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Can Fenix 7 sapphire solar actually deal with sea water?

Alettekat
over 1 year ago

After having had a Fenix 5 for many years I treated myself to an upgrade and bought the Fenix 7 Sapphire solar. I am really disappointed with the watch. I am a sea swimmer and a kayaker, but it appears that the Fenix 7, unlinke the Fenix 5, is not suitable for sea swimming: I have had the Fenix 7 for less than a year, and I have already had three replacements because the buttons got stuck after swimming in the sea. Very very disappointing. I do not press buttons under water and always rinse with fresh water after a swim. I also tried soaking in lukewarm water, once the buttons get stuck, but  to no avail.  I wish I could actually swim with my expensive watch, because at the moment I am not, I am using my Fenix 5 for swimming and kayaking. I am also losing my love for Garmin.

Has anyone else experience the same? Or have you got any tips to stop the buttons getting stuck when sea swimming?

  • 0 5 months ago

    I had an issue with the back/lap button getting stuck, garmin support exchanged the watch quickly without asking questions as it was less than 1 year old. No sea swimming though, I was just rinsing the watch. 

  • 0 5 months ago

    Sorry to here you have that problem.  I use my Fenix 7 for wing foiling in the ocean several times a week and have never had an issue.  I'm not in the stirred up sandy water along a beach front much though.  Could the issue be the sand in the seals of the buttons and not the water perse.

  • 0 2 months ago

    Had same problem, and not in the sea. Pool swimming only. Got a replacement watch and am now very cautious about using it in water. Fortunately mine is only really for hiking, cycling and running.

  • 0 2 months ago

    Had same problem, and not in the sea. Pool swimming only. Got a replacement watch and am now very cautious about using it in water. Fortunately mine is only really for hiking, cycling and running.

  • 0 19 days ago

    No it can’t. The last 2 Fenix  pro7 watches that I have had have developed faults after just 1 season swim. I bought the watch for swimming & 2 years in a row while on holiday I have been left without a watch. 

  • 0 19 days ago

    No it can’t. 2 watches, 2 years in a row while on holiday on the first swim it developed a fault. I used both in pools & lakes 3 times a week leading up to the sea swims with no issues.Garmin support are quite good, but that doesn’t help me  when I am on holiday & have no watch & cannot even send it away until home.

    Very disappointed.

  • 0 18 days ago

    The buttons are a real pain. You buy a watch for a few hundred dollars, and then it's only waterproof as long as you don't press the buttons. After all, the instructions even say not to press the buttons underwater.

    My start button broke, too. I got a replacement.

    Happy user here.

    But I probably won't take it for swimming or windsurfing anymore.