[Closed] Garmin watches

Ideally Bluetooth HR broadcast

I think you need a current generation Fenix/Forerunner for Bluetooth HR.

Just out of interest, what do you want the HR broadcast for?

Watches are great for all day HR monitoring, but during exercise they are very inaccurate - I'd always use a chest strap for this.

Zwift mainly (which is why it would need to be BLE rather than ANT+), but I've got a Garmin dual band strap is it's more 'nice to have' than essential.

Watches are great for all day HR monitoring, but during exercise they are very inaccurate

Depends a bit how you wear them, I think. Less accurate - sure, but I think "very inaccurate" is an exaggeration.

For rigourous zoned training, then yes, I'd want something else - but mostly I just want an indication of what my heart rate is, and an optical sensor is good enough.

Just get the best Forerunner you can afford. Very happy with my 245

There needs to be a ‘Forecycler’ as well though, a lot of the running features are useless to a cyclist and could surely be slightly tweaked for bike people

The form and vo2 max for example only work if you run, can’t be too hard to modify that slightly

99% of it works fine though, training load, recovery, stress etc

The form and vo2 max for example only work if you run, can’t be too hard to modify that slightly

I think you'd get VO2 max for cycling on a forerunner, but you need a power meter.

Whatever you decide to go for, ensure you find someone with a Bluelight card to get you a discount at the Garmin online store. I got £80 off an Instinct just by using the discount, and free 24 hour delivery

ensure you find someone with a Bluelight card

That would be me. Worth knowing, that, as a lot of my usual places won't discount Garmins.

With your NHS discount, I'd just get the best Fenix you can afford...
I've a 5+ sapphire, and it's fab..

I had a vivioactive before, but the data and functions on the fenix are fantastic.
Especially if you're using Zwift/turbpo trainer, ora crank based PM, you get tonnes of data..

DrP

I had a Foreunner 935 and it was a great device, but I was keen on the SOS feature so ended up selling it and getting a Fenix 6.

Both are great watches, but the Fenix is heavier and pricier. The wrist HR works well if the watch strap is tight on the wrist and it is covered i.e. no light getting to it. If the fit isn't tight then it isn't as accurate as it can be.

I've found the chest strap HR seems to be best in terms of accuracy though, so I only use the wrist HR whilst walking as it isn't such a useful guide.

VO2 can be done but as someone else has said, you need a power meter and HR reading.

The Garmin is a great watch - in all it's guises, I'm not convinced the Fenix 6 is what I need but as I managed to get it cheaper than the 945 I was considering, I didn't argue - the battery life is very good it, which is very handy.

I'm pretty sure the 945 and Fenix range all work with the Varia stuff, but worth double checking as I suspect some of the other Forerunner watches will as well.

Partner uses a fist gen Vivoactive and it works well, but I suspect the battery is needing replaced as it doesn't seem to last that long (but I'm now comparing it to about 12 days for my Fenix 6)...

For the turbo I use a Garmin 520 as I find the screen easier to read than looking at my watch, but for outside riding, I use the watch and it works well, but I don't use it to show me where to go - I'm more than happy to follow my nose and if it means a wrong turn and retrace a trail, then so be it - part of the adventure for me.

I tend to use the Zwift app on the turbo, watch a bit more appealing for walking (a vivosmart plus the app is a crappy substitute) and utility cycling (I've never quite found the right Edge bar mount for the HoD, but this is why it needs to work with the Varia)

@jimilindley You don't happen to know if your Instinct works with radars?

Rob.. I use Zwift app for the turbo too - all training and riding routes etc are done through that. When a ride is finished it saves to strava..
But.. I simultaneously record the data (power, time, HR etc) to the Fenix 5..

Thus ALL my riding and training are processed 'through' the Fenix - this give a pretty accurate representation of my training status, fitness, and such. Lets me know if i'm over training or (more regularly, and frustratingly) undertraining.

It's full of data, and really useful.
The only annoyance is, when i also save the 'fenix 5 ride data' this too synchs to strava. I jsut delete the duplicate data in strava.

DrP

Have a look on https://www.thisisant.com/directory/ - search for the device you are interesting in and see if it does Radar (RDR), icon look like - - I think that is what you are looking for. Image isn't that size on the website!

According to that website the Radar is

A sensor that detects vehicular threats to a bicycle rider, and reports it to the user on a display. Threats are detected in real-time, and displayed according to their threat-level, speed, and distance to the bike rider.

Yes, it's a great device, though DCRainmaker scared himself silly with it when cycling alongside a high speed rail line.

Edit - that's a 'no' for the Instinct

Anyone know if there’s a meaningful difference between a Fenix 5+ and a 6?

My lowly Vivoactive 3 can share the heart rate via Bluetooth. Think it can be set to do it all the time or just when you're recording an activity.

I’ve a Vivoactive 4 and I’m 99% sure it’s ANT+ broadcast only 😕

Anyone know if there’s a meaningful difference between a Fenix 5+ and a 6

I went from a 5+ to a 6 Pro.

Screen is definitely better on a 6. Marginally bigger screen makes a surprising amount of difference.

UI is much improved, too - but functionally, there's no meaningful difference. It's just a bit more pleasing.

Battery saving modes on the 6 may or may not be useful to you.

Better metrics on the 6. Sleep tracking noticeably more accurate (still not amazing, though).

5+ got noticeably faster GPS lock, and coped better in poor conditions.

6 really does not like my Stages power meter (5+ was fine with it).

No BT HR broadcast on the 5+. HR broadcast a bit better thought out on the 6, too.

Pulse Ox on the 6.

@aidy Ta, that’s helpful. What size have you gone for?

Middle size

I have a fenix 6 solar, mostly for climbing, but it’s useful for biking too and you get garmins new “flow” and “grit” scores from it. Haven’t figured out what they mean yet like. I’ve heard you can get a handlebar strap for garmin watches too so no need for an edge, though you’d have to be wearing hr chest strap.

If you don't want the absolute latest kit Sportspursuit.com have some good deals on the Fenix 5x watches and you can get an extra 10% off with the STW discount code.
https://www.sportpursuit.com/products?bid=95&predictive=1

@colinrobinson215 I think 'flow' and 'grit' are what are termed 'gimmicks'.

No I’m pretty sure flow and grit are universally accepted principles and are scientifically defined by wobbly your wrist is

No I’m pretty sure flow and grit are universally accepted principles and are scientifically defined by wobbly your wrist is

Do the watches include the same jump scoring they have on the Edge as well? You know, the one that recorded two sweet jumps I apparently did without noticing on the road while riding home last week (no there were no ramps to be seen and I don't have Geex's bunny hop skillz)