General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Garmin 310XT or 910XT Rss Feed  
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2012-11-03 6:44 PM

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Subject: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

Can someone please tell me what the difference is?  I have looked but don't see a whole lot of difference besides price.  Husband told me to pick the one I wanted and that would be my Christmas gift this year. 

 

 



2012-11-03 6:50 PM
in reply to: #4482219

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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

The 910 has some extra features that includes tracking pool swimming, open water swimming, has some run/walk interval features, and also has some additional features for power meter use.

More than anything, the 910 will likely get most of Garmin's attention when it comes to new firmware advances.  So it could be possible that the 910 could do "more" than it can currently now...where the 310 is pretty much what it is.

If you want more info, www.dcrainmaker.com is a great site for very in depth reviews of both devices along with many others.

I just got a 910 yesterday and am very happy with it.

2012-11-03 6:51 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
Check out dcrainmaker. Com. I think he breaks down all the differences. As far as I know, the 910 is waterproof and can be used on the swim while the others can not. Could be wrong though. I don't have either.
2012-11-03 7:02 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

jmug23 - 2012-11-03 1:51 PM Check out dcrainmaker. Com. I think he breaks down all the differences. As far as I know, the 910 is waterproof and can be used on the swim while the others can not. Could be wrong though. I don't have either.

310 is also waterproof.

2012-11-03 7:04 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
I have heard a lot of negatives about the 910 when it was first released. It sounds like there have been significant improvements with the summer firmware update. I can't find a relatively short answer about how it works now. Have there been more updates? Does it work as it should?I have a 405cx and a Mac. I have been unable to get it to sync with my Mac (and have read that Garmin doesn't play nicely with macs).do the newer versions come updated or would I need to find a way to sync?Very confused...
2012-11-03 7:27 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

I've had a 910xt since the summer and love it.  Great for all three sports -- it counts laps in the pool which I always used to forget.  It tracks a ton of data and is a great training tool.  I have a mac and the ANT+ is absolutely awesome -- just set your Garmin next to the computer within 3m and the data automatically uploads to garmin.com.  I've had no software issues but understand that there were some early on but patches seems to have fixed them.



2012-11-03 7:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

Raymond23 - 2012-11-03 8:04 PM I have a 405cx and a Mac. I have been unable to get it to sync with my Mac (and have read that Garmin doesn't play nicely with macs).do the newer versions come updated or would I need to find a way to sync?Very confused...

 

I have a Forerunner 405 and it syncs fine with my Mac. Both iMac and MacBook Air.

2012-11-03 7:42 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
I have the 910 and a Mac. I have not had any issues with the Mac. The only issues I have had with 910 is elevation accuracy (or complete lack thereof) and really spotty instant pace (which is better). Other than that no complaints.
2012-11-03 9:10 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
910 has a barometric altimeter, 310 doesn't... for those who are interested in that.
2012-11-03 10:16 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
If you can have either, get the 910xt. Aside from the swimming and a few other features for power meters, it has a barometric altimeter. This is much more accurate than the GPS. Some of the early models seemed to have issues. I think you can contact Garmin to get them replaced if you're having issues.
2012-11-03 10:35 PM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
I recently had to make this decision between the 310XT and 910XT. I went with the 910XT. I figured if I'm making that kind of investment why not get all the latest bells and whistles including the swim features, the altimeter, and the ability to have a run/walk mode. It also to me looks a lot nicer (especially as a woman with small wrists). I use it with my Mac with no problems. 


2012-11-04 6:27 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
Assuming cost is not an issue

910 xt >. 310 xt > 305
2012-11-04 6:51 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

I didn't realize how much I depended on my 910 until it came up missing the day before my first ever HIM.  I bit the bullet and picked up another one for the tri, and am glad I did.  I use a powermeter on the bike and the 910 can sync with those.  Between the powermeter and the pacing function, I was able to execute about as good a tri as one could hope.  That is assuming the perfect tri means your body doesn't give out and you don't puke until yards before the finish line.........Laughing

I love the swim function.  No more counting laps.  It also tracks your open water swims pretty darn accurately.

I love the powermeter functions, and the way you have four info screens you can scroll through with up to 4 pieces of information on them.  I set my main screen to 3 sec. power, cadence, and speed.  But I can easily check max speed, avg. speed, distance, time, and elevation by scrolling to other screens.

I love the current pace function for the run.  It tells me when my brain is saying "too hard", when my legs can still "go, go go!".

Ok, I'm a fan, in case you have not figured it out.

Good luck!

Kent

2012-11-04 7:16 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
Ok, so a bunch of dumb questions about the 910. I really don't understand these items like I should and need help1) this can be used for a whole triathlon. Push a button to change from swim to bike to run? Does it go from swim to t1 to bike to t2 to run?2) does the heart rate monitor work underwater, or do you put it on in t13) I got a bike computer when I purchased my bike. There is a spot in the frame where the speed/cadence meter is inserted. Are these devices universal? Or would I need to buy the bundle that is specific to this model? Could I leave the garmin on my wrist and the current computer on my bike? Would the sensor communicate with both devices.4) I have multiple hr monitors (came with the eliptacal, the treadmill, the bike computer). Are all of these interchangeable?5) given what I already own, should I get the base unit only, or would I need the triathlon bundle or the hr monitor bundle???Help!
2012-11-04 7:59 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

Raymond23 - 2012-11-04 5:16 AM Ok, so a bunch of dumb questions about the 910. I really don't understand these items like I should and need help1) this can be used for a whole triathlon. Push a button to change from swim to bike to run? Does it go from swim to t1 to bike to t2 to run?2) does the heart rate monitor work underwater, or do you put it on in t13) I got a bike computer when I purchased my bike. There is a spot in the frame where the speed/cadence meter is inserted. Are these devices universal? Or would I need to buy the bundle that is specific to this model? Could I leave the garmin on my wrist and the current computer on my bike? Would the sensor communicate with both devices.4) I have multiple hr monitors (came with the eliptacal, the treadmill, the bike computer). Are all of these interchangeable?5) given what I already own, should I get the base unit only, or would I need the triathlon bundle or the hr monitor bundle???Help!

1) both the 310xt and 910xt have a 20 hr battery life. You can set both up for 'multisport' mode, including transitions. Press the lap button entering T1, press again leaving T1, etc. The only drawback is you lose the ability to mark laps by pressing the lap button. I haven't ever noticed.

2) HR monitor doesn't work under water. I still wear it during the race (HR monitor is waterproof), HR just doesn't get recorded.

3) Any ANT+ speed/cadence sensor will work. ANT+ is a standard used by many manufacturers to send data to devices, similar to bluetooth. Garmin makes one that works very nicely.

4) Same as above, any ANT+ HR monitor will work. The polar ones will not work, as they are not ANT+.

5) If you don't have an ANT+ HR monitor, then you'll want to get the monitor along with the 310/910. I don't know what the 'triathlon' bundle is, but you'll probably want the speed/cadence sensor also.

Hope this helps!

2012-11-04 8:00 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

Raymond23 - 2012-11-04 5:16 AM Ok, so a bunch of dumb questions about the 910. I really don't understand these items like I should and need help1) this can be used for a whole triathlon. Push a button to change from swim to bike to run? Does it go from swim to t1 to bike to t2 to run?

A: yes it can be used for the whole tri. There's a multi ort mode which will transition to ready sport at the touch of the lap button. Screens will change accordingly.

 

 

2) does the heart rate monitor work underwater, or do you put it on in t13)

A: No, but most HR monitors don't. I put it on before the swim and it will pick up once you are out of the water. You can wait until t1 if you wish.

 I got a bike computer when I purchased my bike. There is a spot in the frame where the speed/cadence meter is inserted. Are these devices universal?

A: No. You need a version that is ANT+ compatible.

 

 Or would I need to buy the bundle that is specific to this model?

A: Any ANT+  compatible one works. Several companies make one.

 

 Could I leave the garmin on my wrist and the current computer on my bike? Would the sensor communicate with both devices.

A: Yes, if both are ANT+.

 

4) I have multiple hr monitors (came with the eliptacal, the treadmill, the bike computer). Are all of these interchangeable?

A: Probably not. They need to be ... wait for it ... ANT+ to be interchangeable and work with the 910/310

 

5) given what I already own, should I get the base unit only, or would I need the triathlon bundle or the hr monitor bundle???

A: you can start with just the base unit if you want. The base unit can give you speed, pace, time, distance for all 3 sports outside and count laps speed for a pool indoors. You need other gadgets to enable things like cadence, HR, power etc., or want to track speed indoors on a bike or run(speed/cadence mon for the bike, or a foot pod for a treadmill run.)

Help!



2012-11-04 8:18 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

I have a Trek Madone 5.2. The computer is a Bontrager Node 2.1. I have a Duotrap digital speed/cadence sensor. Looks like this is all ANT+. Not sure if the heart monitor is waterproof, but I can slap it on in T1 if unsure.

So, it sounds like I would have everything that would work with the 910 and I would just need the base unit. Is this correct?

2012-11-04 9:04 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT
I have a 910 and it works great. After a week of using it every at the battery still has about 45% left. I use the hrm, speed/cadence sensor/foot pod with it and they all work as expected.

There were a lot of issues when the 910 first came out but I got mine after the 2.6 firmware update came out. Bought the watch at the garmin store and they updated everything for me.

They only complaint I can think of is that while cycling indoors on a trainer the elevation data goes crazy. Obviously the elevation doesn't change, but it will show a couple thousand feet of elevation gain. Not sure what that's about but I ignore it/don't really care.
2012-11-04 9:09 AM
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Subject: RE: Garmin 310XT or 910XT

Raymond23 - 2012-11-04 2:16 AM Ok, so a bunch of dumb questions about the 910....   Help!

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/10/garmin-forerunner-910xt-in-depth-review.html

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