Save Yourself The Trouble

Former Member over 8 years ago

My F5 started out strong, but after a couple weeks started giving me very similar problems that I had with my F3HR and my F3. Seems these same types of problems just keep following to the next device, and I need something I can depend on every time.

GPS seems better than the F3HR & F3, but distance seems a little short compared to known distance.

Pace is very jittery, not that I participate in races or anything, but having an accurate pace is certainly a good thing.

VO2max seems way off. Says my fitness level is poor. Every other (non Garmin) device I have used that measures fitness level tells me that my fitness level is at least in the good range.

Certain setting set on the watch never get saved to GCM and next sync they sync back to what GCM has set.

VO2max and other performance stats either never update in GC or update with different numbers that are on the watch.

Activities get lost in GC after saving and GC says it cannot access the activity. I actually have to connect the watch via USB and import the file from the watch to get the activity into GC. This happens just randomly.

Calories burned are sometimes less than half of what I get for the same activities I get using any other device.

My F3HR has lost several workouts. While saving the activity, the watch rebooted and totally lost the workouts. I feel like it's just a matter of time before the F5 does this as well.

My F3HR got so bad that I could not trust doing an activity without wearing another device as a backup, and I have grown to not trust the fenix line because of this.

The thing that gets me the most is that this could be such a great device if everything worked on it, and it was dependable.

I need something I can rely on so I returned my F5 to REI and got a Suunto Spartan Ultra. I had this device before but returned it because I was so excited to try the F5. Now I know I should have just kept the Spartan Ultra.

Sorry Garmin.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi,
I did my first run yesterday.
Seems like fenix 5 performed worst than my old FR620. When I run under a lot of trees, GPS will point to somewhere else cutting time etc. No issue on my FR620. Maybe need to test more. My run set as usual, smart data but the shop installed screen protector so not sure if this will cause the issue. Any comments? Thanks.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

@bcalvanese

Lol. I do follow your posts in the Suunto forums, and I know that your *new* Spartan Ultra is your second Ultra. You sold the first Ultra, then bought a Spartan Sport, sold that, then bought the Fenix 5. Now you're back to an Ultra. You originally had a Fenix 3 and complained that your tracks didn't look good as you walked around the perimeter of 15 story buildings only 5 feet from the walls. You then moved on to a Fenix 3 HR. At some point you bought an Ambit 3. If I knew where to look for the Polar forums, I'm sure I'd see you there complaining about your V800.

Some parting advice..... pick up a fitness book or two from THIS century, and learn how to do intervals, and how to do them *properly.* Although you now say the Fenix is giving you a low VO2max number, it seems in an earlier thread you agreed with the figure:

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?373398-VO2max-And-Calories-Burned&p=967772#post967772

=================
DJFAITHFUL
My advice is not to rely on a watch for VO2 max numbers. There are a number of sub-maximal tests one can take that will give you a good estimate of VO2 max, like the following:

http://www.runningforfitness.org/calc/vo2max/cooper

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/OneAndHalf.html

An alternative would be to simply take the ~$100 plunge and actually get tested for your real VO2max.

YOU:
Thank you for this. The second link with the calculator actually gave me pretty close to what the F5 is giving me.

Looks like I need to work harder...
======================

I'm sure we'll see you back when in 2019 when they announce the Fenix 6!

0 ChevronLugs over 8 years ago

@bcalvanese

You sold the first Ultra, then bought a Spartan Sport

Spartan Sport Wrist HR...

Eh, I have an Ambit3 Peak, an SSU, and added the fenix 5 to the mix. I get the geekery in some of this. If he has the disposable income, no biggie. That written, there is quite a bit of switching back and forth without a clear definition of need. Oh well, it's fun messing with this stuff.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

@bcalvanese

Lol. I do follow your posts in the Suunto forums, and I know that your *new* Spartan Ultra is your second Ultra. You sold the first Ultra, then bought a Spartan Sport, sold that, then bought the Fenix 5. Now you're back to an Ultra. You originally had a Fenix 3 and complained that your tracks didn't look good as you walked around the perimeter of 15 story buildings only 5 feet from the walls. You then moved on to a Fenix 3 HR. At some point you bought an Ambit 3. If I knew where to look for the Polar forums, I'm sure I'd see you there complaining about your V800.

I did not sell anything. I returned the Ultra to try out the new Sport with the OHR, and returned that to get the F5. I wanted to try the new devices that came out, and even mentioned in the post that I may have jumped the gun because I am compulsive like that.

I don't know where you got that 15 story building thing from as I don't go anywhere near tall buildings. You not only twist my words, but add your own BS into the mix.

Some parting advice..... pick up a fitness book or two from THIS century, and learn how to do intervals, and how to do them *properly.* Although you now say the Fenix is giving you a low VO2max number, it seems in an earlier thread you agreed with the figure:

https://forums.garmin.com/showthread.php?373398-VO2max-And-Calories-Burned&p=967772#post967772

=================
DJFAITHFUL
My advice is not to rely on a watch for VO2 max numbers. There are a number of sub-maximal tests one can take that will give you a good estimate of VO2 max, like the following:

http://www.runningforfitness.org/calc/vo2max/cooper

http://www.exrx.net/Calculators/OneAndHalf.html

An alternative would be to simply take the ~$100 plunge and actually get tested for your real VO2max.

YOU:
Thank you for this. The second link with the calculator actually gave me pretty close to what the F5 is giving me.

Looks like I need to work harder...
======================

Yes, you had me thinking that maybe my fitness level was poor, but after thinking about it and looking back on the results I was getting from other devices over the past couple years that I have been increasing my fitness level, I don't think its poor at all. I certainly don't think its elite, but at least good.

Why don't you buy a book other than the one that was written by that dude that you seem to be infatuated with. Also realize that most of the mainstream devices use heart rate. Many experts think that steady state is better for overall cardio fitness than HIIT. Sure HIIT has its value but you speak of it as its the only thing that will increase fitness level. I also told you at least 3 times that I do intervals, but I also do steady state. I went from barely being able to walk a mile to being able to power walk 10 miles and run 5 miles in 2 years.

I might be old school, but the basic rules of fitness still apply today. I have used those basic rules and have improved my fitness level and will continue to do so no matter what people like you say.

I'm sure we'll see you back when in 2019 when they announce the Fenix 6!

You may very well see me back because I love trying out new devices, and am admittedly compulsive like that. And if Garmin one day decides to fix all the issues that seem to carry over from new device to new device, I may even be able to depend on them one day.

One thing I do know is that the Suunto's have worked every time for me so far, and I have never lost a workout with them.

I can not say that about Garmin's. They have always given me issues over the years.

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

I've been using the one F3 and now a new F5 since March 2015. I have trained and competed with the F3 and have worn it 24/7.

Here's a summary of my use of the device(s)

In that time, I've not lost 1 activity other then when it was my error. I've also haven't experienced any of the other issues that you mention other then weak GPS performance before the GPS update on the F3. When I have tech issues I always blame the user (myself) first before blaming the equipment. Maybe I'm just lucky? Best of luck with Suunto.

0 timgrose over 8 years ago

It is at least fairly easy to assess fitness levels/ability. Do a local road race and see how you get on - can you beat more than beat you for instance. Failing that goto a track (one lap is normally 400m in lane 1 so no worries about possibly dodgy GPS!) and run say 5000 as hard as you can and note the time and goto something like http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup15.html and see what your age graded score is.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

It is at least fairly easy to assess fitness levels/ability. Do a local road race and see how you get on - can you beat more than beat you for instance. Failing that goto a track (one lap is normally 400m in lane 1 so no worries about possibly dodgy GPS!) and run say 5000 as hard as you can and note the time and goto something like http://www.howardgrubb.co.uk/athletics/wmalookup15.html and see what your age graded score is.

I just did this one and mine came out good...

http://knightsofknee.com/calculators/FitnessTestCalc.htm

gender: male
age: 59
weight: 180 lbs.
time for 1 mile walk: 14 minutes (could do it faster)
heart rate at end: 120 (maybe a little higher if I did it faster)
fitness level: 37.9 (good)

The F5 has me at 22 (poor)
Both my Suunto's have me at: good
my Polar V800 has me at: good
Just had a stress test done a couple weeks ago and my cardiologist has me at: good

Here is a 9 mile trail run I did today...

http://www.movescount.com/moves/move153131020

look how long I can keep my heart rate in zone 4 & 5 and with a VO2max of: 41 (very good).

So I guess the Garmin is right and everyone else is wrong?

What a joke...:)

Edit: I meant garmin not your post.

0 Olu.F. over 8 years ago

So I guess the Garmin is right and everyone else is wrong?

What a joke...:)

You must think highly of yourself if you assume Garmin's are 'a joke' because it doesn't work for you. If it's not working for you then return it and move on.

FYI, one of my close friends (who just turned 60) ran Boston Marathon 6 days ago and raced Ironman Texas yesterday. It was his slowest Ironman, but he still finished it in 13 hours. He uses a Garmin BTW.