Upgrading from F3HR to F5X

Those of you upgrading to F5X and not F5 - which of the mapping features is it that you are after? How will you use it?

I cant decide for F5 or F5X. The generate route thing seams cool and but question is if it will be usable when running in unknown cities which i do a bit.

Except mapping, are there other differences between F5 and F5X. Are there different multisport features to help for training ? Is the F5 x more complete ?

Except mapping, are there other differences between F5 and F5X. Are there different multisport features to help for training ? Is the F5 x more complete ?

Complete is kind of subjective, as it stands now, mapping is the only software difference between the F5saph and the 5X (which has far more storage onboard, but all of that is for maps). All the multisport tracking and external sensor support is the same across the device platform (the 5s does the samething(s) as every other version). The size is really the only thing that separates them

ANDRIIJAS
Those of you upgrading to F5X and not F5 - which of the mapping features is it that you are after? How will you use it?

Well, as I stated in my prior post, the mapping will be very useful in terms of running goals (since it gives something like [3] options to the type of run you want). also, as someone that can't buy all kinds of training equipment, the watch tends to be the only thing I can invest in, which will end up being useful for bike rides in my area. Anywhere beyond the borders of my suburban city reach out into farmland, and then straight up wilderness. I'd like to explore without needing a search crew to find my lost self every time I have a bit of wanderlust.

Complete is kind of subjective, as it stands now, mapping is the only software difference between the F5saph and the 5X (which has far more storage onboard, but all of that is for maps). All the multisport tracking and external sensor support is the same across the device platform (the 5s does the samething(s) as every other version). The size is really the only thing that separates them



Well, as I stated in my prior post, the mapping will be very useful in terms of running goals (since it gives something like [3] options to the type of run you want). also, as someone that can't buy all kinds of training equipment, the watch tends to be the only thing I can invest in, which will end up being useful for bike rides in my area. Anywhere beyond the borders of my suburban city reach out into farmland, and then straight up wilderness. I'd like to explore without needing a search crew to find my lost self every time I have a bit of wanderlust.

Well to 99% of my training is also running. Everything from 5k to ultra marathons. Thats why I asked. The only feature I can see that would benefit me is generate route just not sure how well it will work.

I do enough "off the map" stuff that internal topo maps could be quite useful to me. It's (another) safety feature that may never actually be needed, but if it is it may save your ass and since I'm going to have a watch on anyway the additional bulk/load/etc is zero.

The F3 is capable of the same thing IF it's recording at the time the "bad thing" happens (you can follow the breadcrumb backward or simply navigate to intersect it, and you're back on-path.) But if it's not, well....

More nav capabilities that consume no space or mass are never bad; at worst they do nothing useful over what you previously had available.

The integrated heart rate is also nominally useful for other-than-running, where I want the advanced dynamics (and will continue to wear the strap.)

I'll pick one up when REI gets it; if I think it stinks after putting some miles on it I can send it back but I suspect I'll want to keep it.

Those of you upgrading to F5X and not F5 - which of the mapping features is it that you are after? How will you use it?

I cant decide for F5 or F5X. The generate route thing seams cool and but question is if it will be usable when running in unknown cities which i do a bit.

Interested in this feature: 'Round-trip Run and Round-trip Ride routing options give runners and cyclists the ability to enter a distance they want to travel and have the watch suggest appropriate courses'.

I am hoping it will give me route options on the trails since I only trail run.
In general the mapping feature will be good to have while hiking especially for bigger/longer hikes (12-14ers).

I do enough "off the map" stuff that internal topo maps could be quite useful to me. It's (another) safety feature that may never actually be needed, but if it is it may save your ass and since I'm going to have a watch on anyway the additional bulk/load/etc is zero.

The F3 is capable of the same thing IF it's recording at the time the "bad thing" happens (you can follow the breadcrumb backward or simply navigate to intersect it, and you're back on-path.) But if it's not, well....

More nav capabilities that consume no space or mass are never bad; at worst they do nothing useful over what you previously had available.

The integrated heart rate is also nominally useful for other-than-running, where I want the advanced dynamics (and will continue to wear the strap.)

I'll pick one up when REI gets it; if I think it stinks after putting some miles on it I can send it back but I suspect I'll want to keep it.

Same here. I will use on watch maps for off trail runs/exploring and to more easily find off trail points of interests I want to check out when on trail. It will also be great when navigating new complex trail systems and night running. Maps can also be a huge help when conditions make it difficult to determine location and heading to then find lost trail or route to safety/TH.

I am rather pessimistic when it comes to the auto-generated runs. I have seen several tools like than online for big computers and the results were strongly underwhelming. The main issues were:

1) Stupid routing - not avoiding busy crossroads, industrial scrapyards or other unpleasant places, although a clearly more pleasant routing option was available.
2) Not using perfectly good paths because they were not of the correct "class" in the map metadata.

Simply put, this is only as good as the map itself. Since I haven't seen a big computer app doing a good job on this, I do not believe the watch will.

The mapping itself, if it works, I find useful. More situation awareness is a good thing in a more challenging terrain - mountaineering, ski touring etc. Normally I bring my Oregon to these but if the F worked well, Oregon might stay at home except for highly nav intensive activities.

I'm inclined to agree. I suspect that doing that job really well would need a massive heat-map database (which of course Garmin have, but it's hard to see how you'd pack it into a wristwatch).

It's a brand new bit of functionality for their fitness watch range so will surely mean a higher risk of bugs than the F5