Garmin - fēnix® 5X Plus

Swimming on the Active 2 is not good. It does not have a proper rest mode and suffers the same fate of the screen needing to be "active" for the physical buttons to function as expected. If you're doing a single non-stop casual swim, it will track stroke/swolf fine, but if you do any kind of interval workout, it will add a bunch of distance and you'll end up with very inaccurate data. Assuming the Vivoactive is similar to how my Fenix 5+, Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 955 all were, it has proper rest modes, interval support, countdowns for starting intervals etc.

I think it depends on how often you run with your phone. I've had a Garmin Fenix 5+ and now a Forerunner 955, both with maps. The offline mapping is cool, but personally I use it like 2-3x/year (even breadcrumb). Most of the trails I run on are pretty straight forward and that handful of times I've gotten lost, I just use my offline Google Maps to point me in the right direction. Usually it's just long 15-20+ mile runs in unfamiliar places while car camping that I might create a course, assuming I don't do a simple out-and-back. The Garmin app allows for me to create courses right there and push it to my watch with ease. I think Coros and Polar are similar (Maybe Suunto too?). Obviously with multi-day backpacking, mapping becomes more important on-device due to battery life concerns.

Upgraded from a Fenix 5+ to a Forerunner 965 mostly because the Fenix was having a lot of troubles charging. I think I'd had the Fenix maybe three years; I had bought it right as the Fenix 6 was coming out. But when I got the Forerunner, I also appreciated the better screen, the much better multi-band GPS, and the improved heart rate sensor versus my old watch. So, there were some hardware improvements between generations but the other features that Garmin has added mostly don't interest me. I'm so distrusting of their performance metrics, I don't really any attention to them. I don't see myself buying my next watch because there's something NEW added feature, it'll be because either the Forerunner doesn't hold a charge anymore, or because I've smashed up the watchface or something. Kind of like with computers maybe ten or so years ago; there was less and less of a reason to keep upgrading every couple of years, because the improvements were marginal and the old machines worked just fine.

Still love my Fenix 5x plus. Old but does what it should. During work days and months, its just a minimal watch face and i see my mails and messages. During holidays, its a workhorse, serving me all my topological maps and trails during multi day hikes. Screen is still mint after all these years. Even battery still going strong. It even has offline spotify playlists. Was worth every cent i paid. The only reason i would upgrade would be if i could get even more battery life and a flashlights. But newer ones have same or less battery life die to all new features, and a long battery life and flashlights is just counterintuitive

I see a lot of you guys showing stress / sleep scores. Owning a venerable fenix 5+, I'm thinking about switching. Does the forerunner 255 provides these accurately (compared to garmin epix gen 2 for example) ?

I had a Fenix 5 Plus for 6 years and it died in the pool on NYE.. was a 30th birthday gift from my friends. Currently using a Forerunner 55 before deciding on my next move. 265, 965, or 955. Unsure which way I’m going.

55, 165, 255, I2 Solar, 965 and an old Fenix 5X Plus :) I bought them used and got good deals, which gave me the chance to test and compare models. They're all nice with various pros and cons. There isn't one 'perfect' one with all the things I'd like. E.g. The 255 and I2 are close to each other, but the 255 lacks training readiness and the I2 lacks nap detection. The 965 has the most features, but the 165 is smaller and lighter. I'll probably sell some of them and keep one Amoled model for daily wear (it's easier for me to read indoors and at night) and one MIP for longer sunny outdoor workouts.

4th? 5th? Whatever-th Garmin. Had a Fenix 5 Plus that had lasted through plenty of mtb crashes and banging against car parts as I worked on my vehicles and never missed a beat. Worn daily and only taken off to charge, only reason it was replaced was because my wife got a Forerunner 265 and I commented how nice the OLED screen was compared to my old digital and she surprised with a Fenix E for Father’s Day.

This. My old Fenix 5 Plus lasted 4yrs before my wife bought me something newer simply because she got a 265 Forerunner and I was marveling over the body battery and OLED display. Outside of that, the 5 was ticking along just fine with multiple beatings.

Garmin and don’t look back. I know that the AW Ultra 2 has vastly improved battery life but still pales to what is available on a generation or two older Garmin. My wife was a staunch AW user for YEARS and kept telling her to get a Garmin. Even purchased a new AW for her Christmas of ‘24 after trying to convince her again. A few month later she ended up wanting a Garmin for other metrics that she found the AW didn’t track and has now fully converted. I had a great Fenix 5 Plus that I purchased NOS in 2022 and it was still working just as well when I retired it in June last year as it was the day I purchased. Only reason I upgraded was because she and our daughter got me a new Fenix with the OLED screen for Father’s Day. We workout twice a week at the gym (weightlifting and cardio) for at least an hour each day, normal tracking through the week and during warmer months I ride my mtb once or twice a week if I can. With all that I have to charge my watch (Fenix E) about every 5 days. Solar versions will last much longer. All have the ability to sync with chest heart rate monitors and some ANT+ products.

So biggest thing is that it is not tied to any ecosystem so anything that the AW works “seamlessly” with is a dead giveaway of major Apple integration. To more clearly answer; 1. No Apple Pay integration, has its own Garmin Pay but I don’t use that stuff as someone that moonlights as a CS person. Security just doesn’t quite feel “there” yet to me but that is personal preference purely. 2. PTON integration, when I actively used mine I only had it integrated through Strava integration as that is my major tracking app for things. So can’t really comment on whether there is a PTON app for them. 3. Texting and Phone calls, I believe some of the hi gf er end models can but mine and the wife’s Forerunner 265 do not. However, if I don’t have my phone with me to answer a call it is for good reason. Same with texting. Outside of that model aesthetics and preferences all come down to what you want to do. I am hard on my watches as a mountain biker and someone that likes to get dirty and worth with my hands. I have literally smaller my watch against granite rocks and not come away with a scratch on the glass. My bezels all show the scars of well used wear but I have no issues otherwise. Have saw in the oceans and Lake Tahoe on the regular with the watches on and zero issues. The wife and I both wear them to bed for tracking metrics and don’t have any issues but then again I have been wearing mine to be since probably 2014 nightly, so I am more than used to it. Different models of different tracking so you will need to see what works best for what you want. I would suggest budgeting for the chest mount HRm for your ride metrics if you want deep and accurate metrics. I use my watch for mine but I don’t worry about target zones or anything like that, my rides are for fun not competition. But against that is personal preference.

Changed the Fenix 5 plus for the Forerunner 255 and I can say that the GPS is much better, also the screen has more contrast and more vibrant colors, the battery lasts more than I would last in any activity (I do a reasonable amount of 1 day hiking), the analytics are comprehensive. And the weight advantage is fantastic, I can wear it all night and day without even noticing it. Coming from the older Fenix I don't need touchscreen or amoled. Overall it is a fantastic watch for almost everyone except maybe professional athletes.

Benefits of 20 years in construction… used to have a Fenix 5 plus, Apple Watch Series 4, Applewatch Ultra and various actual watch’s… all felt …’dainty’… the 7X was chosen for the largest screen (& torch)…. Considering the a move to amoled now and half considering the 47mm as it has the same size screen as the 51mm…. Lighter weight, lower cost but a shorter battery life…. But I can deal with that

Garmin is really the best for a fitness enthusiast. The OnePlus watch is more of a consumer/Jack of all trades solution. I currently have a Fenix 5+ and would definitely go Garmin when it's time to upgrade. The only downside to Garmin is the price, however, it really is a superior and more capable product.