Garmin - Fenix 6 Series

Thank you for your review. It was really a pleasant read. Before the release of the Fenix 8, I was strongly considering it, mainly due to its diving features. However, when it finally launched, I found the feature set underwhelming and decided it wasn’t worth the price for such a limited offering. Instead, I shifted my focus to the Enduro 3, but due to delivery issues with the local representative, I ended up purchasing the 7X Pro. To my surprise, around the time of purchase, Garmin rolled out firmware version 18.xx, which became notorious for its battery drain issues. Despite widespread reports, Garmin neither acknowledged nor resolved the problem. Instead, they seemed to prioritize releasing new features and updates, many of which introduced additional issues. Frustrated, I reverted to using my trusty 6X Sapphire as my primary watch. Although I occasionally give the 7X Pro another chance, my trust in it has eroded. I simply can’t rely on it for races or long adventures because I don’t know how it will perform or if it might fail unexpectedly.

There is Garmin Swim (IMHO essentially it is a ForeRunner, but swim has been put in focus; review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2019/10/garmin-openwater-review.html). However, modern Garmin watches are all able to track pool swim as well as gym workouts (you might have to set exercises later in the app if you want to track muscle groups affected). Essentially ForeRunner is for runners mostly, Forerunner 9xx is focused on triathlon, Fenix is mostly for outdoors - but again, all of them can do almost the same. I’d go with Fenix if budget allows.

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

I've only been swimming for last 7 months, but Fenix 6x has been doing great!!! Over 100 swim sessions.

It's fantastic. It also depends how much accuracy is a factor in your workouts. Nothing is going to beat a chest strap, but I'm okay being within 5 beats+/- with my Fenix.

Fenix 6X Sapphire! Works really well in open water. In the pool, it may lose a lap here and there but I've never lose more than 4 laps in a 3000 yard swim.

Garmin Fenix 6 and 7 are having some hot deals right now. Go Sapphire for the extra protection. But if you only need the bare minimum, Forerunner 2xx

why not both? if you get like a Fenix 6 used then you can also get a Garmin 130 Plus for the bike. I use my watch for the overall measurement, but the 130 allows me to have a screen in front of me (I don't sync the bike computer to my workouts).

Get a garmin Fenix, doesnt really matter which model as long as it’s not ancient, off eBay

Actually the buttons on apple watch ultra are far better. The buttons on my new Fenix are spongy crap with no click.

I just bought a Fenix solar last night and so far it's a giant POS. The UI is ass, syncing Bluetooth is stupid, Garmin pay is garbage and the battery life isn't anywhere close to advertised.

Same. I can’t actually see me ever upgrading unless it dies. I’m not sure what else I need/want from a watch.

I got a fénix 6 that works great. Will sell it to ya for $250. In great condition. I use fénix 7 w whoop and it’s great. Lmk

Fenix 6s to Ultra 3. The F6 has always had terrible battery life and doesn't hold water to the U3 as a daily driver. I average about 20+ miles of road running per week and the U3 has been great, though I think Garmin's native workout apps are a little better than Apple's native workout app. So far, the U3 is lightyears ahead of my F6, but, in due fairness, the F6 is a 5+ year old watch. We'll see how things go this winter with he U3 for backcountry hiking, climbing and skiing.

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

Yeah I feel like apple sleep tracking is similar to its specificity with fitness tracking. Instead of in depth (and maybe somewhat disappointing data) it gives you the positive fluff version to encourage general day to day health. I compared whoop vs. AW vs Fenix and Apple was the only one that just skipped my mini awake times. Found that strange

Yeah I mean none of them are perfect but I do think Garmin has been best so far.

Fenix 6X Pro. Bought a used one in good condition from FB marketplace a few months ago and super happy I did. Switched from the Coros Apex.

I’ve used Apple Watches since the first waterproof one - series 3? - no issues. I found my Garmin fenix 6 was terrible for laps, I’m currently on an ultra (1) and it’s fine. I sometimes end up on an odd length but usually ok.

I use the Fenix 6pro. I don’t have issues with strokes but if I do drills, I use the drill function. but try to make your turns stronger so it recognizes the start/end of laps. Worse case scenario use the drill function to mark the start and end of Anything other than free.

Waste is subjective. Ive got a Fenix 6X pro that I picked up at a thrift shop. It was caked in mud and they weren't sure if it would work .. but the thing is a tank. It took me a couple days with fine picks and alcohol to get it clean but it's been working for two years now with no end in sight. I play a full contact sport and do a lot of trail cardio. Previously I'd killed a couple fitbits and a Samsung falling and had a couple much loved devices get discontinued and their servers taken offline I'm not sure I'd want to pay full price for a Fenix but if mine dies next year I'm going to be pretty tempted to buy a 7 second hand. I have a lot of confidence in its ability to do what I need it to do in a way cheaper devices haven't been able to

I went from Fenix 6x sapphire (51mm) to forerunner 970. Got sick of how heavy and clunky it was and I’m a bigger guy.

The only time that I had issues with a Garmin watch they replaced the watch well over the warrant. I got a forerunner that lasted a lot (6 years?) and then I gave it to a friend. I'm sporting an almost 5 year old fenix and I got it second hand. The watches they make are sturdy

Its the Fenix without speaker/mic and without diving features, but better overall performance as tradeoff (longer battery life, MIP screen, better solar charging, more lightweight...)

I've got a Fenix 6s Pro and I'm looking for a replacement now. Top of the list at the moment Forerunners 970, 965 and 570. I got the Fenix for Triathlon and now it seems that the Forerunners have caught up. I don't really use the music or maps I always have my phone. Same goes for most of the sports. I just want running, cycling and swimming, DSW, sleep tacking and training readiness.

I think you are in a hard spot here! When someone is serious about something, it is difficult to gift them something about that something. In the same way that you cannot gift a mouse to a software engineer unless it's the Logitech Mx 3 or superior, you cannot gift apparel to a serious runner unless it's something really good. My point is, if you want to gift him a watch, it is difficult to recommend you something that is below $300 or $400. Don't get me wrong, there are a lot of watches out there that cost less and may work. For example, you can buy the Garmin Vivoactive or Instinct for around $200, or the Amazfit T-Rex Pro for $150 (this is a really good watch for the price). However, if he is really serious about trail running, you may have to consider a Garmin Fenix 6 (between $350 and $400 on Amazon) or a Garmin Forerunner 945 (I just saw it at $319 on Amazon). If he is into both road and trail running, the Forerunner may be a good choice, but if he is getting more and more into trail running, the fenix is the best option. Note: You won't get navigation in budget-friendly watches, but I haven't meet a racer that needed it. Generally, the course is marked and people carry their phones (I have offline maps just in case). Note 2: You can save a lot by purchasing the previous-generation model (that's why I recommended fenix 6 and forerunner 945).

Know a guy who has used his twice for 100k and both times its died around 60km in. Not the speediest runner but easily makes cut off. The gps in it is shocking too, he would routinely get more distance and elevation on almost any run I've done the whole full smart watch in the past and happily have gone back to a fenix now. Im good with seeing notifications and being able to answer calls. Happily run disconnected from my phone and contact

You can't go wrong. There are features that the newest Fenix (or Epic pro) have that the others don't. So if you care about ecg monitoring that might change the model you are looking at.

I tried using both and ended up swapping fully to Apple. You mention maps - having used the Fenix range for maps on hiking, camping and climbing - including solo where it really matters - I find Apple smashes the Fenix. The maps are more usable, quicker to respond, clearer and much easier to use. I hardly ever used my Fenix for mapping because it was a poor experience, compared to onboard maps on my AWU2. I had a Fenix 6x pro, a chest strap, foot pod, tempe, scales, edge 830, speed sensor and cadence sensor. Yet it’s all been sold when I started to use Apple, because the Garmin stuff felt dated, clunky and unreliable. The maps were more of a “wow, maps on your wrist” kind of feature. They were too slow and uneasy to make them usable however. And the lack of Garmin working happily with anything other than the dated ANT hardware made Garmin very isolated whether at the gym, using scales or blood pressure devices at home or using connected training kit at the gym - Apple works with it all. And even Garmin pay, if you’re on the UK, is useless. Very few banks support it. Whereas Apple Pay is accepted by all. Pairing my Apple Watch up with Footpath and Bevel (new update is amazing) has blown Garmin out the water. It’s a much better fitness and outdoor watch than some other brand users give it credit for. Which is probably why it’s the best selling fitness watch brand in the world. Garmin isn’t a bad brand, but it’s failed to innovate and progress over the last 5 or 6 years. Their hardware is decent, their software and apps are poor. The user interface is dated and they still fail to produce a decent fitness watch with modern smart features. At present Garmin caters for those who want a fitness watch and aren’t bothered about smart features. Apple caters for those who want a fitness watch with smart features. So it’s good that there’s a choice for both types of people. Just like I don’t buy a tractor, because I don’t need one. But my SUV would be a nightmare for a farmer who didn’t care about all the features and extras my SUV has. Go with the brand of your choice and whatever suits your needs. We’re all different.

The charger on the Garmin was one of those nightmare features. Had many times where I woke to a dead or low powered Fenix because someone had sneezed several houses down the road and my connection to the charger had moved slightly, stopping my Fenix from charging. Not sure who designed this charger, but it was the worse design ever. Made worse by the fact that the charging point on the back of the Fenix slowly worsened over time with sweat from workouts. I had to buy a rubber stopper to cover it. Very annoying design flaw.

I would say the app “ Hevy” for the gym if you like inputting sets and weight is the best one. You can make your own splits but if you want to make more than 5 splits you have to pay. Which let’s be honest anyone who is seriously training doesn’t need that. Progressive overload is king. Also in regards to running programs you can also now customize work outs in the Apple workout app. I have both Garmin Fenix and Apple Watch Ultra . I use the ultra for work . But my Fenix for working out and running . I couldn’t get away from the programming of Garmin . Also the physical button presses while doing activities is just more guaranteed.

I've had two versions of the Garmin Fenix now. The first lasted me 6 years, and I've had the second for 1 or so. I love it. It has a lot of versatility for activities, and the Garmin ecosystem (bike computer, heart rate monitor, etc.) is nice to plug into. I chose the Fenix because I do a lot of swimming in addition to cycling, but they have other models that are great too. It does great routing for hiking and running. It's a really dynamic device!

My Fenix 6 is over 3 years old. Oceans. Running. Sweating. Golfing (sunscreen). Dropped. Absolutely robust. It’s my workout and sleeping watch.

Really? Can you tell me what I’m missing because I just got an AWU2 and tbh I hate it compared to my fenix. The features I thought I’d enjoy like responding to texts, phone calls, etc I never even use

I own a Fenix 6X Pro. I like the cheapness, battery life and no touchscreen. If I had to buy another watch today I would get an Enduro 2 most likely. Run 30 - 40 miles per week.

This is my perspective as someone who uses Whoop and wears an SMP or a Speedy that I rotate according to how I feel. Also, I've tried Oura, and liked it, but it wasn't for me. And I have an AW Ultra that I use when running and hiking, and this is after a few years of using a Garmin Fenix. Most people think of Whoop as simply a fitness tracker, which it is, but it is much more. What seperates Whoop from other things is how it shows you the impact of your behaviors. Yes, I think Whoop was less than honest about their upgrade policy with the new 5.0 and MG release, but I still can't find anything like it. The "magic" of Whoop is that it allows you to pre-select certain behaviors that will appear in a daily journal. Each morning you take 30 seconds to check yes or no on these items, e.g. Did you consume added sugar yesterday? Did you eat a late meal? There are endless options. As times goes on, Whoop continues to show you how these behaviors are impacting your sleep so that you discover how far before bed you should stop eating, or what's the latest time of the day you can drink caffeine without it impacting your sleep (even though you may think it doesn't because you fall asleep quickly). I'm not trying to sound like an advertisement for Whoop, but I think most people evaluate Whoop without knowing what it really does. So when I run or hike I use my Ultra for reasons that don't overlap with Whoop. But the rest of the day, when wearing my SMP or Speedy, or when I sleep, I wear Whoop because it is providing overall health insights that I find valuable and have led to lifestyle changes that I may not have made otherwise--even as a person in great shape who works out six days a week.

Honestly, if battery life and music are priorities, I'd suggest a Fenix. The 6s was a great size for me. I find that running GPS and Bluetooth sucks about a day of battery on top of the normal watch functions. So the super long battery life of the Fenix is huge. When it was brand new, I only needed to charge my Fenix once/week. You can adjust that by changing the things the watch tracks in the background.

This is what I did. I bought the Fenix with the intention on switching completely, but I realized that I missed a lot of things about my AW. So now my AW is my daily wear and also for occasional shorter runs, walks, etc. I use the Fenix for hiking, diving, long activities, etc.

Get a chest strap for triathlons, one that works in water. The 965/Fenix/Epix are the same or minimal difference. The latest are the Fenix 8 nad forerunner 970. Get what looks good to you, because features are 99.9% the same. Also Fenix is a big bigger

Fenix/Epix are the same, Forerunner 9xx has 99% same functions but a bit lighter and not as tall, but only available in one size

I've been impressed as well. I'm a triathlete and ultra runner. I use it for running, biking, and swimming. I've found it more accurate than my Garmin Fenix especially when swimming. I do use my Garmin during events just bc I need that battery life but during training it suits me well. I can run for 3 hours with headphones connected and cell service (I don't carry my phone) and have battery left.

As the title says, after about 2.5 years with the Fenix 6x pro (51mm) I'm switching from my Garmin (looking for something a little more modern and AMOLED), I am thinking of moving over to a competitor. I mainly use my 6x pro for weight training, running, and other cardio. I also enjoy tracking my sleep and getting a body battery score daily. I used to run a lot when I first got the watch, but now my activities are more even between weights and cardio. I may getting back into running, and try and do some half marathons and 1 marathon (similar to what I did in 2023). But my watch is on my wrist 24/7. I have been researching the **Race S** quite a bit recently. Sounds like at the price points they are at, they are quite an appealing proposition. Other watches I have been looking at are the **Coros Pace Pro** (not a fan of the all plastic body) and the **Amazefit T Rex 3**, which seems to have made quite a splash recently. Seemingly, nothing even comes close to the latter at the moment in terms value for money, and sheer number of features, but I hear many features that exist are half baked. As someone who is just trying to stay healthy (lose more weight and keep/gain some muscle) in his late 40s, I am not looking for the priciest piece of kit out there. In other words, I do not want 1000$ Garmin. Also, while the Apple Watch U2 sounds great, I know coming from the Fenix 6x pro and its insane battery life, I would get immediately frustrated by the 1-2 life on the AW2. I have seen a ton of video reviews on these products including the Race S, but I also wanted some inputs from fellow Redditors about these specific pieces: 1) My biggest concern is HR accuracy. This is the one thing that makes me hesitate about the Race S. I am trying to do a lot of Zone 2 cardio both in the gym and on weekend runs, and I think this is a key metric for me. I run in a suburban setting and don't need to have maps on board, but nice to have. 2) How decent is sleep tracking? 3) I am assuming that no watch really does a good job at strength training tracking, so I am not too fussed about it, and use an app to track reps/sets etc. However, again, a good measure of HR would probably be good here to estimate calories burned. 4) Is the 'resources' metric useful as a measure of daily energy? I'm a little weary about the Race S, as I have a 7 inch (177.8 mm) wrist and this may be on the smaller side? Thanks in advance for your time and inputs!

My Fenix is perfect for me. I want to download and have it guide me on a bike ride or a run. I like to know how far/fast I’m going. I like being able to see my texts and decline calls, but I don’t want to send messages or talk from my watch. I don’t want to charge my watch more than every ~7-10 days. I don’t care that much about accurate HR, sleep, etc… but having those things accurate-ish is ok with me.

Garmin Fenix 6X Pro does not require you to hit a lap button when you are done. It will auto pause.

I have a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro. It works really well in the water and tracks wrist HR while in the pool as well.

I would suggest any Fenix or even any forerunner over any vivoactive or venu of you're serious about training. Sure you can get by with most basic stuff on those watches but if you get serious about training or want better features you'll have wanted at least a forerunner model

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 wouldn’t do that. Having used both Apple and Garmin products for swimming, I’d urge you to go for the Garmin. That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with the Apple, it’s just that the Garmin is better and the battery life is a godsend by comparison

Sounds like you don't need the best and newest to get all the features you need here. Most of the watches you're being recommended will be perfect for you, yes. But any older Fenix/Tactix will work for you too. In fact, I'm still using my Fenix 6x Solar, does literally everything you outlined here besides the stealth mode, jump master, etc. A Tactix 7 or event Tactix Delta will achieve all you need. Just a side note, best battery = MIP display. Don't think you can get a stealth mode (night vision) with an MIP display, that's reserved for the amoled versions. Good luck on your search!

I am happy with my Garmin Fenix 6S. It's almost 4 years. Battery still lasts about a week depending on how much I use the GPS. Bought it on sale back then for 300€ I record my commute to track kms, wear on "gear" like wheels and chain. I still don't have the need to replace it, but if so, I would probably get a venu 3s... The fenix 6s has tons of cool features that I don't really use, so I think the venu or vivostyle are enough.

you get what you pay for with the Fenix line. My 6 pro has been on my wrist for the last 4 years, except for when It gets charged once a week. It's done everything I've asked of it with no complaints.

Garmin Fenix 6x. Love it.

Look for a Garmin Fenix 6, 7, or 8. The Fenix 6 does everything you are looking for.

garmin epix/fenix no complaints

Short answer ; none Long answer ; Garmin is not an optimised at all for bodybuilding (I am nodybuil for the last 20 years and have Garmin for the last 10). So just get the one that is in your price range. Any Garmin will do hiking. One thing though, with bodybuilding the watch can and will suffer from repeated contact with the bars and gear. For that I only take Sapphire models. So Fenix or EPIX.

Looks at Garmin Connect 24hour HR monitoring data over many years of owning Garmins. Now I am confused, what is this HR data I am seeing on Connect from My Fenix 6 and before that the Vivosport I had? If it is not 24h HR monitoring then what is it? Totally confused, perhaps OP can come back and explain this to me. The way 24hr HR data over several years is not 24hr HR monitoring?? Perhaps the Op means it is not testing for AFib or other heart conditiions that TBH no watch can do no matter what their marketing management twonks claim in the website sales pages.

Ok, just hear me out for one second before you think I'm crazy. The red light on the Fenix line is AMAZING. I use it every single night multiple times as it makes walking around at night super easy and not at all straining on the eyes. Honestly, it might be my "I'm not giving up this watch for e.g. an Apple watch, ever" feature. The Tactix light is green. I have no idea how well that'll work at night. But I absolutely LOVE the red light.

The ROI on a Whoop wasn’t worth it to me. When I could pay a higher up front price for a Fenix that would last years. My watch gives me the same info plus tells me the time plus all of the other things. Also, charging it every few weeks > every other day.

Another vote for a Fenix. Great overall wellness tracking between sleep, fatigue, steps, stress, HR, and intensity minutes. But the reason I like it more than anything else is the battery life, 15+ days if I'm not GPS tracking or playing music off of it.

Seconded, Fenix or Epix are great. I have an Epix but tbh a Fenix suits my needs better

I use Garmin. Watch battery lasts a week at a time workout charging and the watch itself is nice. If I'd gotten a less fancy version than the fenix, my watch battery would last even longer

This is what I do. I have a Garmin Fenix as my sports watch and switch to the Vivosmart when I am wearing my Speedy.

Fenix 6 here as well. I really like it.

agree. dancing with a fenix 8 will look & feel ridiculous. Slim wrist here, had the fenix 6 pro, epix 2, and fr965. Fenix & epix felt really chunky in comparison to the forerunner, especially running with them.

Issue isn’t normal use. Issue is when using with the fitness or when GPS tracking. My Ultra 1 won’t last me more the 18 hours on long hikes. And this is in low power mode with GPS pushed to my iPhone. If you’re tracking a multi day hike, or plan on being in the wilderness more than 2 days, the watch is useless to carry with you. Especially if you’re in trouble (satellite doesn’t help if your battery is dead) The new Garmin Fenix offers 28 days of battery life, solar charging and will last 4+ days under intense use. Plus it has Garmin InReach built in.

I have a Garmin Fenix 6s and I love it for tracking laps. It doesn't track kick sets, I think it needs arm movement, so I just track those in my head and you can adjust the distance in the Garmin Connect app. But other than that it's great and very accurate. Maybe only off by 25m each swim.

I never knew it had that function!! Thank you!

Fenix 6 or above, Enduro 2 or above. All will easily last over 24hrs recording an activity. The Enduros will stretch to 48hrs at a push

Garmin - They have a lot of watches at different price points. There is built-in GPS and the battery lasts for several days, unlike a smart watch that you typically need to charge every night. The Garmin app easily syncs with other fitness apps, if that's important to you. If you have a smaller wrist, go for the "S" models that will look and fit better.

I had the Garmin Fenix 6 which I really liked. But during an ultra trail in Thailand I got lost big time in the jungle. The watch didn’t tell me anything, eventually I found my way again but my watch got snagged on a tree and went down a waterfall. So I thought about a new Garmin but their pricing is stupid now plus they will start going to the subscription route. I live in Thailand and I see a lot of the trail runners here use Suunto. Also the person who helped me find the trail again had a Suunto and the maps seemed good. The maps for garmin might be good but they’re not good in this part of the world, almost unusable.

Yeap. The elephant in the room. 16 days battery life on my fenix.

The new fenix has both satellite capability and cellular fyi I don't know if the emergency service is included though l. Guessing it's gonna be a membership like what I needed for the inreach

Thing people forget is that AW also charge in about 15mins compared to a Garmin. I had an Apple Watch and threw it on the charger when I took a shower and that would give it a significant boost. Try that with my F.Pro 7 and it’ll gain 2% Obvs I prefer the Fenix’s battery life, but I find charging takes so long it’s a much more noticeable interruption

Garmin Fenix and Epix Series are far better than this. https://preview.redd.it/cpxhwtjkuuje1.jpeg?width=1440&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b4d50186d95b15e90086bfa4491d354424f3c0bd I am glad. Haha

I made the same change. AWU to 970. And two days in I wished I had the fenix. So I sold it and bought the fenix instead. I am very satisfied now

Pick the one that: 1) is within your budget, and 2) is most visually appealing. Both basically do the same things and have few differences in software/battery that will make a big difference to your use. My vote is always the Fenix :)

Garmin does not have all those features in most watches. Which model can I control my smart home? I cannot directly download apps on my Fenix. I also cannot access Apple Music.

I agree with all the positives stated here and one more that's important to me. I hate square, rectangular watches. I love the way the Fenix, Epix or most of the round smart/fitness watches look.

Everyone is recommending fenix for good reasons. However, IF you’re mountaineering ever goes to technical rock / ice…. Then I’d recommend Coros. Does everything fenix can, but the gps works the best for vertical movement

Functionality-wise the Fenix and Forerunner are pretty similar, especially considering the new Forerunner 970. The Fenix has diving, but other than that, not much beyond the 970. The other big difference between Fenix and forerunner is styling as well as sapphire glass, for a small amount more weight. My gut is that sapphire is nice but not essential unless you're doing lots of mountaineering backpacking. I got an Epix, which was essential the Fenix 8 of a few versions ago, but at that time there wasn't a Forerunner 970/965. I'm glad I have the more rugged Epix with sapphire glass, but I doubt I would have had any issues. Given what little you've shared, I'd probably look at the Forerunner 965. it's the most budget friendly, and I don't imagine many need the microphone/speaker of the 970 (though the flashlight is cool) and that the Fenix is probably overkill. No wrong choice here though!

I have the Fenix 6x Pro and it’s still a great watch and much cheaper than the new 8s.

It pretty much depends what you want the watch for has been my conclusion. I've owned the AWU1/2 pre-ultra versions, garmin fenix 6/7/8 and prior versions. When I'm focused on fitness and endurance sports, the garmin is my primary watch. When I'm in a different phase, I strongly prefer the AWU for all its stuff. Problem for me is I prefer to have a single ecosystem that is seemless so I can focus on my goals. The reality for me personally is the garmin helps me with my goals when fitness is my goals and the AWU doesn't do quite the same for me. That's enough to have me wear my garmin - it's effective as a tool for me. The AWU is just the watch I like better, but it doesn't have actual impact on me. If I were simply wanting a casual fitness watch + smart watch, I'd wear an AWU all the time.

Also love Garmin. I've had several Fenix watches. Currently own an AWU2 waiting on my AWU3 because having a full phone when I run, Apple Music, and 1-2 days of battery life are everything I need. Wallet is pretty nice 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.

Bought one relatively recently, I wanted MIP but didn't like the Fenix weight/cost. This seemed like the best option, for ~€300. The 255 would have saved €100, I probably don't need all the 955 features but I didn't like the 255 styling. I'm not sure if it is any more "future proof" but maps is kinda neat. I want at least 5 years out of the tech I buy, and with MIP being less and less common I can't see why I would stop using this before it dies.

Watch does all three things. Bike compy does one thing. Used Fenix on eBay is a good deal. 

I’ve a Fenix 6. It’s pretty chunky but the battery life is 3 weeks so I’m a big fan of that.

J'ai une Apple Watch Ultra, une Garmin Instinct 2 Solar, une Suunto Vertical et eu un Fenix 6 Pro Solar! L'Apple Watch Ultra avec son magnifique écran, son titane et son interface très aboutie n'arrive pas à la cheville des 3 autres montres question sport, incluant la Garmin Instinct 3 avec son écran LCD des années 80's c'est pour dire! Quand j'entends que l'AWU rivalise avec une Fenix 8 c'est soit de la mauvaise foi d'Apple Fan soit des personnes qui ne pratiquent pas de sport, bien sur en utilisation montre connectée l'AWU est géniale mais un peu chère pour cette utilisation non ? Question autonomie, je recharge mon AWU tous les deux jours et je ne fais rien avec, quelques notifications, le SPO2 la nuit, écran éteint, pas de musique. 2 jours pour juste surveiller mon rythme cardiaque, mon O2 la nuit et quelques notifications on ne peut pas dire qu'Apple s'est foulé question optimisation d'autonomie. Pour le sport environ entre une et deux heures par jour avec GPS j'utilise mes autres tocantes, je reçois aussi mes notifications, j'ai des métriques à gogo et je recharge tous les 10 ou 12 jours pour la Suunto et 15 jours la Garmin. Conclusion des mes comparaisons : L'AWU est superbe, un écran magnifique, une interconnectivité avec l'iPhone parfaite (bien sur), une qualité de construction irréprochable, des capteurs précis il faut le dire mais c'est vraiment tout! j'ai eu beau me forcer à l'utiliser en sport, randonnée, marche et musculation en ce qui me concerne c'est trop compliqué, il faut des applis tierces pour arriver à juste essayer de se rapprocher des applis natives Garmin ou Suunto et je reste sur ma fin à chaque fois. Il faut penser à recharger tous les jours (si sport) bref.... je suis désolé mais APPLE est à des années lumière de Garmin et même Suunto en utilisation sportive.

You should first think about what you need from the watch, then choose between the models that offers that specs. Without knowing your use case, the Suunto race S is difficult to beat. I use a Fenix 6 pro myself. I like the maps to be customizable, but when it dies I will change brand. Prices in new Garmin releases are too high in comparison with other brands offerings.

People have to stop comparing these. These are for two different people. I would never wear an Apple Watch based on battery life alone. I specifically got the Garmin for a wrist based gps and mapping tool to track and orient myself. You buy an Apple Watch to use smart features and be connected to your phone. Garmin has never been in that market. It’s a whole company based on gps systems for outdoor activities . You buy an Apple Watch to have Apple ecosystem. you can’t use half the feature of the fenix on an iPhone bc they only want you to use their watch… Garmin are all specifically made for their audience even down the the model . Apple watches are just to keep you plugged into your phone and have no bearing on actual outdoor activities despite calling it ultra. The Millitary has been orienteering with Garmin wrist based gps systems forever. You’d never catch an Apple Watch on patrol in Afghanistan. 😂

I was looking at the Fenix! It's pricey but it did seem to have the most functionality that would be useful for him. I don't know that he would mind losing the running specific data as part of his WOD but then again I think he's the type that would like to know his pace/HR to target. As long as there is a process to program the switch from hiit to run and then back to HIIT I would guess he would suffer the moderate annoyance if he wants to mine that data. And we are not an apple house lol and I agree, Garmin connect is pretty slick. I've found their race predictions to be hilarious but other than that their metrics are pretty spot on!

Mine is a garmin 6x pro I think and I have fallen twice while walking my dogs on a muddy hillside. Both times I got the warning that it was going to send an emergency message if I didn’t cancel within 30 seconds or some such. I believe it sends the message to the person I said to not to 911 but haven’t tried it that far.

I would get the 265 for 1 reason only: The dual band GPS tracking. I have the 6s Pro and sometimes it shows the wrong pace and is extremely annoying.

I would go Fenix personally if money isn't an issue. Better looking, better build, longer battery, and better (more waterproof) buttons. I really don't like the look of the forerunners so that may also be a big bias for me.

Funnily enough, a lot of people do more than just road running..... a forerunner is not great for swimming, cycling, heavy trail running etc. Ive run multiple half marathons in my fenix no issues as well as doing many other activities without the worry of cracking a plastic watch and having enough battery to do so. I also did say that I was bias towards the look.... but it still remains that I think forerunners look cheap.

Epix is a better watch, however it is heavier and chunkier. For what it's worth my wife would never wear a fenix/epix due to the size. Ive always worn a fenix.

Garmin Fenix varieties are good, solar options if you're in the sun etc for extra battery too, but full charge is like ~15 days without non stop Ox readings You can also get a face cover [over clip] and or a screen protector like for your phone on the watch face. Maybe worth looking at!

Hu there fenix is strong, i wish i had bigger wrist. My foreunner 970 is already big so cant imagine fenix on my tiny wrist lol. But both fenix and forerunners trully have real running metrics. I cant believe the venu 4 does not even have daily suggestions based on pac and only has them based on heart rate. A big no no for a runner targetting an specific distance and time. I have been rethibkibg to sell my 970 for a 570 due to the size of 43mm. But i may miss battery, flashlight, running tolerance and impact load more than size lol. Like my wife says you need to give up on something.  4 years ago i used to train daily on hills and fast runs too, so i injured myself like crazy. Thus the reasoning behind running tolerance as it would guide me to increase mileage in a safe manner.

Weekly? Should see the Fenix range. Monthly charges baby!

On my fenix 6, pulse ox even busy at night absolutely cooks the battery. I also found it wasn’t a very accurate or useful feature other than pointing out I might have sleep apnea (which turns out I did, but based off other tests). The advertised battery life probably doesn’t include that, I’d be interested to see how it holds up if it turn that off. For reference I get probably 7-10 days on my fenix 6. Two hours of activity tracking a day, one of which is usually using gps. No pulse ox turned on ever. Using it as a watch only closer to 14 days

Fenix is great for running but it’s overkill. Has more features than most runners could poke a stick at, a little on the heavy side too

I always enjoyed hiking and trail running, but adding Garmin was a great addition. I've had the Fenix 6 and after lost it on a lake, got the Venu 3. Venu 3 is my go to choice, what an amazing and fast watch.

Return the Apple watch get a fenix

I put on my garmin and select backcountry ski.

Fenix 6

Epix sadly is a dead watch (nothing new will be developed and you will be lucky if an update arrives) if you have the money and want to stay in the ecosystem, then Fenix is the way to go. Easy choice.

Most of them are decent at hr without a strap but you’d want something with the elevate v5 sensor for the best data and unfortunately that’s fenix only. The 255 or 955 would be the best bet here but the 255 doesn’t have maps. Also the 965 is great if you want oled instead of MIP

Basically any Garmin from the 255 and up. Fenix is the best but pricey so forerunner should be more than enough

I’d go with a garmin or suunto. A used/refurbished garmin fenix could last you a long time. I’ve been using a refurbished 6x for like five years or something (with some Apple Watch use here and there).

I have an Epix Pro, aka the AMOLED version of the Fenix 7 Pro. It is not a perfect watch, but it is good. However, there are some long lasting bugs in the firmware and the last major version has been release by Garmin despite multiple beta testers reporting bugs. That is something that kills the experience. I had a Fenix 6S Pro and a Vivoactive 4 before. Both good watches with their strengths and flaws, but never that buggy. So, unless you want diving, I wouldn't go with the Fenix 8. Get a used/refurbished Fenix 7 Pro or an Epix Pro and have almost the same watch and features for a lot less money.

I’ve been wearing my garmin fenix in it for over a year. No issues

I have (and love) a Garmin Fenix 6 Solar. It does all of the requested tasks and has held up brilliantly after 4+ yrs of heavy use unlike prior Apple Watches. For truly accurate HR tracking, you really need to pair with a chest strap. This is the case with virtually all wrist-based trackers. Garmin offers a variety of smart watch options but I can only speak to the older Fenix 6 I own. That said, I’d look at their product line to see which specs best match your goals then shop for sales since they are pricey but, in my view, worth it.

I swapped my Omega for a Garmin Fenix and haven't looked back. I'm a cyclist in the garmin infrastructure so it makes sense. Its one of the best sports watches, comes in a range of sizes to fit different wrists and I think it looks stylish as well compared to the square apple watch.

Appart from the battery life, flashlight and physical buttons, the AWU outperforms the Fenix on every points. Better smartwatch, top notch sensors (see videos from TheQuantifiedScientist). Sure you need to use 3rd parties app to match Garmin Experience (WOD, Athlytics, HealthFit) but otherwise you won't regret it.

Its a lot smarter then my casio. My casio cant show me the way home after a hike in the forest. It cant show me maps. Therefore its a smartwatch. Its full om smart features a regular watch cant do. I once had a apple watch. Now i can’t think of one feature that watch did that my fenix cant do, rather the opposite. Ooh one thing, the apple watch could answer calls. But that was just annoying. So i would argue fenix is smarter then Apple Watches in many ways not all but many.

Its called a fenix. Its like a mercedes, audi, toyota, skoda… something in the middle.

As a Garmin user, I'm quite jealous. This doesn't replace my Fenix for exercises but would be a great companion for everyday activities and I could wear my classic watches again.

Garmin Fenix, used Garmin for years, battery measured in days not hours

I would say it is not correct comparison. You need to compare Apple Watch with Garmin Fenix. Standard model (not AMOLED) last 24 days. X version - from 30 days. I'm using 6X Pro Solar Titanium and even after 2 years of using it is keeping 30 days on one charge. Neither Apple nor Samsung can bring me the same experience

I would say it is not correct comparison. You need to compare Apple Watch with Garmin Fenix. Standard model (not AMOLED) last 24 days. X version - from 30 days. I'm using 6X Pro Solar Titanium and even after 2 years of using it is keeping 30 days on one charge. Neither Apple nor Samsung can bring me the same experience

Garmin’s notification integration with iOS is dogshit. They make great sports watches. They are not even close to AW in the smart watch department.

Have you tried the Fenix?

Yep, AWU2 and Garmin Fenix 6X sapphire. My AWU2 is my daily driver, use it for most things up to and including short 10km hikes, short workouts, etc, however when I do a longer hike or I want to record more health metrics ( I prefer the Garmin fitness metrics) as opposed to just having the smartwatch functionality, I’ll wear both watches and use my Fenix to track my hike, map my route etc.

Just adding that my fenix 6's hr works fine swimming (indoor and outdoor). You can also edit the display and make the HR larger/only thing displayed

the cheaper forerunners and Fenixes are great for this, simple, cheap, reliable and near indestructible

I’ve had both. I am primarily a runner but right now doing triathlon training as well. I have the forerunner 955 and it does well beyond what I need. I like it a hundred times better than the fenix I had.

I’ve had both fenix and forerunner. Even as a multi sport athlete ( although primarily a runner) I hands down love my forerunner way better.

I’m of a similar age. I bought the Forerunner 965 in order to get more active. Had a Fenix 6s before. And it has helped me out tremendously. If you have the disposable income, the 970 is a beauty. I use the map function more than I expected, especially on holidays exploring new routes. I recently bought my wife the 265 Music. Which is also a very good watch for your usecase. There’s also a discussion on here around MIP vs AMOLED screen. My two cents: AMOLED is perfectly visible outside and the screen itself is just gorgeous. Every time I look at it, it makes me happy. Which never happened with the MIP-screen on the Fenix 6s.

Forerunner 970 and call it a day. It's specifically designed for a cost no object triathlete. You can get a Fenix or MARQ if you like but they're heavier. Might be better at golf, scuba and flying if any of those are relevant to you.

Sounds like a good plan. I can't remember which Fenix was the first to be a dive watch but the only other is the much more expensive Descent. If you don't need the additional features from the Descent and the Fenix replaces a dive computer, it seems like you end up getting a really good value. It's worth comparing to some of the Forerunners if the dive aspect doesn't look that strong to you. I think the 255, 265 and 570 do everything you need for actual training functions. The 955, 965 and 970 add maps and the 970 adds a running tolerance function that might be helpful for marathon training. How much do you run now? Do you have a training plan picked out? While Garmin has all of Daily Suggested Workouts, adaptive training plans, and fully pre-set training plans, they all have their issues for a marathon. I actually quite like DSW but more for filling in the gaps and helping maintain balance. https://lifehacker.com/health/what-its-like-to-train-for-a-race-with-garmins-training-plans

Getting a Fenix with the purpose of fitness tracker only os wrong. It's like getting the best 4x4 vehicle because the road to your moms house has some sand on it.

Ok then its not an overkill. I personally never follow whatever the watch says avoit rest days though. I'll go with whatever my legs say.

I had Fenix6x and Epix2, and both times I sold them with feeling “Stop eating this cactus”. I like body of Garmin, buttons, battery, features, but Garmin OS and interfaface are so… professionals only and non-friendly

Fenix 6x Pro. Has probably missed about ten 25m lengths in the last six months, and is pretty good in open water. Not bad when you consider that’s about 140km of swimming. If it breaks I’ll upgrade to the Fenix 8 but I’m still torn between the screens. 

Update. I went to rei today and tried a fenix. It feels double the weight of my 965 and bulkier as well

i have a fénix and i won't bring it. You can get miles and ascent trivially from FarOut. just tap on a point behind or ahead of you. For me the fenix is a training tool, it's not for the main event. your stats will be: * Steps: Many * HR: Light/moderate aerobic * Sleep: Shit * HRV: Shit * Status: Overreaching * GPS: The same damn trail as everyone else. Also the power saver mode GPS is pretty bad and [can remarkably *over*estimate distances. ](https://www.tendigitgrid.com/d/159-garmin-ultratrac-review-and-data-accuracy) Number Go Up is fun but not worth it. Track for the folks at home with the Inreach on 1hr tracking. Your watch won't broadcast to your family like the Inreach will, it's redundant and less functional for long distance location tracking. I have ONCE briefly, used a pre-loaded Course on my Inreach for snow navigation on Wonderland Trail. Probably it would be nicer on the Fénix but not enough to bring it. Ill probably stick some Sierra courses on the Inreach ahead of time though.

But nobody say what garmin works with messages better of do it APW with same iPhone. I switched APW to Fenix namely this reason. I dont miss any whats app call or telegram call or messages from it with fenix. But AWU at all is very very good thing, especially if calls and messages from all messengers not matter for you (I apologize in advance for my English)

If you plan on using the watch only while doing sports and not for reading messages and all the things that drain the battery, I'd suggest you look into getting a used "fancy" model. I bought a Garmin Fenix 6 pro for 165€, the seller was upgrading to a newer model.

Garmin Fenix is what I use

I have a Fenix 6 that I have linked to my Strava account and I love it. I’m more of a casual/recreational rider. I like that it tracks my steps and has a ton of activities you can record. I glance down at it all the time to see speed, time, distance and HR. The only thing is that I’m a pretty small lady and it’s sort of huge on my wrist.

40 hours of battery life vs a month with the fenix solar. If I am camping or on the road, I really don’t want to worry about charging my watch.

Second the Fenix. There’s also some good deals on last gen Epix out (which is basically Fenix with a brighter display) for OP’s budget.

I moved from fenix 6 to forerunner 970 recently and both are terrible at sleep tracking. My biggest problem is garmin algo doesn’t seem to sense awake times properly. I awake for 30 mins playing on my phone in bed and it counts it as REM! As much as I don’t like AW and like a lot of things about Garmin, abysmal sleep tracking on Garmin might make me move to AW.

This is kinda opposite to my experience with Garmin. I’ve been in Garmin ecosystem for years and recently moved from fenix 6 to fr 970. I tend to wake up a couple times middle of night and it takes me an hour to go back to sleep. I usually play on phone or read a book in bed until I fall asleep again. Garmin always counts those as REM or light sleep. When you wake up mid night, do you get out of bed and walk around?

whoop, using the bicep strap so my wrists are free during workouts. i prefer the no screen no distraction myself, especially when working out. also have a garmin fenix as well as a daily watch.

Instinct 2X or Instinct 3 Solar would love to be your best climb companion and they promised to be rugged and not easily scratched like the forerunner, Vivoactive or Venu. Fenix would like to concur to the above but it is worried about being a bigger hit to your wallet due to its price tag.

For someone who is new and cares mostly about sleep tracking and GPS activities it’s honestly all kind of the same. You can run with an Instinct and you can hike with a forerunner. Choose based off of look, price, battery life for your particular activities. A Fenix or Instinct pretty much does it all and with great battery life. Doesn’t really matter in the end unless you care about very specific advanced metrics. I personally think most of the Forerunners are ugly so I gravitate towards Instinct because I’m also not willing to overpay for a Fenix when there’s other brands that cover 90% of a Fenix for half the cost. If you want to research alternatives: If you’re looking at an Instinct, check out Coros Nomad. If you’re looking at a Fenix check out Suunto Race 2 or Vertical 2 or upcoming Coros Apex 4.

I have had the Garmin fenix 6S for about 5 years now and it’s one of the best things I have ever purchased, they even sent me a brand new one when I was having battery issues.

I got a Garmin Fenix last year, no regrets. I tend to break things but it’s holding up quite nicely. I even take it caving, which I probably shouldn’t.

Yes, I carry a Garmin Fenix and record each day’s hike as an activity. You absolutely do not need a smart watch to hike but it a lot of fun and convenient to have. I love all the stats for each day’s hike. HR. elevation gain and loss. Pace. It’s also convenient to have all the information the watch provides right on your wrist. How many miles you’ve gone. Elevation. (On a nasty up hill I’ll just know the elevation I need to get to and can glance st my wrist for progress without overthinking the distance.) Sunrise and sunset times. Day length. I set a notification to go off 1.5 hours before sunset. That’s my dummy check reminder I need to be looking for a campsite. I also set a lap notification for 1.0 miles. That way I can mentally keep track of how far I’ve gone. The newish elevation acclimation widget has been interesting. Most of these functions/information is as lap available on a cell phone. But it’s nice in watch form. The battery needs of a smart watch are negligible. I did need to recharge it daily.

I’m getting like ~36 hours charge out of mine. No it doesn’t have the battery life of the Fenix but I get basically a fully charge while I’m in the shower/changing so I don’t think it’s going to be issue.

I literally did the same thing with my fenix 3/6 and tactix but being able to run without a phone and still have access to emergency services or family through the watch is far superior than battery life during my 20-25 hours/week training.

I use a fenix for activity tracking and an Oura ring for sleep tracking. Two devices is unfortunate, but the oura’s small size, sleep tracking, and readiness metrics are worth it.

Just bought the new Fenix MIP. I would say the same. Pricey, but hopefully worth it for a long time like my 735xt I just retired!

Can’t blame ya for that. I will admit, the fenix feels bulky, and I didn’t even get the 51mm size. It took a few days to get use to the extra weight.

And the altimeter still works? Both of my Fenix models (3hr and current 6x pro) the altimeter stopped working after ~2 years with similar usage time (indoor chlorinated Pool).

"Its been 10+ years since the first AW launch. If i ask you to list various health and training insights provided by AW natively it wont even cover 20% given by Garmin."---Because that was never the intention of the AW. AW was not released as a Garmin watch competitor, it's more of a do-it-all watch. You can easily install 3rd party apps to get whatever metrics you want but Garmin can't do what AW does. I like Garmin's long battery and for me AWU is more than enough as well. "I would not trust any algo developed by them compared to a company like Garmin using a dedicated FirstBeat analytics "-----I was a Garmin user before and FirstBeat is nothing fancy. If you stay in this sub enough you'll see all the posts about the algorithm miscalculation. This post seem like biased praise for Garmin rather than reasonable analysis. I have number of time that my Fenix and FR965 froze during hiking and running, and I don't even bother making a post complaining their shitty CPU and hardware. Wear whatever you want and relax

Is it as comfy to sleep with? I have a garmin fenix 6 and cant sleep with that but can with the whoop

I don't have any notifications whatsoever on my Fenix 6s pro. I just never set them up. Not a one. I work in a regulated area that prohibits certain distractions like that. That said, it's not a dumb watch, so it can have notifications if you set them up.

I was just about to make my own post asking about this! Currently running a Fenix 6x Sapphire, had it for about 4 years now. Mainly used for running, cycling, gym, and the occasional swim/hike. Connectivity to my Wahoo Smart trainer is a must. I almost always wear a chest strap (Polar H10) as the watch HR is unreliable as fuck. What would I lose moving to one of the newer Forerunners? And conversely, what are the benefits of upgrading to say a Fenix 8? Thanks

I was a long time Garmin owner. Mostly Fenix models because I needed the battery life for ultras and Ironmans. I just recently dropped the bulky Garmin for a Suunto Race S. This watch is incredibly light, has great battery life, and the AMOLED looks good. Never thought I'd drop Garmin but so far I'm happy. Edit: Oh and the price. The price of a Race S is wild when you consider the features.

Fenix 7 should work great. (Double check for 100hz) I have fenix6s and it works but doesnt show live data and 25hz processor is shit with surfr. Also dowloading times are long. Not that i am slightly bitter with my yesterday 20m jump with 21+sec hangtime. According to surfr ai calculation 9m with 7second hangtime 🥲

I run a Fenix as well, but look at the instinct line as you may find something there

+1 on this combination, with the free version of HealthFit being sufficient (I pay to support the dev). I don’t think you’ll be able to get a 1:1 feature match. OP will need to evaluate the most important aspects for them in Garmin and see if the AW will suffice. Coming from a Fénix 6, LTE was the deciding factor for me to switch to a Series 10.

These comparisons and comments ended for me with the release of the Fenix 8 Pro. If you are listening to music, full gps, with LTE the 47MM Fenix gets like 8 hours. That’s about inline with the AWU 3 in the same use case. And if you turn off a bunch of features on the AWU it gets much longer life as a smart watch and up to 20 hours with full gps during an activity. The limitation of everything is battery technology and how much you want your watch to do. Garmin likes to make fitness focused watches. Apple makes smartwatches with fitness figures. Buy whatever one makes you happy for your use cases

Hi, I own forerunner 970(before that multiple forerunner devices 945, 955 solar, 965) fenixes(6 pro, 7 solar, 7 pro, 8) and edge 1050(before 530 and 830), also im reviewer for suunto in my country. Based on cycling, its ok... i mean it never will be dedicated bike computerm but its ok, U can pair multiple sensors. Power sensor works ok, but U can't set avg power counting with 0 or not like in garmin. About app, its really nice, even it shows peak power and speed for 30sec, 1min, 3min, and 5min. I had it before launch to this day and it is pretty stable(also i never experienced losing training session on garmin). About indoor cycling, smart trainers are not supported and I hope this will change soon because garmin in top in this matter. For running its also great Now there are some diffrences between app and watch with recovery metrics at this moment

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 feel like they added the green strip just because they knew that otherwise almost nobody would get the Fenix this round. 😂 I am not a fan of the green either, but put up with it anyway, only way to get the hardware features I wanted in the thinner body (and for way cheaper) compared to the Fenix.

I have an F6 Pro with the MIP screen, and with apx 1ht exercise per day with GPS etc (at the very least) it’ll hold a full charge - even now - of about 7-10 days. Garmin appear to be dipping their toe in the subscription models (Connect+) and likewise for some of their more enhanced mapping (Maps+) and their InReach subscriptions. All this for a £1100-£1730 device that’s likely to stop receiving feature updates as soon as the next model comes out 12-18 months later. (It’s not like the watchOS updates). Oh yeah, but you’ll get maybe 6-10 days battery for that. It’s difficult for me as I’m deeply into the Garmin ecosystem, and I enjoy the level of metrics and data, but I’m finding it really difficult to see past Garmins increasing weaknesses - and prices.

I have both. Have really liked the Garmin for cycling and hiking. For cycling, you can load turn by turn routes on Garmin. For day to day, AW2 is more powerful and capable. However, WorkOutDoors just added the ability to do turn by turn directions. Will try for first time this weekend and if it works well may sell my Fenix 6. Also have a Specialized e-bike and they just added the ability to also read AW heart rate which it could not do before. The Garmin can broadcast HR which the bike can read. So now they are on par there too.

Hands down Garmin Fenix or Enduro.

I've gone on backpacking trips where I'm hiking all day and GPS tracking all of it with my Fenix 6. And I have to charge it every 4 days or so. An Apple Watch wouldn't even last that long with no GPS tracking at all.

I have a Fenix 6s which does everything you mentioned, has lasted for ages, and was well within your budget. The top end Garmins all have very similar software, so it’s more about the look, screen, and build (more metal or more plastic). I don’t think you’d be dissatisfied by any of them.

I am pretty happy with my old Garmin Fenix 6s for pool and open water swimming. So far, I haven’t followed a pre-planned workout, so I can’t comment on that feature. Pool swims give time and strokes per length. Sometimes it misses a turn and gives a glitch, but it’s pretty rare. It can’t track a kick set, so far as I know. It’s OK at identifying stroke. For OW, it tracks you, gives speed, and stroke rate. It’s impressive as your watch is under water some of the time. Now, Garmin under-rewards swimming in general just because your HR is generally lower than running. It gives low (IMHO) calorie estimates sort of treats it as a recovery workout.

Satisfaction depends on expectation. I like my Garmin Fenix 6s a lot— and I’ve had it for about 4 years. But, I just want to track my sleep, steps, and activities. I do a lot of different stuff, and the Fenix supports it all. It has an always-on MIPS screen, which isn’t dazzling, but works. I charge about once a week. If you want more of an extension to your phone and you don’t mind charging for a few minutes every day, stay with AW.

My older Fenix 6 gets a pretty reliable measurement.

I bought the waterproof strap and found it to be uncomfortable. I have to say, my Fenix 6 seemed to do a pretty good job in the pool yesterday. I’m just getting back into swimming after a hiatus, and it seems like the algorithm has been updated.

I’ve switched back and forth between Apple Watches and Garmin (Fenix). Right now I use an Apple Watch, but I might buy a Fenix as well at some point. Apple Watches are superior in being a *smart watch* - if you have an iPhone. Better notifications, better integration, looks cleaner (better for up to business casual), and it is decent for activities. I love cellular! The Fenix (and probably all other Garmin watches) are superior *Activity Watches*. Way better tracking, nice screen for maps, more customization in data screen, more durable. I like physical buttons, the flashlight of the newer models. But they aren’t good as smart watches. Simply not good enough integration with my phone for what I need, so sometimes stuff aren’t up to date. No cellular is annoying For someone like me who mainly bike, and thus have my Edge, I don’t need to focus on activity watches. I just bring my Apple Watch to be able to ditch my phone without going off grid. And in day to day life I just prefer the Apple Watch. One of each would be superior.

Love mine! Had the Fenix 6 and AW Ultra. It’s lightweight, great readability and comfy.

Garmin all day, fenix

Fenix or Epix and yes they integrate with iPhones. Some fitness apps will connect to Garmin. If you want a slimmer watch you can also go for the new forerunner.

I had a F6XPro switched to AWU2 and was so underwhelmed. Waiting for a slight price drop in new F8Pro and will be heading back to Garmin as soon as I can. AWU2 looks nice but the battery is such a huge let down.

Just tossing out there that you may want to consider a used or refurbished watch. Better quality, may have features you didn’t think you could afford, just a couple of years old. That’s how I got my Fenix 6x Pro for $200.

Fenix or Coros if you want/need the navigation, otherwise any of the other basic Garmin will be fine

I do both and have Fenix.

Fenix fan, too, for the maps as I am also an avid outdoor person.

Apple Watch will do fine for a long time - only got a Garmin last year. However once you go to only having to charge your watch once every two weeks you just can’t go back to Apple. I have a Garmin Fenix (on the $$ side) but I wear it every day as my normal watch too and have had zero issues making the switch. However there’s heaps in the range, I love accuracy, maps, long battery and lots and lots of data so I can overthink every run - so Fenix it is! The forerunners are great and the vivoactives are a good mid range model. There’s other brands like Suunto, Polar etc. For true accuracy on any wrist watch you may need a chest monitor. But if you really like your Apple Watch I found it pretty good unless you’re somewhere with not much reception

This is not clear. Which activities can't you wear a sorts watch? Do you mean like work or formal dinner where sports watch might not match your outfit? If that is the case, you should consider the garmin fenix. More premium build and you can get different watch straps that can be changed quickly if you need to dress to impress.

Hands down Garmin Fenix series. Currently, the 8 is the latest version. You can pick up a 6x pro solar on Amazon for about 500 bucks or less. The standalone GPS function has bailed me out more than once, and the battery life is absolutely amazing!

I do the same. Downvotes be dammed. I usually like to get out at around 130 and get it down to 38 in the cold plunge. 3 years on a fenix 6 without issue.

The Garmin Fenix is great - you can often find refurbished models a generation out of date from Garmin directly that are right in your price point.

I have a 955 and a petite female wrist. The watch is big for me but it’s manageable. In the winter, it gets a bit caught on my short sleeves sometimes but that’s the worst of it. I came from a Fenix 6s which was much thicker and heavier so even though that watch face was smaller in diameter, it was much more in the way. It was too heavy. I don’t find that the 955 really bothers me, especially when running.

Garmins are very behind gw in the smart features department. Second major difference with gw world is feature sets - all watches have different combinations, the only safe choice is fenix. All other models require deep analysis. Venu3, the smartest watch of its time, does not have timer presets and does not show sunset in the weather app, other models do. Third, be familiar with software update policy. Unlike wearos, Garmins software updates do not assume new UI and features, you can get some of them or not, but you may not expect them.

Garmin Fenix is impossible to kill

Garmin will track your laps (while swimming any style). But if doing drills (FS kicking, one hand FS, BF kick...), you'll have to manually start/end each drill during your current Garmin poolswim session. With an Apple Watch it will track almost every lap, despite doing drills. So depends on what you'll do in the pool. Cheaper versions like a Fitbit , will track your laps no problem. You don't need to go to he GPS smart bands/watches just for swimming.

Instinct battery life is great, but it doesn't have maps. You can put a course on it and it will buzz when you need to turn, but the 955/965 enduro/epix/fenix lines all have built in maps where you can see roads, topolograpic lines, and other points of interest.

Garmin Fenix, I bought a second hand one on ebay and I absolutely love it and the best bit is the charge lasts for over a week.

I have a Fenix 6 and love it, but I justify the usage because I backcountry ski and want an interface with my Garmin InReach. Its rock solid and does a ton but it's a tool. If you have a need for more, I would vote Garmin, but if not that AWU2 looks good enough for what you described.

I had Fenix for a very long time, then I bought AWU1 then fenix 8 and again AWU2. Why I again bought AW? I don't need tons or obsolete metrics, I can top up battery while in the shower, UI is more intuitive and smoother. Then I have LTE so I can enjoy not taking phone with me to listen to music.

Yeah I have the garmin fenix 6pro from like 3 years ago and do like 2 workouts a day, one is usually a gps activity, and I only have to charge it like once a week

Just as an option, I got a Fenix 6 pro last year second hand, about £120 on ebay. Looked new and has been flawless since. Obviously older models don't get all the new feature updates so you have to think what you'll need. But my impression is these watches are really built to last.

I use a Fenix 6S Pro with a Polar chest strap. I usually take the watch off for workouts and keep it in my pocket or near my water bottle. As long as I’m within the Bluetooth range for the chest strap, it still records everything. I use “cardio” setting for most CrossFit workouts.

965 has golf. But the face isn’t recessed so it’s gets scraped more than a fenix or epix

This is a solid answer and comes pretty close to what Garmin gives. I’ve worn both Fenix (6,7,8) with AW (Since the series 2). What’s better to do is choose the one that gives you numbers closer to how you feel. I say that because HRV tracking ALL day is basically useless since literally everything can have an impact on HRV. Overnight is more important and waking is arguably the best time to take it (albeit easy to influence if you know what you’re doing) so there’s an argument to be made for both sides ultimately the one that works best for your needs and doesn’t dictate your day is the better choice

Flashlight on my Fenix is worth A LOT of money to me. Having had it, I could not go back. I would happily pay 200 extra for it I use it so much. Maybe more actually! Having a flashlight on your wrist is incredibly handy.

I have had 2 Garmin watches (fenix 3hr and Fenix 6)in the same time my friend has had no less than 5 AWs. The build quality is unbelievable on Garmin and the battery makes Apple look pitiful. 2-3 weeks on a charge. I forgot I had my fenix on and did a mud run. Didn’t even phase my watch. Literally dragged it through the mud and it just kept going. Apple Adds a good product but Garmin is next level.

I had an AW before the Ultra (maybe a Series 5?) and AWs before that. When I got into running, then triathlons, I got a Forerunner 935 then the Fenix 6X Pro. I stopped doing triathlons during Covid, but continued running and got the 1st gen AWU on launch day. I missed the week+ long battery life, but having cellular on my watch for training runs so I wouldn’t have to bring my phone was a nice change. I wasn’t obsessed with metrics. The Garmin Body Battery was nice, but it’s just an algorithm from the metrics it collects. Apple has added quite a few features and more metrics over the years, plus there’s 3rd party apps like WorkOutdoors that are great. These days, having a smart watch first is more important than a sports watch, but the AWU can still track workouts accurately and provides stats that are sufficient for most users.

As an FYI: With The Garmin, you can configure your watch and the app to NOT display any data that you don't like or do not want to see. I have been using Garmin watches (fenix) and head units (Edge) since 2012 with no significant issues.

Bummer, no alarm is a deal breaker for me switching to this kind of tracker over something like my Garmin Fenix 6.

Honestly unless you are incredibly certain that newer features are things you want/need I would go with earlier models that function still very well like a Fenix 6 Pro/Pro Solar. Been using mine easily for 2 years and it functions quite well.

Honestly unless you are incredibly certain that newer features on watches are things you want/need I would go with earlier models that function still very well. I have a Fenix 6 Pro, been using mine easily for 2 years and it functions quite well.

Fenix with talkytoaster maps which have higher detail for mountain areas

Garmin doesn’t bring new features into their older watches, but my Fenix 6 lasted five years - the battery was degraded so I went for an upgrade (Enduro 3).

I’ve been using an Apple Watch for pool and open water swimming for about 6 years. You hear people doing the “Apple Watch Isn’t Waterproof” thing every now and then (also the “Apple wont repair water damaged watches”, which is also untrue). Try the thing that you have and see if it suits you. I’ve used AW4, AW6 and currently have an AW10, they’ve all worked well for me. I recently started used a Garmin watch too (Fenix 6x Pro) - it has some significant advantages (better battery life for really long swims) but also some disadvantages (sometimes comical inaccuracy).

At the moment I’m comparing my Apple Watch with a Garmin Fenix 6x Pro that I bought recently. On most swims the Garmin will record a distance about 20-25% higher than the Apple Watch. There are a few swims that I do that I can easily verify the distance on a map (eg where we swim along a river from one bridge to another) and for those, the Apple Watch normally gets the distance about right, so I think generally the Garmin overestimates distance. I don’t see why the watches should give different distance though - like someone else commented, GPS is easily accurate enough to measure distances like this to within a few feet. Both watches might be trying to measure some kind of “effective distance”, eg swimming 1 mile upstream should count for more than 1 mile downstream, but I’ve never seen that written down anywhere. If you really care how far you’ve swum, record your swim with a watch, but then manually measure the GPS track on a real map.

I have a Garmin Watch (Fenix 6x Pro) and an Apple Watch (Series 10) and they both have pros and cons. The Garmin watch has amazing battery life (over a week of wearing it, over 24 hours of GPS recording), and it’s easy to read, and it has physical buttons that you can use with wet hands. It’s not very accurate though - for me it often adds 10% or more to my distance, snd and a swimming buddy often sees 50% to 100% extra on his Garmin watch - so it reports a 1500m swim as 3000m. It’s also quite a heavy/bulky watch. The Apple Watch has a shorter battery life (less than 24h of normal use, less than 6 hours of GPS recording). The touch screen is almost unusable with wet hands, the only reliable action is pause/resume (by pressing both buttons simultaneously). However, the GPS is almost always spot on - any time that I’ve been able to verify the distance, like on a river swim, or point to point along the coast, it’s been very close to the distance as measured on the map. If I was buying a new watch right now I’d probably look at an Apple Watch Ultra, but they’re pretty expensive and I’m going to hang on to my existing watches for now.

I have a Garmin Watch (Fenix 6x Pro) and an Apple Watch (Series 10) and they both have pros and cons. The Garmin watch has amazing battery life (over a week of wearing it, over 24 hours of GPS recording), and it’s easy to read, and it has physical buttons that you can use with wet hands. It’s not very accurate though - for me it often adds 10% or more to my distance, snd and a swimming buddy often sees 50% to 100% extra on his Garmin watch - so it reports a 1500m swim as 3000m. It’s also quite a heavy/bulky watch. The Apple Watch has a shorter battery life (less than 24h of normal use, less than 6 hours of GPS recording). The touch screen is almost unusable with wet hands, the only reliable action is pause/resume (by pressing both buttons simultaneously). However, the GPS is almost always spot on - any time that I’ve been able to verify the distance, like on a river swim, or point to point along the coast, it’s been very close to the distance as measured on the map. If I was buying a new watch right now I’d probably look at an Apple Watch Ultra, but they’re pretty expensive and I’m going to hang on to my existing watches for now.

Funnily enough, I have exactly the opposite experience with Apple vs Garmin. I find my Apple Watch (AW10) to be accurate, and my Garmin Watch (Fenix 6x Pro) to be less accurate (but useful in other ways). My Apple Watch will reliably count my lengths correctly if I’m training. Garmin will occasionally drop a length. My Apple Watch will reliably measure my OWS distance accurately - if I’m doing a swim that has a known distance - point to point along a river or across a lake - my Apple Watch will show a plausible distance and the map will not show anything unexpected, but the Garmin watch will often show a higher distance (normally about 10% higher, but occasionally more) and the GPS track will often show zig-zags on the track, or will have unbelievable straight line segments (sometimes cutting across land). On the other hand, the Garmin watch has physical buttons that can be used while swimming, even when wearing gloves, the battery life is amazing (over 24h of swim tracking, whilst the Apple Watch can only do about 6 hours - but up to maybe 9 hours in power save mode), and the display is much larger and thus much easier to read. I’ve not noticed a difference in heart rate readings, but both watches seem to show similar readings

Any GPS swim watch should do. I get very good results with my Apple Watch and less good (but still ok) results with my Garmin watch. If you want an “extra” device to track your swim you could try the free Strava app on your phone - I’ve used this on longer swims where I wasn’t sure if the watch would last. I’ve since worked out how to extend the recording time on my Apple Watch, so this isn’t an issue for me any more.

I personally ditched the fenix and went for the epix because of the display. The fenix has almost nothing extra that is meaningful to me. The lower cost is definitely a perk of the epix as well!

Most people coming from apple go vivo active or venue. Venue being closest to a smart watch. Personally, I'm a instinct guy. Although I'm wearing a Fenix today since I didn't charge my Instinct for 2 weeks and it died before bed. I've swam tens of thousands of meters (more like hundreds but..) in pool, open and salt water with my Garmins. Done free diving (only to about 40ft, I'm not very good) and press the buttons regularly sub surface. I've also done cliff jumping with every watch, and haven't lost a garmin to water intrusion. I would definitely select a 100m rated model for water sports. Any watch can fail but I've had 6 garmins and none have. I also had a bunch of Casio and Timex over the years and not one failure.

I use a Fenix and and instinct. 100% accurate in the pool unless I'm doing under/overs (15m under, 10 over, 15 under, 10 over) then it will miss some laps. Most people aren't doing the legal 15m pullout (I do it to circumvent no underwater swimming) so this isn't an issue. Other than that, as long as I'm stroking with my arms, it rarely misses a length. I've had an Fenix 2/3/5x in the pool and mostly use my Instinct in open water because I don't mess with a HRM (wrist is fine, I don't care that much for the OWS and if I do I use my HRM pro).

The Apple Watch is deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, and most notably in messaging, and events (events is a surprisingly broad subject). It is a superb smartwatch that happens to have a lot of fitness features. Garmins are sports watches first, that happen to have some smart watch features. Forgetting the software featres, the Fenix and Tactix are highly rugged and that's a feature for them.

Fenix owner: I've never even once used the maps when running.

Garmin guy here - Changing the battery in the Fenix is a screwdriver job. It's easy as pie. Of course, does Garmin tell you that? Well, of course not.

It also costs 2000 bucks. And you have to pay extra for a lot of functions only available with connect+. And for a lot of the advanced running metrics newly introduced you need the HRM 600 for a solid 160 bucks (which i paid as my HRM pro died and I could afford to). The AWU3 comes in at a fraction of that cost, has some incredibly convenient features, no subscription cost or other hardware (other than your phone) needed to gain access to all of its features… I’ll happily continue rocking my Fenix 6 Pro until it dies, as both options don’t really grab me..but i won’t lie, for my taste Garmin shit the bed with its recent offerings and their price structure. Compared to that Apple really stays in line, accounting for inflation and tariffs.

I use a Garmin Fenix 6s Pro for all my hikes, I use the Garmin website to plot a route then upload it to the watch. Think you can use any route plotting software that you can export as a GPX file. Fenix 6s Pro doesn't have solar charging, but I mainly do day hikes so never had an issue with battery life. There is also loads of customisation available for battery modes to extend the battery life if you don't need certain features running all the time.

The music and podcasts via Spotify work pretty well on my Fenix. What makes it clunky?🤔

Yes they are pretty rubbish for swimming. I just switched to a Garmin Fenix which hopefully will be better. The Apple Watch managed lap counting ok for me but open water was a disaster and the rest of its counting (calories etc) was also well off by the looks of it. Your does sound even more broken than just being rubbish though. It should be able to count laps fairly accurately, I think most of them can do that ok.

do you want more of a smartwatch that can also track fitness? or do you want a fitness watch that has some smart capabilities? that's basically the math when comparing Garmin to pixel or apple watch. I have a Garmin Fenix because I do a lot of hiking and like having the maps on my wrist. But if it weren't for that, I'd probably get the Garmin Instinct

Oh yeah good call. Battery life is super important to me. I do ultras so having 24+ hours of gps is necessary. And when in regular life, charging once every 10 days or so is pretty sweet

I've moved away from Garmin, but I have to say that their support was aways amazing for me. They RMA'd my Vivoactive 3, Vector 3s pedals AND my Fenix 6 Pro with pretty much no issue each time. Same with my Tacx, both before and since Garmin bought them.

This! I went from a 935 to a F6 Pro to an AWU2. The battery isn't comparable, but it does \_so\_ much more and the feature-set keeps growing. I'm just about to receive sleep score and high blood pressure detection on my AWU2. The battery life isn't as long, but I charge it whilst I'm in the shower every other day, and never have to worry about it running out. I have the LTE version, and go running with it all the time, using the walkie talkie chat with my wife. The two aren't comparable... but I'm glad I made the switch away from Garmin.

Its pretty close to what I had on my fenix watch. I have been a gsrmin fan for over 10 years but when my fenix 6 started to die, I couldn't stomach the price tag of the new ones. So I got this and an active 2 and still didn't spend anywhere near what a new fenix would be. For my needs, its more than enough!

I do yes. I wear my Garmin Fenix for any workout.

See that’s the thing man, that’s the way it used to be, but it’s not like that anymore. A marathon will use maybe 30% of the ultras battery life, and even less if you turn off the always on display. I went from a AW 6 —-> fenix 6x —-> Apple Watch Ultra and there really isn’t a notable difference, it’s one a 1 day battery anymore. I’ve only killed it once on a 15hour continuous bicycle ride, and I spot people doing Olympic and Ironman triathlons with the ultra.

Different strokes for different folks man. To me, 5 days of battery life would be poor if I was using a garmin. I’d get around 10-12 days on my fenix 6x with 5-6 GPS workouts a week.

1) The Fenix 7/Epix and their Pro variants WILL NOT stop getting firmware updates. They will not be getting all the same features updates that the Fenix 8 and newer watches will get. Garmin does firmware updates for watches for years. My Fenix 6 Pro (released in 2019) got a firmware update this past March or April. 6 years after it's release. Does my watch have the same features as the Fenix 7 or 8? Nope it does not. 2) Now for some recommendations... Going With the Fenix 7/Epix and the Pro variants will be a great watch for what you want to do. You can get them between $300 to $500 refurbished. 3) if you want to spend more money to get a watch that will get new features for the next few years I would suggest the Forerunner 970. It has a titanium bezel and Sapphire glass. It's very rugged. It's $750 but if you wait till black Friday you could probably score a bit of a discount.

Nice time! My Fenix 6 used something like 25% battery at the same race.  Apple watch won’t last for a full. There’s a reason most people have garmin or other devices in triathlon.  Also every apple watch I’ve had tracks open water swimming like a drunk squirrel. 

I would also buy a Fenix for the titanium and the sapphire glass, two really nice features lol

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.

His watch is a 51mm mip so as similar as you can get to the Enduro. Garmin doesn’t make a solar amoled watch. I would expect longer battery from the Enduro but something sounds wrong with his Fenix. Heck, I was getting almost 3 weeks out of my 6x pro and get about the same as he is getting with my 47mm Epix so something must be wrong.

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.

DC Rainmaker (who does the best multisport tech reviews out there) once described the Forerunner 935 as the Fenix 6P, essentially the Fenix 6 but with a plastic body. The feature set was basically identical. When it comes to running metrics specifically, there's unlikely to be any difference. Both are top notch.

I've used either a Forerunner 9xx or a Fēnix for about 6 years. If you give it about 5 minutes before you swim to leatch onto as many satellites as possible after it says it has a GPS fix it's pretty good. If you dive in as soon as you get the tick, it's crap.

I have a Fenix 6X pro solar, battery still lasts for weeks, does a pretty good job for tracking. I’m sure you could pick a second hand one up cheaply and get a HRM.

I have a Garmin Fenix 6 and I normally have mine on. I sauna 4 to 5 days a week and have had the watch for 4 or so years. Works totally fine!

I've had Apple, Garmin and Samsung smart watches but only got "joy spark" from the Garmin Fenix/Epix. The Garmin Fenix/Epix have an intangible attraction that doesn't equate to any feature or activity. One aspect of wearing a Fenix/Epix that I have to admit is attractive to me is that it signifies that I'm a performance athlete.

Garmin supports those apps (atleast last time when I looked). The best watches for swimming would be a Garmin Quatix but the Fenix is almost the same watch. Both are well made and support for sure Spotify. Strava is connectable within the Garmin App.

I switched from AW to a Fenix 6 Spring/Summer 2023 timeframe. I use my Garmin to track 2-3 hour long activities a day. I used to charge my AW in the morning while I got ready for work AND in the car to and from work to get it to make it through the day and for sleep tracking. I charge my Garmin once a week when I take an everything shower and I never worry about battery life at all.

I use a polar h10 chest strap and a garmin fenix 6s pro. Does exactly what I expect. The only thing I wish I had was the quality sleep tracking that whoop has. I am surprised nobody has tried to duplicate their sleep tracking algorithm.

I got a great deal on a fenix 6 pro a couple years ago and I love it. I am a Garmin fan. That being said, considering your budget, I would check the Instinct. FR 265 is very nice as well but is more expensive. Maybe check out some used ones. There are a lot of Garmin watches in the second hand market. Safe runs

Don’t waste your time with any of them. I’ve had Apple Watch (not ultra) and now have a Garmin Fenix 6. I remain unimpressed by both. The biggest benefits I get are: 1. Notifications on my watch (this also sucks sometimes) 2. Alarm clock on my watch. I am hearing impaired so this is big for me When I have to replace a new watch I will likely opt for the cheapest Apple Watch or cheapest Garmin, since the above are the only two features I care about

There should be, but it isn’t. I have 255 and it’s great, capable, light watch, but it has weak display and no touch, changing straps is a hassle. So I waited long for 975, but I’ll go the Fenix way very, very soon :) Maps are definitely better on the 965 than on 255, navigation there is really rather basic.

Grab the cheapest watch and pair it with a good chest strap for more accurate data. Otherwise the movements give weird data. I pair a Garmin Fenix 6 with HRM Pro+. Pay attention to HRV for recovery.

I have a garmin Fenix and I love it. I think it’s use for cycling training is fine, but definitely not a must have. I find it much more useful for running, hiking, etc, where its easier to look at. Having a map is also very handy.  Wrist heart rate is nice and easy, but too inaccurate for training. Sleep tracking doesn’t tell you anything you don’t know, it’s just too inaccurate. Body battery is highly sensitive to sleep, so also kind of pointless. I don’t ever use the training features really.  However, some of the other features I use regularly. I cannot describe how handy a wrist alarm is for waking up peacefully without waking your partner. My watch has a flashlight, which I also use daily. The smart watch features are also much more useful than i expected, it’s nice when you’re busy and you get a notification to quickly be able to dismiss, rather than bringing your phone out. Overall I’ve been surprised that the features I didn’t think I’d use I have ended up using way more than the features I bought it for.  Overall: don’t get one for training purposes. Do get one if you are attracted to the smartwatch features as well. 

Garmin is strong on fitness and sleep tracking. It can't hold a candle to the smart watch phone functionality of Samsung or apple. That said, Samsung and Apple can't hold a candle to the fitness metrics Garmin produces. I use a Fenix 6 and couldn't be happier. The 8 has more smart watch functionality from what I read

Bro, it's literally a fitness tracker first, then 2 miles of data sheets from all that tracking...then all the "smart" gibberish as a barely visible dot on the horizon. At least Enduro/fenix/Tactix/Epix line are like that.

How accurate is the GPS, especially when running through woods or on overcast days? I've found Apple watches and even lower end Garmins don't handle position tracking very well in those conditions. Sometimes they'll be as much as a half mile off for a several mile run. That's the only time I can't fault the Fenix series watches, the GPS is nearly flawless. The only thing I've found more accurate is a handheld.

Battery life is #1. My Apple Watch died before I was done from full battery when I hiked longs peak. I like physical buttons on my Fenix personally over a tiny little touch screen - that also has to be backlit and wastes battery. I think newer models are moving towards touch screens though, mine doesn’t even have the option. It just has a button you can press to light the screen if it’s dark but in the day I can see it just fine.

Yup, I was comparing the fenix and the enduro at REI and the fenix felt and looked like a normal watch while also having the features I wanted.

It sounds dumb, and I never thought I’d use it when I got my Fenix, but the flashlight might be one of my top used features. I’ll never own a watch again that doesn’t have one.

The 255 is a great piece of kit, Lightweight, battery is great, not a bad smart watch with the MIP screen…. HR tracks well to AW, Fenix and Amazfit TR3. Couple of beats between them.

I have a fenix Pro, with all phone related things turned off. I will only receive vibration for phone calls (as I keep my phone on silent). Otherwise it’s strictly for fitness/health

I have the 965 and my dad has the Fenix, Fenix has much better golf capabilities. They'll both give you yardage keep score and do the basics, but Fenix goes much further.

So I’m trapped under a building and what I’m doing with my Fenix? Checking HRV and training status? With an AWU I can potentially call for help and use the siren

Just switched from a Fenix 6x pro to a FR965. The weight difference is noticeable to me. The touch screen is nice but it retains the buttons I’m used to. Display is 1000 times better. It’s much smaller and feels like it may not take the beating my Fenix did for 6 years. I got it in white which is a nice change. Battery life is supposed to be better. About all I can say for now since I’m under 24 hours with it but I haven’t found anything I’m missing.

I’ve used a Garmin Fenix, Garmin Swim 2, and Apple Watch for swimming and by far the garmins were superior. My Apple Watch would die after about half an hour in open water, regardless of water temp, and was always inaccurate with my laps and interval times in the pool. The swim 2 and fenix work much better.

No smartwatch does swimming or lifting particularly well, imo. The development of swimming software has always been secondary to the watch’s software for biking and running. That said, i do use and find acceptable the swim function on my garmin (I’ve had a swim 2, forerunner, and fenix). I don’t pay attention to stroke detection so I can’t speak to that but it does everything else you’re asking for.  For lifting, paper and pen is still king. I track my lifting workouts on my watch so i get “credit” for them and the workouts help me reach some of the silly little “challenges” garmin has, but it’s too fiddly, prone to errors, and doesn’t provide me the same information I get by writing down my lifts & how I felt. 

What’s up dude - it sounds like your uses for a Garmin are pretty similar to mine Like other people have mentioned, tracking runs on Garmin is awesome. Along with this, I use the watch to track HITT and other cardio based activities, and I think it does well simply for the HR monitoring. In the gym, I use it only for tracking number of sets, rest between sets, and reps. Sometimes the auto rep counter is off, but you can adjust it manually. Overall I’m ver impressed and happy with the performance from the watch. (Fenix 6x Pro)

I have 674,647 yards this year alone on my 4 year old Garmin Fenix 6, and have not had a single issue with it.

For anyone coming to this thread later (looks like OP made decision already): I've found that the fenix 6 pro solar does an inferior job with gps accuracy while running on roads and has a track mode that is notably less precise than my forerunner 245. Very disappointing. Fenix has been good for navigating trail runs and not needing to rely on 3rd party apps for winter sports, OWS, and triathlon modes, but the difference in utility and performanc between the two is lacking in many respects.

If you bike, then Garmin probably the best option if you want a dedicated bike computer. I also like that as an eBiker my Fenix watch shows all my bike status specs, watts etc for the one that is able to send the data.  Went back to Polar since I like Polar's overall approach to activity instead of steps+intensity minutes+floors etc fragmentstion. Plus now I can wear a smartwatch as a phone on one wrist and screenless Polar on the other when not working out.

wtf. How could you live with that battery life for 6 years? I go for bikepacking a lot. After 1 year I had enough. If Fenix is out of your budget I would even consider buying a used Fenix 7 or even Fenix 6.

I personally love my Fenix, and yes, most Garmin things revolve around running—but I do HIIT, strength training, and backpacking, and the recovery seems quite accurate. My overall fitness suffers when I don't listen to the readiness score and overdo it.

I am a triathlete and training data 📊 📈 is the most important thing to your health and improvement! I’m fun of garmin products and I have been wearing Fenix watches for many years! Since this year I started running long distances and and I noticed watch is big, heavy etc and few times damaged my wrist also, so I decided to jump to Forerunner series but couldn’t decide should I buy forerunner 965 or 970 🤔 there is always 200 euros 💶 between 2 watches! And also as I know 965 has more longer battery 🔋 life…

i hated my garmin fenix chunky edges on my 4.5 inch wrist which is tiny for my first one i went for the cheap apple watch 6 decided i liked it and went to a series 9 never looked back and also im in the apple ecosystem partley so this has been a great help

I moved from Fenix to PW3 because my $900 Fenix screen died. Garmin told me to go pound sand. PW has been totally fine for normal daily function. I never have any battery anxiety and I keep the screen on 24/7. A morning top up during showers is enough to keep it going. Keep in mind, Auto Screen off is only for when not tracking activity. If you are tracking a long run (Marathon/Ultra) screen stays on which sucks. I would not trust PW to track anything beyond 200-250 minutes (I know, extreme use case)

That's fair. I haven't looked into these options. That's the part i agree with OP on: My 43mm Fenix with Dual gps, Garmin live track, always on screen still had juice for up to 20-25 hours of running. That's a lot of pain and suffering on the knees😅 😜

Have the battery drain issues on the Fenix 7 Pro series not been addressed yet? I just ordered one, because there was a decent sale. I've had my Fenix 6 Pro for almost 4 years now and it is still going strong and even battery life is still pretty It was actually pretty hard to convince myself to upgrade, given that there aren't that many compelling features that would justify the steep price. Even with the sale, I'm paying double than what I did for the Fenix 6 Pro. I'm not even 100% sure I'll keep it, but having browsed through the official forum and Reddit and seeing all the battery drain reports and people downgrading to 17.xx firmware is not helping.

Lightweight and more budget friendly is the 955 and 965 (mip and amoled), then you have the same as you are used to, the Fenix 7 will have the training readiness and DSW with mip display, or Epix/Fenix 8 (cheaper/expensive) for amoled. It will all depend on budget. The coros and suunto are not so strong options for the maps. But your Fenix 6 should have daily suggested workout, except the option to see weekly suggested workouts I think.

Garmin Fenix… excellent monitoring of performance and movement!

I currently have an AWU. I've had a Fenix 6S which I sold to fund the AWU. I picked up an Epix Gen 2 on the Amazon sale last week. There are definite pros and cons to each. The AWU is better at notifications that you can interact with as well as providing more detail and pictures that can be very helpful, and if you have an iPhone the integration is superior in pretty much every way. Garmin is IMO better as a multi-sport/fitness watch and with a battery that can last anywhere from a week to a month, it's the watch you take if your going on long trips, hikes, etc. Now that I have both I actually will keep both and rotate them along with my 'real' watches. If funds aren't a driving point to be able to afford the switch consider keeping the AW. It does have it's use. Ideally if you could easily sync health data between both into a single app so it didn't matter which you were wearing and your info/stats were updated centrally that would really be the win.

It took me a while to get used to the heft of the fenix. It it noticeable while running or any activity in which your hands swing.

Ironman who’s just right of center… still use both. I’ve heard it described this way: the AWU2 is a great watch with some health features while the Garmin (Fenix 6pro Solar) is an exercise watch that tells time. I’ve not used the AWU2 in IM training but the only concern is event battery life. I wasn’t a fast finisher, just under the time cut. I fear the AWU2 may not have gone the distance for me. Even now when I ride or run outside, I switch to the Fenix due to the metrics. AWU2 just isn’t as detailed. Also for some weird reason neither connect reliably to my Horizon treadmill for longer than 2 miles. The Garmin does connect well to my Wahoo Kickr. Just my 2 cents..

Garmin with MIP display (non amoled, always on) and solar charging. I would vote for Enduro 3 or some from Fenix lineup if you can afford and if the size fits you.

Here is my reason, have you noticed that the major reviewers even when they are testing Garmin or Suunto watches are always wearing the Apple Watch Ultra on their wrist? Here is why, as great as Garmin watches are and I back this statement up , I have owned 3 Fenix's and 2 forerunner 9 series over the years. Running and Cycling are in comparison small parts of my week, even though I run 30 K a week and cycle almost 200K a week. The rest of the week, I am an employee, check email, read and respond to texts, I am a husband, a father , a podcast / music listener , a walker ,a gym goer and the Apple Watch is just an all round everyday watch for me with all the smart features. Sorry for the long winded reply.... and with regards to your last comment, I totally agree , when I was a Garmin Wearer, 99% of the time I saw someone with a Garmin, it was easy to strike a conversation as they were a runner or a cyclist. With the apple watch.....not so much lol

Switched 5 years ago. Echoing the comment here: this is **not** a smartwatch, but a **sports/adventure watch.**  You won’t be reading your emails, getting texts, or calling a Uber, and the screen is nowhere near as responsive as the AW. If you’re looking for a phone one your wrist, Garmin is not for you. But if you’re training for a sports race, anything from a 5k to an ultramarathon, or even just trying to stay generally fit, the load tracking and suggested workout feature alone is worth it. The battery of data signals you get to tailor and improve your training is worth the switch alone, to a Foretunner or Epix or Fenix. Not even getting started on navigation in the mountains, which is really good — if you hike, camp, trail run, cycle, or generally enjoy being out, you will love your Epic or Fenix.

A lot of Garmin watches cover lots of sports. The Forerunner 265 is a great watch. If hiking a lot and want maps, the Garmin 965 has maps. If money is no object, the Fenix or Epix models cover it all. I have a Fenix 6 Pro as well as a Forerunner 165.. Fenix watches are bulky and heavy. The FR 165 is very good for tracking swims and running but leaves out skiing but is thin and light on the wrist and still gets very good battery life.

I keep asking myself the same question. I’ve had a Fenix in the past and I love my Edge 1050 but when I run I want my Apple Music with me and my Watch phone for emergencies. The Watch Ultra does enough running tracking for me. I’d like a little more but not at the expense of the clutter that another watch would bring. The main problem is that you are paying for a huge overlap in functionality if you have both. Two lots of sleep tracking, HRV, oxygen, VO2 Max etc etc. Yes I fully get that ultimately the fitness metrics on the Apple Watch are more basic. I honestly don’t know how people run both.

My Fenix 6 can do 36hrs of gps tracking when in ultratrac mode, take one of those and a battery pack.

 🖐️  I fell for the allure of the Garmin Fenix in 2022, used it for a year.  Pros: nice design, rugged, tactile buttons, 10 day battery life    Cons: No cellular, MIP display indoors, mp3 transfer (I mean…who still has MP3’s lol), inefficient processor, HR inaccurate at times and often delayed (which sucked during interval workouts), software UI/UX is archaic, strength training profile is bonked, charging is slow, third party app support nonexistent) I came back and never looked back. The Apple Watch (Ultra) is a better smartwatch and health device. Plus with added third party apps I don’t miss Garmin at all. 

Buying a $800 product for 360 vs 5 days out of the year, and how 24hrs in a typical day is spent. Thats how I’d decide 

Because it’s basically running a calculator vs a fully fledged computer. Garmin also offloads most of the compute to the phone, which is why many Garmin users are shocked to discover that many workout functions require a working internet connection via Bluetooth to the phone to operate.  Same reason an old timex runs forever 

None of the complex metrics are done on the watch. Not. Even. Close. 

No I don’t think YOU do. Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection. It really annoyed me when I owned my Fenix.  Look it up, it’s true. 

No, I don’t think YOU do. Garmin Connect often requires an active internet connection for many features. I discovered this when I owned one. It pissed me off. 

Two months in review - you mean you almost need to charge it a second time?! 🙂 I always wanted one, before the amoled era. I don’t know why I stuck with Fenix and then switched to Epix… As a fellow of the mid-40s club (who also exercises some), I concur it’s overkill. It’s also part of the reason that keeps me going. So to add a famous quote: “No ragrets”. 🫡

My fenix 6s is a nice looking watch that can track my runs, give me a rough estimate of my health data, show me text messages as they come in, and doesn’t need to be charged constantly. That’s all I’ve ever asked of it and it works great for my needs.

I record a treadmill run for the treadmill and ignore the rest. Not perfect, but I use my Garmin to track my running more than anything else so it fits.

I'm using VA5 after my Fenix 6 crashed a few weeks ago. Same experience.

That's the main reason I switched. Loved the Pixel watch for its functions but charging it near daily was a deal breaker. My Garmin Fenix lasts three weeks

It's on Garmin's website for $549 with free 2-day shipping so you don't need to but it from Amazon. I'm pretty tempted to upgrade my Fenix 6 as it's starting to have issues syncing and occasionally turns off for no reason and it would be nice to get solar for essentially half off.

V5 has extra LEDs that are only active during activities. It also has integrated conductors for ECG measurements. Otherwise, it's the same as the V4 sensor, so all day heart rate accuracy and pulse ox accuracy is comparable between V4 and V5 sensors. Fenix 6 has the V3 sensor.

I'm very disappointed in my Fenix for gym (and it sounds like the same fault applies to all garmins) because of the logging of reps. When I do a workout it will assume I used the weights I specified, but then it seems to either auto-log reps, which is a disaster for things that don't involve hand movements, and require me to correct them, or assume I did zero and require me to enter the whole lot. If I'm doing 60 sets I honestly don't have the patience to manually enter the rep number, so I use a phone ap instead. The thing that really annoys me though is that it would be so easy for Garmin to make a tiny programing change and start with the assumption that you hit your target. Surely for most people who have a reasonably well-made workout this would mean they only need to change a small fraction of their reps. I have suggested they make that tiny change, as have others, but so-far it has fallen on deaf ears. Hopefully more people will suggest it, until eventually they do it. But for now I'd say stick with the apple watch.

Garmin forerunner, Fenix, epix, Enduro. And nothing else matters

Care to elaborate for cycling? I’m thinking of an AWU3 just for a change and because I feel priced out of the newest Fenix releases. I will keep my Fenix 6 as well though.

4 years isn't that much. My F6X has more than 5 years on it and my battery life is still more than good enough. Not as new, but far from what OP is experiencing.

I have the fenix and use that as the cycling computer with a seperate chest strap.

And you forgot that you can have a steering mount for the watch with the HR monitor so no bike computer needed and still have 20 days of battery life at least on the fenix solar 😎

The battery and value is great, but the finish and sizing falls short in comparison to the Fenix. I do not care for the speaker and mic though

I'm lucky to get 10 days out of my Fenix 7 solar. I upgraded from the 6 when I noticed my battery life decreasing and they both get about the same. There has to be a setting somewhere I am missing that is draining my battery but for teh life of me I can't figure it out.

Garmin Fenix. I will always be team Garmin. Apple is a smart watch with fitness features while Garmin is a fitness watch with smart features. There are certain garmins that have more fitness functions and features than others - even among the new models. Some are more “lifestyle” watches (like venu). So just be aware of that when choosing. When I went from my venu2+ to my Fenix, a host of new features opened up for me that I now could not do without. Check out the r/garmin sub for sure if you think you might go that route

The Fenix is much heavier than the Forerunner. I had a Fenix and switched to Forerunner because of the weight.

I am an AWU → Garmin Fenix convert and have done pretty extensive testing with both, and against dedicated sensors. I have found for basically all metrics where the watch sensors are the source, the Apple Watch is more accurate when compared against the Garmin watch, although dedicated sensors are more accurate than both. I haven’t tried the Garmin chest strap or dynamics pod, but I have compared to a Polar H10 for HR and a Stryd pod for running dynamics. It’s always H10/Stryd > Apple Watch > Garmin. The discrepancy is much higher for HR than running dynamics. I think it is straight up irresponsible to rely on wrist-based HR is you’re using HR as a part of training, but the running dynamics from both watches are more than good enough for most people.

Just buy a fenix and turn notifications etc off. Calls it the only thing that I have on but that also can be turned off.

## Why is the Forerunner better for running than the Instinct or Fenix? The Forerunner series is specifically designed for runners. It offers precise running metrics, a wealth of training features, and specialized performance analytics like Running Tolerance, Running Economy, and even biomechanical values such as pace decrease on ground contact (Forerunner 970). Forerunner models often have better screens (touch, higher resolution) and detailed training suggestions for runners. The Forerunner 265, for example, has a bright AMOLED display that is easy to read while running. Instinct models typically use older sensors and are more geared toward outdoor adventure than pure running performance. The Fenix is also excellent for running but is positioned more as a hybrid multisport watch with a focus on outdoor activities and rugged design [9][10][11][12]. ## In what way is the Forerunner less suitable for hiking/backpacking? Forerunner models are less rugged and lack some of the outdoor-specific sensors and navigation aids of the Fenix or Instinct lines. Battery life is generally shorter, which is a disadvantage for long trekking tours. Features like a barometric altimeter, special navigation functions, and inReach compatibility—which are crucial for hiking—are limited to higher-end Forerunners or are better represented in Fenix and Instinct models. For hikers, map quality on Forerunner watches is also limited or only available on premium models like the 970 [10][13][14]. ## How useful are animated workouts and training suggestions? Animated workouts (yoga, strength training, etc.) are easy to follow on Garmin and motivating, especially for learning technique and form. For runners, the suggested training programs on newer Forerunners are highly useful. They provide daily personalized plans that factor in your fitness level and recovery status. Users report that these features simplify planning and improve training consistency, as the watch dynamically adapts the training [15][16][17][18]. ## Are maps on the watch actually useful for running or hiking? For anything else? Full watch-based navigation and mapping features—found particularly on the Forerunner 970 and Fenix series—include offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and visual guidance. For everyday runs on familiar routes, they matter less, but for trail running or hiking where orientation is crucial, they’re invaluable. Maps offer extra value for safety, route planning, and are also popular among cyclists and those exploring new routes [19][12][20][14]. ## Does the Forerunner 970 passively monitor heart rhythm to trigger an ECG? Yes, the Forerunner 970 is the first in its series with an integrated ECG feature, which uses case sensors to record an ECG for issues like atrial fibrillation in about 30 seconds. While the function is always present, the ECG is only triggered manually and does not replace a doctor’s visit. Heart rate is constantly measured, but for a full ECG you must actively launch the function [13]. ## Smartwatch features: Can you read texts or see who’s calling? Does Garmin support RCS messages? Garmin supports push notifications for calls and text messages, and (on Forerunner 570/970) you can answer calls directly from the wrist using the speaker and microphone. However, full support for Rich Communication Services (RCS, e.g. Google Messages) is not yet widespread; Garmin generally handles SMS/MMS, and you can reply with pre-set responses. RCS compatibility is under development and not guaranteed [21][22]. ## Is the speaker/microphone on the 570/970 useful for anything besides answering? How playful is it? The Forerunner 970 has improved audio hardware to make phone calls and use voice assistants (Google Assistant, Siri, Bixby) directly from your watch. The speaker is for calls and notifications but not for music playback. No particularly playful functions are supported; it's aimed at practical uses like telephony and voice commands. The 570 offers more limited audio features but still allows basic call management [23][24][25]. ## What makes a Garmin better than competitors Coros, Suunto, Amazfit? Garmin is regarded as a market leader due to its extensive ecosystem, powerful sensors, wide variety of sport profiles, and detailed analytics. Garmin watches generally provide robust navigation features with maps, access to third-party apps (Connect IQ), precise GPS/heart sensors, and strong accessory support. Coros impresses with battery life and durability, Suunto with simplicity and outdoor focus, and Amazfit mainly with budget-friendly offerings. Garmin is overall more versatile, especially for ambitious athletes and users seeking a deep combination of fitness analytics and smart features [10][23][25]. *** [9] Forerunner 265/745/965, Instinct 2 or fenix 7S https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1bl6twt/help_me_choose_forerunner_265745965_instinct_2_or/ [10] Garmin Instinct 3 vs Garmin Fenix 8: Every Difference ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/01/garmin-instinct3-vs-garmin-fenix8-very-detailed-review.html [11] Garmin Forerunner 265 vs Garmin Instinct https://versus.com/en/garmin-forerunner-265-vs-garmin-instinct [12] Garmin Forerunner 570 and 970: Advanced Tech for Those ... https://runlovers.it/en/2025/garmin-forerunner-570-and-970-advanced-tech-for-those-who-want-to-run-better/ [13] Garmin Forerunner 970 im Test: Die beste Sportuhr 2025 ... https://www.heise.de/bestenlisten/testbericht/garmin-forerunner-970-im-test-die-beste-sportuhr-2025-hat-jetzt-ekg/xx73c4h?wt_mc=rss.red.ho.beitrag.atom.beitrag.beitrag [14] Garmin Forerunner 570 vs. 970: An Easy Choice! All ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jLMnfnER8c [15] Support: Animated Workouts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0noz60nliY [16] How the Garmin Tracker Reignited My Love of Running https://www.wellandgood.com/fitness/garmin-watch-daily-suggested-workouts-review [17] How to Use Animated Workouts on Garmin Enduro 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p6LzkJw9Hw [18] Garmin Coach Review https://stephaniehnatiuk.com/garmin-coach-review/ [19] Garmin Watches + OS Maps: The Ultimate duo for easy ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19HBRpmPhFw [20] New to Garmin Watch Maps - Need Your Advice for Hiking ... https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/16eznyf/new_to_garmin_watch_maps_need_your_advice_for/ [21] Google Messages may work with Garmin for satellite ... https://9to5google.com/2023/08/28/google-messages-satellite-connectivity-garmin-evidence/ [22] Garmin fenix 8 RCS Text Messages? https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1inrdo6/garmin_fenix_8_rcs_text_messages/ [23] Garmin Forerunner 970 In-Depth Review: Brillance at a ... https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2025/06/garmin-forerunner-970-in-depth-review-brillance.html [24] Garmin Forerunner 970 speaker and microphone quality? https://www.reddit.com/r/GarminWatches/comments/1ktyxq2/garmin_forerunner_970_speaker_and_microphone/ [25] Garmin forerunner 970 Review ❌ all the cr*p bits ❌ a ... https://the5krunner.com/2025/07/28/garmin-forerunner-970-review/

All I wanted to say is that being more expensive is not necessarily better. I owned 9 different watches over many years of trail running. I did extensive analysis of accuracy which included, for example, comparison of tracks and distances of multiple runners who finished the same race. I owned Fenix sapphire 6X, which was top of line at the time - it was quite mediocre as a trail running watch in PNW. Then I owned top of the line Fenix 7X, which was one of most accurate watches I ever owned. Then I owned a very inexpensive Suunto Race S which was easily on par with the experience Fenix 7X term of accuracy. A friend of mine owns Enduro 3, and I have compared tracks and distances between it and several other watches, so I know for sure it is less accurate. See this thread: https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/enduro-3/383891/gps-accuracy-issues-on-enduro-3 And towards the end of the thread there is a side-by-side comparison that shows that the one of the most expensive Garmin watches is easily worse than an old Fenix 7X or much less expensive Suunto Race: https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/enduro-3/383891/gps-accuracy-issues-on-enduro-3/1951075#1951075

I moved from the fenix 6 to 965. It’s been working good so far. I much prefer the light weight.

I use both Apple Watch and Garmin, If you want a smartphone on your wrist, get an Apple Watch. If you want a \*watch\*, get a Garmin. Are they worth it? i.e. A Fenix for $1.5k? No, they are not. I use one, I like it, but if you're price sensitive, no, they are not worth it. Never used the Forerunner, sorry, don't know.

I had a Samsung amart watch a few years ago and the battery life was appaling I changed to a fenix and haven't looked back. But looking back now I dont really want a watch to send a text on or to take a phone call, ive my phone for that, when im in the car ive hands free and when im somewhere else but need hands free ive my ear phones. I honestly dont know why else anyone would want a smart watch for. My garmin does everything I want it. Track hikes and work out, I can read the texts on it if I can't look at the phone. I love being able to track my hikes and use the map function I wouldn't use a Samsung watch again. Unless there was a game changer which I can't see happening

I’m in the exact same boat! My partner has a Fenix 6s which has several digital watch faces that have the seconds always going (none of the analogue style faces do this though). I’m trying to find out if the 7s is the same, as if it does I will prob go for this one as a bit newer. I understand it’s to save battery but I feel silly keep having to twist my hand or press a button to get the seconds to come back up. I work in health care so this function is non negotiable for me as I really don’t want to have 2 watches! I wish the 970 did have it as an option as everything else on the watch would be perfect for me function wise. Don’t think it will be with any of the amoled screens though. 

It is overkill, but it's so freakin sweet. If you can swing it, get it. I bought an S50 and fell in love with the Garmin connect app, it's way more motivating and useful for fitness. I ended up returning the S50 and got the fenix. You don't need a garmin golf subscription for the fenix or S70 to see the better hole maps and green heat maps. You also get wind adjustments which I've found to be very accurate. I'd get the fenix because of the looks, the flashlight, the golf features without the subscription, and all the cool health metrics and training. Edit: the only thing the S50 would be better for is cheaper club tracking, since the CT1 trackers work with the S50. I bought the CT1 trackers and felt that tapping the club to the watch was not easier than just setting which club i hit from the watch screen.

I have the fenix solar 6 the battery is great I use it to track my walks, hikes etc. I find the yardages are off at a lot of the courses I play though.

Honestly, there's a TON of overlap between Whoop and any other tracker you need. It'll have your HR and HRV, recovery scores, and target strain. The ability to broadcast HR to your phone should let you cover runs and bike rides in strava. Look into various Garmin options if you want something that can record multisport events, I think Coros can do those too. But if you just want something for easy workout tracking that records swim laps and ride/run HR + GPS route, a cheap Fitbit would do the trick as well. Personally, I use a Whoop plus a Garmin Fenix. The whoop is overkill, honestly, since Garmin has a "body battery" recovery metric and can tell you how hard to go with the training on any given day. I use the Whoop because I deal with behaviors very similar to exercise bulimia and I need something that literally tells me, "you've worked hard enough today, it is time to stop." If I didn't need that, a Garmin would absolutely be sufficient on its own.

If you are using a treadmill I’ve had good results with the HRM-Pro strap combined with my Fenix watch.  

I’ve got an Apple Watch SE for hiking, running and cycling and I think it’s great for what I want. I’ve had Garmin in the past and still have an old Fenix I use sometimes for hiking, but I didn’t wear it all the time because it was big and clunky, and the only thing I ever really did with it was look at my tracks on Garmin connect when planning new walks. I found it too much of a faff to use for running in any useful way. By the time I’d remembered how to press which buttons to access whichever nested menu I needed, I could have run a couple of hundred yards. Whereas my AW is on my wrist all the time except at night and if I forget to tell it I’m running it notices and asks me if I want to start retrospectively. I charge it overnight because I’m not interested in sleep tracking so the battery life thing isn’t a nuisance. I have access to all the extra apps I need (like Zwift or Kamoot or OS maps) and I write my workouts to Garmin Connect anyway so I still have that continuous record. So far, it’s working well for me.

did the same thing, but went from a Fenix 6 Pro to the 570 might swap for a 970.

Went from a garmin fenix to an amazfit t rex 3. Almost a month battery life and great workout tracking and maps.

I have not used the Venu line, but my daughter has a Venu 2s and has been very happy with it. I’ve always stuck with the Forerunner & Fenix lines myself, because they suit my needs better (outdoor running & trail running).

I've not used the brand myself, (I have a Garmin Fenix 6 that I really like currently), but I hear a lot of good things about Coros and they have watches around the price point your looking for. One of my favorite running Youtubers (he does a lot of ultra trail runs) did a review of the Coros Pace Pro a few months back: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzH-FBISb7I](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzH-FBISb7I)

All trackers should be worn above the wrist bone, not on the bone. Also the Garmin S models fit even better with a nylon strap. I have tiny wrists and have a Fenix 6S Pro.

For me. Garmin Fenix 6s pro has changed my life. I gifted my now wife one, less than 3 months after meeting her. It’s fundamental to our lives now

Yeah I had a farming watch years ago, finally retired it for apple watch for several years, and now got a Fenix a few months ago. Sleep tracking on this $1k thing is really disappointing. Way worse than Apple Watch. TBH I was hopeful the training feedback would be useful, but the other week I was getting sick and it told me I was optimally ready for training. Went out and body said hard nope. Several days of being totally run down and non functional and my watch continued to say good to go. Weeks later and I’m finally recovering, and the watch has me pegged at not ready to train. I wear it all day except in the shower, or on the bike where I use a Garmin 540 with their fancy chest strap. I’m really disillusioned with their claims now AW has some garbage sensors. Useless for me tracking HR during runs even with a tight strap. GPS was pretty bad. Battery is OK for daily use but can’t support activities or camping. But how Garmin sleep tracking is SOOOO bad is beyond me

I’ve been using a garmin Fenix 6 for a couple of years and it’s been solid! The only thing I’d say (and it’s not garmin specific just wrist based sensor specific) is that for things with a lot of movement like burpees and KB swings it struggles to record - so I often pair it with a garmin chest heart rate sensor too for those workouts. If it were to break I’d buy a Fenix 7, now that the 8 is out (or soon?) but for me the jump from Fenix 6 to 7 isn’t enough to replace a fully working watch

Fenix if you can afford otherwise any instinct imo.

Any Garmin Will do. Chose what you like from a looks point of view. If you are keen on practicality, I will suggest you go for one with a flash light. I am a big fan of Fenix range my self

Had my Fenix 6 for 3-4 years before switching to Apple Watch Ultra. Both great watches, but I got tired of the lack of smartwatch features and dull screen on the Fenix. If I ever train for an Ironman or something radical in terms of training, I’ll switch back - but until then, I see absolutely no reason to. My Apple Watch Ultra lasts 2-3 days and that’s plenty when it charges so quickly when I shower and get ready during the morning.

Had it since launch. It's been wonderful but over the weekend I got a 970. First off, the non solar has a much better MIP screen than any solar. I looked at getting a Tactix 8 or Fenix solar but as soon as I tried both on they were a massive disappointment and would never consider them. Tbh, while I thought I would not be thrilled with the transition to amoled, in all honesty I have no real negatives. You can customize it to be whatever you like. To me the 955 will be like my blackberry phone from years ago which I would easily call "a classic" and one is the best of its time. But unfortunately it no longer has a place in my wrist.

I also use a fenix 6. I just turn it to cardio during CrossFit. I want my heart rate and calories burned. I started CrossFit last year. I ran a lot before I started CrossFit. So I already had the garmin going in.

Vivoactive and Venu (non X1, that thing should have had a name of its own) don't have the advanced running metrics. So it's Forerunner , then check whether the features you want are in Instinct, Fenix, Enduro or Epix if you like one of those better.

You say heavy, after one day of wear, no one would really notice the difference in weight between the two. I'm v thin with basically female size wrists and tiny arms (I am male for reference) and run at a v high level with the Fenix and the extra few grams have never bothered me at all; haven't even noticed them after I went from a Forerunner to a Fenix.

I like my Garmin Fenix. Someone here pointed out that grips stop the workout and that’s true. Straps and grips and a certain angle can hit that button and it sucks. Other than that it does its job really really well. I hate whoop though. It being maybe 3% more accurate with some metrics isn’t enough for me to have to wear the whoop and watch (smart or otherwise). Couple that with the subscription cost. It’s just not worth it for your everyday/local comp person. They’re all trash if you have tattoos on your wrist though. The internal HR monitor struggles there. I use a chest strap or just rotate the watch to the inner part of my wrist.

Garmin Fenix but I bough it more for the gym and mountain biking. The golf app is amazing.

I have a Garmin Fenix 6s. Fenix series is definitely on the more expensive end, so this is a more hesitant endorsement. I would have gotten a forerunner in the 900 series, but they don't come in the small size. I will say though, the one I have is five years old and still going strong and tracks pretty much every activity you can think of, so I do like it. You can also download music to the watch too if you want to ditch your phone if that appeals to you. They just recently came out with the Fenix 8 line, so you could probably get a more reasonable price on the 6s or 7s depending what you're looking for.

Garmin for sure. Probably a forerunner or Fenix series. I personally use a Fenix 6s and it'll work for all those sports despite being 6 years old

Garmin Fenix 6s. I use it to track a lot more than just swimming though. And it's lasted, I've had it 5.5 years with no issues so far.

It's better in counting laps than my 6s. Haven't had any miscounts vs the occasional length missing on the old one. Hr seems to be just as accurate as it every is. Very comparable to non-water activities

But it’s a sports watch and so for me, it doesn’t matter if it gets scratches. You’d do very well to smash the screen even if you dropped the garmin, Apple however… I’ve had a fenix 6s pro for about 4 years and still works the exact same way. For me, it’s the buttons to start stop which make it easy to use. Not some slide across function to pause at lights or whatever. I know you can actually attach a garmin HRM to the Apple Watch so that was never the issue. My main point is I have a whoop for daily health tracking and then whenever I do exercise I put on my garmin (gym etc) and then also put on my chest HRM if I’m doing a run or anything where my HR is elevated. With having smaller wrists the Apple ultra is just too big for me, so how do the new fenix’s compare to the older ones like mine? And if you’d like a nicer screen, don’t garmin now do the epix ones now too? I feel I’m in need of an upgrade, so any thoughts on which to get?

I do. It's kind of a in the butt the way I do it, but it works for me. I record the workout as two seperate activities. The tread I try to keep by itself, which is fairly simple. That way I can track the distance towards my weekly total milage. But it doesn't work for run/row days. Then the floor I record as a "cardio" activity, then get the workout I manually change it to HIIT on Garmin Connect. It isn't the best solution probably, but it works. It would bother me if I worked out at OT more often.

I have a Garmin Fenix 6S Watch. i am not at all satisfied with the accuracy of the heart rate measurement. Which Garmin watch is the most accurate?

I have a Garmin Fenix 6, which is a multisport watch not a dedicated swimming watch, and it's not very accurate for distance. My last swims: **Outdoor** Actual 1000m, reported 935m Actual 1320m, reported 1684m Actual 1000m, reported 1015m Actual 924m, reported 749m **Indoor** Actual 1716m, reported 2475m

My Garmin Fenix 6 is OK, but the distance can be wildly inaccurate. Outdoors is usually within about 15%, but indoors is worse. My last swim was 1726 meters by lap count, but showed as 2475 meters on the watch... 43% over. (I'm pretty confident in my lap counts since I learned the trick on this sub of doing it by letter instead of number, and thinking of names/places/words beginning with each letter. In my usual pool "O" is a kilometer).

Can't go wrong with Garmin imho. I've had a fenix and a couple of forerunners, and they've all worked great.

Yes and my Fenis 6 goes 14 days. But they aren't comparable let's be honest, not the same use cases

I daily use a Fenix 6 ;)

This , I’m convinced so many people don’t actually exercise. I own both the Garmin Fenix solar and an Apple Watch Ultra. As much as I love the Fenix I went back to my Apple Watch due to the identical battery life on the Garmin if you do any sort of real gps training. Also despite my phone being on do not disturb the Garmin watch vibrating and showing me notifications anyways.

Forerunners and Epix are not supposed to use the button under water. Fenix is better in that regard, I think if you check the comparison also lists as water proof.

Yeah I left the Fenix 6 for AWU2. I didn’t miss a smartwatch as much as I thought I would. Coming back to a Fenix at some point. I just recently got a subscription to Bevel though and really enjoy the metrics it gives. Looking forward to its full integration with Garmin Connect in the future.

Tactix 8 is nice but don't count on any help from solar i have had the fenix and tactix solar and i actually prefer my amoled for length of batt life. i have put it in batt saver mode in full lux not on me for 3 hrs and achieved 1%that went down after wearing it .my casio does way better with solar this is the only thing that is a disappointment!

Correct. I wear my Pixel watch 95% of the time *when not on the bike*. I still use my Fenix 6 when I want to record long runs or hikes or canoe efforts. On the bike I use an Edge 840 as I'm normally riding > 4H at a time, and even when I'm not I want the big display.

Garmin Fenix 6 Pro and a HRM Pro strap. Wrist measured HR is unreliable also when cycling, cross country skiing etc.

I would agree with you on that. I had Garmin fenixes for years, Garmin Epix pro, Apple Watch Ultra, amazfit trex 3 (current watch) and just got a whoop. Imo for weightlifting nothing beats the Apple Watch (ultra or not doesn’t matter) due to all the different apps available. I was using Hevy and the ability to do a live workout between the watch and the phone at the same time was dope: want to change exercice or do more complex changes during your sessions, you simply edit the workout on the phone. But if you want to do just a 5lbs increment on your lift, you can do it from the watch directly live. Only thing I am eager to test with whoop, which is a important part my decision to do the free trial for a month, is to see muscle strain and how it work in tandem with the cardio based strain. Whoop is the only wearable to do that ( but it seems you can do it with Bevel now)

Still on the fenix 6. I'm not even sure the fenix 9 is gonna make me want to upgrade. Probably could have just bought the 945 745 or even the 245. None of these upgrades is gonna make me fitter. Everyone has different needs but I bet the majority don't get much benefit from last year's line-up the way things have been going. The metrics are nice to have but hardly a necessity.

Garmin fenix works fine in sauna

Garmin Fenix 6 pro. For me, Garmin Fenix is the best watch series. It tells me how many laps I've swamped, my SWOLF, calories, strokes per min, strokes per length, swim style, and how much rest I should get. I love my garmin

Fenix 7 pro. Used a fenix 6 pro for 5 years. This was perfect for trailrunning already, a map on my wrist is the single biggest reason for a fancy watch for me. Upgraded to 7 pro for road running actually, my 6 wasn’t very accurate when it came to measuring current pace and stuff like that.

My Fenix rocks and gets 90% of everything. I’m the instances when it doesn’t, it’s generally because of a multi joint movement into another movement. For instance, something like a DB Snatch into overhead walking lunges, it might only pickup the lunge portion.

I have the 6 and I am pretty happy with it. You van actually track weight lifting with it - but I typically only track cardio with it. I think the data is better with cardio. Weight lifting is nice on it, but then you have to spend time configuring it. At the end of the day, cardio was what I wanted to track anyway.

One aspect you didn't mention is battery life. I have a Garmin Fenix 6... after 5+ years it's battery doesn't hold up as well as it used to, but charging is still a think I have to do once a week or so. It's also very good at managing battery life during activities... if it's running low during a long hike, it'll do things like reduce GPS polling frequency and turning off sensors to conserve battery before dying on you entirely.

I have used mine since 2019. I used to record using the HIIT but it was a bit glitchy so now I'm using the cardio activity.

Haven’t seen Venu recommended. I’m running a Fenix 6x Pro right now, and we all love all of our options. Suggest this file https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11FeOS8Gf26GO9Ewp3rGzBALk9EZgT3Xian3TYOe4fwg/edit And dcrainmaker reviews, but seems line the less expensive Garmin do everything you need, even though most of us point to the more expensive models. EDIT: missed OP doesn’t care about price. Yeah Fenix 8

I had both, currently the fenix. Personally I never used the phone features, such as notifications, calling, payments etc. Notifications on my wrist, most horrible thing to have. But tbf I don’t get any notifications on my phone. Only calls and messages of 4 people. Sportswatch? Phone on your wrist, AW

Hard to beat the Garmin Fenix / Epix / Enduro line in terms of battery life. Note: leaving a watch on the map screen drains a lot of power regardless of watch brand. The Instinct is a good second choice if you only need a breadcrumb track to follow; no maps. Maps , on the watch, gives you more information on terrain but shouldn’t be a deal breaker. You could always refer to your phone. Look at previous versions of the watch to fit your budget.

def a garmin, i have the fenix 6s and its phenomenal for tracking swims!

Garmin Fenix 6 pro. Best for advanced swimmers.

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 used the watches apple watch ultra 1 and 2, Garmin instinct 1 and 2, Samsung Galaxy watch 5 pro, Galaxy watch 7, Galaxy watch ultra, and Garmin Fenix 6x, and Garmin Fenix 8. They all have their pros and cons. I can answer questions if you'd like just ask. But I would say either get a Garmin or polar fitness watch or if you want something with more of a smart watch features get the watch that matches your phones OS. The standard apple watches can be prone to scratching and cracking unless you get one with a sapphire face. The curved screen is hard to put a screen protector on but they do make them.

Garmin Fenix is the best for snow sports

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.