If you must wear your Fenix on the left hand

For those of you whose Fenix shows accurate Elevation Gain/Total Ascent numbers when worn on the right wrist or anywhere else but the left wrist, I made an experiment using a washer made out of hard foam to raise the watch by approximately 1mm while isolating the optical HR module so its operation isn't affected. Short hike on a very hot and humid morning ensured lots of sweat that would otherwise interfere with the sensor opening resulting in erratic readings.

Another friend with a dysfunctional F7s because she wears on her left hand and presumably a heavy sweater, watch recording excessive Elev Gains and problem stopped when she wore on the right hand. I'm doing this because while wearing on the right fixes the problem, we shouldn't have to and we don't want to. Today's experiments was successful against the reference Fenix 3HR but I would be more convinced when I have a chance to do the same on a much longer trail run activity.

Note: This post is not for the vast majority of people who have had satisfactory experience with their Fenix series but for those not insignificant number of individuals who have been frustrated by the occurrence (so many posts in the forums and I've seen them all). I'm hoping this is the beginning of hope. It's also not about the optical Heart Rate operation but the reasonable accuracy of the barometric altimeter function mainly Elevation Gains / Total Ascent numbers. 

  • Although wearing a glove helped deal with sweat, the sensor opening is still exposed to other elements that skew Total Ascent such as air pressure, rain so I began experimenting with wrapping a Buff on a numerous occasions. I'm showing two photos because they recorded the same 10km trail course in the same direction on two different days with constrasting weather conditions. Top photo training run, bottom photo race day. The accuracy is amazing with a simple, comfortable approach to covering the baro sensor opening.

  • This is how I have my wrist bend during cycling. I am having exactly the same issues as you. I wouldn't bother for few meters difference but usually it's 1.3x more or even double like in your example. I am yet to try wearing in on my right hand which could hopefully improve the result as the altimeter/barometr ports are not covered with my skin.

    Either way it's not something you'd expect at a 1k dollar watch Disappointed

  • This is how I have my wrist bend during cycling

    Position the watch an inch or so above the wrist bone as recommended and it then becomes almost impossible to get skin anywhere near the barometer ports