Garmin

Forerunner 920XT Tri Bundle

The Forerunner 920XT Tri Bundle includes Garmin's top-tier multisport wearable and two heartrate monitors, both of which expand the 920XT's versatility by featuring unique properties to recommend them for different training and racing situations. For bricks or races where we're wearing a top to keep the monitor in place against water resistance, the HRM-Tri's lighter weight and additional running metrics make it the obvious choice; if we're just working out in the pool, though, the HRM-Swim is the go-to choice for its ability to resist chemicals and its non-slip strap.

When paired with one of those heartrate monitors and/or a power meter, the 920XT's feature list explodes. Notable examples include VO2 max estimates and running form metrics — the clever little guy even knows how long your feet are touching the ground during each stride. It also does all the usual bicycle power output mapping and predicts running race times based on info recorded during workouts to make sure you're on track toward hitting your target times for each leg. The rest advisor feature plays a role in this by letting you know when it's time to let the engine idle during recovery periods.

Even without the included heartrate monitors, the 920XT offers an impressive array of features. It starts at the biological level, measuring sleep and calories burned, and moves on to the kinetics of training, including all the classics like swim stroke counting, drill logging, distance alerts for running and swimming (because who hasn't lost count of laps?), and even a metronome. If you don't have a dedicated friend or significant other to follow you around clapping rhythmically during your run, that last feature is especially welcome on frigid winter mornings when the only souls out are you and the specter of your summer race schedule. You've already paid the entry fees, and the Forerunner 920XT makes sure your engine is on track to being able to cover the cost come race day.

The display is bright and has a much higher resolution than we're used to seeing in similar gear, especially when it has such a low, unobtrusive profile. Its 61 gram weight is also a positive, losing between 10 and 30 grams compared to the 910XT and Fenix 2, respectively. Considering the nearly limitless metrics it gives you, that’s peanuts. The battery life lasts up to 40 hours in the power-conscious UltraTrac mode and 24 hours in training mode, which is what we're primarily interested in. It also has a watch mode, which is boring, and smart alerts for e-mails and texts, so you won't be off the grid even when the 920XT is keeping you on your training schedule.

Finally, the Forerunner 920XT lets you upload your training data to Garmin Connect. Connect is a virtual community of athletes that the 920XT connects to via a smartphone app, a computer, or through its own wireless connection. It automatically uploads your workouts as discrete files for ease of access and organization, and it allows you to build a community of fellow athletes to track and compare data through Connect or social media.