This post will be focused on a full year of wearing the Fenix 5X essentially 24/7 in Michigan. It will cover general daily use, exercise, workout plans, and offroad/GPS use.
Daily Use:
- Initially, I was concerned with the size (it is gigantic). I had really never worn a watch, but did a boat-load of research and determined I would focus on the 5X due to its smart/GPS capabilities. Overkill initially, I can totally admit that, but I got a great deal
- When is size a problem? The only time I've really run into size being a problem is with dress shirts that button at the wrist or jackets that have the ability to tighten at the wrist. Other than that, you adapt to the size fairly quick. I don't catch it on much, and remove it when I'm working on things in tight spaces, mainly because I don't want to scratch the frame of the watch.
- The stock Garmin watch band is still intact and only looks worn in a few spots, I've been so satisfied with it that I'd probably pay the extra (~$40) to buy an original again.
- I wear the watch to bed every night and in the shower, I've got absolutely no problems with either.
- We have a Chlorine pool at our house, and even though this is an activity watch that I'm sure is meant for Chlorine training, I try to stay away from it. The pool is really the only thing I take the watch off for.
- Watch Faces - Very cool designs as long as you can get them to work properly from the store. They never seem to load properly or immediately, and good luck changing the colors or layout... Those almost never change properly.
- Battery - Charging the watch was also an initial concern, but I've honestly NEVER been in a situation where I've run out of battery. Even when you are in the red, you've got enough time to charge. Normal watch use with a non-animated watch face will EASILY do a week+ of battery life, even after a year. I can get through around five days of ~2-hour workouts WITH cardio screens and tracking without having to charge. Heavy GPS use will also limit your battery life to a few days (mainly when I'm tracking my ATV rides). No problems with the charging cable, also just do it at my computer and never leave it plugged in once I hit 100%.
- Wrist HRM - I don't have a chest HRM, but the wrist HRM seems to be fairly accurate, I'll have to verify in the future. One problem I've seen so far is that the sensor itself started cracking a few months ago, and I'm not really sure why. I can't tell if it is the entire sensor housing, or just external sealing.
- Smart Phone - Connection seems strong, notifications have been good, exactly what I expected. Music control is easy from the main menu.
- Bluetooth - I've never had a problem with the BT connection, not even when I also have my Jaybird headphones BT'ed to my phone. No problems from switching between my work and home cell either, it does it automatically, I've never noticed the switch.
- Alarm - I use it EVERY morning to either get up and workout, or just go to work. LOVE IT. Way better than waking up my wife with an alarm from my phone, instead it just vibrates on my wrist. You can snooze or shut it off with two buttons.
Exercise:
- Workouts - To me, the ability to set up workouts and put them on a calendar could be the most underrated aspect of the Fenix 5X. I take training programs from Bodybuilding.com, Jim Stoppani, Kris Gethin, ...etc. and program each day into a routine and do it all through the watch; It tracks your HR, sets, reps, supersets, rest, and others. I would complete my workouts and then go back through on my cell phone and put in my reps with how much weight I used (rep tracking is inaccurate, and weight input on the watch is cumbersome).
- Running - I don't run a TON, but I do run. Between running outdoors and on a treadmill, I see a little inconsistency with calories and cadence. My solution to this would probably just get the chest HRM, it would be a more accurate representation. I highly recommend running outside first to calibrate your equipment. Love how easy it is to change your data fields and screen layouts within the app.
- Stair Stepper - It baffles me that Stair Stepper cardio setting doesn't actually track your steps... That seems ridiculous to me and something that would REALLY easy to incorporate.
Garmin Connect:
- Exercise Planning and Database - LOVE IT. Once you've designed a few training days, it is pretty easy to set up all of your reps, supersets, ...etc. My main complaint is that it does not have all of the exercises in the database, or they are named differently. I understand that rep tracking is based on motion, but if I could choose an exercise in the database that represents the motion I want, it would be really nice to have the ability to add a custom name for it. I find myself attempting to pick the closest exercise in the database that represents what I'm trying to do if I can't find it. I then will text write the actual exercise in the notes section after I create the workout. Also, the search function should be based on keywords, NOT if you have it written correctly or in order. For example - The database will recognize you searching Triceps Extension and populate things like Overhead Triceps Extension, or Triceps Extension (because it is EXACTLY how it is written). But if you type Overhead Extension, or miss the 's' in Triceps Extension, nothing will populate. Again, this should be an easy fix.
GPS for ATV Use:
This is the section that I had to do the MOST research on. My initial goal was to use my watch while ATVing Michigan trails and just pre-program the given trails in my watch prior to leaving so I know the layouts and can always find a trail from my watch (this was easier said than done). The DNR provides both .shp (shape files) and .gpx files on the website, which are beautiful, but utilizing them on the Fenix 5X is tough. Unfortunately, it just seems like a black box on forums where no one really has answers for offroad use because folks are using equipment like the Oregon, or other Garmin GPS'... Please add functionality to the Fenix 5X! I don't want to set up a handlebar mount, and I don't want to buy another GPS.
- Finding an app for the Fenix 5X - First, I could not find ANYWHERE that even remotely identified using the watch in an offroad application. The main problem being that every app out there is meant for a ROUTE (meaning directional), and did not incorporate if there was a dead-end. The tough part was finding an app supported by Garmin, where I could edit existing routes, the closest I could get was Dynamic Watch (see below for feedback). I did also attempt Strava and Basecamp.
- Editing Routes - Talk about a difficult task in any of these apps. It is nearly impossible to figure out how to split tracks, connect them together in a 3-way fork, or edit a route from a point that is not the start or finish.
- Importing Routes - If your shape file or .gpx has a dead end the application will auto-connect the line to any other point on your route. This makes the created DNR maps almost unusable and it is difficult to determine your trails while looking at the watch... That and when looking at a complete overview, it is ugly as hell. This must have something to do with how the files are actually recorded, based on locations and timestamps, I'm not entirely sure.
- I've found on my last trip to just zoom in on my watch during 'Track Me' to 0.2mi scale and just hope the area is labeled well on the map.
- Dynamic Watch - Easy to use app for the most part, but you only edit route lines from the start or finish point
If you could select a waypoint to work from, or a section of line for addition or remove, I think it would resolve existing file problems. You would be able to connect the lines that are dead ends and actually create a route to follow, or a map system. Generally speaking though, the use through the watch for ANYTHING else is flawless, and the program online is straight-forward. I think I paid $30 to get the ability for premium features, which was worth it.
This what I've got so far, I'll probably add some edits as responses come through, or I remember more about what I love and hate. This is an easy decision for me and would ABSOLUTELY purchase it again. I use it far more than I ever expected and can't believe the functionality that is already incorporated into the product.
