Advice for getting started with my new Fenix: Which sport profiles should I use for bodyweight strength training and for tennis, as well as some other questions

Former Member over 4 years ago

Hi dear Garmin friends!

I just got my first Garmin device – a Fenix 6 Pro – and this is my first post here, so apologies if my questions are stupid. I did search for answers, but I'm still seeking clarity on a couple of 'gray area' things.

1. I know I can create custom sport profiles – but which sport profile should I use for bodyweight strength training? As far as I can see, the choice of sport profile used when copying/creating a new sport profile matters for two reasons: firstly, it affects the data fields in activity, and secondly, it shows up in corresponding categories in Garmin Connect. I use bodyweight training for strengthening my muscles, so the "strength" profile would appear to be the choice. However, it's totally confusing as it tries to count reps or suggesting a break even though I'm, for instance, just holding a plank. It gets it totally wrong. On the other hand, "cardio" doesn't seem to make sense either because I do quite heavy muscle-building bodyweight exercises. So what would you suggest so that it appears in the right place and in the right way?

2. Same question as above but for tennis. Would you recommend simply creating a custom tennis profile by copying "cardio"? I tried that – but it still tries to measure "sets"!?

3. I absolutely love the breathwork feature – but why does it have to be taken into account in the stats for all workouts? I mean, a breathing exercise before going to sleep should not appear anywhere as a workout, in my opinion. Is there a way to prevent that? How can I exclude breathwork exercises from all stats (while still being able to analyze my heart rate and stress levels during breathwork exercises)? The same question applies if I were to make a custom profile for car trips.

4. I also started using the yoga feature. However, it's quite annoying that the whole yoga workout shows up as "1 pose" even though I followed a long yoga workout program with many different poses. Any suggestions on how to solve this minor annoyance?

5. I also wear the Oura Ring 2. Is there a way to connect the two devices in order to see some data or at least the current battery status of the Oura ring on the watch as a widget?

6. How much blue light does the screen of the watch emit? On my phone and laptop, I use blue-light-blocking apps (Flux and Twilight) after sunset. Is something similar available for the Garmin watch?

7. What's the best/easiest way to track progress over time in a specific sport apart from VO2Max? My sports are running, bodyweight training, tennis, rowing, biking, yoga, and sometimes hiking. I haven't thus far been able to find a good way to track progress in the Connect app.

8. How can I give access to all my Garmin data to my coach (not talking about Garmin coach, haha, but about my real person coach :))?

9. How can I see raw HRV data graphed hourly over time?

10. What's, in your opinion, the best platform for remote/online coach-athlete work that works nicely with the Fenix?

11. How can I see Trendline Popularity Routing (heatmaps) on my watch?

12. Is it possible to open the map view on the watch without starting an activity?

13. What's the benefit of connecting my watch to a computer vs only connecting via mobile or wifi to the connect app directly? Is there anything (apart from installing firmware beta versions) that I can do only if I connect my watch to the computer?

Sorry for so many questions. Thanks very much in advance for any help! :)

Tilman

0 mcalista over 4 years ago

I don't do some of the sports you list, so I can't answer all of your questions, but here goes:

6. Well, the screen is pretty small, so it's not much blue light in the first place (compared with a phone or computer monitor). But you can adjust the backlight brightness down to 5 or 10%. And you can use the Backlight After Sunset, and Do Not Disturb settings to activate/deactivate gesture backlight.

8 & 10. Find out what platform your coach uses, then work out how to get your data there. Most platforms will have instructions on how to link the platform with your Garmin account.

11. Enable to Popularity Theme in the map settings.

12. Use the Map or Navigate activities.

13. Faster syncing of music. The fact that you can charge and sync at the same time. And you can copy raw .gpx files for courses directly onto the watch, rather than messing around with importing into Garmin Connect, creating a course, then sending it to the watch. All of these are pretty marginal, and I think most people just use mobile/wifi syncing.

0 bluefish over 4 years ago

What's the benefit of connecting my watch to a computer vs only connecting via mobile or wifi to the connect app directly?

Is there anything (apart from installing firmware beta versions) that I can do only if I connect my watch to the computer?

Map updates require a connection to the computer.

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to mcalista

Thanks for your reply, mcalista! Some comments from me:

mcalista said:
6. Well, the screen is pretty small, so it's not much blue light in the first place

6. Yes, it's small, but I would still love to have a blue-light filter on it if I look at the watch in the night. Are you saying that such an app that filters the blue light doesn't exist for the Fenix?

mcalista said:
8 & 10. Find out what platform your coach uses, then work out how to get your data there.

8/10. My coach uses the Vdot02 platform – and yes, it syncs with Garmin – but the synced information is quite limited. I haven't found a way to show my coach more detailed data (body battery, etc.) from Garmin Connect. Vdot02 only syncs data specific to one activity, and even then not everything that I can see on Garmin.

mcalista said:
11. Enable to Popularity Theme in the map settings.

11. Ah, I found it! However, even after switching it on, I don't see any popularity routes. What am I doing wrong? On Garmin Connect, I first need to choose a sport (running, trail running, or cycling) in order to see popularity routes. Do I need to do something similar on the watch?

mcalista said:
12. Use the Map or Navigate activities.

13. Faster syncing of music. The fact that you can charge and sync at the same time. And you can copy raw .gpx files for courses directly onto the watch, rather than messing around with importing into Garmin Connect, creating a course, then sending it to the watch. All of these are pretty marginal, and I think most people just use mobile/wifi syncing.

12/13. Great, thanks!

0 Former Member over 4 years ago in reply to bluefish

bluefish said:
Map updates require a connection to the computer.

Thanks, but aren't maps updated automatically through firmware updates or something like that? Why would I want to update maps manually? At least I know now that, at least for the time being, I don't have any reason to connect my watch to my computer :)

0 bluefish over 4 years ago in reply to Former Member

I don't have any reason to connect my watch to my computer :)

Your map may already be out of date when the watch is delivered. If you want to have the latest maps, you have to connect the watch to the computer.

aren't maps updated automatically through firmware updates

What makes you think that ? Map updates have nothing to do with firmware. You can also install free maps or buy additional maps from Garmin. No matter what you do. If you want to manage your maps, you cannot avoid a cable connection to the computer.

Thanks very much in advance for any help!

you are welcome. Have fun with your watch.

0 bluefish over 4 years ago

How much blue light does the screen of the watch emit?

that is very different :)

forums.garmin.com/.../1010405

0 GTarg over 4 years ago

about tennis, you should copy the "other" activity (or download one from connect iq) but bear in mind that GPS isn't that accurate with those type of sports. I turned gps off but feel free to try it!