Thank you for posting this! I was having SO MUCH TROUBLE figuring out how to actually find the course on my watch once I created it. there are so many videos about how to create a course, and this was the first one I could find that actually shows you the very crucial step 2: how to find the dang course on your device once you've created it, so THANK YOU!
Exactly what I needed to see. Your videos are pure gold. I'm a month into the Fenix 6X and zero regrets! What a machine. It was not easy to change as I was a Suunto man for years but all I hear is breakages and software issues. Garmin for the win. They should be sending you cheques.
After using the Fenix 3 for 4 years I bought a Fenix 6 Sapphire a week ago and I was still kinda searching how to use the watch when navigating a course. Your video was really helpful so many thanks for your tutorial 👍
Chase the Summit I’m getting the Fenix 6 base model (no maps) presume this still all works fine just it won’t show the Topo maps on the watch and just shows direction to next waypoint on map? Pretty sure it will have the hill climb feature though correct?
Thanks for explaining this step by step. A useful tutorial. I could not figure it out fumbling with my watch. (And I finally figured out what that tat was from the comments below-it was driving me nuts! Miles of smiles, amigo!
Wow this is exactly what I needed. I've been downloading routes from the OS app which can be great. But as you're relying on routes that someone else has set, sometimes they can take you way off course (which I found out the other day.
Hey Dave, This is huge! Thanks for commenting on another video I commented on and referring me to this. This seems super simple and I think I can export out my existing course from Garmin Connect as a .FIT.
I did not realize that the course needs to be saved as FIT instead of 'Send to Device' directly. And when I completed the course, there was no distance shown/saved! perhaps I did not get the signal before i started?! the video tutorial is great!
@@moodytang5187 Yup, I saved it as a .FIT file and dropped it to my 945 through a PC. It was a bit more complicated than I would've liked bc I typically work on Macs. In the end, it worked. With this file, I knew exactly when the next aide station was coming up as I competed in the Pikes Peak marathon in 2021. I didn't need to know when a turn was coming up bc the course is well marked and simple, so the typical Garmin instructions were worthless. This helped me drop 25minutes over the previous year. **If you ever decide to use a feature like this for a race, or even something like PacePro, always test it out EXTENSIVELY days or weeks before the event. That way it performs as you intend to use it and aren't distracted by unexpected oddities/alerts the watch throws at you** I plan to use PacePro for CIM next year to run sub 2:18. I'll count on many sessions of trial and error in the through out the year leading up to the race so the feature works exactly the way I want it to. Thanks for all your reviews @ChasetheSummit
Great video. It's strange that Garmin doesn't seem to provide this information themselves. Love that you did your demo in the Middlesex Fells! I ran there for many years!!!
Thanks man...well done! Just switched from 20+ years as a Suunto user with 3 different models...now on a Fenix 6 Pro. Love it so far, but haven't really put it through its paces in only 3 days. Going to try the upload course and navigate for a MTB ride later today...thanks!
I've just moved from Suunto to Garmin myself I'd be interested if you have managed to transfer your sunnto data to Garmin connect?I've heard using SportTrack and Tapiriik works.
@@ChaseTheSummit Do you know if the 6S has the same navigation as the 6? Most important that I can import my own courses. I just found that model on sale ;-) so that would be nice.
Loved this video, thank you! Rookie question here- just starting to look at sports watches and specifically the 945/Fenix 6. With step by step navigation, is the watch verbally (calling out) the directions? I plan to use this for cycling also and it would be helpful to HEAR the directions versus looking down at the watch.
Glad it was helpful! The watch doesn't verbally speak to you. Instead if vibrates and beeps to indicate a turn is coming. I'm not sure how useful it would be in a cycling application unless it was mounted to your handlebars like an Edge bike computer.
I love the video, Dave! Where did you get your "data field" screen that shows 6 fields? I can't find that option anywhere in Garmin IQ; is it only on the Fenix or can the Forerunner 935 get it too? :) (the data screen I'm talking about is at 8:52 in the video) Thanks!
Thanks for tutorial. Not sure if it was available at the time, but it now has the option to send to device. Once clicked the website asks to open Garmin Express and then syncs your watch. Maybe Garmin listened.
It was available at the time but had issues. As mentioned in the video there was an issue using “send to device” as it would turn every turn into a waypoint. So if you use the data field “distance to next” or “next waypoint” it would show the next turn and not the actual next waypoint. This drove me nuts at ultramarathons because I wanted to see how far aid stations were. By using the USB transfer method it somehow fixes this issue 🤷♂️ thanks for watching!
Thanks for the helpful video. I've been using the Fenix 6X Pro Sapphire for 9 months now, and it drives me nuts that the "Next Waypoint" and "Distance to Next" data elements never work. When I'm out hiking in the White Mountains, I often want to plot a waypoint on the summit of several mountains that I've doing as part of a plotted course. As you noted, the data elements for those custom waypoints get screwed up when transferring wirelessly from Garmin Connect. I will definitely give this FIT file option a try on the hike I have coming up this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
Yup! This was exactly my issue. Instead of showing the next actual waypoint it would indicate the next turn. White Mountains are also my stomping grounds! Thanks for watching!
Really good video, very useful, just what I was looking for as am just learning the huge range of this Fenix 6X Pro... thanks a lot... seen a few of your other videos. Very well done
Great tips here! I just got the Fenix 6 Pro, and it's blowing me away. There's a lot to learn about it though, and your videos help out a ton. I've written my own review of it on my blog, but your reviews and comparisons are so thorough that I just had to link them in my blog for readers to check out!
I found the tutorial very helpful. I have only had my Fenix 6 Saphire a couple of weeks and a lot of videos on RUclips are often the basic stuff which are more or less similar to a lot of other videos. Tutorials are helpful because it encourages the user to get the full potential of having a feature rich sports watch. I think another good tutorial would be how to use swapping between screens while running or any other sport. As a new user it often becomes trial and error how to get to function as quick as posible, during a run preparing for a run or whatever sport the user is into
. It only tells me when I'm on or off course. I have the fenix 6x. I use my phone instead of my laptop for garnin connect. Any advice u have for me would be greatly appreciated
If I have a race that is a looped course (3times around a figure 8) and the gpx I received from the race is only 1 loop will it mess up my race to use that file or is there a way for it to continue working in loops 2&3.. please help. Race is Sunday.. using a 945.
You could just re-start the course when it completes at the start/stop. This wouldn't end your activity. You simply hold the left center button > navigation > courses > select course > Start Course and it will re-start the course. Alternatively you could just let the course complete and use your last lap as guidance for the next lap on the map screen.
Super helpful, didnt even know about the course map options available via web... I've been using the app! Thank you for that insight. I've got the 945 and watched that vid too.
I might be late to the conversation and this problem with showing all the turns may be resolved in an update but for me using the 945LTE there is a toggle in Connect to shut the turn notifications on/off.
Thanks for the super clear tutorial Dave, really helped me out a lot! Just subscribed and looking forward to more of these super helpful tutorial and reviews! Quick question if you don't mind: is there a way to quickly look for and add courses (hiking/biking trails etc) on the watch itself, the same way you can look for navigation points like stores, etc?
Yep, but there are some limitations by using the wireless method. You lose the "distance to next" data as explained in this video. I'm not sure why this happens but it's the primary reason I use the USB cable when I want to have "distance to next" to the next waypoint and not the next turn.
@@ChaseTheSummit Ah I thought that was a firmware glitch I wondered why mine was stuck on 45m until next turn when it was over 2km away. I guess the map is good enough for me I dont need to know distance to next turn reallym
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks! It’s technically virtual this year, but they’re setting up the start/finish line and the clock for us. It will be a fun day in the woods!
I've watched so many of your videos and I only just found out that we live pretty close to each other! I love running The Fells, maybe I'll see you out there at some point :)
Really useful. The process and loops you have to go through does seem a little clunky (particularly as someone from a cycling background, where syncing with something like Komoot is so quick and easy) - feel like the technology on watches still has some catching up to do before it's as simple and seamless as I'd expect in 2022!
Just realised that in fact Garmin devices, including watches, can now sync Komoot or Strava routes etc straight into the route section of the watch - ideal
This process is only clunky if you use the USB cable to sync which I have to do in order to get my "distance to next" data field to display correctly as discussed in the video. If you don't care about that using the "send to device" button in Garmin Connect is super easy and transfers wirelessly.
Great Video, thank you! One thing I can't find is how to mark segments. I love to see how long it takes me to hit certain points on my favourite routes, while still having auto km laps on. I have switched from the Suunto 9, where you just pushed the lap button and it gave you time from start. On the Fenix 6, it gives from the last auto lap. As an example, from my house I do a 1.5ish km warm up to the trail head. I want to hit the lap button at that point, then start. Next I want to hit again at the summit to see how long it took me, then again at the bottom. I know I can do this by turning off the auto lap, but I want to see those km splits!! Or on a road tempo run. Warm up, then tempo, then cool down. I want the 3 segments, but also need that km feedback. Hope this makes sense. Thank you!
In the video you place a fictitious aid station / point by just randomly clicking on the course line; but what if you get a series of coordinates for the aid stations of a particular competition? I played with GC a while and I don't see how to use coordinates to inject a waypoint somewhere - not to mention the very limited quality of the Garmin-provided map... Any comment [or did I miss something else :-) ]?
If you need to do something more complex using Garmin's Basecamp application can be helpful. You can also import a GPX file into Garmin Connect from any other application like Gaia GPS. Hope that helps!
Awesome video Dave and thanks. I'm a bit late to the party but have just created a great 10 kayer to do with my son tomorrow and now it's on my 935, ready to go! Less likely to get lost on this one tomorrow (I took a wrong turn out there yesterday...). Cheers and thanks from Sydney - Dave (we have excellent names eh?)
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks mate. My 11yo son and I will get out there today - a great mix of quiet streets and trail - about 50/50. First day of Spring here in Sydney and a perfect one for a run. I'm still recovering from running a half marathon a couple of days ago - the run I got lost on! Thanks to you I'm confident of not being lost again - track is all loaded and ready to go on my 935. Love your work and cheers - Dave
Great Video! But does it work with the normal Garmin Fenix 6 (Not the Pro/Saphire/X etc) ? The link you put in description leads to the Fenix 6 Pro and not the Standard 6. Thanks! 🙏🏼
Hi Dave, is there an option to navigate to the starting point of newly created course? I am not asking for Back to start function of completed course. For instance, in your video the starting point is car parking near the trail, so can I select the course and navigate to the starting point?
You could do this by saving the "start point" as a saved location in the watch. Then trigger a navigation to that point, once you reach the start point start the course. It's a little cumbersome but it would work.
Hi Mr CtS, Loved your vid, quite handy! Just one question: After saving a new course, what's the difference between Downloading the FIT file and the option/button Send to device? I've used the "send to device" option but the watch did not guide me. It showed the course on the map but while purposely steering away from the route, the wtatch didn't notify or alert me. (I got a F3). Cheers!
It's weird how this works. Basically if you use the "send to device" option it turns EVERY turn into a waypoint. So your "distance to next" data field will show the distance to the next turn. I didn't like this because I wanted to know the distance to the next actual waypoint. This is why I sync over USB. Hope that helps!
thanks for the guide. I frequently get lost on trail runs the longer they are. in your 100miler, did you use navigation constantly and did it slay your battery. well i suppose you said it lasted the 26 hours but I don't know if that was with navigation on the whole time. if so, I will buy the garmin 6 right away and garmin should pay you a commission! thanks if you could answer the question. (also, does it tell you when you go off course or do you just peek at the map from time to time)
During that 100 I used navigation the entire time. It was enabled all 26 hours. However, I didn't leave the display on the map screen. That screen in particular needs to refresh a lot and causes battery drain. I just let it tell me if I was off course and occasionally flipped over to check the map. It worked GREAT and I actually saved some other runners from going off course because of it. Thanks for watching! (I do get a commission if you choose to purchase through amazon using the link in the description... It costs nothing extra to you)
Thanks a lot for your video. Now, I have learnt how to have fun with the courses and the climbpro function. 👍 I have seen the display background , which is the name of the app for to display the battery level? Thanks again
hi , you didnot explain in the video why you saves the file as fit anf not gpx, i was curious . if you could please explain i would be extremely grateful
Thanks for making this video, very clear! Today I came across the situation that I made shortcut during following the course and the watch (in my case 945) kept showing "off-course" and shortly after "on-course" for the rest of the bike ride. Is there a way to just skip this message and continue the course? Or there was something wrong with my GPS?
You could disable the "off course" alert in the settings if it bothers you. I don't think there's anything wrong with your GPS sometimes the course just isn't a perfect representation of the roads or trails that you're on. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
hey great explaination! Can you tell me if i need to make course for using climpro or can i just go hike without creating course and it will remembe from gps for next time? tnx keep up good work
Climb pro is enabled when you are following a course. It can be a course from Garmin Connect or one directly from the watch but it needs to know the lay of the land ahead of you. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Thanks :) I learned a couple new tricks. I personally like using the "Send to Device" button on Garmin Connect, and then syncing using the WIFI sync. I have setup a quick action sync button so I don't need to physically connect the phone to the computer. I have also turned off bluetooth sync to save battery life (I get 30 days watch mode and 60hrs gps mode without bluetooth).
Thanks for watching! "Send to Device" is MUCH easier to use. But as noted in the video it included turn-by-turn directions which buries my important course points so I prefer the USB method. I still use the phone method when I need to do something quickly though. Battery life has been great! Thanks again!
Hi, nice video, Good work. My question is, how do you know during running that you’re going in the direction that you’ve just made in the map?, is it a turn by turn navigation during the run?, because you’re hartrate en speed screens are on the display and not the navigation. What does the navigation screen look like during you’re run? Thanks for you’re reply
There's a separate page for the map if you want to view the route. The watch will also vibrate and beep if you deviate too far off of the course. There's also a "heading bug" you can enable that's visible on all of the screens thats just a small red arrow that points you in the right direction. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
I think you can just save a course (after creating it) to your favourites then, when you synch you add a course from your favourites or by name. I tried following a course with waypoints/points of interest when I ran a marathon along a canal...I also added messages to say keep left or turn right etc but watch didn't display any of this. I have a 245M. Might be way I saved the points. But as you say, complex.
Yes, you can sync from the smartphone app or website. However, if you want your "distance to next" datafield to show only your waypoints you need to do it the long way like I do in this video. It's still a weird glitch on garmins!
Great video thanks. Wondering whether you have seen the "Race an Activity" feature? I'm trying to figure out how choosing this differs from simply starting an activity and selecting the course to run.
"Race an activity" is pretty cool. It basically puts the watch into "Virtual pacer" mode where it will show a white arrow on your map page that represents your time to beat. There will also be a data page that shoes how far behind/ahead you are in relation to your "virtual racing self". Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Great video. Is this still the case all this time later or is there a way of syncing via GC and turning off turn by turn? Additionally i have used the FIT option which works but it says i am 10km from my first waypoint that i have created and im 60 miles away as im not on the course yet?
The manual method is still the best in my opinion. When you sync via the app it creates course waypoints for every turn which isn't desirable for my situation. Hope that helps.
Like I said in the video. If you use "send to device " it creates waypoints for every turn for some reason so my "distance to next" reflected the next turn and not the next aid station waypoint like I wanted. This was the only workaround I could figure out that made it work how I wanted. Thanks for watching!
Hello Dave. Thank you for having this awesome channel, helps a lot ;) One question; If you directly click "send to device" button instead of downloading the FIT file into the new files, does it apply the same? Once again thank you. Take care and stay strong
Kind of. Like I mention in the video when you sync from the app it seems to add "course points" to every turn trying to mimic turn by turn navigation. In my use case that was an issue because I wanted to use the "distance to next" data field to tell me how far I was from the next aid station... Not the next turn. The only work around I've found is to push the file over USB.
Great video! Learned a lot about courses. When I navigate and follow a trail course I want the map with the route to be visible all the time. Unfortunately I get 5-7 different screen images and have to click back to the course map all the time. How do I improve this? Thanks in advance Niels
Yeah it's strange how that happens. I think the watch automatically switches to the main screen after some time to preserve the battery. The map view consumes more battery because of how often it's being refreshed. You could try changing the order of your data pages so that there's less clicks to get to the map?
If you run using a course, is your pace calculated using the course or the GPS data? I just plotted my usual route manually, and found that the GPS is usually off by a few hundred meters.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks for the quick reply! It would be nice if it compared the GPS data to the plotted route, to erase off-course readings. I know you can't do anything about it. Just venting :)
The map is super readable. I use it pretty regularly. I don't often "pan around" but it's great to glance at while you're on the move to confirm that you're taking the correct turn at trail junctions. It will also give you turn-by-turn if you want to navigate to a point. I personally haven't tried Suunto. I reached out to them a couple of times to see if they'd let me borrow some review units but never heard back and they don't excite me enough to buy with my own money. I'm hoping the 9 Baro gets a revamp sometime soon, that might be worth while. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit the new suunto app seems to provide strava level heat maps. It's a shame garmin doesn't. I've also noticed suunto heat maps compared to garmin are available in more locations. Makes me wonder if suunto has a bigger community than garmin. Everything I've seen garmin makes is limited first to the American maps and maybe it expands. However, would really appreciate a topo map compared to a line only.
Thanks for making this video I have been using Garmin for a couple of years and I still picked up some great nuggets. Much appreciated!!! Question: In testing do you think Garmin has the best courses/mapping features especially for trail/ultra. There are alot of options out now and it's nice to know when you spend almost a grand (Fenix 5x plus) it's still worth it.
Hi Dave! Is there any way under the course builder to choose one of the other Garmin predefined activities (I want to use the “Climb” activity profile) which does not show up on the limited number of options they give you on the course type menu?
thanks a lot for the video. very well explained, i didn't realize I could do a course like this because i didn't know about the feature you showed ud on Garmin Connect. Great! I have another question, is it possible to download maps on Garmin Fenix 6 (just Fenix 6, not 6x or pro models) and follow traks with them? it is possible, it would be great if you had a video of it :) thank you very much
Does the watch tell us to turn left or right turn over Bluetooth speakers? coz when I am on the bike or run I don't want to look at my watch all the time.
Yes and no. There's an issue (mentioned in this video) where the watch turns every "turn" on your course into a waypoint so that the "distance to next" data field reports the distance to the next turn instead of the distance to the next actual waypoint. If you transfer the file over USB this doesn't happen for some reason. 🤷♂️
Thanks for the video. Just bought a 6 Pro. Do you know how many data points would make up a 100 mile course file, and is there a way to maximise this and hence the accuracy of a long route? Have taken many wrong turns with Fenix 3 as a long winding course shows as a series of long straight lines.
If you build the course in Garmin Connect using the Training > Courses tool it will optimize the track to have the most resolution while limiting the data points as to not overload the watch. Courses can only have a certain amount of points before the watch cannot translate the file. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching.
Thank you for posting this! I was having SO MUCH TROUBLE figuring out how to actually find the course on my watch once I created it. there are so many videos about how to create a course, and this was the first one I could find that actually shows you the very crucial step 2: how to find the dang course on your device once you've created it, so THANK YOU!
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
This tutorial format was perfect and exactly what I was looking for. Thank you. (I see this video is three years old. It helped me today in Oct 2023.)
Exactly what I needed to see. Your videos are pure gold. I'm a month into the Fenix 6X and zero regrets! What a machine. It was not easy to change as I was a Suunto man for years but all I hear is breakages and software issues. Garmin for the win. They should be sending you cheques.
Awesome! Glad to hear you're enjoying it! Ha! I wish Garmin would send me some $$$!
@@ChaseTheSummit or use whatever extra you generate to make Linux software, it's missed
This was a huge help, I've been sending courses to my watch but could never find them. Thank you!!!
Glad it helped!
After using the Fenix 3 for 4 years I bought a Fenix 6 Sapphire a week ago and I was still kinda searching how to use the watch when navigating a course. Your video was really helpful so many thanks for your tutorial 👍
Did you find the upgrade to maps worth the price?
I honestly didn't know I could do this!!! Thanks, I'm making courses as we speak!
Glad I could help!
Chase the Summit I’m getting the Fenix 6 base model (no maps) presume this still all works fine just it won’t show the Topo maps on the watch and just shows direction to next waypoint on map? Pretty sure it will have the hill climb feature though correct?
I’m just now watching this video because I finally saved enough pennies to buy my Fenix! 😎 Thank you for the video, I really needed the help!
Nice! Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks a lot, I've had my Forerunner for a year and a half and never knew about all this stuff!
Glad you found it helpful! It's become a lot easier to sync courses since I filmed this video. Almost all of it can be done right on your phone!
I just noticed your tattoo, it says "μου λειπεις" in Greek (my native language), "I miss you" in English. Happy New Year
You got it! Glad the translation was right. I don't speak the language and it could have gone terribly wrong. Thanks for watching!
Well done! Video resolution excellant, voice crisp and content to the point.
Thanks for explaining this step by step. A useful tutorial. I could not figure it out fumbling with my watch. (And I finally figured out what that tat was from the comments below-it was driving me nuts! Miles of smiles, amigo!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for this mate. Managed to draw route, import to watch. Trying it tomorrow on my FR 255.
Wow this is exactly what I needed. I've been downloading routes from the OS app which can be great. But as you're relying on routes that someone else has set, sometimes they can take you way off course (which I found out the other day.
Your set up looks dope
This is spot on to what I was looking for. Easy to follow step by step instructions, thank you so much!
Happy Running from Australia
Glad it was helpful!
Cool studio and nice cap.. thank you for the video.. nice one 👍
Thanks for the helpful video. I've been under-using my 935 for 3 years!
Awesome!
Well done, trying to set up my Fenix 3, thanks
Hey Dave,
This is huge! Thanks for commenting on another video I commented on and referring me to this. This seems super simple and I think I can export out my existing course from Garmin Connect as a .FIT.
Hope it helps! This took a while for me to figure out for my ultra races as well. Not sure why Garmin makes it so complicated!
I did not realize that the course needs to be saved as FIT instead of 'Send to Device' directly. And when I completed the course, there was no distance shown/saved! perhaps I did not get the signal before i started?!
the video tutorial is great!
@@moodytang5187 Yup, I saved it as a .FIT file and dropped it to my 945 through a PC. It was a bit more complicated than I would've liked bc I typically work on Macs. In the end, it worked. With this file, I knew exactly when the next aide station was coming up as I competed in the Pikes Peak marathon in 2021. I didn't need to know when a turn was coming up bc the course is well marked and simple, so the typical Garmin instructions were worthless. This helped me drop 25minutes over the previous year.
**If you ever decide to use a feature like this for a race, or even something like PacePro, always test it out EXTENSIVELY days or weeks before the event. That way it performs as you intend to use it and aren't distracted by unexpected oddities/alerts the watch throws at you**
I plan to use PacePro for CIM next year to run sub 2:18. I'll count on many sessions of trial and error in the through out the year leading up to the race so the feature works exactly the way I want it to. Thanks for all your reviews @ChasetheSummit
Thanks for that, helped me loads. Didn't realise I could do it that way
Your setup is cool. Your instructional video is cooler, and your new subscriber is the coolest.
Ha! Thanks!
Great insight and friendly vibes! You motivate me to go and run! You’ll be at 100K in no time! Keep up the good work, man! 🤙
Thanks so much! It means a lot!
Great video. It's strange that Garmin doesn't seem to provide this information themselves.
Love that you did your demo in the Middlesex Fells! I ran there for many years!!!
I love the fells!
Thanks man...well done! Just switched from 20+ years as a Suunto user with 3 different models...now on a Fenix 6 Pro. Love it so far, but haven't really put it through its paces in only 3 days. Going to try the upload course and navigate for a MTB ride later today...thanks!
I've just moved from Suunto to Garmin myself I'd be interested if you have managed to transfer your sunnto data to Garmin connect?I've heard using SportTrack and Tapiriik works.
This was exactly the video I needed. I am thinking about getting this watch, mainly for the navigation.
It's a good one for navigation!
@@ChaseTheSummit yeah, I watched some more video's in between and I think it will be a great option for me.
@@ChaseTheSummit Do you know if the 6S has the same navigation as the 6? Most important that I can import my own courses. I just found that model on sale ;-) so that would be nice.
Very helpful video! Have the edge 830 and now learning my Fenix 6
Glad you found it helpful! The process has gotten a little easier since I filmed this but this still works!
@@ChaseTheSummit yep, it actually went pretty quick and was very smooth. ur video was still very helpful on the overall process. lovin the Fenix 6!
Thanks this was one of the best tutorials I've had from RUclips
Glad it helped!
Loved this video, thank you! Rookie question here- just starting to look at sports watches and specifically the 945/Fenix 6. With step by step navigation, is the watch verbally (calling out) the directions? I plan to use this for cycling also and it would be helpful to HEAR the directions versus looking down at the watch.
Glad it was helpful! The watch doesn't verbally speak to you. Instead if vibrates and beeps to indicate a turn is coming. I'm not sure how useful it would be in a cycling application unless it was mounted to your handlebars like an Edge bike computer.
Very helpful to decide wether to buy the watch or not. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
I love the video, Dave! Where did you get your "data field" screen that shows 6 fields? I can't find that option anywhere in Garmin IQ; is it only on the Fenix or can the Forerunner 935 get it too? :) (the data screen I'm talking about is at 8:52 in the video) Thanks!
The 935 is limited to 4 data fields unfortunately.
This is extremely helpful thank you. Do you know if the watch provides voice queues on when to turn during a course using Bluetooth headphones?
The watch doesn't provide audio prompts but I think there are apps on the app store that will do this.
Thanks for tutorial. Not sure if it was available at the time, but it now has the option to send to device. Once clicked the website asks to open Garmin Express and then syncs your watch. Maybe Garmin listened.
It was available at the time but had issues. As mentioned in the video there was an issue using “send to device” as it would turn every turn into a waypoint. So if you use the data field “distance to next” or “next waypoint” it would show the next turn and not the actual next waypoint. This drove me nuts at ultramarathons because I wanted to see how far aid stations were. By using the USB transfer method it somehow fixes this issue 🤷♂️ thanks for watching!
Thanks for the helpful video. I've been using the Fenix 6X Pro Sapphire for 9 months now, and it drives me nuts that the "Next Waypoint" and "Distance to Next" data elements never work. When I'm out hiking in the White Mountains, I often want to plot a waypoint on the summit of several mountains that I've doing as part of a plotted course. As you noted, the data elements for those custom waypoints get screwed up when transferring wirelessly from Garmin Connect. I will definitely give this FIT file option a try on the hike I have coming up this weekend. Thanks for the tip!
Yup! This was exactly my issue. Instead of showing the next actual waypoint it would indicate the next turn. White Mountains are also my stomping grounds! Thanks for watching!
Beautiful drone footage in the intro! I'm digging the tutorial style video 👍
Thanks!
I thought the Fenix 6 base model didn't show maps, so the course would just be breadcrumbs? Is yours not just the "6" as the video title states?
TY Every single thing I found refused to show me where the course was to start on the watch. Get to test it tomorrow.
Is Climb a data screen you downloaded or is that a default data screen?
Really good video, very useful, just what I was looking for as am just learning the huge range of this Fenix 6X Pro... thanks a lot... seen a few of your other videos. Very well done
Thanks!
Great tips here! I just got the Fenix 6 Pro, and it's blowing me away. There's a lot to learn about it though, and your videos help out a ton. I've written my own review of it on my blog, but your reviews and comparisons are so thorough that I just had to link them in my blog for readers to check out!
Hey Garrett! Thanks for the link! Whats your blog? Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit themorningrun.home.blog/2019/12/31/garmin-fenix-6-pro-watch/ thanks for checking it out; that would help out a ton!
@@gsimongear Well done! great content there!
I found the tutorial very helpful. I have only had my Fenix 6 Saphire a couple of weeks and a lot of videos on RUclips are often the basic stuff which are more or less similar to a lot of other videos. Tutorials are helpful because it encourages the user to get the full potential of having a feature rich sports watch. I think another good tutorial would be how to use swapping between screens while running or any other sport. As a new user it often becomes trial and error how to get to function as quick as posible, during a run preparing for a run or whatever sport the user is into
I'm glad you found it helpful!
Thanks for the great video. I've used this feature a few times but can not figure out how to turn on the the turn by turn directions
. It only tells me when I'm on or off course. I have the fenix 6x. I use my phone instead of my laptop for garnin connect. Any advice u have for me would be greatly appreciated
If I have a race that is a looped course (3times around a figure 8) and the gpx I received from the race is only 1 loop will it mess up my race to use that file or is there a way for it to continue working in loops 2&3.. please help. Race is Sunday.. using a 945.
You could just re-start the course when it completes at the start/stop. This wouldn't end your activity. You simply hold the left center button > navigation > courses > select course > Start Course and it will re-start the course. Alternatively you could just let the course complete and use your last lap as guidance for the next lap on the map screen.
Nice job. Ever do it through basecamp?
Super helpful, didnt even know about the course map options available via web... I've been using the app! Thank you for that insight. I've got the 945 and watched that vid too.
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching!
Thank you! I’m excited to use the feature.
Hope you like it!
I might be late to the conversation and this problem with showing all the turns may be resolved in an update but for me using the 945LTE there is a toggle in Connect to shut the turn notifications on/off.
Thanks for the super clear tutorial Dave, really helped me out a lot! Just subscribed and looking forward to more of these super helpful tutorial and reviews!
Quick question if you don't mind: is there a way to quickly look for and add courses (hiking/biking trails etc) on the watch itself, the same way you can look for navigation points like stores, etc?
You can create courses on the watch by choosing Navigation > Round Trip Courses > Select Distance > Select Direction. Hope that helps!
As a climber/mountaineer, how happy are you with the Forerunner945 in such a setting (gps accuracy, baro & weather, etc.)?
It's pretty awesome. Right on par with the Garmin Fenix 6 just in a slightly less durable package.
Just the video explanation I was searching for. Love ultras. Hate poorly marked courses and dread having to figure out tech myself.
There is an option to send the course to device. It sends it to your Garmin Connect and then to your watch after syncing.
Yep, but there are some limitations by using the wireless method. You lose the "distance to next" data as explained in this video. I'm not sure why this happens but it's the primary reason I use the USB cable when I want to have "distance to next" to the next waypoint and not the next turn.
@@ChaseTheSummit Ah I thought that was a firmware glitch I wondered why mine was stuck on 45m until next turn when it was over 2km away. I guess the map is good enough for me I dont need to know distance to next turn reallym
@@ChaseTheSummit Hi again mate do you know why the big white arrow on the map screen on turns only appears on round trip courses created on the watch?
Perfect guide!
Thank you for this! It was very helpful! I’ll be trying it out at a trail race tomorrow.
Good luck! Happy to hear your race wasn't cancelled!
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks! It’s technically virtual this year, but they’re setting up the start/finish line and the clock for us. It will be a fun day in the woods!
@@fitnessonthemovellc that’s a clever way of doing it! Better than a treadmill!
Very useful video 💐 New Garmin user here.. is it possible to navigate the course while using pace pro?
Yup!
I've watched so many of your videos and I only just found out that we live pretty close to each other! I love running The Fells, maybe I'll see you out there at some point :)
Awesome! I love the fells. I'm sure we'll pass by each other eventually! Thanks for watching.
Really useful. The process and loops you have to go through does seem a little clunky (particularly as someone from a cycling background, where syncing with something like Komoot is so quick and easy) - feel like the technology on watches still has some catching up to do before it's as simple and seamless as I'd expect in 2022!
Just realised that in fact Garmin devices, including watches, can now sync Komoot or Strava routes etc straight into the route section of the watch - ideal
This process is only clunky if you use the USB cable to sync which I have to do in order to get my "distance to next" data field to display correctly as discussed in the video. If you don't care about that using the "send to device" button in Garmin Connect is super easy and transfers wirelessly.
what a tutorial dude, thanx so much!
Glad you liked it!
Great Video, thank you! One thing I can't find is how to mark segments. I love to see how long it takes me to hit certain points on my favourite routes, while still having auto km laps on. I have switched from the Suunto 9, where you just pushed the lap button and it gave you time from start. On the Fenix 6, it gives from the last auto lap. As an example, from my house I do a 1.5ish km warm up to the trail head. I want to hit the lap button at that point, then start. Next I want to hit again at the summit to see how long it took me, then again at the bottom. I know I can do this by turning off the auto lap, but I want to see those km splits!! Or on a road tempo run. Warm up, then tempo, then cool down. I want the 3 segments, but also need that km feedback. Hope this makes sense. Thank you!
I think you could do this using Strava segments and Live Segments on the Garmin?
In the video you place a fictitious aid station / point by just randomly clicking on the course line; but what if you get a series of coordinates for the aid stations of a particular competition? I played with GC a while and I don't see how to use coordinates to inject a waypoint somewhere - not to mention the very limited quality of the Garmin-provided map... Any comment [or did I miss something else :-) ]?
If you need to do something more complex using Garmin's Basecamp application can be helpful. You can also import a GPX file into Garmin Connect from any other application like Gaia GPS. Hope that helps!
Awesome video Dave and thanks. I'm a bit late to the party but have just created a great 10 kayer to do with my son tomorrow and now it's on my 935, ready to go! Less likely to get lost on this one tomorrow (I took a wrong turn out there yesterday...). Cheers and thanks from Sydney - Dave (we have excellent names eh?)
Thanks! Hope you enjoy that 10K!
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks mate. My 11yo son and I will get out there today - a great mix of quiet streets and trail - about 50/50. First day of Spring here in Sydney and a perfect one for a run. I'm still recovering from running a half marathon a couple of days ago - the run I got lost on! Thanks to you I'm confident of not being lost again - track is all loaded and ready to go on my 935. Love your work and cheers - Dave
Fantastic help, great usable info! Many thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Absolutely awesome. Thanks !
You're welcome!
Hey, thanks for the video!!!
I have one question is the course planning compatible with the Garmin Venu 2S ?
Thank you for the answer :D
Unfortunately no, Venu 2 doesn't have navigation features.
Great Video! But does it work with the normal Garmin Fenix 6 (Not the Pro/Saphire/X etc) ? The link you put in description leads to the Fenix 6 Pro and not the Standard 6. Thanks! 🙏🏼
This process applies to both. However on the Non-Pro you won't get the full map, just a breadcrumb trail of your course. Hope that helps!
well done mister! ;) great content as always!
Thank you!
Hi Dave, is there an option to navigate to the starting point of newly created course?
I am not asking for Back to start function of completed course.
For instance, in your video the starting point is car parking near the trail, so can I select the course and navigate to the starting point?
You could do this by saving the "start point" as a saved location in the watch. Then trigger a navigation to that point, once you reach the start point start the course. It's a little cumbersome but it would work.
Thanks.
Indeed, it is not perfect solution, but is solution 😀
Love the video and setup! Keep going brother💪
Thanks!
Hi Mr CtS, Loved your vid, quite handy! Just one question: After saving a new course, what's the difference between Downloading the FIT file and the option/button Send to device? I've used the "send to device" option but the watch did not guide me. It showed the course on the map but while purposely steering away from the route, the wtatch didn't notify or alert me. (I got a F3). Cheers!
It's weird how this works. Basically if you use the "send to device" option it turns EVERY turn into a waypoint. So your "distance to next" data field will show the distance to the next turn. I didn't like this because I wanted to know the distance to the next actual waypoint. This is why I sync over USB. Hope that helps!
thanks for the guide. I frequently get lost on trail runs the longer they are. in your 100miler, did you use navigation constantly and did it slay your battery. well i suppose you said it lasted the 26 hours but I don't know if that was with navigation on the whole time. if so, I will buy the garmin 6 right away and garmin should pay you a commission! thanks if you could answer the question. (also, does it tell you when you go off course or do you just peek at the map from time to time)
During that 100 I used navigation the entire time. It was enabled all 26 hours. However, I didn't leave the display on the map screen. That screen in particular needs to refresh a lot and causes battery drain. I just let it tell me if I was off course and occasionally flipped over to check the map. It worked GREAT and I actually saved some other runners from going off course because of it. Thanks for watching! (I do get a commission if you choose to purchase through amazon using the link in the description... It costs nothing extra to you)
been a loyal fans ; sub and liked ..just got my garmin 945.. can i use back the route/map i done previously and load it to the watch?
Yes you can use a previous activity as a route. Simply click the gear icon in the activity page and select "save as course"
Thanks a lot for your video. Now, I have learnt how to have fun with the courses and the climbpro function. 👍 I have seen the display background , which is the name of the app for to display the battery level? Thanks again
Being a newbie on Garmin 6x pro, really helpful. Any tips on adding data for Strength activity. I am confused about weight and rep protocol.
I don't have a ton of experience with the strength profile but I'm glad this was helpful!
Thanks.. that was easy understand
Thanks man. Really helpful
Glad it was helpful!
hi ,
you didnot explain in the video why you saves the file as fit anf not gpx, i was curious . if you could please explain i would be extremely grateful
Thanks for making this video, very clear! Today I came across the situation that I made shortcut during following the course and the watch (in my case 945) kept showing "off-course" and shortly after "on-course" for the rest of the bike ride. Is there a way to just skip this message and continue the course? Or there was something wrong with my GPS?
You could disable the "off course" alert in the settings if it bothers you. I don't think there's anything wrong with your GPS sometimes the course just isn't a perfect representation of the roads or trails that you're on. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching!
hey great explaination! Can you tell me if i need to make course for using climpro or can i just go hike without creating course and it will remembe from gps for next time? tnx keep up good work
Climb pro is enabled when you are following a course. It can be a course from Garmin Connect or one directly from the watch but it needs to know the lay of the land ahead of you. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Thanks for the vid. This is really useful info.
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks :) I learned a couple new tricks. I personally like using the "Send to Device" button on Garmin Connect, and then syncing using the WIFI sync. I have setup a quick action sync button so I don't need to physically connect the phone to the computer. I have also turned off bluetooth sync to save battery life (I get 30 days watch mode and 60hrs gps mode without bluetooth).
Thanks for watching! "Send to Device" is MUCH easier to use. But as noted in the video it included turn-by-turn directions which buries my important course points so I prefer the USB method. I still use the phone method when I need to do something quickly though. Battery life has been great! Thanks again!
Hi, nice video, Good work. My question is, how do you know during running that you’re going in the direction that you’ve just made in the map?, is it a turn by turn navigation during the run?, because you’re hartrate en speed screens are on the display and not the navigation. What does the navigation screen look like during you’re run? Thanks for you’re reply
There's a separate page for the map if you want to view the route. The watch will also vibrate and beep if you deviate too far off of the course. There's also a "heading bug" you can enable that's visible on all of the screens thats just a small red arrow that points you in the right direction. Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thank you, this helps, I will check it out.
Very helpful. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I think you can just save a course (after creating it) to your favourites then, when you synch you add a course from your favourites or by name.
I tried following a course with waypoints/points of interest when I ran a marathon along a canal...I also added messages to say keep left or turn right etc but watch didn't display any of this. I have a 245M. Might be way I saved the points. But as you say, complex.
Yes, you can sync from the smartphone app or website. However, if you want your "distance to next" datafield to show only your waypoints you need to do it the long way like I do in this video. It's still a weird glitch on garmins!
Great video thanks. Wondering whether you have seen the "Race an Activity" feature? I'm trying to figure out how choosing this differs from simply starting an activity and selecting the course to run.
"Race an activity" is pretty cool. It basically puts the watch into "Virtual pacer" mode where it will show a white arrow on your map page that represents your time to beat. There will also be a data page that shoes how far behind/ahead you are in relation to your "virtual racing self". Hope that helps! Thanks for watching.
Great video. Is this still the case all this time later or is there a way of syncing via GC and turning off turn by turn?
Additionally i have used the FIT option which works but it says i am 10km from my first waypoint that i have created and im 60 miles away as im not on the course yet?
The manual method is still the best in my opinion. When you sync via the app it creates course waypoints for every turn which isn't desirable for my situation. Hope that helps.
Hey Chase, love your stuff. I’m new to the Fenix 6. Any chance you could do a tutorial on using the pace plan feature?
Thanks! I'll see what I can do!
Thank you for the video. One question : once you created your course, why don't you just click the "Send to device" button?
Like I said in the video. If you use "send to device " it creates waypoints for every turn for some reason so my "distance to next" reflected the next turn and not the next aid station waypoint like I wanted. This was the only workaround I could figure out that made it work how I wanted. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks, I guessed I missed that point :-(
Super helpful video. Well explaned. Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Hello Dave. Thank you for having this awesome channel, helps a lot ;) One question; If you directly click "send to device" button instead of downloading the FIT file into the new files, does it apply the same? Once again thank you. Take care and stay strong
Kind of. Like I mention in the video when you sync from the app it seems to add "course points" to every turn trying to mimic turn by turn navigation. In my use case that was an issue because I wanted to use the "distance to next" data field to tell me how far I was from the next aid station... Not the next turn. The only work around I've found is to push the file over USB.
@@ChaseTheSummit oh ok, good point! Thanx 👍🏻💪🏻
Great video! Learned a lot about courses. When I navigate and follow a trail course I want the map with the route to be visible all the time. Unfortunately I get 5-7 different screen images and have to click back to the course map all the time. How do I improve this? Thanks in advance Niels
Yeah it's strange how that happens. I think the watch automatically switches to the main screen after some time to preserve the battery. The map view consumes more battery because of how often it's being refreshed. You could try changing the order of your data pages so that there's less clicks to get to the map?
If you run using a course, is your pace calculated using the course or the GPS data? I just plotted my usual route manually, and found that the GPS is usually off by a few hundred meters.
Pace is always real time pace from your GPS Data regardless of navigation.
@@ChaseTheSummit Thanks for the quick reply! It would be nice if it compared the GPS data to the plotted route, to erase off-course readings. I know you can't do anything about it. Just venting :)
Have you tried the suunto? Also is the map even readable. or do you tend to default to your hand phone map?
The map is super readable. I use it pretty regularly. I don't often "pan around" but it's great to glance at while you're on the move to confirm that you're taking the correct turn at trail junctions. It will also give you turn-by-turn if you want to navigate to a point. I personally haven't tried Suunto. I reached out to them a couple of times to see if they'd let me borrow some review units but never heard back and they don't excite me enough to buy with my own money. I'm hoping the 9 Baro gets a revamp sometime soon, that might be worth while. Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit the new suunto app seems to provide strava level heat maps. It's a shame garmin doesn't. I've also noticed suunto heat maps compared to garmin are available in more locations. Makes me wonder if suunto has a bigger community than garmin. Everything I've seen garmin makes is limited first to the American maps and maybe it expands. However, would really appreciate a topo map compared to a line only.
Great tutorial, a big help.
Glad it helped!
Thanks for making this video I have been using Garmin for a couple of years and I still picked up some great nuggets. Much appreciated!!! Question: In testing do you think Garmin has the best courses/mapping features especially for trail/ultra. There are alot of options out now and it's nice to know when you spend almost a grand (Fenix 5x plus) it's still worth it.
They're the only ones who have actual offline maps on board. I think that alone puts them ahead of the pack! Thanks for watching!
@@ChaseTheSummit thanks a bunch for the confirmation and the quick response!!! Here's to not getting lost in 2020.
Legend mate, thanks
Hi Dave! Is there any way under the course builder to choose one of the other Garmin predefined activities (I want to use the “Climb” activity profile) which does not show up on the limited number of options they give you on the course type menu?
Nope only from the selections but you should still be able to use them in any activity on the watch.
thanks a lot for the video. very well explained, i didn't realize I could do a course like this because i didn't know about the feature you showed ud on Garmin Connect. Great!
I have another question, is it possible to download maps on Garmin Fenix 6 (just Fenix 6, not 6x or pro models) and follow traks with them? it is possible, it would be great if you had a video of it :) thank you very much
You can follow a course on the non-pro Fenix 6 but it will not show a map... Only a squiggly line indicating your course. Hope that helps!
@@ChaseTheSummit Yep thanks a lot. I will change it to PRO versiona then :) thank you.
Thanks was super helpful!
Glad it helped!
does the watch give you directions once you begin running? if you were running an unfamiliar route for example
If you put in a destination it will route you there with Turn by Turn navigation. You can also pre-design a course to follow. Hope that helps!
Does the watch tell us to turn left or right turn over Bluetooth speakers? coz when I am on the bike or run I don't want to look at my watch all the time.
Unfortunately no, it will buzz and give you an arrow indicator on which way to go but there's no voice guidance.
It looks like no cable is needed! Courses crested in the Garmin Connect website show up in the Connect app and sync to the device wirelessly!
Yes and no. There's an issue (mentioned in this video) where the watch turns every "turn" on your course into a waypoint so that the "distance to next" data field reports the distance to the next turn instead of the distance to the next actual waypoint. If you transfer the file over USB this doesn't happen for some reason. 🤷♂️
Thanks for the video. Just bought a 6 Pro. Do you know how many data points would make up a 100 mile course file, and is there a way to maximise this and hence the accuracy of a long route? Have taken many wrong turns with Fenix 3 as a long winding course shows as a series of long straight lines.
If you build the course in Garmin Connect using the Training > Courses tool it will optimize the track to have the most resolution while limiting the data points as to not overload the watch. Courses can only have a certain amount of points before the watch cannot translate the file. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching.