Garmin - Fenix 8 Series

I use a Fenix 8 but only because I'm not on the Apple ecosystem, at ALL. If Samsung got their shit together, made a rectangle watch like the Ultra and battery lasted 3 ish days, i'd jump ship from Fenix 8 to the Samsung Ultra in a heartbeat.

I had a Fenix 5 for 7 years, which still works and never had any issues. Bought a Fenix 8 recently, till now also never had any issues. I have no idea how can be charging less convenient, if you have to charge it every 2-3 weeks as opposed to every day, lol

I can tell you that the solar is a gimmick / not worth wasting your money on. It has minimal impact on battery life (has been thoroughly tested at this point). So going with the Amoled is definitely your best bet

I started with the Fenix 8 Solar. Hated it right off the bat. The solar feature is a crappy gimmick. I debated between the Fenix 8, Fenix 8 pro with either screen. I decided to go with the best battery life of the 3 which is the Fenix 8.

FWIW, I just went on a week long hike. I ended up recording each day as individual activities, because the risk of a big/crash binning the whole hike was too high for me. Regarding battery life, I was fine on a single charge with my Fenix 8 (it was pretty low towards the end). I recommend a portable solar panel. They are pretty cheap and lightweight these days. These will be much more effective than the watch based solar (small surface area) and can charge your other devices as well (phone).  Good luck!

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.

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.

Tbh for my use there’s not a lot of additional features in the Fenix that weren’t there in the Venu. The sapphire vs gorilla glass is a big difference, so is the screen size. Venu has a more vibrant screen though. Battery life is similar. Presence of buttons on Fenix helps but it’s not a game changer. There’s no comparison in looks, this looks way better. Had Venu got a sapphire screen I probably wouldn’t have traded it. I think if you want a premium feel then Fenix is the way to go.

I just switched to the Apple Watch Ultra 3 from the fenix 8. I use an app called WorkOutDoors. That was a one time purchase of nine dollars totally worth it. It does off-line maps and everything. Lots of good data in there. I guess what drove me away from the Garmin line is it’s just so clunky. The Apple Watch is extremely smooth. The other thing I like is when I’m jogging I can use my AirPods with it and stream, Spotify or Apple Music. That’s just me overall. It’s been a pleasant experience. I’m getting about 70 hours of battery life, which is plenty for me.

Yep. I have an AWU2 and a Fenix 8 Solar. Probably selling the AWU2 soon because it failed me so badly on a recent 70M ultra. People knock the Garmins for their poor smartwatch features, but honestly the differences have really minimized over time. On both watches I can: * use voice commands to quickly set timers and alarms * check the weather, my calendars * respond to text messages with Siri * this is much, much better on Apple Watch, but the Garmin has gotten it done for me, including when I'm going 20 mph on a bicycle or flying down a ski slope * contactless pay The only real advantages Apple Watch have are cellular, a few niche app things like unlocking my Level app, and better speech-to-text/Siri performance. The UI is also nice on Apple Watch, but the revamped UI for Fenix 8 and Enduro 3 is better than before and I quite like it. I'm not apologizing for Garmin Connect, however. That's still pretty rough. The Garmin Fenix 8 really does have a better training/wellness package. Sleep tracking works well for me, and Body Battery and Stress are actionable items for me that Apple Watch cannot replicate, not even with 3rd party apps, and I'm a Bevel subscriber. The AWU2 is a nice to have, but as a guy who does ultras north of 50 miles and long, off-grid hikes, the Garmin is the better device.

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

Used the same but switched to Fenix8 and I am very satisfied with all features it provides

I’ve been using a Fenix 8 AMOLED for the past year and am getting ready to move back to an Apple Watch Ultra. The Garmin is better looking and is definitely more fitness oriented. However, if you are generally in the Apple ecosystem, you’ll be giving up a lot of integration and convenience. The Garmin tries to be a smart watch, but the way things work in that regard is clunky compared to Apple. For me, I find that I miss the easy integration with the Apple ecosystem more than I value the fitness-orientation of the Garmin. I loved the buttons on the Garmin at first, but after a thumb injury realized that the button system can be inconvenient. The Garmin touch screen process is okay at best. Often laggy and unresponsive. I’ll miss the battery life, though.

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.

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.

I was a little disappointed with the battery life of my Fenix 8, but I could never remember when I charged it, so I wrote it down. Turns out the battery life was not the problem. My bad memory is. The sad truth of getting old.

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 got mine pretty close to a week ago now. The Garmin express program on PC is garbage, the Bluetooth headphone setup and use is trash too. But once you get used to it it's actually really nice. The insights, the tracking are so useful. I really like the app. I consider the watch screen an afterthought. I wish Garmin sold a bicep tracker that had no screen and only interacted with the app. Then you can continue wearing a normal watch on your wrist.

Fenix 8 Solar 51mm. 22d. No workout tracking, no notifications. Just passively tracking my life.

I use a Fenix 8 but only because I'm not on the Apple ecosystem, at ALL. If Samsung got their shit together, made a rectangle watch like the Ultra and battery lasted 3 ish days, i'd jump ship from Fenix 8 to the Samsung Ultra in a heartbeat.

I have Fenix 8 actually and I've used ECG once... literally forgot this feature exists until your comment arrived in my notifications. I might take another ECG now, but damn that feature is imo useless. Do a proper ECG at hospital once a year and you will be fine.

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

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.

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

Garmin really isn't that good for the gym, as they outright refuse to sync with ANY lifting apps, such as Hevy. I have a Fenix 8 and I went ahead and manually made lifting routines in the app on the phone, which then carries them onto the watch. It isn't that hard to do, but it does annoy me that they refuse to allow third party lifting apps to work as if they actually have a good lifting platform. I personally alternate between two different lifting workouts, so I just select the one I'm doing and go from there. I hate rep detection, so I have it set to where I click a button on the watch to start a set and then when I finish the set to start a rest period, unless I have something set as a superset. I still use Hevy while also running this, as I just find the interface and tracking as a whole to be superior, especially if you want to modify something mid-workout. My main reason for still bothering to also do it on my Garmin is so that it factors my lifting sessions into the overall health picture. My Fitness Pal and Strava are the only apps it sync with.

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 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!!

Which new running metrics are?I rhink enduro 3/fenix8 have all of them.

I bought the fenix 8 about a month ago for golf and to get into running. I liked the fenix 8 because you can do just about everything on it.

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

Completely agree. I ran with both my AW and F8 the other day. To summarize: AW: You did an amazing job. Keep it up! F8: My grandma runs faster than you.

Im not an Apple Watch expert, so let me know if I’m wrong with the following: In my experience, Garmin’s mapping abilities are more robust. For instance, I can create custom maps on CalTopo and upload them to my Garmin, and it works seamlessly. I don’t need any additional apps, and I have full trail detail including ascents/descents, any campsites or points of interest, etc. I can also stitch together multiple activities for multi-day hikes easily. Even the AllTrails “Send to Garmin” feature is super convenient. For instance if I’m going to a national park this weekend, I can upload all of the trails I’m interested in hiking in just a few clicks, sync my watch, and I’m good to go. These types of features and more (along with battery life obviously) sold me on the Fenix. In the backcountry subreddits I see a lot of lamentations about the AW’s lack of mapping abilities.

I would probably say the 965 or, if you want a flashlight, the Fenix 8. * **Fenix 8 Solar vs. Fenix 8 AMOLED** * Solar charging is not going to make a difference in your battery life unless you spend a *huge* amount of time outside in very bright sunlight. * Most users here seem to be reporting excellent battery life with the AMOLED version of the Fenix 8. * I have the Fenix 8 Solar 51mm, supposedly the best Garmin has to offer in the Fenix 8 lineup for battery life. I usually get 10-14 days with heavy smartwatch usage and heavy endurance training usage. I charge the watch between 20 and 80% every 10-14 days. You'll easily be able to match that with an AMOLED version, with AOD, if you just throw it on the charger when you shower * **Flashlight** * If you can afford it, get it. The flashlight is amazing. * **Auto-tracking activities** * Every Garmin I've ever had will track these kinds of workouts fairly accurately through the MoveIQ functionality. * That said, I usually track everything manually, because why not? My Fenix 8 has a separate "Bike Commute" profile which I use for errands, commuting, etc. I am a triathlete, runner, bike commuter, etc. I swim, bike, run, walk, strength train, yoga, SUP, OWS, ski. The Forerunner 965 or the Fenix 8 will be an outstanding choice for you.

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.

Forerunner 970 if you want running specific. 8 will have everything 970 has but probably not necessary. You would be perfectly fine with a 7 but with the new drop, I don’t think it makes sense to buy that far back unless you really don’t care about future updates. I was just in the same boat and went with the Fenix 8 because I had a %20 off discount

Many of the Garmin lineup support multi sport, and personally I've been on the Fenix track for over a decade now, currently on Epix Gen2. Handles swimming and running spot on paired with HRM-Pro. I have an Edge 1040 for cycling. Wife has a Fenix 8, it's super nice. Weight not an issue for me, Forerunner is a lighter model but gets a plastic case if I'm not mistaken. And go for the Sapphire screen.

Or Fenix 8, 43mm. Maps are awesome. I had a Fenix 7S but my last one is an Epix Pro 42mm. Fenix battery is far superior but the Epix screen is much easier to see.

The Fenix 8 100%. The tracking is insane, it doesn't look like a super techy watch IMO and the dive functionality has been great for me (although I'm new).

Fenix 8 owner here—the AMOLED Pro model has me feeling FOMO. $100 increase (from the titanium/sapphire fenix 8) for cellular, satellite, and still 2x brighter screen isn’t bad. Not worth switching but if I was in market for a new watch the decision would be easy.