I bought one of these second hand a couple of years ago as a training/ tracking aid/ treat before my first triathlon. I really like it for running and use it for swimming and the occasional bike ride. This year I’m intending to do a few running races including a marathon in October. This is a lot more than I’ve ever done before. Given that I like new shiny things, and Fenix 7 and above have some kind of race training planner feature, I’m tempted by an upgrade.
Caveat: I would get an upgrade using the work techscheme, er, scheme where they give me a voucher and I lose a bit of my salary. This restricts me to buying from Curry’s, who only seem to have Fenix 7 Solar or Fenix 8 with the amoled screen. Neither have sapphire glass. I’m not sure if either of those would be appreciably better bar the one feature I’m after (but probably don’t really need). I have smashed this 6 about a lot, and the screen is still impeccable so I’m fairly sold on the solidity of the sapphire glass.
Any opinions either way from people who have these watches? Or from onlookers who just want to tell me I’m stupid and to save my money, or that I definitely should just spend it?
Had a 6 saphire until I lost it kitesurfing, now on my 4th F7 (2 7s and 2 7 Pros)....three warranty replacements...
Having had the 6, if it wasn't broken, I wouldn't upgrade unless you really want the AMOLED screen.
I have a 7 solar and can't say I notice any issue from not having the sapphire glass.
Up to you on the upgrade, as far as I understand there isn't much difference between the 6 and 7
Not used a 6 but just gone from a 5 to 8 amoled. Big upgrade, screen is really nice, quicker, lots more features and better mapping.
If it wasn't sapphire I wouldn't buy it. I wore the 5 every day for years at work in a machine shop, not a mark on the glass. First day with the 8 a dog pulled it's lead tight around a corner and smacked my wrist into the wall. Once I'd wiped the brick dust off it looked brand new. I know people who have scratched them but gotta be really trying compared to ordinary watch or phone screen glass.
I've got a cheapo screen protector on my Fenix 7. I also had one on the Fenix 6 it recently replaced and that was completely unmarked when I stopped using it.
I've had 2 x F6 Pro and 1 x Sapphire due to warranty replacements. The only screen I scratched was on the Sapphire.
I got bashed into a rock whilst floating in a rock pool in Dorset. It might have been much worse with the Pro but it is possible to scratch them given enough stupidity and an unexpected wave.
One advantage the F8 has is its buttons that are able to be utilised underwater; I've had one F7 and one F7 Pro fail with a broken button. I believe the F8 has a more robust button mechanism (inductive I think).
If my current F7 fails, I think I'll look elsewhere as I'm averaging 6 months per F7 at the moment.....
Not that it justifies spending this much on a watch but do I find the 7/8 torch is conveniently accessible and useful. Significantly brighter than my piffling Xperia light, or roughly on par with a iPhone torch.
It's a few years since I used it but the race training/coaching stuff is on the Garmin Connect app. You set it all up on there and it loads the sessions onto your watch. You also track and manage it all on the app.
I've got a Fenix 7 now but all the Garmin coach stuff worked when I had a pretty basic forerunner 45
I would definately upgrade. I had a fenix 6 and loved it to begin with then I started running and the gps (even with Galileo and glossnas) was terrible. I googled and found I wasn’t the only one and something to do either Garmin using a Sony chip in the 6 (not sure if all 6 versions have it though)
it was totally doing my head in and becoming so unreliable even after a full reset I eventually sold it and bought a Epix Pro 2 and absolutely love it, it’s lighter on the wrist and display tonnes easier to see. Also being a newer model better features too.
I'm still on a fenix 3 with sapphire glass, its taken loads of knocks and there is not a single mark on the screen. I wouldn't get one without.
Given my recent thread on the woes of trying to get a decent replacement battery, I'd fear that it's only a matter of time before the battery in a Fenix 6 starts to deteriorate and you've then got a much less appealing item. I'd be thinking of trading the old one at CEX and replacing with a new one, much as I hate treating such tech as disposable...
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/garmin-smar****ch-battery-replacement-options/
Random but I've just got a 6 pro off eBay as my solar tactical is just to dull and at 40 odd mm my eyes are struggling.
I'm holding on to my current watch to see if I get on with the 6. I would have loved the 8 but I work in some dirty dusty dumps so new is out the window
I remember reading that sapphire glass is more scratch resistant but also more vulnerable to being smashed. I have a 6X that I fitted with a £2 screen protector. I replace that about once a year when it gets chipped or cracked and the screen underneath is perfect.
The bezel is scratched to hell, mind...
No experience of the 7 or 8, but I wouldn't go out of my way to spend extra on the sapphire
Interesting thanks all, so I’m left with:
1 - stick with what I’ve got
2 - upgrade to either the 7 or 8
3 - upgrade but only to a model with sapphire glass
Can't speak for Fenix per se but I've recently bought an Epix from H Samuel. I've fitted a screen protector and a TPU case that only cost a couple of quid and are essentially invisible.
Curve ball, but i didn't need any mapping on my watch, so i went with Garmin Forerunner 265, fair bit cheaper than the top of the range Fenix models, but has full AMOLED screen and does everything and more i need, i bought mine via a workscheme from John Lewis, been great so far.
Thanks all, voucher request for the 8 amoled non sapphire.
i did consider a forerunner (especially with the price difference!) but I really like the maps functionality on the Fenix.
Anyone want a 6 Sapphire?!
I've got a 6 Sapphire and a 7 Solar Sapphire.
I'd say the upgrade isn't really worth it tbh. The wins for me are that the indoor cycling activity broadcasts HR, which saves me a few button clicks, and solar. Touchscreen can be nice for panning about the map, but in practise I never actually do that - if I'm doing real nav, I'm using a head unit, and if I'm just trying to get across a city, I'll look it up on my phone.
Definitely wouldn't go not-Sapphire.
