This watches is one of the best multi-sport fitness based watches available but the altimeter function is just average Hands-On Review of the Fenix 3If you're in the market for a fitness tracker and altimeter watch with decent battery life, this is a great option. Performance Comparison A stunning display with a plethora of features. This is our Top Pick for Features! FeaturesCheck out these Apps that are compatible with the Fenix 3: *Connect IQ features: change watch faces, data fields, widgets and more. *Garmin Connect: track, analyze, share, encourage others It's not as loaded as the higher-end Fenix 5x Plus Sapphire, but if you want something a little more reasonably priced with a lot of good features, this might be the watch for you. If you're looking for an accurate temperature reading, wear your watch on your backpack strap! This way the heat from your wrist doesn't affect the temperature accuracy. Credit: Amber King Altimeter and Barometer Like all watches tested, this watch shows current altitude and barometric pressure. In addition, it produces graphs for both that are clear, easy-to-use, color-coded, and better than the Suunto graphs. The graph times are easy to change, and you can view the altitude and barometric graphs in different hourly increments (for example: 4 hours, 24 hrs, 48 hrs). This watch also features an auto or manual calibration option for altitude. The altimeter trend graph is awesome! We love the color, the scale, and the highs and lows plotted. In addition, we liked that the graphs could be adjusted for different time periods. Here we see the four-hour altimeter graph. Credit: Amber King This uses GPS along with barometric pressure to automatically calibrate the altimeter. We also like the auto-climb function that detects elevation changes automatically. It also features a storm alert and tracks weather patterns to determine if storms are moving in or out of the area. Overall, the altimeter and barometric features collect more data than any other watch. However, we were surprised to learn that when looking over a log, there is no additional graph to show just trip information. A look at some of the fun features of the Fenix 3 (and this just scratches the surface). From top left to right: step count, compass, altimeter graph. From bottom left to right: Barometric pressure graph, temperature graph, and time. Credit: Amber King Compass This digital compass has tilt-compensation that allows you to calibrate it manually. In addition to setting a north reference, magnetic declination can also be manually set. We also liked how coordinates were easy to attain and if calibrated correctly, were accurate as well. All GPS watches have these features. In addition to the basic compass, many navigational features can be used in conjunction with the GPS. Some of these features can replace the need for a handheld GPS — which is pretty cool! Timekeeper Like all watches tested, the Fenix 3 features one alarm, a countdown timer, stopwatch and a sunrise/sunset time. In addition, the time can be GPS enabled to change automatically when entering different time zones. We love the large font and the options to change the watch from the digital format seen here to an analog format. We also liked the how the seconds are counted with the tick marks working their way around the face of the watch. Credit: Amber King GPS In addition to the classic altimeter features, the Fenix 3 is stacked with GPS-enabled features. The GPS allows data collection of metrics like distance, time, speed of ascent/descent, and more. You can pair this with a smartphone to get Smart Notifications. In addition, this watch is best known for its fitness tracking. Track your activity to help achieve fitness goals. One of the coolest features that we found on this watch is the virtual partner. You can race an activity uploaded from the Garmin Connect app and check your progress. The Fenix 3 features both GPS and GLONASS satellite networks. That said, the GPS function on this watch was not as accurate or reliable as the Suunto Ambit3 Peak. On most days, the Ambit3 Peak proved to be more accurate, while on some the Fenix 3 proved to be more accurate. However, the true test came when bringing both watches into a canyon with spotty service. We did this multiple times, and in all cases, the Fenix 3 lost signal first and grossly overestimated distances. The other Suunto Watches also eventually lost signal, but the distances were much closer to the actual distance covered. As a result, we conclude that with our tests, the Fenix 3 doesn't have the best accuracy or reliability when it comes to spotty sections of GPS. Here we tested the GPS accuracy while hiking. First we started with wide open terrain, then moved into a canyon. We finally emerged from the canyon to discover the Garmin Fenix 3 (bottom left) seriously overestimated our actual distance travelled, while the Suunto Ambit3 Peak was the most accurate (actual distance = 5.2 miles one way). Credit: Amber King This watch has many features. Here are just a few:
Sensors In addition to the many features this watch has to offer, additional sensors can be purchased to provide more accurate and precise data. Some of the sensors available include a heart rate monitor, bike speed and cadence pod, foot pod, and a Tempe wireless temperature sensor. BatteryOf all the GPS watches tested, this proved to have the longest battery life. In UltraTrac mode, the watch takes fewer data points and is said to track for up to 50 hours in GPS mode. In our tests, this watch lasted between 30-38 hours (in all tests) which is still significantly longer than the Suunto Ambit3 Peak or the Suunto Traverse. Without GPS on, this watch can last up to six weeks. Even though this is a little more than other GPS watches, the battery life is still sub-par in comparison to other traditional watches or solar powered options. If you're looking for the ultimate in features, this Top Pick is where it's at. Take it backpacking, hiking, or on your next athletic pursuit. |
