Forerunner 920XT

Garmin 920XT 😅 Stil going strong 🤷‍♂️

I have an ancient Garmin 920XT (I've beat the hell out of the watch and for $450 in 2014 with HR strap) it keeps on keeping on. Just back from Biking the Balkans and it gave me more data than I can use.

What keeps me with Garmin, and why did I return to it? battery life. the fact that I can look at my dexcom data not only on the watch face, but also add it to the activity screens, which is incredibly important and useful for cycling, working out, hiking, or just about anything that I do. (NB: cannot add Dexcom complication to Apple Watch activity screens, which is so patently stupid. If it can be added onto (only a few) faces, why not elsewhere? ) it’s relatively easy to customize the watch and screens, and create activities relevant to me. the menus have improved and are a bit easier to navigate. The watches are long lasting and durable. I expect many years out the 970 based upon my experiences with the 920xt. plethora of statistics and data are there if you want them. Niggles: the cost. They are pricey. Plus they really dumb down the lower models, like the venu, trying really hard to upsell you. the watch iq Face It app- why is there yet another app for this? Stupid. Also, ostensibly the face it app enables one to create a custom face. Yet, so many complications are missing. Why? So stupid and lazy. I am sure that is a commercial decision - they want people to buy the faces rather than allow folks to make their own. subscription? GTFO. (I don’t bother).

I purchased a 955 watch three years ago and have no issues. My previous 920 went through wrist bands every year but I haven’t replaced the wrist band yet. The battery life is still pretty good I run 9 to 10 hours per week and charge it twice per week (I don’t let it drop below 20%). The GPS setting I use is All + Multi-Band. The heart rate monitor isn’t that great - my Apple Watch seemed to not be affected by cadence lock or the large step changes. That being said it isn’t an issue since I use a chest strap.

Garmin has decades and decades of maturity when it comes to watches for training. I started my journey with the Forerunner 920xt and I've been on the Forerunner 745 for the last several years. I've put both of them through the ringer whether with trail running, swimming, cycling. I do also have the HRM strap but its not as necessary. Straps are cheap to replace and the materials are such that you don't worry about few scratches. AWU and the regular AW lineup seems more suitable for doing most of your training in the gym. It looks good on your wrist, the bands are better looking and higher quality, and Apple always crushes the vanity metrics. I don't run ultras although I will update this current Garmin to the Enduro3 (the memes got me). I can almost guarantee you though that if I were to buy an AWU, the screen would be toast within 6 months. At the end of the day though, its a personal preference.