) and move the chest strap upside down and on your back. I would suggest they follow Polar's lead and build something that works. I have used three different versions of the Polar chest straps and never had an issues with this "common" problem of static causing misreads. I think the best advice I have had was from my running store who told me: Wear the Garmin on one arm and a real heart rate monitor on the other.
Bike Cadence Sensor - My only issue or comment on this product is you may find it hard to install on your bike if you have a modern design with odd shaped chain stays. The sensor is perfect on my Cannondale Synapse. It fits awful on My Scott Plasma and constantly needs to be readjusted.
Footpod - I do not have the new footpod yet. The older version I have has been an unremarkable part of the setup. I don't say that because it does not work. Quite the contrary, I put it on, told my head unit I had it, and have not had an issue since. I don't do a lot of treadmill work, so I generally only use it to force myself to increase my run cadence. But to me, the best peripheral is the one you completely forget about. It just works.
Power - I have not added an ANT+ power system. I am holding out for the new product integrated into the pedals instead of the hub based system.
Overall - I use the Garmin system because it has the most promise. Its promise is an all in one system that tracks everything and puts all the data in one place. Unfortunately, this system is still just promise. It is immature technology at best. Frankly there are a lot of days were I think I would be better off with a simple bottom of the line polar system. This system embodies what information technology professional's call "bleeding edge". I guess the most compelling overall comment what be to look at the wrists of professional triathletes. You will see a lot of Polar computers. I have never seen a pro using a Garmin.
More Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor reviews:
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Description of Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor
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.
- Package includes: Forerunner 310XT, premium heart rate monitor, USB ANT Stick, AC adapter, charging clip, owner's manual on disk, quick reference guide
- Compatible with cadence
- Advanced heart-rate based calorie computation
- Multisport: changes sport mode with a press of a button
- High-sensitivity GPS receiver with HotFix
- Water resistant to 50 meters
- Easy-to-read display
- Training and motivational features: Virtual Partner, courses, workouts, goals
- GPS features: mark locations, back to start
- ANT+ wireless technology: lets you automatically transfer information back and forth between the watch and the computer
- Battery life: up to 20 hours, typical
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery lasts over 1,000+ charges
| Item Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Color | Grey/Orange |
| Heart Rate | Included |
| GPS-Enabled | Included |
| Cadence | Optional |
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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