Smart watch meets rugged activity tracker. The Fenix 3 is the ultimate outdoor enthusiast's activity tracker, with a range of built in sensors and the ability to harness the power of your smartphone. Same thing goes for watch faces, data fields, and apps. I go with a watch face that has the current moon cycle and sunset, in addition to the time and date. Examples of free customization options for the Garmin Fenix 3. #garmin #watchface #garminconnectThese Garmin Fenix ConnectIQ watch faces are some of my favorites right now. They provide a lot of Data, some are just cool. Some of the Garmin smartwatches that support custom watch faces include Fenix 6, Forerunner 235, Vivoactive 3, Forerunner 45, Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 945. If you’d like to check whether or not your device is supported you can visit Garmin’s ConnectIQ storefront. Like much of Garmin’s downloadable content, the watch faces are created.
Several of Garmin’s latest watches offer support for apps, music and other smart features. They can also be personalized by downloading and installing custom watch faces, which completely change the way the main display looks.
Some of the Garmin smartwatches that support custom watch faces include Fenix 6, Forerunner 235, Vivoactive 3, Forerunner 45, Forerunner 245 and Forerunner 945. If you’d like to check whether or not your device is supported you can visit Garmin’s ConnectIQ storefront.
Like much of Garmin’s downloadable content, the watch faces are created by third-party developers. You can browse, download and rate them via ConnectIQ. More are added to the store regularly, so it’s always good to check back and see what’s new.
You can also download apps, widgets, and other updates via ConnectIQ depending on the device you own. Almost any of Garmin’s wearables can be enhanced by adding new device apps or custom data fields, which allows the watch to track more than it does natively. A Garmin Approach golf-themed watch, for example, can be used to track hiking specific stats, or display a star-chart, merely by installing new content.
That being said, one of the best ways to spruce up your watch is to install custom watch faces. You can find new faces that display way more than just the time, like sports stats, calendar details and even custom graphics — there’s a Super Mario themed watch face!
To help you get started, here are some of the best Garmin watch faces you can download right now:
25. Duck Hunt
Remember the classic Nintendo game Duck Hunt? That’s precisely what this watch face is, an animated rendition. When you look at your watch the animation plays, showing an endearing Muttley giggling as ducks fly overhead.
There are no stats displayed, just the time and date so this watch face is best when you don’t care to see your data or metrics.
Compatible Devices: D2 Bravo/ Titanium / Charlie / Delta / Delta PX / Delta S, Descent MK1, Epix, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, Garmin Swim 2, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Music, Vivoactive HR
24. CarbonAnalog
If you want a simple analog watch with a carbon-fiber style design then CarbonAnalog is a good choice. Right now, not many devices are supported. Hopefully, the developer will add more soon.
Compatible Devices: D2 Bravo, D2 Bravo Titanium, Fenix 3, Fenix Quatix 3, Fenix Tactix Bravo, Fenix 3 HR, Fenix Chronos
23. Energy Face
If you want a clean e-ink style watch face that doesn’t use a lot of battery, check out Energy Face. It also displays a huge selection of personal stats and info, like Bluetooth status, alarm, and moon phases. It also has several configurable fields.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / Forerunner 230 / 235 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 935, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Music
Energy Face at ConnectIQ
22. Simply Late!
This watch face offers a rather unique take on the modern watch. All that’s displayed is the current hour with a progress indicator to tell you what part of the hour you’re in. Data is also displayed nicely at the top. It’s meant for anyone who likes to see the current hour at a glance, but nothing more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Descent MK1, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, Garmin Swim 2, All MARQ, Rey, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR
21. Divinity
Like skulls? Want one on your watch face alongside the date and time? Then check out Divinity, an official watch face from Garmin.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivolife
20. GearMin
The GearMin watch face is an absolute beast, displaying just about every stat and personal detail your watch can track. It’s for data lovers and always active people, specifically those that want quick access to all important stats. You get elevation, current location, date and time, total steps, goal progress, Bluetooth status, notifications, heart-rate, alarms, an activity graph and much more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, Epix, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
19. Classic Collection
The best thing about this watch face is it’s a bundle that includes several classic designs inspired by real watches. All of the faces feature analog clock designs, of which there are seven. There are a variety of configurable colors, backgrounds, clock hands and more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Descent MK1, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S
18. DividedTime
Want a plain style watch that displays the current time and date, with plenty of configurable options? Look no further than DividedTime. It offers a wide range of color options for the foreground and background. You can also remove everything extra for an incredibly clean style.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Descent MK1, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 735XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, Garmin Swim 2, All MARQ, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
17. Infinity
Infinity mimics traditional analog watches by display hour, minute and second hands. In the background is an infinite array of cubes, which is where the name comes from. At the north side of the face is the battery level and the south side has total steps. It looks great, works great and is definitely one to grab.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Venu, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
16. RunningPro
This watch face has another analog-style design, except it displays running and activity stats in the background. You can see battery levels, current weight, altitude, calories burned, total steps, data, moon phase and more.
Compatible Devices: All D2, Forerunner 645 / 645 Music / 935, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5
15. Clock32
This watch face has a stylish, digital design with the time and date in the center and a progress bar around the edges. It supports multiple color configurations and displays a ton of extra details. You can see heart-rate, total steps, notifications, alarms, Bluetooth status, battery level and much more.
Compatible Devices: All D2, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive HR
14. Time Flies
This watch face has a slick, analog and digital clock design with “rich customization options” and support for several detailed stats like data, Bluetooth status, and battery level.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
Fenix 3 Garmin
13. DigiSport
This watch face closely resembles the Nike face available on the Nike+ edition of the Apple Watch. The time is displayed on the right, and three circular icons sit on the left. The icons can be customized, allowing you to choose what’s displayed. Most of the options are unlocked by buying the premium version for $1.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, Epix, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
12. Lachesis (Light)
This animated watch face displays illuminated neon colors around the edges and places the time right in the center. There are four color schemes: coral pink, sunset orange, ocean green and sand grey. Extra info displayed includes calories burned, battery level, data and total steps.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Venu, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
11. SkyTracker
If you want to see weather data, SkyTracker is the right watch face. It will show the temperature and weather conditions for your current location. It also displays battery level, heart-rate, mobile notifications, time and data. Additional options are available to unlock, too, like new colors and more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, All MARQ, Rey, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
10. ActiFace
If you want as much information on your small watch display as possible, then ActiFace is the right choice. It shows time and date, daily goal progress, total steps, mobile notifications and heart-rate. It also displays a useful activity history graph that shows the distance you’ve traveled and the total calories you’ve burned along the way.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, Epix, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920 XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, Garmin Swim 2, All MARQ, Rey, Venu, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
9. Gigantus
This watch face puts the time front and center in large, bold print. Various stats are displayed around the time, including heart-rate, Bluetooth status, alarms, activity details and more. You can also change the display colors by choosing from several presets.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 935, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music
Gigantus at ConnectIQ
8. Sport Master
Another official Garmin watch face, Sport Master is for all the active folks out there who want to track their progress in real-time. Time is displayed in both digital and analog formats. Additional details include calories burned, total steps, distance traveled, date, battery level and more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, First Avenger, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Venu, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivolife
7. NoFrills
If you want something that has no frills, this watch face is the one to grab. The time sits front and center in a beautiful, bold font. As you progress towards your daily goal the numbers fill up with water. Additional stats are displayed around the edges including heart-rate, date, alarms, Bluetooth status, notifications and battery level.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, Epix, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920 XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Rey, Venu, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
6. Ha Long Bay
Another animated watch face, Ha Long Bay adds a beautiful boating scene. Stats include total steps, battery levels, Bluetooth on, and time and date. It’s minimal, but it looks great and leaves plenty of open space to see the animation.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, Epix, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
5. JBlack
If you want a clean watch face that’s packed to the brim with info, JBlack is your best bet. It shows alarms, battery levels, BT status, the current moon phase, total steps, and, of course, the time and date. Plus, if you make a small donation to the developer who created it, you can unlock a few other features too like heart-rate or sunrise and set times (to clarify, the watch already shows this info via settings but a donation adds support to the home screen).
Compatible Devices: D2 Delta / Delta PX / Delta S, Descent MK1, Forerunner 645 / 645 Music, 935 / 945, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, All MARQ
4. Crystal
Want as much information on-screen as possible, yet in an attractive way? Crystal is your type of watch face. It was named the winner of “Best New Watch Face” at Garmin’s 2019 Connect IQ Developer awards. It shows a variety of stats and info, and there are three configurable data fields including heart-rate, battery level, and mobile notifications.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Darth Vader, Descent MK1, First Avenger, ForeAthlete 735XTJ, Forerunner 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 45 / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT/ 935, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, Garmin Swim 2, All MARQ, Venu, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR, Vivolife
3. Movement
Made by Garmin, Movement is an excellent watch face in style and function. There’s a rainbow style UI, with various metrics placed around the face. You can see elevation, battery levels, a music equalizer, along with time and date. You can also change the colors to personalize the face if you like.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, Forerunner 245 / 245 Music / 645 / 645 Music / 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivolife
2. Line
Line takes a unique approach to display metrics and time info on screen all at once. As the name suggests, a line separates the time and date from personal stats. There are multiple configurations so you can swap the layout to be side-by-side or top-bottom. You can change the display colors. The information shown includes calories burned, battery life, weather, heart-rate, mobile notifications, alarms and more.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, Captain Marvel, All D2, Descent MK1, Epix, ForeAthlete 230J / 235J / 630J / 735XTJ / 920XTJ, Forerunner 230 / 235 / 245 / 245 Music / 630 / 645 / 645 Music / 735XT / 920XT/ 935 / 945, All Fenix 3, All Fenix 5, All Fenix 6, Fenix Chronos, All MARQ, Vivoactive, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivoactive 4 / 4S, Vivoactive HR
1. My Watch
My Watch takes the number one spot because of how functional it is. It doesn’t look bad either, especially with how the minor details are displayed. The time takes front and center, and you get a wide variety of stats and info including heart-rate, activity time, altitude, temperature, moon phases, and much more. There are also two styles, light and dark, and none of the features are locked behind a paywall or donation requirement.
Compatible Devices: Approach S60, All D2, Descent MK1, Forerunner 645 / 645 Music / 935, All Fenix 5, Vivoactive 3 / 3 Mercedes-Benz Collection / 3 Music, Vivolife
| In This Guide |
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The Garmin Fenix 3 is my favorite piece of hiking gear, bar none. It’s like having an outdoors smartphone on my wrist, 24/7. The Fenix 3 has hundreds of features. Here’s what’s good, what’s not, and why you should get this awesome hiking watch.
I purchased the Fenix 3 on the day that came out (in March 2015), and have been using it every day since then. Being a hiker and a tech geek, I had a hard time deciding on which smartwatch to get. I considered getting the Apple Watch, Garmin Epix, Suunto Ambit, and I also considered doing without it. I was also conflicted after reading the numerous reviews on Amazon and REI. So I tried it out for myself.
BEST WATCH ON THE PLANET!!!!! – Amazon Reviewer
These are the features that make it an incredible tool for any hiker. (And keep reading to find out the not-so-great features that you should be aware of too.)
Garmin Fenix 3 Features
It’s Easy to Use
Some watches and smartwatches are complicated and hard to use. This includes some models from Garmin. But the Fenix 3 is easy. The buttons on this watch are used consistently and make logical sense. After a minute or two using it, you’ll know how to work every screen.
The face is easy to read. The colors and contrast are simple and effective. A backlight, triggered by a single button, is customizable. For example, you can turn the backlight on automatically when you hit any button, and it can stay on from 8 seconds to a minute.
Very Accurate GPS
I use the Fenix 3 heavily for hiking, and I’ve found the GPS to be spot on. I did a test on a 1 mile stretch of road that had an official measurement. I compared it with my old 910xt, and GaiaGPS on my iPhone 6. I also did the test on a few stretches of local trails. The Fenix 3 always had the best GPS accuracy.
The GPS fix is solid too. I never had a signal dropout in deep woods and trees, while friends with other watches and smartphones do. Garmin actively updates the firmware to address GPS accuracy, and it’s been effective. The coverage and accuracy seem to get better over time.
The Fenix 3 can not only use GPS satellites, but also the Russian equivalent called GLONASS. Sometimes it’s better with both, sometimes it’s not, but you have the option.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the Fenix 3 can get a GPS fix very quickly, generally within a few seconds. And it works quickly when you dramatically move locations too. For example, I used the watch in LA one day, flew to Turkey, and fired it up there. I had a GPS fix within a minute.
Following Trails is Easy
Navigating with the Fenix 3 was an important feature for me. I considered getting a handheld GPS like the Garmin Oregon 750t, or even using my iPhone with a waterproof case. I said no to the Oregon because I didn’t want to be dependent on Garmin’s (expensive) maps. I said no to the iPhone case because I wanted better battery life. I also considered the Garmin Epix, which has a map screen, but it has a reputation for being buggy. I also noticed that a lot of retailers (such as REI) stopped selling it. Not a good sign.
But I was worried that the small screen on the Fenix 3 wouldn’t be too helpful. It turns out that I don’t actually need the electronic maps to navigate. I just download the track of the route to the watch, and then use that to make sure that I’m on course. The track screen on the Fenix 3 shows your position relative to a track you’ve downloaded.
For example, a common use case is when I’m hiking and realize that I might not be on course. I bring up the track screen on the Fenix 3, and then see my position relative to the track. If I’m not on or close to the track line, I backtrack until I am, then look closely for signs on the trail.
This system has worked really well for me. I have a full guide to creating hiking routes and transferring them to your Fenix 3 here.
There are also third party apps like this one from my friend Rodrigo that let you put maps on the watch itself which you can give a try.
Long Battery Life
There’s nothing more annoying than having to constantly charge a device, especially one that you use as a personal activity tracker. I used to love my FitBit, but grew tired of charging it all the time. The Fenix 3 doesn’t have that problem.
I use it 24/7 as an activity and sleep tracker, I use it to track a workout for about 30-90 minutes a day, and I track one long (3-8 hour) hike a week. I also have the Bluetooth and WiFi always on. For all that use, I generally just charge it for about an hour or two (often just before my long hike, and then right after).
According to Garmin, the watch will work in GPS mode for about 16 hours. I’ve used it on overnight backpacking trips and it wasn’t a problem recording both day’s hikes in GPS mode. Lately I’ve been using the Fenix 3 HR model, and I can get about 12-13 hours of continuous use.
By default, the Fenix 3 records a GPS fix every second in GPS mode. But if you need longer life (like on a multi-day backpacking trip), you can switch it to “smart recording” which will extend the battery life. There are also tons of USB chargers you can bring if you’re doing an extended backpacking trip that should cover you for two weeks of daily hiking. Also note that the HR model uses more battery than the non-HR model.
Customizable and Personalized
Every screen and piece of data that you see on the watch can be personalized. The Fenix 3 has “data screens” that you see during hiking (or any other activity like running, biking, etc.). Each screen can show from 1 to 4 pieces of data. And each activity (like hiking) can have from 1 to 12 different screens. You simply press the up and down button to cycle through each screen. It lets you see what’s important to you and hide what’s not.
Best Fenix 3 Watch Faces For Men
The customization goes just beyond hiking. You can choose your watch face. You can choose what pieces of information you cycle through, such as altimeter, barometer, steps, weather, compass, and temperature. The screens also include Bluetooth notifications from your phone. For example, your smartphone can get the weather and output it to your phone. Garmin calls these screens “widgets” and has opened it up to developers as part of it’s “Connect IQ” app marketplace. So if you don’t like the default weather widget, you can download the Accuweather widget. Same thing goes for watch faces, data fields, and apps. I go with a watch face that has the current moon cycle and sunset, in addition to the time and date.
And then there are apps. Think of apps as activities. Hiking is an app. Running is an app. And there are apps for almost every activity, from rock climbing, to biking, to walking, indoor running, almost everything. Apps are also free on the Fenix 3 Connect IQ website.
You can basically make this watch do anything you want. And if you don’t want to customize it, it just works out of the box as well. I found that as I used it more, I got more adventurous and tried more customization.
Not Just For Hiking
The Fenix 3 is much more than just a hiking GPS. I thought I would just use this for hiking, but I literally use it every hour of every day now.
To start, it’s a fitness tracker. I leave it on my arm and it tracks my steps, and it tracks my sleep. And it doesn’t look like a fitness tracker (aka home arrest bracelet). It looks like a rugged watch. I wear it at work, I wear it at play.
The step monitor helps me make sure I stay active every day. It even has a move alert. If you’re at your desk to long, it’ll buzz and remind you to move. The sleep monitor tells you how much sleep you get – how much is deep, light, or awake. It’s automatic. No buttons to press.
If you do any other sports or activities, the Fenix 3 works for those too. I use it for my mountain biking and road biking as well. A simple handlebar mount lets me attach the Fenix 3 and it becomes my cycle computer. I opted in for an easy to mount speed and cadence monitor too, and now I can get all the stats from my rides.
For example, it might say that it's not compatible with this device or is too old to be opened on this version of macOS. Mac os el capitan dmg download. The version of macOS that came with your Mac is the earliest version it can use. To confirm compatibility before downloading, check the minimum hardware requirements:. hardware requirements. For example, if your Mac came with macOS Big Sur, it will not accept installation of macOS Catalina or earlier.If a macOS can't be used on your Mac, the App Store or installer will let you know.
Likewise, I also run occasionally. I purchased the chest heart rate strap. The cool thing about this heart rate monitor is that I can measure all my stride stats too. I’ve used these stats to increase my running cadence and create a more efficient stride. The heart rate monitor also allows the Fenix 3 to estimate my VO2 max (an indicator of fitness) and recommend recovery times after each workout. It’s pretty amazing. If you’re into fitness and want to connect, feel free to follow me on Strava or connect on Garmin Connect.
The heart rate monitor is also usable when hiking. I’ve found that it gives me a much more accurate estimate of how many calories I burn during a hike (compared to a non-heart rate estimate). This helps me make sure that I’m eating enough on long hikes to keep my energy levels topped up.
Bluestacks big sur extension blocked. Lastly, worth a mention, are Bluetooth notifications. The watch can get notifications from your smartphone. For example, if you get a phone call, the watch can vibrate. This can get pretty annoying, so I recommend shutting off any notifications on your phone that are not critical. I get a notification when I have a call or text from family or friends. Email and other crap doesn’t come through. But in this way it works just like the Apple Watch.
What Could Be Better
Sapphire Watch Band
You can get the Fenix 3 with a regular band (in plastic or leather), or with the high-end all-metal links on the Sapphire model. The Sapphire model is supposed to be more scratch resistant, but the band needs to be customized by you to be the right width for your wrist. I recommend taking it to a jeweler or using this simple and cheap link tool to pop the links out.
And the Sapphire band doesn’t fully open, so if you want to use it on a bike, you have to change the band. Luckily the Sapphire edition includes a rubber watch band you can swap out. I have the Sapphire band in reserve in case I need something fancy. Personally I think the leather banded Sapphire model is a good balance between ease and style.
I do recommend getting screen protection as I have a small scratch on mine. – Amazon Reviewer
I don’t know about the scratch resistance of the regular model (I have the Sapphire), but after doing research, it looks like you should get the Sapphire model to avoid scratching.
The Fenix 3 is Expensive
There’s no getting around it, it’s an expensive piece of gear. When you compare it against a nice watch, it’s cheap though. When you compare it against the value you get from an Apple Watch, it’s worth it. The Apple Watch is a decent alternative, but it’s only water resistant. And it needs your phone to work. The Fenix 3 works on it’s own, and it’s waterproof to 100 meters. The bottom line is that the Fenix 3 is made for hiking and the outdoors, while most other models are not.
In retrospect, if I ask myself was it worth the money, I can confidently say “yes.” I literally use it every day, it gives me feedback on my life and health, and I navigate with it hiking. It does a lot for the money.
If you’re serious about running, hiking, cycling, swimming, this is the top dog of all GPS/Fitness watches. – Amazon Reviewer
Fenix 3 Software
Garmin can do much better on the software front. Reviewing the Garmin software for the Fenix 3 would be an article on it’s own, but here’s the good and bad of what you need to know.
- Overall, the software works and shows you information about your hike, sleep, etc. You can use it on the web or mobile.
- They change their mobile software quite a bit, and it’s not always for the better. Fitbit does a much better job. I hope they improve the software.
- Fitbit has a simple way that you can see how many steps you have in relation to your friends. Garmin makes the process clunky and it’s not worth the effort.
- Your activities sync seamlessly to the device and web using WiFi or Bluetooth.
- Updating the firmware sometimes is a hassle. Often I update the Fenix 3 firmware with the USB connection, and then get prompted to update it to the same version multiple times. I don’t know why Garmin can’t get this right. It seems to be working much better now that it did when the watch first came out.
- On a positive note, Garmin updates the Fenix 3 firmware often and seems committed to improving the product and experience. One of the latest updates added tons of features, like SUP tracking, lactate threshold testing, stress tests, and golf tracking.
This watch is awesome have had no issues, Garmin puts out regular updates this does everything I want it to do. – Amazon Reviewer
Helpful Links
- The Garmin Fenix 3 firmware release page tells you what’s in each new release of the firmware for the watch. Garmin Express will update it automatically for you, or you can visit a site like DC Rainmaker. He has regular weekly recaps and mentions all the gear that has firmware updates.
- If you’re feeling adventurous, you can install a beta version of the newest firmware. It’s not officially supported, so I don’t do it, but I enjoy looking at the page to see what I can (potentially) expect in a new stable release.
- Sometimes the software has problems or issues. Garmin is usually good about fixing those. When things don’t seem right after an update, I visit this great Facebook group for the Fenix 3. Generally people are talking about whatever issue might be occurring already. It’s also a great place to ask questions.
Garmin Fenix 3 Hiking GPS Bottom Line
The Fenix 3 is a powerful tool. It’s expensive, but it’s worth it. Every person that I’ve met who has one loves it, and they end up loving it more as time goes on. That includes some grumpy old men I know who typically would not feel that way. If you don’t want to spend the money, I’d recommend figuring out a way to use your smartphone. If you’re considering the Fenix 3 against other smartwatches, I’d pick the Fenix 3 without hesitation.
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