I've been researching myself into oblivion trying to decide between the VA3 and Fenix 5S and decided to finally reach out for real-world application/experiences. I'm not a "techy" person, in fact, I don't currently wear a watch at all and my cell phone is typically dead by 3 PM each day it's so old :(
That being said, I am looking to get a GPS watch primarily for:
1. Hiking - I'm not an extreme hiker by any means, but having a watch to tell me the time, distance, and altitude I think would help me feel more confident in understanding my pace and making go/turn-back decisions. When you're using GPS for hiking, do you see a map/picture of the trail you're on / see where you are? Do you have to upload a trail map ahead of time (from gaia or alltrails, for example?) Is there a significant difference between the two for this type of use? I know the 5S has breadcrumbs/waypoints and the VA3 does not (or is listed as only having a "back to start" feature?) - but I guess I'm not sure I understand what that means in actual use? I like the idea of having a map right there - but I'm also somewhat guessing I'll never figure it out and should just plan to continue using my paper maps forever!
2. Running / trail running casually - I'd be interested in HR/distance/time primarily on the wooded trails & roads around our house.
3. I'm interested to see how the stress / sleep / step counter / other metrics influence me or help me to be a bit more mindful of my health. I also could see myself using it casually to track ski laps (alpine), or distance (cross country) in the winter - but neither of these are "primary" objectives and I'm not super concerned with accuracy of related metrics for those activities (I just do them for fun!).
I of course like the price point on the VA3 more, and don't feel like I *need* all the bells and whistles of the 5s, but I am concerned about the lack of a hiking application on the VA3, the battery life, and the touch screen (I don't swim much, but I do sweat a lot, and get caught in rain a lot).
Has anyone used the VA3 for similar "basic" hiking and casual running with success? Or will I regret it in 7 months when I'm shelling out to upgrade for the 5S? If I do shell out for the 5S, am I going to regret not also shelling out for the sapphire due to durability, or is the regular screen tough enough for non-aggressive daily use?
Apologies this was long - but really looking forward to any additional real-life experiences ppl are willing to share! Thanks!
