Garmin - fēnix 5
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
40
2
"16 days battery life on my fenix. ... The other aspect I really appreciate about my fenix is the battery life. 16 days or so. With everything I have to change these days (laptops, mice, keyboards, headphones, watches, phones), I appreciate not having to worry about it too often."
"Battery life is super important to me. I do ultras so having 24+ hours of gps is necessary."
"My 43mm Fenix with Dual gps, Garmin live track, always on screen still had juice for up to 20-25 hours of running."
13
1
"Full watch-based navigation and mapping features—found particularly on the Forerunner 970 and Fenix series—include offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and visual guidance. ... For everyday runs on familiar routes, they matter less, but for trail running or hiking where orientation is crucial, they’re invaluable. ... Maps offer extra value for safety, route planning, and are also popular among cyclists and those exploring new routes"
"Trail running so I can load the route onto my garmin and navigate without carrying phone for 50km"
"For me, the touchscreen aspect on my garmin is far more efficient for navigation. Especially useful if I'm in the middle of a run, for example."
29
1
"The first lasted me 6 years, and I've had the second for 1 or so."
"I tend to break things but it’s holding up quite nicely. ... I even take it caving, which I probably shouldn’t."
"near indestructible"
9
0
"Flashlight on my Fenix is worth A LOT of money to me. ... Having had it, I could not go back. ... I would happily pay 200 extra for it I use it so much. ... Having a flashlight on your wrist is incredibly handy."
"The red light on the Fenix line is AMAZING. ... I use it every single night multiple times as it makes walking around at night super easy and not at all straining on the eyes. ... Honestly, it might be my "I'm not giving up this watch for e.g. an Apple watch, ever" feature."
"including even a flashlight"
10
0
"There's a "Climb Indoor" activity that I use for both indoor/outdoor roped climbing and there's a bouldering activity for bouldering."
"Trail running so I can load the route onto my garmin and navigate without carrying phone for 50km"
"Track hikes and work out ... I love being able to track my hikes"
Disliked most:
3
13
"many workout functions require a working internet connection via Bluetooth to the phone to operate. ... None of the complex metrics are done on the watch. Not. Even. Close. ... Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection. It really annoyed me when I owned my Fenix. ... Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection for many features. I discovered this when I owned one. It pissed me off."
"Garmin’s notification integration with iOS is dogshit."
"Garmins are very behind gw in the smart features department. ... many things which one expect as granted (because they here like 10 years) still must be rechecked."
1
7
"I'm very disappointed in my Fenix for gym (and it sounds like the same fault applies to all garmins) because of the logging of reps. ... When I do a workout it will assume I used the weights I specified, but then it seems to either auto-log reps, which is a disaster for things that don't involve hand movements, and require me to correct them, or assume I did zero and require me to enter the whole lot. ... If I'm doing 60 sets I honestly don't have the patience to manually enter the rep number, so I use a phone ap instead. ... The thing that really annoys me though is that it would be so easy for Garmin to make a tiny programing change and start with the assumption that you hit your target."
"strength training profile is bonked"
"Gym exercise is best tracked with my phone."
1
5
"The discrepancy is much higher for HR than running dynamics. ... I think it is straight up irresponsible to rely on wrist-based HR is you’re using HR as a part of training"
"HR inaccurate at times and often delayed (which sucked during interval workouts)"
"Both Garmin and Samsung watch can't handle those exercises and are wildly off."
1
10
"watch is big, heavy etc and few times damaged my wrist also"
"It feels double the weight of my 965 and bulkier as well"
"it is heavier and chunkier ... my wife would never wear a fenix/epix due to the size."
1
5
"Sleep tracking algorithm is shit on Garmin compared to AW."
"Sleep tracking on this $1k thing is really disappointing. Way worse than Apple Watch. ... But how Garmin sleep tracking is SOOOO bad is beyond me"
"Sleep tracking doesn’t tell you anything you don’t know, it’s just too inaccurate."
M0therN4ture 1.0https://preview.redd.it/86f4k7obgcpf1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3019545be885c59b5361eb05cccb3831166660bb Fenix 5 from 2016. Still over 1 week batterylife. Running like a champ.
SomeCreature 1.0Last year I've been using Suunto 9 peak pro, before that some apple watch SE and before that Fenix 5. The suunto I used to take off all the time due to discomfort, the huawei is like the apple watch, comfy.
Putrid_Efficiency_83 0.2I had the fenix 5 pro gave it to a buddy when I got the epix. Im definitely gonna get the 8 pro I I don't get a new one every yr . That's a waste. Now going from the epix to the 8 pro is going to be awesome might in get the micro led version not sure. I've been using samsung ultra and they don't even compare not even close but I wanted lte
Semiperishable 0.2Started with a Sony smartwatch 3 that I loved. Wasn't the most accurate GPS, but I really liked it. It died after 2 years and I got a Garmin Vivoactive 3. After too many lost activities due to the touchscreen, I upgraded after 2 years. I've had a Garmin Fenix 5 pro since then, but after 3 years it died after wearing it into a lake. Hopefully the next one lasts longer. I had no plans of upgrading either watch that died. I was happy with both of them.
0ut_0f_Bounds 0.2I was a Suunto guy for years, but after my last one got smashed I switched to Garmin, mostly because the Fenix 5 pairs with my Inreach and everything syncs up.
92_Solutions 0.2I had a Fenix 5 for 7 years, which still works and never had any issues. Bought a Fenix 8 recently, till now also never had any issues. I have no idea how can be charging less convenient, if you have to charge it every 2-3 weeks as opposed to every day, lol
Ambitious_Prior_9196 0.2Im only new to the galaxy watch gang, picked up a galaxy watch ultra (2025 model) last month and im loving it. I upgraded from a fenix 5 which lasts about a week and a half on full battery so my only concern getting the ultra was the battery life but i can honestly say wow, cant believe i didnt upgrade sooner. I can deal with the 2 and a half day battery life cos theres so much more i can do with this watch. I can definitely see how upgrading from the ultra 2024 might not be worth it but if youre rocking a watch 6 or older i recommend it for the battery life if anything
arch_three 0.2Fenix 5 for long trail runs/ultras. Venu SQ because I don’t like having a dinner plate on my wrist 24/7.
Might just depend on the amount you want to spend vs what you are going to get out of it. You could get a less expensive Garmin like a Venu Sq ($100-$150 refurb) that gives you body battery, sleep score, steps, heart rate, etc. The standard run of health metrics that can help with recovery and measuring general activity. I wear a gamin daily and do a lot of weight training. I can confirm that it doesn't do well at measuring anything related to lifting. You'll get a standard heart rate increase, but even intense weightlifting sessions aren't able to trigger the auto activity sensor. I still appreciate the data though. but you don't need a $1,000 Fenix to get helpful data. That is the one thing I wish I would have known before buying a Fenix.
CuriousIllustrator11 0.2I had an old garmin fenix 5 but got a very good deal on an Apple Watch ultra. The AW is a better smartwatch but I dont use that kind of functionality so for me it doesn’t matter. Garmin is a way better exercise watch when it comes to cardio exercises so I switch to my old garmin when I do cardio. AW is much better at sleep tracking and other health metrics so thats why I use it as my daily watch. Gym exercise is best tracked with my phone. Battery life is really annoying on the AW but you get used to it.
DarkSideEdgeo 0.2Garmin Fenix 5 is what I wear. I use the SUP and Kayak activity on it mostly. It pairs with Strava too.
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