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Open Water Track

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Hi,  How accurate is the Open Water GPS with the Fenix 6 Pro?   I will be coming from an Apple Watch so the bar is very high.   Is anyone prepared to share a strava track for me to view?

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member

    I have a Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Sapphire, my previous watch was a Fenix 3 and very accurate, however the Garmin 6X Pro is a disaster when it comes to open water swim tracking. It tracks the swim route accurately however the distances are wildly inaccurate. My swim stroke hasn't changed in 20 years and is a fairly lazy front crawl. The watch performs badly when others have worn it as well. Garmin are in complete denial of any problem and have thus far been extremely unhelpful only stating that's it my swim technique. 

    1. My Fenix 3 works fine

    2. Others wearing my watch also recorded inaccurate distances

    3. No where in the documentation is there any statement of some form of Garmin approved swim technique. 

    Would I recommend this watch? Unless they agree that it's faulty and replace it definitely NO, this watch isn't at all suitable for use as a swim tracking device. 

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Completely agree! My swim pace and distance in OWS are completely off.

  • 0 in reply to renton82

    https://forums.garmin.com/outdoor-recreation/outdoor-recreation/f/fenix-6-series/230437/fenix-6s-open-water-swimming-under-reporting-distance-pace/1100112

    Please add your findings in this thread AND report this to Garmin.  I have the same experience with a Fenix 6 pro.  Gorgeous looking GPS tracing but decreased distances

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to Olu.F.

    After much uploading of comparison data from friends I swim regularly with Garmin Support have after 3 phone calls and numerous emails agreed to replace my Fenix 6x Pro.

  • 0

    For me it works very well both GPS and HR!

    The HR only 1 beep different compare my test with Polar OH1.

  • 0

    I agree, something is way off with open water swim.  Did one today and it picked up about an extra 1/2 mile which made my average pace much faster then it really was.  The track looks nice but if you try to scroll the track on the PC while watching pace, it had me going at 2 to 5 seconds per 100 yards which is obviously off.  Seems like the 6x or all the 6s need some open water improvements.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to avikoren1

    After much messing about with data comparing my swim to other people's then swapping watches to demonstrate my watch wasn't tracking correctly on anyone elses wrist either Garmin replaced my Fenix 6X but after 2 more swims it's brutally apparent the new one does the same thing:

    The track it produces looks good and follows my swim route accurately

    The distance is disastrously wrong. It's always way too far.

    I believe these watches have a fundamental flaw with open water swimming. Unless this can be fixed very soon I'll be demanding a full refund and either buy something else or switch back to my accurate and reliable older Fenix 3. 

  • 0 in reply to Former Member
    Unknown said:
    I believe these watches have a fundamental flaw with open water swimming. Unless this can be fixed very soon I'll be demanding a full refund and either buy something else or switch back to my accurate and reliable older Fenix 3.

    I have posted a number of swims with my F6 Pro Sapphire throughout this past southern summer that clearly show this not to be the case, as have others, ie there is not a fundamental flaw. Some people have problems. Not all of us do. The issue is what do you do different? What might be ‘broken’ with your watch?

    I swim a 2000m measured and buoyed course. Here's the most recent:

    And strings of others. The longer swims happened because a) went back in for a quick splash without the wetsuit as the weather was warmer or b) extended the right-hand end of the swim to take in some other buoys.

  • Former Member
    0 Former Member in reply to Philip S

    I swim head down front crawl. Same stroke for about 20 years now. My Fenix 3 was really accurate and reliable. Which software and hardware versions are on your Garmin 6? It's it the pro edition? I too am wondering what's different.