Very poor GPS performance with the Fenix 5 - I've had enough!

So I went for my usual 10 mile run yesterday with the new F5.

Here is the route:

https://www.strava.com/activities/955234611

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1694808792

In short, I was really disappointed with the Fenix 5. I was hoping to use it as a replacement for my old Forerunner 630 and HRM-Run strap, but after yesterday, I don't think I will be using the Fenix again for running.

Pace was all over the place - I'm not talking about real time pace, either, but average lap pace. Even mid way though a mile, the lap pace was very erratic - one minute I'd be doing a 7:30 min/miles, the next minute I'd be doing 8:30 min/miles, even though I was keeping a steady pace.

It was a route I have done many times. With my old Forerunner 630, I knew exactly where I would be - next to my house - when the 10th mile registered. With the Fenix, I had to run about 200m down the road past my house to register the 10th mile. The Fenix had told me that my average pace for the run was 8:30 min/mile, but to my surprise, after I had uploaded the run to Strava, I was told I had averaged 8:13 min/mile. Then I looked at the GPS track and noticed that the last 2 miles were all over the place. I live in a small city and there are a few relatively tall buildings near where I live, but it's not exactly NYC. I've never had issues before when running though the city centre, unless I had started a run without getting a GPS lock.

Also, the heart rate data from the optical sensor is completely meaningless, saying I averaged 177bpm and maxing on 200bpm, even though it was a recovery run! Earlier that day, during a cross country duathlon race, my average HR had been 133bpm.

I want to return the Fenix 5 now as it's useless for running. I expected better from Garmin since it's supposed to be their flagship money-no-object multi-sport watch.

I'm now seriously thinking about going down the Sale of Goods Act route to get a refund as the watch is not fit for purpose in consideration of the price of the watch and its stated claims. I think the issues with the watch are inherent and down to hardware design - something that isn't going to be fixed with a firmware update.

I think my experience is similar to others from reading the other posts on this board?

0 jsanneblad over 8 years ago

Hello

Just curious, since I also upgraded from a 630 to the Fenix 5:

Why don't you use buy a Footpod?

I bought a Garmin Footpod with the Fenix 5 for $40 and that + the HRM-Run gives me exact pacing everywhere along the route with almost no delay. In fact using the footpod I have much better instant pace on the watch than I ever had on the 630 without a foot pod. It also helps the days (like today) when I'm running on the threadmill, the distance using the footpod matches the threadmill distance very well.

So I have exact pulse with the HRM-Run, very good pace using the footpod, and also get solid 24/7 pulse measurement, resting HR etc from the Fenix compared to the 630.

Or am I missing something?

0 FlipStone over 8 years ago

Yeah, that about sums up my experiences as well (apart from the OHR, I have no complaints at all about that one... Every now and then it does act weird, but that's just the downside of wrist OHR imo and overall it performs pretty fine in my case).

I can imagine that GPS performance is good enough for plenty of people not really running specifically by pace or who use it more 'freely' so to say. But for me (where I want to train towards a certain pace for example, and also really plan my races pretty tightly) it's just not good enough. And you are also the more demanding user who runs (HAH!) into the limitations of this specific device. Overall it tracks kinda decent and overall stats seem fine, but it all is too noisy for me.

Hoping to get the 935 soon as I expect that to perform a whole bit better, but still waiting on it...

0 scotthunter2 over 8 years ago

Hello

Just curious, since I also upgraded from a 630 to the Fenix 5:

Why don't you use buy a Footpod?

I bought a Garmin Footpod with the Fenix 5 for $40 and that + the HRM-Run gives me exact pacing everywhere along the route with almost no delay. In fact using the footpod I have much better instant pace on the watch than I ever had on the 630 without a foot pod. It also helps the days (like today) when I'm running on the threadmill, the distance using the footpod matches the threadmill distance very well.

So I have exact pulse with the HRM-Run, very good pace using the footpod, and also get solid 24/7 pulse measurement, resting HR etc from the Fenix compared to the 630.

Or am I missing something?

That doesn't solve the issue of poor GPS performance.

That would also mean spending £50 on another fitness accessory after having spent £590 on a watch, and not being able to sell my old 630 with the HRM-Run.

I like the Fenix 5 as an everyday watch, but would rather use the 630 and chest strap for running. If I was a rich man I would keep both, but I'm not and I'm struggling to justify keeping the Fenix.

0 PatrickNSF over 8 years ago

I think my experience is similar to others from reading the other posts on this board?

I experienced the same and settled on the 935. For me, the F5 tracks were erratic and lap pace (one of my primary metrics) was not consistent. In general, HR was fine, though I seem to get a better read during the run with the 935, which I attribute to weight and the strap.

As a daily wear watch, I would have preferred the F5, but not at the expense of performance.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

I experienced the same and settled on the 935. For me, the F5 tracks were erratic and lap pace (one of my primary metrics) was not consistent. In general, HR was fine, though I seem to get a better read during the run with the 935, which I attribute to weight and the strap.

As a daily wear watch, I would have preferred the F5, but not at the expense of performance.

After owning both of them I'll return both of them. They're just way overpriced and I struggle to see the benefit when comparing to my now sold F3 or my current V800.
FR935 looks so cheap for $500 and F5 Sapphire price is borderline ridiculous. Garmin fans please don't jump as Suunto Spartan Ultra takes the crown for the most overpriced substandard outdoor watch at the moment.

0 ChevronLugs over 8 years ago

Garmin fans please don't jump as Suunto Spartan Ultra takes the crown for the most overpriced substandard outdoor watch at the moment.

Do you own one? I'm betting not. I do, as well as the f5, and an Ambit3 Peak Sapphire. The SSU has come a LONG way and works damn good now.

Plus, there's deals to be had on the SSU. Garmin, not so much.

0 scotthunter2 over 8 years ago

After owning both of them I'll return both of them. They're just way overpriced and I struggle to see the benefit when comparing to my now sold F3 or my current V800.
FR935 looks so cheap for $500 and F5 Sapphire price is borderline ridiculous. Garmin fans please don't jump as Suunto Spartan Ultra takes the crown for the most overpriced substandard outdoor watch at the moment.

100% agree with this. There is no way the 935 should be worth £470, even if it works well as a running watch. It's just another overpriced plastic GPS watch that does the basics no better than a watch of half that price. At least the Fenix is a nicely made timepiece which could arguably justify its price tag, but it doesn't even work properly as a running watch. In that case, if all you want is to tell the time and track all day HR then you would be better off getting a Vivosmart for about £400 less.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

At least the Fenix is a nicely made timepiece which could arguably justify its price tag, but it doesn't even work properly as a running watch.

Not all users ar runners, for me as a cyclist the distance and tracking are spot on compared to my edge 1000....

0 HavardG over 8 years ago

Did you have GLONASS turned on, or were you running on GPS alone?

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Do you own one? I'm betting not. I do, as well as the f5, and an Ambit3 Peak Sapphire. The SSU has come a LONG way and works damn good now.

Plus, there's deals to be had on the SSU. Garmin, not so much.

You're betting not? Hmm... I was one of the very first to own an SSU. This is my third. I've returned two because of various faults recognised by Suunto support. I have more than 100 posts on WatchUSeek SSU forum.
I do know what I'm talking about.