Fenix 5 : advanced analytics/features that require an HR chest strap ?

Functional threshold power requires a power meter, the Fenix 3 already supports that for cycling if you have one.

As for the others I imagine they will require a chest strap. If Garmin had managed to reliably measure HRV using optical I think they would have said more about it since no one does that reliably yet.

Right I hadn't paid close attention being a runner but FTP is not HR dependent.

It will be interesting to see what Garmin decide for the other metrics, after all the FR235 wasn't supposed to have VO2Max and Recovery originally.

Garmin still aren't saying much on what will require an HR strap or not, unlike what happened when the FR235/FR630 came out, but of course at the time they had to "sell" the more expensive FR630.

I see that there will be bundles with the Tri belt at $669 putting the belt at $70, seems like a decent price, better than what I remembered from when it was launched.

The strap is for running.

The optical is for continuous monitoring your HR so that you can map your HR with how you feel over time and eventually make better choices for your daily type of activity (hard, slow, medium) etc.

What ?! Have you ever used a Garmin watch with an OHR ? I (and countless others) have been using the OHR on my FR235 for 1+ year and it's worked well more often than not, in fact it only really struggles when it's very cold. If anything it works better for running than for any other sport.

I use an HRM-TRI with my Fenix 3 and if you can get it for $70 extra I'd say it's worth it (I believe it sells for $120 on its own). It's one of the more comfortable straps Garmin has made and supports running dynamics and the HRV based metrics if you want that data. Plus it also has the stored swimming HR feature if you ever decide you want to do triathlon.

What ?! Have you ever used a Garmin watch with an OHR ? I (and countless others) have been using the OHR on my FR235 for 1+ year and it's worked well more often than not, in fact it only really struggles when it's very cold. If anything it works better for running than for any other sport.

I am openly balking at this. I have owned (3) FR235 and the OHR for the 1st six months was the pits. Didn't work in the cold, couldn't gauge your RHR at all, and the big one....relying on the OHRM for running did NOT accurately track my HR...it tracked the only other rhythmic metric it could--Cadence. Will I give you the benefit of the doubt that these things are fixed as of this writing? No, I have four friends that own this watch, not one of them uses the OHRM for running and they are still having the same issues I did a year ago. the 35, 630, 735xt, 910xt all have better run functionality (the 735xt in particular in my opinion with the OHRM) than the 235; but still I recommend a strap for better accuracy and metrics--including the fenix line.

If you run, the advanced metrics can only come from the HRM-Run/Tri. If you own a Stryd (Run power) then FTP will be more readily available native in the F5 line (nothing's stopping you from concurrently using Stryd's app or Cheetah or Strava for better metric data).

Having a bad day are we?

I use an HRM-TRI with my Fenix 3 and if you can get it for $70 extra I'd say it's worth it (I believe it sells for $120 on its own). It's one of the more comfortable straps Garmin has made and supports running dynamics and the HRV based metrics if you want that data. Plus it also has the stored swimming HR feature if you ever decide you want to do triathlon.

Thanks, sounds like a plan as my old Garmin HRM3 is rather erratic these days regardless of the strap I use or soaking I apply ;-)

Now I wish this thread was in the 5x forum.

Let's hypothetically say advanced metrics do require a chest strap. The 5x does support a Bluetooth Smart chest strap (though the 5 and 5s do not.) Can the same advanced calculations be done with my Polar H7 Bluetooth Smart chest strap or will I need to purchase a Garmin ANT+ chest strap?

the 5x does support a Bluetooth Smart chest strap (though the 5 and 5s do not)

The 5 and 5S certainly DO support BT straps.

Linky --> https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/01/hands-on-garmins-new-fenix-5-multisport-gps-serieswith-mapping.html#bluetooth-smart-sensor-support