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Garmin Fenix 3

60 bytes added, 17:29, 3 July 2016
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* 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!) You can also configure it to get both pace and distance from the Footpod, while still recording the track of where you've been from GPS.
* 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 supports [[Running Dynamics]] which can show and record [[Cadence]], Vertical Oscillation (VO) and Ground Contact Time (GCT)when paired with the Garmin HRM-Run chest strap.
* 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.
* 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 [[Firstbeat| Training Effect]] with the older Garmin HRM, but not Ground Contact Time or Vertical Oscillation[[Running Dynamics]]. There is a version of the Fenix 3 with an [[Optical Heart Rate Monitoring| optical HRM]], but it's the same technology as found in the [[Garmin 235]] which I found to be rather useless.
=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.

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