Garmin Forerunner 310XT with Heart Rate Monitor Sports GPS Receiver

Been using my Garmin 305 for nearly 5 years. It was a great GPS watch. But I recently upgraded to the 310XT and it is a great improvement over the 305. The 310XT acquires it's GPS signal SIGNIFICANTLY faster than the 305. This was a huge problem in the past when I was running a trail race in a wooded area where my 305 could not gain a GPS signal. Sometimes there would be a 10-15 minute wait. The 310XT, I have never had to wait more than 30 seconds under any conditions.

Users who are used to the 305 or 205 will find the controls on the 310XT very easy to use because they are pretty much exactly the same.

This watch is also lighter and smaller than the 305 and 205, yet has double the battery life. I have had about 16 hours of continuous use on the 310XT compared to about 9 hours on the 305.

Lastly, the 310XT is waterproof which is great for inclement weather and swimmers. I am not a swimmer so I have not fully tested the waterproofing of the watch, but this is the ONLY Garmin GPS watch that is waterproof so that adds a psychological benefit of being more durable.

The ANT wireless technology has a few hiccups but does work much better than the old cradle system of the 305. There is setup process and driver download that you will have to go through to install the wireless ANT dongle to each of the computers you will be using your 310XT on.

On the Garmin Connect Website, the 310XT breaks down your mileage splits with more data when you upload your usage through the wireless ANT. A marked improvement over the 305.

Lastly, this is the only Garmin GPS watch that works with the Tanita scale system (InerScan BC-1000). I purchased the scale and through the ANT technology, it will show you your BMI, muscle mass, water weight, etc... You can go to the Tanita website for detailed information.

Anyhow, overall, I give this watch a 5/5 rating as a runner and cyclist. If you are in need of an upgrade for a new GPS watch, make sure you give this a good look.

The Garmin 310XT is a fun toy to have. With lots of cool features with GPS, heart rate, virtual training partner, and more there is a plethora of information to help you improve your fitness. The Garmin Connect software was easy to install and the wireless feature is very convenient for uploading information. I purchased the quick release system because I wanted it to easily mount to my bike and it was a great addition!

I dedided to buy the 310xt because you can take it with you in the pool as well as on the bike or for your run. I have yet to actually take it in the pool with me, but it has been outstanding on my runs. Just so people know this device really only records time while in the pool or that's what I found on the Garmin site anyways. If in your future you want to do a triathlon and you considering purchasing a garmin forerunner the 310xt is the way to go. Upload your data to your Garmin Connect account see all the details...no need to record with a running journal on paper anymore...save a tree. Overall awesome product and if you get it you won't be disappointed.

This is quite a device. It usually finds the satellites in a minute or two.

I frequently jog on a route that has distance markers every quarter mile. I've compared the distance on the Garmin to the markers and the distance is with a few feet. After a run, the run information can be downloaded to Garmin's software and the run can be viewed on a map. I've found the route posted on the map to be very close to the actual route.

The Garmin accumulates much useful information such as average and maximum heart rate, time, and grade. This information is accumulated both for every lap and for the total run. I understand that user's can define a lap by programming the device but I've found that the default one-mile lap works well for me. This information can be saved in Garmin's software and compared to prior runs. The key things are that all the information seems very accurate and downloading the information to Garmin's software is essentially automatic.

I've only used the device for jogging so I can't comment on how it performs for other activities.

Likes: Functions are insane! This thing does everything but take you to the bathroom and it may even do that, I'm still learning!

Dislikes: This thing is ugly and it would be impossible to wear around town. Having said that its not a casual watch, its an athletic tool for athletes! I will however say that something they could control would be the colors, orange and gray, yukkk!

Watch should already come with the quick release/mount kit for bikes, had to spend another $20 to get a function that it should already have. If its made for multi-sport why wouldnt you make it with the quick release function so I can take the watch off and mount it to my bike. Additionally, I now have two watch straps just sitting on my table because they are a waste as anyone on a bike will AUTOMATICALLY buy the bike mount kit/quick release watch bands! Come on Garmin it would cost you no more money just change out the bands!!!

Okay, enough of my complaining about petty stuff. I have seen the new Iron Man GPS watch and compared its software and look to my Garmin and I AM SOOOO THANKFUL I didnt go with another watch! Garmin rocks, buy it, you wont regret it!!!!!!!!!

performance 10/10
looks 5/10
overall 9/10 (yea the math doesn't add up but this watch rocks im just being petty about the looks!