Fenix 6 Comparison To Apple Watch Series 5

runningfan97 said:

The most "serious" runners I have met in my now almost twenty years of running did not even wear a watch. They were running on tracks where nobody needs a GPS watch at all. Neither in races nor in trainings. A 20$ stop watch or a coach at the side are enough.

If you are talking about track racing then sure, you don't "need" a watch, but I use my Fenix 6S like a stopwatch on the track during training and use the lap function to record my interval times. The same goes for all of the other runners I train with in my club, of all abilities. If I really cared about pace I would also use my footpod, but I find the GPS works well enough to record the distance pretty accurately and generally use the pace as a relative guide of my effort levels during the main session.

In the old days, marathon runners didn't have watches to help them but now almost everyone runs with a watch apart from the elite runners who have pacers and a lead bike to follow. Strava is a big reason for that.

scotthunter2 said:

If you are talking about track racing then sure, you don't "need" a watch, but I use my Fenix 6S like a stopwatch on the track during training and use the lap function to record my interval times.

Yes, same goes for my AW5 in combination with my Stryd where I will do a track workout as soon as I posted this.

And to replace two myths: surely does the AW have the ability to take laps with hardware buttons. And second: of course you can do proper road racing with it without this annoying countdown at the start. Just take the right running app and you are fine. You can define your lap key behaviour as you like.

runningfan97 said:

And to replace two myths: surely does the AW have the ability to take laps with hardware buttons.

Forgive my ignorance as I have never owned an AW (only played with one in the Apple Store). But can the side button function as a start/stop button without relying on the touch screen? And can you scroll between data fields and change music volume with gloves on like you can with the Fenix 6?

I ran an S2 and more recently an S4 for a while but found it too fiddly in general use and almost useless when hiking. But one thing it does have is proper Ordnance Survey 1:25k mapping via ViewRanger app. Apple Watch and all WearOS watches like the Casio etc can run the ViewRanger app .... which is my least favourite app but I do massively prefer OS maps and this is stopping me buying a fenix. Garmin need their own solution for OS 1:25k maps on a watch .... even the ancient epix still supposedly supports 1:50k

MiniEggS said:

Garmin need their own solution for OS 1:25k maps on a watch .... even the ancient epix still supposedly supports 1:50k

I doubt that will ever happen. The screen is too small. Maybe on the 6X but the technology would need to be scalable across the range (i.e. on the 6S screen). I never use the maps when I'm running, only when I'm hiking. And for simply following a trail it works pretty well. If I want detailed mapping I get my iPhone 11 Pro out and use OS Maps.

When the 5X was first released it supported 1:50k mapping and even the 5 Plus full range supported it too, but when the 6 series arrived they chose to drop it off everything except the ancient epix and the latest Marq Commander strangely. I do need to get a newer more waterproof phone at some point but I hate getting it out in bad weather (yes I have an aquapack) as it is such an important device I prefer to keep it safe / minimise the risk of damage. Personally I find the boundaries and contour lines and most importantly different types of rights of way of a OS 1:25k map really useful. The topo map currently on the fenix I find is a very poor substitute and you may as well have a 245 with a single line on IMHO

Just a few thoughts on recent posts.

I get OldAssDude's switching tendency.  These watches get really close, but not close enough, to be just right.  Both the Fenix and AW miss in key ways for what I'm trying to accomplish.  Give me a smarter Fenix or an Apple Watch with more of a workout focus.  

Actually thought of wearing two watches, tried it even, but it doesn't really work.

You can manipulate the AW with gloves.  They make gloves with tips that work on phones, that also work on the AW.  Of course, I've also had long sleeves mess with the AW, something that doesn't happen with a Fenix.

Agree with people saying buttons are better than the AW for workouts.

Agree on the AW having better HR accuracy.  My Garmin spikes sometimes and gets weird.

Sleep tracking, if you have the battery life, with an app like auto sleep is much better on the AW.

Weather, also much better on the AW.

Splits can be done by double clicking the side button on the AW.  I've miss hit it before so it's not an ideal solution to me.

GPS is still better on the Garmin side, at least where I mostly go.

They are almost different products, kind of like a sedan vs a pickup, 

MiniEggS said:

I do need to get a newer more waterproof phone at some point but I hate getting it out in bad weather (yes I have an aquapack) as it is such an important device I prefer to keep it safe / minimise the risk of damage.

It's funny how people still think that they need to put their phones in a waterproof case. The latest iPhones have been water resistant for nearly 3 and a half years. My iPhone 11 Pro is IP68 rated. They can be submerged in 4m of water for 30 minutes so they will cope with even monsoon rain. I don't even use a case any more. I store my iPhone in a pouch called FitBag and take it out when I want to use it.

Not all of us change our phones every couple of years Also capacitive touch screens don;t work too well in the rain/wet fingers