What is Fenix 7 PRO for?

Hi everyone. I know there are several post already reporting the inaccuracy of the Wrist Heart rate base for the Fenix 7 but I am so disappointed with my new Fenix 7 solar pro performance on that way, that I need to tell it loudly.

I am starting using Fenix 7 Solar Pro on January, performing several strength workouts, crossfit workouts and running sessions.  The truth is except for running sessions, the heart rate measured for strength, crossfit or cardio workouts was awful absolutely inaccurate. I do Know that for this kind of training, Wrist heart rate devices are not the best to get a precise value of the heart rate. Before getting into Garmin, I was using iWatch 2 what was far precise than Fenix 7 is! That is why I am so disappointed. 

I´ve been reading many post complaining about the Heart rate measurement of Fenix 6 and 7 for many different sports including running, cycling.... and of course strength workouts.  Here below you can see some screen shots of my crossfit and strength workouts with Fenix 7.... 

Here I was running almost over 120 bpm all the time... see the readings:

Crossfit: Here is evident that no reading was capture at the begining of the WOD:

10 min to start reading "well"

Strenght: Also running above 100 bpm as minimun rate

Most of the times, high heat rate was taken when resting.... 

Running:

My point is, Fenix 7 solar Pro is a multiSport  GPS watch designed for using indoor and outdoor for  around 1K € cost. It is suppose to be the highest tech in multisport gps watches but heart rate measurement is not working properly even using the workouts propose on the strength profile.... or cardio....  If the heat rate is inaccurate, many other features are not reliable such us body battery, VFC, recovery time.... more than 60% of its functionality and what we are paying for.....

Based on the above, what is Fenix 7 solar Pro for? It is just a watch with a rolex price? Can someone from Garmin explain what is Fenix 7 designed for if the heart rate measure is not reliable?

  • Buy a chest strap if wrist HRM does not work for you. It’s the same on all watches that use optical HR. Either it will work with your physiology or not. Experiences may vary from software/hardware version. 
    This one seems not to work for you. So go for external sensor or go for another watch. 


    And just for info: it’s called Apple Watch. Not iWatch. 

  • Thanks for your comment and remarks.
    Yes, i am comsidering buying a chest strap but still hurts me that having a súper multiisport Watch, I have to go back to the past using a chest strap like when I was competing 20 years ago.

    I was using Polar in the past and didnt convince me at all. I was some years without using any health monitoring device till Apple Watch (;-) that provided me a really good results in terms of heart rate readings. Now I decided to start using gamin, brand that always wanted to try. Unfortunately, my experience it is not so good as expected/invest. And of course I expect much more for the price I paid.

  • I understand your thoughts. 
    And I had the same when I first got a Garmin (and later my Apple Watches). 
    I wear both of them, and for me, the AppleWatch is better. Garmin has always problems with my HR since the first watch with OHR. 
    But, also Apple does have problems. Not as much as Garmin, but they do. 
    So both of them are not 100%. Apple is maybe 90% and Garmin 75% in my case. 
    Even if I would use the Apple Watch (Ultra 2 at the moment) for sports, what I do not, I would use it with a HR belt. Simply to eliminate the missing 10%.

    So you simply need to settle your thoughts and realize that OHR on the wrist is not the best. On neither watch and you will need an external sensor for accurate/consistent results.

    I do not expect 100% accurate results from the OHR, I know that the sensors are still not as accurate as the chest straps (Polar OHR for your upper arm are very close to the HR belts). So I’m personally completely fine to pay the money for the watches. It’s state of the art. 

  • Fenix 7 is outdoor recreation and navigation watch first and foremost. For those activities the wrist sensor is reasonably accurate, although it still glitches from time to time. It is great for users who need extreme battery life like backpackers or ultramarathoners. I honestly don't understand why some people buy it for gym workouts. 

    I also find it being inadequate for gym usage and HIIT activities in general. The higher weight of the watch makes it more difficult to get an accurate HR. As others have said, get a chest HR monitor. You can also get a HR sensor that you wear on bicep. 

  • The watch could be $10,000 and it's optical heart rate sensor would struggle when reading activities that involve high amounts of grip strength. When you grip a bar and flex, the contraction of the muscle can briefly halt blood flow through the capillaries that the sensor is watching, hence why a chest strap or bicep strap strap is always recommended.

    As other people have mentioned, the Fenix's weight causes it to flop around on the wrist in activities that involve high amounts of movement which also present problem when trying to get an accurate heart rate.

    I'm a climber and an ultra runner and I wear a strap for most activities that are very cold, very hot or have high wrist flexion. The optical sensor is really only good for steady state activities like casual runs or hikes in moderate temps.

    The wrist is a pretty terrible place to obtain an optical heart rate for most sports unfortunately.

  • I'm using Polar H10, but I was also expecting better accuracy from new better OHR sensor in F7Pro compared to F7, but for me, there is no difference between these watch.

    I also suggested it to my friend and he is absolutely angry with accuracy even while walking... No good deed goes unpunished.

  • If the heat rate is inaccurate, many other features are not reliable such us body battery, VFC, recovery time

    Correct.

    Watch cannot measure correctly HR in some scenarios with wrist is flexed and when hands are cold. Users have reported errors in HR readings for Fenix 7/Epix with steady state training (i.e. running) which implies that at least some of the errors are due to software updates (worse HR algorithm). No response from Garmin to those reports. After users reported such problems for Forerunner watches, Garmin representative stated that Garmin will work on a fix, although no timeline was given. Other users mostly suggest buying a chest strap if one wants accurate HR readings, which tells a lot about reliability of measured HR on these watches.

  • Hi never encounter any strange behavior with my F6Pro during 3 years

    Now i use a F7Xss and since 15.xx firmware HR is not working correctly, abnormal spikes, long drop during the activity...

    ---------- i can't reply for F7Pro---

    ------------------------------------------

    I found these posts, and document them under this thread - https://forums.garmin.com/beta-program/fenix-7-series/f/community-discussion/357529/whr---sudden-spikes-during-constant-effort-activity-run-in-my-case

    We share the WHR Elevate 4 with FRxx5 and F7/E2, software for this sub-component is also the same WHR/BMX 15.1.1/15.01.01.

    I don't know if Sensor Hub is concerned but same situation with version 28.10.

    ---

    https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-965/354823/heart-rate-bug---part-2/1719316#1719316

    This bug has been escalated to the highest level. We have a fix in an upcoming software update, but I do not have a timeline for when it will be released unfortunately. I will update this thread once it's available. I'm very sorry for the frustration in the meantime. 

    ---

    https://forums.garmin.com/sports-fitness/running-multisport/f/forerunner-255-series/324326/erratic-wrist-based-heart-rate-bug-root-cause/1719498#1719498

    We have a fix for this bug but are still conducting tests. I'm very sorry for the frustration, but appreciate your patience as we get closer to releasing the fix. 

    I will update this thread when it is available, and do not have a timeline at the moment.

  • Thanks for information. But for Epix and Fenix 7 no response was given whether this was recognized as a problem or worked on.

  • Following your advices, I have bought a chest strap to compare the heart rate readings from the Fenix 7 pro and the chest strap. Here 3 EMONs and short running session in the running belt:

    6 Min EMON. Firts 3 min readings from chest strap. Last 3 min from the Fenix 7 pro. 

    6 Db bench press+ 5 Pull ups every min (drop was when changed from chest strap to watch):

    6 Min EMON:Firts 3 min readings from chest strap. Last 3 min from the Fenix 7 pro. 

    even- 8 Seated row machine

    odd- 8 birds with db

    (drop was when changed from chest strap to watch):

    14 running on running belt. First 7 min with chest strap. Last ones readings from the watch:

    EMON 8 MIN. readings only from chest strap:

    Even : Back squat

    Odd: Shoulder press

    Tomorrow will try a crossit workout and will post it.