Garmin smartwatch is one tough cookie
To get the most out of a smartwatch, it needs to have a specific job.
While they have a lot of features they’re not do-everything devices that will replace your smartphone. They shine when used for a set purpose and used alongside your phone.
For Garmin’s Fenix 5 ($899), that job is tracking your activities in the outdoors. This isn’t for just measuring your run, it can also track your swim, ride, ski runs and kayaking.
It does this by having several modes for each activity and having tech such as GPS, an altimeter, barometer, compass and a heart rate monitor to track you and your position.
Its chunky design means it’s tough and I bumped and dunked it a lot while using it and never worried about scratching it.
That’s largely due to its stainless steel case and it being waterproof to 100m.
The rubber strap is nice and soft but I would have preferred it to be a bit thicker to match the heft of the watch case.
Using the Fenix 5 took a while to learn. While most smartwatches have touch-screen or dials (or both), Garmin has stuck with using the watch’s five buttons to navigate.
It works OK but it’s easy to forget which button does what and it can mean going around in circles a few times. Also, the button labels are hard to read. You start by pressing the top right button and choosing which activity you’re doing. Press start and it will track several metrics depending on the activity. You can then save the workout, or discard it.
These can then be viewed on the Garmin Connect smartphone app, which also has additional features, including being able to set challenges.
It’s got other smartwatch functions too, such as playing music and receiving messages and notifications.
The Fenix 5 is best for hardcore adventurers who love statistics and who need something tough to withstand the Kiwi outdoors. That toughness comes at a price, with the device costing twice that of the latest Apple Watch, which is currently the top-selling smartwatch on the market.