Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

After a couple of years using a Garmin FR60 as my goto triathlon training watch the band finally broke. I've been looking at the FR910xt and the FR310 but i really couldn't stand the color and the bulkyness of the watch. Given it is much sleaker in design than the FR305 with better waterproofing the Orange color just was a big turn off. The FR910xt has much more functionality when used as a swim/bike/run watch and I also use it during my weight/cross training. That is something a true running or swimming watch couldn't do. This one does it all, Since I'm used to programming Garmin pages I set everything up just like I want and have the data during training or racing I need to perform the best I can. #thumbsup

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

I had the 310XT and did not like how heavy it felt on my wrist due to how high it sat. I realize that the 310XT and the 910XT have basically the same dimensions and weight, but the 901XT sits lower. I love how accurately it tracks the swim. I've only used it in the pool so far (regarding swimming). I also bought the quick release kit for the bike. Even with the new band, the watch still sits much lower than the 310XT did. Great product. I love it.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

So I held off on purchasing one of these for my first few triathlons. Then I had the opportunity to rent one from the Garmin Store in Chicago for the week I was visiting for work. WOW! I was hooked.

Many other reviews online cover the specific features of the watch (DCRainmaker's review is the most comprehensive, as usual). I'll cover how I personally use the watch and maybe that will help you make the decision on whether to purchase.

Previously, I was just writing down my pool swim workouts and speeds. I was using a Garmin Edge 500 for my bike workouts and a Forerunner 610 for my running. The 910xt changed my training life.

Swimming: First of all, great for outdoor swimming! It's actually waterproof (unlike the 610) and maps/measures distance outdoors in water. This is great because otherwise it's pretty tough to log outdoor lake-type workouts. For the pool though, this goes above and beyond. Set it to the pool length you're in and you are good to go. What really is great about this is the data from the swim. Upload it online and it shows EVERYTHING. Max speed, strokes per length, averages, total distance, lengths, stroke type. EVERYTHING. Before I was a lot less consistent on timing. Now I have every piece of swim data at my fingertips. Helped me improve tremendously and stay consistent in my workouts (and better track online my totals).

One of my favorite parts is that you can set it up to beep/vibrate at certain distances. It's nice because I can set for 600yds for my initial warm-up and then just zone out and swim until it vibrates. MUCH easier than counting laps and losing count. When I do longer distance swims, I set it to beep every 500 yards, so I know I swim until it has beeped 4-5 times and I can reassess my pace at each 500yd interval. I have improved significantly since I got the watch because it inspires me to put the numbers up and because I can focus more on my stroke and less on counting how many laps left or whatever.

Truly outstanding going from a regular watch/nothing to this. It's like comparing kid's tee ball to the NY Yankees.

Biking: Great for biking! I tried the quick release kit and was not a fan though. I like lots of data and this really didn't do it for me. Four fields per screen and I have to scroll to get more? Nah. My Edge 500 will remain a fixture on my bike because it has 8 data fields, which I use for the basics + heart rate and power. And the quick release really makes this watch more bulky in my opinion.

Where this watch really shines during biking I think it that I can hit start at the same time as on my Edge (wearing the 910 on my wrist) and it will simultaneously track my workout with the Edge. Why is this beneficial? Because the Edge will last for a couple weeks between recharges so it can stay on the bike and I don't have to think about it. The 910 ANT+ syncs with my computer as soon as I walk into the house. Basically making it MUCH more convenient to sync with my computer and Garmin Connect. No more finding the Edge's cable, connecting it, opening the software, importing, exporting, etc. Now I just walk into my house post-ride and it's usually synced with the computer and Garmin Connect before I even sit down. Can't beat that! Plus it doesn't hurt to have two copies of the data (on 910 and on Edge) in case something is lost.

Running: Functions as a normal running watch! Great, large display. Accurate (since the update) GPS. I like that I can double-tap the screen to get the backlight to come on.

Racing: It's king in racing. Multi-sport mode lets you log everything without hassle. Just press start multisport before the race and press lap as you run into and out of the transitions! Really easy to use.

Other: Used it to track my climb up Mt. Rainier. Worked flawlessly even in the cold. I was impressed that the battery lasted.

Gripes: One thing I liked about my Forerunner 610 is that it was a watch until you put it into sport mode. Told time and didn't use GPS or anything other than marginal battery life in day-to-day use. The 910xt is a sports watch first. There didn't seem to be any provisions for just using it as a watch. There is a workaround where you make "Time of Day" take up a full screen and just use it like that. However if you do this in any mode but "Pool Swim" mode, GPS stays on until you go into the settings and change it to be off.

This is annoying because when I'm headed out to bike or run, I would like it to just function as a watch until I press a button (like on the 610) to get everything into sport mode and turn GPS on.

A good solution, in my opinion, would be to allow GPS to stay off in the "Other" sport mode. Because I use this so rarely, I could just switch to that mode and have a clock. That, or have a "Clock" mode where the face displayed the traditional clock and calendar date with GPS and sensors off.

Other than the Clock thing, it's been a great watch. Very durable and I use it for all my triathlon training as well as hiking and mountain climbing (though the Suunto Ambit would be better for the latter two if you're a serious climber and need a good gps watch).

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

I bought this to replace my 410 for triathlon use. From what I've found so far, I like the watch itself. Pairs with the HR monitor and footpod quickly and easily. Garmin seems to have gotten more organized with their menus - these are easy and intuitive. The buttons aren't quite, but they include some tips right on screen for the first time user, which can be disabled later. Nice. However, it doesn't seem that GPS can be completely disabled for winter - a little annoying. You do have to make sure to push the wall hard for swim laps on the pool. Have not used it in open water yet. However, as seemingly with all Garmin units that synch to your computer/internet, this is the big drawback. Setup took quite a while. First, Garmin seems to always say something will be automatic, and then it's not. So you get stuck in the troubleshooting guides for a good amount of time. Then the firmware was out of date, so I had to update that, which involved internet security settings, downloads, etc and a 20 minute download once all of that was set. After this, the Garmin Connect site wouldn't work until I changed the internet settings back to standard. All said, it took me almost three hours to get this 'fast and easy' setup done. Given those drawbacks, and if you don't care about swim data, I'd be tempted to try the new Timex watches. I use Training Peaks vs Connect for my tracking and planning anyway since it's better. If I weren't already on the Garmin trail with my 410 and 500, that's what I'd do.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

I have ran several traithlons including Kona and Ironman AZ- but with the Garmin 310 because the 910 wasnt available- The 310 is a good device- however the 910 includes open water and lap swimming metrics and timing... On the 310, my 2.4 mile swim in Kona registered as a 3.15 mile swim- it was all over the map. I have yet to do a great deal of Open Water swim events- but the few times I have used it- it worked great! The Lap features I love- as it keeps count on the lap as I swim through without touching the device... it senses the direction change. (and I dont flip turn).

The start up is much faster than previous Garmin Watches I have owned (305, 310, and this one). Seems to have a better receiver- I can pull a signal faster than I ever could.. and sometimes indoors!

Overall, I would really recommend this product over previous versions... only cons I would give it is that the screens are kinda dated- (nearly the same as it was on the 305)... Its still a bulky watch even tho its much smaller than the otherdevices.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

The only trouble I have and I am sure it is me. I have done a 24 mile bike ride and it recorded everything. Now when I do the route it stops recording at mile 20 yet the time is still going. then I switch to run mode and it does it thing. But I am missing the 4 miles from the bike.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

This watch is pretty amazing in what it can do for swimmers. Probably great for runners, hikers and bikers too ... but I wouldn't know!

No need to stick the GPS under your swim cap. Wear it on your wrist. The dang things reaquires the GPS on each stroke!

IMHO, best for open water ... a litte to much for the pool ... at least for me.

I wish it had a power saving mode so I could just wear it as a watch when I'm not swimming.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

I got 910XT to replaced my old 310XT that was stolen from my checked bag. I didn't have much high hope for the 910XT, as they look equal on the spec except the size. And I was right. In fact, there are many things that are wrong about 910. For instance, the auto pause is very frequent in extent that my wrist is always vibrating from the thing going on and off (BTW, I have updated software, still the same). Takes avarage of 2~5 minutes to lock on sattelite, which is about the same from my old 310...btw, is that even normal? I live in 'burb with no high building or trees around me!

Now, I must point out, this wrist computer thing does great job for keeping track of my training and help me to understand and plan my next training. So for that part, I'm really happy about.

If you are 310 user, don't buy 910. It's total waste of money upgrading, because there is no upgrade. 910 is just a repackaged version of 310. I'm sure GArmin will introduce new one at next big marathon / tri event, so baby your 310 and wait for the next big thing.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

So far it has done everything it's supposed to do & more. I'm still learning how to interpret the mounds of data. I had a Garmin forerunner & this one blows it away!
I do recommend getting the Suunto Ant dongle which is much smaller. I broke the Garmin one in the 1st week.

Comments about Garmin Forerunner 910XT GPS Fitness Monitor:

Love the watch. It's really the most functional / feature packed of all the "triathlete" specific watches out there.

Heart rate monitor does not work while swimming.

Locates satellite in under 30 seconds in most cases.

Easy to switch between running / swimming / cycling.

Longer battery life than previous products.

Another review said it doesn't have a watch? It does...

I have noticed that using both the heart rate monitor and the cadence monitor while cycling will sometimes cause the readings to go off.

Distance, elevation, etc... are all very accurate as you would expect from a Garmin product.