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Priced out of Garmin MIP...

6125703
2 months ago

Anybody else look at the new Fenix 8 launch noise and just feel sad?

It's nice that Garmin introduced new models with MIP, but the pricing on those lines is insane. I think I'll have to consider other brands or just going watch-free if my FR255 wears out and they haven't brought back anything like it.

Honestly, I'm not an athlete or fitness junkie. To me, the FR255 (non-music) was just a great value as an outdoors capable watch without all the stupid "premium" markup for things I don't need and can't accept buying as superfluous add-ons.

Primarily the decent GPS, the MIP screen, and decent battery life all at a price I could manage.  Their new Enduro 3 seems the most similar spirit, but still at least double what I can justify spending.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to TedW

    I've been thinking about Coros for along time already.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to TedW

    I haven't actually used it so I may be completely wrong about it but the crown seems a bad idea to me when compared to proper physical buttons. 

    Don't know. I think I may simply get another 255 and be set for the next decade. After all it's not like meaningful features are coming down the pipeline. What's coming for the Forerunner line? Mic and speaker? I could not care less.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ep013

    They will eventually stop supporting it, so it will not show up in Garmin Connect, and you can not connect to it. It has happened to other Garmin watches I have had. When that happens, it will not help to have spare watches of the same obsolete model. This is common for all electronic products that depend on a cloud to work.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ovekvam

    Interesting. Which models did you have if you don't mind me asking. I know people who still use the 235 just fine and that's probably over nine years old by now.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ep013

    I struggle to connect my Vivoactive HR now, and I can't remember the name of the one I had before that. By comparison, my Polar F11 from 2007 or so is a standalone watch, and it still works.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ovekvam

    You've just reminded me I have an old vivosomething somewhere, I'll try to get it working. 

    The FR305 seem to work 15 years later, though obviously directly through a PC cable:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DauylbD8ws

    Of course everything could change and Garmin could decide cutting off access to watches as they desire, so there's that risk.

  • 0 2 months ago in reply to ep013
    ep013 said:
    Of course everything could change and Garmin could decide cutting off access to watches as they desire, so there's that risk.

    Yeah they're probably sick of people hanging on to their old FR235, FR920XT or even Fenix 3 for so long. I know lots of fast runners, include a guy who can literally win a local race outright, who still rock these old watches (or did until very recently).

    The new watches have so many more features and nice-to-haves, but a lot more bugs as well.

    It's a lot harder to imagine there being a significant amount of people who run with a first-gen Apple Watch.