More secure watch band pins / springbars (lost both original ones in 12h, F6 Pro)?

I use an elastic watch band, the downside is that this band can hold onto the spring mechanism and compress the watchband-pin so it opens.

I used this watch band for a half a year and it never happened, but it happend twice in one day now, first while carrying some stuff where I had to push my hand inside a sort of tube and it opened the lower pin.

Then later in the night it opened up the top pin while pulling my hand away from under the pillow. My first thought was, ok the non original replacement pin sucks (the lower one was lost during the accident earlier), but it was the other one that opened up, the remaining original Garmin one.

So what alternatives are there? A pin that needs more force or even a tool to move the spring, a pin that is smooth and give no attack points for a elastic band to hold on and pull it open (Garmin one is really easy to grip).

Has Garmin used these pins before? Its odd that both failed within 12h, maybe the springs lost tension somehow, did Garmin do tests? I noticed my old F5 has fixed pins.

Edit / Conclusion:
- quick fit bands are probably fine
- elastic bands (like Nick Mankeys) can catch them-self in the grooves meant to release the spring-bars and pop them out if stretched in an unlucky angle
- replacement spring bars arrived, they show the same tension as the old one I got left, so I guess it was just bad luck having them pop out in such a narrow time-frame suddenly

- the F6 uses a very uncommon large pivot diameter (that's the term for the end of the bar that fits into the watch), so there aren't probably any alternatives to use
- on diving watches it seems to be common to replace spring-bars every 6 month (again quick-fit user should be fine as the quick-fit mechanism covers/protects the spring-bar releases)
- Garmin customer support has replacements to send out, but not all support employees know about this and my say "not we can't help", try again with a different one

- for elastic bands you might want to check if you could fit a tube over the spring-bar or use nail-polish to glue them semi-permanent and smooth out the grooves a bit with it

Top Replies

Odie21 over 3 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel +5

Whether you choose to listen to me or not, you CAN’T use normal Spring Bars other than Garmin’s (not sure about the Seiko Fat bars as they’re at work and I’m at home).

I’d like…
gaijin over 3 years ago in reply to Garmin - Chris +4 suggested

Garmin - Chris said:
The best information I can give you, since the Fenix 6 was released, through all means that we are in contact with our customer base, I have not come across even one Fenix 6 series…
4543228 over 3 years ago +3

Two ways that might resolve the issue: Some finger nail polish dabbed onto the sliding prongs of the spring bar will keep them from sliding and can easily be removed with acetone. Or find a thin plastic…

All Replies

0 niccig over 3 years ago

I got some Barton spring bars from Amazon that I used to replace quick release pins in some third party silicone bands (couldn't find any quick fit bands that I liked). They've been pretty stable - the springs have popped out a couple times, but that was from me doing something dumb like catching my watch band on my shopping cart. And since the pins are encased by the end of the band they don't get lost.

0 philipshambrook over 3 years ago in reply to BartLoffeld

BartLoffeld said:
While it might be less of a problem when the watch comes off while running or cycling, for any open water sports there is simply no room for error, as you loose the watch in the water.

While there have been few posts here about issues with the Quick-Fit straps - I can’t remember the last time I saw one - I accept they can release unexpectedly. However, I’ve had no such problems and I swim 3 or 4 times a week in the open water. I have no doubt that my view might change should I have an experience like yours.

0 AndreiDracul over 3 years ago in reply to BartLoffeld

Yeah the spring bar... missing the good old screws of the F3

0 Chris.J.Hart over 3 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel

While I wait for my Nick Mankey strap to be delivered I've been reading this thread with interest and decided to make some cover tubes for the pins to hopefully prevent the problem. I knew that Dremel I bought years ago would come in useful for something someday...

0 KrapfenKringel over 3 years ago in reply to Chris.J.Hart

Hope you left not sharp edges that might eat through the straps fabric. ;)

Otherwise great idea, this should be very secure.

0 Chris.J.Hart over 3 years ago in reply to KrapfenKringel

No sharp edges, all nicely smoothed off.

0 bluefish over 3 years ago in reply to Chris.J.Hart

Are there cracks in the plastic? Or is that wrong?

0 Chris.J.Hart over 3 years ago in reply to bluefish

Just had a really good look, no cracks or marks at all. Must just have been image artefacts/dirt.

0 bluefish over 3 years ago in reply to Chris.J.Hart

It's good! Fortunately :) Good job!

0 BartLoffeld over 3 years ago in reply to philipshambrook

yep. Can understand that. For normal activities I have no major issues with quickstraps. I understand the ability to easily change the straps opens up a new market segment. Basically people who also want to wear the watch 24/7 but perhaps don't necessarily like the looks of it, can now improve it by just swapping for a leather or more stylish strap for instance. It is a nice feature from that view.

For me as a windsurfer however, especially after my experience, i need full reliability. When you hit the water there is an impact on the watch and strap, and it has demonstrated to open.

I've just bought a new Fenix (Ouch...) as i use it on a daily basis also for my running and cycling. Although my preference was the new Fenix 6, I have decided to go for the Fenix 5 plus. The Fenix 5 plus still has screwed strap bars, and i can put a non-quick fit strap on it for the ultimate reliability when i go for windsurfing or use it in harsh environments.