garmin 10 or 310?

[Bonniesingh]

Looking at getting a Garmin. Amazon have fr310XT with HRM for about £125 at the moment, which is a big saving. They have fr10 for about £75. Anyone use the 310 just for running? (I won't be using it for cycling or swimming.) I realise the 310 is a much bigger, heavier thing. I am tempted by the battery life, as we sometimes go for long walks and my phone runs out of juice after about 4 hrs with GPS "walkmeter" app. I gather the 310 has a "get me back home" function . Also the 310 is properly waterproof. And the included HRM is a good £50 if bought as an extra. I have looked at the "rainmaker" reviews, but just get more confused. Any advice welcome. thanks.

[Mummysaurus Graduate]

Can't help on the 310 but I have the FR10 which is good but I must say that now I think I would go with one with a HRM

[helcl Graduate]

I have the 310 (bought on amazon's deal!) and I love it. It isnt small. but it does so much. My husband has the fr10 which he loves, but he does have garmin envy when I wear mine.

[Bonniesingh Graduate in reply to helcl]

Hi there!

If you have time, I'd like to pick your brain about your 310.

I have just got a 310 from Amazon. Finding it difficult to set up - not very detailed instructions. Have looked at a few you tube videos and will download the bigger manual. I fully charged it yesterday evening, but it is down to 30% this morning, So is it 20 hours battery life just doing nothing? Did it take you a while to get used to it? I have looked at all the stuff on the internet, but what, in practice, do you use on it apart from what the FR10 does? Seriously considering swapping it for something simpler, but will have another go at it tonight. Many thanks

[helcl Graduate in reply to Bonniesingh]

Once you set it up it's not too difficult. The battery charge in not sure about, I tend to turn mine on as I need it rather than leave it on. It did take a bit of fiddling to start with, and I'm still learning about it, but YouTube is your friend! I used it a lot initially to find out how to do it. I love the hr monitor function, and I love chasing the little man! Not caught him yet, as the pace I set him at is my goal, but I am happy with it

[Bonniesingh Graduate in reply to helcl]

Thanks for your reply. Hope to try it out tomorrow properly. Have, I think, managed to download the garmin software this evening after a bit of a struggle. I don't think our internet is working very well, or maybe my laptop (mac) is in need of a clear out . I wish technology was a bit less temperamental. I hope I get to love it. We'll see. On a different note, if I reply to your reply, rather than just reply to the thread, is it a personal reply,(like a personal message) or can everyone see it? I'm not seeing my replies when I log on to the thread? Happy running!!!!and thanks for your help.

[helcl Graduate in reply to Bonniesingh]

everyone can see it but i get a message via email to say you have replied to my reply

there was a very video on youtube as far as i can remember to help set up programs etc, might be worth trying to look at.

Enjoy your Garmin. I am still trying to find out all mine can do, but i'm getting there. there is still the odd run though that I get really annoyed because I've programmed it wrong, but they are fewer and fewer now.

[Foylefiend Graduate]

Hi, I changed up from a 110 to a 310 a few months back as I wanted to be able to set up interval training. You're right, it is both quite big and heavy - but there's a lot crammed in. I think it depends what functionality you want- if it's just distance, time, pace and heart rate it might be worth getting something more compact? Might be worth mentioning I do have trouble getting the Hrm to work sometimes - apparently a not uncommon issue for women.

[Bonniesingh Graduate in reply to Foylefiend]

Hi there!

If you have time, I'd like to pick your brain about your 310.

I have just got a 310 from Amazon. Finding it difficult to set up - not very detailed instructions. Have looked at a few you tube videos and will download the bigger manual. I fully charged it yesterday evening, but it is down to 30% this morning, So is it 20 hours battery life just doing nothing? Did it take you a while to get used to it? I have looked at all the stuff on the internet, but what, in practice, do you use on it apart from what the FR10 does? Seriously considering swapping it for something simpler, but will have another go at it tonight. Many thanks

[Foylefiend Graduate in reply to Bonniesingh]

Hi, I try to remember to turn it off once I've loaded my activity on to the computer as it does go flat quite quickly otherwise. I'm still finding my way around everything it does but I bought it so I could programme in intervals so the watch would tell me when to do the faster bits, rather than just trying to remember the timings. It's useful for this once you figure out how to do it, but I agree it's a bit fiddly. I also use it when I'm out on my bike and when I'm training on my bike in the garage (all of which makes me sound much more active than I actually am) so it's got useful features for me. I previously had a 110 which was much simpler and did all the basics for running and was much more wearable, but no intervals or bike. I guess it really depends on what you need it to do. Like you, I downloaded the manual and did spend a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to do things. Hope that helps. If there's anything specific you can't figure out let me know, and I'll help if I can

[Bonniesingh Graduate in reply to Foylefiend]

Thanks for the info. Have spent ages today trying to download the garmin software to my mac laptop. I think I have got that sorted eventually . Haven't had time to go out with it today but will try tomorrow if poss. Certainly not inituative!! Thanks

[helcl Graduate]

Scrap this! The post I couldn't see appeared as soon as I typed this