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''Main article: [[Stryd]]''
As noted above, while the Fenix 5X has poor GPS accuracy, even the best GPS watch is still not good enough for accurate pacing. The answer currently lies with [[Stryd]] and extremely accurate Footpod that can measure distance and pace far better than GPS. The Fenix 5X has the best level of Stryd support, and will allow you to have all the accuracy of Stryd for pace and distance while having GPS active. This allows you to maintain all of the navigation features of the Fenix 5X, as well as recording a GPS track for later use. You can even get an estimate of your [[Running Power Meters| Running Power]] from Stryd via a [[Connect IQ]] data field. I'd strongly recommend getting a [[Stryd]] Footpod to go with your Fenix 5X. If that's too expensive, I'd argue that you're much better off getting the Stryd and saving money by getting a cheaper watch like the [[Garmin Fenix 3]]. For a walkthrough on adding Stryd, see the section at the end of this article.
=Physical Characteristics=
The Fenix 5X is a big watch, and it's larger than I'm comfortable with as a 24 hour/day activity tracker. However, on the run it fells okay even on my diminutive wrists. The watch straps rotate where they connect to the watch body, unlike the Polar V800 where they extend from the watch body and therefore don't conform as well. The materials are excellent quality, and while it doesn't have the simplistic elegance of the [[Suunto Spartan Ultra]] it's still very nice. The exposed bolt heads make the Fenix 5 look rugged and sporty, though it's a bit fussy visually. The only thing that feels a little cheap and tacky is the watch strap itself on the cheapest version. It's nothing like the silky smooth and soft watch material that Suunto use. The display is reasonable, but when you compare it to the [[Suunto Spartan Ultra]] it seems a little small and low resolution. Given that the Fenix 5X is larger than the Fenix 5, I would've expected a larger display, but that's not the case. I suspect that the Fenix 5X is larger to allow for more memory for the maps, or perhaps more battery, though this is purely speculation.
* '''Ant+ Biking devices (speed, power, gear shift, lighting, radar, remote display)'''. While there is some cool stuff here, I'm not a cyclist so I've not tested any of this out.
* '''Ant+ Muscle Oxygen'''. There is now built in support for muscle oxygen sensors such as [[Moxy]] or [[BSX]], without the need for a [[Connect IQ]] data field.
* '''Wahoo'''. The [[Wahoo TICKR Run]] is a little unusual in that it also supports both Bluetooth and Ant+. Rather like Garmin [[Garmin Running Dynamics]] heart rate monitor, it's also capable of gathering rather more data than a typical heart rate monitor though you really need the smart phone app to make use of it. I found that the Fenix 5X would find the one who twice, once as a Bluetooth device and once as an Ant+ device. Pairing both ways seemed to cause some issues with the Fenix 5X connecting to the Wahoo at the start of the run, though it's possible this was either a user error on my part or just an oddity. Even stranger, the Fenix 5X would try to pair up with the one who is a Bluetooth Footpod, but I could never get anything to work in this mode.
* '''Stryd'''. Like the Wahoo, the [[Stryd]] Footpod is both Bluetooth and Ant+, but it's also both a Footpod and a power meter. I found it best to pair as just an Ant+ Footpod.
One nice feature of the Fenix 5X is that you can rename the sensors from something meaningless like "2675" to "Stryd". This is really nice if you have several heart rate monitors or Footpods.
Using an optical HRM in cold weather is awkward. You need to have the watch in contact with your skin, so you can't wear it over the top of your and clothing. On the other hand, if you wear it under your warm clothing you can't see the display. My solution is to use an arm warmer with a hole cut out so that I can see the display. This works fairly well, and has the added advantage of blocking some of the light that can interfere with the optical sensor.
[[File:Fenix 5X Cold OHRM.jpg|center|thumb|300px|]]
=Adding Stryd=
Adding a Stryd footpod is fairly easy, but make sure you disable auto calibration. For more details, here's a short walkthrough.
{| class="wikitable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; "
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (1).png|none|thumb|100px|From the watch face, long press on the up button and then scroll to the settings menu and enter.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (2).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to sensors and enter.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (3).png|none|thumb|100px|Enter on add new]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (4).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to footpod and enter (don't search for all as you don't want to add as a power pod.)]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (5).png|none|thumb|100px|Hopefully Stryd is the only footpod in range, so hit enter to add.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (6).png|none|thumb|100px|Once added you'll bounce back to the list of sensors. Hit enter to configure.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (7).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to Speed which will be set to indoor, hit enter to change.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (8).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to always and hit enter.]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (11).png|none|thumb|100px|Confirm speed is now always.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (9).png|none|thumb|100px| Scroll to Distance which will be set to indoor, hit enter to change.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (10).png|none|thumb|100px| Scroll to always and hit enter.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (12).png|none|thumb|100px| Confirm distance is now always.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (13).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to calibration factor and hit enter.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (14).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to "auto calibrate" and hit enter]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (15).png|none|thumb|100px|Scroll to disable and hit enter.]]
|[[File:Fenix 5X Stryd Add (16).png|none|thumb|100px|Confirm calibration is 100.0]]
|}
=Comparison Table=
{{:Best Running Watch-table}}
