Venu 3 needs Navigation

SportyGirl said:

There is one glaring thing missing from the Venu 3, navigation or courses.

This is by design and is part of Garmin's marketing strategy. None of the Venu or vivo watches have course navigation. These watches are considered "lifestyle" watches, geared more towards daily health metrics, not so much on traversing trails and courses.

SportyGirl said:

Maybe the Venu series is designed for the American market? In Europe it is more common to walk and bike somewhere, and for that use navigation.

Nothing to do with the "American" market. 

This is designed to move the customer to a different series of watches (usually more expensive), such as fenix, or the higher end forerunner series of watches.

Using Garmin's compare on their main page you can compare various watches to help decipher what feature each watch has or does not have. You can also filter for "female" styles based on size and/or appearance. The hope is that this will help guide the customer toward the correct watch based on their needs, and not be surprised or disappointed after purchase that a particular feature is missing.

For example - Garmin | Product Compare

2271429 said:

This is by design and is part of Garmin's marketing strategy.

Unfortunately, this is correct. I've been using Garmin watches for many years. I've been burned once, due to finding out later that the watch didn't have navigation. I was able to swap it out for a more expensive model that had maps and navigation. Lesson learned. 

SportyGirl said:

Venu 3 needs navigation please

SportyGirl, it is very unlikely that Garmin will see your post and do anything about this. I think it would be best to submit a request using the Garmin Share Ideas page.

I also see you have or had a Fenix 7s. Is there a reason are using the Venu 3 and not your Fenix 7s?

There is a lot of things to like about the 7s, it is a capable and beautiful watch

The downside for me is that it feels heavy when running for example, and that the screen is a bit small. The 7 series fixed some things that I didn't like about the 6 series, but still has some of the similar issues. Then there is the price.

It feels different on the wrist during excercise than the 6s, like the balance is more top heavy, almost like a stone in ur wrist, it is uncomfortable, maybe just me I don't know, can't explain it, the 6s felt more balanced in weight distribution and how it sat during excercise. The 7s is really comfortable day to day wear, even more so than the 6s. Maybe it's just in my head, but those little things can be bothersome when wearing so much

I may end up going with the 7s, just because have experience with the Fenix series. On the other hand it is really annoying when running, and worry about swimming and stuff

A Forerunner would be okay for sports but not day to day life.

There is the option of getting a Venu 3 and then a Forerunner 255 for example, and syncing activities. At the same time that is about $800 and 2 watches to lug around, which can cause all kinds of issues with body battery

I could post it in ideas, but how many people asked for navigation in the 2,  and also asked for nightly HRV in the 2, only to sell the 3 later with HRV, even though the 2 plus wasn't launched that long ago

Garmin is making it tough to choose this season

Literally just returned the Venu 3 to the store

to come back and hear announced that the Venu 3 will get ECG

You know Garmin, when you figure your stuff out, maybe I will buy a Garmin again

SportyGirl said:

announced that the Venu 3 will get ECG

Yes, but only in 3 regions - Garmin ECG App Region Compatibility | Garmin Customer Support

Garmin's ECG App is currently available in the following regions:

• United States

• Hong Kong

• Vietnam

Yes, good to mention, thank you

My bad. At the same time wondering why Garmin thinks ECG is important on the Venu 3, officially only in some countries, when they are known for their navigation available in all countries

But the design committee has deemed different, why bother listening to what your customers want?

They need clearance from health authorities in different regions..that's why different launching 

You can get bread crumbs style navigation on Venu 3, using dwmap app as activity or mapfield data field as part of usual running activity data field.

Thank you.

Do you have any experience with it?

I looked at it when the Venu2 came out (deja vu lolz), but struggled with the route designer (on mobile on the fly) fir example. I use Komoot now and didn't know it then yet(?). Importing from Komoot is a breeze I noticed, so that could work.

I saw I still have a premium description because I use their weather field app.

So, it could be a solution maybe

Looking at an Epix too, but I like the lighter weight, and according to tests, better hr accuracy of the Venu 3, and concerned with the weight and battery life and accuracy of the Epix

Was thinking of getting a Garmin Edge for the cycling, but I still need a solution for running then.

I use Runalyze for advanced metrics, so that part is covered pretty much for advanced data I need that is in the higher end Garmin models