Garmin xt920

KARINM

Does anybody have this watch? I was in the process of deciding to buy it and checking my options, and noticed that the only tri bundle available seems to be a black watch. The Black/Blue and Red/White, only come with the Run HR strap, which can't be used for the swim (?).

Buying it all separate, will end up cost $100 more (charge & data cradle, tri strap, bike sensor, mount kit). That's a lot of Mahonas to spend on this. Does anybody have any input? Are my facts correct? Anything else out there that I should consider?

Thanks in advance.

John Henault

Karin - I have the red/white 920. I really love the watch. It had a Garmin 910 and a 220 previously, but the 920 has become my go to watch (I exchanged the 910 for the 920 and recently gave the 220 to a friend since I do not use it anymore). I did not get the HR bundle since I have a few Garmin HR straps already. If you want the 920 with the Tri HR strap, but do not want the black watch, I'd recommend simply buying the watch without the strap then purchase the Tri strap alone. It will more, but I know of no other way to get it all unless you buy the black watch bundle then trade with someone who has the red/white watch.

moetai@gmail.com

get the white and red HR bundle, u can still use it for pool and OW swims but won't get the HR while swimming. From what i understand, HR swim is for workout/swim leg analysis afterwards as:
1-U can't glanced at the watch while swimming to check your effort
2-The HRM strap stores the info and will send them to the watch when out of the water (either @T1 or @the wall pending u can get your chest out of the water)

For pool workout, the 920 by itself gives u some very valuable info (like swolf score on your last lap = time+number of stroke, the lower the swolf score, the more efficient and/or fast u are) which is a better tool in my opinion than HR (as u can have your HR through the roof "fighting" with the water but not making very much forward progress.

i have the blak and blue one and very happy with it

KARINM

Thank you all. That is of great help. I wanted the Tri strap because the day that it is the most comfortable one. But I don't want to pay so much more. I'll start with the HR bundle, and maybe add on at a later time. Does anybody have experience with the bike sensor? Is it neah or yeah?

Robin Rodriguez

I got the black/blue one around thanksgiving of this year and have been very happy with it.

I don't have the tri heart rate strap so I can't speak to it. I cam from a 310xt then a FR220 and have been very happy with the upgrade.

You mention needing to purchase the charging cable, that should be included in the box with the watch.

moetai@gmail.com

the bike sensor will give u cadence (the 920xt can give u your speed, distance, etc via GPS). Up to u to see if "cadence " is worth the extra money (i have a PM that gives me cadence, and although i have it displayed on my computer, i don't pay much attention to it)

Woody Freese

Perhaps a silly question - does the speed/cadence sensor, the foot pod AND the HR monitor straps for the 310xt and the 910xt work with the 920xt??

John Henault

Woody - Yes, they all work. Each of the items you mention sends an Ant+ signal for its respective purpose and the 920 picks up that signal.

Phil Mills

Second that.

KARINM

So the Garmin Forerunner 920XT White/Red Watch With HRM-Run comes WITH the charge and data dock?

Robert Sabo

they all come with charge/data dock

Clark Mitchell

If you ride inside on a "dumb" trainer, you'll probably want a speed cadence sensor. You don't have to get the one from Garmin but you'll want one.

Clark Mitchell

Not to hijack this thread but I'm trying to decide between the 920xt and the vivoactive. I already have a 910xt, which I would keep if I go with the vivoactive or try to sell if I go 920xt. I also have an edge 520 so the bike functions are a secondary decision criteria.

I'm really frustrated with garmin express (for the 910), so the main reason I'm considering upgrading is to get the iphone based upload features. Express lost another of my workouts this week and this time it was my JOS run test...

I know that the 920 supports run dynamics and swim hr, but I dont have the proper hr straps for either of those things anyway.

Thoughts?

moetai@gmail.com

@Clark: the 920 can directly upload your workouts via wifi, no need to go through garmin express

Julie Pfeifle

LOVE the auto upload of data to Garmin and TP. One warning on the 920 is it does not accurately read power from a Stages PM if it's on your wrist while on aerobars... at least for me. I learned that the hard way and had to dish out more $$ for a Garmin bike computer. 920 worked fine with Quarq PM.

KARINM

What are good options of apps that I should check out? Strava? Etc

John Withrow

FWIW, I like my 920xt a million times better than the 910xt. It finds sattelites in a few seconds instead of a few minutes. The auto upload feature is AWESOME! When I finish a workout at home, as soon as I walk in my house I hit save and it finds my WiFi and uploads directly to Garmin, which pushes straight to TP and Strava, very sweet. Zero admin time for that. And if I'm travelling, I simply do it with my phone. And you can pair with your phone and use the Garmin app to let your loved ones track where you are. It is also lighter and sleeker and fits just a little better on my wrist.

If you get it (or any watch), get a Trainingpeaks account and a Strava account and link them all together. Even if you don't use them right away, it'll be nice to start collecting your data.

KARINM

TP and STRAVA? Why both?
And can they just be the free version?

John Withrow

Ayup, they can both be the free version. May as well set them both up, you only do it once, then they automatically update on their own forever.

TP is much better for data analysis (even if you don't do it now, you might want to later and may as well have the data there).

Strava is more for fun/accountability/social media aspects.

KARINM

I just did my bike test and plugged my results in. Now I am trying to set my watch up to reflect the same HR zones, but it won't let me. When I try to enter 114 as my low Zone value, it says that I have to be under 111. Is my HR too far off? What am I doing wrong?

Scott Alexander

Where are the cheapest 920s right now?

William Jenks

There are no cheap 920s, unfortunately

Woody Freese

Hoping this is the last silly 920 xt question!!
I had a 310 xt - with a HR strap, foot pod and speed/cadence sensor. I do not have the watch but have the accessories.
This is my thought: If I am buying the 920 xt tri bundle, all I am getting is two HR straps. Since I have the accessories (as I understand it, they will pair with the 920 xt watch), there is no reason to get the tri bundle - and I can get away with just buying the watch.
Is my thinking correct??

Nemo Brauch

What you get with the Tri Bundle is the Quick Release wrist strap in addition to the two HRMs (Swim and Tri). The HR strap you have now will absolutely work with the 920XT, but of course you won't get any HR data for swimming. If you are cool with that, then you don't need the Tri bundle, but if you are looking for the Quick Release wrist strap you will have to order that separately (the one with the 310 won't work with it)

Tom Glynn

Want to add my two cents and agree with most posters in than I love my new 920XT. I actually wear it around as a regular watch, which I have never done with a Garmin watch. Battery life is unbelievable. Finds satellites in seconds, uploads to GC, TP, Strava via wfi in a few seconds and works with all my old accessories like footpods, power meters, cadence sensors, a couple of heart rate monitors.

I've had the 910, 310 and a bunch of others. This is by far the best yet. Not cheap, but pretty impressive.

KARINM

Can one of you xt920 users help me with the zone settings please?

Nemo Brauch

I don't bother with the zone settings on the Garmin. I know you can adjust them in the GarminConnect under Devices/User Settings. But I never actually use them. What are you trying to do and what do you need help with?

Tom Glynn

@Karin - I just taught a class to our Tri Club on the topic . You can set HR information in Garmin Connect and push it to your watch. Most people will either look at data in Garmin Connect or push data from Garmin Connect to Training Peaks. Garmin Connect only allows heart rate zones. TrainingPeaks will allow heart rate and pace zones. Use this site for zones http://www.runbayou.com/jackd.htm.

And then: Garmin Default Heart Rate Zone Calculations

In order for the default calculation to work properly, you must fill in the user profile information accurately. Maximum heart rate is calculated based upon age as a default. The defaults can be overridden.
Select  > My Stats > User Profile > Heart Rate Zones.
Select Default to view the default values (optional).
The default values can be applied to running and cycling.
Select Running or Cycling.
Select Preference > Set Custom > Based On.
Select an option:
Select BPM to view and edit the zones in beats per minute.
Select %Max. HR to view and edit the zones as a percentage of your maximum heart rate.
Select %HRR to view and edit the zones as a percentage of your heart rate reserve (maximum heart rate minus resting heart rate).
Select Max. HR, and enter your maximum heart rate.
Select a zone, and enter a value for each zone.
Select Resting HR, and enter your resting heart rate.

Save and sync and you are ready to go.

Laura Becker

Those of you with the 920XT, anyone have the tri strap??? Think its worth it??

Brian Hagan

IMO - if you already have a HR monitor than no.  

One cool thing the 920 strap does is try and measure your cadence and stride length (based on arm swing), but I think your money is better spent on a foot pod (more accurate) for that.  I do think the 920 strap is a little more comfortable than my older ones. 

Brian Hagan

Laura,  The heart rate monitor that cam with my 920 is different than this tri strap that Kyle linked to in the other forum.  If that is what you mean, then I do not have any experience with that.