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Which watch to try next?

Former Member over 7 years ago

So after being so disappointed with the VA3 and its current state I sent it back to Amazon in the UK and have a refund. Any suggestions what to look at next? I am still using my original VA. I'd like to add oHRM to that for my next watch. I use it for cycling (indoors and out) as well as some treadmill running/walking.

Currently I'm thinking of the FR235 which I realise is almost as old as the VA bit will at least be stable (I hope...). The 735XT would be nice but looking at the forums I'm not sure it's going to be any more stable than the VA3?

Any thoughts?

0 tmk2 over 7 years ago

I've been using the 735XT for almost a year now. It is quite stable (as stable as garmins go these days), but one important thing to remember is that it has the older OHR sensor which does not do 1 second sampling. Same thing with the 235.

0 jim_m_58 over 7 years ago

It sounds like the 645M will be getting sent out any day now, and I'd probably put that on the list and watch the 645 forum to see how things are going.

0 R_Tellis over 7 years ago

I've also been using the 735 for about a year and it is a great watch for training. Even though I did wear almost 24/7 before I got my VA3 it's not the best looking watch to wear in business and social settings.

Aside from the older oHRM sensor the screen is flat on top and bottom, so not as much area, and also a lower resolution and fewer colors. Some people were also quite disappointed with the backlight but it never bothered me.

Not knowing what your budget is I agree with Jim and if it's in your price range the 645 is the better bet. Being a brand new watch it'll be supported longer, has the new HRM sensor, and the better screen. Once my 645 arrives my it will become my new workhorse and casual watch and the 735 will be relegated to back-up watch and the VA3 will have a non-quick release leather band put on it just for casual use on occasion.

Edit: Of course unless you wait for several months you probably will have to put up with the typical Garmin growing pains.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

I'm not convinced that Garmin's growing pains are any worse than anybody else's. It seems to be asking for trouble to buy the first generation of anything with software in these days. That's not just in the consumer market -- in industrial and commercial computing I see the same thing.

0 pieras123 over 7 years ago

I've also been using the 735 for about a year and it is a great watch for training. Even though I did wear almost 24/7 before I got my VA3 it's not the best looking watch to wear in business and social settings.

Aside from the older oHRM sensor the screen is flat on top and bottom, so not as much area, and also a lower resolution and fewer colors. Some people were also quite disappointed with the backlight but it never bothered me.

Not knowing what your budget is I agree with Jim and if it's in your price range the 645 is the better bet. Being a brand new watch it'll be supported longer, has the new HRM sensor, and the better screen. Once my 645 arrives my it will become my new workhorse and casual watch and the 735 will be relegated to back-up watch and the VA3 will have a non-quick release leather band put on it just for casual use on occasion.

Edit: Of course unless you wait for several months you probably will have to put up with the typical Garmin growing pains.

and you assume that 645 will be released with the less number of bugs... good luck :)

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Thanks for your replies. I had hoped that by now the VA3 would be at least usable but given 50% of my activities were truncated I didn't feel this was even close to being a usable product. Yes, the more complex devices are the more bugs there are likely to be but the VA was a pretty solid device from the time I got it as have all the Garmin Edge devices I've had on the bike. The 645 is going to have a ton of bugs.....I could hope that in 6 months the VA3 might actually work I suppose.

Anyway, thanks for the answers, all food for thought.

0 robp27 over 7 years ago

What sort of issues have you had with your VA3? For the most part, everything has been working great for me. I mainly use it for running and bodyweight training. The built in activity apps work well. I have had much luck with 3rd party apps and widgets, but the built in stuff works well. The notifications and music control are nice, but I mainly use it for activity tracking.

0 Reflejo over 7 years ago

I also had the same thought at the time regarding changing the model, but there is always a problem, to be more descriptive:
The FR35 is very basic, it is not compatible with swimming, it does not have GLONASS, altimeter, etc.
The FR235 is not compatible with swimming, has no altimeter and the optical sensor is older.
The FR735XT is compatible with swimming, has no altimeter and the optical sensor is older.
The FR935, in benefits is superior but the price is high.
The Fenix3HR, would be the most appropriate option, but the optical sensor is earlier, the resolution of the screen is lower, and some users say they express discomfort about the sensor because it excels.

In conclusion, unless the model is FR935 or Fenix5, something is always lost compared to the VA3, if the only feature sought is to run, you can observe options more freely.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

To add to your list. If you go with a watch that tracks swimming you'll also need a HRM-Swim or HRM-Tri strap for your HR. Add $100+ to use that feature.

0 Former Member over 7 years ago

Swimming is of no interest to me, it's running and Cycling plus the activity monitor.

I am wondering if there is an underlying hardware change which is why some users experience the problems and some don't I forget exactly how support got me into the diagnostics screen, something like power off the watch, hold the power button until it buzzes, release and then press again. You are then presented with a screen of data about the watch.

To recap for TMK17, my watch would "lock" mid activity. So I'd be riding inside on my Tacx Neo and when I went to stop teh ride on the watch I'd press the stop button and nothing would happen for 10 seconds, then it would stop but at that point I'd know it only had a fraction of the activity stored. So, could be the external ANT+ sensors I though (despite my original VA and Edge 510 being 100% solid with them), I'll use the treadmill and let the internal gyro and oHRM be the only sensors, and I got the same result as with the Turbo trainer. This is after a factory reset, no addition software added to the watch.

I paid £240 fro the VA3 and nothing else comes close really as I've been through the list above as well. Not sure I want to pay the extra to the Fenix5. I'd be happy with a VA HR in all likelihood but I've been a bit spoilt by having the VA3 now as it looked great and when it worked has some great features.