Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Review

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS is a dedicated multi-sport watch that’s designed to be a companion for athletes and outdoor enthusiasts. With a robust feature set, impressive battery life, and advanced GPS capabilities, this review provides an in-depth look at its specifications and performance.

Specifications:

1. Dimensions:

Case Size: 2.1″ x 2.2″ x 0.8″ (53.0 x 55.0 x 19.0 mm)
Display Size: 1.3″ x 0.8″ (33.0 x 20.0 mm)
Weight: 2.5 oz (72 g)
2. Display:

Type: High-sensitivity GPS receiver
Resolution: 160 x 100 pixels
Backlight: Yes, for low-light visibility
3. Battery Life:

Up to 20 hours in GPS mode
**Up to 1,000 laps of data, which can be stored up to 20 hours
4. Water Resistance:

5 ATM (50 meters) – Suitable for swimming and other water activities
5. GPS:

High-sensitivity GPS receiver: Accurate tracking of speed, distance, and location
Waypoints: 100
Routes: 0
Track Log: 10000 points, 100 saved tracks
6. Sports and Fitness Features:

Multi-sport Mode: Seamlessly switch between sports modes (running, cycling, swimming) during workouts.
Heart Rate Monitor Compatible: Works with compatible ANT+ heart rate monitors.
Virtual Partner: Train against a digital person or pace-setting target.
Auto Pause: Pauses and resumes timer based on speed.
Auto Lap: Automatically starts a new lap.
Interval Training: Set up custom interval sessions.
Advanced Workouts: Create custom, goal-oriented workouts.
Auto Scroll: Cycles through data pages during a workout.
7. Connectivity:

Wireless Data Transfer: Upload workouts to Garmin Connect for analysis and sharing.
ANT+ Compatible: Connect to various ANT+ sensors, including heart rate monitors and foot pods.
8. Design and Build:

Durable Construction: Designed to withstand the rigors of outdoor activities.
Easy-to-Read Display: High-resolution screen with adjustable contrast.
Review:

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS is a capable and reliable multi-sport watch suitable for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Its durable and robust design ensures that it can withstand tough conditions and harsh weather, making it an excellent companion for outdoor activities.

One of its standout features is its impressive battery life, which can last up to 20 hours in GPS mode. This makes it ideal for long-distance activities like marathons, triathlons, or extended outdoor adventures.

The GPS functionality is highly accurate, providing detailed information on your speed, distance, and location. The device is also compatible with various sensors, including heart rate monitors, to help you track your fitness progress more comprehensively.

The watch’s multi-sport mode is a particularly valuable feature for triathletes or those who enjoy switching between different sports during a single workout. The ability to customize workouts, set intervals, and use advanced training features provides a comprehensive platform for improving your athletic performance.

The Garmin Forerunner 310XT also offers wireless data transfer, enabling you to upload and analyze your workouts on the Garmin Connect platform. This sharing and analysis capability makes it easier to monitor your progress and share your achievements with others.

Garmin seems to be on a miniaturization kick this season; it’s a habit we’re glad they got in on. Their Forerunner 310XT is much less obtrusive than the other watches in the Forerunner series, but seems to have more features, and they’re features the multi-sport crowd will love.

Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS Review
Great GPS. I have several Garmins and this one’s as good as if not better than the others. I also purchased the heart rate monitor and it works better than any other monitor I have tried. The only thing that would improve this GPS is a longer battery life. The 310 will go for about 18 – 20 hours which is not long enough for me to complete a 100 miler in the mountains. I run with the Wasatch Speed Goat Mountain Running team here in Utah.

Great piece of kit. I run a trail running company in the UK. (www.jelleylegs.co.uk) until now my most sophisticated piece of equipment was my compass…so this is a huge leap forward. My main complaint is that it does not yell at me as I go out the door to remind me to put it on…(it is too big to wear as a watch, unlike some of the other Garmin’s) but assuming I remember to charge it and put it on my wrist, it is great. I get back, wander near my computer and it downloads – I name the route and that is it – I can tell my runners everything they need to know about where they have been, when they were slacking going up the hills, when they ate their sandwich and how fast they ran that last mile when the pub was in sight. So get one today – but if you live in the UK, watch out I had to pay $100 when it arrived – no fault of Backcountry…stung for import tax

Garmin brags about how this is a GPS (global positioning system) device that can swim and dive down to 50 meters. That is pretty cool, and yes, triathletes and duathletes should be swooning, but for us, it’s the flexibility to use it as a power meter (when paired with a ANT+ enabled power meter), a speedometer, a pedometer, and at the gym and not having a huge hunk weighing our wrist earthward that gets us excited. Have it on the bike for most riding, on the wrist for cyclocross and running.

As a GPS, this watch will record speed whether walking, running, riding, or even driving. It will record altitude and gradient, too. And as a watch, it can time it all and give you averages galore. But it’s when you add in the heart rate monitoring (strap not included), and the power data that this gets really interesting. Not only can you have all this info recording and accessible, but there’s also a programmable virtual partner who can keep you on your toes (if you can keep up) or can make you look like a Tour winner (if you program it to be slower than you).

The 310XT, while GPS-enabled, does not have mapping capabilities on the watch, so you can neither see a map nor have it dictate a route. It will, however map your coordinates so you can see the ride, run, or swim after it’s over.

Not having the map choices makes it easier for the screen to be watch-like. But it’s a pretty flexible watch, with four programmable training screens, each displaying one, two, three, or four lines of data. And each data line can be one of 40 different options, provided you’re getting power, heart rate, and cadence.

Another great thing about the 310XT is that you can start small and expand. You can add heart rate strap, cadence, power (one second sampling rate), even a foot pod for tracking your run on a treadmill.

The watch works with Garmin’s own Garmin Training Center program. The program is a free download from Garmin’s website and is compatible with PC’s running Windows XP or newer and with Intel-based Macs running OS X 10.4 or later. The data can also be uploaded to the Garmin Connect website for free, and to both WKO+ and TrainingPeaks.

The Garmin 310XT comes with a USB ANT Stick for wireless uploads. Just have the computer on and stick in and when your 310XT is in range, the data will automatically upload. There is also an AC charger, a charging clip, an owner’s manual on CD-ROM and a paper quick start guide. You can add a handlebar mount for putting the 310XT on your bars while you ride, a foot pod, speedo, Garmin GSC10 speedo/cadence meter, or any number of ANT+ powermeters. You can pick up your body info from the Tanita BC-1000 scale — from which your 310XT can record weight, body fat percentage, body water percentage, muscle mass, daily caloric intake, metabolic age, bone mass, and visceral fat. Some things in there, you might not want to know.

The watch is 2.1″ wide by 2.2″ tall by .8″ deep (5.4×5.6×1.9cm). The display is 1.3″ wide by .8″ tall (3.3×2.0cm). The display resolution is 160×100 pixels. The battery is a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that will get up to 20 hours on a charge. The color is Grey. The claimed weight is 2.5 oz (72g).

Summary

In conclusion, the Garmin Forerunner 310XT GPS is a powerful and durable sports watch designed for those who are serious about their athletic pursuits. With advanced GPS tracking, long battery life, and versatile multi-sport capabilities, it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their performance and track their fitness journey.

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