Fenix 5S for a man

Former Member
Former Member
I admit it, I have small wrists. I've worn the 42mm (the larger size) of the Apple Watch and I think it looks like the right size for me so I am thinking the 5S will be the best choice (42 also vs 47/51 for the 5/5X) for me. For a watch I would wear most the time and likely even at night the smaller size brings advantages in weight too, any other men thinking to get the 5S? The Garmin site makes such a big deal over the 5S being their new design for women that it gives me pause but I think that many mens watches are 42mm or even smaller in the real world...
  • I'm a guy and I'm definitely getting a 5S. I just sold my Fenix 3 (non HR version).

    I've never worn a watch as an adult that was > 40mm in diameter until I got the F3. 51mm is a pretty huge size for a watch, although huge watches are kind of in style. I wouldn't say I have super tiny wrists but there not huge either. (I'm 6'1 and skinny) It is telling that Apple's large size is 42mm.

    The F3 is big enough that it was annoying IMO for day to day wear. It wouldn't fit under my insulating layer on my winter coat, it doesn't fit under many of my dress shirts, etc.. and it irritated my wrist for certain activities. I spent a lot of time trying the different straps trying to get it more comfortable. I wear my watch on my left wrist, and the giant button at 2 o'clock on the F3 would jab into the raised bone on the outside of my wrist. Annoying. I ended up giving up on wearing the F3 for activity tracking and daily wear and would just put it on for running and cycling workouts. (For cycling I mount it on the bar anyway)

    So it's definitely F5S for me. If they hadn't made the smaller sizes available I would not be upgrading. I am actually still kind of worried about the buttons being irritating but they look smoother and toned down on the 5S and 5, 5X still looks like the 2 o'clock button really protrudes.

    I am not sure what the point of the 47mm F5 is. I get that the F5X has mapping features that benefit from size but if the F5S and F5 are mostly identical I can't see why anyone would want the bigger F5 over the F5S other then the battery life. Why carry something heavier around for sports? I do really appreciate the awesome day to day battery life of Garmin's models compared to stuff like Apple Watch/Android wear but I personally don't need to do GPS tracks over 10 hours in 1 second mode. The longest GPS track I've done was a 9 hour bike ride in 2016, and I never used Ultratrac once on my F3.

    I went running yesterday though and I sure felt naked without my F3! I don't have anything to use instead until the F5 comes out and I miss the functionality a lot. I wore a regular watch that just had a chronometer on it so I could see how many minutes I'd been running. It felt like the stone age!
  • Same here...I wear a pilot version of F3 (D2 Bravo) and I think it is too bulky. I hope that the next pilot version (D2 Charlie?) of F5 will be based on 5S or 5. I probably will have wait until May/June to find out.
  • I am not sure what the point of the 47mm F5 is. I get that the F5X has mapping features that benefit from size but if the F5S and F5 are mostly identical I can't see why anyone would want the bigger F5 over the F5S other then the battery life. Why carry something heavier around for sports?


    The point? Lager screen and larger battery.....................

    I briefly considered the 5S because I prefer the look of the bezel over the 5 but I do not think I can deal with the smaller screen size. Especially since Garmin refuses to address the small font issue in things like sms ect...

    The 5 is the perfect size for me all things considered.. Smaller than the 3HR (and 5X) but has a larger screen than the 5S. In a perfect world I would have preferred the look of the 5S in a 47mm size...
  • Since it was announced, I really didn't think the 5s as a "woman's watch", and maybe Garmin Marketing messed up a bit by even implying that.

    Over the years, I've known people (male and female) that liked the f3, but didn't buy one as it seemed too big - due both to smaller wrists, and also a fear of knocking over furniture when entering a room when wearing a f3! :)
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    Well I decided to order the Fenix 5S Black/Black Sapphire today. I feel it will be good look. I realized my favorite personal watch an Omega Speedmaster Pro is 42 mm and most Rolex watches are 40-42 mm so its a classic men's look. I know that oversized 46 mm + watches have become trendy lately but the main reason I am parting with so much money was to have a "do everything" watch that looks fantastic in a professional setting, personal setting, and sports too. Years of Forerunners I relegated to running only duty and my various attempts at wearing Garmin and Fitbit bands the rest of the time have left me feeling less than professional sometimes.

    Here is a picture of the exact watch I ordered on a man's wrist that helped me make my decision...

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    This is my wrist...

    42 mm:



    42 mm:



    46-47 (to end of lug is 47) mm:



    All of these watches are a thinner than even the 5S, but I think it makes it clear I made the right choice with the 42mm Fenix 5S right?

    Thanks!
  • Selling F3

    I just sold my Fenix 3 (non HR version).


    How much did you get for your Fenix 3? I am planning on replacing mine with the Fenix 5X and have no idea what a used F3 in fine condition is worth. I'm excited about the new features and the size never bothered me at all. I am not especially big or small and I easily got accustomed to the size and bulk.
  • Well I decided to order the Fenix 5S Black/Black Sapphire today. I feel it will be good look. I realized my favorite personal watch an Omega Speedmaster Pro is 42 mm and most Rolex watches are 40-42 mm so its a classic men's look. I know that oversized 46 mm + watches have become trendy lately but the main reason I am parting with so much money was to have a "do everything" watch that looks fantastic in a professional setting, personal setting, and sports too. Years of Forerunners I relegated to running only duty and my various attempts at wearing Garmin and Fitbit bands the rest of the time have left me feeling less than professional sometimes.

    Here is a picture of the exact watch I ordered on a man's wrist that helped me make my decision...



    Great choice!
    I like the exact combination. Another reason I lean towards 5S is becase it's thinner. I don't even mind larger face, but 1mm in thickness makes a big difference IMO. And 5s looks overall better for day to day watch especially for the office.
  • One of the reasons I gave back the F3 was its bulkiness (besides the many bugs after release).

    I am rather small (5'8") with small wrists, so the 5S would be my option. I also prefer the bezel look of the 5S to the others.
    Black/silver is my favorite so far (although I'd prefer the same option with sapphire glas). If they also introduced a brown leather strap for daily use I would most probably not withstand the tempation, even though the price is very high. I would never wear an F3 all day (I usually wear dress shirts/suits for my job) but the 5S seems to fit also this purpose.

    And yes, I am a man.
  • Former Member
    0 Former Member over 8 years ago
    I admit it, I have small wrists. I've worn the 42mm (the larger size) of the Apple Watch and I think it looks like the right size for me so I am thinking the 5S will be the best choice (42 also vs 47/51 for the 5/5X) for me. For a watch I would wear most the time and likely even at night the smaller size brings advantages in weight too, any other men thinking to get the 5S? The Garmin site makes such a big deal over the 5S being their new design for women that it gives me pause but I think that many mens watches are 42mm or even smaller in the real world...


    I'm a guy with average, not small, wrists and I'm considering the 5S to replace my Fenix 3. I also have a Rolex DateJust which is a 36mm so the 42mm should be just fine. Also, Apple's large watch is a 42mm and that is the one a lot of guys wear, and the one I was going to get before getting the Garmin.