General Discussion Triathlon Talk » garmin 310xt vs garmin 305 Rss Feed  
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2011-04-15 10:07 AM

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Subject: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

Is it worth upgrading from the 305 to the 310xt? 

Looks about the same and I eventually want to get the scale that will work with it and preprogram my weight and such but I wonder other than that is it really worth it?  Trying to decide how high on my priority list it should be.

 



2011-04-15 10:08 AM
in reply to: #3448458

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Elite
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

my short answer is if the 305 is working fine, no not worth it but if you havenet read this check it out

www.dcrainmaker.com    look for 310xt vs 305 comparisons

2011-04-15 10:20 AM
in reply to: #3448458

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
I've got both. If I had a 305 that was working there would be little I could say would be very much better with the 310 other than faster sat pickup.

If something goes wrong, upgrade but until then keep what you got.

My $.02
2011-04-15 10:31 AM
in reply to: #3448458

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
I upgraded to the 310 when my 305 broke after many good years.
The big pro for me is the battery life of the 310 because I am training for a full and my bike and run are painfully slow.
I thought that it being waterproof would be great , but considering how poorly it's tracked for me in the water, I don't bother wearing it in open water swims.
in the end my .02 cents I would have stayed with the 305


2011-04-15 10:31 AM
in reply to: #3448463

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Master
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
FELTGood - 2011-04-15 10:08 AM

my short answer is if the 305 is working fine, no not worth it but if you havenet read this check it out

www.dcrainmaker.com    look for 310xt vs 305 comparisons

^^^This. the "DC.." blog is the most comprehensive Garmin review/comparison I've ever seen.

2011-04-15 10:51 AM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
IMHO it would not be "worth it" to pay three times as much for the 310 even if you were making a new purchase. Since you have the 305, it's even less of a choice. But "worth it" is a very personal assessment, depends a whole lot on what value the extra $200 has to you. Longer battery life, ant+ and power, waterproof, and smaller size are the major enhancements, even collectively they have little value to me.


2011-04-15 3:10 PM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

For just running, 305 is fine - 310 gets you faster sat hookup and a longer battery if you're 5+ hrs.

For biking/HIM/IM 310xt is great. And you can always sell the 305 to make up some of the money.

 

2011-04-15 3:14 PM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
I've noticed that the battery life in the 310xt is significantly better. Other than that, the 310xt and the 305 are pretty much the same watch.
2011-04-15 3:27 PM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

Get the 310xt if

-you race with a powermeter (310xt is ANT+), or

-if you want to swim with GPS/HR (310xt works okay in the water), or

if you are going to do an Ironman anytime soon (310xt won't die before you get to the run)

Otherwise 305 is the watch for you.

2011-04-15 3:53 PM
in reply to: #3449216

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
raflopez - 2011-04-15 3:27 PM

Get the 310xt if

-if you want to swim with GPS/HR (310xt works okay in the water), or

This is incorrect. The 310XT heart rate function does NOT work in the water. The swim distance is questionable (not originally designed to track distance in water, but a software upgrade "guesses" for you); water GPS works for some users but has been way off for my OWSs.


From the 310XT FAQ:
The soft strap heart rate monitor can be used while swiming, up to a depth of 50 meters, in conjunction with the Forerunner 310XT. However, it should be noted that the Forerunner 310XT will not be able to receive heart rate data from the soft strap while in the water.



Edited by lisac957 2011-04-15 3:54 PM
2011-04-15 4:10 PM
in reply to: #3449277

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
lisac957 - 2011-04-15 2:53 PM
raflopez - 2011-04-15 3:27 PM

Get the 310xt if

-if you want to swim with GPS/HR (310xt works okay in the water), or

This is incorrect. The 310XT heart rate function does NOT work in the water. The swim distance is questionable (not originally designed to track distance in water, but a software upgrade "guesses" for you); water GPS works for some users but has been way off for my OWSs.


From the 310XT FAQ:
The soft strap heart rate monitor can be used while swiming, up to a depth of 50 meters, in conjunction with the Forerunner 310XT. However, it should be noted that the Forerunner 310XT will not be able to receive heart rate data from the soft strap while in the water.

Yeah I should have been more clear. When I've had my 310xt (watch and strap) on in the water during races I've got HR data from it, not the best data though, and I was wearing the strap under my wetsuit.  I've never used to to actively gather HR data from swims, just incidentally got data from races when I was wearing the strap in the swim so I wouldn't have to put it on in T1. 

And with the GPS in the water, looking at the data afterwards mine's done an okay job of guessing my distance/course, but not great.



2011-04-15 4:50 PM
in reply to: #3449309

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
raflopez - 2011-04-15 4:10 PM
lisac957 - 2011-04-15 2:53 PM
raflopez - 2011-04-15 3:27 PM

Get the 310xt if

-if you want to swim with GPS/HR (310xt works okay in the water), or

This is incorrect. The 310XT heart rate function does NOT work in the water. The swim distance is questionable (not originally designed to track distance in water, but a software upgrade "guesses" for you); water GPS works for some users but has been way off for my OWSs.


From the 310XT FAQ:
The soft strap heart rate monitor can be used while swiming, up to a depth of 50 meters, in conjunction with the Forerunner 310XT. However, it should be noted that the Forerunner 310XT will not be able to receive heart rate data from the soft strap while in the water.

Yeah I should have been more clear. When I've had my 310xt (watch and strap) on in the water during races I've got HR data from it, not the best data though, and I was wearing the strap under my wetsuit.  I've never used to to actively gather HR data from swims, just incidentally got data from races when I was wearing the strap in the swim so I wouldn't have to put it on in T1. 

And with the GPS in the water, looking at the data afterwards mine's done an okay job of guessing my distance/course, but not great.

I was so disappointed when I realized my 310xt wouldn't read my heart rate in the water (really wanted to track my heart rate aqua-jogging when I was run injured). My old crappy Timex HRM did, why can't my $300 Garmin! Cry I just assumed a "waterproof" watch would you know... work in the water. Siiigh.

 

2011-04-15 6:52 PM
in reply to: #3449384

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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
lisac957 - 2011-04-15 4:50 PM I was so disappointed when I realized my 310xt wouldn't read my heart rate in the water (really wanted to track my heart rate aqua-jogging when I was run injured). My old crappy Timex HRM did, why can't my $300 Garmin! CryI just assumed a "waterproof" watch would you know... work in the water. Siiigh.

 

It does work in the water. From what I understand it keeps very good time. What more do you want for $350? Cool

Seriously, from another thread earlier this week, apparently there are many who feel it is "worth it" just to have all their splits on the same device. Which is why it's so hard to answer Todd's question: "Worth it" is very much in the eye of the beholder.

2011-04-15 8:03 PM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

yeah I think I will wait. Thanks everyone for your help. 

305 works for me for hims already and I am super slow.  I do not care about my swim split for me its a way of seeing if I am on target for each section.  Wore a polar hrm for Chicago tri one year and well not like I ever even looked at the watch doing the swim.  I thinking about the FR60 though for my indoor runs/ weight lifting.  I figure ultimately that will give be more useful than the 310xt would be.  I wish that one was water proof.  honestly 310xt would more to not be lazy and have pc update the weight info.  As soon as the 305 dies I am getting a 310xt for sure.

 Or if I do that IM I always dreamed about.



Edited by chirunner134 2011-04-15 8:03 PM
2011-09-21 7:23 AM
in reply to: #3448458


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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305
However, both the Garmin Forerunner 305 and 310XT are Waterproof. The 310XT provides more features for swimmers to track your workout. The GPS within the Garmin 310XT may very closely estimate the length and approximate speed of a swimmer.

Another main difference is the Garmin 310XT's automatic synchronize function, which automatically submissions workout data stored on the watch to your computer. The garmin GPS watch 310XT also can compute the amount of calories a user burns according to his heart rate.
2011-09-21 7:59 AM
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Subject: RE: garmin 310xt vs garmin 305

Not to mention I still use mine on OWS with the swim cap trick and still get my splits.

I will say though that at times the sat hook up is down right painfull. I mean so often I'm standing around for 5-10 minutes. Drives me crazy.



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