Garmin - fēnix 5S

I’ve had my Garmin Fenix 5s for about 7 years and the battery life is still brilliant. Great watch for running.

Garmin Fenix 5s, been using it in a sauna or steam room for 5 years. No problems.

When I got my first Forerunner, maybe 10 or so years ago, it was because Garmin was better for what I needed (HR, GPS, marathon training plan), and I wasn’t interested in a smartwatch. It was also way more expensive, for something I saw as just “cool”, but not as solidly functional. My SIL and her family are all gaga over Apple, which was a turnoff (“why didn’t you get an Apple Watch?”, as if it 100% has to be the best thing ever, also making me feel like I was some sort of dufus). Garmin was a sports watch with a few smartwatch-type capabilities, and Apple was a smartwatch that could do a few sports/health related things. And (at least back then), you couldn’t connect an HR strap to the Apple Watch for increased accuracy. Now, I just look over at my husband every day when he says “ARGH! I forgot to charge my watch!” either before he heads out to do something he wants to record, or before bed when he remembers he needs the alarm in the morning. His Apple watch is a few years old now, but it has been like that since Day 1. Every workout is an exercise in just hoping his watch doesn’t die before he’s done. Also, he uses Strava for his workouts, which is great, but after a hike or bike ride if I ask him any details from it, he has to wait until he can look on his phone or iPad. He can’t just look through the results immediately. While I’m now on my 4th Garmin (switched to a Fenix 5s by choice, then after a while the battery started dying in cold weather (I’m a XC skier), and most recently my fenix 6s developed an inability to reliably connect to GPS), I’m not regretting it. Except the ability to take phone calls on my watch - that would be nice, but it’s literally the only feature I’m jealous about. I will say the each Garmin I’ve had has been better than the last: FR 230 < Fenix 5s < Fenix 6s < Fenix 7s Pro SS. They are getting soooo expensive, so I bought the 7s recently when they were on sale, and refuse to go to the 8s. Never thought I’d spend $650 on a watch! It’s insanity. When I was shopping around and comparing features and reviews, I looked at Polar and Suunto also. But never for a moment looked at Apple. Oh, and I most definitely do not want a touchscreen. My new Fenix 7s Pro does have one, but it also has physical buttons, and the touchscreen can be locked out as needed. All I need is to have to deal with a touchscreen while wearing ski gloves. I’m pretty well immersed in the Garmin ecosystem at this point, between the progression of watches, Edge bike computer and Varia radar. I do have an iPhone and an iPad, and used to have an iPod, but that’s more because it’s easier to use the same interface for those. Overall, it’s just personal choice. One doesn’t really have to be dominant over the other. Each person needs to look at what each watch does, compare that to their priorities and preferences and needs, and go from there. There likely isn’t a wrong answer. For me, the battery life is king, especially in cold weather. And HR accuracy, but if the thing dies mid-activity, HR recording won’t help much. To ME, Garmin is more of a training tool, and Apple is more cool eye candy.

I’m currently still wearing the fenix 5s. Yet I’ve been thinking about upgrading to venu 3s vs the vivoactive 6. Yet I was wondering what made you choose the venu 3 as the upgrade from your Fenix 6s?

Garmin fenix 5s, still going strong after 5 years. Records swimming no problem.

I 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.

Im 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

Yes on the 265. Some other garmins I had a fenix 5 before and that had an indoor run mode. The accuracy is improved either with a footpod. Garmin make one or stryd I think it's called. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-F41EAFB3-6CC9-42DE-9C6C-9E358DBB0671/EN-US/GUID-3A4C7C6C-1FE3-4EB5-B38E-3F744A5C1F00.html%23:~:text%3DThe%2520watch%2520can%2520be%2520used,the%2520accelerometer%2520in%2520the%2520watch.&ved=2ahUKEwiVjO6nmcWLAxUeT0EAHVACBMQQFnoECBMQBQ&usg=AOvVaw2jd9brKIf5nZGMrm3N0SLa The watch can be used for training indoors, such as running on an indoor track or using a stationary bike or indoor trainer. GPS is turned off for indoor activities. When running or walking with GPS turned off, speed and distance are calculated using the accelerometer in the watch.

I 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.

Garmin Fenix 5 is what I wear. I use the SUP and Kayak activity on it mostly. It pairs with Strava too.

2 generation old Garmin. I got "gifted" a Fenix 5 (released in 2017) and it's more than sufficient in both functionality and battery life. I was so smitten, and since my wife was jealous, we found a Fenix 6 on FB Marketplace for $200. I'm sure the newer ones are way fancier but I'm not ready to spend $800 just yet.

I’ve had the Garmin Fenix 5 and 7 and I love them both. The only reason I upgraded was because I wanted to be able to play my YouTube Music (yeah, I’m the guy that uses YT music) and the 7 is the earliest model you can do it on. Somethings I would say is I didn’t get the solar because not only is the battery life great, but charging it is really fast too. Finally if you get one there are a few tricks you need to teach yourself (or dm me and I’ll help you out): Download your maps Send a gpx file to your watch Send an AllTrails gpx file to your watch Navigate with a loaded gpx Use the TrackBack feature Use the Navigate Back to Start feature

I started with the Fenix 3HR and then "upgraded" to a Fenix 5 (2nd hand ebay bargains). The built in rowing app gives you all the basics. I'm older and find it very hard to read the watch metrics sculling/erging so combine it with iphone apps. RitmoTime is a bit obtuse but gives you a nice large customizable screen with all the data you need. A one time purchase, but worth it IMO.

**Do all Garmins do these things?** Most do. **Should I grab a second hand older model? Or did I need a specific newer model to do all of these things?** What you mentioned should work on second hand models. BUT I suggest you pick a model that has the latest heart rate sensor (V5) for better heart rate accuracy. And if you can afford a model that has multi band GPS if possible, this makes the GPS much more accurate. [https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=9NWiPDU4gM0JWMfdWFol7A](https://support.garmin.com/en-US/?faq=9NWiPDU4gM0JWMfdWFol7A) Here is a list of new watches with Multi Band GPS (price starts at $400): [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER\_FEATURE\_SUBTRACKING\_CONNECTIVITY=multibandGPS¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER_FEATURE_SUBTRACKING_CONNECTIVITY=multibandGPS¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc) To research watches, I do recommend you check out [https://www.dcrainmaker.com/](https://www.dcrainmaker.com/), he has wonderful reviews and videos, very in depth. **Watch recommendations** Since you mentioned you are running. I would suggest a watch that has "Training status". Basically it keeps track of your workouts, and suggest more workouts to you. As a runner I love it. Now it is a bit more expensive, the new watches that have this can be found here: [https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER\_FEATURE\_SUBTRACKING\_RUNNING\_TRAINING=trainingstatus¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc](https://www.garmin.com/en-US/c/sports-fitness/running-smartwatches/?FILTER_FEATURE_SUBTRACKING_RUNNING_TRAINING=trainingstatus¤tPage=1&sorter=price-asc) But you also have some older models if you buy used, such as Fenix 5 & up, Forerunner 245 & up, Forerunner 745, Forerunner 935 & up.

You get what you pay for. I’ve had my fénix 5 for 6 years now and I’ve never had any issues with it. I wear it daily and the battery last me a good while before needing recharge. You’d be better off buying a used Garmin fénix then being disappointed with the Apple Watch which will lose charge in a day.

I bought a used garmin Fenix 5 back in 2019. I admit I don't use all of the features. But this thing has taken a beating and still works, still holds a good charge. wear it everyday

I have a Epix 2 prior to that and Fenix 5, used both for strength training, still use my Epix for that purpose. It’s fantastic, you can program multiple workouts on Garmin connect, set the weight, reps, set and rest time and load several workouts onto the watch. I just turn up and select my workout: upper A, lower, upper B, arms and back etc After each set you can manually update the reps (rep counter is ok, mostly accurate) and or weights so as your progressing you can update on the fly your weights and reps. Post workout it gives me enough data to see progress or gaps in training.

I was a Garmin watch wearer/user for about a decade. Various models, ended up with a Fenix 5, all was good. Work then introduced a healthcare policy and we all got free Apple Watch Series 7s for tracking. I tried it out for a month, loved the integration to Apple, sold the Fenix. Then about a year later, I hankered after something with better battery life. So I bought a Venu 2 Plus. I wore this for less than a day, missed the Apple integration hard, returned the Venu and bought an Apple Watch Ultra. I'm wearing that right now.

Well as you stated, coming from a F5 to an Apple Watch Ultra is comparing apples to oranges. The F7 generation saw the use of a dual band gps chip which completely changed the game for GPS accuracy. Wrist based HR tracking will be about the same when at rest. However activity based accuracy is a function of weight. The heavier the watch, the worse the performance. The same is true comparing AWU to the other non-ultra Apple Watches.

Thanks for the review. I’ve been going back and forth between this and the epix pro. Looks like I’ll probably get the epic once it gets to a price point I want to pay for. Currently a fenix 5 user

A used Garmin Fenix is a good option. I have a Fenix 5 and the battery is still good for some 12 hours of activities with the GPS on.

I had a fenix 5 for many years and recently replaced it with an Epix. I love my Epix, it looks great, does everything I need it to and is bullet proof (and would cover all your bases). The catch is, it's insanely expensive (I got mine in a big sale). Wife has a forerunner 255 and it is fantastic too - smaller, lighter but has all the real world capability my Epix has. I would absolutely buy a Forerunner (probably 265) if my Epix broke tomorrow. Forerunner 265 will have a great screen, mega battery, great HR / sleep tracking etc, all the activity recording you could ever dream of etc. The Epix does have mapping on the watch - personally I have never really used that because I have OS on my phone and have paper maps. I also disabled the touchscreen because the buttons are just as functional and neither are worth the extra several hundred quid IMO. Personally I don't like the look of the instinct but that's just me!

Expanding this.. the Fenix line (and the epix gen 2/pro which rolled into the Fenix 8) drastically drop in price if you buy say two years ago model. I don't need scuba or a flashlight so I replaced my Fenix 5 after 6 years with an epic gen 2 for $350. At that point it is stupid good value for money.

Pro AW: the smart features Pro Garmin: all the sports features and battery life Mostly use smart features and just do some sports once in a while and don’t care about good metrics but just get moving? -> AW Want great sports features, great metrics and battery life but don’t need smart features on your watch?-> Garmin My verdict on AW and Garmin about what sucks after using both interchangingly sind Fenix 5/AW6. You can assume that these things sucking on one watch are better on the other watch: Garmin: - almost no smart Features - paying with the watch is a joke. - can’t interact with notifications other than reading and dismissing them (Apples fault) - not as flashed out as AW UI - with the 8pro you now have LTE but other than that you always need your phone with you for comms AW: - cal metrics are just plain wrong 90% of the time when doing anything that’s not running or walking. They give a wrong impression and are plain useless when trying to loose weight by logging calories. - move alert/standing alert is a joke. Just let your arm hang for 1min every hour and you have a perfect standing record. Stand the whole day but have your arm bent and according to your watch you sat all day. With Garmin you have to either walk 250 steps or can do other exercises. - none of the 3rd party apps (athlytic, bevel, peaks, etc) give remotely useful i.e. correct analytics of my data - battery life. What battery life? - you can’t just easily create custom routes for your run on your phone and use them. And if you let’s say use an app like Komoot then you can either navigate with Komoot or run with a running app but not both. Even with WorkOutdoors you have to upload your own GPX file that you have created who knows where. - no daily workout suggestions if you don’t use a 3rd party app. - Custom workouts dynamically on the fly because you feel like it? Not possible easily. What I use: Garmin Fenix. Why? Health and sports metrics are way more important to me than smart features. For those I have my phone.

I have the s70, but have used garmin watches in the past. Fenix is a great watch and if you can get it for that price go for it. I had a fenix 5 and it was a beast.

Not a swimmer here, but use my Fenix 5 as my daily drive. Still going strong. So damn worth it

I did the opposite move and went from a Fenix 5 to an AWU2. Other than the battery life, I’d say almost everything is better or equal on the Apple Watch. Garmin has more metrics if that’s your cup of tea. I never even used Garmin Connect other than to push my stuff to Strava so I’m definitely not one of those data nerds. I was going to get the Fenix 8 but the price and lack of LTE was a dealbreaker. Took me a couple of days to get used to the lackluster battery life. It does charge quick at least.

I’m not a fan of Fenix 5 for CrossFit or HIIT workouts. Consistently reads low (l~85 when I check my pulse manually and it’s 140). But I’m not a fan of Apple because I also do a lot of obstacle course racing and running in the rain, and I’m not a fan of tough screens.

I am obviously biased since I bought my Fenix 8 solar 2.5 weeks ago and I’m super happy about it. It’s awesome for running, provides tons of data and looks great (sorry but that’s also important to me) To be honest it’s one of most expensive versions and you can get better price/value options, especially older Fenix models. But in my personal opinion that’s the best watch. Also the Fenix watches are typically long lasting. My old watch - Fenix 5 worked for 6.5 years and it’s is still working fine. I just wanted to do the upgrade

I'm still rocking a Fenix 5, it does everything I need it to.

Fenix 5. I primarily use my Samsung watch and only put the Fenix 5 on for workouts. So it lasts for weeks on end. If I use it as my daily, it goes for 4~6 days, depending on how often I use the GPS.

I was a Fenix 5 guy for 5 years, I was a whoop guy for 3 years, and now I’m a Fenix 8 guy for the next 5 years. :)

ah ? j'ai une apple watch 9 et c'est vraiment pas précis. sur une séance de 2000 mètres elle peut bien me sucrer 200 mètres. J'avais une Garmin Fenix 5 avant et elle était beaucoup plus précise. En eau libre la garmin était aussi nulle

I made the transition from AWU to Garmin Epix Pro last year. Major things that made me switch: 1. Buttons. You can do everything on the watch with the button. There's no need for touch input which is one thing I hated on the AW, especially when my fingers were sweaty after a workout. 2. Battery life. I get 11 days with always on display. On AWU I was lucky to get into the next day with my workout routine. 3. Ability to fully customize data screens. This is essential for my workouts. 4. Keep in mind it's a sport watch, not a smart watch. I don't care about notifications and I disabled most, but you may find this as a downside. Garmin as a developer doesn't have the same level of access to internal APIs to control notifications. You can read them and clear them but that's about it. Cons: 1. Sleep tracking algorithm is shit on Garmin compared to AW. 2. The app design feels outdated. For me, Garmin is the best choice despite the shitty sleep tracking. I had the Garmin Fenix 5 for 3 years before trying out the Apple Watch. After having AW7 and AWU for about 2 years, I decides to go back.

my vote would be for a used/refurb fenix or enduro series, many can be found in local facebook marketplace or certified on ebay. my opinion is based on the following: I have owned a number of Garmins several forerunners, a fenix 3, fenix 5, fenix 6x. Instinct x2 Current setup in a 6x and pro hrm strap. My fenix 5 bricked two years ago and I sent it to Garmin for service. They told me it was dead and sent me a refurb 6x at no cost, that 5 was many years old and well out of warranty. That entire experience was really impressive. The battery life is pretty good still on the fenix and charge it every week or so. Since its 51mm I can read it without my glasses on I tend to lean towards chonky watches. Coros apex pro, just returned a pace pro today. The apex I owned was great and battery was insane, I picked it up used while my garmin was being serviced. eventually I missed the Garmin eco system. In the last few months I having been eyeing a new watch and had read about garmin going pay model so I again looked at Coros. I picked up a pace pro, unfortunately the first order was lost. It ended up being returned as I had a hard time reading it without my glasses. The screen was nice and bright at stock settings but in the three days I wore it ate through over 50% battery therefore having to charge less than weekly was a big change. From what I read they changed their settings and I could not toggle between 12 and 24 hour time on the watch or app I want military time on my wrist as I work nights in a hospital and regular people time on my phone. I had to switch my phone to military time for it to show on my wrist. Eventually I will more than likely pick up an enduro 3

I have had a Fenix 5 6 and now on a 7. Each has lasted me for 3+ years and have sold them off. Every time I have had issues, Garmin has been very helpful. Sorry you had a bad experience, but I don’t know the Instinct line.

I’m partial to the garmin Fenix series mostly of cost and utility. The solar version may suit well if your backpacking over several days and need gps. They’re also pretty bullet proof, taken multiple hits while mountain biking and it’s still going strong

I have a Fénix and I love it! Literally wouldn’t want to live without it. I find myself using some of the basic features on it daily (like the flashlight). It’s a huge investment, and after having it she may yearn for more tech so I’d get the fénix. I have a gorgeous one, imo. I also have an Oura for what it’s worth and I love that they each do their own thing, but for what she does hands down a Garmin watch

I used Garmin for about 7 years, about 5 models (all from the Fénix line which is their flagship), I loved them, I really did, I was obsessed with them, and it is not just the battery life, the look, they look so gorgeous, like a proper watch compared to the black rectangle the Apple Watch was (Always On Display wasn’t so much of a thing back then). Then I received an Apple Watch as a gift , and everything changed, for starters it was so much more comfortable and light, I’m not a big guy so the massive Garmin Fénix didn’t really look that good on me looking back at old photos of me wearing them, a smaller profile watch looks much better. Then there’s the matter of the smart features, I am now an Apple Shortcuts power user (it is silly but it is true) I have so many and the fact that they integrate to the Apple Watch simply cannot be understated for me, I couldn’t go back to Garmin now, it is just so much part of my life now. There’s also Apple Music which just works fantastically on Apple Watch, albeit not Garmin’s fault but the integration with Spotify in their watches leaves so much to be desired in comparison. Every now and then I look a Garmin watches and still think they look better “on paper” but maybe not on me. In terms of Running, I have to be honest, Garmin does it much better than Apple’s simplistic implementation, but then again I don’t do that much running anymore, I used to run much more back then, probably encouraged by the watch 😄 , but now I focus more on weightlifting and other workout types, I found it is better for me.