I am shopping around for a Garmin watch. Downwind addict, whatever the conditions offer: SUP/paddle and parawing. Briefly tried the Apple ultra and really did not like it, useless in water with wet fingers, also did not like being connected to Phone regarding texts and calls. I’m not interested in social connectivity, primarily looking for training metrics. I use Waterspeed for my metrics, should integrate well with Garmin. There happens to be a pretty decent Father’s Day sale going on now with Garmin watches and wanted to check the forum. A ChatGPT dive pointed out that the Garmin forerunner 955 and 965 offer most of the main tracking metrics as the 2X price Fenix 8. The primary criteria being dual band GPS. Can anyone offer any Garmin advice, experience, suggestions? Thoughts on AMOLED vs MIP? Kind of leaning towards MIP for battery life and I don’t like the bright cell phone on wrist look. I’m not a tech or bell/whistle person. Just want the metrics and usability.
Yes, I also prefer MIP over AMOLED. I tried a Fenix 8 AMOLED for a month, it wasn’t worth the degraded battery performance. I exchanged it for a MIP version.
I’d recommend spending the extra money for a Fenix 8 due to the improved buttons. All my previous Garmin watches had failed buttons. The watches kept working, but after a couple of years, one of the buttons would always fail due to salt water.
I had the same issue with a Garmin Fenix 7 that I bought used on Ebay. I submitted a warranty claim through Garmin and they sent me a refurb which has worked flawlessly despite frequent salt water exposure. From what I found on the Garmin forum, the button issue supposedly only affected a certain production run. @Tadpole another reason to choose the Fenix 8 would be the InReach capabilities so you wouldn’t need to also have a phone. My Fenix 7 Solar Sapphire doesn’t have that but I wish it did.
The Garmin button failures are NOT limited to a certain production run. I had previously owned Fenix 5 and Fenix 7 models. Both had failed buttons due to salt water exposure, both got replaced under warranty and both warranty replacements also had button failures eventually.
I have a Forerunner 165 that I use with Garmin’s Connect and also Hoolan for session tracking. The only benefit I could find with the dual band GPS is the ability to measure jump height. So the 165 for $200 was the best $ ratio for me.
The button failures on Garmin watches eventually pushed me to the Apple Ultra. 7 x Fenix watches replaced, wouldn’t even get a year out of one until a button froze, normally the start button.
Eventually Garmin refused to replace, but offered a refund to get me off their system. The refund wasn’t worth accepting so I started trying to get the frozen button working again. After trying silicone spray and soaking I worked out to soak the watch overnight but start with hot tap water. Warm water didn’t seem to work but hot water seemed to dissolve the salts better deep in the button mechanism.
But I’m really liking the apple, I can start and stop an activity with voice control, and great backup in an emergency
I have a garmin epix gen 2 (not pro) 47mm and I’ve installed custom jpg based maps for depth and photography alignment purposes. It’s good enough to read in the sun, although I haven’t tried mip. $500 for the pro version now. I ride in brackish water, no issues with buttons after a year. I do rinse it in hot water after most runs.
I use the forerunner 255. Any of the watches with airoha chips and dual band gps should be pretty accurate for live and top speed. The heart rate has been within a couple BPM to my chest strap aside from sudden changes. Just over a year of owning it and no complaints.
I swapped to Suunto after 2x garmin button failures, then the strap came off and I lost it so I went to a Apple Ultra and I like it a lot. If you use WorkOutdoors you can get around the useless screen when wet.
For pumpfoiling sessions I use Foil Sessions or Foil Motion which are both great.
@KDW I’m surprised your 50m rated watch can survive your insane speed crashes, or maybe you just never crash
Well that’s a bummer. I guess I’ve just been lucky then since that initial problem. It’s been more than a year so fingers crossed it doesn’t happen again.
Really interested in the 255, checks my boxes: simple/practical/price is right. Is there a way to place a track on it and follow vectors on watch face to stay on track? Do you link to Waterspeed for metrics or use Garmins analysis? Thank you!
I will say I have had my fenix3 since release with zero problems and it’s still going strong. That being said I predominately right fresh water.
I wonder if a hot water bath once a month or something could keep the buttons working for you guys? Really sucks spending that money on something that doesn’t last!!!
Awesome! Checked it out, looks to be exactly what I was hoping for. Is it compatible with the forerunner 255?
@FoilTheGreatLakes Nice! Perks of fresh water! Agree, might make it a habit to drop in a cup of warm water after sessions when rinsing the rest of the gear.
You can find new-in-box Garmin watches on eBay for $100’s *in savings. I just got the Forerunner 265 for $150 cheaper than anything I could find on Amazon.
