Sold! Should be receiving the new one tomorrow. Thank you for the info!
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Anyone buying Garmin Fenix 6
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Sold! Should be receiving the new one tomorrow. Thank you for the info!
I used to be Garmin only (F3, F5, MARQ now). I always chose them over the apple watches, simply because of the real annoyance of not having always on (solved the lack of integration with HealthFit (which is excellent!!) and SportTracks. Although that doesn't pull over the Firstbeat metrics which is a shame, for performance they are GREAT)
Now I got an AW5, and haven't looked back to the Garmins since (probably due to the novelty factor... will update in a few weeks)
AW: great smartwatch! Good enough for some sports unless you are into performance (which I used to but am no longer). The looks are somewhat meh... The Garmin MARQ wins on looks big time. But a great (better than Garmin) everyday watch! I never understood why people like notifications etc on the watch, until I turned them on... now I find it annoying to have to use the phone if I am not wearing the AW!
Garmin: Great sportswatch! Also cracking features are stress tracking and body battery (but you have to wear the watch during sleep which I never get used to). Great for longer adventures too (battery life). It's a great outdoors/adventure watch, and serves quite ok as an everyday watch if you don't mind having to use the phone as you always used to use it before the AW came along
So for now it's AW on a day-to-day basis, and the Garmin MARQ when I am out in the wilderness or doing stuff that requires a rugged watch (the Garmins excel in outdoors / rough settings), or just feel like wearing something that makes me feel a bit more like an adventurer 🤣
On the face of it, you'd think the simple solution was to buy both, but that has a significant drawback, in where now one of the lovely watches sits in a drawer while the other gets worn... yet another choice to make every day (yes it's a first world problem )
So the simple answer to me: If you like the AW, DON'T buy a Fenix
Now I got an AW5, and haven't looked back to the Garmins since (probably due to the novelty factor... will update in a few weeks)
AW: great smartwatch! Good enough for some sports unless you are into performance (which I used to but am no longer). The looks are somewhat meh... The Garmin MARQ wins on looks big time. But a great (better than Garmin) everyday watch! I never understood why people like notifications etc on the watch, until I turned them on... now I find it annoying to have to use the phone if I am not wearing the AW!
Garmin: Great sportswatch! Also cracking features are stress tracking and body battery (but you have to wear the watch during sleep which I never get used to). Great for longer adventures too (battery life). It's a great outdoors/adventure watch, and serves quite ok as an everyday watch if you don't mind having to use the phone as you always used to use it before the AW came along
So for now it's AW on a day-to-day basis, and the Garmin MARQ when I am out in the wilderness or doing stuff that requires a rugged watch (the Garmins excel in outdoors / rough settings), or just feel like wearing something that makes me feel a bit more like an adventurer 🤣
On the face of it, you'd think the simple solution was to buy both, but that has a significant drawback, in where now one of the lovely watches sits in a drawer while the other gets worn... yet another choice to make every day (yes it's a first world problem
)So the simple answer to me: If you like the AW, DON'T buy a Fenix
I used to be Garmin only (F3, F5, MARQ now). I always chose them over the apple watches, simply because of the real annoyance of not having always on (solved the lack of integration with HealthFit (which is excellent!!) and SportTracks. Although that doesn't pull over the Firstbeat metrics which is a shame, for performance they are GREAT)
Now I got an AW5, and haven't looked back to the Garmins since (probably due to the novelty factor... will update in a few weeks)
AW: great smartwatch! Good enough for some sports unless you are into performance (which I used to but am no longer). The looks are somewhat meh... The Garmin MARQ wins on looks big time. But a great (better than Garmin) everyday watch! I never understood why people like notifications etc on the watch, until I turned them on... now I find it annoying to have to use the phone if I am not wearing the AW!
Garmin: Great sportswatch! Also cracking features are stress tracking and body battery (but you have to wear the watch during sleep which I never get used to). Great for longer adventures too (battery life). It's a great outdoors/adventure watch, and serves quite ok as an everyday watch if you don't mind having to use the phone as you always used to use it before the AW came along
So for now it's AW on a day-to-day basis, and the Garmin MARQ when I am out in the wilderness or doing stuff that requires a rugged watch (the Garmins excel in outdoors / rough settings), or just feel like wearing something that makes me feel a bit more like an adventurer 🤣
On the face of it, you'd think the simple solution was to buy both, but that has a significant drawback, in where now one of the lovely watches sits in a drawer while the other gets worn... yet another choice to make every day (yes it's a first world problem
So the simple answer to me: If you like the AW, DON'T buy a Fenix
I love my TWO Apple Watches, but they do not replace my Garmins for fitness. The AW has no way to edit or calibrate treadmill runs. AW requires you to run outdoors for 20 mins to "calibrate". The AWs downright SUCK at outdoor distances, pace, and GPS tracks. They essentially only use "Smart" recording, and it's not that smart, which as we know Garmin defeats with 1 second recording. AW has too few metrics to be shown at once unless you use 3rd party app (Check out WorkOutDoors by the way--you'll be stunned at what can be done with AW). Honestly though as an older casual/fitness runner and bicyclist, the AW is sufficient for most of us, as long as its tracking is consistent.
The AW also doesn't allow connection to accessories such as Garmin Tempe or Footpod, or in my case my Stryd footpod which I've used for a year now and is HYPER accurate, indoors or out. The AW does pair well with and use my Scosche Rythym 24 for a heart rate arm band though, which is Polar accurate.
Outdoors I run with my AW S4 SS cellular for connectivity and music, and Garmin F5+ titanium for tracking the run. Once in awhile I use my AW for an outdoor run if I'm not feeling that geeky. Using either device, afterwards I use RunGap to get data to Strava, Runkeeper (and Garmin Connect if AW used). RunGap is fantastic.
I will say, yesterday I used my AW S5 on my left wrist and Garmin F5+ on my right for my treadmill run, with the Scosche strap paired to my Garmin only. The AW heart rate was an EXACT match to the very accurate Scosche, often showing the same BPM, and only being off sometimes by one beat. AW HR is superb for running.
Edited to add: As mentioned earlier, I'm looking at the Fenix 6....... ;-)
Yes, agreed on all points!
As I said, if you care about anything performance in sports (as opposed to casual jogs and maybe a bit of bumbling around on a bike), the AW is completely the wrong tool for the job!
I concur on WorkOutDoors, it is brilliant! Its only limitations are limitations of the platform (like sensor connectivity lacking) and it makes the AW a lot better!
One thing I've found though, AW is no less accurate at outdoors distance etc than any other watch (including Garmins) unless they are paired with a footpod (BTW Stryd has an AW app which should make it very accurate? Can you confirm that maybe?). They all more or less get it right, and I've found the AW more or less consistent and accurate.
HR is downright scary good for a watch, much better than anything else I've ever seen! A lot of it is down to form factor i suppose (flat profile, light weight which makes for very little movement), but the sensor and processing is top notch, easily best in industry
All-In-All, since I stopped caring about sports performance and just run and bike around a bit without logging anything, the AW has seen a lot more use! Which I think is inline with what you are saying
Edit: ------ stop looking at it, you will end up buying it
You wouldn;t regret it either, Fenix are really really really good at what they are. MARQ got all the new features of the Fenix6, and many of them are great (like the widget glances, and battery modes)I find my AW4 very consistent with gps, I run a regular 10K route and it is pretty much bang on with my markersevery time no matter the conditions. I think WorkOutDoors is 1 sec sampling, maybe user cfc (author) can confirm. I wish Apple would do some Firstbeat type stuff.
P.s to the guy with the Marq...you’ve got too much money 😂😂😂
This is a very difficult one for me. My employer recently started a discount program for Garmin watches, including the Fenix series. I am very interested in moving to the Fenix 6X Solar as the cost makes it cheaper than the Apple Watch. Like many have said in this thread, it depends on what you need from your watch. I love the data that a Garming brings, along with the battery life. The question is how much do you need the conveniences of the ability to answer a text or call with your wrist vs going to your phone? Other than that, if it is purely fitness data you want, the Garmin blows the AW out of the water, and even has sleep tracking with Pulse Ox embedded into the watch. But if it is social conveniences and cool smaller form factor, its the Apple Watch. For me lately, I've noticed more activity and exercise and have grown tired of the constant battery charging. If you do more than an hour training a day forget the AW lasting a full day and overnight with sleep tracking (via third party apps) without charging the watch.
Yes, agreed on all points!
As I said, if you care about anything performance in sports (as opposed to casual jogs and maybe a bit of bumbling around on a bike), the AW is completely the wrong tool for the job!
I concur on WorkOutDoors, it is brilliant! Its only limitations are limitations of the platform (like sensor connectivity lacking) and it makes the AW a lot better!
One thing I've found though, AW is no less accurate at outdoors distance etc than any other watch (including Garmins) unless they are paired with a footpod (BTW Stryd has an AW app which should make it very accurate? Can you confirm that maybe?). They all more or less get it right, and I've found the AW more or less consistent and accurate.
HR is downright scary good for a watch, much better than anything else I've ever seen! A lot of it is down to form factor i suppose (flat profile, light weight which makes for very little movement), but the sensor and processing is top notch, easily best in industry
All-In-All, since I stopped caring about sports performance and just run and bike around a bit without logging anything, the AW has seen a lot more use! Which I think is inline with what you are saying
Edit: ------ stop looking at it, you will end up buying it
I use Stryd with my AW4 and yes, very accurate for distance, pace, power etc. I like using the Stryd app as I can go out running with just the watch, Stryd Footpod and AirPods. Syncing the data with Garmin Connect and Strava is a breeze as well. I only use my Fenix 5 when I'm on the bike now, everything else is AW. The Wahoo HR strap also works really well with the watch but I've found the Optical on the AW4 to be just as accurate and rarely locks up when it gets cold.
That is a beautiful looking watch 👍Just to explain the looks part:
MARQ aviator (with an expedition strap)
I could be wrong, but don't think a 3rd party app can get the AW hardware to sample and record GPS points any more often than the AW does. @cfc is the developer of WOD--maybe he can answer. You are lucky on you GPS distance with AW. I run a ~3 mile course (not measured) and get the same exact distance from 3 different Garmin's. My AW sometimes under estimates and might come in at 2.92, but usually it's 3.05 or higher. I feel like Apple needs to give us some kind of manual calibration.
I have a fenix 5 plus model that I have been using for about a year or so. I had the Apple Watch 4 for a short time, but ended up giving it to the wife. The blank screen just didn’t do it for me most of the time.
But the new series 5 has the AOD which could make a difference for me. Anyway, this has me thinking about the Apple Watch once again.
I’m not a runner or biker, but I train in the gym quite a bit as well as train other ppl. The garmin has always been nice for heart rate and stopwatches via a widget. I know that sounds minor however in my line of work it really proves valuable. I also like the maps available to me from the garmin.
The problem I see is that Garmin rolled out the fenix 6 with some new features that could have easily been transferred to the fenix 5 plus series BUT they didn’t (like the new widgets). Apple by comparison had put out Watch OS6 and made it compatible with watches from several years ago. That speaks to me. If I buy a fenix 6 now I could easily be out out luck next year when they release a fenix 7.....with the Apple Watch I feel like I might be covered for at least a year (maybe more).
My insurance gives a me a good rate for the fenix 6 series but comparable to the Apple Watch series 5.
Apologies for the long post. Just not sure what to do.
But the new series 5 has the AOD which could make a difference for me. Anyway, this has me thinking about the Apple Watch once again.
I’m not a runner or biker, but I train in the gym quite a bit as well as train other ppl. The garmin has always been nice for heart rate and stopwatches via a widget. I know that sounds minor however in my line of work it really proves valuable. I also like the maps available to me from the garmin.
The problem I see is that Garmin rolled out the fenix 6 with some new features that could have easily been transferred to the fenix 5 plus series BUT they didn’t (like the new widgets). Apple by comparison had put out Watch OS6 and made it compatible with watches from several years ago. That speaks to me. If I buy a fenix 6 now I could easily be out out luck next year when they release a fenix 7.....with the Apple Watch I feel like I might be covered for at least a year (maybe more).
My insurance gives a me a good rate for the fenix 6 series but comparable to the Apple Watch series 5.
Apologies for the long post. Just not sure what to do.
Not me. Apple Watch series 5 is the best “real” watch with computer capabilities. No other smart watch, including previous AW series in the market can beat the series 5 feature of always on display and 32 gb RAM. Always on display makes the series 5 a truly watch like a digital watch with computer capabilities not just a wrist computer with a watch feature.
I daily wear an Apple Watch, I've owned every generation since the series 0 launch. I also have a Garmin Forerunner I use for running workouts (currently a 935). My girlfriend has no Apple watch and daily wears a Garmin 945.
I'm very jealous of the firstbeat metrics that she gets from the Garmin ecosystem. The Apple watch does not really come close to competing with Garmin when it comes to health and fitness tracking. Each generation of the Apple watch gets a little bit closer, but Garmin still has a commanding lead in that regard.
I think the competition is great, and Garmin's market leadership in this area has surely caused Apple to do more and be more than they otherwise would have with the Watch software. I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. I would be disappointed to switch from the Apple watch to a Fenix device. I am disappointed with my Apple watch when I see what I'm missing out on from the Garmin ecosystem. On balance, the Apple watch wins for me for daily wear, and I am willing to give up the better Garmin health tracking in order to keep the much better smart watch experience that Apple provide.
And every time I step out the door to go for a run I wear two watches and look like a dork.
I'm very jealous of the firstbeat metrics that she gets from the Garmin ecosystem. The Apple watch does not really come close to competing with Garmin when it comes to health and fitness tracking. Each generation of the Apple watch gets a little bit closer, but Garmin still has a commanding lead in that regard.
I think the competition is great, and Garmin's market leadership in this area has surely caused Apple to do more and be more than they otherwise would have with the Watch software. I feel like I'm stuck in the middle. I would be disappointed to switch from the Apple watch to a Fenix device. I am disappointed with my Apple watch when I see what I'm missing out on from the Garmin ecosystem. On balance, the Apple watch wins for me for daily wear, and I am willing to give up the better Garmin health tracking in order to keep the much better smart watch experience that Apple provide.
And every time I step out the door to go for a run I wear two watches and look like a dork.
My sentiments exactly. If a watch were created that morphed the two. Apple Watch Pro?? (You know its coming sooner or later).
I see people wearing a Garmin on one wrist and an AW on the other all the time, especially during races. I tend to wear my AW in an armband while running because I take it mainly for music and LTE, but I’ve raced with it on the wrist opposite of the Garmin as backup, and to better track my heart rate.
That is correct. At the moment iOS/watchOS supplies third party apps with GPS positions once a second.
I've just switched from Garmin to AW5 after having to return 4 935s in the past year, and now a 945 (3 cracked HRMs, 2 faulty barometers)
The best thing about WOD is you can see the GPS accuracy throughout the whole run from the website:
If you want the Garmin physio metrics, then this company https://www.fjuul.com/ appears to offer it for a subscription.
Otherwise you can get VO2 and HRV from the native Health app and Autosleep gives you a "readiness" similiar to the Garmin Body Battery.
The OHR on the AW5 seems a lot more accurate than my 945 based on 2 runs and 2 indoor cycle rides.
The best thing about WOD is you can see the GPS accuracy throughout the whole run
from the website:If you want the Garmin physio metrics, then this company https://www.fjuul.com/ appears to offer it for a subscription.
Otherwise you can get VO2 and HRV from the native Health app and Autosleep gives you a "readiness" similiar to the Garmin Body Battery.
The OHR on the AW5 seems a lot more accurate than my 945 based on 2 runs and 2 indoor cycle rides.
I did take a long hard look at the Fenix 6, but I’ve decided to stick with my two watch scenario (and I’m so glad I’m not the only one who looks a pudding for having two watches on outside).
whilst my fitness watch is a polar vantage V, I believe my reasonings are the same as above... (I have had a fenix 1 and I’ve still got a vivoactive v1)
The ability to customise the display during a workout. Thought I’d take the AW for a dip this morning and was annoyed after a few lengths I couldn’t read how many I’d done. Polar just has the distance. Big numbers I can read!
Battery life for long activities is a no brainer. Polar tracked a recent 100k walk for 24 hours, no charging (on 1sec recording). AW was on the other wrist mostly for notifications and to pause music being played on my phone and I had to charge that once.
I also like the recovery info, so based on your sleep, and the orthostatic test it advises how well training should be going. I think this will only improve with a big update coming in October.
But its poor as a smart watch. It can show you notifications but you can’t reply, and having no Apple pay means it doesn’t have a place on my wrist during the day.
whilst my fitness watch is a polar vantage V, I believe my reasonings are the same as above... (I have had a fenix 1 and I’ve still got a vivoactive v1)
The ability to customise the display during a workout. Thought I’d take the AW for a dip this morning and was annoyed after a few lengths I couldn’t read how many I’d done. Polar just has the distance. Big numbers I can read!
Battery life for long activities is a no brainer. Polar tracked a recent 100k walk for 24 hours, no charging (on 1sec recording). AW was on the other wrist mostly for notifications and to pause music being played on my phone and I had to charge that once.
I also like the recovery info, so based on your sleep, and the orthostatic test it advises how well training should be going. I think this will only improve with a big update coming in October.
But its poor as a smart watch. It can show you notifications but you can’t reply, and having no Apple pay means it doesn’t have a place on my wrist during the day.
Take a look at the workoutdoors app, I customised the running screens to nice big fonts and just the info I need! I *think* he is adding swimming to it.
I had an Instinct for a bit and had 2 watches on the go, I found it annoying personally, I just want the one device for data collecting/charging.
I am tempted to try the 945 as I would want music and contactless but to me the plasticy look has nothing on my AW4 SS sleek design. I am jealous of the firstbeat stuff Garmin has but it does rely on accurate heart readings and, as far as I'm concerned, Garmin is behind on this.
I originally bought an AW3 for the outdoor swim tracking which is better than any other brand I have tried.
I am tempted to try the 945 as I would want music and contactless but to me the plasticy look has nothing on my AW4 SS sleek design. I am jealous of the firstbeat stuff Garmin has but it does rely on accurate heart readings and, as far as I'm concerned, Garmin is behind on this.
I originally bought an AW3 for the outdoor swim tracking which is better than any other brand I have tried.
This why Garmin annoys me, they save features for certain watches, for instance the 245 is a great running watch and has lots of activities you can track but not outdoor swimming, which I do. So I would have to get something like the Instinct which is not great at running stuff or go high end 945/Fenix. Then as you say leaving a 1 year old watch outdated software wise. Piss poor.
thanks I emailed him and as you say it’s in the pipeline.
That said, I had a fiddle about the settings and I think I may have cracked it. You can customise the data fields under workouts in the watch app on the phone. I Then changed workout view to single metric and it’s just displaying lengths. I will try this properly over the next few days...
Well holy crap, I had no idea Apple had implemented a VO2max estimate. That's been a data tidbit I'd been missing from when I wore my Garmin regularly but it is more of a nice-to-have for me than anything I really need.
Thanks for posting.
Similar to Garmin, it won't come up for hiking but it does actually work for walking as well as running.
Unlike Garmin though it does change quite often, not 100% how accurate it is compared to FirstBeat on the Garmin though but if it's consistent with itself, then it is still a good indicator.
One metric that I do rate with Apple is Heart Rate Variability, even more so than VO2 max on Garmin. It is great indicator as to how well I am physically. Helps gauge how stressed the body is etc and whether I need to step off the gas. As soon as I've done too much training or, coming down with a cold/bug, my HRV drops. Normally well before I notice the symptoms myself. Give it a Google but, a link below will give you a taster on HRV.
The readings it takes automatically tend to be at inopportune times but when you sit back to do a "Breath" test, it registers a controlled HRV check. They're the ones to monitor.
A beginner’s guide to heart rate variability
Discover how the latest performance metric can transform your training
Yes - and with Garmin's apparent inconsistency in doing VO2max estimates (translation - if there's a logic to it, I never figured it out) it'd be more effort than it's worth for me to do some comparison runs. Though perhaps just for grins I'll dig out my FR235 and wear it for a few runs to see if I can get a comparison.
Yep, I'm familiar with HRV and knew the Apple Watch measured it -- good info for anyone reading our exchange, so thank you for posting it.