Those of you with a Garmin 5X

Tacklewasher

I see the prices have dropped on these. Now I'm wondering if it's worth upgrading from a 3HR. Besides the mapping, what will a 5X do that the 3 HR won't do and would you upgrade from a 3HR for it?

I already have wireless earbuds with 4gb storage, so the music is not needed, so I'm not looking at the Plus models.

Size wise they are the same and I'm already using the 5X quick release bands on my 3HR. But I do know some of the performance tracking is not available on the 3HR.

I've got a foot pod, a chest strap and the doohickey for the bike (that I've not installed yet).

I wear mine 23.5/7, maybe charging it for a half hour daily while I shower.

NorthCascades

Breaks out aerobic vs anaerobic training effect, adds a power gauge (excellent!) like the heart one, and a million little refinements like putting the time of day in the timer.

garystrickland357

I have nothing to compare to my 5X. I simply bought it because I figured I would have it for a long time - so why purchase old tech in the beginning? That said, I have enjoyed the watch and have no complaints. It has functioned well as a running watch/ bike computer.

Duck_Puddle

The Fenix 5 series (and 935) has more first beat performance metrics. As mentioned-the separate anaerobic and aerobic training effect, you now get a “performance condition” alert a few minutes into your run (which is just as obscure and undefifiend as the previous “recovery” indication). You get a training “status” metric (which is a comparison of your training load-intensity is favored over distance/time-compared to your VO2max Reading du jour compared to the previous). You get separate VO2max indicators for biking and running. LT threshold for running, FTP for biking.

So those are all fun, but aren’t really any more reliable than bodyfat readinfs on a scale so idk if i would upgrade for that.

But in the same realm-one of the seemingly gimmicky things that I have ended up using a lot is the all day stress reading. I’ve been working the last several months on stres and anxiety reduction and the gimmick is really showing a significant reduction in my physical stress levels. Woo away lol.

I believe there are additional activity/workout designations now (like the addition of maybe mountain biking? Don’t yell if that’s wrong but I think they split out some things in more details). There are metrics like 3D speed (which can be nice for things like trail running with serious elevation where you may not be conveying a lot of satellite distance because you’re running up a wall). I’m not sure if that’s in the 3HR. And probably more stuff like that which is useful in the 73959506 activities I don’t do.

I have a 5s because the 5x is the size of my head (literally the size is my palm) and isn’t really feasible for a daily watch for me. Aside from the mapping, it has the same guts (although the 5x is reportedly more stable with ANT+ connections).

I was upgrading from a Fenix 2 and the 5s was a no brainer for me based purely on size. The plus wasn’t available at the time - which was a bummer because I wanted the maps. I’m eyeing a 5s plus-but my credit card cried at the idea so I guess maybe I don’t need the maps THAT badly.

If you think you’ll use the mapping and enjoy the training metrics, then it’s a fabulous device. But idk it that means it’s worth upgrading or not.

Also-the 5x plus has wrist based pulse Ox so if you’re into mountain climbing and elevation acclimation is a thing you need to pay attention to-then that’s anothet consideration.

NorthCascades

I'll second the all day stress feature. That thing is scary accurate.

Tacklewasher

NorthCascades wrote: »

I'll second the all day stress feature. That thing is scary accurate.

Yeah, not sure I want to know that

OldAssDude

You can compare the firstbeat metrics here...

F3HR
https://firstbeat.com/en/consumer-product/garmin/fenix-3-hr/

F5
https://firstbeat.com/en/consumer-product/garmin/fenix-5/

Tacklewasher

Thanks to all. Still not sure.

Duck_Puddle

One other difference which doesn’t apply to you but might to someone else lurking-the Fenix 5/935 allows connections to Bluetooth and/or ANT+ sensors. Most of us that have been using Garmin since forever have ANT+ stuff anyway, but BT is now an option (if you’re getting setup or need to resplace something).

NorthCascades

Tacklewasher wrote: »

NorthCascades wrote: »

I'll second the all day stress feature. That thing is scary accurate.

Yeah, not sure I want to know that

It's not emotional stress, like if you wake up one day feeling ennui because you've been reading too much Nietzsche. It's how much stress your body is under. A hot shower sends mine to 100%. It's there as a recovery metric, I think. Mine has been unusually high lately, I've been sick. Someone on Slow Twitch is using it for training, add intensity until the chart is all orange, then take it easy until the blue comes back, and repeat.