Fenix 5 Series

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.

Yeah I got my Fenix 5X for ridiculously cheap, and it's been great. It even came bundled with 3 Tempe wireless thermometers that have turned out to be pretty useful.

I 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

All true except advanced metrics. They are also present in Fenix (it has even more features for hiking) and Instinct. Forerunner is not more advanced. The rugedness is mostly about the bezel. In fenix and instinct it has a rim which gives extra protection to the screen. But that means rugged watches are more bulky what can be a problem in the gym. The real question is lightness of forerunner vs battery life of fenix /instinct

Not required, unless you plan to make it a lifestyle. Then you need to plan accordingly. I have a Garmin Fenix. My view (just for me) is that I want a sports watch with smart features. Not a smart watch with sport features.

there's more of us out there than you realize. I'm actually realizing the reason I got the fenix was to have the smallest sports tracker with the highest battery (woman with small wrists) and the best screen (Amoled is visible, wehre MIP is lmost invistible) But I'm finding the overnight data from garmin to be less and less useful or even mentally healthy, so I'm going back to using my analogs more and more. And they are prettier.

And really, i have Siri on my Fenix - so all these smart features are on my Fenix. I don’t need to answer messages or read emails on my watch. It’s enough to be able to read a notification. If it’s important I grab my phone. Did the same on my awu. It looks ridiculous when somebody is typing a message with his watch, isn’t it?

Good comparison! I’ll add that my fenix shows exercise demonstrations on the watch. I use it a lot