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1
In Depth Product Reviews
You probably stumbled upon here looking for a review of a sports gadget. If you’re trying to decide which unit to buy – check out my in-depth reviews section. Some reviews are over 60 pages long when printed out, with hundreds of photos! I aim to leave no stone unturned.
2
Read My Sports Gadget Recommendations.
Here’s my most recent GPS watch guide here, and cycling GPS computers here. Plus there are smart trainers here, all in these guides cover almost every category of sports gadgets out there. Looking for the equipment I use day-to-day? I also just put together my complete ‘Gear I Use’ equipment list, from swim to bike to run and everything in between (plus a few extra things). And to compliment that, here’s The Girl’s (my wife’s) list. Enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!
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Have some fun in the travel section.
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My Photography Gear: The Cameras/Drones/Action Cams I Use Daily
The most common question I receive outside of the “what’s the best GPS watch for me” variant, are photography-esq based. So in efforts to combat the amount of emails I need to sort through on a daily basis, I’ve complied this “My Photography Gear” post for your curious minds (including drones & action cams!)! It’s a nice break from the day-to-day sports-tech talk, and I hope you get something out of it!
5
The Swim/Bike/Run Gear I Use List
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Ray,
Great write-up. What’s the difference between the two 310XT quick release kits apart from the 500-style bike mount? From the pictures on Amazon it seems that number 1 comes with the black plastic strap, and no 2 comes without a strap. Do you use the original nice sturdy strap on them? Is this one actually also an original Garmin made?
Thanks,
Caspar
Genious. Simply genious. I was trying to figure out a clever way of mounting it and there you have it.
I love your write ups and reviews man, I learn something every time I read your blog haha!
and i thought i was geeky… loving your work.
my 310xt strap broke at the seam where the metal catch is mounted (and the week after i’d tried out the new 2.9 firmware in OW non wetsuit *gulp*), put this down to using the rubber bike mount alot and maybe having to overtighten for it to stay put on the bars… replaced by nice garmin people.
of course this happened on the tuesday before a race, so i ordered a QR kit expecting the first (with strap) and got the second (sans strap).. so i had a bike solution but still no strap for the run.
in a stroke of desperation/genius on friday i took it along to the local watch chap who had and fitted a fabric/velcro sports strap (much like the original 301) to the QR mount.. job done, panic over and all for £5.
i’m still in two minds whether to fit the new strap to the QR kit or keep the cheapo velcro job, but just a tip that QR kit 2 could be a good means of using any strap of your choosing (if it fits!).
Incredible. I have used my 310XT under the swimming cap several times, but the idea of attaching it to the goggle straps is amazing…
Ray,
That is a great idea. I suffer from floaty 310xt on the brain too, so I’m always paranoid about hitting the correct button. This solves the problem. Now I guess the only question is, do you put the straps under/over the cap?
Regards
–jeff
When I saw the QR on the goggles, my jaw dropped :-) brilliant.
While speaking of transitions I thought this would be a good place to post. This weekend I ran my first race with the 310xt but I don’t have the QR kit so I just raced with it on my wrist. But while the swim was off because of loss of signal I thought it would at least keep the time going. But during my transition I think it auto stopped cause I was in my T1 and T2 area. My official time was 57:38 while my watch time was 55:25 what can I do to keep it from auto pausing when just racing. I still want it to do in during training like in biking and running.
Good info, man! Thanks!
First, your blog is fantastic. So much information, written in a style that is just fun to read.
So…have you noticed that the bike mount for the 310XT variant 2 (or the Edge 500 mount, I guess) is a significantly looser fit than the bike mount in variant 1? Mine has almost no “click” whatsoever. It hasn’t been a problem – just seems like it could be.
I’ve never had my goggles knocked off in a race, but I’m wondering how you would solve the problem if they got knocked off completely. Some sort of floaty?
Personally, I do not like the quick release for the 310XT. I tried it but quickly dismissed it. I do not like how high it makes it sit above your wrist especially if worn under the wetsuit sleeve – which I do in races, and it jiggles more when running.
The black wrist strap is also too cheap looking/feeling compared to the stock orange one.
So I went back to the stock strap, and got the Edge500 for the bike :)
I wear the 310XT under the cap in Open Water training sessions, and on my wrist under the wetsuit in races. This way, I do not need to swap anything. I just need to worry about pressing the lap button when crossing T1.
My 2 cents!
Great blog.
I started out looking for 305 information and ended up having a great read on all your adventures.
I am now training for a Duathlon here in Cornwall, Ontario. No Triathlon because I come from a long line of sinkers!!!! 2.5 km run, 20 km bike, 5 km run. I am spending more time on the bike to get ready for the 20km. Any advice on a training regime as the event goes Aug 21st? I did a baseline time, full bike 20km then 7.5 km run….1 hr 26 min. Not Olympic time but not bad for 1st time around and I do realize it will be different doing the proper splits. Should I focus more on doing the whole bits of the race or break it down into long run/short run/long bike/short fast bike?????
Thanx again for the great read. I admire your energy and sense of humor…oh, and the will power too for training at 3am. Keep it up
TDTS…(too dumb to stop)
Cornwall, Ontario
ps…our triathlon keeps getting bigger and bigger every year. Here is the website for the event if you are ever intersted;
link to cornwalltriathlon.com
Hi TDTS-
I’d focus on each sport individually for the majority of the week’s workouts, and then once or twice a week focus on a brick-style workout. Ensure that on both the run and the bike you have a lower-intensity ‘long-bike’ and ‘long-run’ in there that’s more than the distance of the actual race. You’ll want another day or two of each sport having higher intensity, but shorter durations. And then consider another day where you have a longer bike, but a shorter run immeditaely after the bike (brick).
Good luck!
Dear Ray,
First of all I would like to say, that I really like your blog! It is in fact the only blog I follow regularly since discovering it more than a year ago! Keep up the good work :)
I have a question. After picking up a forerunner 310xt for my first full-distance IM, I order the “Forerunner 310XT Variant 1” through your link at amazon.
I received the “010-10615-00” which supposedly is for the Forerunner 201, 301 and Foretrex 201 models. Is this the correct quick release kit for the 320xt? I don’t want to open it in case it’s the wrong one and I need to send to back to amazon.
Should your “Forerunner 310XT Variant 1” have linked to the “010-11215-00”?
The “Forerunner 310XT Variant 2” links to the “010-11215-02” version.
Thanks very much!
klemens
Hi Klemens-
Very weird. The picture shows the correct kit, but you’re right – the part number appears incorrect.
There’s 010-11215-00 and -02, which are basically the two variants. It seems the one I’ve linked to – though the right picture, may be the wrong part. Sorry about that!
I’ll get that fixed here shortly. Just need to find the other one out there.
Thanks!
Hi Rainmaker
I’m thinking of using the Edge 500 for running and I don’t have the 310xt. What is the Garmin product number for the 310xt quick release that includes the wrist straps so you can use the Edge 500 for running.
Is it the 010-11215-00, 010-11215-02 or 010-10615-00? And what is the difference between the different products? It looks like the 010-10615-00 is meant for the Foretrex 201?
Thanks
Gavin
010-11215-00: First generation kit that occasionally has some isues with popping off and uses zip-tie mounting as opposed to rubber band mounting (I prefer the 2nd edition)
010-11215-02: Second generation kit that aims to reduce the issues by changing the plate design – and includes the wrist strap (despite the picture) It also uses the newer Edge 500/800 style rubber band bike mount system (way nicer than zip ties).
010-10615-00: General use kit with the bike zip-tie mounting – though some have said it’s for an older model – so I’d shy away from it.
Ultimately you want 010-11215-02:
link to amazon.com
Enjoy!
I have the 305 and i like having the computer mounted on the stem, but it appears that this is not possible with the 305 QR Bike Mount? Have you figured out how to get this time?
Hey, what about attaching it right to the gogles right eye? %)
I bought the product here: link to amazon.com
hoping to get a replacement band with it (as the original’s pins have ripped through the rubber holding them in place). But the picture is actually correct – there is no band with this product. What gives?
Interesting, they seem to have changed around that SKU a bit. It looks like that’s the 2nd generation quick release kit, which aims to fix some of the pin falling out problems of the earlier generation units.
I know Amazon will easily allow you to return/swap it out. Here’s the full kit:
link to amazon.com
I don’t see just the plastic strap offered unfortunately.
I’m in the same boat as Chad. I just picked up a 305 and the quick release kit and see that’s its made to mount on the the bars and not the stem. Any way to get this to mount on the stem?
Ask and you shall receive:
link to jvanis.blogspot.com
This is very great kit. Thank you for great idea.
Does this product work to wear the 800 on your wrist? I am trying to get this as a gift, but none of the wrist mounts I see online specify the 800. Help please!!
Yup, you can pickup the FR310XT or FR910XT quick release kits, and then attach it that way. Note that it will only attach lengthwise (parallel) to your arm. Also note that while you can track distance while running, it won’t show ‘pace’ on the unit itself (just speed, as in 25MPH or 25KPH). After you upload the run online though you can change from speed to pace.
Hi there! Very well review I must admit. Thanks! I have ordered the Garmin 310xt, it will be arriving in about a weeks time, i was just wondering, do I need a mount for on my mountainbike or will it just work as accurate driving whilst having it srapped to my wrist?
Also, how exactly can I strap it to my goggles and will it sink to the bottom or does it float, as I swim in the Atlantic and it could sink to deep to recover it!
Thanks
Thanks so much for the detailed post. I use my Garmin 310XT on a saddle with the equine adapter, and your information about the mounting kit provided the level of detail I needed. The vendor web sites just show you a generic picture and a description of about 10 words, and I couldn’t figure out if/how it would work for me. Your photos and explanation helped tremendously. Thanks!
Hi . Your links for the strap 310xt goes to the wrong type is strap (201, 301 forerunner and 201 fortrex) …. As I found out as it got delivered …. And I can’t find a strap set for the 310xt ??? Only to clip to bike not to have a strap …… Help
Weird, sorry! The Amazon US links still show the correct version. I wonder if (it appears your in the UK), the ASIN number is incorrect on the Amazon UK site. I don’t have any control there unfortunately, it just does a magical redirection to Amazon.co.uk if you’re in the UK.
But still no QRK for the Fenix3, right?
Your blogs on the Garmin Forerunner 310XT is very informative, but there is one thing that you fail to mentioned is about the battery life. In the instruction manual it says the battery life is for 4.5 years using 1 hr per day, which is pretty poor considering most people use it up to 2 or 3 hours at a time. Once the battery is dead you either throw the unit away or find somewhere or somehow to replace the battery which involves soldering.
Its a great unit but if I had known about the battery life I would of found something else, I had a unit and rang Garmin and they said to return it to them to check out because after 3 mths use it went dead all of a sudden which was disappointing as I was trekking through out Nepal at the time.
Just wish people who write reports on something do a full report that includes battery life etc.as performances
on such watches work fine when new but its the detail of 2,3,4 or five years later that I’m more concerned about.
Regards Wayne
Ray, great work again, and as to whether the 2nd gen includes the black strap – maybe it’s time to update the original posting. I just ordered from a Polish distributor who explicitly said “no strap included” and to use the original orange strap, and the Garmin site lists all of the contents of the package: no strap. So the SKU has indeed been changed.
link to buy.garmin.com