8,101
edits
Changes
From Fellrnr.com, Running tips
no edit summary
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Garmin 920XT Review}}
[[File:Garmin920XT.png|thumb|right|200px|The {{Garmin 920XT}}, showing the display of Cadence, Vertical Oscillation and Ground Contact Time.]]
The Garmin 920XT is an update to the [[Garmin 910XT]], adding many of the features from the [[Garmin 620]], while shrinking in size to become far less bulky than its predecessor. It's a large watch, but I found it comfortable even on my tiny wrists. Its [[GPS Accuracy]] is disappointing, and using the Russian GLONASS satellites makes this worse. However, the 920XT is the first of several watches in the Garmin range to support the revolutionary [[Connect IQ]]. This will allow the 920XT to run applications, much like a smartphone. The 920XT has a clear display, real buttons, and rich functionality that make it an attractive option if you can afford it. The [[Connect IQ]] extensibility adds some potential future proofing. For a [[Best Running Watch| simple evaluation of a GPS watch]], I look at how well it can answer some basic questions:
* '''How far did I run?''' This is the most basic question, and sadly, the 920XT has rather middling [[GPS Accuracy]], and while firmware updates might improve this slightly, I doubt it will get close to the accuracy of the [[Polar V800]]. The level of error will depend on your route; on straight lines it will be remarkably accurate (as will any other GPS watch), but on a twisty course like the one I run on, it is out by around 0.5 miles on a 20 mile run. That's enough to mess up your marathon training. If this is important to you, look for a more accurate watch.
* '''How fast am I running?''' Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Thankfully, Garmin has added support for the display of current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS.
* '''Where am I? '''The 920XT does not have full color has some basic navigation functions. ** '''Track Outline'''. There is a display of where you've run, rather like a breadcrumb trail. There are no maps, but so this is just the outline on its own without any context. However, you can download use it to backtrack along your path. ** '''Course Outline'''. This is an outline of a route that can be downloaded. I've found this useful during ultras or in unfamiliar cities where I've needed to know where to go. ** '''Back To Start'''. This is a coursesimple arrow point to your starting point, so it won't help you backtrack. ** '''Back To Waypoint'''. You can mark a location and use the arrow to point to it will give directions back later. Again, this is a simple "as the crow flies" pointer. ** '''GPS "Compass"'''. There's no magnetic compass so you have to be moving for the startGPS to give you a sense of direction.
* '''What's my cadence? '''[[Cadence]]''' '''is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. Not only does the 920XT get [[Cadence]] from a [[Footpod]], it will also get it from the Garmin Run Heart Rate monitor. There is also support for Cadence from the internal accelerometer, though I find that's not as accurate. The Cadence alerts are especially useful for keeping you on track.
For ultramarathon running the battery life of the 920XT makes it a strong candidatefor shorter races (50 miles/100k). If But if you hope to be still moving during the [[Second Dawn]], the 920XT might be for then youshould look elsewhere. See [[ShoesBest Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning| Watches for Ultrarunning]] for more details.
=Garmin 920XT Pros=
* The 920XT supports Garmin's Connect IQ, which allows for the creation of apps in much the same way you can run apps on Android or iOS. Just like the original iPhone, this has the potential to be revolutionary, making the 920XT an extensible platform for future functionality.
* Garmin has added support for displaying your current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS. For situations where pacing is critical, such as running a marathon, this is a must have feature. You can also configure it to get both pace and distance from the Footpod, while still recording the track of where you've been from GPS.
* The 920XT is quite a bit bigger than devices like the [[Garmin 620]] that look more like a traditional watch. However, I have tiny wrists (less than 6 inches) and I found 920XT was far more comfortable than watches like the [[Polar V800]].
* The display on the 920XT is color and a good size that is easier to read than some watches. Unlike the [[Garmin 620]], the color display on 920XT is quite strong. I'm not sure that color adds much functionality, but it does make the 920XT more visually appealing. While the 920XT has a slightly smaller display than its predecessor, the 910XT, it has nearly twice the resolution, creating a far crisper display.
* Like the [[Garmin 620 ]] and [[Garmin Fenix 23]], the 920XT will supports [[Running Dynamics]] which can show and record [[Cadence]], Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). The 920XT has a nice display of Cadence, VO, and GCT that gives a color coded indication of how well you're doing.
* The 920XT can be configured to alert you when a metric is out of range. The alert for [[Cadence]] is particularly useful. The Cadence alert will work when it's using the internal accelerometer for Cadence, as well as the HRM-Run strap or a Footpod.
* There is a metronome to help you keep your Cadence where it should be, which is a really nice feature. The metronome can be set to make a sound and/or vibrate. The vibration option is nice so you don't annoy people you're running with. You can set the alert to go off every second, fourth, or sixth beat.
* The 920XT will upload your workouts to Garmin Connect via WiFi without needing a computer. It will also link to a smart phone to upload a workout as it takes place, which is nice for folks tracking you during a race, though it means wearing the watch and the phone together. If you plug the 920XT into a computer it will function as a flash drive, giving you direct access to your workouts as '.FIT' files. This provides compatibility with a wide range of software.
* The 920XT will not display [[Heart Rate Variability]] but it is possible for it to record [[Heart Rate Variability]] for later analysis. To enable this recording, you need to download a special FIT file from the firstbeat.com web site. (It's quite probable that [[Connect IQ]] will enable apps to provide this functionality in the future.)
* The While Garmin claims a 24 hour battery life , I found that 19 hours is more likely even under optimal conditions (no backlight, no button presses.) That 19 hours is good enough for many shorter ultramarathons, and the extended mode allows for 50 hours with degraded GPS accuracymight be viable for you. In my informal testing of the extended mode, the 920XT did not perform as badly as I expected. Unlike some other Garmin watches, such as the [[Garmin Fenix 3]], you can't charge the 920XT while you're running. I find charging on the run is a pain, but it's nice to have the option.
* There is a nice display that shows the route you've taken for navigation, but there is no support for displaying a map; you need the [[Garmin Epix]] for that.
* You can use the 920XT as an activity monitor, something that's common to many new sports watches. However, because the 920XT is only using its internal accelerometer the activity estimates are rather poor. If you need an activity monitor, I'd recommend the [[Basis Activity Tracker]] which has sensors for heart rate, skin temperature and perspiration.
* The 920XT includes an internal accelerometer to give you an idea of pace and distance while running on a treadmill without a footpod, but I found the accuracy was rather poor. I've yet to come across a watch that can reasonably estimate your pace from the movement of your wrist, nor does it seem likely that this functionality is practical.
* You need to have the new HRM for the new features. It will display Heart Rate and calculate [[Firstbeat| Training Effect]] with the older Garmin HRM, but not Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation.
* The 920 XT is not unattractive in a rather plastic way, but it's nowhere near as elegant and stylish as the [[Polar V800]] or the [[Garmin Fenix 3]].
=Comparisons=
Here are some of the watches that our are competitors for the 920XT:
* [[Garmin 620]]. The features of the 620 are remarkably similar to the 920XT. The 620 is smaller, but has a shorter battery life. However, the biggest difference between the two is that the 920XT has the [[Connect IQ]] extensibility. I think that the extensibility of the 920XT makes it well worth the price premium over the 620, so only get the 620 if its small size is critical to you.
* [[Garmin 610]]. The 610 the predecessor to the [[Garmin 620]] and its price has dropped to make it an attractive option. While the 610 lacks many of the cool new features of the 620/920XT, it performs the core functionality you need is a runner as well as (or better than) the newer devices. I would recommend giving the Garmin 610 serious consideration, even though it's an older device.
* '''Web Configuration'''. Some watches allow you to setup the configuration via a web site, and then download your changes. This is vastly easier than fiddling with the watch.
=Support This Site=
{{BuyAmazon|AZID=B00FBYYC90B00O4D4KPA|AZN=Garmin 920XT}}
=Visual Comparison=
{| class="wikitable"
