My Garmin Fenix 3 HR Review; In my quest for the perfect fitness watch, I stumbled upon the Garmin Fenix 3 Sapphire Edition. This model comes with a built in heart rate sensor and also ships bundled with a heart rate strap. The watch can be used for walking, running, swimming, paddle sports, skiing, golfing, cycling, weight training, and more.
It was necessary to do a lot of research before proceeding to purchase. Comparing features between brands, prices, durability, etc.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR Sapphire Edition Impressions
I'll start by pointing out that this Fitness watch is absolutely beautiful. With its dark anodized brushed finish, overall clean design, and well organized button layout. The Garmin Fenix 3 HR looks and feels like a high quality digital watch.
The Fenix 3 definitely stands out on any wrist. Though large and tough to get used to wearing at first. I Initially found myself brushing the watch up against things like door trim due to its pure size. That might sound strange, but this watch is much larger than a typical wrist watch. After a few days, my mind learned to accommodate the size difference and bumping into things with it was no longer a problem.
Garmin Fenix 3 HR (heart rate monitor)
As mentioned earlier, the Garmin Fenix 3 HR Sapphire Edition comes bundled with an external heart rate strap. HR denotes Garmin's built in Elevate™ wrist heart rate technology consisting of a heart rate sensor built into the watch which measures heart rate at your wrist. In testing, heart rate measurements at the wrist appeared fairly accurate while sedentary or while minimally active.
However, I found that measuring heart rate at the wrist wasn't accurate during intense exercise. During intense exercises, I found wrist readings to be off by as much as 60bpm, and slow to update. To tackle this, tightening the strap proved to be helpful to enhance accuracy.
Yet in some extreme activities, my wrist would still shift around, leading to the heart rate senser producing fluctuating readings. Even after making several adjustments to tighten the wristband, the heart rate tracking was not quite consistent enough to provide reliable data. So eventually I reverted to using the included heart strap during those exercises for accurate readings.
Fenix 3 HR Sapphire Edition Features
The Fenix 3 HR is packed with plenty of features. Standard watch features include the essential time, date, and time to sunset/sunrise. Built in sensors include GPS/GLONASS, altimeter, barometer, thermometer, Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi, and compass.
The main display layout can be adjusted. Along with the ability to move, add or delete pages. Pages are easily toggled via the up or down buttons. Watch faces and data fields can be customized. Moreover, there are tons of free apps available through Connect IQ.
- It is known for its rugged durability, designed to withstand tough conditions which is ideal for outdoor athletes.
- Offers reliable functionality and just works; I've never had the watch lockup on me.
- Like most smart fitness watches it includes a built in step monitor to keep track of steps taken throughout the day.
- A simple calorie monitor to help monitor what your body is burning throughout the day.
- Sleep monitor to help monitor sleep patterns (deep and light sleep), and resting heart rate.
- Nifty navigation with TracBack feature with markers which can be used to take you back to your starting point via the route you took.
- Weather monitor and alerts (requires paired smartphone connection).
- VO2 max estimator.
- Smartphone email, text, and call notifications are displayed on the watch.
- Quick charging and long battery life.
- Advanced Running Dynamics and Physiological Metrics that help monitor nearly every aspect of your performance.
The Fenix 3 HR watch can be used for walking, running, swimming, paddle sports, skiing, golfing, cycling, weight training and more. But I think that perhaps one of the coolest features is having the ability to upload and study the data stored on the smart fitness watch via Garmin Express. The software has worked excellent for not only tracking my fitness progress and goals but also sleep patterns to ensure I am getting enough recovery rest.
How does the Fenix 3 compare to the Fenix 5?
When discussing the value for money and feature set of the Fenix 3 HR compared to newer models like the Fenix 5, I think it's important to point out that there's significant savings to be had in going with the older Fenix 3 HR, without compromising on essential functionalities. The Fenix 3 HR comes loaded with a plethora of features that cater to the needs of most athletes and fitness enthusiasts, making it a highly competent choice for those who require a dependable GPS watch with heart rate monitoring.
Despite being an older model, the Fenix 3 HR holds its own by providing substantial value, particularly when price and core functionalities are considered against newer models like the Fenix 5. For athletes looking for a reliable, feature-packed watch that offers great savings, the Fenix 3 HR is definitely worth considering.
Fenix 3 HR Review Conclusion
I've been using this smart watch for over eight years now and still absolutely love it. In fact, it's hard to believe that even the battery is still holding a strong charge.
This watch makes a great companion to my phone for receiving notifications and viewing critical data at my wrist. As a result, I find myself using the Garmin Fenix 3 HR in place of my Garmin Edge 800 for cycling. Overall, its feature support is awesome and all I need in a fitness watch. Moreover, Garmin Connect does a great job in organizing my fitness data, making it easy to quickly glance at my progress or lack thereof helping keep me on track and accountable to my fitness goals.
In terms of durability, the Fenix 3HR has withstood all the wear and tear I've subjected it to, from the scorching heat of summer runs to the icy splash of winter swims. Its rugged build hasn't just survived; it's thrived, maintaining a remarkable performance that I can rely on, day in and day out.
In conclusion, the Garmin Fenix 3HR is not just a tool, but a critical part of my fitness regime and daily life. Its enduring battery life, robust feature set, and reliable performance across a multitude of sports make it a top recommendation for anyone serious about staying fit and active.
