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Garmin 310XT

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{{DISPLAYTITLE:Garmin 310XT Review}}
[[File:Garmin310XT.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Garmin 310XT]]The {{Garmin 310XT}} represents great value for money, providing all the key features you're likely to need, though it misses out on [[Best Running Watch| some of the cool new abilities of the more recent watches]]. The 310XT is now two generations old, having been replaced by the [[Garmin 910XT]] and then the [[Garmin 920XT]]. The [[Garmin 910XT]] is better, but not worth the extra cost for most runners, while the 920XT is a rather larger leap forward. If you want something smaller, then the [[Garmin 610]] is also excellent value for money, or the later [[Garmin 620]]. While the 310XT is rather large by today's standards, I have tiny wrists and it fits me well. (It's a better fit for tiny wrists than the [[Polar V800]] for instance.)For a 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 the Garmin 310XT has good GPS accuracy. It will give you a better idea than most watches how far you've gone. * '''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, the 310XT is one of the few devices that will display current [[Pace From A Footpod]] while getting all other data from GPS. * '''Where am I? '''The Garmin 310XT 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, so this is just the outline on its own without any context. However, you can 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 simple 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 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 GPS 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. The Garmin 310XT supports [[Cadence]] via a [[Footpod]], but has no alerts nor does it have an internal accelerometer to estimate Cadence. For ultramarathon running the Garmin 310XT has the battery life to suffice for shorter ultras, but if you expect to be moving during the [[File:Garmin310XTSecond Dawn]] you may need to look elsewhere. (You can turn off GPS and use a Footpod; if you're okay with that compromise, the 310XT will last for days.jpg) See [[Best Running Watch#Watches for Ultrarunning|thumbWatches for Ultrarunning]] for more details. {{BuyAmazon|none|200pxAZID=B0025VKW5K|AZN=Garmin 310XT]]}}
=Garmin 310XT Pros=
* The 310XT is great value for money at this price level.
* The larger size allows for a larger display that's easy to read, even with four data items displayed.
* The 310XT will display the route you've run, though it does not have any built in maps. You can also upload courses and display them which is great for trail ultramarathons.
* There are several optional extras for the 310XT, including a [[Footpod]] and heart rate strap. For cyclists there is also a [http://www.amazon.com/Garmin-Speed-Cadence-Bike-Sensor/dp/B000BFNOT8 speed/cadence sensor] and it works with various power sensors.
=Garmin 310XT Cons=
* Some people find the 310XT to be rather large, and it is much larger than a normal watch.
* '''[[Firstbeat| Training Effect]].''' The Firstbeat Training Effect gives you a sense of how hard each workout is, and this sometimes includes the time for recovery.
* '''Graphs'''. Instead of simply displaying a numeric value for things like heart rate, some watches will display a graph of the value over time, giving you a sense of how things are progressing.
{{BuyAmazon|AZID=B0025VKW5K|AZN=* '''Running Dynamics'''. Some of the newer Garmin 310XT}}watches can show and record Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT). * '''Alerts'''. Some watches will alert you when a metric is out of range. The alert for [[Cadence]] is really useful and one of my favorite features. * '''WiFi/Bluetooth Uploads'''. While the automatic upload of workouts via WiFi or Bluetooth to a Smartphone is nice, the upload will typically only go to the manufacturers web site. * '''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.
=Comparison Table=
{{:Best Running Watch-table}}