Garmin Fenix 6 - 1400 Miles Later - Is it still worth it?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
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I bought a Fenix 6s Pro because it was the only watch that did these 3 things in 1 watch: Maps, Music and Open water swimming!
I have that in my Fenix 6X Pro Solar too.
@@mattiasandersson3444 bro ...
@@mattiasandersson3444 yeah, and in the normal 6 pro and in the fenix 5 plus to, but what I clearly meant is that Garmin is the only brand that has a watch that has those 3 in 1 watch!
koen miseur yes, unfortunately. That’s why they can afford to have so many bugs and so many incomplete features. Their hardware is pretty nice, but software-wise... 🤨
@@uncle-k3m i haven't encountered any bugs yet, though I just bought mine a month ago
It's good to have a review from somebody who actually uses the product to the extent you did. Thx.
Thanks!
Love your content! Honest and well executed. I purchase my Fenix 6 as a result of your videos and I am more than happy 😃. Thanks from Lincolnshire UK 👍🏼
Thank you!
Garmin Forerunner 945 basically same watch with reduced weight, feels great on the wrist and sleep tracking is very accurate. Actually loving it! Bought it after weeks of seeing your reviews thanks for the content.
Yep, very similar.
Have had mine for 2.5k miles, 10 months of so and apart from knowing a bit more about how it works, it remains a great watch. Couple of annoyances: sometimes (especially if you pause it for a while) you can't restart music + deleting a Spotify play list sometimes doesn't work. And sleep isn't great. But these are way down on thd list of things I would like to have on a fitness watch, plus there's some improvements on their way for sleep and lifestyle tracking
That's a lot of miles! Have you found the sleep to improve with the new 10.10 update? Mine has gotten a lot better since filming this video.
I switched from Fitbit to Garmin when Garmin released the Fenix 5. I have since upgraded to the Fenix 5 Plus and than the 6X Pro Solar (Titanium).. I love these devices and can hardly wait to see what Garmin does in the Fenix 7 (whenever that drops). Great video and NEW Subscriber! HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Thanks for subscribing! Happy New Year!
Cant help but stair at your Greek tattoo that says "I miss you" i hope thats what you where going for...
Thats what I was hoping it says. Thanks ❤
Thanks for the review!
I am having my Fenix 6 Sapphire since 1st June 2020!
Honestly?
I could not be more satisfied with the watch!
The weight 82grams doesn't bother me AT ALL (like it does you)!
I am making for years a lot of push ups daily so it might be something on it, that I don't feel it at all...
Even when sleeping doesn't disturb me at all!
And for me it shows sleeping tracking very accurate as well!
For example if I go to toilet at 3am or something it will show that!
I wear the watch all day long, only when showering not, because I like to wash my body without anything on it and the watch as well!
Battery life I was VERY impressed!!
Running 3 or mostly 4. times a week is like 5 hours of running, biking for 3 hours and walking 3 hours...
Beside the Bluetooth all the time on, getting all messages, calls etc. whole week long and also changed brightness to 80% and as I turn lights go on...etc.
Long story short... it held awesome 8.days (at first)!
Now, last one week I uploaded like 10 different watch faces from Garmin Connect IQ and it warned straight away about the battery life...
BUT...
I never expected that this fancy watch faces can reduce battery life so drastically!!
It is reduced like 50%, so it will hold like 4.days now...
I am just thinking to remove them or remove some and try one for one at the time...
It is fancy and fun with tons of information, but it reduces battery life pretty much...
Overall, EXTREEMLY HAPPY with the watch and can only recommend to anyone who wants a good looking/durable quality watch!!
Keep up the good work, cheers...
Glad you're enjoying your watch! Thanks for the kind words. Cheers!
You're welcome man ...and I need to thank you too!
Before I've bought my Fenix 6 Sapphire I have been watching different reviews on ytube and also yours...the Fenix 6 vs. Forerunner 945 and Fenix 6 PRO vs. Sapphire...
It honestly helped me to make the right decision, so among those three mentioned, I've closed my eye and went for the best one!
The reason is simply because if you spend already such amount of money you add a bit more and you have better quality / more durable product!
Now you imagine you spend €100 less for the PRO version and you break the glass or have some scratches on it... huh
You don't buy watch every month, even every year not, so it is worthy to pay €100 more and you know what you have!
Mine old Garmin 910XT (Triathlon version) I was using since 2014 and ran over 8000km with it...biking, swimming etc. and it's still working like new!!!
We have more of Garmin watches in our family (2x 910XT, 210, vivioactive3 and now added Fenix 6 Sapphire)...
They ALL work great for years!!
It is why I knew that I will be going for Garmin AGAIN!!
Thanks again for your reviews, appreciate it so much!!
Take care and all the best!
They just changed the sleep tracking with the latest update. Now it's great, perfectly accurate . Also they improved the WHR. I own the 6Spro which IMO is better than the 6pro. It's smaller, lighter and better in recording WHR and other metrics due to its reduced weight and size. Garmin 6s pro is really a fantastic watch.
I saw that it was updated in the beta firmware. We'll see how that works when its fully rolled out! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit it's good. It will be soon fully released. Thanks for the videos 👍
+1! 6S Pro and updated sleep tracking in the public beta is brilliant. Reinforces the point in the video about Garmin constantly updating post-release.
@@ChaseTheSummit Total noob question, but are updates accessed by connecting to Wi-Fi, and how do you acquire beta, Vs. actual official updates? Thanks!
@@Alistair_Spence official firmware updates should happen without you even noticing. Over wifi or just from the Bluetooth connection to your phone. The beta firmware is a manual installation you'll need to visit the beta firmware Garmin site to download it and install it via their directions over a USB connection to a computer. Hope that helps!
I purchased the Solar Pro version about 3 weeks ago and have nothing but good things to say about it. I pair it with the Garmin Heart Monitor chest strap and its the perfect combination. I don't think the solar makes that much of a difference in my opinion. Excited to see what they release next. Thanks for the video.
Great to hear!
Every year I consider getting a watch like this then I don’t and am glad I didn’t every time it gets updated lol
I'm curious when this will get updated!
I know the Fenix 7 is around the corner but I just picked up a Fenix 6 Sapphire on sale up here in Canada and am super excited about it. Plus, by this time all the software bugs have been worked out hopefully. Can't wait to get it!!!! Btw, I will be using it for hiking and navigation and durability were on the top of the list. Thanks for the awesome review!!!
Nice! Enjoy the Fenix 6!
Thanks for the review. You highlighted exactly those features which I am interested in but haven't found in other reviews, like that map function 👍
Thanks!
I've got a Fenix 5 and love it still. I was tempted by the 6 but just can't justify the cost jump at this point. Maybe next year as a birthday present to myself! Great to have a 'living with it' review though. Thanks for that!
The 5 is still a fantastic watch! Even has a slight edge in GPS accuracy due to the more power hungry Mediatech chip. The only thing it's missing is Mapping and Music which most people don't even use. I'd say use it as long as it does what you want! Thanks for watching.
Holy crap can't listen to that music a second longer!
Ha, good to know. Thanks for the feedback 👌
I just got one of those to upgrade from a 3. I can say that even the 3 still receives updates. The 3 was perfect for me, I am sure this one is going to be even better. Thx for the review!
Nice! That's a solid upgrade. Enjoy.
Just got my fenix 6 pro coming from a garmin instinct , very happy with my timepiece as a mtb’er I love the screen brightness while out on the trails easy to see , love the gps , love the accuracy, well worth the $500 .
Nice! Enjoy it!
Am I the only one who talks to their watch like a human? 😂
@@Ecoroof1986 The Fenix 6 is such a good listener. Glad my videos could help in some way. Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit the beta has improved sleep tracking, and on watch info and advise. Relase candidate is out since friday on the beta forum
@@ChaseTheSummit no naps yet tho :( there are dozens of us in the beta community that want it ahahah
Trust me...when I set an interval training thinking I can make a 6 x 1.6k below a certain PACE and I failed ...I imagine my Garmin Fenix 5 plus with the voice of Terence Fletcher (Whiplash movie) saying: NOT QUITE MY TEMPOOOOO!!!!!!!
Hey new sub here, I’m a High school student and I’ve been trying to get my hands on a Garmin but they are definitely way out of my budget, I see that you have been using yours for a long time so I wanted to see if you were interested in selling it to me? I would get a lot of use out of it and probably be able to even afford it.
Already bought he watch, but enjoy watching others thoughts. Great input. Took it out for a few 20+ runs, seems great, hardly a hit to battery, will be ramping up for a few ultras and IM in 2021
Awesome! Enjoy!
Thanks for all the videos. I really was in betwenn Fenix6 and Vantage V2... finally i got the Fenix 6x sapphire thanks to your videos. the best watch i have ever had.
insane what you data get out of it. With HRM Tri u get so much more infos.! cheers!
Lots of data! The hard part is learning what to do with it all. Thanks for watching!
I run without phone almost all the time - so music is a must for me. I see how much of a drain is for the battery. It it’s a good trade off. But biggest win is all the audible info - laps, pace, he zones alerts I did setup - it helps a lot for me when running. So even without music I would keep earphones in (or at least one). I still charge my 6X pro Solar mostly once a week to ~80% and drain it no less that to 20% to preserve battery life for longer period of time.
Thanks for sharing!
Great review Dave! I never had an opportunity to test and wear the Garmin Fenix 6. I was able to purchase their Enduro and have it for six days now. Yeah, I really like the Enduro model and hope to get to 1,400 miles as you achieved. Thanks for sharing your durability experiences...
Nice! I'm sure you'll get plenty of mileage out of it!
I do more than run or trail run. The maps are probably the most important feature for me. I have used the specialized Boundary Waters Topo maps downloaded to my F5X to keep on track across various lakes, find designated portage points and campsites. Hikes on unfamiliar trails are less of a worry because you know you can get back to your starting point via track back or direct routing. It is also helpful to see landmarks in your vicinity. “Oh, look at that nice lake.” And see on the map that a side trail goes to a lakeside clearing to enjoy a trail break and a quick dip. Try doing that with a breadcrumb track. The only thing I wish is that Garmin would own up to the fact that they screwed up the design of the charging mechanism. Corroding contact points on a watch designed to get sweat, rained, and grimed on is ludicrous.
Sounds like you're fully utilizing the Fenix! Nice! I've seen corroding contacts on some Garmins but it's never happened to mine. I wonder what the factor is there.
@@ChaseTheSummit
It appears to be a big deal on the Garmin forum. Several topic conversations about watches not charging, or charging but data not transferring. I noticed on the 945LTE that the charging nodes are silver in color, rather than gold, but the charging mechanism style is still the same. Maybe the change in metals will improve longevity/functionality. Out of curiosity, do you use one of those rubber charging port covers on your F6Pro Sapphire to keep out gunk and sweat?
Yeah, love the watch minus the GPS which is pretty awful. Also use the Stryd pod. The GPS tracks shift left pretty terribly unless you wear the watch on the right hand. I assume this is somehow related to where the antenna is placed or something. Its just weird how different the tracks look depending on the wrist you wear it on (this is not an isolated case, I posted on the forums and dozens of others replied with the same issue)
Hah yeah, the GPS isn't perfect but I've come to accept that I don't need "perfect" GPS tracks. I find the other features outweigh the downsides. Thanks for watching!
Garmin just acquired Firstbeat analytics and I’m waiting those sleep monitoring abilities to improve quite a bit in the near future
Yeah, that's pretty exciting! I hope that means they'll include firstbeat modules on all of their watches instead of only the premium ones. Since they won't need to pay to license per module this could be a reality! Thanks for watching.
Thank for this video, it’s very helpful for me, I planing change my FR735xt on fenix 6x. now I know something they don't say when reviewing the watch straight out of the box(new) Greetings from West Pomerania, Poland
Thanks for watching!
Got both the fenix 6 sapphire, instinct solar, and a garmin 64 handheld. I love all of my garmins. The instinct solar is my main backup watch. I charge the fenix once a week the instinct once a month. So yeah when my fenix is down I got the instinct in the center console or backpack. And the combo is awesome. Plus I won't loose any sleep over messing up my garmins compared to the freak out ill have if get even a smudge on my omega mechanical.
Nice!
Fenix 5 with 2500+ miles. Everything still works, except the charging connect is a little wangy. Waiting for Fenix 7.., yessss.
Wow! Awesome!
3:07 NEXT WAYPOINT: AS5 BAG :D
I was really looking forward to that Aid Station 5 drop bag!
I have had my Fenix 6 Saphire about 3 weeks now and I am satisfied with it. I find the heart rate monitor is ok just for everyday measurement, but I bought a Garmin Run chest strap for running and cycling. I have an old fitbit for sleep recording and I found the Garmin was more accurate concerning the hours slept but the Fitbit more accurate for sleep stages. Calories the Fitbit over estimate and the Garmin under estimates but is more consistent day to day. I just add 400 calories at the end of the day for the Garmin and that would be about right. I really like the map feature. I like hiking in the winter and maps are great for this.
Nice! Yes, a big reason why I own a Fenix or 945 is for the navigation and offline map features. Super powerful to have that on your wrist. Thanks for watching!
Nov 2022 just ordered a 6S Pro for $350. My concerns are battery (maybe I should have paid the extra $50 for Solar, but would have been stuck with gold and wanted black). And the touch screen. Upgrading from a Vivoactive 3 that does have touchscreen, and that will take some getting used to.
THANK YOU for covering the problematic optical WHR on this model. I have this one and the 5x plus, the older model's WHR works MUCH better, almost as good as my Garmin strap.
That's interesting, I didn't have great luck with the 5/5x OHR sensor. Wrist based sensors are so temperamental it comes down to skin color, hair density, body fat, etc... Thanks for watching.
Great video, I bought one and did so more for the durability you mentioned and showed, Sapphire glass with DLC coating.
I like the F6 design. Consider the weight, I stay stay with my F945 which is a very nice gps watch too.
The 945 is a great device just because of how light it is! It's great that Garmin backported some of the new features from the Fenix 6 too. Thanks for watching.
Fenix 6 and 945 have tha same functions?
Have sapphire for a month now. The only thing that really bothers me is the bezel. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to change it, but get new or refurbished watch, and it costs like 200$. Bought even metal strap and it is a whole new experience. 😊
I just consider any scratches on the bezel character 😉
Great video. I have the 5x plus and love it. I had the 3 before that and also loved that one
I remember Fenix 3 being the turning point for Garmin. Color screen! It was an exciting time. The 5X Plus is still a very relevant device. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for all the great reviews Dave! I’m sold on Sapphire glass w/ either the Fenix6 or Coros Apex. Still trying to decide how important mapping is to me.
I noticed that your Amazon link to the Fenix goes to the Pro model for $699 but there is not any mention of Sapphire on that link?? When I do a search for Sapphire with the Fenix6 it comes up with a model that’s $784.95. Just wanted to make sure folks who really want the Sapphire confirm that before they buy.
Good catch. I just updated the link! It should work correctly now!
maps are the only reason i bought my 6x pro. i disabled hr and anything sports related and ive got an even better battery life. for me is an utilitary watch.
Great video as always. As the video title might be misleading. Keep on mind that:
- NOT all Garmin Fenix 6 have Maps and Music
- ALL Garmin Fenix 5 Plus have Maps and Music (correct me if I am wrong)
Misleading, in a sense, that it talks about Garmin Fenix 6 Pro and Saphire. Not Fenix 6 (BASE MODEL)
You've got that right. As I mention in the video I'm talking about the Sapphire version. Putting "Sapphire" in the title made it feel a little too long. I actually have an entire video dedicated to pointing out the differences between these models. Hope that helps!
@@ChaseTheSummit yeah no worries. I got it ;) thanx
But because Fenix Variants are confusing, you know, maybe my comment will save someone's day :D
I took your advice and got an arm strap. The OH1+ wasn’t available where i live. Got the Scosche Rhythm 24 and all my workout stats improved.
Keep making the informative videos! Awesome! 👍
The Scoche strap looks nice! Thanks for watching!
Had the Fenix 5x and now forerunner 945. I like the overall experience of Garmin and I’m used to their “ecosystem.” Oh and besides running, biking I also golf and the watch is fantastic for that. It’s good there are great alternatives as the competition drives innovation and pricing which ultimately should be good for us the consumers.
Agreed! Garmins going to need to innovate if they want to remain on top. I also hope some other brand is able to bring offline maps to the table. That would really make things interesting!
@@ChaseTheSummit They could do that with better software and hardware support. That's the only thing I see holding them back
Thanks for the review. I also have the fenix 6,while I am very impressed with it, it is realistically more watch than I need.
As for some of the negatives that you identified. The sleep tracking, yes there are issues with sleep tracking, however sleep tracking appears to be a nonsense science. I diagnosed myself as having a sleep issue using data from the watch (I thought I had sleep apnoea but turned it to just be insomnia). I spent ages at the doctors doing loads of tests etc and they identified that there wasn't anything wrong with me at all physically. When I was talking to the expert I got out my phone and tried to talk to him about the data and his response was, while the information is interesting you can't actually read much into it as it is not possible to get the sort of data that they claim from simple wrist based sensors. To get that info is still a dark art and requires lots of sensors in a lab setting so overall I'd question the accuracy of all of the watches. In fact the doctor I spoke to questioned whether there were some legal issues over false advertising etc.
One of the other issues discussed was about the accuracy of the wrist based heart rate monitor. I have also noticed this, especially when it comes to the strava relative effort score (work really hard and it gives you a low score, it hurts). I found that if you do the wrist strap up tighter this improves the accuracy, however I use a chest strap where possible. It would be interesting to look at other wrist based sensors and if this is a garmin thing or just general issue around accuracy of wrist based sensors. The only time I'm aware of people testing it is when set at home with both on. The problem is when you get out in the real world and it is moving around, get wet/sweaty/muddy or just generally knocked around. I imagine it is a physical limitation of the technology rather than a particular issue with garmin. Happy to be corrected if anyway has any more accurate data.
Yeah unfortunately no sleep tracker is 100% perfect... even the best ones. But it's generally an OK ballpark to judge your overall wellness. Hopefully Garmin makes some improvements in the next version. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the video. It helped me make my decision. The other thing that helped me make my decision was having my FitBit Charge 4 snap in half during a bike ride after just 3-4 months of owning it. That was the second time I had a bad experience with FitBit. I'm not giving them any more money and instead got a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar. I don't find the weight to be a problem at all, but I mostly bike ride and lift weights. I could see how maybe a runner might get sick of it. I may try this too as I am a former runner as well. Btw I like your yellow band because I tend to misplace black-colored things. However the amazon pg just has weird codes for the colors of that brand and the photos show multiple bands in one picture, so I can't tell which one is the one you have.
Snap in half?! Dang! The band I wear is made by "Ancool" on amazon.
I've had exactly the same experience with HR. Writst based is 10-20 BPM higher than the garmin chest strap and my vo2max jump 4 points in a matter of weeks after switching.
It would be nice to see them dial the HRM in a bit more in the future!
I have the 6x sapphire and I love it. I'm do mostly weights but also do running.
I mixed concrete with it on my rist smashed it into walls , floor and rocks, not s single mark.
I'm 6.4 and 220lbs.
I updated the Garmin with current beta version on their forums , massive improvement on sleep tracking.
You now also see it properly on the watch itself.
Should try it out.
I've heard a lot about the new firmware. I was waiting for the official release but I might have to give the RC a shot! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit the whole watch isn't updated, just sections of it. Just plug it to usb , upload 4 files til it and run update. :)
Amazing review! Lots of value! Thanks
Thanks!
Mapping and the large screen along with always on display and long battery life were the key features for me. I've only recently bought the watch because a major retailer in the UK was offering a steep discount on it. I'm into outdoor trails so I hope that the maps, battery life and easy to read display will serve me well.
For me it's a huge upgrade from my Amazfit watch. It has an always on display and great battery life but the screen was too small to be read easily, GPS was slow to get a lock and the features were very limited. My Garmin 6X Pro is streets ahead and I can read the display without a magnifying glass.
There's a wealth of features on this watch and I think it will take months to figure them out but getting started was fairly easy.
I recall when I bought the GPS map 60 back in the day from Garmin I spent months figuring out how to best use it. Feels like deja vu to some extent. 😁
Glad you're enjoying the 6X! It's a solid watch!
Good honest review buddy.
Thanks!
Awesome review - really appreciate your discussing the good & not-so-good elements! Any thoughts on the 6x vs 6?
Thanks! The 6 and 6X are basically the same watch. One is bigger, heavier, has a larger display, and has more battery life. The choice is yours!
Thanks for your explanation of how it works. Course guiding that explains how it guides your run also explains why fighter pilots can use them as a backup navigation system.
On paper, the Fenix 6 Pro was the ideal watch for me. I train for high altitude climbing and I also need a watch for expeditions. What I have learned is that the heart rate monitor is absolute garbage and I am better off guessing than looking at the watch. What I have learned through experimentation and from hundreds of posts on the topic is that the activity profiles take over and try to predict your heart rate. The watch refuses to go over 100 bpm when climbing steps with 80lbs on my back at high pace (when my real bpm is in the 150-180 range). The graphs also show long periods of time (20+ minutes) of identical, unchanged bpm, like I flat-lined at 90. There are other examples but the point is that if you care about the heart rate monitor, this is not the watch for you. Even their support told me that. I'm still using it because, as Dave said, it does excel in certain areas, areas that are more important to me than my heart rate.
It's certainly not perfect... But it still lives on my wrist because of the functions that I find valuable. Right tool for the right job! Thanks for watching.
D. L. Yes, the heart rate monitor is garbage. I’m really disappointed with Garmin. They should ask Apple for help to solve the problem. Because my Apple watch measures my heart rate reliably. All those fancy reports are useless if the underlying data is wrong...
Clearly the vlog was made before the hack. I think the Fenix series are good watches but you're right, it depends on what you use it for. I purchased a Fr 935 and it first failed during a 65km ultramarathon in a very remote part of NW Tasmania. It was fine until about 27km, when I suddenly realised I was moving at about 2:30min per km, while hiking on a beach. I arrived at the 28km check point and when I sat down to throw up, I was still moving at 5:30min per km. I had covered 3km on the watch in about 1km. Garmin were less than enthusiastic to do something. Eventually, after several other failures, they replaced it. The new one failed within a month. Eventually Garmin replaced that with a Fr 945. It's ok, but the HRM is highly questionable and the moving pace is similarly problematic. It is a very expensive watch, but Garmin insists on calling all these, including the Fenix series as "recreational devices", as if that is a way to avoid fixing the known faults. And then there is the hack.
Fortunately the hack is over with. I've been using Garmin devices for a decade and this is the first time something like this has happened. I'm not too worried about it happening again but I suppose it could. Sorry to hear you've had issues. These are certainly "recreational devices" but in some situations we're out there really trusting them. Hopefully you find one that works. Thanks for watching!
Would you recommend to go with the fr 955 or the fenix 6 pro? Seems that the GPS is much better. But how about the bugs in the maps on the 955? Are they solved by now?
just got it on sale for $500, I see it as a gamble, I was originally planning on buying the forerunner, I am no pro runner, so the watch is perfecto for me.
Great deal!
Hey Dave, I've been following you for several months. I'm glad to tell that your channel helped me to decide which Garmin watch to buy. Can you suggest where to buy reliable and good quality quickfit bands for F6? The original ones are too expensive if you think about it. Haha Keep uploading content. Cheers!
I use these: amzn.to/3kXVbF0
When glancing at your watch during your Ultra, I read AS5 Bag as if your watch was making fun of you and calling you names. 😆
I laughed at that out on the trail for a solid 15 minutes in my sleep deprived state.
Appreciate the update video, your initial review helped me buy the fenix 6 pro have loved it. The only down fall I have noticed is the calories burned during activity seems good for short distances/time frames but when you go for long distance/times it seems to not be as accurate. Even with the garmin chest strap. Thoughts?
The HRM Run strap should help with distance. How far off are your runs typically? Thanks for watching!
Chase the Summit Many of my activities have been cycling. Weight: 240. Low average- 102 minutes, 26.75 miles, 1138 calories, 15.68 mph. High average- 211 minutes, 52.62 miles, 1981 calories, 14.95 mph. Based on body weight would expect more.
Thank so much! really in depth
Glad you found it helpful!
Great review, but that music is annoying.
Ha! Thanks for the feedback.
Mine personally broke within a year. Maybe a dud but the battery just died. Would charge all the way up and use it for maybe a day and just crash to 0% Luckily Garmin has probably the greatest customer service I've ever experienced and exchanged it out last week.
Yikes! That hasn't been my experience at all.
@@ChaseTheSummit Have you heard of this issue by any chance? They sent me a replacement and no kidding after couple days its doing the same thing... Ive checked software updates and everything is up to date. I mean could I really get 2 lemons in a row?
Hi. Probably you vo2max has increase because when you change to your chest strap you start running (for the watch) at the same speed but with a lower HR, usually wrist HR is higher than chest strap. So for your watch you have improve.
Thanks for the tips!
Another great, honest video 👍🏻
Thanks!
Hey Dave, greetings from Norway! First of all, great content and really cool videos. Really good to have your honest and experienced insight on all these products. I have a question regarding the Garmin Fenix 5 plus sapphire. Do you think it's a good choice choice to buy today in 2021, if you find a really good deal? Thanks and keep up the good work!
Sure! It's still a great watch by todays standards. Mapping on board, solid performance, decent battery life. You just miss out on some of the newer features like music, and Garmin Pay along with some of the new training features like training focus. Still solid overall and a great value at the current price.
Great video, keep up the good work!
Thank you!
Great video man! Really enjoyed it even though im running the Garmin Instinct which I also use for rock climbing, hiking, mtb and trail running and ive banged it against trees and rock with no issue. The last thing I want is to worry about where I put my wrist.
I also think the optical heart rate sensor really isnt that good?
And the barometer on the Instinct is dismall dont know how it is on the fenix ?
Good video tho!
Keep it up man enjoying the content a lot!
Thanks! I haven't had a chance to test out the instinct but the Fenix has a pretty good barometer. Most of the current Garmin watches use the same OHR sensor so its a similar situation with HR tracking with all of them. However, it seems like some of the lighter watches like the 245/945 do a better job because they don't bounce around as much from their weight. Thanks for watching.
I really like this model but I chose the FR945 because it's so light and I barely feel like I'm wearing a watch.
945 is awesome! thanks for watching!
Defiantly keeping mine.
Good call!
@@ChaseTheSummit I'm going to get the Fenix 7 solar in the near future. But for now I'ma keep enjoying my Fenix 6 pro.
great video, very helpful. thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Hey buddy. Liked the video. I have the Fenix 6X Pro and really like it. I bought the new Apple Watch and used it for a month or so and now gone back to the Fenix. How long have you been a runner? I can run for about 6 months and then lose motivation and go back to square one. I’m a treadmill runner too due to the constant crap weather in England. I wish I could stay motivated and one day run a marathon. A half is my furthest distance and that was a few years ago. 45 years old now so not as energetic as I once was sadly.
Motivation is tough to come by. We don't have great weather here either. It's a balancing act.
I've been watching your videos for the Garmin Fenix 6... I'm trying to decide if I really need the solar option. Seeing as how you are getting fantastic battery life--I think it might not be necessary. I am solely a trail runner. So I don't beat my watches up unless I fall when running in the Palo Duro Canyon--lol. So I really don't think I need the sapphire glass either. But I do want the mapping feature. Thanks for these videos.
The Solar feature really won't help much if you're primarily a trail runner. Both the Pro and Sapphire will suit your needs just fine. I prefer sapphire for peace of mind but if you don't ding your watches like I do it shouldn't be an issue anyways. Thanks for watching!
Thanks. Fan of watch but not sure what I want
There's a lot of good options out there!
@@ChaseTheSummit yeah it seems... I wanted a garmin but I’m not sure if I would be able to use 10% of its features.
Good video. Thank you! Perhaps you could do a test from a runner's point of view regarding the distance measured by the fenix 6. There are reports in the (german) Garmin forum that the 6 measures the wrong distance during the run. So on a staked route, the fenix probably does not show a distance of 1 km for some, but 50 meters less in each case. This falsifies the pace. Sure, a stryd can make up for that, but can you confirm this discrepancy? Allegedly, the fenix is said to have recorded the distance too short even after the run. I would be happy about your experiences. A video would be great
Fenix 6 is fairly accurate in terms of GPS performance. None of these watches are perfect as GPS is going to drift and the antenna in these watches are quite small. If you perfect distance it's worth using a foot pod like Stryd. That helps quite a bit!
I think the gap between the release of the Fenix 5 and Fenix 6 was about 2 years so I’m not sure I’d expect anything this year - will probably be next year.
They did release the 5 Plus in between, which could have been called Fenix 6 (but then the 6 would have been called 7)
Super helpful video. You didn't mention it but I was wondering if you find the Body Battery function to be useful?
Thanks! Body battery is kind of cool but I honestly don't know what value it serves. My battery is almost always low but its not going to stop me from getting a run in. I think it could be more valuable if it made some recommendations to improve on. As of now its just kind of visualizing that you're tired haha. Thanks for watching.
Which is the best running watch for gps tracking in the market right now ? If you have a couple of seconds , shoot me a response. Love your channel. Peace
In terms of just raw GPS accuracy I think the Garmin Forerunner 745 is the best I've personally tested. It doesn't have as many features as the Fenix 6 or 945 but ignoring all of that and focusing on GPS only it's pretty banger! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you so much for the time of your day that you took to respond your question.
I love the videos, information, and effort you put into your channel. I’m a firefighter and workout for an hour or two most days, far more cardio based and some weight training. Our family does hike but not regularly. What is your opinion on a watch that can hold up to a regular beating at work, good battery life because I will probably forget to charge it, outdoor activities, and weather apps? I was looking at the Suunto Baro 9 but I’ve heard such negative things about the platform on the phone, which I’m not sure I’ll use that much. Thanks again for your channel.
Thanks! And I appreciate what you do as a firefighter! I'd say the Fenix would probably fit your lifestyle pretty well. If you don't necessarily need the mapping functions you could look into picking up a refurbished Fenix 5 to save some money, or even the Fenix 6 base model is somewhat affordable. The Polar Grit X also comes to mind because it offers a weather app and it's a great all around training tool at a really affordable price. Hope that helps! Be safe!
Thanks for the reply, what are your thoughts on the Suunto?
Great videos. Your videos popped up on my TH-cam and I have watched a few. Quality videos and I subscribed to your channel. I’ve been using a Fenix 5 and it’s been my go to device for fitness.
Hey thanks! The Fenix 5 is a great watch!
i still stuck with my Charlie. I love mine
Garmin only brings regular updates for the Fenix models. The newest Forerunner models (45, 245 and 945) haven't received a single firmware update in over 3 months...
945 got a pretty huge update that brought Fenix 6 features to the 945. I respect that! What updates do the other watches need? Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit but they all haven't received an update in 3 months. The 245 is full of problems and bugs that needs to be fixed but it looks like they don't care and only help people who have a Fenix 6
Great review. What may you say about lactate threshold feature? Did you use it?
The watch automatically detects lactate threshold when paired to a chest strap. I use it but I don't take it too seriously. Since I'm a distance runner I rarely train at my max HR. Thanks for running!
Hey, I'm new to running but not new to smartwatches. I have an Apple Ultra 1 that I wear daily at work and on my runs. It's one year old. But I wanted to try a Fenix 6 Solar, its cheap right now on Amazon and I was intrigued by the battery life and data metrics. Being an Apple fan I hate the battery on the watches and Apple Health, even my Ultra is only three days with a pretty screen. I love the music, text responses. So my question is, keep my Ultra and buy a six, or dump the ultra and buy a Fenix 7?
You didn't read the manual. Use a Garmin HR chest strap for accuracy. You didn't mention how the solar charging performs. No mention of swimming.
Sure did! I just expected more considering some of the competition has more accurate Wrist HR sensors at lower prices.. I'm not much of a swimmer, and my model is the Fenix 6 Sapphire which doesn't have Solar. Only the F6X has the solar option. Thanks for watching.
great video! well done! I just ordered my Fenix 6, Ive been using the fenix 5 plus, what is the biggest difference between them? THANKS DUDE! keep it up,
Theyre very similar. I think the biggest difference is the larger screen and much better battery life. I also prefer the design of the 6's bezel a bit more. Thanks for watching!
Chase the Summit awesome!! thanks for the quick reply!
Super helpful man, thank you! One new subscriber right here.
Awesome, thank you!
Thanks for this review. I’m looking at getting this watch for myself. How did you find the accuracy of the altimeter for elevation on your runs etc?
It's fairly accurate within a couple of meters generally.
@@ChaseTheSummit fantastic, thank you!
I recently got Coros Vertix but I was missing mapping, sent it back and decided to wait for Fenix 7, no point on getting 6 when for sure 7 is around the corner.
The Vertix is sweet! But yeah, no mapping yet.
Great video! I am confused about one thing. You are reviewing the Fenix 6 (not pro). But you talk about maps, and even show a few seconds of a map in the watch. How is that possible? are not maps only for PRO versions? Thanks in advance
This is the Fenix 6 Sapphire in the video which includes all of the Pro functionality. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Is the vo2max influence by kayaking? By treadmill? And not only by running , walking, swimming.
It's only influenced by running or riding a bike outdoors with GPS. It's also not considered when Trail Running due to the variable in the terrain. Hope that helps!
Still rocking 5 Plus and don't see a point in upgrading it to 6 for my road running.. Maybe if 7 brings some radical gpa accuracy or HR updates etc might upgrade
The 5 Plus is almost everything the 6 is with the only big limitation being the battery life. I spent some time with the 5 Plus and I found myself needing to charge it every few days. Other than that, it's got it all! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit yeah, my friend has 6 pro and his battery life is amazing.
Great Review. What what you recommend for Cyclist with great tracking, crisp and bright display under the sun, and battery life?
Maybe the Garmin Venu if you're interested in a bright screen? Thanks for watching.
Fenix 6 sapphire is on sale on walmart right now for $750
Prices have dropped like crazy since I posted this video! thanks for watching.
Great video! Which watch has the best GPS accuracy in your experience? I've got an old Suunto Ambit3 Peak and want to upgrade but losing any accuracy will bother me. I'm thinking of the Fenix 6X Pro. Maybe pair it with a pod and I'm good? Thanks!
From what I've tested so far I think the Garmin 745 and the Polar Vantage V2 probably have the "best GPS tracks" but The 945, and Fenix 6, and Coros Pace 2 aren't that far behind. Honestly at this point most of the watches are using the same GPS chip and only vary in how the antenna is designed. Thanks for watching!
Thanks for the review, 11 months on in Australia this watch is now on sale for $625 AU, I am stepping up from a tom tom andneed a rugged watch with music (not with a phone), mainly a runner but do other stuff too, still worth buying?
The 6 Sapphire has been on a great sale these past couple of days! The Fenix 6 is still an excellent buy especially at todays pricing.
Why did you choose the Fenix 6 over the 945? In a previous video you seemed to prefer the 945. Why did you change your mind?
Basically for the more robust build and slightly better battery life. The right tool for the right job even though I prefer the lighter, slimmer design of the 945. Thanks for watching.
HI. thanks for the review . polar chest strap works with garmin watches ?
Yup. But if you get something like the Polar H10 it won't provide the additional features that it would on the Polar platform.
Are you talking about 6s or 6pro?
Garmin seems like they want to get more money from you after the fact.
I'd like an alternative but what's a no go for me is the navigation. I need to be guided on where to go, like maps on a phone. I'd there an alternative?
In this video I have the Fenix 6 Sapphire which is the same as a Pro just with sapphire glass. Garmin doesn’t charge anything extra to use their services. The Fenix 6 Pro and Sapphire both have maps on board and so does the 6s Pro and Sapphire the only difference with the 6s is that it’s smaller and has a bit less battery life. Thanks for watching.
The music feature is one of those things that you think you will need it but actually, you don't
I agree, on paper it's a great idea. In practice it's not all that awesome. I think if there was an easier way to add music to the watch I'd use it more. For instance, if there was a quick way to upload directly from the Garmin Connect app on my phone. For now, It's not worth the huge hit in battery life. Thanks for watching!
Bad experience with fenix 5, got a refund, in doubt about changing it to 6 on this moment; indeed maybe a 7 coming?
What didn't you like? I don't think we'll see a Fenix 7 or whatever it will be called until sometime mid-next year. Thanks for watching!
Dave, I really appreciate your channel! I have a Stryd pod that I used to calibrate my trail runs with my Suunto 9. After watching your reviews on Coros and Garmin Fenix 6, I settled with the Fenix 6 Sapphire. However how did you get your stryd pod pace and mileage to sync with your Fenix 6? I have them connected but both are still showing separately on Strava and I have to change my mileage on the Connect app. Thanks!
Thanks! Did you pair the Stryd directly to the watch as an external sensor? This means you don't use the Stryd app anymore on your phone and download the Connect IQ data field on the Fenix itself.
Chase the Summit okay I think I am missing downloaded app step! Thanks Man!
I've got a fenix 3... 5 years old and still going strong. Thinking about getting the 6 solar... is it worth the upgrade?
It's a pretty big step forward. Music, Wifi, Solar, Mapping, More training metrics, way more battery life. Which features do you care about?
I bought the F6 solar yesterday. Do ittt