Vivoactive or FR265 - Trying to decide

Here you can see a comparison between the two models: 

www.youtube.com/watch

Hey, thanks for your reply. I watched that video and it shows the differences feature wise but doesn't really answer my questions. I was hoping for some insights from users that are already using these devices maybe even for similar activities :)

I'm gonna assume you're looking at Vivoactive 5 (the latest model).

3490833 said:

I mean for example the FR265 has native Inline Skating support but isn’t that something you can manually add?

Not really, unless you can find a Connect IQ app that records an activity as Inline Skating. The only one I can find that supports VA5 is paid.

Given that the native Inline Skating activity doesn't really seem to have any special sport-specific data or features for inline skating (unlike, say, jump rope or golf), there's really nothing preventing you from recording an activity as Other (or if that's unavailable, Cardio), then changing the activity type in Connect after the fact (if you care). You can also create a custom activity that's a copy of Other/Cardio and name it Inline Skating. Then you can change your Connect settings so your saved activities will use the activity name, to save you from having to change the type.

I don't own an Edge or a FR265, but I am a runner and I do own a FR955, so I can give you my opinion from that perspective. I know you're not primarily a runner, so my bad if some of this stuff isn't really applicable to you.

- Vivoactive 5 doesn't have a baro, so you lose floor counting and accurate elevation data during an activity.

(Both Connect and Strava will correct your elevation after the fact though.) Some runners care about their elevation gain / grade during hilly activities.

- Vivoactive 5 only supports 3 custom data pages, with up to 4 fields each.

(Compare with FR265, which supports 8 data fields per page, and "a lot" of custom data pages - so many that DC Rainmaker doesn't bother to count them. If it's like 955, then the actual custom data page limit is probably 10.)

Whether 3 custom pages of 4 fields each is "enough" is up to you, really. For example you may find that 12 fields total is more than enough, but you'd prefer to be able to see more than 4 at a time. While there are Connect IQ datafields which can take up a whole page and display more than 4 fields (e.g. 6, 8 or 12), they're usually not as flexible as a native custom page that's full of data.

- Vivoactive 5 has 2 buttons, FR265 has 5.

This means that you can make full use of the FR265 with the touchscreen disabled, but the VA5 requires the touchscreen for certain basic functions (like scrolling). Both watches let you start/stop/lap an activity using the buttons though.

- FR265 has multiband GNSS support, VA5 does not. TL;DR multiband means better GPS accuracy in challenging areas (like cities with tall buildings.)

- FR265 has a bunch of runner/cyclist training metrics like Training Readiness, Training Load, etc, VA5 does not. Arguably these are helpful if you're training to run or bike faster, but then again there's 3rd party sites that can give you similar metrics for free

- For runners, FR265 has a guided lactate threshold test (chest strap required), Vivoactive 5 does not. Again, only something you'd care about if you're into training to run faster

- For runners, FR265 has "virtual partner" which allows you to race against a previous activity or set a goal for your current race. Like say you're running a 10k road race, and you have a certain goal in mind (like 45 minutes). Virtual partner will show you, in real time, how far ahead or behind you are

- For runners (or walkers/hikers), FR265 can navigate a saved course/route (using a breadcrumb trail, not a real map) with turn-by-turn directions. VA5 can only navigate to a saved location (or back to activity start.) As a runner I find this useful for when I plan a long run in advance and I don't want to memorize all the turns.

Tbh VA5 is probably good enough for most runners. Most people don't need *all* of the extra features that a Forerunner would have, but usually there's like 1 or 2 features that tip the scale. But I'm just talking as someone who mostly runs.

First of all THANK YOU for that detailed reply. 

Yes, I'm looking at the Vivoactive 5.

FlowState said:

- FR265 has a bunch of runner/cyclist training metrics like Training Readiness, Training Load, etc, VA5 does not. Arguably these are helpful if you're training to run or bike faster, but then again there's 3rd party sites that can give you similar metrics for free

Can you name these sites? (if that isn't against the rules on this forum)

After your message I feel like getting the Vivoactive 5 is the "right" move for me. I mean, let's get started first and if I'm into it, I can upgrade it later anyway. As far as I know the prices for Garmin devices are quite stable so selling should be a valid option.

If you pay for strava, you get the fitness and freshness feature, which is basically the same as TRIMP/fitness/fatigues and/or training load (but again, maybe not as user-friendly.)

There's also an app for strava called Elevate that calculates similar metrics for free. (It's a browser extension so you need a computer or an android.)

The big difference between the Garmin training status feature and the 3rd-party stuff is Garmin tries to give you qualitative recommendations/statuses like "detraining", "productive", "peaking", etc., while the other stuff just gives you numbers that you kinda have to interpret yourself.

Thank you for the insights. I feel like Garmin would be the convenient way, while there are other ways to get the same/better data with more "work" required. I have a PC so missing mobile/app is not a big issue.

One more question regarding elevation. Can the vivoactive 5 and/or the FR265 split lifting and skiing? Or is that a feature only the epix/fenix watches support?

Yeah, the other options are def inconvenient, especially for the majority of ppl who would rather die than use a computer to do something that's unrelated to school or work.

3490833 said:

Can the vivoactive 5 and/or the FR265 split lifting and skiing? Or is that a feature only the epix/fenix watches support?

I think this feature is called "auto run" and I don't think it's possible on a device like VA5 that doesn't have a baro.

My 955 has "auto run" under the Ski activity settings, and the manuals for FR265 and VA4 mention it (I searched for "ski" and the top result was "viewing your ski runs"). (VA4 had a baro, but Garmin pulled a fitbit and got rid of it in VA5.)

No "viewing your ski runs" section in the VA5 manual :/ (https://www8.garmin.com/manuals/webhelp/GUID-5D183A14-BB43-4A9B-B441-5F824214CE40/EN-US/GUID-0BB5B9AA-5F7D-4367-95EC-DEC82395A90F-homepage.html)

Also, someone on reddit confirmed that VA5 doesn't have this feature: [https://www.reddit.com/r/Garmin/comments/1au4i9w/ski_not_counting_individual_runs_but_including/]

Ugh, what a bummer. As far as I can tell from the FR265 manual it has the auto run feature. It's just like you said, all the litte thigs that add up and might tip the scale to invest more...

One more difference to add, if I'm not mistaken: VA5 doesn't have a barometric altimeter (which I suppose is also the reason it cannot detect ski lift / going down). Since either watch doesn't have (elevation) maps, I suspect Vivoactive's VO2max analysis cannot take uphills/downhills into account like 265 with its altimeter can. This might be relevant if you don't live in a flat place.