garmin 310xt vs 410 or other choices that you use? Decision made, in case you cared:)

[dburg30]

For some reason I am leaning towards the 310xt. I know it's much bulkier, but that doesnt concern me.. What does everyone else use? What are some caveats to watch out for? From what I can gather, a cadence / pace is important to keep yourself from wanting to go faster then you should. How do these take care of that, or do they? I will also wind up doing indoor training at some point I'm sure, so I will have to foot pod also.

Who uses a heart rate monitor, and is that really a useful training accessory?

[rmattman]

I use the Garmin 305 for my heart rate monitor while I'm running. The bulkiness does not bother me. The 310xt looks slightly smaller than the 305 but I think the screen size is almost identical. I like the large screen size and the ability to display 4 variables (HR, pace, distance, etc) all of which are large enough to see easily. The 400 series is smaller in size but this translates to more difficulty visualizing the info on the screen. I found both units at a local Dick's and tried them on before making my purchase on Amazon.

[dburg30]

Originally Posted by rmattman

I use the Garmin 305 for my heart rate monitor while I'm running. The bulkiness does not bother me. The 310xt looks slightly smaller than the 305 but I think the screen size is almost identical. I like the large screen size and the ability to display 4 variables (HR, pace, distance, etc) all of which are large enough to see easily. The 400 series is smaller in size but this translates to more difficulty visualizing the info on the screen. I found both units at a local Dick's and tried them on before making my purchase on Amazon.

Thanks for the info.. I will go check them out.

Anyone else have any input on them?

Also, do any of them have a cadence tone with them or do you just use something else for that? As you are getting used to proper turnover / cadence?

[dburg30]

Any other thoughts or suggestions? I really would like to get something to do fairly accurate indoor track running distance for one thing but be able to use fully to help me with my training. The size doesnt bother me, or I dont think it will and with older eyes I kinda like the larger view anyway.

[adkkev]

I use a Garmin 205, which is the same as the 305, just doesn't have the heart rate monitor.

I don't think a Garmin will work indoors ... well, it won't be able to lock onto any satellites easily but I suppose if you want to just use it for your time then okay.

But then I only run outdoors.

[dburg30]

I was planning on getting the foot pod with it for indoor running.

[tmbacon]

I have the 410, got it for a steal on amazon.com (I had the 405 which after 5 years the battery just gave out on me). I do like it because it is in fact smaller than the 3XX series. I don't have a foot pod nor a heart rate however. I never felt I really needed them, but I know everyone trains differently.

Wish I could comment more on a comparison to help you but I am very, very pleased with the 410.

[dburg30]

Some of the garmins are listed as battery life of up to 8 hrs in training mode. When exactly does training mode kick in, or does that mean you just put it in GPS mode? For example when you get up and leave a few hours before the race starts ie: WDW marathon, will the battery last til the end of the marathon?

[MouseDogMom]

I tried the 410, but couldn't get comfortable with the bezel. Took it back and traded it for the 610. Didn't have it long enough to know what its battery life was, but I do know that the battery life on the 610 varies widely depending on what accessories you're using with it - heart rate monitor, foot pod, etc. DH has the same model, and when he uses both, battery life is less than 5 hours.

I thought I had a fully charged battery prior to the start of my last half, and turned it on to walk to the race start and let it go to power save mode. Then when I switched back to start the race, it told me I had a low battery. I'm very cautious about when I turn the watch on prior to the race start - just long enough to grab a satellite and be ready to go.

I haven't looked at the 310, so I can't compare the two, but I upgraded from the 305 after it lost all its volume and I could no longer hear its beep. We do use the heart rate monitor (I'm not as vigilant as DH, but I always wear it for track workouts and have enjoyed seeing improvement over time.) He uses the foot pod, and I think has used it indoors a time or two.

Hope that helps - maybe a little?

[dburg30]

Yes, that helps.. One one hand I like the touchscreen and way you can set up many different screens on the 610.. If the 310 would allow you to set up different screens I think I would go that way, but from what I've read, and maybe I'm misunderstanding, on the 310 you can only set up 1 screen for each sport.. if I could set up 3 or 4 running screens, that would be great.

Wish the 610 had better battery life.

[dburg30]

Well, decided that battery life was the more important to me. Also, like the idea of it being waterproof, the larger display and I wasnt allowed to get the 910xt lol.. So the 310xt is on the way along with HRM and foot pod! Also a foam roller on the order too...

[dburg30]

Got to use it tonight! Love it. Glad I went with the 310xt. Really like the foot pod and heart monitor. And then when I found out I can set up multiple screens for the running like the 610, so am SO glad I went with the 310xt! And I like the large display for these old eyes lol..