AWU2 kinda pointless?

[Zest28]

For riding on the bike, I see no value of a watch really as I got a dedicated bike computer, which is superior to any watch.

I prefer the AW2 for this use case as I can leave my iPhone at home and still can call for help if something happens on the road.

Now I will buy the Garmin Fenix 8 when ever it comes out, but it is mainly for non-bike related stuff.

 

[JohnRckr]

Fitness isn’t just about “knowing what to do”.
It’s about metrics. And the Apple Watch gives you those in a readily digestible format, over time. I use mine to track ski runs and surf sessions where I can see how was perfuming relative to terrain and time. Actionable? Maybe. Interesting and fun? Heck yeah.

But to really appreciate the AW, you have to dispense with your phone habits. I use my Watch with offline maps on multi week backcountry trips, and in cities when I don’t want to carry a phone.

I listen to music and podcasts, straight from the watch. I no longer carry a wallet or phone for most day-to-day excursions. Simply not necessary. The watch is a great way to get away from being a phone zombie.

Can you do these things without having an eSim in your watch?

 

[TriApple]

Can you do these things without having an eSim in your watch?

Yes to:
- It’s about metrics. And the Apple Watch gives you those
- track ski runs and surf sessions where I can see how was perfuming relative to terrain and time
- offline maps on multi week backcountry trips
- listen to music and podcasts, straight from the watch

But of course without an eSim you are not connected for cellular so you cannot download new data while not near your phone / on a known wifi.

 

[Grayburn]

For riding on the bike, I see no value of a watch really as I got a dedicated bike computer, which is superior to any watch.

See i'm the other way here, I've just sold my Wahoo Elemnt Bolt v2 as i wasn't using it so much.

I ride 14 miles to work and 14 miles back daily and i prefer the watch data with heart rate as i dont get that with the Wahoo, never got the chest sensor. Only thing i will miss is the routes that i've made on Strava that were on it and the take me home feature.

 

[aldo82]

I’ve completed several marathons and Ironmans in the past and I trained exclusively using a Garmin watch. I did get an Apple Watch Series 4 whilst training seriously and wore this for day to day but still use the Garmin for all training. Fast forward several years and injuries have meant I no longer train seriously and I use an Apple Watch for what ever training I do and it is fine. If I was to return to serious training though I am sure I would pick up a Garmin. The main aspects I think they have going for them are:
- full button operation without requiring the touch screen (awful in bad weather/rain/using gloves etc.)
- much better pool swimming mode
- ANT+ connectivity to connect to power meter on the bike
- much better battery life for long training days and training camps

Right now I am looking to replace my series 7 and my choice is Fenix 7 pro or Ultra 2. I do find some draw to going Garmin again although as I no longer seriously train the Apple Watch probably overall offers me everything I need with the better smartwatch functionality

 

[TriApple]

I’ve completed several marathons and Ironmans in the past and I trained exclusively using a Garmin watch. I did get an Apple Watch Series 4 whilst training seriously and wore this for day to day but still use the Garmin for all training. Fast forward several years and injuries have meant I no longer train seriously and I use an Apple Watch for what ever training I do and it is fine. If I was to return to serious training though I am sure I would pick up a Garmin. The main aspects I think they have going for them are:
- full button operation without requiring the touch screen (awful in bad weather/rain/using gloves etc.)
- much better pool swimming mode
- ANT+ connectivity to connect to power meter on the bike
- much better battery life for long training days and training camps

Right now I am looking to replace my series 7 and my choice is Fenix 7 pro or Ultra 2. I do find some draw to going Garmin again although as I no longer seriously train the Apple Watch probably overall offers me everything I need with the better smartwatch functionality

It's definitely a decision that can go either way. For each of your points, there is a different perspective that many IM distance triathletes are good with:

- I never use the touchscreen while training with my Ultra. Pause is a button press and the Digital Crown goes through the screens.

- I swam with both an Epix Pro and an Ultra 2 for about 4 months this year. My Epix Pro was wrong more frequently than my AW (as in, I truly did the math and the Epix got distance wrong marginally more than the ultra). I also just want to swim and get it done, I don't want a drill mode or whatever. I don't want to press any buttons when I am swimming. I just want to get the workout done to plan and crush it.

- I have zero devices that use Ant+ only, all reasonably modern bike PMs use Bluetooth as well

- I have yet to have a day where I outlasted my ultra - just had a 4 hour bike + 40 min brick run a couple weekends ago, ultra started with 78% battery, no low power mode at all, screen on the whole time, streamed music while running... it lasted fine.. charged it for :30 min after and never thought about it again.

That all said, if someone wants a watch that 'just gets it done' - yes, I'd go Garmin too. But if you want to use your Apple Watch Ultra for IM training... you absolutely can and there are no enormous sacrifices.. but there are LOTS of extras that Garmin can't match (you might not care though!)

 

[aldo82]

It's definitely a decision that can go either way. For each of your points, there is a different perspective that many IM distance triathletes are good with:

- I never use the touchscreen while training with my Ultra. Pause is a button press and the Digital Crown goes through the screens.

- I swam with both an Epix Pro and an Ultra 2 for about 4 months this year. My Epix Pro was wrong more frequently than my AW (as in, I truly did the math and the Epix got distance wrong marginally more than the ultra). I also just want to swim and get it done, I don't want a drill mode or whatever. I don't want to press any buttons when I am swimming. I just want to get the workout done to plan and crush it.

- I have zero devices that use Ant+ only, all reasonably modern bike PMs use Bluetooth as well

- I have yet to have a day where I outlasted my ultra - just had a 4 hour bike + 40 min brick run a couple weekends ago, ultra started with 78% battery, no low power mode at all, screen on the whole time, streamed music while running... it lasted fine.. charged it for :30 min after and never thought about it again.

That all said, if someone wants a watch that 'just gets it done' - yes, I'd go Garmin too. But if you want to use your Apple Watch Ultra for IM training... you absolutely can and there are no enormous sacrifices.. but there are LOTS of extras that Garmin can't match (you might not care though!)

With the ultra are you able to apply the touchscreen water lock but still use the buttons? If so that would be a real improvement over the normal Apple Watch which once locked has to be unlocked to do anything. On wet runs I have had too many false presses on the touch screen from rain or sleeve touching the watch so I always need to lock it

 

[danb1979]

With the ultra are you able to apply the touchscreen water lock but still use the buttons? If so that would be a real improvement over the normal Apple Watch which once locked has to be unlocked to do anything. On wet runs I have had too many false presses on the touch screen from rain or sleeve touching the watch so I always need to lock it

IIRC no. Long press on the crown to unlock

Thats how it's been on my AWU

 

[jz0309]

IIRC no. Long press on the crown to unlock

Thats how it's been on my AWU

yes, but the action button works ...

 

[TriApple]

With the ultra are you able to apply the touchscreen water lock but still use the buttons? If so that would be a real improvement over the normal Apple Watch which once locked has to be unlocked to do anything. On wet runs I have had too many false presses on the touch screen from rain or sleeve touching the watch so I always need to lock it

Pause works also. It's pressing the crown and the other button on the crown side at the same time to pause while swimming.

And yes, this is WITH the water lock on while swimming. If I have a long break between sets or, more likely, need to go get a piece of equipment from my pool bag that I forgot, I'll pause it, hop out of the pool, jump back in with the equipment.

 

[danb1979]

Pause works also. It's pressing the crown and the other button on the crown side at the same time to pause while swimming.

And yes, this is WITH the water lock on while swimming. If I have a long break between sets or, more likely, need to go get a piece of equipment from my pool bag that I forgot, I'll pause it, hop out of the pool, jump back in with the equipment.

Ah! That I never knew 😂

That'll explain as to why my AWU paused every so often when I was pressing heavy and my hand made contact etc

 

[aldo82]

Pause works also. It's pressing the crown and the other button on the crown side at the same time to pause while swimming.

And yes, this is WITH the water lock on while swimming. If I have a long break between sets or, more likely, need to go get a piece of equipment from my pool bag that I forgot, I'll pause it, hop out of the pool, jump back in with the equipment.

Interesting, thanks!

 

[PatrickNSF]

It's definitely a decision that can go either way. For each of your points, there is a different perspective that many IM distance triathletes are good with:

- I never use the touchscreen while training with my Ultra. Pause is a button press and the Digital Crown goes through the screens.

- I swam with both an Epix Pro and an Ultra 2 for about 4 months this year. My Epix Pro was wrong more frequently than my AW (as in, I truly did the math and the Epix got distance wrong marginally more than the ultra). I also just want to swim and get it done, I don't want a drill mode or whatever. I don't want to press any buttons when I am swimming. I just want to get the workout done to plan and crush it.

- I have zero devices that use Ant+ only, all reasonably modern bike PMs use Bluetooth as well

- I have yet to have a day where I outlasted my ultra - just had a 4 hour bike + 40 min brick run a couple weekends ago, ultra started with 78% battery, no low power mode at all, screen on the whole time, streamed music while running... it lasted fine.. charged it for :30 min after and never thought about it again.

That all said, if someone wants a watch that 'just gets it done' - yes, I'd go Garmin too. But if you want to use your Apple Watch Ultra for IM training... you absolutely can and there are no enormous sacrifices.. but there are LOTS of extras that Garmin can't match (you might not care though!)

Your updates have been great to read. Thanks for posting!

I ended up changing course recently and sold my AWU 2 and have gone back to wearing my Garmin 965 full time. I've been making some decent progress lately and decided to recommit to proper race training. I still have an old S7 Graphite that I'll keep around for LTE and music when I'm running, but otherwise I'm giving Garmin the summer to see if I can get back into decent (for my age) marathon shape.

 

[xDKP]

Pause works also. It's pressing the crown and the other button on the crown side at the same time to pause while swimming.

And yes, this is WITH the water lock on while swimming. If I have a long break between sets or, more likely, need to go get a piece of equipment from my pool bag that I forgot, I'll pause it, hop out of the pool, jump back in with the equipment.

Yeah I also lock my display for all wet/long-sleeve runs where the sleeves might interfere with the display - So just using buttons for starting/stopping is great

 

[TriApple]

Your updates have been great to read. Thanks for posting!

I ended up changing course recently and sold my AWU 2 and have gone back to wearing my Garmin 965 full time. I've been making some decent progress lately and decided to recommit to proper race training. I still have an old S7 Graphite that I'll keep around for LTE and music when I'm running, but otherwise I'm giving Garmin the summer to see if I can get back into decent (for my age) marathon shape.

Thanks! Glad they are useful.

I hear you on the 965! That's a great training tool to have for getting back to marathon shape.

 

[Thomas Davie]

in case I get kidnapped and the kidnappers are too stupid to notice that I have a cellular watch; I just phone for help and give the physical location where I am.

So yeah, kidnapping.

Seriously though; I use it to help keep complete track and control of my dialysis treatments; Calendars 5, Just Press Record (for auto transcribed notes), AllTrails to go off map hiking near my house,Carrot Weather, Heartwatch, Autosleep (this actually led to medication changes) and blood O2 measurements (it does coorelate with my Erthyropoeitin . Hemeglobin injections) and daily steps/distance.

There’s tons more but dialysis calls and I have to caffeinate myself before going in (dialysis strips caffeine from the body w/in 10-20 minutes leading to insta headache so I take Red Bull with me)

More later

Tom

But the kidnapping…..

 

[Thomas Davie]

Forgot to add specifically how i use the Apple Waych Just Press Record. Dialysis is Ties/thurs/Sat. Once a month,there is what is called ‘Grand Rounds’ where Nephrologist. Nurses, Pharmacist, Dietitian and Scoial Worker visit each patient inntheir ‘treatment bay’ and review blood work and etc. Just Press Record is open & run img (with permission) and whennI get home I have my motes transcribed and already waiting for me.

Tom

 

[TriApple]

Interesting to watch today's keynote section on WatchOS 11. Some nice features for athletes looking for 'garmin' features on their Apple devices. Training load, structured swim workouts in fitness app, vitals app... a few to be intrigued by.

 

[JohnRckr]

To revive this thread a bit - when I had my AWU2 every single watch band made red marks on my wrist, both original ones and third party. If I didn’t secure it properly it would always slip off, and if I would I would get red marks on wrist and sometimes even rash..

Do you know of any watch band that doesn’t do this?

 

[danb1979]

To revive this thread a bit - when I had my AWU2 every single watch band made red marks on my wrist, both original ones and third party. If I didn’t secure it properly it would always slip off, and if I would I would get red marks on wrist and sometimes even rash..

Do you know of any watch band that doesn’t do this?

Did you have it on too tight?!

I use the Ultimal straps; find them to be very well made and they fit my large wrists well. Comfier than the OEM Alpine loop strap also

 

[JohnRckr]

Did you have it on too tight?!

I use the Ultimal straps; find them to be very well made and they fit my large wrists well. Comfier than the OEM Alpine loop strap also

I don’t think I had it tight, just enough so that it does not slip..