F5 Sapphire upgrade from F3HR

Former Member over 8 years ago

Hi all,

I wondered if anyone has made the jump from the F3HR to the F5 and if so are you happy and can you share your thoughts? I am considering upgrading for the battery life and extra metrics but any feed back would be welcome.

Also,

Generally - what is the F5 like? What bugs does it have etc?

Thanks in advance

0 carl.andersson over 8 years ago

I'm actually finding instant pace on the watch to be pretty good. In fact I've just removed my foot pod from my shoes as I suspect it's linked to some issues I'm seeing with the run dynamics data.

Do you run with the garmin Run chest strap? I'm starting to wonder if I haven't seen any glaring instant pace issues because I use a chest strap? I've never used a foot pod.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

Do you run with the garmin Run chest strap? I'm starting to wonder if I haven't seen any glaring instant pace issues because I use a chest strap? I've never used a foot pod.

Hi there, I use a HRM-RUN v4 that I've had for just under a year. I'm not sure if it can get pace/cadence data from a chest strap, I think this can only come from gps, watch gyro or foot pod... but I could well be wrong on that. I left my foot pod at home for this mornings run and I was really pleased to see how good the pace and gps track data looked.

0 carl.andersson over 8 years ago

Hi there, I use a HRM-RUN v4 that I've had for just under a year. I'm not sure if it can get pace/cadence data from a chest strap, I think this can only come from gps, watch gyro or foot pod... but I could well be wrong on that. I left my foot pod at home for this mornings run and I was really pleased to see how good the pace and gps track data looked.

The HRM-RUN4 gives you cadence data as part of the Running Dynamics information. I've always found the cadence data from the strap is superior to that which I get from the watch - I sometimes run with a Wahoo chest strap so no Running Dynamics information.
I guess it would be strange behaviour if it was taking the cadence data from the strap if you were also using a footpod.

0 Former Member over 8 years ago

The HRM-RUN4 gives you cadence data as part of the Running Dynamics information. I've always found the cadence data from the strap is superior to that which I get from the watch - I sometimes run with a Wahoo chest strap so no Running Dynamics information.
I guess it would be strange behaviour if it was taking the cadence data from the strap if you were also using a footpod.

I'm pretty sure it takes cadence from the foot pod over the strap. Recently I saw some gaps in my run dynamics data but cadence looked fine.

0 iustinp over 8 years ago

I'm actually finding instant pace on the watch to be pretty good. In fact I've just removed my foot pod from my shoes as I suspect it's linked to some issues I'm seeing with the run dynamics data.

Interesting, when I run without the foot pod and at as constant speed as I can hold, I can clearly see the instance pace vary a lot. With a food pot, it looks (I can't check this) spot-on, and I can correlate changes in pace on the watch with my own speed changes.

Well, whatever works for you/me/anybody.

P.S.: I also don't have problems with the alarms.

0 carl.andersson over 8 years ago

Interesting, when I run without the foot pod and at as constant speed as I can hold, I can clearly see the instance pace vary a lot. With a food pot, it looks (I can't check this) spot-on, and I can correlate changes in pace on the watch with my own speed changes.

Well, whatever works for you/me/anybody.

P.S.: I also don't have problems with the alarms.

Do you run with the HRM-Run chest strap or just the watch?

0 iustinp over 8 years ago

Do you run with the HRM-Run chest strap or just the watch?

Usually with the HRM-Run, indeed.

0 bane.lukic over 8 years ago

I'm pretty sure it takes cadence from the foot pod over the strap.

For the cadence, strap has higher priority than the footpod.

0 milkywaye over 8 years ago

I was going to go from the 3HR to the 5X.. but in the end went to the 5 (sapphire version)
Glad I did!!!

I didn't have an issue with the size of the 3HR until AFTER I stopped using it. Realised that the 3HRwas not as comfortable as I thought it was!!. Weird
With the 5 I forget it is on.. so comfortable.

Why the 5 and not the 5X..
a. better battery life on the 5
b. I am getting old (50 next week).. love the idea of maps on the 5X but I know my eyesight is going to struggle with it
c. Maps/navigation on a watch without a touchscreen is just going to mean you spend half your time setting up than using.. regardless of how slick the UI is

I also much prefer the interface and some of the new features

In terms of performance I am no more or less happy with the 5. I am the same level of happy which is a 9/10 for me.
But I have been using GPS since the Forerunner 301 came out and so am more tolerant than most I suspect as I see a nice improvement in each generation

I personally prefer the 5 over the 935 because I use the 5 as a regular watch for the 22ish hours I am not doing sport each day

If you can afford it.. upgrade!

UPDATE: scrub that.. converted to the 935. issues with connectivity