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Garmin 920XT

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{{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 maps, but you can download a course, and it will give directions back to the start.
* '''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 candidate. If you hope to be still moving during the [[Second Dawn]], the 920XT might be for you. 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.
* 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.

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