@ Lots since the Fēnix 5- hardware advances, ECG reading, blood oxygen sensor, screen size is increased, battery life improvement, integrated flash light, style updates. Great watch I love it!
Wow ! I saw all your Garmin watches videos and you really covered EVERYTHING ! Thanks for taking the time, we need more people like you on TH-cam. Definitely going to get the Fenix 3HR
Great review! After your review of the Fenix 3 HR, I ended up getting one vs. buying a Fenix 5X. I didn't mind the bulk, and I felt the improvements were not significant enough to justify the higher cost. So far, I love it! Your review between both watches helped me feel secure about my purchase a little better. ☺️
Saw this on the 4.12 Beta firmware: Added support for Treadmill Calibration. When saving a Treadmill running activity for the first time, you will be given the option to enter the distance that the treadmill recorded. This will improve the accuracy of the distance that the watch records during future treadmill activities, and it will update the overall distance and average pace of the activity you just saved. You can also choose to calibrate when saving any treadmill activity. When you are done with your activity, stop the timer. Scroll down to 'Calibrate & Save.' Then, enter the distance that the treadmill recorded. For accuracy, these options become available when recording an activity longer than 1 mile or 1.5 kilometers.
+Justin VanAlstyne this was on production firmware as I've had bad experiences with beta releases previously on the 3HR. However, definitely looking forward to this calibration as it is obviously necessary :)
+Justin VanAlstyne this was on production firmware and not a beta release as I've had issue before with the 3HR and betas. Definitely looking forward to this release however!
Garmin have OhR on all 5 series, but who use it for sports? You use a chest strap or Scosche Rhythm+ for good results. Ohr works as daily standard..but not much more than that..:)
So, a year later, how do you feel about the two? I have the option right now to buy a used Fenix 3HR for $200 or a used 5X for approx $300-350 ( haven't negotiated that one yet)
Have you ever had or heard of OHR Burns on the Garmin? I seem to spontaneously be developing a circular red flaking real under the watch module. Not the band so it's not about chafing.
I purchased this watch in the Uk for £799 with the metal black bracelet after 6 months the "paint" had come off and it has started looking very shabby I contacted Garmin and they said it it not covered under their warranty. Not happy with this watch and Garmin customer service.
Thank you for this impressions video. I've been on the fence about grabbing a refurb 3 HR or waiting and saving up a bit for a 5X. Still a bit torn on it but I'm starting to feel the savings will be worth grabbing the 3 HR.
Just upgrade my Fenix 3 to th 5X and even I have been using for 3-4 days, I can tell there are some differences in terms of the heart rate while using the chest strap. Overall the improvement in terms of menus and functions with the 5X is impressive, super happy with it.
in 2021, is the 5, (and 5+?) still hopeless for HR, or has firmware updates improved it? I currently have a Fenix 3 with strap based HR. main reason I am considering a upgrade is for the wrist based HR but it sounds like I may be wasting my money??
Hi, thanks for posting this comparison video. I was just wondering if you had calibrated the 3HR prior to your comparison study as you seemed to use the 3HR as the reference accuracy baseline.
Hello, DesFit. Really nice video! I'm thinking about buying the 3HR but, is the 3HR fully compatible with the connect app? are there some parts of the app that doesn't work with the 3HR (that you think it should)?
Hey there! I haven’t had a 3HR in almost a year so unfortunately I can’t confirm, but I have heard of limitations. I’d contact Garmin directly for details.
Can I buy it without fear? I'm trusting you for this purchase. I was thinking between this and the Suunto Spartan Ultra. But from the beginning I liked the Fenix 5X more. Thank you very much. when the watch arrive, I will tell you.
No watch is perfect, but it’s pretty solid at this point. If you do have issues with it, contact Garmin support immediately to resolve them as there were some defective units early on, but now that it’s almost been a year since it’s been released, they’ve probably got most of the issues figured out. Now, keep that in mind that it’s been out for a year...I have zero idea if they will be releasing an update to the fenix 5 this year but it could happen. Again, I have no idea at this point.
Yes, I know! but what made me unsure of buying a Fenix 5X, was information on the channels here reporting of problems. What I did not see in Suunto which has 2 years warranty and 1 year of wristband. But anyway, I liked garmin.rsrs more
The biggest thing about the Suunto for me was the usability. Not much at all for customization on the watch itself and just seemed weird with the touch screen and buttons. Didn’t feel intuitive.
Well, which one is more acceptable in terms of accuracy? For the money I am actually beginning to lean towards the 3HR. Of course the fenix 5 is the latest edition, but given the price of the watch, is it the greatest for the money?
Great review, im not yet convinced if i can fully use 3hr saphire for cycling, the maps thingy on 5x makes it hard to decide. how's yor bike orientations on fenix3 ? did you used that function ? or on 5x ?
+cosvieru oh boy you are in for a treat, then! I'm actually working on my "Fenix for cyclists" video right now which should be published in a day or two. Short story: I still use my Edge along with my 5X even though it has maps and would be doing the same if I was still using my 3HR. Maps can definitely be useful, however, but it's a toss up. I just like the heads up display.
DesFit thanks for the effort you put in these reviews. Im just trying not to use an edge since im kind of all arrounder in sports, running cycling even swimming, so im looking for one single equipment that can track an help also with orientation mostly for mountain bikeing. Thanks!
I'm upgrading to the fenix 5 from the 3hr at the moment. Have any software updates rolled through to help improve the accuracy of the fitness tracking on the fenix 5 or is it still hit and miss at times?
These are really over kill for your first fitness watch. Probably go with a fitbit or something cheap. Then, if you hit your goals after say a year, use a purchase like this as a reward for your progress. At least, thats what worked for me.
Thanks for the review. Do you recommend an upgrade for someone who has the VAHR? It doesn't have all of the advanced metrics of the F5, but it does the basics pretty well.
+John Manley it does, but the Fenix series definitely excels in many ways over the VAHR. You may want to check out my Fenix 3HR long term review as I mention a few points in there, but I actually HAD to upgrade mainly due to durability as well as usability. The touchscreen was just too small for such a small for factor and proved to be too fragile. Upgrading to a Fenix was the only decision for me and I haven't looked back! Not cheap, but the 3HR was easily my best purchase of 2016.
DesFit If you are talking about durability, do I assume you recommend this over the Forerunner 935? I do really like the look and durability of the Fenix 5. My main concern is that I tried the 3HR and it was too uncomfortable to wear. The 5 is the same weight, although smaller form factor.
+John Manley absolutely over the 935. I realize the 5 with sapphire glass is substantially more money, but I think it's worth the investment if you do any sort of rugged activities. It just makes it more worry proof.
Both of them should provide up to 12 days in smartwatch mode but the 3HR may squeak out just slightly more with up to 14 days. However, the 5X advertises slightly better battery life in GPS mode with 20 hours vs 16 hours on the 3HR. Kind of a toss up with both offering some of the best battery life for GPS/smartwatches.
I just picked up the tactix bravo for about $415 on Amazon... I LOVE IT. it’s tough, it’s big, it looks badass, and it basically does everything the fenix 3 does.
Thanks, I did work it out but you'd think they'd have the time as a default on a watch duh! Still though, you can't use most of the fancy 3rd party watch faces whilst in activity mode.
Summary: forget wrist based HRMs, use the chest strap. I like the old Garmin strap, I don't notice I'm wearing it and the battery life is crazy long, more than a year with every day hours of use.
Hey DESFIT, I love your TH-cam videos on everything. I saw you videos on Garmin watches. Love them. Myself I’m thinking getting a Garmin smart watch. Looking on eBay Garmin boxers I noticed the Warning California prop 65 on the boxe with Garmin watches. How do you feel about this warning? If I’m going to wear a watch 10-18 hours a day I don’t know about this on my wrist? People would would say that other things have cancer issues all day but this will be on the wrist. How you feel with Warning California prop65? Thank you!
New subscription. Excellent work. Someone mentioned in last comment below, but you didn't mention calibration. With all your outdoor activity I would think not necessary, but have you manually updated your stride length? I have a F3 (non-HR), a 5X and even an Apple Watch Series 2. I'm 54, and 30 lbs. overweight, so my weekly goal of 10 miles running is a joke compared to your average *morning*.....lol. But data is important to me. Also, have you tried the footpod for indoor runs? Significant improvement once calibrated. The Tempe sensor is pretty cheap too if you want accurate temp data with your activities. It's damn accurate on a shoe, but I gotta believe running on Texas roads in the summer must affect the temp reported. I also follow DCR. And I've returned my first couple Garmin running watches with wrist-based HR due to inaccuracies. But we have to accept that wrist-based needs much improvement and may never be accurate due to movement and anatomical variations. Have you tried the Scosche? I have tested against the Garmin premium strap and gotten identical results across weight lifting, cycling and running activities. It could be the phenomenal Valencell sensor or it could be the better/more stable anatomical placement. I wear mine on opposite side from watch on the biceps side of the forearm a couple inches below the elbow. To me the wrist HR is good for general all day measurement but is not suitable for high intensity activities especially involving wrist flexion or arm shaking. I'm certain you're aware of these options and were trying to report on the capabilities of the watch alone. But for me, the footpod and Scosche are perfect for covering a wide variety of activities with accuracy and not much $ relative to the watch. Of course the advanced metrics unique to the Garmin straps are missing but are likely unnecessary for all but elite athletes such as yourself. Keep up the good work. Now I'm off to explore your other vids.....
Hey Jeff - thanks for the sub! Appreciate it. This was meant to be a "straight-out-of-the-box" initial impressions review with limited usage just to give new users a realistic expectation. I'm already working on a follow-up video and if you saw my long-term 3HR video, you'll see I'll go into a lot more detail ;) I'm testing A LOT of sensors for HR, running and cycling right now so look out for those videos. I want to be thorough about the reviews so it may be a couple weeks. The calibration was on a beta firmware release and although I would love to do a review on that, I simply don't have the time to so I'll concentrate on production firmware releases when the first and following are finally released. Haven't tried the Scosche yet but have heard similar results. I'm also testing some other optical sensors and want to do a really thorough comparison when I can get all of them in one place at one time! Thanks again!
+DesFit hey mate, did you have any issues with the watch face not working? Downloaded it and selected it in the watch face menu but it doesn't show up? Any ideas?
+DesFit *update* just had a look at reviews on the app and it looks as though a lot of people are having troubles with the app on the Fenix 3/HR. I've emailed the developer with hopes to rectify the situation... thanks anyways man... any others you can recommend that are similar to the SC7 watch face? Love all the info it shows!
I'm thinking of buying the Fenix 3, but I was wondering what your opinion on the Sapphire model is. Do you think it is necessary? I noticed that the refurbished you linked doesn't have it, which is why I asked...
Definitely recommended. I just like that it makes it kind of worry-proof and knocking into objects or taking a spill on your mtn bike is no big deal. - That link *should* be for the sapphire glass version. Although it doesn't say it in the description, you can verify it by scrolling down to "Production Information" and then compare "Item Model Number." The "N" designates a refurbished item. You could always just spring for a new one since they are SO cheap right now. That $100 could just save you any possible worries about a refurb...
Look up the model number and it is indeed the Sappire version. I would mainly use this for hiking outside of the US. How useful is the map feature in that regard?
Great review. My understanding, and correct me if I am wrong because I had some similar experiences right out of the box, but as I have used the 5x more and LTHR, and VO2 max are getting dialed in my exercise metrics seem to be very dialed in where as out of the box the numbers seemed off. I have compared my gps track against google maps and distance seems to be very accurate and I have compared wrist HR vs wahoo tickr x on outdoor activities and the wrist HR monitor lags from time to time and like you has a max hr spike, but the avg hr over a workout is very close. My only gripe after two weeks of serious use is the cable, and with most wrist hr monitors if you are doing a strength workout and you want accurate hr data you need a strap.
+will weathersby agreed on basically everything! I'll have my mid term review coming really soon and will be covering a lot of those points. My 3HR seemed to dial in within just a few days and seemed like it was taking the 5X quite a bit longer.
Thank you for the quick answer. I would use it mainly to track my runs, but I'm planning on going to the gym in the winter. I feel like the 3 HR is really massive, especially for my slim wrists. However, the vivoactive 3 has a much worse battery life and I don't like touchscreens. The deals I found on German Amazon was 325€ for the Vivoactive 3 and 385€ for the Fenix 3 HR
+Joberg I don’t necessarily have big wrist, probably smaller than average and yes, the 3HR was big but I did get used to it. Maybe there’s a return policy in case it’s too big?
Nice! Give it a couple days at least to get used to. I loved that watch and wouldn't have even upgraded if I didn't get a little bit of a deal on the 5X. Enjoy!
After watching this feel quite disappointed I mean if your paying big money you want the watch to be more accurate than this. I mean bad information is probably worse than no information. Although might pick up the 3 cause of the price drop. Undecided.
NEVER BUY A NEW MODEL OF ANYTHING FRESH OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. Let the other suckers who have to have the first version be the guinea pigs. Buy when the bugs are worked out. Your heart rate problems are probably caused by wearing it too loose. And wrist monitors will never be as accurate as a chest strap....that's really not the watches fault. The 5X has better battery life, more memory, higher resolution, and a 24 hour HR monitor. Just my perception , but it kind of feels like you are looking for more people to watch your channel by not giving the full picture in one video. There's a lot more that could have been said in just a few seconds.
+Simo Hayha yup, chest strap is always more accurate, but still, these are just observations on how well it really does. Tried loose as well as tight and funny enough, either extremely tight or sort of loose produce the best results!?! In between was the worst! ;)
Thanks for the video. Just a hint: avoid using a knife, when pointing to the numbers on the screen. It bears strong negative connotation, and is therefore rather distracting. Also, when comparing the results of each and every day, the video loses the tempo significantly. To illustrate your point, making it more brief would do. Or do it via link for those, who seek the most detailed, but somehow unnecessary information. We trust you, and are therefore most interested in the part, where you sum up the results. Good job overall.
Here in August 2024 with my new Fēnix 8, what a throwback. The Fēnix 5x was my first Garmin watch and I still love them today.
What would you say are the major differences between the 8 and 5
@ Lots since the Fēnix 5- hardware advances, ECG reading, blood oxygen sensor, screen size is increased, battery life improvement, integrated flash light, style updates. Great watch I love it!
Wow ! I saw all your Garmin watches videos and you really covered EVERYTHING ! Thanks for taking the time, we need more people like you on TH-cam. Definitely going to get the Fenix 3HR
Thanks and did you finally get one? How do you like it?
Great review! After your review of the Fenix 3 HR, I ended up getting one vs. buying a Fenix 5X. I didn't mind the bulk, and I felt the improvements were not significant enough to justify the higher cost. So far, I love it! Your review between both watches helped me feel secure about my purchase a little better. ☺️
Hello! Which did you purchase!
James Sarino I just bought the 3Hr Titanium with Sapphire lens for 389. It was a deal I couldn't pass up.
Saw this on the 4.12 Beta firmware: Added support for Treadmill Calibration. When saving a Treadmill running activity for the first time, you will be given the option to enter the distance that the treadmill recorded. This will improve the accuracy of the distance that the watch records during future treadmill activities, and it will update the overall distance and average pace of the activity you just saved. You can also choose to calibrate when saving any treadmill activity. When you are done with your activity, stop the timer. Scroll down to 'Calibrate & Save.' Then, enter the distance that the treadmill recorded. For accuracy, these options become available when recording an activity longer than 1 mile or 1.5 kilometers.
+Justin VanAlstyne this was on production firmware as I've had bad experiences with beta releases previously on the 3HR. However, definitely looking forward to this calibration as it is obviously necessary :)
+Justin VanAlstyne this was on production firmware and not a beta release as I've had issue before with the 3HR and betas. Definitely looking forward to this release however!
Is there a follow up full review?
Garmin have OhR on all 5 series, but who use it for sports? You use a chest strap or Scosche Rhythm+ for good results. Ohr works as daily standard..but not much more than that..:)
Wow! Thanks for the great review! Looking forward to the follow-up like your 3HR video.
So, a year later, how do you feel about the two? I have the option right now to buy a used Fenix 3HR for $200 or a used 5X for approx $300-350 ( haven't negotiated that one yet)
Have you ever had or heard of OHR Burns on the Garmin? I seem to spontaneously be developing a circular red flaking real under the watch module. Not the band so it's not about chafing.
@DesFit Which one has the correct information ??
Hi, did u manage to understand what was the issue? Its for those particular items or all series are very inconsistent?
Did i get it right, Fenix 3 hr is more accurate?
The fenix 5x was on sale this week, have the bugs been worked out?
If I can ask u for recommendation, would u rather get fenix 3 hr for 50 bucks or fenix 5x for 100 Bucks?
I purchased this watch in the Uk for £799 with the metal black bracelet after 6 months the "paint" had come off and it has started looking very shabby I contacted Garmin and they said it it not covered under their warranty. Not happy with this watch and Garmin customer service.
Thank you for this impressions video. I've been on the fence about grabbing a refurb 3 HR or waiting and saving up a bit for a 5X. Still a bit torn on it but I'm starting to feel the savings will be worth grabbing the 3 HR.
+Rigimort I have to agree. There's an Amazon link to refurbished units in the video description. Good luck and have fun!
Just upgrade my Fenix 3 to th 5X and even I have been using for 3-4 days, I can tell there are some differences in terms of the heart rate while using the chest strap. Overall the improvement in terms of menus and functions with the 5X is impressive, super happy with it.
Do a video of the track accuracy between both please 😀🙏
in 2021, is the 5, (and 5+?) still hopeless for HR, or has firmware updates improved it? I currently have a Fenix 3 with strap based HR. main reason I am considering a upgrade is for the wrist based HR but it sounds like I may be wasting my money??
Instead of just saying these 2 devices have different readings, how about running a known distance to see which one is accurate if any ⁉️
This was one of my earliest videos - it kind of sucked ;)
So how do you feel now about it? Is the 3hr better than the 5 series still or would you go ahead and pony up the money and get a 5 series?
Hi, thanks for posting this comparison video. I was just wondering if you had calibrated the 3HR prior to your comparison study as you seemed to use the 3HR as the reference accuracy baseline.
You talked about comparison between watches, but how was the data against your strap HR monitor for accuracy?
Even worse. Firmware updates have improved accuracy slightly, but I still have days where the HR is completely off.
Which one would you suggest for mainly running or trail running, bike and every day use between a fenix (any versions) or a forerunner 645 music?
Hello, DesFit. Really nice video! I'm thinking about buying the 3HR but, is the 3HR fully compatible with the connect app? are there some parts of the app that doesn't work with the 3HR (that you think it should)?
Hey there! I haven’t had a 3HR in almost a year so unfortunately I can’t confirm, but I have heard of limitations. I’d contact Garmin directly for details.
Hello again!
Were the data divergence problems healed ??
For the most part with firmware updates. There are still some very few occasions that the HR is off but I’d say it’s 95% solid now.
Can I buy it without fear? I'm trusting you for this purchase. I was thinking between this and the Suunto Spartan Ultra. But from the beginning I liked the Fenix 5X more.
Thank you very much. when the watch arrive, I will tell you.
No watch is perfect, but it’s pretty solid at this point. If you do have issues with it, contact Garmin support immediately to resolve them as there were some defective units early on, but now that it’s almost been a year since it’s been released, they’ve probably got most of the issues figured out. Now, keep that in mind that it’s been out for a year...I have zero idea if they will be releasing an update to the fenix 5 this year but it could happen. Again, I have no idea at this point.
Yes, I know!
but what made me unsure of buying a Fenix 5X, was information on the channels here reporting of problems. What I did not see in Suunto which has 2 years warranty and 1 year of wristband.
But anyway, I liked garmin.rsrs more
The biggest thing about the Suunto for me was the usability. Not much at all for customization on the watch itself and just seemed weird with the touch screen and buttons. Didn’t feel intuitive.
Well, which one is more acceptable in terms of accuracy? For the money I am actually beginning to lean towards the 3HR. Of course the fenix 5 is the latest edition, but given the price of the watch, is it the greatest for the money?
+Noel Andrada 3HR. Enjoy!
Great review, im not yet convinced if i can fully use 3hr saphire for cycling, the maps thingy on 5x makes it hard to decide. how's yor bike orientations on fenix3 ? did you used that function ? or on 5x ?
+cosvieru oh boy you are in for a treat, then! I'm actually working on my "Fenix for cyclists" video right now which should be published in a day or two. Short story: I still use my Edge along with my 5X even though it has maps and would be doing the same if I was still using my 3HR. Maps can definitely be useful, however, but it's a toss up. I just like the heads up display.
DesFit thanks for the effort you put in these reviews. Im just trying not to use an edge since im kind of all arrounder in sports, running cycling even swimming, so im looking for one single equipment that can track an help also with orientation mostly for mountain bikeing. Thanks!
+cosvieru then definitely go for the 5X. Maps and sapphire glass. Mandatory for mtn biking.
could you please tell me what watch face are you using (in this video)? thank you
SC7
I'm upgrading to the fenix 5 from the 3hr at the moment. Have any software updates rolled through to help improve the accuracy of the fitness tracking on the fenix 5 or is it still hit and miss at times?
+BeyondTheStillWaters You chose a good time to upgrade with the 6.0 firmware update as it is finally stable for the most part.
Thanks for all the info! Keep up the good work on the videos you've definitely helped a lot!!
+BeyondTheStillWaters sure thing and thanks!
Which one should i buy as my first fitness watch? Any recomendation?
These are really over kill for your first fitness watch. Probably go with a fitbit or something cheap. Then, if you hit your goals after say a year, use a purchase like this as a reward for your progress. At least, thats what worked for me.
Thanks for the review. Do you recommend an upgrade for someone who has the VAHR? It doesn't have all of the advanced metrics of the F5, but it does the basics pretty well.
+John Manley it does, but the Fenix series definitely excels in many ways over the VAHR. You may want to check out my Fenix 3HR long term review as I mention a few points in there, but I actually HAD to upgrade mainly due to durability as well as usability. The touchscreen was just too small for such a small for factor and proved to be too fragile. Upgrading to a Fenix was the only decision for me and I haven't looked back! Not cheap, but the 3HR was easily my best purchase of 2016.
DesFit If you are talking about durability, do I assume you recommend this over the Forerunner 935? I do really like the look and durability of the Fenix 5. My main concern is that I tried the 3HR and it was too uncomfortable to wear. The 5 is the same weight, although smaller form factor.
+John Manley absolutely over the 935. I realize the 5 with sapphire glass is substantially more money, but I think it's worth the investment if you do any sort of rugged activities. It just makes it more worry proof.
DesFit OK. Thanks for the feedback.
DesFit One last Q: My main sports are tennis and the gym. Would you still recommend the F5 over the 935? Thanks.
I'm about to pick up 5x or 3hr ~ witch battery is best. Want the most days possible before charge. Please help. 👍🏻👍🏻
Both of them should provide up to 12 days in smartwatch mode but the 3HR may squeak out just slightly more with up to 14 days. However, the 5X advertises slightly better battery life in GPS mode with 20 hours vs 16 hours on the 3HR. Kind of a toss up with both offering some of the best battery life for GPS/smartwatches.
I just picked up the tactix bravo for about $415 on Amazon... I LOVE IT. it’s tough, it’s big, it looks badass, and it basically does everything the fenix 3 does.
Stupid thing about the 3HR, by default (no new apps) it won't show you the time when you're in an activity. Correct me if I'm wrong here.
Kie 7077 you must set it in the app face TOD time of day so when you train you have the time
Thanks, I did work it out but you'd think they'd have the time as a default on a watch duh!
Still though, you can't use most of the fancy 3rd party watch faces whilst in activity mode.
Summary: forget wrist based HRMs, use the chest strap. I like the old Garmin strap, I don't notice I'm wearing it and the battery life is crazy long, more than a year with every day hours of use.
I now have a fenix 3hr, would it be necessary to upgrade to the fenix 5x? what would you do. I'm still in doubt
+Bart Verstraeten if you need mapping, do it. It will be a great upgrade.
Hey DESFIT,
I love your TH-cam videos on everything. I saw you videos on Garmin watches. Love them. Myself I’m thinking getting a Garmin smart watch.
Looking on eBay Garmin boxers I noticed the Warning California prop 65 on the boxe with Garmin watches.
How do you feel about this warning? If I’m going to wear a watch 10-18 hours a day I don’t know about this on my wrist? People would would say that other things have cancer issues all day but this will be on the wrist.
How you feel with Warning California prop65?
Thank you!
Has the firmware update fixed these issues? Anyone? Thank you in advance.
Would a 5X for $75 today be a great deal?
@DesFit - what watch face are you using on both those watches? I like them but can’t find them in the IQ store. Thanks!!
SC7 and SC8. I actually prefer the older SC7!
Unfortunately SC7 is no longer supported on the 3 HR. Bummer.
How did you get that watch face with all the different data fields?.
It’s called SC8 and you can download it through Connect IQ via Garmin Connect.
New subscription. Excellent work. Someone mentioned in last comment below, but you didn't mention calibration. With all your outdoor activity I would think not necessary, but have you manually updated your stride length? I have a F3 (non-HR), a 5X and even an Apple Watch Series 2. I'm 54, and 30 lbs. overweight, so my weekly goal of 10 miles running is a joke compared to your average *morning*.....lol. But data is important to me. Also, have you tried the footpod for indoor runs? Significant improvement once calibrated. The Tempe sensor is pretty cheap too if you want accurate temp data with your activities. It's damn accurate on a shoe, but I gotta believe running on Texas roads in the summer must affect the temp reported.
I also follow DCR. And I've returned my first couple Garmin running watches with wrist-based HR due to inaccuracies. But we have to accept that wrist-based needs much improvement and may never be accurate due to movement and anatomical variations. Have you tried the Scosche? I have tested against the Garmin premium strap and gotten identical results across weight lifting, cycling and running activities. It could be the phenomenal Valencell sensor or it could be the better/more stable anatomical placement. I wear mine on opposite side from watch on the biceps side of the forearm a couple inches below the elbow. To me the wrist HR is good for general all day measurement but is not suitable for high intensity activities especially involving wrist flexion or arm shaking.
I'm certain you're aware of these options and were trying to report on the capabilities of the watch alone. But for me, the footpod and Scosche are perfect for covering a wide variety of activities with accuracy and not much $ relative to the watch. Of course the advanced metrics unique to the Garmin straps are missing but are likely unnecessary for all but elite athletes such as yourself.
Keep up the good work. Now I'm off to explore your other vids.....
Hey Jeff - thanks for the sub! Appreciate it.
This was meant to be a "straight-out-of-the-box" initial impressions review with limited usage just to give new users a realistic expectation. I'm already working on a follow-up video and if you saw my long-term 3HR video, you'll see I'll go into a lot more detail ;) I'm testing A LOT of sensors for HR, running and cycling right now so look out for those videos. I want to be thorough about the reviews so it may be a couple weeks.
The calibration was on a beta firmware release and although I would love to do a review on that, I simply don't have the time to so I'll concentrate on production firmware releases when the first and following are finally released.
Haven't tried the Scosche yet but have heard similar results. I'm also testing some other optical sensors and want to do a really thorough comparison when I can get all of them in one place at one time!
Thanks again!
Thank you so much. You just saved a couple of hundred dollars. Keep it up!
Hey +desfit which app do you use for the watch face?
+mrcvs87 SC7
+DesFit hey mate, did you have any issues with the watch face not working? Downloaded it and selected it in the watch face menu but it doesn't show up? Any ideas?
+mrcvs87 Only thing I can think of is a firmware update possibly?
+DesFit I'm currently using version 4.30.0.0 I'm assuming this is the latest software?
+DesFit *update* just had a look at reviews on the app and it looks as though a lot of people are having troubles with the app on the Fenix 3/HR. I've emailed the developer with hopes to rectify the situation... thanks anyways man... any others you can recommend that are similar to the SC7 watch face? Love all the info it shows!
Would this watch help for driving on a long trip? I've never had one.
I'm thinking of buying the Fenix 3, but I was wondering what your opinion on the Sapphire model is. Do you think it is necessary? I noticed that the refurbished you linked doesn't have it, which is why I asked...
Definitely recommended. I just like that it makes it kind of worry-proof and knocking into objects or taking a spill on your mtn bike is no big deal.
- That link *should* be for the sapphire glass version. Although it doesn't say it in the description, you can verify it by scrolling down to "Production Information" and then compare "Item Model Number." The "N" designates a refurbished item. You could always just spring for a new one since they are SO cheap right now. That $100 could just save you any possible worries about a refurb...
Look up the model number and it is indeed the Sappire version. I would mainly use this for hiking outside of the US. How useful is the map feature in that regard?
It's useful for a glance if you may be lost, but it can be a little annoying to use with such a small screen. Honestly, I don't need it that often.
Fenix 5x or forerunner 945?
Durability: Fenix 5X. Lightweight: 945.
@@DesFit thank you sir 🙏🏼
Sure thing!
So you still recommend the 5x or do you recommend the plus series
I like the Plus series in the sense that you could go with the smaller size options and still get maps. The Xs are large with the 5 or 5 Plus series.
Great review. My understanding, and correct me if I am wrong because I had some similar experiences right out of the box, but as I have used the 5x more and LTHR, and VO2 max are getting dialed in my exercise metrics seem to be very dialed in where as out of the box the numbers seemed off. I have compared my gps track against google maps and distance seems to be very accurate and I have compared wrist HR vs wahoo tickr x on outdoor activities and the wrist HR monitor lags from time to time and like you has a max hr spike, but the avg hr over a workout is very close. My only gripe after two weeks of serious use is the cable, and with most wrist hr monitors if you are doing a strength workout and you want accurate hr data you need a strap.
+will weathersby agreed on basically everything! I'll have my mid term review coming really soon and will be covering a lot of those points. My 3HR seemed to dial in within just a few days and seemed like it was taking the 5X quite a bit longer.
What is your watchface? ?
SC7 or SC 8 👍
vivoactive 3 or fenix 3 hr? don't want to spend 600 bucks on a smart/sportswatch
+Joberg without knowing any details about your usage it’s hard to tell you which way to go. 3HR is REALLY good however.
Thank you for the quick answer. I would use it mainly to track my runs, but I'm planning on going to the gym in the winter. I feel like the 3 HR is really massive, especially for my slim wrists. However, the vivoactive 3 has a much worse battery life and I don't like touchscreens. The deals I found on German Amazon was 325€ for the Vivoactive 3 and 385€ for the Fenix 3 HR
+Joberg I don’t necessarily have big wrist, probably smaller than average and yes, the 3HR was big but I did get used to it. Maybe there’s a return policy in case it’s too big?
I decided to try your suggestion. Fenix 3 HR will arrive on Friday. If it's way too big for me, I'll return it and get the Vivoactive 3. Thanks
Nice! Give it a couple days at least to get used to. I loved that watch and wouldn't have even upgraded if I didn't get a little bit of a deal on the 5X. Enjoy!
After watching this feel quite disappointed I mean if your paying big money you want the watch to be more accurate than this. I mean bad information is probably worse than no information. Although might pick up the 3 cause of the price drop. Undecided.
+Carson Red Unless you need mapping, go for the 3HR. It's still fantastic.
DesFit thanks for the reply think I m going to get the 3hr. Very informative and useful information about these products great video. 👍👍👍
Carson Red go with the 3
You remind me of the main bad guy in John Wick 3
7x sapphire solar very accurate
These two look like a joke watch for kids
5 years ago I would say was acceptable
Funny as this video was published 5 years ago. Glad you’re a fan of your 7X - very apparent from your comments.
New subscriber so hi to all
Hi and thanks!
5x is bigger.
*Credits roll.
What watch face is this?
SC8
The more I watch these reviews the more I want the Apple Watch. These other watches are all really just hyped up junk.
Who knows which one is accurate..hahaha
NEVER BUY A NEW MODEL OF ANYTHING FRESH OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE. Let the other suckers who have to have the first version be the guinea pigs. Buy when the bugs are worked out. Your heart rate problems are probably caused by wearing it too loose. And wrist monitors will never be as accurate as a chest strap....that's really not the watches fault. The 5X has better battery life, more memory, higher resolution, and a 24 hour HR monitor. Just my perception , but it kind of feels like you are looking for more people to watch your channel by not giving the full picture in one video. There's a lot more that could have been said in just a few seconds.
+Simo Hayha yup, chest strap is always more accurate, but still, these are just observations on how well it really does. Tried loose as well as tight and funny enough, either extremely tight or sort of loose produce the best results!?! In between was the worst! ;)
Thanks for the video. Just a hint: avoid using a knife, when pointing to the numbers on the screen. It bears strong negative connotation, and is therefore rather distracting.
Also, when comparing the results of each and every day, the video loses the tempo significantly. To illustrate your point, making it more brief would do. Or do it via link for those, who seek the most detailed, but somehow unnecessary information. We trust you, and are therefore most interested in the part, where you sum up the results. Good job overall.
Albert your rather moronic retort is just that. Moronic. Hike up that IQ
I like the knife, it certainly is not sissy.
🤟💪
This guy is so left wing, he eats with a spork.