I think you are dead-on with this. I am still using my Garmin fenix 6s pro which I bought in 2019 or 2020 or something. I’m a man but I have 6.5 inch wrists and I prefer the look and feel of a 42mm size. The fenix 6s served me well but now I run ultras and for much longer times in the mountains and if I’m using maps the fenix 6s dies after 5 hours haha. I’m not interested in paying nearly 1000 for a new garmin when it has nothing extra I want. I also looked at Suunto but a 49mm watch looked silly. I like the MIP display on my Fenix 6s, I just want good battery life and maps and tracking for mountain efforts. To add to this, I have a couple of normal watches I like to wear daily so tend to just pick up the sports watch when I actually run
I may be mistaken but I’m pretty sure it was quoted as 15.8mm thick on the website too, and the 46mm version as 15.6mm or something. It has changed now to 14mm for the 42. I’m in the same boat as you - I want a smaller watch and honestly 14mm is the limit in thickness for me. After waiting for this watch, I ruled it out immediately after seeing the 15.8mm but now it’s back in consideration. I’m looking to upgrade from a Garmin 6s pro which I’ve had for nearly 6 years. I want to keep MIP, a 42mm size but need better battery life for ultras.
I have the Fenix 6S Pro, which I use for running and MTB. I bought the handlebar mount, all I have to do is pop off the straps and clip it into the mount, job done. I use a HR strap for both running and MTB. GPS is perfect for both. And with the Pro I love the map and course features when I'm riding.
Yes, the H10 paired to a Fenix 6S Pro. No, I don’t hit it during cleans or snatches. It’s pretty flat and I’m a girl - may be different for a guy, but the monitor is thin.
It’s in the way for bar muscle ups but I’m not good at muscle ups regardless, so it’s low on my list of problems to sort out with that movement.
It gets tapped during bench press and rowing but it doesn’t really bother me. I’ve had some occasional skin damage from the edge of the strap during runs longer than 1hr or longer weight vest workouts but it’s not a huge deal.
I just went from a Fenix 6s to a Fenix 8, and I'm really glad I upgraded screens from MIP to AMOLED (along with size to 47mm). Not as important to everyone, but I think it's something worth comparing and considering.
I'd suggest creating a list of features in your AWU that you can't live without, then seeing if Garmin can support it. This will help you decide if you'll be ok with the tradeoffs and also potentially help you assess what you truly "need" out of a watch. I would also assess the features on the Garmin watch you're interested in, and see how that compares with the AWU. You may end up with things you "need" or really want that the AWU doesn't have (e.g., battery life or flashlight). Afterwards, assess your tradeoffs both ways. You might find one is missing more than the other, or one is missing more important things to you.
I got the F8 (AMOLED 47mm) recently and now I don't know how I was even surviving with only the 9 days on my F6S before this! I forget the last time I even charged it. The flashlight has also been very helpful for random things. Also, I would recommend sticking with an AMOLED display, I think you'll be very underwhelmed with a MIP one coming from your AWU.
Bab-Machina
