F5 with bands from F3 :-)

I got my F5 two days ago and like it very much but I miss the size of the F3, I know, strange right!?

Actually I like very much the bands from F3, being wider it helps the watch to stay firmer and feels comfortable on the hand, so I thought maybe I can cut a little bit and make a band from F3 to work on F5 - and here is the result..

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l9ozxqa0sryvyv6/IMG_9794.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/74gvv7hzz0qclzz/IMG_9792.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hxb3dj79kn5j9b0/IMG_9791.jpg?dl=0

It feels much more stable right now on my wrist.

Worth to mention that this band was bought from china with 2 USD and was much more better than the original F3, especially in terms of flexibility and smoothness, almost like silk feel. The new F5 bands are not that flexible and silk in feel...

0 Striff... over 8 years ago

First thing I thought when I saw the F5, was why the narrower band.

Interestingly it looks like Garmin did a similar approach with the ForeRunner 735XT.
I was checking out the FR 935 review here https://www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/03/garmin-forerunner-935-depth-review.html
You can see part down the page where the watch comparisons are, that the FR735Xt has the same cutout in it's watch band, that is done here.

Now the question is, can this be done to the Quick Fit bands.

0 andi00000001 over 8 years ago

Thanks for the tips guys, couldn't afford Garmin straps so I grabbed the Moko ones from Amazon that WEBVAN recommended.

Much easier to cut than I thought, like a hot knife through butter.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Thanks for the tips guys, couldn't afford Garmin straps so I grabbed the Moko ones from Amazon that WEBVAN recommended.

Much easier to cut than I thought, like a hot knife through butter.

Awesome. I did the same exact thing. Love the 5 with the wider bands.

0 meste7 over 8 years ago

First thing I thought when I saw the F5, was why the narrower band.

Now the question is, can this be done to the Quick Fit bands.

Yesterday I had in my hands the F5X, already had the F5 for a month, so I checked, and it seems quite possible to adjust the quickfit bands from 5X to 5. Just need to pay more attention than with the F3 rubber ones. So, when the quickfit for F5X become available I will try this approach.

0 bglover11 over 8 years ago

So, when the quickfit for F5X become available I will try this approach.

https://www.heartratemonitorsusa.com/products/garmin-fenix-5x-quickfit-26-watch-bands?variant=37305253382

^This is where I've been getting mine from.. currently shows black and amp yellow in stock

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Yesterday I had in my hands the F5X, already had the F5 for a month, so I checked, and it seems quite possible to adjust the quickfit bands from 5X to 5. Just need to pay more attention than with the F3 rubber ones. So, when the quickfit for F5X become available I will try this approach.

I'm interesting in how you think this is possible,

As I'd like to get a 22mm Fenix 5 band (brown leather), for my Fenix 5S watch (normally 20mm bands),

Thanks,

0 webvan over 8 years ago

F3 straps work with the F5 because they're 26mm wide, so it's 22 (F5 width) + 2 + 2.

For the F5s you'd have to start with a 24mm wide strap, assuming the lugs are also 2mm wide.

Now you could try to make an F3 strap "taper out" but that might weaken it and not look great.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

F3 straps work with the F5 because they're 26mm wide, so it's 22 (F5 width) + 2 + 2.

For the F5s you'd have to start with a 24mm wide strap, assuming the lugs are also 2mm wide.

Now you could try to make an F3 strap "taper out" but that might weaken it and not look great.

The lugs are actually 3-4mm wide each, but its not so much that I want a wider band, more that I want a brown leather band.

I can see with the silicon quickfit bands, the small quickfit metal mechnism piece doesn't go right to the edges of the band, so its possible to cut the silicon ends off and fit them on a smaller watch,

But the leather band appears to have the metal piece right the way across the entire width, so I'm not sure its doable to shave 2mm off a 22mm leather band to fit on the 5S.

0 webvan over 8 years ago

So that would make them wider than the F5s lugs then where the 26mm F3 strap fit perfectly. Can't find it now but a picture of an FR935 with an F3 strap was posted yesterday and it wasn't quite wide enough.

0 acousticbiker over 8 years ago

Anyone know whether any of the 3rd party suppliers offer a black 26mm strap with a slate gray buckle? I like this idea but don't like the look of a silver or black buckle (all I could find on a brief search). Or, anyone know of a place with a good price on the original F3/HR band from Garmin?