This is a first impressions video. I decided to keep the watch for more in-depth and long term use, although I switched to the sapphire version which is a much better display. I have sorted out a workflow for importing my maps etc that is pretty simple (based on feedback from comments and friends), but still relies on a third party app (Gaia GPS). I will be following up with field experience & use case from the mountains. So far my opinion stands that there is room for improvement to the software ecosystem and on-watch map performance (lagging etc). Battery life is impressive. Is this the best GPS watch on the market? It might just be - in terms of what is available. For a quick comparison, I tried the Suunto Vertical for two days and it was definitely comparable to the Garmin. It had an even more convoluted navigation system because of the limited number of buttons (3 vs 5) and limited customizations. The design of the Suunto also seems to be for people with very small wrists since there is a sharp/pointy part where the strap attaches to the watch that bruised my wrist bone after a few hours. Not something that I wanted to experiment with long term.
@legros731, I don’t mean to sound negative, but it seems you might not have experience with a Garmin watch. If you did, you’d likely understand what he’s saying. I own both a Garmin watch and a Garmin GPSMAP, and I can confidently say that their software is among the most frustrating I’ve ever used. In 2024, software should be intuitive, not something so complex that you have to document your workflow just to avoid mistakes. This is especially disappointing from a company that prides itself on being a leader in navigation technology. In comparison, the Apple Watch software is much more intuitive and user-friendly. That's what you would expect from Garmin in 2024. So you're paying 1000 euros/usd/cad for 90s software and battery life.
1. There is a limitation on how much cpu power you can install into the device without burning battery power or introducing other issues. You wanted an iPhone type processes shrunk into a small device. It’s 2024, the technology is not there yet. 2. The cpu and storage space dictates the amount of map resolution. 3. You can import gpx files into desktop Garmin Connect; you don’t have to use Explore. 4. You can double tap to zoom the map. This is the first implementation of a touchscreen, it will take time to evolve the software to work within the constraints of the watch. The Garmin insufficiency of the software ecosystem has been discussed / critique for years. That’s one area most users are in agreement. Wait a few years and maybe your ideal watch will become a reality. The watch, in its present incarnation, is more of a supplement to a gps device rather than a standalone device.
Maybe not quite there yet, but the garmin interface is definitely dated. GPX file versions aren't all compatible - Gaia GPS exports won't import into Connect. It will import garmin GPX files, whatever that means.
You can have a slower watch with good battery life or you can buy a apple watch and charge it every day Secondly if you have a iPhone get a apple watch lol so you can stay in the same crappy ecosystem
I agree that gps watches should be used as a secondary device combined with a hand held gps. I have the Fenix 7x Pro and the gpsmap67 - they work well together but the watch is only for a glance to make sure I'm on course - any detail comes from OS maps on the hand held. In the UK we can buy mapping by Talky Toaster who produces digital mapping for Garmin devices exclusively including the watches. They aren't quite OS standard but have a lot of detail for a surprisingly inexpensive price.
One thing you need to realize about Garmin is that the user experience does NOT change as you go up their higher priced models. If you buy the MARQ Carbon for $3000, it will behave the EXACT same way as their $250 Forerunner. And if you dare say anything negative on their user forum, be prepared to get bashed by "Top 1%" forum members who make violent love every night to their Garmin watches before going to sleep.
This is one of the most hilarious comments I’ve read in a while. And yes the experience between my 3-4 year old instinct is nearly identical to the 7X in terms of menu navigation etc. I’m not one to “love” gear. Does it do what I want/need? Good enough? The question for this watch is if there is a better model on the market - I’m not so sure anymore having done a deep dive into the watch space based on some of my friends experience, comments on this video, and everything else I could find. At this point the garmin line does seem like the best option, but not perfect.
You can export routes directly from GAIA or any other software, it's only a two step process, export the track then import it as an activity in garmin connect Web. It will accept .tcx, .fit or .gpx format files. Then you do whatever you want with it, after I import I usually save it as favorite to have it handy for quick access.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors odd. I have been importing files since fenix 5, using the method described. I event import files from wikiloc, take a look the raw file maybe there is something wrong there.
I agree. I’ve had my fenix 7x for 1.5 years. At this time I basically use it to monitor my movements through the day for hiking, trail running, skiing, etc. For mapping and orienteering I use OnX on my phone. I trust the onx considerably, it has gotten me through situations that would have taken hours longer doing it with a paper map. I’m not confident I could do the same with my Garmin watch.
The goal for me is to have a watch that supplements my phone. The option to quickly glance at the map & make decisions on the fly would reduce how often I need to take my phone out. A nice screen and good map are a must for that, along with a simple UI. I don’t want to have to go through several menu options to get to a map. Seems like Garmin isn’t there yet. I definitely agree that paper maps are becoming outdated. I haven’t used one in years. I like them, but don’t have time to source on for each trip.
Agreed. Use my phone for primary navigation. Alpinequest is my most common navigation. Sometimes use explore to pick a destination and navigate to that. Rarely use a course for navigation.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors "The goal for me is to have a watch that supplements my phone. The option to quickly glance at the map & make decisions on the fly would reduce how often I need to take my phone out." This is the best setup. Have the route on the phone so you can follow it easily without getting the phone out but have the phone and get it out when you need to make route decisions.
I'm very happy about my Fenix 7X Pro. I think that the gps watch you wanted only exists in your dream. There are thousands of reviews, videos and opinions online about the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and therefore it is impossible that you are disappointed by things that have always been known to everyone.
It's pretty naive to think that the reviews by the big RUclips reviews aren't marketing that are budgeted by Garmin et al. Anytime a video is put up at the release date, the person was provided a unit at no cost in advance to produce said video, and may or may not have been financially compensated. I receive several proposals for this kind of video every week, even though my channel is very small. Imagine a channel with 100K+ subscribers? I'm not criticizing those channels, since it's their job at that scale. But as the consumer you should be wise enough to know they won't have any major criticisms since it's bad for their business (eg affiliate sales, future brand collaborations etc). They will always find a few minor criticisms for the product to keep it "honest" but will stay away from anything major. Do you think a brand will send products to a person if they think it might turn out to be a negative review? Yes, there are smaller channels and some big channels that purchase products out of their own pockets, but they will stay away from the negative just because of the impact on channel perception. Look at this video, which was in itself an experiment. I intentionally focussed on the negative to see what the feedback would be like, since I hadn't seen anyone go into those details. A lot of people had the same impressions. The feedback from Garmin fans was terrible. People get mad if you don't like their favourite toy. It's just a watch.
Thanks for the review. I considered the Felix 7x Pro for hiking/backpacking/walking/camping. Currently, I am an iPhone & Apple Watch Ultra user. I'm not unhappy; I'm just exploring options. My workflow centers around the WorkOutDoors app. LOVE THIS IT!! The AppleWatch mapping and customization is insane) I use Footpath and Gaia for route planning. (love/hate with the Gaia interface) I have some experience with Garmin Explorer with my InReach mini. The #1 feature I like about the Garmin watches is the battery. However, I think the quality of the iPhone and AppleWatch apps/ecosystem with battery limitations is superior.
I’ve had my Garmin Fēnix 7X Pro Solar for over a year now and love it. I use .gpx files all the time the time for my ultra races. It works well with Strava saved routes too. Adding my North American topo map took a couple minutes. Not sure why it took your watch 4 hours. I don’t use GAIA Maybe your watch is a lemon.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors kind of like Apple Watch. I had one, loved it until I got into trail running. I can’t stand Apple, largely because of the battery and mapping backcountry & ultra races. I’ll never go back despite Garmin’s lack of compatibility with Apple devices.
This is true. From an outsider looking in, Garmin hasn’t kept up with modern graphical user interface and application development in general. This cost them to lose the vehicle routing GPS market they had a leg up in the 00’s. Tom-Tom was their closest competitor, but Apple and Google were “stealthily” planning to takeover that market with use of the smartphone platform. Hardware can be included into this as well as they led the consumer watch and handheld markets too. Google and Apple could takeover the mountaineering, marine, submarine, and skiing gps markets too, if they thought it might be worth the investment.
I had a hard time deciding between buying a Garmin Instinct or Fenix for navigation. This video made me realize that the only thing you can use from these watches is to save track of the route. Thanks a lot for your honest approach to the subject, because you really only hear great things about Garmin and almost no substantive criticism.
Thank you for the review. It is helpful. I had a similar experience with the Garmin software. I found it completely unintuitive and confusing, and so I haven’t dug into it more than enough to make it do the few limited things I needed. I’m glad it’s not just me.
Sounds like user error to me. I have a forerunner 965 so maybe it's different but I have never used, nor have I ever had a reason to use Garmin explore. I create a route in Gaia then download it as a .gpx file. Upload it to Garmin connect as a course and then send it to my device. It takes a few minuets max.
That’s not user “error”. Talked to a friend who uses the workflow you just described and I tried it. It works. It all speaks to the software ecosystem issues that have a bunch of different ways to achieve the same thing, some of which are pretty convoluted. Why don’t they have software that’s as good as gaia?? Garmin is a map & gps company, right?🤣
I use garmin In my bike computer, the process is simple…. Download the GPX file, uploaded to garmin connect and I send it to my bike computer. Maybe is different in a watch, but I have never use garmin explore
Was not understanding your review until you showed video clips of you hiking in that breathtaking location you were in, and described the navigating you do in the field, then it finally clicked. Btw, where were those locations? I was blown away by the landscape and terrain. Reminds me of the hiking and backpacking I did in the Andes. Simply breathtaking. As for your fenix 7x pro navigation dilemma, yeah, there’s NO watch in the world that will do what you want in terms of the navigating you’re doing, which like you said before, you were looking for something to replace your phone. Not a chance, unless you look into garmin’s actual full sized handheld navigation devices, in which at that point is sort of pointless bc many of them are larger than phones, but I believe Garmin makes a few mini handheld gps devices that are smaller than a phone, so you could look into that. But I agree when you said it’s more about your unrealistic expectations. Wanting a watch w/ gps capabilities to replace a full sized handheld gps device is an outright IMPOSSIBILITY. There simply isn’t enough space to cram all the hardware of a high end full sized handheld gps device, in the small enclosure of a watch, there’s just no way. The Fenix 7 pro series is an ultra fitness tracker and multi-sport watch, WITH GPS capabilities, if that makes sense. It’s a sport and fitness watch first, and a gps watch second, where it’s gps capabilities can be used to track routes and as a back-up in terms of emergencies. So for triathletes, ultramarathoners, or hybrid athletes (who travel for many miles on foot or bike), this is heaven bc they can track their mileage routes and performance. Plus, most serious athletes are biometric and data nerds, and love to track their performance data, which the Fenix 7 pro is the KING at doing, in addition to it’s gps tracking capabilities, which is actually quite accurate at doing. That’s why it has so many 5-star reviews, bc in the application of a fitness tracker and it’s decent gps capabilities to track an athletes routes during workouts and races, this is perfect. But for trailblazing in the backcountry, where you need much more reliable geographic information and data, and more reliable legibility in the form of a bigger screen, a watch is simply not it. However, I believe that the Fenix 7 pro series watches (to an extent) can provide a decent amount of reliable gps data, the critical question is how one will use that data. For a workout that you want to track, or if you’re through hiking somewhere, I believe it can do that successfully. But when you’re trailblazing in the backcountry, and you need geographic data and information that could mean the difference between life and death, there’s no way in hell I would rely on a watch, not even if it was $10K. It’s just too risky, and besides the convenience factor of replacing a phone with a watch, why would you want to view geographic data and maps on such a small screen? For maps and geographic data, you want all that info on a decent size screen, but obviously not too big if you’re in the backcountry. But for a watch, I believe it’s just too much to ask. You need to be using a full sized handheld gps device for that application, there’s just no way around it. One last point, as a testament to the Fenix 7 pro gps utilities. I have the Fenix 7 pro SS, I’ve had it for about 2 months now, and I love it. Yes I track everything because I do hybrid training (endurance training, track workouts, trailing running and strength training), so it’s a pleasure to track all my performance data and look at my numbers change through time, and have the ability to see where I can improve. In that regard, there’s nothing better than the Fenix 7 pro. However, in regards to its gps navigation maps, I used it for the first time 2 days ago… I believe it saved my life. I was on a trail run at a reservation park I’ve been going to for many years and know pretty well…until I was proven that I don’t know it pretty well. I was running on a trail I’ve done before several times, but not often, and forgot there were 2 forks rather than 1. So I confidently passed through the first fork, and didn’t realize I went the wrong way at the second fork. Had I chosen the right direction, I would’ve been back to familiar ground in about 2 miles. But instead, I went left without noticing it was a fork, and added 4 miles to my run, with significant elevation changes, at 7pm, with a severe thunderstorm incoming, and about 5 miles from the trailhead. That was the first time I panicked, bc I left my phone in the car, which I always do when I go on my trail runs. Luckily I was tracking the entire route with my Fenix 7 pro. When I started noticing unfamiliar ground, and that the trail I was on hadn’t connected to familiar ground, I switched over to the compass watch face to get an idea of where I was in relation to a large lake that the main trail passes through, where it finally leads to the trailhead. It was helpful by orienting me in terms of the location of the lake, but the trail I was on made another abrupt turn and was leading me northwest, when the lake was east. So I switched over to maps and I knew exactly where I was in relation to the lake, and all I could do was run as efficiently and as safe as I could and check the map every minute to verify my progress and direction, all while under the tree line, with the storm now approaching, rain starting, and daylight darkening. The map key indicated I was about 2 miles from the lake and showed that I was traveling in the direction of the lake, so I booked as safely as I could. As it got darker, it started down-pouring, and I couldn’t distinguish the color of the trail-markers on the trees anymore, so I turned on the flashlight and ran with it on, verifying the color of every trail-marker along the way because I was not about to get lost again on my way back, in the middle of a storm, at night, and in an area with Black bears. Eventually, I hit familiar ground in about 45 minutes of running through a thunderstorm, as there was a bit of light still. Had I not had my watch on me, I believe I would’ve been fully convinced that I was completely lost. But having my Fenix 7 pro on me, with its flashlight (which is a basic survival tool that we often take for granted), was a relief I can’t fully explain thinking back about the situation now. I’ve read a lot of reviews before I bought the watch, and many have said that the one thing they absolutely fell in love with is the flashlight. Something you wouldn’t expect, I know, but many have admitted they never realized how useful it would be until they actually needed it. I heard many saying they use it in the middle of the night when going to the kitchen for some water or whatnot, and they don’t want to turn all the kitchen lights on, and in many other low-light situations around the house that when you really think about it, can be quite often. With the Fenix 7 pro’s heart rate monitor, which is quite accurate (about 98% according to 3rd party testing), and I personally use for every workout to verify what heart rate zones I’m in (which is very important to determine how hard you’re endurance training, bc under an endurance training program, there are days you wanna train aerobic, and days you wanna train anaerobic, and not knowing can really derail your goals), I’ve read via a subreddit that a woman’s garmin fenix watch predicted her pregnancy when the Fenix’s heart rate monitor started to show a pattern of irregularities in her resting heart rate. She goes to the doctor, and they confirm her pregnancy. So do with that information what you will. But for me, since I am very physically active and I was looking for something that could help me track my performance data/progress, there really wasn’t anything better than the Fenix 7 pro. For you, I think it’s a matter of accepting what’s possible in technology at the moment, which for you would be a handheld gps device. Good luck, and stay safe on your travels.
@@johnsimoney2035 All my trips are in the Canadian Rockies around Banff, Lake Louise, and surroundings. I’ve been using the watch for several months now. I’ve found a balance that means I check my “big” maps on the phone less often, so overall means I save on battery consumption. If I smashed the fenix tomorrow I’d wouldn’t replace it though, probably go with something like an instinct 2, 80-90% of the capabilities at less than half the price.
I would like to know which sports watch does it better all around? I am not attached to any brand but Garmin imo has by far the best package for outdoor enthusiasts / athletes. That might change with their now focus on idiotic amoled displays but the Fenix 7 peo I could not find a watch on par be that Suunto,Coros,Apple,Samsung,Polar.. They all make good watches nowadays. Its more about personal preference
I appreciate your honest perspective. Looks like watch is mainly useful for quickly determining if you are on a predetermined track or trail, and at trail junctions. Not so much for navigating off trail. It’s also useful for tracking all day activities and getting the stats. My friend can track all day every day for over a week and never have to charge it. But I agree with you that’s a lot of money.
I agree with a lot of these points, BUT at the same time, I absolutely love Garmin watches for a different reasons. I learned how to use the mapping to my benefit. I love the battery life. I love the tracking and health features. I understand that for others there are the smartwatches with one day battery life and that’s OK.
I use CalTopo, Gaia, Footpath, never had an issue importing into Garmin. BTW why didn't you figure this out for the instinct on your wrist? Same software used to import routes as the Fenix 7 series.
I hadn’t imported a route into the instinct since i got it a few years ago. No point imo since there’s no map. Battery life is so short that I just use it to track runs in the city. I would have expected that by now Garmin would have put some work into their apps. Yes there are workflows to move from one software to another. Yes after some digging it’s pretty easy to export from gaia to the connect app then to the watch via your phone. Crazy that after buying a $1000+ dollar watch from a mapping & navigation company you need to use a 3rd party mapping & navigation software, whether you prefer desktop or mobile.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors The instinct actually can show a spatial relationship of you in real-time on a trail and pre-defined waypoints. This alone provides ETA to a waypoint based upon terrain, elevation profiles and your associated rate of speed all computed instantly on the watch. In your "rant" (your words) the example you outline, demonstrates to me a lack of understanding. You have a general idea but implementation is where you have issues. Which leads me to sharing, both instinct and fenix can also navigate by bearing or reference pt. Both methods are similar except reference pt adds a straight distance component. In this form you have essentially a compass that maintains your reference regardless of how much deviation occurs say following a trail and having go around an impassable object. Short battery life on instinct? You need to learn the power management features. At this point, your arguments reinforce my point - "your understanding of how to utilize the tool is the issue". My backpacking / hiking experience extends before GNSS technology which was a paper map, compass & knowledge. I find the watch or smartphone apps to be a time saving complement that I know use primarily, but I always have a compass and a paper map for backup. Either using an instinct, fenix, or just a map/compass I can pinpoint my location. The fenix delivers ok tooo maps but you can pre download birdseye satellite imagery to the fenix. Watch navigation is a complement. App navigation provides greater view and resolution; so a better map. A paper map & compass requires practice & knowledge, but can deliver the best detail (depending on the map you brought). Combining the above tools in any fashion provides redundancy and convenience. Though I recommend always having a paper map and compass; no batteries and the only failure component is with the human & their level preparedness to implement. Not saying this to be argumentative.
I think you’re missing the point. I hunted with dogs using a garmin alpha for over ten years, have used all the features you’re talking about using various devices, backpacked and tramped around the woods and mountain for over 20 years without a gps. The rant is when from picking up a piece of tech that everyone raves about and find the interface (and likely internals) dated.
1st you need to put it in airplane mode because if it’s constantly searching for a network it drains the battery. 2nd I try and be very conscious about how much I use it. I try to stick to 20% per day starting from a full charge. I also carry a nitecore carbo 10000 mAh power bank for my phone and camera if I’m out for more than 2 days. It weighs 150g / 5.5 oz.
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I always do airplane mode and even Bluetooth off yet phone dies so quickly. Been trying to keep it warm as well. I like to track the whole time plus take pics so sounds like I better just invest in a bigger bank! Heavy but probably worth the weight if I don’t want to be annoyed with a dead phone all the time. Great video btw, I feel like I would have had the same first impressions and you have spared me some grief. I do think I’ll look at the Epix though since I’m reading that it might have a better screen.
@@maiwyck If you’re tracking that will definitely eat up the battery on your phone and is where a watch can complement the system. I’ve started to track more often and the Fenix works well for that, but I go back to my phone when I want to have a good look at the map. So does a gps watch replace other navigation tools? No, but I’m finding it’s a good add on and definitely helps extend your battery life overall on other devices. If I smashed the fenix 7 today I’d replace it with a instinct 2 or something comparable though. It would give me 70-80% of the features at less than half the cost.
Thank you for confirming that digital map devices still suck. I have owned three different hand held gps devices and found them all hard to use, expensive and unreliable. In the end hand held maps is what I still rely on with a bit on phone gps to cheat. Can’t wait to see how you feel after using this for a while, I have been considering this as my next smart watch as well.
It’s back in the box to ship. I really don’t like returning items, but if something isn’t good the first day they rarely improve. Heard good things about Coros watches…
Thanks for the review. I was thinking of buying one of these types of watches but could not get past the fact of how small the screen is, and on most of my trips I'm taking my phone with me for photography purposes. I'm guessing most people are the same unless they are complete weight weenies and forgo the phone.
Hi Kane, Garmin is clunky to use, always has been. I use Garmins professionally. Most of the foundational software was developed in the 90's and early 2000's and they've built on top of that since. Garmin connect was an attempt for Garmin to get with the times and add a social aspect to their units. It failed miserably and Garmin went to a unit-to-explore interface about 2021 or so. I don't have experience with the watch, but their units can be firmware updated to a newer operating system that cuts connect out of the workflow. Courses sounds like route, but I'm not totally sure. I'd suggest contacting Garmin with the issues, I've found over the years that they are very responsive to user issues. Perhaps try that to get some progress on the issues.
I'd also add that the software looks like it might be the same version minus some features that were on the later Etrex series. I would suggest that you get much more if you step up to a 66i or the newer 67i and just accept the weight penalty. It's a professional unit for you.
From what I reckon, with such watches, you have to balance GPS navigation ability, quality of the screen (and responsiveness), and battery life. To me, the main problem with using the phone isn't even the need to unblock it and take it out of the pocket every time. It's how quickly the battery is drained. In rugged terrain with limited visibility, I sometimes need to navigate every 10-20 meters. This drains up to 70% of my 5000 mAh phone battery in 10 hours of hiking, even if I put it in emergency power-saving mode. An alternative option could be smart watches like Apple Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Pro 5 as they have built-in GPS. But I'm not sure what's the GPS quality there or the battery life when using navigation actively. I am personally most probably going to try Galaxy Pro 5. Even if it will only hold 10-12 hours with active navigation, this still has 5 times less mAh to charge compared to my phone.
I use a waterproof paper topographical map, UTM coordinates for navigation, and a US Military Tririum Lensatic Compass. For the GPS, I usual a minimal Garmin device that just gives me the coordinates for zeroing my position on the map.
I feel you. I didn’t download all the optional maps when I got my epix. Agreed their SW and versions are convoluted. If you get Garmin express for your computer it’s apparently easier to xfer maps then via Bluetooth or the phones WiFi which takes hours. I didn’t choose the optional golf maps and didn’t bother about the topo unless you really need it. I think they have better interface options for strava but I use All Trails and it’s a bit easier you don’t even need a PC. Garmin has a long way to go to improve their outdated SW- it took years before they released any update for Garmin connect -just weeks ago. However hopefully once you get the hang of it, you will appreciate the nuances and enjoy the GPS experience. I think though the Epix Pro for Amoled display is a better choice if you’re already spending so much. All the best
I own the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar, fantastic watch. However, it has a steep learning curve and the solar charging stopped working last weekend. The watch is only 4 years old! 😢 Just pulled the trigger on the Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar. Seems to be easier to use and better GPS accuracy and connectivity. I only use the watch for navigation, don't care about heart rate etc. I want to go from A to B, that's it, and that's where the Suunto delivers.
I feel your pain and agree with you this device not for navigation in environment like yours. I own fenix 6x and I found it useful to load track and just keep checking Im on the right trail or not, if I lost I have to check maps on my phone. It will also show clims profile, where you are in the climb, vertical speed, expected arrival time etc. So its useful for checking you progress on the trail. I also use the garmin watch for running, MTB, play music directly from watch, track sleep, steps and other data, pay with watch, also usefull to quickly check phone notifications, also checking in with inreach mini. so for me its multifunctional device, and in this form Its really useful. And yes, I got it on sales 60% off from retail price :) I would not pay full price for it.
The watch works excellent for what is made. You are expecting to have a processor power of a smartphone, map detailing and responsibility of a smartphone, obvious preference for Gaia, and expect all of that to be crammed in a watch, keep the 2-week battery life, etc. Get real. I use it for cycling and giking and it performs excellent. I create a route in RWGPS, "pin" it and it just syncs to my watch and works. Usable satellite images on a wach? Pinch-zoom on a watch?? All in all, crap clickbait video for the iPhone groupies.
Yup I would expect all the above. The tech is completely there, but apparently focus is on features that appeal to the masses. The Garmin menu system is outdated. I just disagree with you, no harm done.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors The point here, in my opinion, is that Fenix is not comparable to something like Apple watch or similar (or maybe a smartphone). Apple watch is a gadget, Fenix is a tool. If you buy a hammer, you can ask for it to have a nice ergo-handle, have chrome plating, engravings, etc, but at the end, it's function it to get that nail into the wood. That's it. I agree that the website and clunky side apps are a PITA and outdated, but the watch itself is more than good for what it really is, and what it should be.
@@ivanperak285 I agree with all that - my point is that if you stripped down the fitness tracking, music playing and other extras the tech is there for a very responsive mapping tool with a long battery life that I could wear on my arm. The comparison to apple watch was from an innovation standpoint, but they focus on things that I don’t need in the backcountry. I don’t own one.
If you want a map/gps get a garmin GPS device something like there in-reach device with maps. The people that love this watch are endurance athletes and for most of those athletes it does everything they need. I use this watch for running,and I use a garmin in reach device for mountaineering and back country navigation
On MtB , i am still using a Garmin Oregon 700 (my 2nd one since 2007). Bulky, works on AA NiMh cells , i always have spares with me just in case (i needed last week-end BTW). But the Oregon is also quite sluggish and slow to move the map around and make any calculation. GARMIN need to use the 2nd most recent TSMC nodes for their ships ! we do not need fancy functions, just excellent maps management and track + sensors recordings of the outdoor activity. As for a watch, i use some G-Shocks with solar , automatic time update by radio wave and about 30 years battery life .... (just need to keep the watches out of the dark). One of those watch is a MudMaster that has included an altimeter and a compass with Zafire glass too ! Bulky, but it is my EDC watch by the way. I keep all my other mechanical watches , including a swiss one in the drawer. I am on the fence for those Garmin "smart watches" for some years but still not convinced to pay top € for one of those, even if they make good progress from generation to generation. If those Garmin watches were in the 200-300€ range, i would grab one despite its limitations. But certainly not for that asking price ! Also they need to make the battery easy to swap by user !
I absolutely love this watch. I have used it in the field and it has become very useful. I also use the fortrex 801 and the gpsmap 65. Each of my land navigation tools are used for different things. For me this is not my go to for navigation. For me it’s more of a back up tool. I have also use on x back country app. It honestly depends on my situation. I have owned just about every garmin smart watch. I will agree that this watch is very overpriced. It sounds like the type of navigation that you are doing, this watch is really not for you. Aslo if you’re not using this watch for the other capabilities, it’s just not worth it. I always pointed people to the instinct. Just cuz it’s basic and can still get the job done. But I have always been a garmin geek if you wanna call it that. lol. So this watch was an add on to my collection. I actually wear this watch more than my other. Especially because the price lol. But great to see what people think about this product. 👍🏾
Nothing better, but Honest 100%, Really Honest Opinion, No Matter what! Thank you, Kane! p.s. Thank God, that Ordinary People shoot videos and share their opinion about tech products and not only tech RUclipsrs and influencers!
It's been over 20 years since I last had a Garmin product and it sounds like nothing has changed. I fell for the hype then, thanks for this video so I don't have to fall for it again!
I use Apple Watch for a long time and I love it. However when I do the hiking I do want to try Garmin due to the amazing battery performance and the various health analysis. But the Garmin software really intimidates me. I ordered one Instict but return it after 2 days. Now I use Apple Watch Ultra with Wikiloc, paid 10€ for annual fee then I get the off line map on my ultra (But I still really wanna try Garmin 😢)
Late to the party, but I guess you only need a small part of what that watch can do. And you are perfectly right, the watch is underpowered for this part. But that is the tradeoff for better battery. There are other, cheaper Garmins that include maps. I got myself an Epix Pro. Shorter battery life but way better display. I 've seen that you can place additional maps on the watch that are not from Garmin. But I don't know how they fit in the navigation part. But even Garmin has a more detailed map that you can buy on top, if you want to...
expecting apple watch performance from a device that lats a month on a battery charge is not entirely fair imho. the new ultra2 watches are fantastic in display, speed, media etc. but you need to charge them every day, even in light use every 2 days. i think both have their target audience that they reach well. i'm no hiker or sporter, so would lean more towards apple, but never really got into the ecosystem, so it would be no use for me as an android user.
I get what you're saying - The apple watches are designed for day to day use. Where they excel is the UI and continuous improvements with each generation. Is it the perfect adventure watch? I doubt it. Is the Garmin the perfect watch? No way. Is it the best on the market right now? Kinda seems like it. I'm still surprised about how much the maps lag.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors using the maps to do pathfinding on the go is not really the intended use, unless you are really in a pinch, imho. More for tracking and maybe tracing a set route. If you are continually manipulating the watch scrolling and zooming it does get cumbersome real quick indeed. If you don't have juice left in the phone, I'd opt to use the compass and a paper map, and GPS just to see my location
@dr_melski I’ll see how it goes this summer. Unfortunately I can’t get out on any ski tours in the next few weeks due to family obligations. If I can reduce checking the map on my phone by 50% or more that would already be helpful. I typically get 5 days out of my phone, so being able to stretch that out or have more power in reserve towards the end of a trip would be nice. I haven’t seen anyone using paper maps in years… but that’s a different story altogether.
Thank god you made this video just in time. I placed an order for the Fenix 7 Pro yesterday because there was a small online promotion for the watch. I was so happy that the seller had already packed the watch today and it is ready to be shipped. I have already done a ton of research about the watch for the past few months and everything I found online was either super positive or highly recommended. However, after researching more about the watch today, I started to feel uneasy about the purchase, it started from the size of the watch not being suitable for my small wrist to the GPS doesn't seem like how I thought it would work. The main reason I wanted to buy the watch is the GPS and Maps, kinda like to replace having to use my phone when navigating in the city and for other outdoor activities. My heart sank when I saw your video. You've basically confirmed that this watch is of no use to me. I thought I had wasted thousands of dollars placing an order for the watch but thankfully the seller is willing to cancel the order because they haven't shipped the watch out yet (Happy Sunday!).
It's more of an emergency/survival/back-up/last resort GPS b/c it has a very long lasting battery that is solar powered and low energy MIP display. Give it 5 more years of RnD and the tech should be there.
Epix Pro has been a dream to navigate when you're using in real outdoor situations. tbh I also found Connect Explore to be simple to use. It is a bit old school, but it is logical. You just share GPX files with it and you're good to go. So many people have mapped routes already that GPX are easy to find these days. FYI it seems in the video that the watch has the shaded relief switched on, which will slow down the maps? Recommend switching it off for really responsive refresh. Shading doesn't really add much to the navigation. Also, it's great to limit the touchscreen when you're actually out hiking, so I appreciate the buttons for zoom in and out, and the GPS has been super accurate. I can see the issue with the Fenix screen though. I much prefer the amoled of the 51inch Epix to the transflective of the Fenix . It was on 30% discount so I snapped it up
Appreciate feedback with some real insight. I'm doing a deep dive now and refreshing my brain about connect and explore. There will be a follow up video(s)
Apple have set a very high bar with their intuitive design language, so I agree that Garmin does take time to get used to by comparison. Look forward to hear how you get on
I have the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and the ONLY reason I keep it is for its superb battery life. Otherwise, a combination of my Apple Watch and iPhone are more than I need for any excursion for days navigating in the backcountry. Great video Kane, I appreciate your honesty and opinion. So many RUclipsrs are pushing product for various reasons but you get straight to the point! 👍
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Recently used Gaia on iPhone for a 4 day backpacking loop. Loved it. Also wore an old hand me down Apple Watch that I already knew had terrible battery life, mainly wore it for the heart rate and (go figure) the clock haha.. I’m almost 40 and have never been a watch guy… Also not into all of the iOS phone redundancy on my wrist (notifications, messaging, etc), so I came back from the trip feeling like I’d decided Garmin was the watch to buy instead of a new Apple. Was thinking the solar charging would be a huge benefit but feel the watch would need to carry some of the navigation load in order to significantly preserve iPhone battery during a trip… I’ve seen some of your recent comments reporting some (relatively) positive feedback about the watch’s functionality for you, but have you been able to utilize the watch enough to yield extended battery life on your iPhone? If I buy a new watch, I would want to use my phone less- not fully replace it the way you talked about in your video, so definitely more of a supplemental tool, but I would absolutely want to gain measurably longer periods between phone charges while in the backcountry…
thanks a lot for this review that conforts me in my opinion that these types of watch are useless. i use my phone and a protrek with 4 sensors and solar charge. The app I use is just great. dont even need a computer. and direction with phone plus compass on watch is just perfect. thanks for all your videos by the way👌
I have the apple watch ultra and the garmin gen 2 Epix , and while I love the battery power, the design, and mapping more for outdoor adventures, then the apple watch, the Apple watch has much better software when it comes to apps. I only use my Epix for backpacking and bicycling. I do agree though, the Garmin software isn't that great. I was running into a problem where the downloads where que'd, and wouldn't download anything. The apps ive downloaded, like bikelightcontrol, are pretty janky, and only work if you have the action screen open. Were on my apple watch stuff always runs in the background. I don't have to have it restart the program everytime I want to change something. For a backpacking novice like me the topo maps are just fine.
strange, I have been using it and without any issues; can it be that you are or have been trying to do something that its not generic or standard?, and then complaining that you cant or had issues with doing it especially when talking that trying top say that want to use the watch for it but then again using everything outside the watch ?
I found the same thing with the Garmin motorcycle GPS. Like you, I've started using Gaia as my main app for exploring and my handheld and motorcycle GPS from Garmin as a backup. The software is ages old, doesn't have any level of intuitiveness, and has interfaces that look twenty years old. I gave up on Garmin.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume someone at garmin developed an in house operating system or the likes and now they are stuck with that ecosystem. I've been in situations where a person developed something, then climbed the corporate ladder to the top. Now nobody can touch their baby...
Agreed and the faces and complications are very basic they didn’t even try like Apple Watch Ultra which has its own issues but still is light years ahead of garmin I rock a AWU gen 1 and and a Garmin 965
I have the old fenix 6. I like the map primarily when I'm out town. Me and the wife went to Montana. I really just need it to get me back to my start point incase phone gets no signal and it didn't in the mountains but the watch was fine. I use a galaxy watch for everyday use . I get pics from home security cameras, can answer calls, type text messages in a pinch and can download my own music on watch. If garmin would combine that with the mapping software and the great battery life which the galaxy watch doesn't have and priced it at 1500 I would by it. As it stands right now until they do I won't by another one.
I have an T-rex pro but have been thinking about one of these. My only question is if I'm dropped into the wood, lets say, will the maps that come with the watch save my life? That's all I want to know.
If youre know what youre doing,youll love this watch. Review from this guy is hilarious. this is the best watch for outdoor,period,i dont even want to waste my time to explain why lol.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors can confirm, ultra 2 or even the standard AW with the app workoudtoors is amazing. Battery is kinda bad tho so for simplicity I switched back to just the phone because I didn't like bringing the AW charger all the time.
For me the Ultra 2 lasted two days of tracking and using the maps but in airplane mode and battery saver on. The standard AW 9 41mm lasted like 12hrs in the same conditions so I would definitely go for the AW Ultra 2 because even in the longest days, it would still last more than a whole day.
Hi there, main advise to people. Always buy what you need, the product is exact and your need is yours so always do your due diligence and get what you need. The watch is okay but not compatible to your specific needs. simples .
I tend to use Ride with GPS RGWS, it is predominantly a cycling mapping system, but so easy to upload and plan walks with OSM outdoor map, I am based in the UK, so can’t comment on North America.
That's 100% my opinion. Obviously the Apple Ultra 2 can't compare with the Garmin lineup in terms of battery life, but it's doing way more things in the background including full mobile phone functionality. Likewise it's hard to compare the Garmin to an Apple product UI. Granted there was a comment about the advantage of Garmin's interface when wearing gloves etc. I hadn't thought about that but it's correct. One of the issues in the winter or wet weather is dealing with a touch screen. Buttons are always reliable.
It looks to me that you never had any navigation device before except your phone. Sorry if that is not the case. I am not trying to offend you. But when you talk about the watch being complicated I am of the opinion you have not used anything else until now. Once more, my apologies. The Fenix models are not cheap but to me, in my own humble opinion, nothing else beats them in navigation capabilities combining portability plus battery life. These 3 factors are deciding for me. Sure, I still use the phone if possible and I even have a small Suunto compass attached to the watch band but in difficult moments the Fenix models are the king right now. Previously, that spot belonged to the Casio Rangeman (I don’t recall the exact model number) but they were also very expensive, although probably simpler to use.
I don't know... I've had a lot of devices over the years including a Garmin Alpha to run my hunting dog. The menu system on that was atrocious and the Fenix reminds me of it, in a similar way as my inreach mini. That's most people's complaint about the inreach mini. Sure you can fumble around in it but not very intuitive. I tend to think it's the other way around, where people haven't used the good phone apps. I can have so many layers on my phone that provide useful information. A great example of that is slope angle shading. If you're out in avalanche terrain everyone I'm with and everyone I see are using their phones with that feature because you are literally making life or death decisions. I've used the Fenix on all my trips over the last few months and yes I'm used to the menu system now and have a pretty quick workflow to get my GPX tracks onto the device. It's a good supplementary tool, but if I smashed it I would replace with a much cheaper and simpler unit at1/3 to 1/2 the cost while retaining 90% of the useful features.
Great video! Yes totally correct! And if the next Apple watch ultra comes out with good mapping, navigation and possibly even a limited but useful satellite SOS beacon, it will kill Garmin.
yea the apps are much better on the apple watch ultra and the software is vastly superior. I do love my Epix though. I wear my apple watch ultra more though.
@@mpdevineyFalse, first of all the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is tough and ready for the elements. Secondly, nowadays we have a bunch of electronics to charge, so people take on a battery bank anyway. And guess what, you and me and everyone else on earth have to sleep at some point - which means that you can charge your watch while you sleep. It’s nice anyway to take off the watch at night and let your skin breathe a little. The watch barely costs battery life on your battery bank, so it’s a win. Apple Watch has a smooth operating system, a 3000 nits brightness screen, and I was saying that if they improve the mapping and navigation you will no longer need Garmin.
@@mpdeviney its definitely rugged enough, Ive been banging it up against metal stuff for the past year as a mechanic and it still scratch free, but the battery life is terrible and the mapping feature sucks when you lose cell service. I live the AWU as my daily watch at work, but for everything else its my epix, and if i HAD to pick one watch it would be the epix.
@michelstronguin6974 Shouldn't need to carry a power bank. If you are backpacking, the less you bring the better. Also, a lot of the Garmin features on their watches don't work with Apple because they lock everything down.
I like your honesty and not joining the band wagon because as amazing as Garmin is, it is still not user friendly for the mass. For the price you pay for the fenix lines, it is quite frustrating to use. I have the 7 pro solar, I mainly use for running and when I do use GPS. I just save my parking location and use it track back. Yes, we are in 2024 and all the added was touch screen and more detail map and it is still laggy and takes second to load and refresh.
been there. Bought Fenix 5 Plus years ago only because i needed a device with navigation that lasted longer then one day. If I didn't had the combo withe the chest strap it would have been completly useless. garmin os looks like it got stuck in the 90s. payed 800 back then. If an apple watch had a bigger battery I would have switched yesterday.
My experience is the opposite. I have an Epix gen 2 with amoled and topographic maps etc. It is fundamental for me both in running and mountaineering. Navigating the Garmin system can be difficult but there are several tutorials on RUclips etc. Afterwards it is always the same in the different models
@@KaneDoesOutdoors of course, no. You have various maps with different resolution.Higher resolution may have some delay but nothing special. You have more than 20hrs with dual frequency
Honestly I think the Fenix series watches are overpriced. The Forerunner series (165 and up) are great for trail running/hiking/etc. for tracking distance and elevation, but as far as navigation goes, I just use my phone. If you're looking for something bomb proof for navigation, I'd definitely use a GPS handheld unit. You could probably get a really good one for under $500 that you can have clipped to your shoulder strap that would last for a long time. See if you can return the watch, and if not, you could probably sell it easily for a slight hit.
I’ve never had an issue with sending routes to my Garmin 🤔. However I COMPLETELY agree with the process being dated. Garmins software is clunky/slow. They really need to fix their software! I love my Garmin and think there’s no better hiking/navigating watch on the market. I have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and I NEVER take it on hikes, camping, backpacking etc. I have the Garmin uploading data to Apple Health so I still have the data all in one place.
It's baffling to me how many damn garmin apps you have to use to do anything with their products. I genuinely have no idea why they do that! Useful video, thanks. Saved me from spending ~$800 US just to scream at my wrist.
From your point of view You should Use apple ultra or phone. you dnt need or you dnt have to use a real full USA Military dress for going to a theater to watch a war movie.
You probably want an Epix but Garmin UI is 🗑️ until you get it. It also seems like Garmin has internal divisions for each product line and they don’t talk.
To the guys who dont know if this watch is worth buying,ask yourself a simple question,what do you really want? Some fancy cool watch with bright colorful screen,with nfc feature,or, J.a.r.v.i.s. from iron man movie on your wrist? if you want the second one go grab this watch.
I've sorted a workflow that is good enough. For some reason the gpx file from Gaia wouldn't import into garmin connect the first few times I tried it on the desktop, but it does now. It might havebe file naming issues (too long etc). Regardless, I would expect garmin to have the best mapping software available and work seamlessly with it's watches. My current workflow is planning routes in Gaia GPS desktop, refreshing on the Gaia mobile app, exporting to the mobile garmin connect app and pushing to the watch. It works...
You're right if all you care about is numbers, the Instinct does all of that just fine. For me I just love the design of the garmin Epix. I wear my apple watch ultra more, as its just a better smart watch. But you're right its not really worth 1k bucks.
Seems to me that just because you think a piece of technology should magically interface with it a different mapping platform, and that piece of tech the size of a silver buffalo (albeit much thicker) doesn’t mean it will work that way. I have used Garmin from Foretrex 401s in the military to several hand-me-down Garmin watches and I found that as long as I had enough sense to set my expectations correctly, I was fairly pleased (That said I am SUPER DISPLEASED that Garmin doesn’t replace the battery on my Fenix 5. Granted is more than a few years old, but kinda what kind of watch doesn’t have a replaceable battery? I’m guessing smart watches. Anyway, I think you have received plenty of comments that were beating the same horse I’m here kicking the crap out of. Just because you think in 2024 a little watch should perform at the same level and speed as your phone which has more room for processor, more powerful graphics processors, more/faster memory, AND more powerful networking chipsets if that’s what it even has. The one commenter who said he was happy with his watch and there are thousand of positive reviews and reviews addressing the limitations - well I don’t know about that, I don’t live my life in RUclips because I always end up chasing rabbits down rabbit holes. My last comment is I think you’re pretty much the pot calling the kettle black. You told the person who like their 7 Pro that they were naive when I think if anyone was naive it was you bud. Your expectations were jacked and your feelings (and wallet) got butthurt bc the watch didn’t do what you expected it to do. As the one pretty smart comment let said, using a watch - at least in 2024 and probably 2025 as a primary navigation tool isn’t the best idea. Maybe when they come out with holographic watches like in that dumb movie Tom Cruise did (can’t recall the name bc it’s not important) then you can have your cake and eat it too. If you want to get off your phone you can always get you a Foretrex 401 or 601, of course there are no maps, but they are tried and true and for what they are designed for you work like a champ. Good luck with your watch.
For maps a use talky toaster maps on my garmin epix and fenix. Much more detailed. For route planning I use ridewithgps. Fantastic combo right there. I can route plan out on the trail using my phone then navigate using the watch. Works really well.
I've never heard of any of this. More details, please. What are talky toaster maps ? So you route plan in real time as you travel on your phone and somehow that uploads to the watch ?
@SomeTechGuy666 just google talky toaster maps, that will take you to the website. You select your device and mapping region. The maps even have gates, styles and major trees on. It's a bit like a vectorised 1:25,000 map. RideWithGps is a phone or web based route planning and tracking app. Great for walking and cycling. If you link your RideWithGps account to your garmin connect account, any routes you plan can be auro uploaded to garmin connect (via pinning). Once in garmin connect it will upload to your watch. This might sound complicated but it really isn't. TT maps have samples you can download to try out on your device. I would say that the maps are too detailed for road cycling but great for off road and hiking. Lots of youtube clips for rwgps and tt maps.
I would say the Garmin watch in large are more catered to military application. In a military aspect it’s very practical and being in the military myself I mainly use the MGRS feature navigation as well as most of the people I work with. I have an Instinct 2x solar and it gives me the bang for my buck at $450 because it takes 3 watches and puts it into one platform. That being said I think the line up at the high end price points are over rated eye candy that are gimmicks for those who can afford them. Any who I wouldnt buy the fenix line up but, I’m happy with the Garmin 2x and I think in most of their products they are made well and to be dam near indestructible. Plus I’m active and I like tracking activity without charging the bastard every day😂.
im just stuck in a boot loop since the last update 10 days ago. im not a beta tester. i got the tactix 7 pro, for 1300 bugs. i planed a trip to japan on the watch and like a noob, i saw an update and thought it would be good to get it. i dont have to explain what happend next. im still looking at the garmin support chat every day for any solution. nothing so far. i know the hardware is the fraction of the price and we pay software and licenses. but if that is not fail save bomb proof quality, i dont know what i really paid for. you are really better of with a cheap and not bad 200 bug watches which do the same and if they have such issues i dont even mind. the decline in quality is mind blowing. i have the feeling that we just feed the marketing budget.
I don't have any problems with gpx files but I'm using android which cooperate with garmin. If u are looking for blame I would give a close look at your iPhone
You are doing some serious trailblazing. I don’t think a watch could ever fulfill all those needs. The iPhone is great, but it will run out of battery when you’re stuck in a canyon. There must be another device in the horizon that can do the Gaia maps thing…a gps iPad mini?
I tent to agree, but my phone does a great job. On airplane mode I get 5 days of battery. I’d like something to supplement my phone for a quick glance at the map. If I could do that I’d probably use my phone at least 50% less.
It really depends on what you're looking for. Some people are absolutely head over heals for these watches. It's mostly a tracker, but that can help with navigation which is my interest in the product. Knowing your speed, distance traveled etc is useful while on route. Based on all the feedback in the comments I decided to keep it, but switched to the sapphire version. I've been using it for the past six months and feel like I have a good handle on it now and have a simple workflow for exporting courses from Gaia.. Most of my criticisms still stand, but I do find that I check my phone map less often. That means I use less battery overall. The battery life is fantastic, but again it depends what you do. You get about 40 hrs on full gps tracking mode, so it needs to be charged at the end of every second full 15 hr day backpacking or hiking, or else it will run out of juice on the third day. If you are hiking/backpacking/running on maintained trails then the map is good enough on the watch. I'm often off-trail and do resort to my phone's maps quite often to change layers/zoom/pan and get a better perspective on the topography. If I smashed it tomorrow I would replace with something like the instinct 2, or one of the less than full featured fenix models.
Probably, seems like something that was coded 20 years ago. Gaia came out with an app for apple watch recently... curious how it well it works. I'm sure the interface is 100X better than garmin. The issue is battery life, but I don't track my routes. Pretty sure it would be good for two days with occasional map checking.
The main purpose of the watch is a health/ fitness tracker, it's a pretty good tool to follow a preset track for it's size. In addition it has some routing capabilities in case you can't or don't want to use your phone or pc to make the route,... If there is something wonky with the track you follow and the rerouting is complex it's often much faster to get the phone or even a tablet out and look for a solution in the explore app ( or komoot or,..) maybe export a few waypoints or a new track and continu on the watch,.. But the watch has buttons that work with gloves or wet, muddy fingers, it's easy to rinse the mud off, it's difficult to drop/ loose the watch when it stays on your wrist, it probably outlasts the phone battery, it offers navigation redundancy over the phone and it increases the chance of having some battery left in case of an emergency,.. A handheld like the 66i is also laggy but it has a bigger screen,.. it doesn't have the health/ fitness features which makes it cheaper.
i was bored of vidéos not showing this kind of using. Thnak you ! i still consider le amazfit ULTRA T REX, but, smartwatches seem to improve about those complains . PS: APple watch has a smal battery, but it charges very fast.......finally i may consider this one.
I understand your frustration as I still use my Fenix 3 for backpacking but I feel like you had a totally different expectation in thinking that you could solely use the watch for navigation. The phone is so much better with software with UI and bigger screens and is the all in one device and there really is no way in getting around that. And with navigating the backcountry, you have to zoom out quite a bit sometimes and a little tiny watch is just not enough screen to do that.
If the touchscreen was more responsive/advanced it would be fine. Zoom and rotate with touch gestures, get rid of the map lag, and you're almost good to go. The screen is actually pretty big. The software universe is awful.
I am in the same dilemma, I would hate an apple watch because it won't even last a day of battery. I would also hate the archaic Garmin because of its archaic software. But at the end of the day, I would rather have an archaic but reliable software on my wrist, rather than a dead watch.
Sadly the reviewer has no understanding of technology and limitation. Satellite maps would take TB of data there is no way currently that a watch with hold that. But the CPU is the limiting factor likely not keeping up with Apple, the AMOLED version of Garmin are much slower due to 2x the resolution. Garmin so far has been able to bridge functionality and battery life but the recent generation got imbalanced
I’ve used the Garmin Fenix watches a many times on night navigations since the first Fenix in the military. This is the worst review I’ve ever seen. Also who uses their iPhone as their sole navigation device.
Every single person I know uses their phone. It’s a pocket computer with gps and navigation software. Why would anyone use a clunky gps device? It doesn’t make sense anymore. Been using the fenix for a few months now, and it’s good a tracking. But when I’m in the field and need to make a real decision the maps on gaia are superior.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Garmins gps (not smart watches) are used often in the military - giving gps grid codes rather than fancy colour smart watch features. Military has a different use case that needs very rugged and simple to use devices. Definitely not using mobile phones which are also hackable devices.
@KaneDoesOutdoors lol "clunky" your watch is "clunky" compared to your phone? That's a hot take. The review is a little weird. I never side with big corps but this a weird review. My garmin solar gets me anywhere from 15-20 days. Full GPS on and I'm out in the woods, running or at the gym. I can't name one phone that could do that for me. Or one smart watch from either apple, Samsung or Google. I feel as if you are looking at the watch as a "smart watch" and not as a standalone GPS system. As far as price. If it's no expensive. Don't buy it.
@vadoiski I get what you’re saying but it’s not a review per se. I’ve been using the 7x for over 6 months now and it still leaves me scratching my head a bit. For tracking it works great, but so does an instinct 2. Is the battery life good? Definitely. Is it a standalone navigation tool? I would say no, but a very good supplement. It means my primary device stays charged longer. Some people appreciate knowing what to expect in advance, and I’m not the only person who is surprised by the laggy maps etc. Apparently this is an issue with Garmin’s full size devices as well, although I can’t speak to that from hands on experience. Clunky is in terms of the interface. My guess is that the watch is running a dated chipset and OS.
@KaneDoesOutdoors understanding display tech should be top of your priority list. The watch you (and i) both have are MIP, it feels "clunky" and "laggy" because these are low refresh, low energy consuming panels. If you want OLED, less clunky, and more refresh rate, just play with the forerunner or the epix at best buy. Full 60hz refresh rate, smoother ui, and faster maps. But you will be plugging it in every other night. This is not a garmin limitation. This is a tech limitation. MIP displays are beloved FOR there energy efficiency. And for battery snobs like me. I'll take a refresh rate of 10hz and a black and white display if it means longer battery life. In addition, i don't know of any runner who do "mapping" whilst running. Including myself. All that data is pull off my watch when I'm interested in timing, pace ext. So it doesn't have to be fast whilst mapping. Just accurate. And garmin in top 2 for accuracy at the moment. I just fine your points to be mute at best. And bad at best. But that's just a opinion.
This is a first impressions video. I decided to keep the watch for more in-depth and long term use, although I switched to the sapphire version which is a much better display. I have sorted out a workflow for importing my maps etc that is pretty simple (based on feedback from comments and friends), but still relies on a third party app (Gaia GPS). I will be following up with field experience & use case from the mountains.
So far my opinion stands that there is room for improvement to the software ecosystem and on-watch map performance (lagging etc). Battery life is impressive. Is this the best GPS watch on the market? It might just be - in terms of what is available.
For a quick comparison, I tried the Suunto Vertical for two days and it was definitely comparable to the Garmin. It had an even more convoluted navigation system because of the limited number of buttons (3 vs 5) and limited customizations. The design of the Suunto also seems to be for people with very small wrists since there is a sharp/pointy part where the strap attaches to the watch that bruised my wrist bone after a few hours. Not something that I wanted to experiment with long term.
That look way more like user error that a Garmin problem lol
You didn't need to do a 20 minute video to tell us you really bad with technology and pc
@legros731, I don’t mean to sound negative, but it seems you might not have experience with a Garmin watch. If you did, you’d likely understand what he’s saying. I own both a Garmin watch and a Garmin GPSMAP, and I can confidently say that their software is among the most frustrating I’ve ever used. In 2024, software should be intuitive, not something so complex that you have to document your workflow just to avoid mistakes. This is especially disappointing from a company that prides itself on being a leader in navigation technology. In comparison, the Apple Watch software is much more intuitive and user-friendly. That's what you would expect from Garmin in 2024. So you're paying 1000 euros/usd/cad for 90s software and battery life.
1. There is a limitation on how much cpu power you can install into the device without burning battery power or introducing other issues. You wanted an iPhone type processes shrunk into a small device. It’s 2024, the technology is not there yet.
2. The cpu and storage space dictates the amount of map resolution.
3. You can import gpx files into desktop Garmin Connect; you don’t have to use Explore.
4. You can double tap to zoom the map. This is the first implementation of a touchscreen, it will take time to evolve the software to work within the constraints of the watch.
The Garmin insufficiency of the software ecosystem has been discussed / critique for years. That’s one area most users are in agreement.
Wait a few years and maybe your ideal watch will become a reality. The watch, in its present incarnation, is more of a supplement to a gps device rather than a standalone device.
Maybe not quite there yet, but the garmin interface is definitely dated.
GPX file versions aren't all compatible - Gaia GPS exports won't import into Connect. It will import garmin GPX files, whatever that means.
You can have a slower watch with good battery life or you can buy a apple watch and charge it every day
Secondly if you have a iPhone get a apple watch lol so you can stay in the same crappy ecosystem
@@KaneDoesOutdoorswow man can you cry more lol
I agree that gps watches should be used as a secondary device combined with a hand held gps. I have the Fenix 7x Pro and the gpsmap67 - they work well together but the watch is only for a glance to make sure I'm on course - any detail comes from OS maps on the hand held. In the UK we can buy mapping by Talky Toaster who produces digital mapping for Garmin devices exclusively including the watches. They aren't quite OS standard but have a lot of detail for a surprisingly inexpensive price.
@@andrewpotter1217well stated and solid points.
Rule number 1, never tell your wife how much it costs.
Wrong!
Rule #1, don't get a wife.
Facts they will never understand
Rule #2, at least get a good price. Helps if you fail rule #1.
😄
@@hansschotterradler3772😅
One thing you need to realize about Garmin is that the user experience does NOT change as you go up their higher priced models. If you buy the MARQ Carbon for $3000, it will behave the EXACT same way as their $250 Forerunner. And if you dare say anything negative on their user forum, be prepared to get bashed by "Top 1%" forum members who make violent love every night to their Garmin watches before going to sleep.
This is one of the most hilarious comments I’ve read in a while. And yes the experience between my 3-4 year old instinct is nearly identical to the 7X in terms of menu navigation etc.
I’m not one to “love” gear. Does it do what I want/need? Good enough?
The question for this watch is if there is a better model on the market - I’m not so sure anymore having done a deep dive into the watch space based on some of my friends experience, comments on this video, and everything else I could find. At this point the garmin line does seem like the best option, but not perfect.
You can export routes directly from GAIA or any other software, it's only a two step process, export the track then import it as an activity in garmin connect Web. It will accept .tcx, .fit or .gpx format files. Then you do whatever you want with it, after I import I usually save it as favorite to have it handy for quick access.
Garmin connect wouldn’t take the files I exported from gaia. I’ve been exporting and importing from gaia, google earth and garmin explore for years.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors odd. I have been importing files since fenix 5, using the method described. I event import files from wikiloc, take a look the raw file maybe there is something wrong there.
Hi sir, can you do video tutorial in your youtube channel?
I agree. I’ve had my fenix 7x for 1.5 years. At this time I basically use it to monitor my movements through the day for hiking, trail running, skiing, etc. For mapping and orienteering I use OnX on my phone. I trust the onx considerably, it has gotten me through situations that would have taken hours longer doing it with a paper map. I’m not confident I could do the same with my Garmin watch.
The goal for me is to have a watch that supplements my phone. The option to quickly glance at the map & make decisions on the fly would reduce how often I need to take my phone out. A nice screen and good map are a must for that, along with a simple UI. I don’t want to have to go through several menu options to get to a map. Seems like Garmin isn’t there yet.
I definitely agree that paper maps are becoming outdated. I haven’t used one in years. I like them, but don’t have time to source on for each trip.
Agreed. Use my phone for primary navigation. Alpinequest is my most common navigation. Sometimes use explore to pick a destination and navigate to that. Rarely use a course for navigation.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors "The goal for me is to have a watch that supplements my phone. The option to quickly glance at the map & make decisions on the fly would reduce how often I need to take my phone out." This is the best setup. Have the route on the phone so you can follow it easily without getting the phone out but have the phone and get it out when you need to make route decisions.
I'm very happy about my Fenix 7X Pro. I think that the gps watch you wanted only exists in your dream. There are thousands of reviews, videos and opinions online about the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro and therefore it is impossible that you are disappointed by things that have always been known to everyone.
It's pretty naive to think that the reviews by the big RUclips reviews aren't marketing that are budgeted by Garmin et al. Anytime a video is put up at the release date, the person was provided a unit at no cost in advance to produce said video, and may or may not have been financially compensated. I receive several proposals for this kind of video every week, even though my channel is very small. Imagine a channel with 100K+ subscribers? I'm not criticizing those channels, since it's their job at that scale. But as the consumer you should be wise enough to know they won't have any major criticisms since it's bad for their business (eg affiliate sales, future brand collaborations etc). They will always find a few minor criticisms for the product to keep it "honest" but will stay away from anything major. Do you think a brand will send products to a person if they think it might turn out to be a negative review? Yes, there are smaller channels and some big channels that purchase products out of their own pockets, but they will stay away from the negative just because of the impact on channel perception.
Look at this video, which was in itself an experiment. I intentionally focussed on the negative to see what the feedback would be like, since I hadn't seen anyone go into those details. A lot of people had the same impressions. The feedback from Garmin fans was terrible. People get mad if you don't like their favourite toy. It's just a watch.
Agree with you Maxel7723.
@@KaneDoesOutdoorsdue this sort of comment just comes across as salty.
Thanks for the review. I considered the Felix 7x Pro for hiking/backpacking/walking/camping. Currently, I am an iPhone & Apple Watch Ultra user. I'm not unhappy; I'm just exploring options. My workflow centers around the WorkOutDoors app. LOVE THIS IT!! The AppleWatch mapping and customization is insane) I use Footpath and Gaia for route planning. (love/hate with the Gaia interface) I have some experience with Garmin Explorer with my InReach mini. The #1 feature I like about the Garmin watches is the battery. However, I think the quality of the iPhone and AppleWatch apps/ecosystem with battery limitations is superior.
I’m sure everyone would love to know what watch you use that actually meet your superior needs
I’ve had my Garmin Fēnix 7X Pro Solar for over a year now and love it. I use .gpx files all the time the time for my ultra races. It works well with Strava saved routes too.
Adding my North American topo map took a couple minutes. Not sure why it took your watch 4 hours.
I don’t use GAIA
Maybe your watch is a lemon.
I don’t know… I really dislike the interface in general. Nearly identical to my instinct. Seems pretty much 50/50 people love it or are perplexed.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors kind of like Apple Watch. I had one, loved it until I got into trail running. I can’t stand Apple, largely because of the battery and mapping backcountry & ultra races. I’ll never go back despite Garmin’s lack of compatibility with Apple devices.
This is true. From an outsider looking in, Garmin hasn’t kept up with modern graphical user interface and application development in general. This cost them to lose the vehicle routing GPS market they had a leg up in the 00’s. Tom-Tom was their closest competitor, but Apple and Google were “stealthily” planning to takeover that market with use of the smartphone platform.
Hardware can be included into this as well as they led the consumer watch and handheld markets too.
Google and Apple could takeover the mountaineering, marine, submarine, and skiing gps markets too, if they thought it might be worth the investment.
I had a hard time deciding between buying a Garmin Instinct or Fenix for navigation. This video made me realize that the only thing you can use from these watches is to save track of the route. Thanks a lot for your honest approach to the subject, because you really only hear great things about Garmin and almost no substantive criticism.
Thank you for the review. It is helpful. I had a similar experience with the Garmin software. I found it completely unintuitive and confusing, and so I haven’t dug into it more than enough to make it do the few limited things I needed. I’m glad it’s not just me.
It's definitely not just you!
Sounds like user error to me. I have a forerunner 965 so maybe it's different but I have never used, nor have I ever had a reason to use Garmin explore. I create a route in Gaia then download it as a .gpx file. Upload it to Garmin connect as a course and then send it to my device. It takes a few minuets max.
That’s not user “error”. Talked to a friend who uses the workflow you just described and I tried it. It works. It all speaks to the software ecosystem issues that have a bunch of different ways to achieve the same thing, some of which are pretty convoluted. Why don’t they have software that’s as good as gaia?? Garmin is a map & gps company, right?🤣
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Gaia is great but not the only one, look at at locusmap
Yeah, I agree. In fact I'd never heard of Explore. Everything can usually be done with just Connect.
I use garmin In my bike computer, the process is simple…. Download the GPX file, uploaded to garmin connect and I send it to my bike computer. Maybe is different in a watch, but I have never use garmin explore
Was not understanding your review until you showed video clips of you hiking in that breathtaking location you were in, and described the navigating you do in the field, then it finally clicked. Btw, where were those locations? I was blown away by the landscape and terrain. Reminds me of the hiking and backpacking I did in the Andes. Simply breathtaking.
As for your fenix 7x pro navigation dilemma, yeah, there’s NO watch in the world that will do what you want in terms of the navigating you’re doing, which like you said before, you were looking for something to replace your phone. Not a chance, unless you look into garmin’s actual full sized handheld navigation devices, in which at that point is sort of pointless bc many of them are larger than phones, but I believe Garmin makes a few mini handheld gps devices that are smaller than a phone, so you could look into that. But I agree when you said it’s more about your unrealistic expectations. Wanting a watch w/ gps capabilities to replace a full sized handheld gps device is an outright IMPOSSIBILITY. There simply isn’t enough space to cram all the hardware of a high end full sized handheld gps device, in the small enclosure of a watch, there’s just no way. The Fenix 7 pro series is an ultra fitness tracker and multi-sport watch, WITH GPS capabilities, if that makes sense. It’s a sport and fitness watch first, and a gps watch second, where it’s gps capabilities can be used to track routes and as a back-up in terms of emergencies. So for triathletes, ultramarathoners, or hybrid athletes (who travel for many miles on foot or bike), this is heaven bc they can track their mileage routes and performance. Plus, most serious athletes are biometric and data nerds, and love to track their performance data, which the Fenix 7 pro is the KING at doing, in addition to it’s gps tracking capabilities, which is actually quite accurate at doing. That’s why it has so many 5-star reviews, bc in the application of a fitness tracker and it’s decent gps capabilities to track an athletes routes during workouts and races, this is perfect. But for trailblazing in the backcountry, where you need much more reliable geographic information and data, and more reliable legibility in the form of a bigger screen, a watch is simply not it. However, I believe that the Fenix 7 pro series watches (to an extent) can provide a decent amount of reliable gps data, the critical question is how one will use that data. For a workout that you want to track, or if you’re through hiking somewhere, I believe it can do that successfully. But when you’re trailblazing in the backcountry, and you need geographic data and information that could mean the difference between life and death, there’s no way in hell I would rely on a watch, not even if it was $10K. It’s just too risky, and besides the convenience factor of replacing a phone with a watch, why would you want to view geographic data and maps on such a small screen? For maps and geographic data, you want all that info on a decent size screen, but obviously not too big if you’re in the backcountry. But for a watch, I believe it’s just too much to ask. You need to be using a full sized handheld gps device for that application, there’s just no way around it.
One last point, as a testament to the Fenix 7 pro gps utilities. I have the Fenix 7 pro SS, I’ve had it for about 2 months now, and I love it. Yes I track everything because I do hybrid training (endurance training, track workouts, trailing running and strength training), so it’s a pleasure to track all my performance data and look at my numbers change through time, and have the ability to see where I can improve. In that regard, there’s nothing better than the Fenix 7 pro.
However, in regards to its gps navigation maps, I used it for the first time 2 days ago… I believe it saved my life.
I was on a trail run at a reservation park I’ve been going to for many years and know pretty well…until I was proven that I don’t know it pretty well. I was running on a trail I’ve done before several times, but not often, and forgot there were 2 forks rather than 1. So I confidently passed through the first fork, and didn’t realize I went the wrong way at the second fork. Had I chosen the right direction, I would’ve been back to familiar ground in about 2 miles. But instead, I went left without noticing it was a fork, and added 4 miles to my run, with significant elevation changes, at 7pm, with a severe thunderstorm incoming, and about 5 miles from the trailhead. That was the first time I panicked, bc I left my phone in the car, which I always do when I go on my trail runs. Luckily I was tracking the entire route with my Fenix 7 pro. When I started noticing unfamiliar ground, and that the trail I was on hadn’t connected to familiar ground, I switched over to the compass watch face to get an idea of where I was in relation to a large lake that the main trail passes through, where it finally leads to the trailhead. It was helpful by orienting me in terms of the location of the lake, but the trail I was on made another abrupt turn and was leading me northwest, when the lake was east. So I switched over to maps and I knew exactly where I was in relation to the lake, and all I could do was run as efficiently and as safe as I could and check the map every minute to verify my progress and direction, all while under the tree line, with the storm now approaching, rain starting, and daylight darkening. The map key indicated I was about 2 miles from the lake and showed that I was traveling in the direction of the lake, so I booked as safely as I could. As it got darker, it started down-pouring, and I couldn’t distinguish the color of the trail-markers on the trees anymore, so I turned on the flashlight and ran with it on, verifying the color of every trail-marker along the way because I was not about to get lost again on my way back, in the middle of a storm, at night, and in an area with Black bears. Eventually, I hit familiar ground in about 45 minutes of running through a thunderstorm, as there was a bit of light still. Had I not had my watch on me, I believe I would’ve been fully convinced that I was completely lost. But having my Fenix 7 pro on me, with its flashlight (which is a basic survival tool that we often take for granted), was a relief I can’t fully explain thinking back about the situation now. I’ve read a lot of reviews before I bought the watch, and many have said that the one thing they absolutely fell in love with is the flashlight. Something you wouldn’t expect, I know, but many have admitted they never realized how useful it would be until they actually needed it. I heard many saying they use it in the middle of the night when going to the kitchen for some water or whatnot, and they don’t want to turn all the kitchen lights on, and in many other low-light situations around the house that when you really think about it, can be quite often.
With the Fenix 7 pro’s heart rate monitor, which is quite accurate (about 98% according to 3rd party testing), and I personally use for every workout to verify what heart rate zones I’m in (which is very important to determine how hard you’re endurance training, bc under an endurance training program, there are days you wanna train aerobic, and days you wanna train anaerobic, and not knowing can really derail your goals), I’ve read via a subreddit that a woman’s garmin fenix watch predicted her pregnancy when the Fenix’s heart rate monitor started to show a pattern of irregularities in her resting heart rate. She goes to the doctor, and they confirm her pregnancy. So do with that information what you will.
But for me, since I am very physically active and I was looking for something that could help me track my performance data/progress, there really wasn’t anything better than the Fenix 7 pro.
For you, I think it’s a matter of accepting what’s possible in technology at the moment, which for you would be a handheld gps device.
Good luck, and stay safe on your travels.
@@johnsimoney2035 All my trips are in the Canadian Rockies around Banff, Lake Louise, and surroundings.
I’ve been using the watch for several months now. I’ve found a balance that means I check my “big” maps on the phone less often, so overall means I save on battery consumption. If I smashed the fenix tomorrow I’d wouldn’t replace it though, probably go with something like an instinct 2, 80-90% of the capabilities at less than half the price.
I would like to know which sports watch does it better all around? I am not attached to any brand but Garmin imo has by far the best package for outdoor enthusiasts / athletes. That might change with their now focus on idiotic amoled displays but the Fenix 7 peo I could not find a watch on par be that Suunto,Coros,Apple,Samsung,Polar.. They all make good watches nowadays. Its more about personal preference
Agreed, easiest to have a shoulder mounted pocket easily accessible for the phone.
If only it wouldn't drain around 2000-3000 mAh for 8 hours of hiking with active navigation even in emergency power saving mode.
I appreciate your honest perspective. Looks like watch is mainly useful for quickly determining if you are on a predetermined track or trail, and at trail junctions. Not so much for navigating off trail. It’s also useful for tracking all day activities and getting the stats. My friend can track all day every day for over a week and never have to charge it. But I agree with you that’s a lot of money.
I agree with a lot of these points, BUT at the same time, I absolutely love Garmin watches for a different reasons.
I learned how to use the mapping to my benefit. I love the battery life. I love the tracking and health features.
I understand that for others there are the smartwatches with one day battery life and that’s OK.
The more I use it the more I understand what you're saying. A little work by garmin on the UI wouldn't hurt.
Use garmin baseCamp for your map and if you use a iphone you only have about 80% of the feature of the watch
That’s what I use. Once in a while, I might use a computer but the app makes it way easier. I love this watch and find it very useful.
I use CalTopo, Gaia, Footpath, never had an issue importing into Garmin.
BTW why didn't you figure this out for the instinct on your wrist? Same software used to import routes as the Fenix 7 series.
I hadn’t imported a route into the instinct since i got it a few years ago. No point imo since there’s no map. Battery life is so short that I just use it to track runs in the city.
I would have expected that by now Garmin would have put some work into their apps. Yes there are workflows to move from one software to another. Yes after some digging it’s pretty easy to export from gaia to the connect app then to the watch via your phone. Crazy that after buying a $1000+ dollar watch from a mapping & navigation company you need to use a 3rd party mapping & navigation software, whether you prefer desktop or mobile.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors The instinct actually can show a spatial relationship of you in real-time on a trail and pre-defined waypoints. This alone provides ETA to a waypoint based upon terrain, elevation profiles and your associated rate of speed all computed instantly on the watch.
In your "rant" (your words) the example you outline, demonstrates to me a lack of understanding. You have a general idea but implementation is where you have issues.
Which leads me to sharing, both instinct and fenix can also navigate by bearing or reference pt. Both methods are similar except reference pt adds a straight distance component. In this form you have essentially a compass that maintains your reference regardless of how much deviation occurs say following a trail and having go around an impassable object.
Short battery life on instinct? You need to learn the power management features.
At this point, your arguments reinforce my point - "your understanding of how to
utilize the tool is the issue".
My backpacking / hiking experience extends before GNSS technology which was a paper map, compass & knowledge. I find the watch or smartphone apps to be a time saving complement that I know use primarily, but I always have a compass and a paper map for backup. Either using an instinct, fenix, or just a map/compass I can pinpoint my location. The fenix delivers ok tooo maps but you can pre download birdseye satellite imagery to the fenix. Watch navigation is a complement. App navigation provides greater view and resolution; so a better map. A paper map & compass requires practice & knowledge, but can deliver the best detail (depending on the map you brought). Combining the above tools in any fashion provides redundancy and convenience. Though I recommend always having a paper map and compass; no batteries and the only failure component is with the human & their level preparedness to implement.
Not saying this to be argumentative.
I think you’re missing the point. I hunted with dogs using a garmin alpha for over ten years, have used all the features you’re talking about using various devices, backpacked and tramped around the woods and mountain for over 20 years without a gps. The rant is when from picking up a piece of tech that everyone raves about and find the interface (and likely internals) dated.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Vice versa, so we can agree that we disagree.
Take care
👍
When you are using your phone for nav, how do you deal with battery life? Do you have a preferred battery bank to top up on the trail?
1st you need to put it in airplane mode because if it’s constantly searching for a network it drains the battery. 2nd I try and be very conscious about how much I use it. I try to stick to 20% per day starting from a full charge. I also carry a nitecore carbo 10000 mAh power bank for my phone and camera if I’m out for more than 2 days. It weighs 150g / 5.5 oz.
Thanks for the reply. Yeah I always do airplane mode and even Bluetooth off yet phone dies so quickly. Been trying to keep it warm as well. I like to track the whole time plus take pics so sounds like I better just invest in a bigger bank! Heavy but probably worth the weight if I don’t want to be annoyed with a dead phone all the time. Great video btw, I feel like I would have had the same first impressions and you have spared me some grief. I do think I’ll look at the Epix though since I’m reading that it might have a better screen.
@@maiwyck If you’re tracking that will definitely eat up the battery on your phone and is where a watch can complement the system. I’ve started to track more often and the Fenix works well for that, but I go back to my phone when I want to have a good look at the map. So does a gps watch replace other navigation tools? No, but I’m finding it’s a good add on and definitely helps extend your battery life overall on other devices. If I smashed the fenix 7 today I’d replace it with a instinct 2 or something comparable though. It would give me 70-80% of the features at less than half the cost.
Thank you for confirming that digital map devices still suck. I have owned three different hand held gps devices and found them all hard to use, expensive and unreliable. In the end hand held maps is what I still rely on with a bit on phone gps to cheat. Can’t wait to see how you feel after using this for a while, I have been considering this as my next smart watch as well.
It’s back in the box to ship. I really don’t like returning items, but if something isn’t good the first day they rarely improve. Heard good things about Coros watches…
Thanks for the review. I was thinking of buying one of these types of watches but could not get past the fact of how small the screen is, and on most of my trips I'm taking my phone with me for photography purposes. I'm guessing most people are the same unless they are complete weight weenies and forgo the phone.
Hi Kane, Garmin is clunky to use, always has been. I use Garmins professionally. Most of the foundational software was developed in the 90's and early 2000's and they've built on top of that since. Garmin connect was an attempt for Garmin to get with the times and add a social aspect to their units. It failed miserably and Garmin went to a unit-to-explore interface about 2021 or so. I don't have experience with the watch, but their units can be firmware updated to a newer operating system that cuts connect out of the workflow. Courses sounds like route, but I'm not totally sure. I'd suggest contacting Garmin with the issues, I've found over the years that they are very responsive to user issues. Perhaps try that to get some progress on the issues.
I'd also add that the software looks like it might be the same version minus some features that were on the later Etrex series. I would suggest that you get much more if you step up to a 66i or the newer 67i and just accept the weight penalty. It's a professional unit for you.
An iPhone is hard to beat. I'm carrying it regardless..
From what I reckon, with such watches, you have to balance GPS navigation ability, quality of the screen (and responsiveness), and battery life. To me, the main problem with using the phone isn't even the need to unblock it and take it out of the pocket every time. It's how quickly the battery is drained. In rugged terrain with limited visibility, I sometimes need to navigate every 10-20 meters. This drains up to 70% of my 5000 mAh phone battery in 10 hours of hiking, even if I put it in emergency power-saving mode.
An alternative option could be smart watches like Apple Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Pro 5 as they have built-in GPS. But I'm not sure what's the GPS quality there or the battery life when using navigation actively. I am personally most probably going to try Galaxy Pro 5. Even if it will only hold 10-12 hours with active navigation, this still has 5 times less mAh to charge compared to my phone.
I switched from Apple Watch to Fenix 7X pro and day one found the UI/UX outdated, unintuitive, and crashed twice with 24 hrs. I don’t get the hype.
I use a waterproof paper topographical map, UTM coordinates for navigation, and a US Military Tririum Lensatic Compass. For the GPS, I usual a minimal Garmin device that just gives me the coordinates for zeroing my position on the map.
I feel you. I didn’t download all the optional maps when I got my epix. Agreed their SW and versions are convoluted. If you get Garmin express for your computer it’s apparently easier to xfer maps then via Bluetooth or the phones WiFi which takes hours. I didn’t choose the optional golf maps and didn’t bother about the topo unless you really need it. I think they have better interface options for strava but I use All Trails and it’s a bit easier you don’t even need a PC. Garmin has a long way to go to improve their outdated SW- it took years before they released any update for Garmin connect -just weeks ago. However hopefully once you get the hang of it, you will appreciate the nuances and enjoy the GPS experience. I think though the Epix Pro for Amoled display is a better choice if you’re already spending so much. All the best
Is your phone durable enough? Battery life? Those are the reasons I'll never rely solely on a phone.
I own the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar, fantastic watch. However, it has a steep learning curve and the solar charging stopped working last weekend. The watch is only 4 years old! 😢
Just pulled the trigger on the Suunto Vertical Titanium Solar. Seems to be easier to use and better GPS accuracy and connectivity.
I only use the watch for navigation, don't care about heart rate etc. I want to go from A to B, that's it, and that's where the Suunto delivers.
I feel your pain and agree with you this device not for navigation in environment like yours. I own fenix 6x and I found it useful to load track and just keep checking Im on the right trail or not, if I lost I have to check maps on my phone. It will also show clims profile, where you are in the climb, vertical speed, expected arrival time etc. So its useful for checking you progress on the trail. I also use the garmin watch for running, MTB, play music directly from watch, track sleep, steps and other data, pay with watch, also usefull to quickly check phone notifications, also checking in with inreach mini. so for me its multifunctional device, and in this form Its really useful. And yes, I got it on sales 60% off from retail price :) I would not pay full price for it.
The watch works excellent for what is made. You are expecting to have a processor power of a smartphone, map detailing and responsibility of a smartphone, obvious preference for Gaia, and expect all of that to be crammed in a watch, keep the 2-week battery life, etc. Get real. I use it for cycling and giking and it performs excellent. I create a route in RWGPS, "pin" it and it just syncs to my watch and works. Usable satellite images on a wach? Pinch-zoom on a watch??
All in all, crap clickbait video for the iPhone groupies.
Yup I would expect all the above. The tech is completely there, but apparently focus is on features that appeal to the masses. The Garmin menu system is outdated. I just disagree with you, no harm done.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors The point here, in my opinion, is that Fenix is not comparable to something like Apple watch or similar (or maybe a smartphone). Apple watch is a gadget, Fenix is a tool. If you buy a hammer, you can ask for it to have a nice ergo-handle, have chrome plating, engravings, etc, but at the end, it's function it to get that nail into the wood. That's it. I agree that the website and clunky side apps are a PITA and outdated, but the watch itself is more than good for what it really is, and what it should be.
@@ivanperak285 I agree with all that - my point is that if you stripped down the fitness tracking, music playing and other extras the tech is there for a very responsive mapping tool with a long battery life that I could wear on my arm. The comparison to apple watch was from an innovation standpoint, but they focus on things that I don’t need in the backcountry. I don’t own one.
If you want a map/gps get a garmin GPS device something like there in-reach device with maps. The people that love this watch are endurance athletes and for most of those athletes it does everything they need. I use this watch for running,and I use a garmin in reach device for mountaineering and back country navigation
On MtB , i am still using a Garmin Oregon 700 (my 2nd one since 2007). Bulky, works on AA NiMh cells , i always have spares with me just in case (i needed last week-end BTW). But the Oregon is also quite sluggish and slow to move the map around and make any calculation. GARMIN need to use the 2nd most recent TSMC nodes for their ships ! we do not need fancy functions, just excellent maps management and track + sensors recordings of the outdoor activity.
As for a watch, i use some G-Shocks with solar , automatic time update by radio wave and about 30 years battery life .... (just need to keep the watches out of the dark). One of those watch is a MudMaster that has included an altimeter and a compass with Zafire glass too ! Bulky, but it is my EDC watch by the way. I keep all my other mechanical watches , including a swiss one in the drawer.
I am on the fence for those Garmin "smart watches" for some years but still not convinced to pay top € for one of those, even if they make good progress from generation to generation. If those Garmin watches were in the 200-300€ range, i would grab one despite its limitations. But certainly not for that asking price ! Also they need to make the battery easy to swap by user !
I absolutely love this watch. I have used it in the field and it has become very useful. I also use the fortrex 801 and the gpsmap 65. Each of my land navigation tools are used for different things. For me this is not my go to for navigation. For me it’s more of a back up tool. I have also use on x back country app. It honestly depends on my situation. I have owned just about every garmin smart watch. I will agree that this watch is very overpriced. It sounds like the type of navigation that you are doing, this watch is really not for you. Aslo if you’re not using this watch for the other capabilities, it’s just not worth it. I always pointed people to the instinct. Just cuz it’s basic and can still get the job done. But I have always been a garmin geek if you wanna call it that. lol. So this watch was an add on to my collection. I actually wear this watch more than my other. Especially because the price lol. But great to see what people think about this product. 👍🏾
Nothing better, but Honest 100%, Really Honest Opinion, No Matter what! Thank you, Kane!
p.s. Thank God, that Ordinary People shoot videos and share their opinion about tech products and not only tech RUclipsrs and influencers!
It's been over 20 years since I last had a Garmin product and it sounds like nothing has changed. I fell for the hype then, thanks for this video so I don't have to fall for it again!
Yup, social media hype.
20 years ago? That would have been the Forerunner 301!? Doesn't seem accurate that nothing has happened...
@@JakobThusgaardopen your eyes the software is so out dated it’s not even funny
@@davidbraswell1481 It IS 20 years ago that Forerunner 301 was marketed. The software as it stands today is well beyond that of 20 years ago...
I use Apple Watch for a long time and I love it. However when I do the hiking I do want to try Garmin due to the amazing battery performance and the various health analysis. But the Garmin software really intimidates me. I ordered one Instict but return it after 2 days.
Now I use Apple Watch Ultra with Wikiloc, paid 10€ for annual fee then I get the off line map on my ultra (But I still really wanna try Garmin 😢)
Late to the party, but I guess you only need a small part of what that watch can do. And you are perfectly right, the watch is underpowered for this part. But that is the tradeoff for better battery. There are other, cheaper Garmins that include maps. I got myself an Epix Pro. Shorter battery life but way better display.
I 've seen that you can place additional maps on the watch that are not from Garmin. But I don't know how they fit in the navigation part. But even Garmin has a more detailed map that you can buy on top, if you want to...
I honestly think the GPS watch tech you so desire still needs another 5 years or so of RND to come to fruition.
expecting apple watch performance from a device that lats a month on a battery charge is not entirely fair imho. the new ultra2 watches are fantastic in display, speed, media etc. but you need to charge them every day, even in light use every 2 days. i think both have their target audience that they reach well. i'm no hiker or sporter, so would lean more towards apple, but never really got into the ecosystem, so it would be no use for me as an android user.
I get what you're saying - The apple watches are designed for day to day use. Where they excel is the UI and continuous improvements with each generation. Is it the perfect adventure watch? I doubt it. Is the Garmin the perfect watch? No way. Is it the best on the market right now? Kinda seems like it. I'm still surprised about how much the maps lag.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors using the maps to do pathfinding on the go is not really the intended use, unless you are really in a pinch, imho. More for tracking and maybe tracing a set route. If you are continually manipulating the watch scrolling and zooming it does get cumbersome real quick indeed. If you don't have juice left in the phone, I'd opt to use the compass and a paper map, and GPS just to see my location
@dr_melski I’ll see how it goes this summer. Unfortunately I can’t get out on any ski tours in the next few weeks due to family obligations. If I can reduce checking the map on my phone by 50% or more that would already be helpful. I typically get 5 days out of my phone, so being able to stretch that out or have more power in reserve towards the end of a trip would be nice.
I haven’t seen anyone using paper maps in years… but that’s a different story altogether.
It totally agree that Garmin's interactivity with other software is terrible and Garmin's software is terrible. You nailed it.
Thank god you made this video just in time. I placed an order for the Fenix 7 Pro yesterday because there was a small online promotion for the watch. I was so happy that the seller had already packed the watch today and it is ready to be shipped. I have already done a ton of research about the watch for the past few months and everything I found online was either super positive or highly recommended. However, after researching more about the watch today, I started to feel uneasy about the purchase, it started from the size of the watch not being suitable for my small wrist to the GPS doesn't seem like how I thought it would work. The main reason I wanted to buy the watch is the GPS and Maps, kinda like to replace having to use my phone when navigating in the city and for other outdoor activities.
My heart sank when I saw your video. You've basically confirmed that this watch is of no use to me. I thought I had wasted thousands of dollars placing an order for the watch but thankfully the seller is willing to cancel the order because they haven't shipped the watch out yet (Happy Sunday!).
It's more of an emergency/survival/back-up/last resort GPS b/c it has a very long lasting battery that is solar powered and low energy MIP display. Give it 5 more years of RnD and the tech should be there.
Epix Pro has been a dream to navigate when you're using in real outdoor situations. tbh I also found Connect Explore to be simple to use. It is a bit old school, but it is logical. You just share GPX files with it and you're good to go. So many people have mapped routes already that GPX are easy to find these days.
FYI it seems in the video that the watch has the shaded relief switched on, which will slow down the maps? Recommend switching it off for really responsive refresh. Shading doesn't really add much to the navigation.
Also, it's great to limit the touchscreen when you're actually out hiking, so I appreciate the buttons for zoom in and out, and the GPS has been super accurate. I can see the issue with the Fenix screen though. I much prefer the amoled of the 51inch Epix to the transflective of the Fenix . It was on 30% discount so I snapped it up
Appreciate feedback with some real insight. I'm doing a deep dive now and refreshing my brain about connect and explore. There will be a follow up video(s)
Apple have set a very high bar with their intuitive design language, so I agree that Garmin does take time to get used to by comparison. Look forward to hear how you get on
I have the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro and the ONLY reason I keep it is for its superb battery life. Otherwise, a combination of my Apple Watch and iPhone are more than I need for any excursion for days navigating in the backcountry. Great video Kane, I appreciate your honesty and opinion. So many RUclipsrs are pushing product for various reasons but you get straight to the point! 👍
I"m really curious how well Gaia GPS works on the Apple watch. Seems like a good solution.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Recently used Gaia on iPhone for a 4 day backpacking loop. Loved it. Also wore an old hand me down Apple Watch that I already knew had terrible battery life, mainly wore it for the heart rate and (go figure) the clock haha.. I’m almost 40 and have never been a watch guy… Also not into all of the iOS phone redundancy on my wrist (notifications, messaging, etc), so I came back from the trip feeling like I’d decided Garmin was the watch to buy instead of a new Apple. Was thinking the solar charging would be a huge benefit but feel the watch would need to carry some of the navigation load in order to significantly preserve iPhone battery during a trip… I’ve seen some of your recent comments reporting some (relatively) positive feedback about the watch’s functionality for you, but have you been able to utilize the watch enough to yield extended battery life on your iPhone? If I buy a new watch, I would want to use my phone less- not fully replace it the way you talked about in your video, so definitely more of a supplemental tool, but I would absolutely want to gain measurably longer periods between phone charges while in the backcountry…
Couldn't agree more with their 2010 feature set, display & software.
thanks a lot for this review that conforts me in my opinion that these types of watch are useless. i use my phone and a protrek with 4 sensors and solar charge. The app I use is just great. dont even need a computer. and direction with phone plus compass on watch is just perfect. thanks for all your videos by the way👌
I sold my watch ultra for a fenix 7 and I love it
Do you think they will release the Fenix 8 soon?
Apparently this fall.
I have the apple watch ultra and the garmin gen 2 Epix , and while I love the battery power, the design, and mapping more for outdoor adventures, then the apple watch, the Apple watch has much better software when it comes to apps. I only use my Epix for backpacking and bicycling. I do agree though, the Garmin software isn't that great. I was running into a problem where the downloads where que'd, and wouldn't download anything. The apps ive downloaded, like bikelightcontrol, are pretty janky, and only work if you have the action screen open. Were on my apple watch stuff always runs in the background. I don't have to have it restart the program everytime I want to change something. For a backpacking novice like me the topo maps are just fine.
Interesting perspective!
strange, I have been using it and without any issues; can it be that you are or have been trying to do something that its not generic or standard?, and then complaining that you cant or had issues with doing it especially when talking that trying top say that want to use the watch for it but then again using everything outside the watch ?
I found the same thing with the Garmin motorcycle GPS. Like you, I've started using Gaia as my main app for exploring and my handheld and motorcycle GPS from Garmin as a backup. The software is ages old, doesn't have any level of intuitiveness, and has interfaces that look twenty years old. I gave up on Garmin.
I'm going to go out on a limb and assume someone at garmin developed an in house operating system or the likes and now they are stuck with that ecosystem. I've been in situations where a person developed something, then climbed the corporate ladder to the top. Now nobody can touch their baby...
Agreed and the faces and complications are very basic they didn’t even try like Apple Watch Ultra which has its own issues but still is light years ahead of garmin I rock a AWU gen 1 and and a Garmin 965
I have the old fenix 6. I like the map primarily when I'm out town. Me and the wife went to Montana. I really just need it to get me back to my start point incase phone gets no signal and it didn't in the mountains but the watch was fine. I use a galaxy watch for everyday use . I get pics from home security cameras, can answer calls, type text messages in a pinch and can download my own music on watch. If garmin would combine that with the mapping software and the great battery life which the galaxy watch doesn't have and priced it at 1500 I would by it. As it stands right now until they do I won't by another one.
I have an T-rex pro but have been thinking about one of these. My only question is if I'm dropped into the wood, lets say, will the maps that come with the watch save my life? That's all I want to know.
If youre know what youre doing,youll love this watch. Review from this guy is hilarious.
this is the best watch for outdoor,period,i dont even want to waste my time to explain why lol.
Yes this watch can certainly get you out of trouble and to a safer place. However you should also have a little survival experience under your belt.
Workoutdoors + apple watch ultra = way to go if battery is not your main concern.
I’m thinking the ultra 2 is the way to go…
@@KaneDoesOutdoors can confirm, ultra 2 or even the standard AW with the app workoudtoors is amazing. Battery is kinda bad tho so for simplicity I switched back to just the phone because I didn't like bringing the AW charger all the time.
For me the Ultra 2 lasted two days of tracking and using the maps but in airplane mode and battery saver on. The standard AW 9 41mm lasted like 12hrs in the same conditions so I would definitely go for the AW Ultra 2 because even in the longest days, it would still last more than a whole day.
Lack of turn by turn on WOD was a dealbreaker for me with the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I find this feature very handy on my Epix.
Hi there, main advise to people. Always buy what you need, the product is exact and your need is yours so always do your due diligence and get what you need. The watch is okay but not compatible to your specific needs. simples .
I tend to use Ride with GPS RGWS, it is predominantly a cycling mapping system, but so easy to upload and plan walks with OSM outdoor map, I am based in the UK, so can’t comment on North America.
They really should focus on usability and user experience. Be great to have a apple like experience with the functionality of a Garmin
That's 100% my opinion. Obviously the Apple Ultra 2 can't compare with the Garmin lineup in terms of battery life, but it's doing way more things in the background including full mobile phone functionality. Likewise it's hard to compare the Garmin to an Apple product UI. Granted there was a comment about the advantage of Garmin's interface when wearing gloves etc. I hadn't thought about that but it's correct. One of the issues in the winter or wet weather is dealing with a touch screen. Buttons are always reliable.
It looks to me that you never had any navigation device before except your phone. Sorry if that is not the case. I am not trying to offend you. But when you talk about the watch being complicated I am of the opinion you have not used anything else until now. Once more, my apologies.
The Fenix models are not cheap but to me, in my own humble opinion, nothing else beats them in navigation capabilities combining portability plus battery life. These 3 factors are deciding for me.
Sure, I still use the phone if possible and I even have a small Suunto compass attached to the watch band but in difficult moments the Fenix models are the king right now. Previously, that spot belonged to the Casio Rangeman (I don’t recall the exact model number) but they were also very expensive, although probably simpler to use.
I don't know... I've had a lot of devices over the years including a Garmin Alpha to run my hunting dog. The menu system on that was atrocious and the Fenix reminds me of it, in a similar way as my inreach mini. That's most people's complaint about the inreach mini. Sure you can fumble around in it but not very intuitive.
I tend to think it's the other way around, where people haven't used the good phone apps. I can have so many layers on my phone that provide useful information. A great example of that is slope angle shading. If you're out in avalanche terrain everyone I'm with and everyone I see are using their phones with that feature because you are literally making life or death decisions.
I've used the Fenix on all my trips over the last few months and yes I'm used to the menu system now and have a pretty quick workflow to get my GPX tracks onto the device. It's a good supplementary tool, but if I smashed it I would replace with a much cheaper and simpler unit at1/3 to 1/2 the cost while retaining 90% of the useful features.
Thanks so much for doing this. I've been considering getting a smart watch for navigation and you seem to have talked me out of it. 😂
Great video! Yes totally correct! And if the next Apple watch ultra comes out with good mapping, navigation and possibly even a limited but useful satellite SOS beacon, it will kill Garmin.
yea the apps are much better on the apple watch ultra and the software is vastly superior. I do love my Epix though. I wear my apple watch ultra more though.
Yea, sure, apple watch with 2-day battery life will kill Fenix line...
@@mpdevineyFalse, first of all the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is tough and ready for the elements. Secondly, nowadays we have a bunch of electronics to charge, so people take on a battery bank anyway. And guess what, you and me and everyone else on earth have to sleep at some point - which means that you can charge your watch while you sleep. It’s nice anyway to take off the watch at night and let your skin breathe a little. The watch barely costs battery life on your battery bank, so it’s a win. Apple Watch has a smooth operating system, a 3000 nits brightness screen, and I was saying that if they improve the mapping and navigation you will no longer need Garmin.
@@mpdeviney its definitely rugged enough, Ive been banging it up against metal stuff for the past year as a mechanic and it still scratch free, but the battery life is terrible and the mapping feature sucks when you lose cell service. I live the AWU as my daily watch at work, but for everything else its my epix, and if i HAD to pick one watch it would be the epix.
@michelstronguin6974 Shouldn't need to carry a power bank. If you are backpacking, the less you bring the better. Also, a lot of the Garmin features on their watches don't work with Apple because they lock everything down.
I like your honesty and not joining the band wagon because as amazing as Garmin is, it is still not user friendly for the mass. For the price you pay for the fenix lines, it is quite frustrating to use. I have the 7 pro solar, I mainly use for running and when I do use GPS. I just save my parking location and use it track back. Yes, we are in 2024 and all the added was touch screen and more detail map and it is still laggy and takes second to load and refresh.
I got the Epix when it first came out and I feel your pain when adding courses. Caveman era…
Seems like they aren't doing any software development.
Go and sens the wat h back then. Should do your reaserch first to buy the watch you need for what you need
been there. Bought Fenix 5 Plus years ago only because i needed a device with navigation that lasted longer then one day. If I didn't had the combo withe the chest strap it would have been completly useless. garmin os looks like it got stuck in the 90s. payed 800 back then. If an apple watch had a bigger battery I would have switched yesterday.
My experience is the opposite. I have an Epix gen 2 with amoled and topographic maps etc. It is fundamental for me both in running and mountaineering. Navigating the Garmin system can be difficult but there are several tutorials on RUclips etc. Afterwards it is always the same in the different models
Does the map lag a lot?
@@KaneDoesOutdoors of course, no. You have various maps with different resolution.Higher resolution may have some delay but nothing special. You have more than 20hrs with dual frequency
Honestly I think the Fenix series watches are overpriced. The Forerunner series (165 and up) are great for trail running/hiking/etc. for tracking distance and elevation, but as far as navigation goes, I just use my phone. If you're looking for something bomb proof for navigation, I'd definitely use a GPS handheld unit. You could probably get a really good one for under $500 that you can have clipped to your shoulder strap that would last for a long time. See if you can return the watch, and if not, you could probably sell it easily for a slight hit.
100% - so many good options for tracking available. As for navigation, it seems an iphone is hard to beat.
I’ve never had an issue with sending routes to my Garmin 🤔. However I COMPLETELY agree with the process being dated. Garmins software is clunky/slow. They really need to fix their software! I love my Garmin and think there’s no better hiking/navigating watch on the market. I have an Apple Watch Ultra 2 and I NEVER take it on hikes, camping, backpacking etc. I have the Garmin uploading data to Apple Health so I still have the data all in one place.
It's baffling to me how many damn garmin apps you have to use to do anything with their products. I genuinely have no idea why they do that! Useful video, thanks. Saved me from spending ~$800 US just to scream at my wrist.
You can enable the touch screen for navigation with the map. You need to learn how to use the watch first. There is a learning curve.
From your point of view You should Use apple ultra or phone. you dnt need or you dnt have to use a real full USA Military dress for going to a theater to watch a war movie.
You probably want an Epix but Garmin UI is 🗑️ until you get it.
It also seems like Garmin has internal divisions for each product line and they don’t talk.
That’s definitely my impression about the internal divisions…
To the guys who dont know if this watch is worth buying,ask yourself a simple question,what do you really want?
Some fancy cool watch with bright colorful screen,with nfc feature,or, J.a.r.v.i.s. from iron man movie on your wrist? if you want the second one go grab this watch.
Im in the military and i love the thing.
There is a way to get rid of all the waypoints using garmin base camp by using a track.
In the UK I use OS maps and export it to my finix 7 pro. Works really well
I've sorted a workflow that is good enough. For some reason the gpx file from Gaia wouldn't import into garmin connect the first few times I tried it on the desktop, but it does now. It might havebe file naming issues (too long etc).
Regardless, I would expect garmin to have the best mapping software available and work seamlessly with it's watches. My current workflow is planning routes in Gaia GPS desktop, refreshing on the Gaia mobile app, exporting to the mobile garmin connect app and pushing to the watch. It works...
Just try coros, I also had a phenix 6, but...... now I have coros, and for me it's much better. See if coros work for you.
You're right if all you care about is numbers, the Instinct does all of that just fine. For me I just love the design of the garmin Epix. I wear my apple watch ultra more, as its just a better smart watch. But you're right its not really worth 1k bucks.
Thanks for your rant. You saved me money, and now I don't have to tell the wife I bought a watch, lol.
Seems to me that just because you think a piece of technology should magically interface with it a different mapping platform, and that piece of tech the size of a silver buffalo (albeit much thicker) doesn’t mean it will work that way. I have used Garmin from Foretrex 401s in the military to several hand-me-down Garmin watches and I found that as long as I had enough sense to set my expectations correctly, I was fairly pleased (That said I am SUPER DISPLEASED that Garmin doesn’t replace the battery on my Fenix 5. Granted is more than a few years old, but kinda what kind of watch doesn’t have a replaceable battery? I’m guessing smart watches.
Anyway, I think you have received plenty of comments that were beating the same horse I’m here kicking the crap out of. Just because you think in 2024 a little watch should perform at the same level and speed as your phone which has more room for processor, more powerful graphics processors, more/faster memory, AND more powerful networking chipsets if that’s what it even has.
The one commenter who said he was happy with his watch and there are thousand of positive reviews and reviews addressing the limitations - well I don’t know about that, I don’t live my life in RUclips because I always end up chasing rabbits down rabbit holes.
My last comment is I think you’re pretty much the pot calling the kettle black. You told the person who like their 7 Pro that they were naive when I think if anyone was naive it was you bud. Your expectations were jacked and your feelings (and wallet) got butthurt bc the watch didn’t do what you expected it to do.
As the one pretty smart comment let said, using a watch - at least in 2024 and probably 2025 as a primary navigation tool isn’t the best idea. Maybe when they come out with holographic watches like in that dumb movie Tom Cruise did (can’t recall the name bc it’s not important) then you can have your cake and eat it too.
If you want to get off your phone you can always get you a Foretrex 401 or 601, of course there are no maps, but they are tried and true and for what they are designed for you work like a champ.
Good luck with your watch.
For maps a use talky toaster maps on my garmin epix and fenix. Much more detailed. For route planning I use ridewithgps. Fantastic combo right there. I can route plan out on the trail using my phone then navigate using the watch. Works really well.
I've never heard of any of this. More details, please. What are talky toaster maps ? So you route plan in real time as you travel on your phone and somehow that uploads to the watch ?
@SomeTechGuy666 just google talky toaster maps, that will take you to the website. You select your device and mapping region. The maps even have gates, styles and major trees on. It's a bit like a vectorised 1:25,000 map. RideWithGps is a phone or web based route planning and tracking app. Great for walking and cycling. If you link your RideWithGps account to your garmin connect account, any routes you plan can be auro uploaded to garmin connect (via pinning). Once in garmin connect it will upload to your watch. This might sound complicated but it really isn't. TT maps have samples you can download to try out on your device. I would say that the maps are too detailed for road cycling but great for off road and hiking. Lots of youtube clips for rwgps and tt maps.
@SomeTechGuy666 just google talky toaster maps and ridewithgps. I wrote a much longer answer before but it was deleted for some reason.
I would say the Garmin watch in large are more catered to military application. In a military aspect it’s very practical and being in the military myself I mainly use the MGRS feature navigation as well as most of the people I work with. I have an Instinct 2x solar and it gives me the bang for my buck at $450 because it takes 3 watches and puts it into one platform. That being said I think the line up at the high end price points are over rated eye candy that are gimmicks for those who can afford them. Any who I wouldnt buy the fenix line up but, I’m happy with the Garmin 2x and I think in most of their products they are made well and to be dam near indestructible. Plus I’m active and I like tracking activity without charging the bastard every day😂.
im just stuck in a boot loop since the last update 10 days ago. im not a beta tester. i got the tactix 7 pro, for 1300 bugs. i planed a trip to japan on the watch and like a noob, i saw an update and thought it would be good to get it. i dont have to explain what happend next. im still looking at the garmin support chat every day for any solution. nothing so far. i know the hardware is the fraction of the price and we pay software and licenses. but if that is not fail save bomb proof quality, i dont know what i really paid for. you are really better of with a cheap and not bad 200 bug watches which do the same and if they have such issues i dont even mind. the decline in quality is mind blowing.
i have the feeling that we just feed the marketing budget.
I don't have any problems with gpx files but I'm using android which cooperate with garmin. If u are looking for blame I would give a close look at your iPhone
You are doing some serious trailblazing. I don’t think a watch could ever fulfill all those needs. The iPhone is great, but it will run out of battery when you’re stuck in a canyon. There must be another device in the horizon that can do the Gaia maps thing…a gps iPad mini?
I tent to agree, but my phone does a great job. On airplane mode I get 5 days of battery. I’d like something to supplement my phone for a quick glance at the map. If I could do that I’d probably use my phone at least 50% less.
This video just confirms what I always assumed, but none of the reviews mention…
Really great review man, glad I saw it before making the same mistake 👍
It really depends on what you're looking for. Some people are absolutely head over heals for these watches. It's mostly a tracker, but that can help with navigation which is my interest in the product. Knowing your speed, distance traveled etc is useful while on route.
Based on all the feedback in the comments I decided to keep it, but switched to the sapphire version. I've been using it for the past six months and feel like I have a good handle on it now and have a simple workflow for exporting courses from Gaia.. Most of my criticisms still stand, but I do find that I check my phone map less often. That means I use less battery overall. The battery life is fantastic, but again it depends what you do. You get about 40 hrs on full gps tracking mode, so it needs to be charged at the end of every second full 15 hr day backpacking or hiking, or else it will run out of juice on the third day.
If you are hiking/backpacking/running on maintained trails then the map is good enough on the watch. I'm often off-trail and do resort to my phone's maps quite often to change layers/zoom/pan and get a better perspective on the topography.
If I smashed it tomorrow I would replace with something like the instinct 2, or one of the less than full featured fenix models.
kind of given up on understanding the functions- use the tracking function and app on phone...
75% of the data seems to be noise. I do a little workout and it tells me to rest for two days!
does garmin explore use html frames? haha dude can you not use the gaia app on the watch?
Probably, seems like something that was coded 20 years ago. Gaia came out with an app for apple watch recently... curious how it well it works. I'm sure the interface is 100X better than garmin. The issue is battery life, but I don't track my routes. Pretty sure it would be good for two days with occasional map checking.
Best watch combo. Apple or galaxy watch paired with instinct 2x
The main purpose of the watch is a health/ fitness tracker, it's a pretty good tool to follow a preset track for it's size. In addition it has some routing capabilities in case you can't or don't want to use your phone or pc to make the route,...
If there is something wonky with the track you follow and the rerouting is complex it's often much faster to get the phone or even a tablet out and look for a solution in the explore app ( or komoot or,..) maybe export a few waypoints or a new track and continu on the watch,..
But the watch has buttons that work with gloves or wet, muddy fingers, it's easy to rinse the mud off, it's difficult to drop/ loose the watch when it stays on your wrist, it probably outlasts the phone battery, it offers navigation redundancy over the phone and it increases the chance of having some battery left in case of an emergency,..
A handheld like the 66i is also laggy but it has a bigger screen,.. it doesn't have the health/ fitness features which makes it cheaper.
i was bored of vidéos not showing this kind of using. Thnak you !
i still consider le amazfit ULTRA T REX, but, smartwatches seem to improve about those complains .
PS: APple watch has a smal battery, but it charges very fast.......finally i may consider this one.
I heard Strava is good?
Strava is a fitness sharing app. It lets your friends know how far you ran or whatever.
Thank you for the save, I’m bad with tech to begin with I would lose my mind with multiple apps not communicating and that horrible zoom struggle.
I understand your frustration as I still use my Fenix 3 for backpacking but I feel like you had a totally different expectation in thinking that you could solely use the watch for navigation. The phone is so much better with software with UI and bigger screens and is the all in one device and there really is no way in getting around that. And with navigating the backcountry, you have to zoom out quite a bit sometimes and a little tiny watch is just not enough screen to do that.
If the touchscreen was more responsive/advanced it would be fine. Zoom and rotate with touch gestures, get rid of the map lag, and you're almost good to go. The screen is actually pretty big.
The software universe is awful.
I am in the same dilemma, I would hate an apple watch because it won't even last a day of battery. I would also hate the archaic Garmin because of its archaic software. But at the end of the day, I would rather have an archaic but reliable software on my wrist, rather than a dead watch.
Sadly the reviewer has no understanding of technology and limitation. Satellite maps would take TB of data there is no way currently that a watch with hold that. But the CPU is the limiting factor likely not keeping up with Apple, the AMOLED version of Garmin are much slower due to 2x the resolution. Garmin so far has been able to bridge functionality and battery life but the recent generation got imbalanced
Here in the UK we can get talky toaster maps which are quite cheap and a lot better than those which come with it.
I have the same experience, Gamin is fine but nowhere near as good as apple watch ultra. The reason I use it, is for hiking multiple days.
I had a 6s pro and holy shit does it suck trying to navigate with buttons on a tiny screen
🤣
I’ve used the Garmin Fenix watches a many times on night navigations since the first Fenix in the military. This is the worst review I’ve ever seen. Also who uses their iPhone as their sole navigation device.
Every single person I know uses their phone. It’s a pocket computer with gps and navigation software. Why would anyone use a clunky gps device? It doesn’t make sense anymore.
Been using the fenix for a few months now, and it’s good a tracking. But when I’m in the field and need to make a real decision the maps on gaia are superior.
@@KaneDoesOutdoors Garmins gps (not smart watches) are used often in the military - giving gps grid codes rather than fancy colour smart watch features. Military has a different use case that needs very rugged and simple to use devices. Definitely not using mobile phones which are also hackable devices.
@KaneDoesOutdoors lol "clunky" your watch is "clunky" compared to your phone? That's a hot take. The review is a little weird. I never side with big corps but this a weird review. My garmin solar gets me anywhere from 15-20 days. Full GPS on and I'm out in the woods, running or at the gym. I can't name one phone that could do that for me. Or one smart watch from either apple, Samsung or Google. I feel as if you are looking at the watch as a "smart watch" and not as a standalone GPS system. As far as price. If it's no expensive. Don't buy it.
@vadoiski I get what you’re saying but it’s not a review per se. I’ve been using the 7x for over 6 months now and it still leaves me scratching my head a bit. For tracking it works great, but so does an instinct 2. Is the battery life good? Definitely. Is it a standalone navigation tool? I would say no, but a very good supplement. It means my primary device stays charged longer. Some people appreciate knowing what to expect in advance, and I’m not the only person who is surprised by the laggy maps etc. Apparently this is an issue with Garmin’s full size devices as well, although I can’t speak to that from hands on experience. Clunky is in terms of the interface. My guess is that the watch is running a dated chipset and OS.
@KaneDoesOutdoors understanding display tech should be top of your priority list. The watch you (and i) both have are MIP, it feels "clunky" and "laggy" because these are low refresh, low energy consuming panels. If you want OLED, less clunky, and more refresh rate, just play with the forerunner or the epix at best buy. Full 60hz refresh rate, smoother ui, and faster maps. But you will be plugging it in every other night. This is not a garmin limitation. This is a tech limitation. MIP displays are beloved FOR there energy efficiency. And for battery snobs like me. I'll take a refresh rate of 10hz and a black and white display if it means longer battery life. In addition, i don't know of any runner who do "mapping" whilst running. Including myself. All that data is pull off my watch when I'm interested in timing, pace ext. So it doesn't have to be fast whilst mapping. Just accurate. And garmin in top 2 for accuracy at the moment. I just fine your points to be mute at best. And bad at best. But that's just a opinion.