Revision as of 15:57, 16 April 2016

The Garmin Fenix 3 is at the high end of Garmin's GPS watch line. The Fenix 3 fits in a little above Garmin 920XT, but a little below the Garmin Epix, though reality is not quite that simple (see the table further down for clearer understanding of their positioning.) The biggest advantage the Fenix 3 has over the 920XT and the Epix, as well as most other running watches is that it's an attractive watch. It looks like as a large chronometer style watch and is made of high quality materials. It makes most other running watches look cheap, and all of them rather dorky. The Epix includes Connect IQ that allows it run applications, much like a smartphone, which I love. There are a number of and real value, and I hope other manufacturers follow suit. Its styling, real buttons, and rich functionality make it a nice running watch, but it's let down by poor GPS Accuracy and its bulk. I've received more emails from runners complaining about the GPS accuracy of the Fenix 3 than any other watch. I suspect these complaints are disproportionately common because the buyers of this watch have higher expectations, maybe because of the high quality materials.

1 Summary

Different runners look for many different things in a running watch, but I believe that the four questions below represent the core functionality that most runners are looking for.

• How far did I run? This is the most basic question, and sadly, the Fenix 3 does badly here. The Fenix 3 is not as bad as its predecessor, and it's comparable with the Epix/920XT, but it's a long, long way behind the Polar V800 or the Suunto Ambit3. How big a problem this is for you will depend on the type of terrain you're running in, but if this is important to you, look for a more accurate watch.
• How fast am I running? Knowing how fast you're running can be a nice to know, or it can be vital for your training or race performance. Because of the nature of GPS, watches that rely on GPS signal alone tend to have serious problems with current pace. Thankfully, the Fenix 3 is one of the few devices that will display current Pace From A Footpod while getting all other data from GPS.
• Where am I? The Fenix 3 does not have full color maps, but you can download a course, and it will give directions back to the start. This is not as good as the Epix or the Leikr with their full color maps, but it's at least as good as any other watch.
• What's my cadence? Cadence is one of the most critical and often overlooked aspects of running. If you get your Cadence right, many other things naturally fall into place. Not only does the Fenix 3 get Cadence from a Footpod, it will also get it from the Garmin Run Heart Rate monitor. There is also support for Cadence from the internal accelerometer, though I find that's not as accurate. The Cadence alerts are especially useful for keeping you on track.

For ultramarathon running the battery life of the Fenix 3 makes it a good candidate. If you hope to be still moving during the Second Dawn, the Fenix 3 might be for you. See Watches for Ultrarunning for more details.

2 Support This Site

Please support this site This review was made possible by readers like you buying products via my links. I buy all the products I review through normal retail channels, which allows me to create unbiased reviews free from the influence of reciprocity, or the need to keep vendors happy. It also ensures I don't get "reviewer specials" that are better than the retail versions.

3 GPS Accuracy

The GPS Accuracy for the Fenix 3 is poor, but not as bad as the complaints I've received led me to expect. That's partly a reflection on how bad many of the other Garmin watches are than on the accuracy of the Fenix 3. As always, determining if it's acceptable for your running will depend on your usage.

• The Fenix 3 can give a reasonable estimate of how far you've run but the errors can add up. The amount of error depends on your route; in straight lines the Fenix 3 is okay, though even then it's worse than most other devices. However, on a twisty course it can be out by more than a mile on a 20 mile run. That's enough to mess up your marathon training in a big way. This also translates to errors on your average pace, so you really do want a footpod.
• GPS watches are not accurate enough to give you a useful display of your current pace. However, the Fenix 3 will display your current Pace From A Footpod while getting data like distance and overall pace GPS.
• The Fenix supports both GLONASS and WASS, but I have not gathered sufficient data to know if they will help accuracy (initial testing suggests not.)
• On the out-and-back turnaround the Fenix 3 is poor, but no worse than you'd expect from its overall rating.
• Running in a straight line is a fairly easy task for most GPS watches, but while the Fenix 3 does better here than elsewhere, it's still rather poor.
• I not had any issues with the Fenix 3 maintaining the GPS signal, though I have had occasional times when it's struggled to acquire an initial signal (Time To First Fix). I suspect this is mostly an issue with the Wi-Fi synchronization not downloading the satellite cash.

The Fenix mostly does okay under the bridge, though it has more problems than most. It's pretty appalling through the twisty section, not only cutting the corners but sometimes just wandering off the path completely. It does a little better with the sharp turn seen on the right side of the diagram, though you can see it getting a bit lost on occasion. The blue lap markers are quite widely spaced, another indication of poor accuracy. Of course, compared with the Fenix 2, it's doing great, but that's "damned with faint praise." (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)

This close up section of a zigzag highlights the problems the Fenix 3 has. There is poor alignment between the tracks and the change in direction of the course, and the lap markers are widely spread out. (This diagram has tracks color coded with green indicating good accuracy through to read indicating poor accuracy, and the lap markers as blue dots.)

Here the Fenix 3 shows the typical GPS behavior of having the tracks that have the green lines shifted slightly down and to the left, blue up and to the right. However, this patent is a little more randomized than some other watches. You can also see that the lap markers are shifted, which might indicate a delay in the way the Fenix 3 processes the data. (This image has the tracks color-coded for direction, with green coming from the right, blue from the left.)

If you want better GPS Accuracy than the Fenix 3, then the Polar V800 is the best I've tested, though I'd suggest the Suunto Ambit 3 is probably a better option overall.

4 Garmin Fenix 3 Options

The Fenix 3 is available in a nice array of options. You can have it with sapphire glass, which is far tougher and might be worthwhile if you expect to abuse your watch in a way that's likely to scratch it. You can also get it with various colored straps and faces; I went for the silver bezel with the red strap, which I rather like, though the Rose Gold bezel and White Band is attractive to my eyes.

5 Garmin Fenix 3 Pros

• The Fenix 3 is styled as a large "chronometer" watch and I think it's the nicest looking running watch. The materials are high quality and on par with the Polar V800, but with more traditional watch styling. You can get the Fenix 3 in various materials, and while the leather strap isn't very practical for running, it looks great. Of course, like other chronometer style watches, it's large and heavy, so it feels awkward on my tiny wrists. At least the Fenix 3 is not partly integrated into the band, so it wraps around my wrist far better than the Polar V800 which I have to wear over a sweatband.
• The color display is the largest of the current running watches with the exception of the huge Leikr that's nearly twice as big. The display quality is similar to the Garmin Epix or the Garmin 920XT, though I think the backlight is a little brighter. The Fenix 3 will activate the backlight when you turn your wrist, and the display looks much better with the backlight even in daylight. This will burn through the battery faster, but for most people it's probably a reasonable compromise. The color display has much richer colors than some of Garmin's earlier watches which always seem rather washed out.
• The thing that somewhat offsets the crappy GPS Accuracy is the ability to display your current Pace From A Footpod. I think this is a critical feature that I wish other manufacturers would implement. (If anyone has a contact at Suunto, please ask them for this!)
• The Fenix supports Garmin's Connect IQ, which allows for the creation of apps in much the same way you can run apps on Android or iOS. I've found these apps to really enhance my use of Garmin watches, and knowing I can code up extensions is wonderful.
• Like the Garmin 620, Garmin Fenix 2, and the Garmin 920XT, the Fenix 3 will show and record Cadence, Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT).
• The Fenix 3 can be configured to alert you when a metric is out of range. The alert for Cadence is particularly useful. The Cadence alert will work when it's using the internal accelerometer for Cadence, as well as the HRM-Run strap or a Footpod.
• There is a metronome to help you keep your Cadence where it should be, which is a really nice feature. The metronome can be set to make a sound and/or vibrate. The vibration option is nice so you don't annoy people you're running with. You can set the alert to go off every second, fourth, or sixth beat.
• Like many recent Garmin running watches, the Fenix 3 can display the Firstbeat Training Effect, an indicator of how hard a training session is. While I find this useful, it's important to remember that the Training Effect is strongly biased towards intensity rather than duration. (Training Effect requires a heart rate monitor.)
• There is also support for the Firstbeat Estimate of Recovery Time before the next workout, which I also like, though you have to take this with a large pinch of salt.
• The Fenix 3 will cache the GPS satellite locations for the next few days to reduce startup time. I found that the update of the cache was rather patchy, and often the Fenix 3 would take several minutes to acquire a lock. I was not able to work out a pattern or reason for this inconsistency.
• There are five real buttons on the Fenix 3, which I prefer over a touchscreen. Of course, the combination of several real buttons and a touchscreen gives you the best of both worlds, which is what you get with the Garmin Epix.
• The prediction of your V̇O₂max worked well for me, but I would not rely on its accuracy.
• The Fenix 3 will upload your workouts to Garmin Connect via USB, WiFi, or via a smart phone and Bluetooth. The smart phone can upload a workout as it takes place, which is nice for folks tracking you during a race, though it means wearing the watch and the phone together. If you plug the Fenix 3 into a computer it will function as a flash drive, giving you direct access to your workouts as '.FIT' files. The FIT files provide compatibility with a huge range of software.
• The Fenix 3 will not display Heart Rate Variability but it is possible for it to record Heart Rate Variability for later analysis. To enable this recording, you need to download a special FIT file from the firstbeat.com web site. (There is a Connect IQ app that will calculate HRV, but you can't use it during a workout, something I hope will be corrected in the future.)
• The 20 hour battery life is good enough for shorter ultramarathons, or faster runners in 100 milers. The extended mode allows for 50 hours with degraded GPS accuracy.
• There is a nice display that shows the route you've taken for navigation, but there is no support for displaying a map; you need the Garmin Epix for that.
• You can use the Fenix 3 as an activity monitor, something that's common to many new sports watches. I find the Fenix 3 too big to want to sleep with it on, so I didn't use it for activity monitoring.
• The Fenix 3 will record your personal best performances, such as fasted 5K or longest distance. These are a nice novelty, but for most people you won't be setting PR's on a regular enough basis for it to add much value.
• While the Fenix 3 does not have much in the way of graphs out of the box, Connect IQ is being used to add graphs for things like heart rate.

6 Garmin Fenix 3 Cons

• Did I mention the poor GPS Accuracy enough yet? Well, that is probably the biggest flaw in this watch.
• The Fenix 3 includes an internal accelerometer to give you an idea of pace and distance while running on a treadmill without a footpod, but I found the accuracy was rather poor. I have yet to come across a watch that can reasonably estimate your pace from the movement of your wrist, nor does it seem likely that this functionality is practical.
• You need to have the new HRM for the some of the features. The Fenix 3 will display Heart Rate and calculate Training Effect with the older Garmin HRM, but not Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation. There is a version of the Fenix 3 with an optical HRM, but it's the same technology as found in the Garmin 235 which I found to be rather useless.

7 What's Missing

While I don't consider these missing features as 'cons', it's worth understanding the features that are missing compared with other watches. You'll notice that the Fenix 3 has a rather short list of missing features.

• Web Configuration. Some watches allow you to setup the configuration via a web site, and then download your changes. This is vastly easier than fiddling with the watch.

8 Visual Comparison

Garmin Fenix 3 top	Garmin Fenix 3 side	Garmin Epix top	Garmin Epix side	Garmin 920XT top	Garmin 920XT side
Garmin 620 top	Garmin 620 side	Suunto Ambit3 top	Suunto Ambit3 side	Suunto Ambit2 top	Suunto Ambit2 side
Polar V800 top	Polar V800 side	TomTom Cardio Runner top	TomTom Cardio Runner side	Leikr 1 top	Leikr 1 side

9 A Brief Guide to Garmin Epix, Fenix 3, and 920XT

The trio of Epix, Fenix 3, and the 920XT are more alike than they are different, and the differences are not obvious. Here's my simple cheat sheet to help you understand the important differences

10 Fenix 3 HR

Garmin has introduced a version of the Fenix 3 with an optical heart rate monitor. This is the first of the higher end Garmin watches to include an optical heart rate monitor, but it uses the same technology found in the Garmin 235. I've not tested the Fenix 3 HR, partly because I buy all the things I test through retail outlets rather than getting free samples from the manufacturers. While this allows me to produce unbiased reviews that frequently upset the manufacturers, it doesn't mean I have to pick and choose the devices I test. However, the biggest reason for not testing the Fenix 3 HR is that my testing of the Garmin 235 showed that the optical technology that Garmin are using is pretty grim. I didn't want to waste time and money reviewing the device that I expect to perform unacceptably.

11 Comparison Table

I evaluate running watches in three distinct ways. Firstly, you can use a watch on its own, without any kind of Footpod. This is probably the most common way runners use their watch, but you miss out on a lot. The second rating is with a standard Footpod that is available quite cheaply. These Footpod's can be reasonably accurate once the calibrated, but calibration is a little tedious. The final evaluation is with the Stryd Footpod, which is vastly more accurate than any other type of Footpod, or and more accurate than GPS. The table below looks at the score, and the value for money of each watch for each of the three conditions. (I’ve also tested the Apple Watch 3, but I’ve not included it in these tables as it’s not really a running watch.)

The score is the sum of how well each watch can answer the four basic questions (how far, how fast, where are you, what's your cadence), plus some bonus points.

1. The "How far you've run" will be based on GPS only for "without Footpod" and "with Standard Footpod", but based on Stryd if supported in the "with Stryd Footpod" table..
2. How fast you're running assumes you're using a Footpod if it's supported, otherwise the rating is 0-2 based on GPS accuracy.
3. The "Where are you?" is based on various navigation features such as back to start, breadcrumbs, and preloaded maps. For some watches, you have to turn GPS off to get the benefit of Stryd, so those watches have worse "where are you scores" with Stryd than without.
4. The cadence score uses 1 point for an internal cadence sensor, 2 points for footpod support, 1 point for support from chest strap cadence, and 1 point for cadence alerts.
5. I give 1-2 bonus points for application support, 1-2 bonus points for data upload, 1-2 bonus points for Optical Heart Rate Monitoring, and 0-1 bonus points for battery life.
6. Value for money is the score divided by the price (at the time I last updated the table.) Your needs may be different, so you might weight the different aspects of the watches differently, or be basing your decision on different criteria totally. Hopefully this table will give you a good starting point for your decision.

11.1 Score Breakdown without a Footpod

11.2 Score Breakdown with a Standard Footpod

11.3 Score Breakdown with a Stryd Footpod

11.4 Basic Features

12 Navigation Features

For "navigation":

• Color Maps gives you full color maps, rather like a smart phone, with roads and paths marked out.
• Track Outline is a display of where you've run, rather like a breadcrumb trail. If there are maps, the outline is superimposed otherwise this is just the outline on its own without any context.
• Course Outline is an outline of a route that can be downloaded. I've found this useful during ultras or in unfamiliar cities where I've needed to know where to go.
• Back To Start is a simple arrow point to your starting point, so it won't help you backtrack.
• Back To Waypoint returns you to a previously marked location using a simple arrow to point.
• Compass. A magnetic compass can help you orient yourself or the map. Without a magnetic compass you have to be moving for the GPS to give you a sense of direction.

(Older Reviews: Polar RC3 GPS, Soleus 1.0, Motorola Motoactv.)