fenix 2

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fenix 2

Postby ris » 22 Jun 2015 15:20

i think a couple of people here have used / still use garmin fenix 2 watches.... any thoughts on them...?

considering replacing the FR405 i have with something more... modern... and might be used for swimming, too. currently have an edge 500 for bike so no great desire for one watch to do everything, but wouldn't mind one that can for short distance events (up to oly).

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Re: fenix 2

Postby Jack Hughes » 22 Jun 2015 15:24

One for CombatDwarf. He has ranted about them on FB.

I think the gist goes like this:

Had a fenix2. Didn't work for swimming (very unreliable data).

Eventually got money back.

Got a Fenix3. A lot better. But the glass (non-sapphire) smashed on light contact with a part of another swimmer's anatomy. Garmin wouldn't refund.

So, not happy about them.

I was just about to buy one... so if you do get a fenix3.. let me know :D

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Re: fenix 2

Postby Bendy Ben » 22 Jun 2015 15:35

Or buy a 910 xt second hand
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Re: fenix 2

Postby combatdwarf » 22 Jun 2015 15:47

The fenix3 is amazing but fragile - Garmin have finally agreed to replace it....don't even think of the fenix 2 the GPS is rubbish the fenix 3 has a big antenna on the front - the metal ring - and it uses both GPS and Glosnas - it rarely loses signal even when swimming....


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Re: fenix 2

Postby ris » 22 Jun 2015 16:01

CD - is this principally an ow swimming gripe with the F2, or is the gps a load of poo for running as well? the reality is that i'm going to do about 6 ow swims a year with it and maybe 150 runs, so if the gps is ok for running then it could suit...
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Re: fenix 2

Postby Sir Jibbenstein » 22 Jun 2015 16:58

I have the fenix 2. Don't have as much of a gripe as CD does, I seem to be lucky and have one that works, but it is lacking a few multisport features, and Garmin are unlikely to update it again (pretty annoying really, released and superseeded within 12 months).

Personally if my Fenix broke and I had to replace it I'd get a 920xt or a fenix 3.
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Re: fenix 2

Postby combatdwarf » 26 Jun 2015 10:04

I found the fenix2 GPS to be gernerally rubbish - I had 2 of them and they were both different and both were less accurate than my 310XT with or without foot pod (there is a website all about this GPS issue if you want to read it I am sure I can find it) - talking to Garmin this is not unusual with this model...the difference between the fenix 2 and 3 is light and day, the fenix 3 you can see very small changes in direction/going round trees etc - part of this is due to the ability of the GPS to hold both the GPS and GLOSSNAS sytem data - it is amazing in swimming and running....

Skip the fenix2 and go for a 920xt or a fenix3 - they are basically the same watch with the fenix being a bit better on GPS accuracy and having a few other features - have a look at the DC Rainmaker review...
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Re: fenix 2

Postby ris » 26 Jun 2015 10:45

hmm, i was asking because le wigg have them for £175 at the moment, which i'd struggle to get close to for either of the more current models.


probably going to give it a miss if the gps is a load of toot (can it be worse than the fr405 i wonder... perhaps it is). i'll just have to wait a bit longer until my 'most kit award 2013' piggy bank has more in it :D

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Re: fenix 2

Postby Bendy Ben » 26 Jun 2015 13:13

PM'd you Ris
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Re: fenix 2

Postby combatdwarf » 28 Jun 2015 10:25

Sadly there is a reason they are that price on wiggle....
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