The most IMPORTANT feature of a GPS watch! Garmin watches compared.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.พ. 2024
- Here is a video about what I believe is the most important feature of a gps watch for hikng and backpacking. I have 3 different garmin gps watches from the cheaper Garmin Instinct 2 to Garmin Epix Gen 2.
Many sports gps watches now have lots of indoor and outdoor features including a multitude of activities, limitless statistics, you can upload routes on them, the battery is reasonable and signal is satisfactory too.
Garmin watches I have reviewed are:
Garmin Instinct 2 Solar £196 amzn.to/3UY7Tcy or Solar £272 amzn.to/48tfFy8
Garmin Fenix 6 £369 amzn.to/3uPgGCM or Pro Solar £475 amzn.to/3URQRwD
Garmin Epix Gen 2 £450 amzn.to/49UXC57 or Pro £789 amzn.to/3P1k7x0
Note there is now a Garmin Fenix 7 Solar available £688 amzn.to/43crxUl
My Top 5 most important features for 2024 gps watches are:
1) Signal reliability (that's why I prefer Garmin watches)
2) Maps (that show your surrounding)
3) Battery Life (must be able to record a full long days hiking)
4) Features that provide detailed analysis during and after (heart rate, elevation, etc)
5) Connectivity (wi-fi, bluetooth, sensors, etc)
So why buy an expensive Garmin watch? For me, the stand out feature is the maps. However, everyone has different requirements. Some people may just want to record their activity, others listen to music or some just want as much data as possible to study after.
In the past gps watches have been poor for gps signal and battery life. These are now a thing of the past (within reason). This means you can start to look for the features you really want.
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Thanks, Andy.
#hiking #backpacking #garmin - กีฬา
Hi Andy, I have the Garmic Instict esports. I've had it for three years now. I love it. I use it for linking up to the Relive app for my videos of my routes. For me the most important information I need is the instant GPS grid reference. As long as it keeps giving me that then I will never change it. I use it every day and the battery life is still brilliant, and it never gets low whilst I'm out and about. Thanks for this video, a great review. All the best Dave.
Thanks for sharing!
I've gone through loads of smart watches and always got rid as they didn't do what I needed. Since going to garmin it's been great. I don't use it for maps, but the other functions are excellent. I usually put it on power saving basic screen and it still does the tasks no issues so battery lasts ages. If OS and garmin made friends it'd be great having their app!
Instinct 2 Solar may be simple but it has 28 days battery life and solar charging to boot.
Bought myself a second hand fenix 5 and I'd never wanna go hiking again without the nav function!
I just started my new job at Royal Mail and this is a god send
Good show ❤
Thank you for actually showing the watch face with the maps
The Apple Watch Ultra has been really good for day hikes, especially paired with the iPhone & OS maps subscription, the only issue with that is battery life, although the Apple Watch Ultra battery is pretty decent it’s nothing compared to the Fenix & garmin watches, I am looking at getting the Garmin gen 2, it’s better to separate navigation from communications, less dependence on the phone battery, reserving it for other things.
I also use OS Maps too. I buy the map, download it offline, and then when I've got no phone signal it still works. It's great for people who don't have a watch or a great back up too.
I dont think anyone uses the instinct 2 for maps. It does offer a lot of info though. Altimeter, compass, GPS that links to the phone so it's easy to waypoint and breadcrumb your route.
Id love a high end watch but the instinct is a great bit of kit.
what uk maps you use for garmin 6 pro ? and how much gb does it take as like to put music on watch as well so looking for more space
I'm just using the standard maps.
Thank you for this review. Can all of these work with the Trailforks maps?
Sorry, I don't know, the standard maps are good enough for me.
Tbh. When I go hiking ( and I mean epic hiking) my phone is off. I’d rather use my paper map in a pinch. The rest of the time. Just use your eyes and your head. If you get lost. Just remember the way you came. Also I tend to use my belly size to let me know if I’m doing enough steps or exercise
They still don't have contours on them which I think is invaluable. I ended up downloading talky toaster to my fenix 6x pro solar
I don’t get that either, especially on the top end models.
So will these watches chuck google maps straight to the screen after searching an address or have you got to plot every time?
Not really sure what you mean. I load GPX / TCX files on mine.
@@BackpackingUK is there a way on any Garmin watch to just use Google maps in pairing with a phone, so city traveling for example, I find a restaurant on my phone click navigate and it goes to the watch giving me directions turn by turn?
Just got the epix gen 2 and the map seems very basic yet on vids like yourself, your maps look detailed. Any help please
It probably depends where you are. You’ll know if it’s working properly if you go into town.
Are you using the topo active at all? My maps are being used through ski view
For all of you praising your phones, they don't pick up gps everywhere. I love my phone also but doesn't work everywhere
Please excuse my ignorance but doesnt a smart phone do all this stuff with a better screen? If so whats the point of having it in watch form? Unless the watch managed to retain signal when a phone doesnt i dont really see a point. I guess maybe if you dont want to take a phone but that seems like a bad idea.
If you drop your phone it's potentially ruined, you generally have a watch strapped to your wrist.
Exactly, unless you suffer from gearitis and need to drop £££ on a watch you might use to hike a couple of weekends a year. The only way I see a garmin watch being useful is if you run several times a week and the mapping is a bonus to its main function.
Otherwise a phone and power bank is the answer for most hikers.
Good question. For some people, and certain places and circumstances, a phone will be good enough. However, I would make the following comments:
1) you’ve got to continually hold it!
2) is it waterproof?
3) what happens if you drop it?
4) it’ll drain your battery quickly
5) you need to use apps that don’t rely on phone signal
6) you won’t have access to other data such as heart rate and the various data screens
There’s plenty more but you get the gist.
@@BackpackingUK it makes sence for runners id say. Though not for wildcamping I don't think. Unless you just like buying gadgets and thats fair enough.
You dont need to hold it constantly just check every now and then like you do a watch.
Most people will take a powerbank and you can get ip65 phone cases for most phones now for not much money.
If you're particularly clumsy they come with a loop so maybe attach some shock cord to your belt but the cases are very rugged anyway.
Most trail apps have a download function so you don't need signal to use the maps.
The maps are clearer on a phone.
The only thing left is the lack of heart rate logging and things like you said really but I'm sure there are cheaper smart watches that can do that without the GPS functionality since you have a phone to do that anyway.
But each to their own.
@@BackpackingUK You're right. I was recently caught in the mountains with extremely bad wind and fog and rain. Taking my phone out, gloves off etc every few steps would have been a pain. Battery is much better too. Watch also vibrates when you go off track so you don't get lost. Definitely a luxury purchase but has a lot of use.
To be honest.... just another gadget to make up for a lack of basic skills!
Or, if used correctly, it is a supplement to the basic skills
@@Paul27483
If you have the skill you don't need a supplement.
We have eyes, a brain and a sense of direction, if we use them we don't get lost.
Plus we don't rely on a satellite signal or battery to work.
@jeremymanning2132 but why can't we use both. What's the problem.
@@Paul27483
Hey you can use whatever you like. My point is do you need it?
Why carry gear you don't need?
My generation, who've camped for over 50 years, home & abroad, have learned you only carry what's absolutely essential.
@@steviet3725
And i stand by that comment.