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Considering a New Garmin – Need Advice!

7338168
6 days ago

I’m currently using the Approach S62. While it has great golf features, I find that the workout stats, especially the heart rate monitor, are inconsistent. My fiancée recently got the Venu 3S, and its heart rate monitor seems to perform a lot better than mine.

I’m fairly active—4 yoga sculpt sessions and 3 weightlifting sessions per week, with the occasional bike ride, run, or walk. I also play a lot of golf in the summer, but I mostly use the S62 for basic yardage (green front/middle/back and hazard distances). I don’t use the advanced golf features like the caddie or scoring.

I’m considering the Venu 3, Fenix 7, or Forerunner 965, but I’m open to other options. What would you recommend for someone with my activity profile?

  • 0 6 days ago

    The best option is using a HRM chest-strap paired with the watch. Not only it is much cheaper than a new watch, but especially it is way more accurate than any optical sensor ever can be. The reliability of the optical sensor depends on many factors, including your individual physiology. While it may work fine for certain persons, at others it will never work well, or it will fail under certain conditions (i.e. at low temperatures, or when moving, ...).

  • +1 1 day ago

    The optical heart rate sensor technology on the Approach S62 and the Venu 3S use different generation heart rate sensor hardware...but they record heart rate the same way...with the same factors that can affect the consistency of the readings. 

    If you are wanting preloaded course mapping like the Approach S62, max golf features, and max multisport features...the fenix 7 Pro or epix Gen 2 Pro series are great options for the activities you mentioned enjoying. The Forerunner 965 is a great option if you are wanting a lighter watch with less premium materials compared to the fenix and epix lines, as the materials on the Forerunner do not have options like sapphire glass, titanium, and diamond-like carbon coatings like the fenix and epix series offers. 

    The Venu 3 is a great option if you are wanting a smartwatch-oriented device with a balance of activity tracking, and apps. The Venu will not contain preloaded mapping options like the fenix, epix, and Forerunner 965 offer. The venu is more fitness and smartwatch oriented. 

  • 0 1 day ago

    I have the S62 but I would caution about buying a Garmin, they do not update their software when a new model is released. That said, if you are happy with the options on the watch now, then buy it in the knowledge that when the next model is released you will not benefit from any update.

  • 0 1 day ago in reply to 9546754

    Please note the above comment is not reflective of how Garmin releases updates to products. 

    Regardless of whether a new Garmin product is released, devices are still supported for updates on an ongoing basis as determined by Garmin. 

    Since the release of the Approach S70...the Approach S62 has received software updates and is no less supported. This is true for other products in the Approach Series, as the release date of the product does not determine whether a software update is made available.