Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor
by Garmin
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List Price: Our Price: $349.99 You Save: $50.00 (13%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $255.00 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin Forerunner 310XT Waterproof Running GPS With USB ANT Stick and Heart Rate Monitor
Customer Review: It's a great unit... until it isn't (which is often)
Summary: 2 Stars
First of all, this is my second Garmin (had a 305 Forerunner), so I'm used to their troubles and quirks.
The good stuff:
- much more user friendly than the 305
- satellites lock on much quicker
- water proof (yeah, you can't get data while swimming, but that's GPS for you)
- *in theory* works with Garmin connect.
The bad stuff:
- usual Garmin lack of reliability. They pretty much rush all their stuff to market, meaning there are tons of bugs that need to be worked out. Be prepared to get friendly with their customer support staff.
- randomly gets "hung up" on bad data, which means it won't download anything after that point. This happened to me after 4 weeks, then I did a Hard Restart, and it happened to me after two days; did another hard restart, happened after another seven days... So basically, you're going to need to be prepared to loose lots of data.
- Customer support will give you the same answers over and over: go above their heads.
- Online support via [...] tells you to follow functions that don't exist (e.g. the "force download", which is not an option on the 310xt).
Overall, it could be a terrific product, except for the fact that it's made by a bunch of people who don't care enough to make it a good product.
Customer Review: TRIATHALON WRIST COMPUTER WITH NO INSTRUCTIONS
Summary: 2 Stars
DON'T BUY THIS ITEM (FORERUNNER 310 XT). BUY A FORERUNNER 305. THE 310 XT ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME THING AS THE 305, BUT YOU CAN GET A 305 FOR ABOUT $150 AND THE 310XT COSTS ABOUT $400.
THE 310 XT HAS TWO ADVANTAGES 1: YOU CAN SWIM WITH IT ON (BUT THE GPS DOES NOT WORK IN THE WATER). 2: IT HAS A VIBRATOR TO SIGNAL VARIOUS THINGS. THE 305 HAS A BUZZER WHICH IS HARD TO HEAR IN NOISY VENUES (LIKE A MARATHON WITH 45,000 PEOPLE).
BIG IS NO INSTRUCTION THIS THING COST $400 AND THEY DID NOT INCLUDE AN INSTRUCTION BOOK FOR A COMPUTER!!!!! I E-MAILED THEM, AND THEY GAVE ME SOME BALONEY ABOUT GOING GREEN AND SAVING TREES, AND NOT PRINTING THE INSTRUCTIONS. THEY SAID I COULD DOWNLOAD THE BOOK FORM THE WEB (WHICH I DID) THAT WAY I PAID FOR THE PRINTING AND KILLED THE TREE, NOT THEM. THEY WEREN'T WORRIED ABOUT "GOING GREEN" WHEN THEY CAME UP WITH THE FANCY BOX IT COMES IN....... ANY WAY THE INSTRUCTIONS AN NOT ACCURATE, ANY WAY.
BUY A FORERUNNER 05, IT IS GREAT, DOES ALMOST THE SAME STUFF FOR LESS THAN 1/2 THE PRICE, AND HAS INSTRUCTIONS (EVEN THOUGH WHEY ARE NOT EASLIY FOLLOWED)
Customer Review: I dunno.. I like it.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've only used it once, but I really like it. I think my more positive take may be due to 1) not being a triathlete 2) having low expectations. Additionally, to paraphrase Norman Dale in "Hoosiers", I am supporting it for what it is, and not what it is not (something that could violate the laws of physics, something that is what a user wishes it was). I have bought exercise monitors before that I used just once & was hesitant to let hope triumph over experience yet again. I'm glad I did. While there is some time required to configure it, it is a useful exercise (customize age, weight etc.), need only be done once, & is very easy to do. I just wanted a basic unit that would do what it does well and that does not require an ongoing personal relationship. Faced with something with gobs of features and a less than intuitive interface, I put it in a drawer. The online functionality -- the unit uploading workouts to a PC -- is neat, works very well and is very easy. That, like the unit itself, is a pleasure to use. I believe I will exercise appreciably more, and enjoy it more, as a result of having this little $400 thing. That is a very good deal.
Customer Review: Love this device
Summary: 5 Stars
I've only been using this for about 10 days, but I love it. This is my first heart rate monitor and that alone is motivating. The device itself is very light and does not get in the way. It easily picks up the satellites so there is no long waiting period before starting a workout. It is customizable in hundreds of ways. One of my favorite functions is the ability to set alerts for calories expended, time, or distance, and receive either a beep, a vibration or both to let you know. The backlight is fantastic. After a workout the device transfers data directly to my computer when I'm about 3 feet away. This information is instantly available online to view on a map, or as a graph showing simultaneous speed, heart rate/elevation. I haven't tried it yet in the water. I'm not expecting the GPS to work in the water, technology is simply not there yet for any device. On the bike it works just fine on my wrist, or I have been placing it over my existing bike computer and has worked well.
Overall I love it. I purchased the Timex speed/distance system when they first came out years ago. This is a giant leap forward.
Customer Review: Excellent device & warranty
Summary: 5 Stars
I used my Garmin for more than 1 year now and it works great!
The problem is that you get addicted to it. I didn't imagine a bike or run session without my 310, until I broke the display with a hit in the shower after a workout!
But I sent it to Garmin (USA) following the web instructions.
They shipped me a new one to replace the broken one. The service was super fast.
The device is great for tri training, because you can configure many sports, screens and options.
I have different sport types and also screens for my different session.
One for street running, other for track running, other for my tri bike and other for my road bike. You configure the screens you use most depending on the session type.
For Ironman training is the only option, because the battery last enough to complete the long bike (200K)-run (20K) sessions.
A few times I used a 405 and the battery didn't last to the end of my training.
The only problem is the fragile wrist band. In two opportunities I hit a friend's hand while running and my Garmin flight to the ground.