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

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

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.

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.

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! I just assumed a "waterproof" watch would you know... work in the water. Siiigh.

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! I 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? 

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.

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.

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.