This is a quick write-up and by no means a product review.
For a truly comprehensible review of the Garmin 910XT go here: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/10/garmin-forerunner-910xt-in-depth-review.html
For an excellent 310XT review from the same source, visit: http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2009/09/garmin-forerunner-310xt-in-depth-review.html
In this post I’ll briefly try to cover my experience from a run done with both devices. As you can see on the image to the right this covers an approximately 5K run with both watches on the same arm.
Here we go:
- Looks like they pretty much measure the same kind of distance. 90 meters out of 5040 isn’t much at all…
- You’ll notice that the 310XT has been active for longer. It takes the 310XT longer to register non-movement, so it doesn’t pause as quickly. In fact “elapsed time” on Garmin Connect tells me that I was out there for a total of 27:31.
- Pace is an odd one. It was rarely the same on both devices at the same time. I guess the Smart Recording on the 910XT is just a bit smarter – records a bit more frequently than the 310XT…
- More on pace: the 910XT seems to be more spot on in general. The 310XT would have moments of 3minutes and change per kilometer, which is way faster than I can run right now – especially with a backpack.
I guess that’s pretty much it. The run isn’t really the reason to change from 310XT to 910XT anyway – the 310XT is still an excellent piece of hardware. No… the main differences come in swimming and cycling.
Of course later this year Garmin will come out with the Vector pedals that measure power and integrate with the 910XT – not with the 310XT. In addition – and I’ve been enjoying this so far – the 910XT can measure your swim like I did this morning.
I still need to perfect that. Generally I get distance which is about 100 meters too long on 1250 meters. That sounds like about 8% error to me. That’s a bit high and I’ve heard about worse for the 910XT. Potentially this can be fixed in firmware later on…?
In case you’re in doubt, the 910XT is the clear winner so far. For the multi athlete it’s simply version 2.0 of what was already a very good experience.
Comments 7
I will take the 910XT, I can see from the top picture that it makes you 55 sec’s faster on a 5K distance 🙂
Author
Hi Jan – thanks for your comment.
I wish!
Good day. Let me ask you a question? what is the value of the 910xt and 310XT? because I’m looking to buy one of the two, but I’m sure. Thanks your tips were important.
I am from Brazil.
Qual é o valor dos dois monitores???
Sua dica foi muito importante.
Author
Hi Fernando. Thank you for your good and very relevant question! I don’t know about Brazil, but here in Europe I just found the 310XT for €269 and the 910XT for €369.
If I’d be you I would check local webshops for pricing and delivery.
Your decision also depends on: What would you like to use it for?
Hi,
Just wondering what your opinion if you did only run and bike and not swimming. Is the 910xt worth the difference?
Regards
Author
Hi Nuno,
Thanks for your question. No, I don’t think so. For me and my sort of middle of the road usage of the 910XT there’s nothing in the 910XT you’ll miss on the 310XT.
You should go swimming, though. It’s awesome (and you actually get to work on your upper body as well).
Regards,
Jakob