Garmin 210 vs 610 (Read 330 times)

I have the 210 which works great if you just want basic GPS functions on top of a sportswatch. I didn't really have a desire to program in workouts, so I decided not to spend the extra money on a 610 and I'm a small person and was really attracted to the compact design of the 210 over the 310XT.

 

So far the main issue I have had with the 210 is the connector, I usually have to d*ck around with it for at least 5 minutes to get my computer and watch to establish a connection because it has the clip-style charger/connector.

Yeah, WTF??

I have had my 210 since Xmas, I also picked it for the relative compact design & simplicity, as I really just want it to track my runs. I loved it & the connector worked fine till a couple weeks ago, now it is a total crapshoot whether the computer recognizes it at all. With sufficient jiggling I can get it connected so it charges, but it shows on my computer as "unrecognized USB device", so can't upload the data. At this point if I achieved it in your 5 minutes, it would be a major improvement.

Any ideas whether there is a solution? Not sure cleaning the contacts has anything to do with it, If it is charging I assume the contacts are fine. I have downloaded the drivers & plugins, tried shutdown/restart of watch & computer, nothing works.  If/when it gets recognized, it is totally random. Have not yet called support, I assume they are going to want to walk me through all the stuff I have already tried. Maybe it just needs to get replaced, but worried this is a chronic 210 issue.

I had a 210 for less than a year and went to the 610.  I liked to be able to switch screens with a tap of the finger.  I had to use the reset function numerous times on the 210 for the same reason (not syncing correctly).  The battery life seems longer on the 610 also.

I was going back and forth also, when I was able to pickup a used 610 off craigslist for $200, score! I thought I would use more of the features (custom workouts). but really, I don't..the 210 would have been sufficient for me. The touch screen is nice to be able to swap screens easily. It also finds the signal pretty fast (not sure if the 210 does that same). The 305 I had previously would take half my run before it finally found the signal..frustrating.

I was in the same boat as you last year! 210 or 610???? That is the question!

Have you checked out DC Rainmaker.com for his reviews and pics? While that helped me narrow it down between those 2 watches, ultimately I decided that I really really really wanted the touchscreen and I liked the font of the numbers and words better(dumb huh?), I just thought it was easier to read and use. And I also wanted to be able to upload my completed workouts to Garmin Connect using my iPad with the Wahoo Dongle & app(this only works with the FR 60, FR 310xt, and the FR 610) And bypass the computer completely.

So those things helped me decide that the 610 was worth the extra(and it does more too) money for the ease of use daily issue. And I haven't been wrong. I use it at least 6 days a week(sometimes all 7 if I can get a bike ride in on Sundays) and sometimes twice a day for running. And then I wear it as a daily watch all the time as well. I like it so much that when the white 610 came out in November, there was no question that I was selling my black 610 to get the white. Never even crossed my mind to downgrade to the 210, even if it was cheaper. Having and using my 610 is easy.

I haven't found any cons to the 2 610s I had/have. I didn't have issues with pins or straps(they did a redesign of the pins, I may have gotten the post redesign of each) nor any problems with reverse charging or touchscreen funkiness. I had my black watch for nearly a year before I sold it and it worked and looked like new despite daily use. I have had my white one since early December and so far, so good as well. I had a Zagg cover on my touchscreen of the black one because my watches always tend to get face scratches. But these must be made of gorilla glass or something because the screens are very durable. I didn't put one on my white one and so far, so good.

 

Now that being said, lots of people have the 210 and love it to pieces as well. It does a ton of stuff and does it well. What do you need it for? Will you use the extra features of the 610 often enough to justify the price difference? Only you can answer that.

It isn't easy to decide, for sure. But whatever you get, I am sure you will like it! They are nifty little devices!

I know i'm ressurecting an old thread here, but I just purchased the 610 and like it so far.  I'm curious if you still like the Wahoo Adapter?  I hate to have to spend another $50+ but would really like to be able to not rely on a PC for syncing my workouts.  Does the Wahoo sync to Garmin Connect automatically?

Thanks

If I had only one watch, yes, I would wear it as a "normal" watch (and have done for periods of time).  Normally I only bother putting it on the charger every 3 or 4 days, although on some days when I run with it with the backlight set to "stays on" it will drain the crap out of it and I'll have to charge it before the next run.

p.s., a little trick though -- if you put it on the charger at night it will be ready to go for you in the morning in the sense that it probably will already have a GPS fix (GPS is turned on when on the charger... nice little hidden feature) and be ready to rock and roll, depending on where your charger is in your house.  This is very handy for me as a pre-dawn runner.

I currently have the 310 which I love btw

But it is big and looks a little dated. My next watch will be the 610 but will not be for a while yet.

 

p.s., a little trick though -- if you put it on the charger at night it will be ready to go for you in the morning in the sense that it probably will already have a GPS fix (GPS is turned on when on the charger... nice little hidden feature) and be ready to rock and roll, depending on where your charger is in your house.  This is very handy for me as a pre-dawn runner.

Funny, I posted in this thread but don't remember this trick. Would've come in mighty handy assuming it also works with the 210. Because I sort of got the connection issue under control somehow (got a system down), but it started to take a super long time to find a satellite. I would hang it on the doorknob while I got ready & wait for it to pick up a signal. Sometimes I would have to just get started, and it would pick it up after 50-100 yd. Then it died completely and now I have the 220. Which gloriously finds a satellite virtually instantaneously. For now.