Garmin 305 vs 310xt (Page 2)

Since you don't need the waterproofing of the 310XT, the 705/305 combo would give you more capabilities and options. How much do you use the mapping capability on the 705 and is it worth the extra cost of it and the 305 compared to the 310?

Yeah, I know, I do the same thing with everything and am always told that I overthink.
Here are few of my thoughts about your choices:

1. Think about your training priorities between 3 sports first, if cycling is what you like the most and want to have a very accurate and usefull computer for that, 705 is hard to beat as it has baro-altimeter for accurate vertical measurement, power meter ANT+ ability and if you really like the maps, you can have that too. 310xt will never stand up to that. So if cycling precision data is the most important to you, keep 705, get cheap 305 for running. Racing with a wetsuit you are not loosing anything as you will not be able to have a quick release over your wrist for a quick change later in T2 as you will rip the wetsuit sleeve getting it off in T1. I know this sounds confusing, I can further explain this. So, bottom line, you are racing with two devices and no big deal. Downloading data is than combining two files.

2. 310xt has it's value and advantage only, I belive, if you are going to wear in the water for seemless recording of your swim time+ bike hr/power/speed+ run HR/pace. It is ANT+, will display power, but will deprive you of vertical gain/loss accurate data as it will not have baro-altimeter like 705. One thing remains to be seen wether one can wear it along the westsuit as removing a wetsuit in T1 over a bulky watch can tear it. To add more complexity, how many non wetsuit swims would you do where you can wear it on your wrist?

Yep, it get's complex in decision making. Verical accuracy on the bike is of secondary meaning to me. Priority is one device does it all, providing I figure how to remove my Helix sleeve over the watch in T1 without tearing the sleeve off. Otherwise, everything I gained, I am about to loose in T1 or T2, so money wasted. With me, every investment made in any peace of equipment has to yield a time or speed gain, otherwise I will race without it.

For running or regular bricks, 305 does a great job. Battery lasts long enough to complete HIM as I just did. I belive they advertise 10hr battery life and for me it has been wright on. Now, if you focus on IM with 305 only, without 705, don't know. Or if you have to leave it on in transition at the IM race start in order to aquire satelites for your run, having it sit powered on trough your swim and bike, I doubt it will take you trough or you will be cutting close. I think you just have to become instantly a sub 10HR IM triathlete, which is a great thing.

Sorry if I bored you to death. Hope this helps a little or it complicates it even more for you. If you have any more ideas, share it. I am glad to read and learn any other angle I am missing on the subject.