Fullcount

Anyone used this yet and what are your thoughts? I hike and bike and this seems like a good investment for both of these activities. Most curious about battery life.

Ravenwing

I've had mine for a couple months, and like it a lot. Don't actually use the wrist HR very much for actual activities, since there just isn't any optical hr monitor that can approach the accuracy of a strap (particularly for interval training), but I like the wrist hr for 24/7. The gps performance has been fine for me, though as with the original F3, some have found inaccuracies. I'm used to plugging mine in every morning while showering, etc, so I can't say that I've really tested battery life, but it typically is showing around 85 percent when I charge it. This with being worn all day and night, plus an hour or two of activities. Haven't had it out yet for any 2 hour+ rides with gps, I expect that would drain it a bit more. For a day long ride like that, or for a hike, I'd probably opt for the wrist hr instead of a strap, purely for comfort. And for multi-day events, I'd for sure bring along some sort of power pack for charging, to be on the safe side, GPS known for being a battery sucker and all.

Seattle Forrest

Wrist HR is mediocre but the most recent software update improved it. Still has much room for improvement. Cannot reliably tell me my resting HR, loses HR connection periodically, often just makes numbers up when it does. The non-HR Fenix 3 has a flat back and is more comfortable to wear. Battery life is very good, I charge mine once or twice a week, use the GPS 2 to 3 hours a day.

If you're not coming from a F3 non-HR background: it's fantastic.

raqball

I have both the fenix 3 titanium and the fenix 3 HR right now. My HR version is heading back to Garmin as it got water inside of it during a swim. I believe the water entered at the HR sensor area.

The titanium is non HR but it's much lighter. I use a Scosche Rhythm + for HR during workouts anyways and don't really care about all day HR tracking and all day HR monitoring anyways..

Weight comparisons HR -v- Titanium


fenix 3 HR with silicone band: (90 grams)





fenix 3 Titanium with silicone band: (79 grams)





fenix 3 Titanium with Titanium Band: (141 grams)





If you don't need the 24/7 HR tracking then maybe go with the standard fenix 3.. If you have extra cash to spend then by all means splurge on the fenix 3 Ti..

My main activity is cycling and I ride about 150 miles a week. I also run about 6-10 miles a week and swim laps in a pool once or twice a week (usually I do run and swim combo days)..

mmbiker

I had the Edge 500, sold it and got the Fenix 2 thinking is just as good and now I get to wear it.

I was wrong. I miss the Edge 500.

Is much easier to read, you can display more and looks much better on the bike than the Fenix 2. Fenix 3 would be similar, limlited display.

yellow130

Have the fenix 3hr. Overall. Not impressed. It's a small screen. Buttons are small and hard to press at times. Plus data field setup is done via those small buttons. And garmins sh*tty menus.

In addition, you need a big clunky rubber adapter to mount in handlebars.
True. You could leave in wrist while riding. But bombing down hills and trying to look at watch would be hazardous.

Kiridmi

I have the Fenix 3 non-HR version, but I suppose the built in HR sensor would take a few hours off the battery life.
I have bluetooth on and the watch is always connected to my phone, I use the GPS recording daily when I commute to work and back (1 hour) + a few recreational 1,5-2 hour rides and I charge it once, maybe twice a week.
During multi-day hikes I don't use the Bluetooth connection with the phone or a HR sensor and usually after 8 hours of non-stop GPS recording I have about 50% left.
The last time, after about 15 hours of non-stop recording I had about 10% of battery left. So I find the battery performance to be quite impressive.

Yes, the screen is not as big or flashy as some smart watches, but it isn't a smart watch primarily and it can hold for a week and a half in smart watch mode vs 24hr max for your average Android or Apple smart device. The buttons are OK for me, I could work with it in -26°C (-15°F) in huge winter gloves, since we had to navigate through the lake in the middle of the night, without any trails or landmarks in sight, only the course I had uploaded to the watch before the trip . I got used to the menus I don't have any problems with them.

Seattle Forrest

Did you know that it was a watch? That you wear on your wrist...?

Seattle Forrest