Garmin Fenix 6

[Sway]

I think the predictions for distance times are a little more nuanced than on the other watches - I know the Fenix uses HRV which I'm not sure many others do.

Also, very aware the first couple of months it's really learning 'you'. You might do nothing different, then things start changing. In my case, it seems when I first got it, my body was flattering to deceive!

[Podie]

Funk said:

Podie said:

That’s a bit of a leap…

Top man maths!

Anything can be man-maths'd if you know how to do it properly.

Yeah, and the pandemic meaning no train season ticket has been a gift in that regard!

[Funk]

Podie said:

Funk said:

Podie said:

That’s a bit of a leap…

Top man maths!

Anything can be man-maths'd if you know how to do it properly.

Yeah, and the pandemic meaning no train season ticket has been a gift in that regard!

Partly to blame for me going from a Golf to an 8-series last year too.

The watch is great, loving it so far. Very intuitive to set up - still not sure whether I'd prefer a touchscreen but the UI is slick and responsive.

[Podie]

Funk said:

Partly to blame for me going from a Golf to an 8-series last year too.

The watch is great, loving it so far. Very intuitive to set up - still not sure whether I'd prefer a touchscreen but the UI is slick and responsive.

Yeah, I came from a series of Garmin touchscreen devices. Initially I felt a bit short changed, but now I wouldn't go back.

Once you've configured it as you like, it really is a brilliant bit of kit.

I've also got the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod, and that gives me a few more stats on my runs which makes me happy

[Funk]

Podie said:

Funk said:

Partly to blame for me going from a Golf to an 8-series last year too.

The watch is great, loving it so far. Very intuitive to set up - still not sure whether I'd prefer a touchscreen but the UI is slick and responsive.

Yeah, I came from a series of Garmin touchscreen devices. Initially I felt a bit short changed, but now I wouldn't go back.

Once you've configured it as you like, it really is a brilliant bit of kit.

I've also got the Garmin Running Dynamics Pod, and that gives me a few more stats on my runs which makes me happy

I like that it'll talk directly to my HRM as well without needing to go via the phone. If the wrist-based HRM is accurate enough I could even do away with the chest one which is what I usually use. Still plenty to learn about this watch, it does so much.

[RizzoTheRat]

Check if your bank supports Gamin Pay, I originally assumed it was a gimmick I wouldn't use but I now use it all time time, it's so convenient.

[eyebeebe]

Funk said:

I like that it'll talk directly to my HRM as well without needing to go via the phone. If the wrist-based HRM is accurate enough I could even do away with the chest one which is what I usually use. Still plenty to learn about this watch, it does so much.

If you’re even thinking about accuracy then a chest strap is the gold standard. If you are just looking for trends it doesn’t matter so much, but if you want to use HR for zone based training then I’d recommend a strap. The Garmin ones will even measure the running dynamics that Podie mentions. I think the jury is out on whether they are actually useful or not.

[Funk]

Cheers, I'll look at Garmin Pay. I already have things set up on Google Pay though and it's rare I wouldn't have my phone on me though.

Re. the chest HRM I'll probably stick with that (Polar H7) although it's probably deserving of a new strap - the old one's seen better days!

[Podie]

Not too many support Garmin Pay, but agree it's been brilliant.

I setup a second account with Starling and they've been brilliant - to the point I'm considering junking First Direct.

Curve, Revolut, Santander and Starling are on the list, as well as a couple of others I think.

[Funk]

Neither of the cards I have will work with it (Nationwide & Monzo) so that whole prospect is moot. Garmin would've done better integrating Google Pay than trying to create their own payment platform.

A quick search shows that there aren't many UK banks that have got behind it - I guess very little benefit given the small potential for it. I won't be opening a new bank account just to work with that...

Edit: the Garmin forums have people requesting Google Pay integration going back years so I guess that's never happening either. I guess Garmin don't care really - after all, they have your money already. It would've been a nice-to-have but it's not the end of the world that it doesn't work.

Edited by Funk on Wednesday 11th August 16:48

[RizzoTheRat]

Bizarrely one of my banks has only just started offering Google Pay, but I've been using Gamin Pay with them for a couple of years. Hence I've never tried Google pay as I've never had a need for it.

I agree it would be a lot better for the user if they'd tied in with an existing system, although presumably that would have it's own set of issues.

[Podie]

I assume there will be a per device licence cost from Google... so I guess Garmin found it cheaper to go their own way?

[jeremyc]

Podie said:

I assume there will be a per device licence cost from Google... so I guess Garmin found it cheaper to go their own way?

I'd guess there are many other issues to consider in making the decision.

Which to adopt? Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay .... you'll never please all of your customers all of the time.

Most of these companies might also be considered direct competitors: Apple and Samsung market smart watches, Apple and Google are mapping providers.

Someone, somewhere decided to go with their own service and the incremental revenue stream it brings them.

[hyphen]

Garmin are a big seller, so they should at some point have enough users to be more attractive to other banks.

[Podie]

jeremyc said:

Podie said:

I assume there will be a per device licence cost from Google... so I guess Garmin found it cheaper to go their own way?

I'd guess there are many other issues to consider in making the decision.

Which to adopt? Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay .... you'll never please all of your customers all of the time.

Most of these companies might also be considered direct competitors: Apple and Samsung market smart watches, Apple and Google are mapping providers.

Someone, somewhere decided to go with their own service and the incremental revenue stream it brings them.

Interesting point on the twin facet of direct competition, but it's essentially the usual "buy vs build" choice most of us have to make

On the plus side, I found a better bank (for me) and it's never failed to work with Garmin Pay.

[eyebeebe]

jeremyc said:

'd guess there are many other issues to consider in making the decision.

Which to adopt? Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay .... you'll never please all of your customers all of the time.

Most of these companies might also be considered direct competitors: Apple and Samsung market smart watches, Apple and Google are mapping providers.

Someone, somewhere decided to go with their own service and the incremental revenue stream it brings them.

I would have thought that it is platform related... Apple will never licence ApplePay, AFAIK GooglePay only works on Android, I assume Samsung Pay works on Tizen as well as Android, but it would be odd for them to licence it unless they offered a white label solution, which I assume they don't.

[Sway]

Fenix has fall detection and alert built in. Obviously you'll need phone on you to make the call - but I fairly often have to hit a button to cancel the alert when mucking around with the dog on the village green.

[RizzoTheRat]

I struggle to have a conversation with people I'm with when running so not being able to make phone calls is no great loss

I don't bother taking my phone when I run as I now have a music player on my watch and garmin pay to buy a coffee/breakfast. Find My Phone is also a worryingly useful feature

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Thursday 12th August 10:01

[eyebeebe]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

That's how I feel. If you want a smart watch (and have an iPhone) Apple Watch is by far the best option. If you want a sports watch Garmin (Fenix) is the best. Their features overlap, but for me aren't direct competitors.

I wear the Fenix day to day for steps, calories, sleep, body battery metric. I run with the Fenix on one wrist and an Apple Watch on the other so I can leave my phone at home, stream music and have a way to make contact in an emergency. When I cycle I use my Garmin Edge. When I swim I use the Fenix. When I do a triathlon I record it all on the Fenix, but will also use the Edge on the bike leg. When I want to wear a nice watch, I've got a Vivosport to wear on the opposite wrist to record the health metrics.

[Funk]

eyebeebe said:

That's how I feel. If you want a smart watch (and have an iPhone) Apple Watch is by far the best option. If you want a sports watch Garmin (Fenix) is the best. Their features overlap, but for me aren't direct competitors.

I wear the Fenix day to day for steps, calories, sleep, body battery metric. I run with the Fenix on one wrist and an Apple Watch on the other so I can leave my phone at home, stream music and have a way to make contact in an emergency. When I cycle I use my Garmin Edge. When I swim I use the Fenix. When I do a triathlon I record it all on the Fenix, but will also use the Edge on the bike leg. When I want to wear a nice watch, I've got a Vivosport to wear on the opposite wrist to record the health metrics.

Man, that sounds complicated!