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Quick Release + quick fit band

I just received a quick release kit and a quick fit band. Here are my thoughts/observations.

- the Quick Release kit comes with both a quick release bike cradle and a quick release watch band (but no quick fit band). For a triathlon, you just pop the watch off of the bike cradle and put it on the quick release watch band - takes 2 seconds. You attach your stock band to the quick release watch band - but would probably never wear it like that for an every day watch as it's pretty bulky. You really will want to also get a Quick Fit band.

- When just using it as a bike mount rather than during a triathlon, you can just swap between the quick fit band and quick release bike cradle. No need to use the quick release watch band. (how I'm planning on using it)

- with the Quick Release watch band, optical HR still appears to work.

- Garmin finally got the orientation right on the Garmin mount to match the Edge units. It's rotated 90 degrees compared to previous quick release mounts, but this is a huge improvement if you also own Edge devices.

- Garmin black Quick Fit band isn't as comfortable as the stock band IMO, mostly because it is a bit stiffer. It may soften with time and I know a lot of people have complained about how flimsy the stock band is. Still has a bit of stretch, just not as much.

- with the quick fit connection mechanism, you no longer have to add bulk to your watch for every day use like you've had to with past quick release kits, assuming you get a Quick Fit band. This always prevented me from using quick releases in the past (combined with the 90 degree orientation issue).

- Takes literally 5 seconds to swap between the quick fit band and the quick release (once you've replaced the stock band) - impressively simple

- the Quick Fit band adds 4 grams to the weight of the watch over the stock band

- 935 + quick release bike cradle is 50 grams (no straps).

- since I don't do tri's any more, I'll probably never use the quick release watch band

Other than the fact that Garmin should have included a Quick Fit band with the quick release kit, this combination is a definite improvement over any past quick release options. I haven't had much success with the optical HR during rides so losing OHR for rides isn't a big deal for me.

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

Thanks for this - it's helping me decide what to do with my 945 and avoiding the bulky quick release kit.

With the quickfit band, are you worried about it coming off in a regular swim and that's why you would do quick release band in a tri (if you still did them)?

0 ekutter-dnu over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

Wow, this is a message from the past. I haven't done much swimming recently, but in the two years of near continuous usage, I've never had an issue with the quick fit band. The bike mount still works great. To be honest, if I were to do another triathlon, I'd probably just use the quick fit band for the swim and run, popping the band off for the bike. It takes all of 5 seconds (literally) to pop the quick fit band on or off. Even after two years. I wouldn't hesitate for a second using it while swimming.

0 Dr Phil over 5 years ago in reply to Former Member

I still do use the quick fit cradle for triathlons and mounting to the bike. Never been worried about it coming adrift in a swim either will the cradle or any of the quick fit bands. The only caveat to that is that I only use Garmin bands. They might be slightly dearer, but I've not been comfortable using a cheap knockoff since I nearly lost a 920 some years back. Why risk your $500 watch for the sake fo a few dollars?

0 Former Member over 5 years ago

Hi , I have just fitted the quick release and dissapointed that when wearing t , the base fitting is wider than the watch itself , in fact its as wide as the buttons both sides, this now means the perfect fitting of the watch , has increased in width now digging in my wrist when I bend it , so not good.

I have looked at the fitting itself and its casting lines and i am going to dremmel the fitting to be the exact same size as the watch width, as an engineer myself , I do wonder sometime how these problems are not considered in the actual design stage , increasing a width of something that in its original form is very good.