Garmin - Fenix 6X Sapphire

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

Touch screen is better for maps, quicker customization of data fields and easy shortcuts on the watchfaces. There is also much more detailed summary after workouts. I didn't know about the flash light when I changed from 6X. But it really is extremely useful

Touch screen is better for maps, quicker customization of data fields and easy shortcuts on the watchfaces. There is also much more detailed summary after workouts. I didn't know about the flash light when I changed from 6X. But it really is extremely useful

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

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

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

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

I have an AWU3 and just grabbed a Fenix8. How do you mix their use? Do you use the garmin for sleep? If not, how does that change your training load? I had a fenix6pro that I used for a couple 50k's, and I want to get back into doing them. That's why I picked up the 8.

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!

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

Definitely keep the Fenix 6X. My wife is still using a 6S and happy with it, I'm using an Instinct with a 7X for hiking. Apple Watch is just way too distracting. The biggest problem isn't even the horrible battery life and having to charge every day, it's the feeling of being a complete slave to your phone. Having a phone on your wrist just isn't good for your mental health with all the constant buzzing and notifications. It creates so much stress. Sure you can turn off most of the notifications but at that point you're just using a worse Garmin.

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

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.

I've used several generations of the Garmin Fenix for resort skiing, backcountry skiing, and Nordic skiing in extremely cold temperatures without issue. They'd be fine in very cold weather, but it's also important to note because you're exerting yourself and it's on your wrist, they're actually probably a lot warmer than the air temperature, so they'll be more than fine.

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.

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.

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 went from Fenix 6X to Apple Watch Ultra 2. The ultra is a better smart watch, but I am going back to Garmin. 1. The battery life is fine, but it's not good. If you do longer distance running, you will end up charging every day that you do a long run. Where as when I had the Fenix, I charged once a fortnight. 2. The data is good, but less pointed than the Garmin. There's probably other apps you can get to better extrapolate the data, but Garmin is simple. 3. This is subjective, but I think the round Garmin face looks better. It's easier to dress up/down.

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

Just a few weeks since my switch, but still in love. ;) 90% of "how the watch works" just suites perfekt to me and my usage. I am just missing a view things like, control spotify via watch or the sync of the focus modi.

I was in the same dilema 3 weeks ago, i dont run that much i go to the gym surfing windsurfing hiking etc. i dont dive but im in the water a lot). Tried both of the on. 970 is lighter and more slik. I went with the fenix after all as i like the rugged look and since i spend a lot of time in the water i thiugh it was a good idea to get something water certified lets say. For you maybe 970 would be the right choice!!

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

https://preview.redd.it/7fhs78of36xe1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=9203c8b09dff4c3250f76de1cca6e3baaa1ea018 I have big wrists and arms and a 51mm is still a monster watch. I love it though and honestly don't think anyone else cares how big your watch is. Added bonus - it can be used to break down a door in an emergency

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

My watch is a tool, not a fashion statement, so I've always gone with 51mm even though yeah it's probably too big for me, don't care lol

Good choice! I also enjoy the availability of the connectivity but now opt out of the constant notifications. Also why I went with regular Fenix as opposed to the pro. The disconnect is good. Everything I was worried about with the switch from Apple to Garmin ended up being what I appreciate. Apple does many things better but Garmin is for me.

Might just depend on the amount you want to spend vs what you are going to get out of it. You could get a less expensive Garmin like a Venu Sq ($100-$150 refurb) that gives you body battery, sleep score, steps, heart rate, etc. The standard run of health metrics that can help with recovery and measuring general activity. I wear a gamin daily and do a lot of weight training. I can confirm that it doesn't do well at measuring anything related to lifting. You'll get a standard heart rate increase, but even intense weightlifting sessions aren't able to trigger the auto activity sensor. I still appreciate the data though. but you don't need a $1,000 Fenix to get helpful data. That is the one thing I wish I would have known before buying a Fenix.

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

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

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.

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

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

Currently have a Fenix 6, since June 2021. I had a vivoactive HR for 3.5 years before that.

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

My experience is that I owned a Fenix 6 for 2 years then upgraded to a Fenix 8 last year. I broke my ankle in March but continued wearing my Garmin during what turned out to be roughly 6 months of rehab and healing. I realized at a certain point that my Garmin was constantly disappointed in me because I was so sedentary during this time. I bought an Apple Watch ultra 2 open box about a month ago and I've been loving it for where I'm at in life. It motivates me to just move every day and close my rings. I still have the Garmin and might switch back once I start training seriously again but in the mean time I'm very happy with the AW. It's more gentle with me and doesn't treat me like an athlete

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

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

For most a garmin a more than enough and that battery is a huge win. I went from galaxy watch to fenix and would not go back. Sounds like we are aligned :-)

I have an AWU3 and just grabbed a Fenix8. How do you mix their use? Do you use the garmin for sleep? If not, how does that change your training load? I had a fenix6pro that I used for a couple 50k's, and I want to get back into doing them. That's why I picked up the 8.

If you just want to use it for golf, S70. If you want to use it for everything, the AWU. If you want better battery life, with a little less of everything but focused on more than golf, Fenix. I have the S70 and AWU. I only use the S70 on the course, and the AWU for everything else simply because I like the focus better on the S70 and I use the garmin sensors. You will probably have to pay a sub for the gold functionality of a S70 on the AWU, so you have to see if it's worth it.

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.

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 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.

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.

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

Do it. My old Fenix6X still works great. Big screen shows live GPS. Cant imagine how well the newer models must function

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.