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Garmin fenix 3 GPS Watch, Gray
Brand | Garmin |
Screen Size | 1.2 Inches |
Special Feature | music_player, multisport_tracking, gps, text, elevation_gained, digital_time_display, email, social_media_notifications, distance_traveled See more |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi |
Map Type | Worldwide |
Sport | Training, Running, Swimming |
Included Components | fenix 3 |
Battery Life | 20 Hours |
Mounting Type | Wrist Mount |
Operating System | iOS, Android |
About this item
- Chroma display - 1.2” sunlight-visible high-resolution color Chroma optically-bonded display.Quick fit watch band compatible: 0.8Inch(26 mm)
- Water rating - water rated up to 10ATM/ 100 Meters1; suitable for swimming. Case Material: fiber-reinforced polymer
- Exo antenna - Omni-directional Steel exo antenna, when paired with GLONASS and epo, provides an even faster fix and accurate position than GPS alone
- Wireless connectivity- utilize one or more Wi-Fi Hot spots to automatically sync your data with Garmin connect and update software (when in range)
- Battery life - rechargeable battery; up to 20 hours in training/GPS mode, 50 hours in UltraTrac mode, and 6 weeks in watch mode (depends on settings)
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This Item Garmin fenix 3 GPS Watch, Gray | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart Add to Cart | ||
Price | — | -19% $242.63$242.63 List: $299.99 | -30% $174.99$174.99 List: $249.99 | -45% $329.99$329.99 New Price: $599.99 |
Delivery | — | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 31 |
Customer Ratings | ||||
Battery life | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
Sleep tracking | 4.3 | 4.8 | — | 4.7 |
Accuracy | — | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
Value for money | — | 4.0 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
Mileage | 4.4 | — | — | 5.0 |
Sold By | — | Big Rocket Man USA | SL Deals | Tech-Boutique |
resolution | — | 480 x 272 | 128 x 128 | 480 x 272 |
mounting type | Wrist Mount | Wrist Mount | — | Wrist Mount |
batteries included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
battery average life | 20 hours | 6 hours | 40 hours | — |
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 0.6 x 2 x 2 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 2.88 ounces |
ASIN | B00RY1YWSO |
Item model number | 010-01338-00 |
Batteries | 1 CR2 batteries required. (included) |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #379,719 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #1,496 in Running GPS Units |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
OS | iOS, Android |
Connectivity technologies | Wi-Fi |
Special features | music_player, multisport_tracking, gps, text, elevation_gained, digital_time_display, email, social_media_notifications, distance_traveled |
Other display features | Wireless |
Human Interface Input | Buttons |
Color | Gray (Black Band) |
Whats in the box | fenix 3 |
Department | unisex-adult |
Manufacturer | Garmin |
Date First Available | January 7, 2015 |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Uncompromising Multisport Training GPS Watch
- Stainless Steel EXO antenna with GPS + GLONASS support for fast fix and accuracy
- 1.2-inch sunlight readable color Chroma display
- Fitness training features like VO2 Max and Recovery Advisor (when used with a heart rate monitor¹)
- Outdoor navigation features like 3-axis compass, altimeter and barometer, TracBack and Sight’n Go
- Connect IQ compatibility for customized apps, widgets, watch faces and data fields
fēnix 3 is the rugged, capable and smart multisport training GPS watch. With feature sets for fitness training plus feature sets for outdoor navigation, fēnix 3 is ready for any training activity and competition. Access to the Connect IQ platform allows customization of watch faces, data fields, widgets and activities. And, fēnix 3 is a thin, light multisport training GPS that won’t slow you down whether for training or every day use.
Serious Style That Stands Up to the Roughest Conditions
fēnix 3 is available in 3 bold models: gray with high-strength, scratch resistant, crystal and black band; silver with red band; and the premium sapphire model with a stainless steel band and sapphire lens. Each watch features a protective stainless steel bezel and buttons, and reinforced housing for extra durability. A sunlight-visible high-resolution color Chroma display with LED backlight lets you access your data in any light. fēnix 3 is water rated 100 meters and has a battery life of up to 50 hours in UltraTrac mode, 16 hours in GPS mode and up to 3 months in watch mode (all depending on settings).
Advanced Fitness Metrics
fēnix 3 is packed with training features to tell you about your form and fitness. The first is the VO2 max estimator. When used with a heart rate monitor¹, fēnix 3 crunches data, including your running speed, beats per minute and heart rate variability to estimate the maximum volume of oxygen you can consume per minute. Track changes to your VO2 max to see your fitness gains and to compare with your peers. Other fitness metrics include recovery advisor with a recovery timer and recovery check, plus a Race Predictor, which estimates your ideal finish time based on your current VO2 max number.
Running Dynamics Features
fēnix 3 incorporates sophisticated Garmin running watch feedback on your running form by reporting multiple metrics. When used with the HRM-Run monitor¹, fēnix 3 reports your cadence, vertical oscillation and ground contact time. These metrics are called running dynamics, and they affect your running economy.
Swim Profile and Ski-board Mode
The fēnix 3 isn’t just for running; special feature sets help swim training and skiing too. Borrowing from the Garmin Swim, fēnix 3 tracks your distance, pace, stroke count and more. You just tell fēnix 3 the size of the pool you’re swimming in and begin your workout. Ski-board mode puts speed, distance, vertical drop and an automatic run counter (with Auto Pause for the lift line) and more at your fingertips. You can even use your fēnix 3 as a glove-friendly remote, via ANT+, for the VIRB and VIRB Elite action cameras.
Navigate Your Way
No other navigator GPS plus ABC (altimeter, barometer and compass) wristwatch offers you the combined training functions and our leading GPS technology. fēnix 3 provides comprehensive navigation and tracking functionalities to guide you on and off the beaten track. Its built-in sensors provide information on heading, elevation and weather changes.
It records a GPS track log creating a “bread crumb trail” as you move. It also allows you to mark locations, such as a start/finish line, course checkpoint, or a campsite, vehicle or other point of interest. With fēnix 3, you can create and follow courses, mark up to 1,000 locations and store up to 10,000 track points and navigate to them.
Plan trips and share adventures with friends and family using BaseCamp. fēnix is equipped with both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart capabilities to wirelessly share locations, routes and geocaches.
Altimeter, Barometer and Compass
fēnix 3 is equipped with ABC sensors to provide relevant real-time information. The built-in altimeter provides elevation data to accurately monitor ascent and descent, while the barometer can be used to predict weather changes by showing short-term trends in air pressure. The 3-axis electronic compass keeps your bearing whether you’re moving or not.
fēnix 3 auto-calibrates its ABC sensors using its GPS receiver and also auto sets the time based on location. For an extremely accurate temperature reading, pair it with our tempe external temperature sensor.
Connect IQ
fēnix 3 uses the ConnectIQ platform for specialized software so you can personalize your watch with apps, widgets, data fields and unique watch faces that make your Garmin smartwatch even smarter.
Stay Connected
Smart Notifications lets you receive emails, texts and alerts right on your watch, even if you're on the trail. fēnix 3 receives the wireless signal from a compatible iPhone 4s or Android smartphone and let’s you know you have a message, displaying the text on its own screen whenever you’re ready to read it.
In the Box:
- fēnix 3 - gray watch with black band
- USB charging/data cable
- AC adapter
- Quick start manual
¹Heart rate monitors and HRM-run, sold separately.
²When paired with your iPhone 4S or later, Bluetooth or Bluetooth Smart Ready phones. See compatible list at http://support.garmin.com/support/searchSupport/case.faces?caseId={bbfc9660-8f77-11e3-d5f4-000000000000}. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, INC. iPhone is a trademark of Apple Inc. Android is a trademark of Google Inc.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, performance, heart rate monitor, battery life, and appearance of the GPS watch. For example, they mention that it works perfectly as a step counter and fitness tracker, and the heart rate chest strap is indispensable for tracking about any activity. That said, some appreciate the appearance and say it looks nice enough that their wife is fine with it.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the GPS watch. They say it's well built, has potential to last, and is a great all-around smart watch. Customers also mention that the rest of the Garmin system is robust and strong in functionality. Overall, customers are satisfied with the quality and functionality of the product.
"...Oh yeah, it tells the time too. Because it’s GPS based, it follows you across times zones and is always spot on." Read more
"...The rest of it is absolutely top notch and I'm glad I finally broke down and made the purchase...." Read more
"...2014 Garmin 910xt. Worked great, not issues whatsoever. Wore as my daily watch and of course used it for recording running.2015 Garmin 920xt...." Read more
"...The battery life and upgraded running metrics make it a great all-around smart watch for folks interested in a nice looking fitness-oriented device..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the performance of the GPS watch. They mention that it works well as a step counter and fitness tracker. It also works great with messaging and provides accurate GPS. Customers also mention that the altimeter works well and the watch has a plethora of features.
"...enough watch to wear all the time, it really does work perfectly as a step counter/fitness tracker...." Read more
"...So far is has proven pretty useful, I’d like to see more functionality, so I’ll probably end up writing one myself...." Read more
"...It is pretty simple to do basic things, but this watch packs a lot of advanced features and sometimes it takes some effort to learn how to do some..." Read more
"...2014 Garmin 910xt. Worked great, not issues whatsoever. Wore as my daily watch and of course used it for recording running.2015 Garmin 920xt...." Read more
Customers like the heart rate monitor. They say it offers a lot of data, is indispensable for tracking about any activity, and provides additional metrics to keep them motivated. They also mention that the barometer is quite useful, and the built-in heart rate sensor is very cool. Some like the GPS lock on very fast, and like the altimeter and step counter.
"...stroke rate for both paddleboarding and rowing and has dedicated apps with associated metrics for them as well as the traditional swim/bike/run and..." Read more
"...The barometer is quite useful. I turned on the barometric pressure alarm to notify me of pressure drops of 2mb in a three hour period...." Read more
"...• The built in heart rate monitor is very cool but it isn’t accurate in highly variable situations or in the water...." Read more
"...It integrates nicely and gives you additional metrics to keep you motiviated!" Read more
Customers like the battery life of the GPS watch. They say it has a great battery, and it runs 24/7. Some appreciate the fact that it has an impressive battery.
"...I’ve been blown away by battery life. When using it just as a watch and an occasional tracking of a walk during the day, it typically loses ~10%...." Read more
"...The battery life and upgraded running metrics make it a great all-around smart watch for folks interested in a nice looking fitness-oriented device..." Read more
"...Battery life?: Excellent. This depends on how much you check the watch and interact with it...." Read more
"...I really like that it's running 24/7 as it gives me a good sense for my overall fitness level and health.In sum, I love the watch...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the appearance of the GPS and navigation system. They mention that the watch looks nice enough that their wife is fine with it, the screen is really nice, and the watch faces are really cool. The charging dock is very well designed, and it is perfect for most occasions. The sapphire crystal is a great touch, and does not have to worry about scratching it at work. Overall, most are happy with the product's appearance.
"...The great thing is that since it's an attractive enough watch to wear all the time, it really does work perfectly as a step counter/fitness tracker...." Read more
"...The fact that the watch looks nice enough that my wife is fine with it and the wonders of what the watch can do far outweigh the issues in my..." Read more
"...much any time you want to, and there's enough variety and really good looking and useful faces means that you can appear to wear a different watch..." Read more
"...Love the look especially, but also love the more robust notification info compared to the 920xt...." Read more
Customers like the ease of use of the GPS watch. They mention that it has a real watch feel, and the ability to customize the watch face. They also appreciate the screens are infinitely customizable for runs, cycling, or any other activity. They find the product very intuitive and straightforward to use, with a lot of customizable options. Customers also mention that the activity tracking screens are highly customizable, and can track up to 4 different activities.
"...The ability to change the watch faces via the Connect IQ store and all the 3rd party apps and datafields currently available and ever-expanding make..." Read more
"...There is a learning curve to this watch. It is pretty simple to do basic things, but this watch packs a lot of advanced features and sometimes it..." Read more
"...The fact that you can change the watch face pretty much any time you want to, and there's enough variety and really good looking and useful faces..." Read more
"...the usual information a bit more buried information, it is still easy to navigate around There is literally more information than I would need but..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the accuracy of the navigation system. Some mention that the compass is reasonably accurate, the heart rate sensor is less accurate, and the GPS is very accurate. However, others say that the heart beat is not as accurate at times.
"...This was easy to correct within the Fenix. Lidar imagery has accurate altitudes to use for calibration...." Read more
"...is that it's laggy (which it is, a little), and that it's not very accurate or consistent for those people with dark skin tones...." Read more
"...My resting heart rate, daily steps, and heart rate zones line up pretty well with what I'd expect from that historical data.Cons:-..." Read more
"...Seems like when i run or lift it can go way to high or is way to inaccurate if i start sweating alot...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the navigation system. Some mention it's worth the price, it frees up precious time of the day, and the upgraded glass was definitely worth it. However, others say that it'd be better off buying a cheaper product.
"...It’s an expensive watch, and I don’t regret making the purchase in the least bit...." Read more
"...Price, the watch isn’t cheap but it is worth the price too. Price is just a high bar to jump over.The positives:•..." Read more
"...Awesome. A really great value because you find things you can use, rather than finding limitations and a desire fora better watch...." Read more
"...Finally, this watch is a great value at this point...." Read more
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Enter the Fenix 3 HR! I still wear a heart rate strap while road cycling, rowing, and strength training because they're more accurate than the built-in optical HR monitor, but when you snug the watch strap down on the Fenix 3, the built-in HR monitor does a pretty good job of tracking my HR while paddleboarding, surfing, bike commuting, and hiking.
The Fenix 3 HR also heralded in the addition of tracking cadence/stroke rate for both paddleboarding and rowing and has dedicated apps with associated metrics for them as well as the traditional swim/bike/run and lots of other activities. I've asked Garmin repeatedly for paddleboarding/rowing functions since back when I got my first 810XT, and now it's finally here in the Fenix 3 HR. Hooray!
The firmware and Garmin Connect mobile software for iOS have settled in for this watch to a large degree and I have very few complaints. The one thing I have noticed recently is that it's not currently very consistent with giving me text/call/email notifications from my phone, at least not as consistent as my regular Fenix 3 and the 920XT I had. It's not that big a deal, but I like it when it works. Some people hate having their watch bothering them all the time though, but it's possible to turn that function off if you're one of them.
If you're into counting steps, I'd say the Fenix 3 HR is pretty demanding. It counts about 1/2 to 2/3rds as many as my iPhone which is almost constantly in my pocket. I also once climbed ten flights of stairs the other day and it didn't count any of them (it must have thought I was lagging). Still, I think they're in the process of refining the firmware for that, and I only really track it as a curiosity since I get plenty of exercise in other ways. The great thing is that since it's an attractive enough watch to wear all the time, it really does work perfectly as a step counter/fitness tracker. You won't need some sort of goofy bracelet on one arm and a watch on the other.
One note about optical HR straps like those implemented in the Fenix 3 HR. You do need to wear it relatively snug above your wrist bone for proper readings. I've also read that a common criticism about this type of HR monitoring is that it's laggy (which it is, a little), and that it's not very accurate or consistent for those people with dark skin tones. I'm relatively fair skinned with a constant California tan on my forearms and it works fine for me. I do, however, suspect that those who complain about it's inaccuracy either don't realize they need to wear it fairly tightly (as outside light leaking underneath the watch ruins the readings) or perhaps they have a dark complexion which also makes it hard for the sensor to detect the variations in skin color associated with HR.
The ability to change the watch faces via the Connect IQ store and all the 3rd party apps and datafields currently available and ever-expanding make this watch very useful. However, you will have to spend some time learning how to use the watch to get the most out of it. Yes, it's a watch with a learning curve, and you'd be well advised to read the manual to get the most out of it, but if you're an athletic nerd like me who likes data, that's not going to be a problem for you.
About the strap on the Fenix 3 HR: it's not the same strap as the other models. The strap that comes with the HR version is a little stretchy so that you can tighten it down and not have it bite into your skin for proper HR measurements. You can certainly order and use any of the other straps for the regular Fenix 3 which might be more attractive, but keep in mind you won't be able to tighten them enough to get good HR readings. That said, it only takes a couple minutes to switch out the band using the included tool for something more elegant if the situation calls for it.
About the glass: The Fenix 3 HR has a sapphire glass face which is much more resistant to scratching than the glass on the basic Fenix 3. It has the same glass as the Fenix 3 Sapphire. I only mention this because it's important from a durability standpoint, and it's sort of a hard specification to find in the Garmin marketing literature.
The Fenix sits on the fence of being a smartwatch in the sense of what a current generation smartwatch offers. Can I speak texts to it, no. Can I control my Nest or other home automation with it, not really (I could set it up as a location device in SmartThings if I really wanted). Does it display information from texts, emails, weather, and so much more, oh yes. I actually am not using the notification content on the Fenix in an attempt to stretch the battery. I have a Moto 360 and Pebble which work better for that purpose if I need that type of device.
I was in the market for a device which I could use to track hiking, mountain biking, and walking in regards to activities without relying on my phone. The Fenix has fit that purpose ideally. At the time of purchase, I had no idea that it would sync via Wi-Fi. And this is a huge benefit as I have a Verizon MiFi. So now when I’m out and complete an activity, I can power up the MiFi and have the activity sync with that. It’s smaller, lighter and the battery lasts a lot longer because it’s not powering a huge color screen. Not to mention it has a 4,000 mAh battery, weighs just under 5 ounces, and can charge the Fenix itself. On longer hikes I can now leave my phone powered off and only use it as an emergency phone without needing to carry a giant battery pack to charge the phone since the Fenix will record my routes. This saves me 5-10 ounces of pack weight typically depending on which battery pack I was previously bringing. I’m not a passionate ultralight packer, I do like to go light, but I am a data junkie so I need to feed that passion.
I’ve seen a lot of complaining about the heart rate monitor, inaccuracies of wrist based monitors, etc. My Moto 360 was horrid. I could only get a reading 20-30% of the time I’d say. It was so frustrating, I never bothered checking for accuracy and it was a spot reading. So far, my experience is that the Fenix has been spot on. One day at the gym while riding a stationary bike, I checked the hand based monitor against the Fenix. Both measured the exact same BPM rate. I then counted against a clock and my BPM matched what the Fenix was reporting. I also have a Tickr chest strap, which I have not yet paired or checked against the Fenix.
GPS accuracy is seemingly pretty good. Inside as expected leaves a lot to be desired. One of my indoor walking routes I take at work when it’s raining, was recorded as me jumping all over the place, likely when it grabbed reception and again lost it. The distance ended up being about correct however, the path was just crazy.
ABC’s – one of the main reasons I purchased
The altimeter is calibrated at the factory. I found it to be off by a couple hundred feet. This was easy to correct within the Fenix. Lidar imagery has accurate altitudes to use for calibration. Google, “Daft Logic Altitude” to find the site which allows you to click on a map and have the altitude returned. Once I calibrated this, it was accurate. I verified by clicking a point at the end of my driveway to get the altitude after doing the correction in front of my office.
The barometer is quite useful. I turned on the barometric pressure alarm to notify me of pressure drops of 2mb in a three hour period. I’ve had one occasion when out in the woods where nothing was on radar, and a storm literally popped up ten miles south of me, in two frames on the radar, it went from nothing to yellows and reds. Unfortunately I did not yet have the watch, so I can’t comment if this would have been detected, but that’s the hope when on the trail. The barometric sensor is also used to calculate flights of stairs ascended and descended. I tested starting from the street level walking up to the seventh floor, my office level, and it was spot on.
The compass is what pushed me to the Fenix 3 over the Vivoactive HR model. The Fenix has a magnetic compass whereas the Vivoactive is GPS based. Not everyone understands that there is a true north and magnetic north. Depending on where you are on the earth, this angle of difference varies. But for a quick rundown, if you were to navigate to a fixed location three miles away, at a 15º declination, the difference between magnetic and true north is almost three quarters of a mile. Do your research before finding this out in real life.
I race sailboats, and there is a watch face in the store for the Fenix. So far is has proven pretty useful, I’d like to see more functionality, so I’ll probably end up writing one myself. But this was another driver for me. I can use the watch to be notified of lifts and headers while racing. I’d like an app to notify of when you’ve reached the layline, etc. Of course the GPS vs. magnetic compasses will be useful here for taking into account for current offset.
I’ve been blown away by battery life. When using it just as a watch and an occasional tracking of a walk during the day, it typically loses ~10%. As I write this review, it has been 24 hours since charging, and the battery is at 87%.
It’s an expensive watch, and I don’t regret making the purchase in the least bit. I found the button layout to be a bit different in the sense of flow, but I’ve grown accustom to it. I just feel like the back button should be on the bottom left and the up/down menu buttons on the right middle and right bottom. Not a big deal, it works!
One gripe, which I'm not going to ding a star for, wish we could do half stars though. It's a proprietary charging system. My guess is that it's probably for water ingress reasons. But if it utilized a standard micro-usb connector, I'd already have one of these cables on trips. So it's another charging cable I have to bring on a backpacking trip, which adds weight. There are aftermarket chargers out there for the Fenix 3, non HR model. The plug into the watch side with a micro-usb connector. So far there are non which have the cutout for the HR sensor on the Fenix 3 HR watch. At the very least, make the OEM Garmin charger utilize a micro-usb connector, or as things are progressing now, a USB-C connector.
Oh yeah, it tells the time too. Because it’s GPS based, it follows you across times zones and is always spot on.
The Fenix sits on the fence of being a smartwatch in the sense of what a current generation smartwatch offers. Can I speak texts to it, no. Can I control my Nest or other home automation with it, not really (I could set it up as a location device in SmartThings if I really wanted). Does it display information from texts, emails, weather, and so much more, oh yes. I actually am not using the notification content on the Fenix in an attempt to stretch the battery. I have a Moto 360 and Pebble which work better for that purpose if I need that type of device.
I was in the market for a device which I could use to track hiking, mountain biking, and walking in regards to activities without relying on my phone. The Fenix has fit that purpose ideally. At the time of purchase, I had no idea that it would sync via Wi-Fi. And this is a huge benefit as I have a Verizon MiFi. So now when I’m out and complete an activity, I can power up the MiFi and have the activity sync with that. It’s smaller, lighter and the battery lasts a lot longer because it’s not powering a huge color screen. Not to mention it has a 4,000 mAh battery, weighs just under 5 ounces, and can charge the Fenix itself. On longer hikes I can now leave my phone powered off and only use it as an emergency phone without needing to carry a giant battery pack to charge the phone since the Fenix will record my routes. This saves me 5-10 ounces of pack weight typically depending on which battery pack I was previously bringing. I’m not a passionate ultralight packer, I do like to go light, but I am a data junkie so I need to feed that passion.
I’ve seen a lot of complaining about the heart rate monitor, inaccuracies of wrist based monitors, etc. My Moto 360 was horrid. I could only get a reading 20-30% of the time I’d say. It was so frustrating, I never bothered checking for accuracy and it was a spot reading. So far, my experience is that the Fenix has been spot on. One day at the gym while riding a stationary bike, I checked the hand based monitor against the Fenix. Both measured the exact same BPM rate. I then counted against a clock and my BPM matched what the Fenix was reporting. I also have a Tickr chest strap, which I have not yet paired or checked against the Fenix.
GPS accuracy is seemingly pretty good. Inside as expected leaves a lot to be desired. One of my indoor walking routes I take at work when it’s raining, was recorded as me jumping all over the place, likely when it grabbed reception and again lost it. The distance ended up being about correct however, the path was just crazy.
ABC’s – one of the main reasons I purchased
The altimeter is calibrated at the factory. I found it to be off by a couple hundred feet. This was easy to correct within the Fenix. Lidar imagery has accurate altitudes to use for calibration. Google, “Daft Logic Altitude” to find the site which allows you to click on a map and have the altitude returned. Once I calibrated this, it was accurate. I verified by clicking a point at the end of my driveway to get the altitude after doing the correction in front of my office.
The barometer is quite useful. I turned on the barometric pressure alarm to notify me of pressure drops of 2mb in a three hour period. I’ve had one occasion when out in the woods where nothing was on radar, and a storm literally popped up ten miles south of me, in two frames on the radar, it went from nothing to yellows and reds. Unfortunately I did not yet have the watch, so I can’t comment if this would have been detected, but that’s the hope when on the trail. The barometric sensor is also used to calculate flights of stairs ascended and descended. I tested starting from the street level walking up to the seventh floor, my office level, and it was spot on.
The compass is what pushed me to the Fenix 3 over the Vivoactive HR model. The Fenix has a magnetic compass whereas the Vivoactive is GPS based. Not everyone understands that there is a true north and magnetic north. Depending on where you are on the earth, this angle of difference varies. But for a quick rundown, if you were to navigate to a fixed location three miles away, at a 15º declination, the difference between magnetic and true north is almost three quarters of a mile. Do your research before finding this out in real life.
I race sailboats, and there is a watch face in the store for the Fenix. So far is has proven pretty useful, I’d like to see more functionality, so I’ll probably end up writing one myself. But this was another driver for me. I can use the watch to be notified of lifts and headers while racing. I’d like an app to notify of when you’ve reached the layline, etc. Of course the GPS vs. magnetic compasses will be useful here for taking into account for current offset.
I’ve been blown away by battery life. When using it just as a watch and an occasional tracking of a walk during the day, it typically loses ~10%. As I write this review, it has been 24 hours since charging, and the battery is at 87%.
It’s an expensive watch, and I don’t regret making the purchase in the least bit. I found the button layout to be a bit different in the sense of flow, but I’ve grown accustom to it. I just feel like the back button should be on the bottom left and the up/down menu buttons on the right middle and right bottom. Not a big deal, it works!
One gripe, which I'm not going to ding a star for, wish we could do half stars though. It's a proprietary charging system. My guess is that it's probably for water ingress reasons. But if it utilized a standard micro-usb connector, I'd already have one of these cables on trips. So it's another charging cable I have to bring on a backpacking trip, which adds weight. There are aftermarket chargers out there for the Fenix 3, non HR model. The plug into the watch side with a micro-usb connector. So far there are non which have the cutout for the HR sensor on the Fenix 3 HR watch. At the very least, make the OEM Garmin charger utilize a micro-usb connector, or as things are progressing now, a USB-C connector.
Oh yeah, it tells the time too. Because it’s GPS based, it follows you across times zones and is always spot on.
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El reloj superó mis expectativas. Lo utilizo principalmente para correr en exteriores e interiores (caminadora), así como para la bicicleta de montaña. El reloj se conecta sin problemas a los sensores Ant+ qué tengo para el ritmo cardíaco, para los pasos y la cadencia y velocidad en la bici.
Es muy cómodo apesar de su tamaño brumoso.
The product itself is amazing. After contemplating whether to go for the non HR model or HR, I finally purchased the HR one. The watch itself looks amazing. I was worried thinking it might be too big but even if its a big watch it fits amazingly well and does not look odd. It is think though but again it has that rugged coolness to it which stands out in style. Almost all of those who noticed the watch till now complimented the looks of it.
The best features for me was the always on crisp screen and the battery life. The GPS is accurate and takes mere seconds to get a lock. Syncing is really effortless. Garmin Connect app is now refined and shows a lot more details. The battery lasts more than a week if you use the GPS for around an hour four days a week and without using smart notifications. I don't want to fiddle my watch for notifications so I gave up on that feature.
The sapphire glass undoubtedly strong, the watch band fits well and is comfortable even during sweaty workouts. The watch being water resistant can be washed in plain water after a work out.
This is exactly what I was looking for in a fitness tracker/watch. If you can spare the cash, it is worth it and should last you years.