The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor can take your multisport training to a whole new level. Find out what I like about this stellar little marvel.
The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is a powerful GPS cross training device that can be worn during practically any sport or activity. With an array of advanced technological features, this monitor has a big “Wow” factor. It is the perfect gadget for all types of athletes, as it can accurately monitor distance, pace, and position from both land and water and even heart rate while you work out on land. Moreover, all data can be sent wirelessly to a computer, so athletes can analyze and share their figures at the touch of a button. Garmin truly went above and beyond with this model, which is why it gets overwhelmingly positive reviews from experts and newbies alike.
Slick Packaging
The Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor gets rave reviews for its stylish and functional design. The watch is compact and lightweight, so it can be worn during any activity. It has a flexible wristband so it can be easily removed and switched from the wrist to a bike mount with ease. This is great for people who do multi-sport activities and want to monitor all segments of the workout. In addition, the large screen makes it easy to read the data, even while moving.
Garmin Forerunner 310XT is Water Ready
This is one of the only GPS training watches that works both on land and in water. The watch is waterproof up to 50 meters, so it is great for tracking data while swimming, surfing, kayaking, or rowing. Users can set the watch to swim mode, and the device will monitor open water swim distances and swimming speeds. Garmin says in the user’s manual that you should only swim freestyle outdoors to make sure the device can get an accurate GPS reading. When the activity is finished, you can press the lap button, and the device will take the time and the GPS data to compute how fast and far you swam. This is also a great feature for runners who tend to sweat a lot, as perspiration is no match for the durable waterproof materials.
The only knock against the Garmin Forerunner 310XT is that the heart rate monitor functionality will not work while you’re swimming. The reason for this is that the wireless transmission between the chest strap and the wrist unit gets garbled and distorted as it passes through the water. This is the case with most wireless heart rate monitors, not just the Garmin. There are only a couple of models that offer heart rate recording under water and those typically use an optional chest strap accessory that you need to purchase separately. While using this special device, your heart rate information will not be transferred to the wrist unit but will instead be recorded directly at the chest unit. If being able to record your heart rate while you swim is essential to you, then I recommend you check out the Suunto t6c heart rate monitor. I have a full review of this model on the site. If you can get by without heart rate data while swimming, the Forerunner 310XT is still a fantastic choice because it offers so many other features for swimmers.
No Wires Necessary
Another great feature of the Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is that it can automatically sync data from the device to a computer in range. The device uses ANT+ technology to wirelessly send information, so there is no need to deal with cables. Users can analyze their stats online, gauge progress, and share details with the Garmin Connect online community. Workouts can even be pre-planned on the computer, and then transferred wirelessly to the fitness training device.
What the Forerunner Can Do for You
The sheer amount of information that the Forerunner can provide puts this training device ahead of the rest. The watch uses advanced GPS technology and HotFix satellite prediction to monitor your exact position, even when running between buildings and under bridges or trees. It can track your distance, pace, and laps in multiple sports modes. There is also an optional heart monitor, which you can set to a specific heart rate zone to ensure you are getting a solid workout. The monitor can also compute the amount of calories you burn per session, and track weight and body fat.
You can even set the watch to show a virtual training partner. The screen will show two icons, one that represents you and another that is the training partner. It will then show who is ahead in a simulated race as you run, bike, or swim. You can program the virtual partner as you want. For example you can program it to keep the same pace that you ran a particular route last week so that you can try to improve and beat your previous time this week.
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The Garmin Community
Garmin Connect is the online fitness community where you can upload your data wirelessly with the Forerunner. It contains many features that allow you to analyze your fitness data, set goals, and monitor your progress. The data is displayed in easy to read graphs and charts that can be grouped by the sport, day, month, or year. You can also create fitness goals that can be sent to the GPS device so you stay on top of your training. Progress can be monitored through the records of your activities. In addition, you can share your progress reports and statistics with other people on the site to stay motivated and even partake in friendly competition. The Garmin Connect website is compatible with all Garmin devices.
Conclusion
To sum up, the Garmin Forerunner 310XT Heart Rate Monitor is a highly advanced multiple sport training device that receives great reviews from customers. The sleek, waterproof design is perfect for all types of activities, including water sports, and the wealth of information that the device can record goes above and beyond other training devices on the market. In addition, the automatic wireless syncing makes it easy to upload your information so you can assess your progress and work towards your fitness goals. Despite a few small complaints, this cross training device gets extremely high ratings from satisfied customers all over the world.
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