What’s everyone’s opinion on this? The part I’m skeptical about the most is the swim features. There have been mixed reviews on this forum so far. I’m looking for someone with extensive time with the device.
yes…
no…
depends on what features you want/need.
Any other questions feel free to ask. I always have the correct answer.
**Please, in the future only ask serious questions like “which bike should I get”, “when will my running shoes need to be replaced”, “why do I keep getting injured” etc. **
Haven’t tried it, but I don’t think you’re going to get more extensive than DCRainmaker’s review
http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2011/10/garmin-forerunner-910xt-in-depth-review.html
I use the 310xt and Edge 800 and found his opinions spot on with both.
Exstensive time? It just came out. That said. I have been swimming with it since the 23rd of Jan. Anywhere from 2000 to 4000 yrds per set. I just do free. Have had zero measuring distance issues. Did have the buttons lock up once. I do not know why. Had to turn off then turn back on. Did not lose anything on the watch, but could not download that workout.
Running it has been fine. The pace issue does not matter for me. I run on mostly effort. I do not understand changing my pace every time I look at my watch. Avg pace is just fine or setting alarms at 1/4 or 1/10th of a mile. (not critisizing those who want instant pace). On my rollers the sensors are fine… Have had to much snow to calibrate the foot pod on the track to see how accurate.
Had a 305 for 5 yrs needed to upgrade. Very happy and satisified with the 910 so far. Love the swim metrics. Just hit lap. Seeing to the tenth of the second per interval is pushing me to maintain. Before, looking across at a pace clock I could always be a second or two off. This does not allow it.Love it.
Hope this helps Kenney
i love it, i would buy it agin thats how much i love it
.
. Did have the buttons lock up once. I do not know why. Had to turn off then turn back on. Did not lose anything on the watch, but could not download that workout.
Funny - just happened to me today. Didn’t even notice for 400m so I wasn’t very happy. I powered cycled it and for some reason I was able to upload the workout and it appears to have captured the first 400m. So I guess mine was literally just the buttons locking up.
Otherwise, I just love the thing. I’ve had 305, 405, 310, 610 and this thing is just awesome. Looking forward to the first firmware drop to clean up some of the reported issues. But it hasn’t stopped me from using the thing.
I upgraded from a 305 and I absolutely love it. I’ve had problems with it swimming and don’t use instantaneous pace, but I stil love it and would buy it again.
The best part for me is having all sports on 1 watch and being able to upload everything to Garmin connect, training peaks, and strava via my iPad. Beats wires and several devices…
The best part for me is having all sports on 1 watch and being able to upload everything to Garmin connect, training peaks, and strava via my iPad. Beats wires and several devices…
This is the main reason I am getting one. I have the Wahoo fitness iphone dongles and upload everything from my Garmin 610 immediately after each run to GC/TP. Would really like that same ability with biking and swimming data.
Do it! It’s the greatest feature in the world. Makes the entire watch worth it! In 30 seconds I accomplish what use to take me 5-10mins.
I waited and waited for Garmin to make the watch “small” enough for my chicken arms but the swim features of the 910xt put me in and I’m glad I did. I always stunk at counting laps so the swim features for the pool are just so awesome. The running part of the watch is great with all the various data fields. I haven’t biked with it since it’s too cold. 
I’m excited for various software updates to fix things and include additional features like auto laps during the swim workouts or other cool stuff.
The size of the watch doesn’t seem so big after a few uses and “black” is slimming.
Thank you everyone for your insights. This makes me a lot more comfortable buying it.
I’ve been using mine for about a 4 weeks & it’s great.
I will admit to not really having a lot to compare it to, but for what I need it for, it certainly does everything I expected.
I’ve been hit with the pace issue as well–I run mostly on RPE and HR, but when you glance down at the watch and your pace is all over the place it’s a little annoying. Biking and swimming have been problem-free so far.
Good news is the battery seems to be lasting an eternity and the hardware is great. That SHOULD mean that the issues will be easily corrected in firmware.
I finally figured out why/how the buttons lock! It happened to me twice today. If you press the Mode button and the Up button together it toggles “Keys locked”.
I’ve been hit with the pace issue as well–I run mostly on RPE and HR, but when you glance down at the watch and your pace is all over the place it’s a little annoying. Biking and swimming have been problem-free so far.
Good news is the battery seems to be lasting an eternity and the hardware is great. That SHOULD mean that the issues will be easily corrected in firmware.
Agree entirely. Instant pace can be a little annoying but it shouldn’t be a how stopper for anyone.
Swimming metrics work well in the main but if your stroke mechanics aren’t good, the device will not report correctly. Learn to swim properly!
There are reports of unprompted shutdowns that Garmin believe are software related rather than hardware. Probably the device trying to do too much at once.
Exstensive time? It just came out. That said. I have been swimming with it since the 23rd of Jan. Anywhere from 2000 to 4000 yrds per set. I just do free. Have had zero measuring distance issues. Did have the buttons lock up once. I do not know why. Had to turn off then turn back on. Did not lose anything on the watch, but could not download that workout.
Running it has been fine. The pace issue does not matter for me. I run on mostly effort. I do not understand changing my pace every time I look at my watch. Avg pace is just fine or setting alarms at 1/4 or 1/10th of a mile. (not critisizing those who want instant pace). On my rollers the sensors are fine… Have had to much snow to calibrate the foot pod on the track to see how accurate.
Had a 305 for 5 yrs needed to upgrade. Very happy and satisified with the 910 so far. Love the swim metrics. Just hit lap. Seeing to the tenth of the second per interval is pushing me to maintain. Before, looking across at a pace clock I could always be a second or two off. This does not allow it.Love it.
Hope this helps Kenney
I don’t understand changing my swim speed based on tenths of a second per interval (which may just be the variability of how long it takes me to hit the lap button after each interval). It takes me less time to see the pace clock than hit the button. And in races I just try to beat the guy next to me, not worry about tenths of seconds (not criticizing those who want tenths of a second, just curious).
Well if you are so old that the pace clock is blurry, so it is kinda of 1:20ish…Then the watch is nice. Sure I guess I could see that tenths don’t matter much, but its a tighter goal. I could use the same argument that as long as my interval are with in 5 seconds.
In a race I do not use a watch, bike computer or anything else. With a bike run after the swim I never just try to beat the guy next to me though.
Yes.
No one’s had “extensive time” with it apart from the developers and perhaps Ray Maker over at dcrainmaker.com, but as an ex swimmer, after only a week I am stoked to be able to review swim data after a swim.
As I mostly train on my own, there’s no hiding if I’m working hard or not, I can see my splits for each length of an interval and compare interval by interval. No more logging, “Did 3000 m set, felt ok, nailed the 100s coming in on 1:30…” it’s all there, for you to see, analyse and compare. The footpod changed the way I went about my run training , the power meter my bike training, and now I think the 910 XT will have a comparable effect on my swim training.
Went from the 305 to the 910, and I think its awesome. I do think its all about what your looking for.
- Love the BIG numbers on the popup auto lap (my biggest complaint on the 305-it was hard to read on a hard run in the dark)
- Love being able to track/record swim workouts - its been mostly accurate for me
- Battery is a huge improvement over the 305
- Love the vibration alerts for running (autolaps)
- Smaller, better looking
- Don’t use current pace for running - I never thought even the 305 was accurate enough to be useful
I was going to answer your initial query with that answer but I thought that it was too obvious and that your buttons were simply not working. Sorry! 
I finally figured out why/how the buttons lock! It happened to me twice today. If you press the Mode button and the Up button together it toggles “Keys locked”.