Garmin’s watch catalog is vast, with models ranging from simple health and fitness trackers to premium full titanium tool watches designed specifically for certain sports and activities. If you’re looking for a specialist watch, from aviation to diving to golf and everything in between, Garmin’s catalog has it. But if you’re looking for an all-around GPS watch that does a little bit of everything, and does it really well, the Garmin fēnix series is the watch for you. To see how well the top-of-the-line watch in the Fēnix lineup fares, Garmin sent us the Garmin fēnix 7 Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition for a summer of testing in the mountains of British Columbia.
One of the things that makes the fēnix 7 so appealing as a GPS watch is its versatility and ability to handle a seemingly endless variety of activities. Unfortunately, that’s also what makes it difficult to review the fēnix 7, as the watch’s capabilities are highly dependent on each wearer’s individual use case and what they want from a watch. So, before we get into the review, let’s provide a little background. I typically mountain bike 2-3 times a week and trail run twice a week, trying to incorporate at least interval and strength training. I also reluctantly do some lap swimming and road running when I’m traveling. I usually run for about an hour and cycle for 2 hours. I occasionally participate in 10K or half marathon trail running races and enduro races on my mountain bike, but I rarely make it to the podium and consider myself a mid-range contender.
I bring all of this up first because it directly impacts what I want from a watch like the Garmin fēnix 7, and may be different than what you’re looking for. I want easy access to basic information like pace, time elapsed, distance, and elevation. I want intuitive navigation, and I want to be able to clearly see data fields, which becomes more important every year (I don’t run with glasses). Now, let’s talk about the watch itself.
Garmin offers the fēnix 7 in 23 different versions, depending on whether you’re looking for a standard, solar, sapphire solar, pro solar, or pro sapphire solar, and in what size you’re looking for: 42mm, 47mm, or 51mm. And don’t forget the colors. There are certainly a lot of options, but the website makes it easy to search for the combination that’s best for you. The model we’ll be reviewing is the 47mm Pro Sapphire Solar. This is the top-of-the-line model of the fēnix 7, with all the bells and whistles: solar charging, a titanium and fiber-reinforced polymer case, and a sapphire crystal with a touchscreen. These are all great options, but with a watch like this, it’s all about the hardware and the software. Luckily, Garmin knows this stuff well, as they have a long history in GPS navigation.
The Garmin Fēnix 7 case is made from a titanium and polymer blend, and is comfortable and light on the wrist (73 grams with strap) despite its large size for a GPS watch. The look tends towards aggressive and technical, with exposed screws on the lugs and extra information on the bezel. Personally, I prefer cleaner, simpler cases and bezels. The tiny font on the bezel is hard to read, even with glasses, and I don’t think it adds any extra functionality.
One of the trends in GPS watches over the past few years has been the fierce battle of battery technology, and we the consumers are certainly winning. Battery life is currently very good, but it depends on how you use the watch. If you use this watch as a smartwatch, you can get up to 18 days of use, which increases to 22 days with the addition of solar charging (notice the solar band around the circumference of the watch face). This number jumps to almost half a year’s worth of power if you are simply using it as a watch. Of course, if you are using a satellite system or music for everything, this number drops significantly. In my case, I needed to charge the watch once a week or two, which is totally reasonable considering how much time I use the GPS function.
Moving on to the hardware, the GPS uses Garmin’s Satiq technology, which offers multi-band GPS without draining battery life. I used the watch on local trails and tracking was accurate, locking onto satellites almost instantly. Even while crossing Canada, the GPS connected with no delay, which was a pleasant surprise as I’ve worn plenty of GPS watches that take a minute or two to connect in new locations. Altitude readings were accurate and consistent. Since I won’t be going off-trail and navigating the backcountry, I didn’t spend much time with the ABC (altimeter, barometer, compass) settings, but they’re all important features and it’s nice to have them available as a backup.
In addition to the navigation hardware, you also get your heart rate and VO2 max, so you’re never short on information right on your wrist. The wrist-based heart rate sensor isn’t as accurate as a chest strap, but it does a good job of minimizing the odd spike or false reading. For running or cycling, where your heart rate is relatively constant, it’s helpful to read your zones (most activities have a rainbow of your heart rate and zones displayed above the data field) and adjust your effort accordingly.
The Garmin fēnix 7 offers many smartwatch features, including email and phone notifications, over Bluetooth and WiFi. You can also download other optional apps, such as podcasts, Spotify, additional maps, and watch faces. Since I carry my phone with me while I exercise, Bluetooth notifications are enough for me and I don’t need another connection. If you’re going to be far from your phone during your adventure and want to stay connected, a full-fledged smartwatch like the Apple Watch is better. Personally, that’s not what I want from a GPS watch, so the Bluetooth connection is enough for me. I also appreciate being able to quickly glance at my wrist while running to see if I really need to stop and answer a call or text, or if it can wait until later.
Although the fēnix 7 has a touchscreen, it also has five buttons (three at 9 o’clock and two at 3 o’clock) that provide the same functionality, so you don’t need to use the touchscreen for navigation. This is an important consideration if it’s raining or you’re wearing gloves. Personally, I rarely used the touchscreen, as operating with the buttons is simpler and more intuitive. Overall, the fēnix 7 provides a high-quality, easy-to-understand user interface. The app itself comes with preloaded data fields, which is fine, but the point is that it’s relatively easy to customize to suit your needs and what you want to see on each screen (however, see below).
What I really like about the 47mm Fēnix 7 is the large text on all data fields. I’m farsighted and never work out while wearing glasses, so it’s important to me that I can actually read the information displayed on the watch. The fēnix 7 does an excellent job in that regard, not just with the size of the screen, but also with the way the information is displayed. Of course, it gets a little difficult on the map screen, but the readability is as you’d expect. The fēnix 7 comes with preloaded maps, and Garmin makes it easy to load additional maps from a variety of sources for navigation. This is a brand that has been a leader in the navigation industry for many years and has a lot of experience.
I mentioned the five buttons on the fēnix 7, but my favorite is at the 10 o’clock position. Press once to brighten the display, and press twice quickly to turn on the built-in LED flashlight. When I read about the flashlight I thought it was a bit silly and unnecessary, but I’ll admit I was completely wrong. The flashlight is super handy, easier than pulling out my phone to use the flashlight, and perfect for when I was camping and needed some quick light to get around the campsite. It’s a small, but nice detail that I didn’t realize I needed until I had it in my hands.
The other half of the fēnix 7 is the Garmin Connect app. Overall, the app has a great user experience, is easy to navigate, and has plenty of stats and training plans, giving you more information than most people will ever need. While you can customize various settings on the watch itself, it’s much easier to change fields, settings, and display options from the app.
One of the big complaints about early GPS watches was the use of a proprietary integrated strap. Because these watches are often used in harsh conditions, the strap is usually the first part to break, resulting in either discarding the watch or searching in vain for a replacement strap. Fortunately, we have come a long way since those days. The fēnix 7 comes with a 22mm silicone strap that uses a quick release system (QuickFit) that attaches to a fixed lug bar. There are plenty of color options to replace the silicone strap, and Garmin also offers titanium, leather, and fabric options if you want a different look. Personally, I consider the stretchy nylon hook-and-loop strap for running and cycling. It is the lightest option with infinite adjustability. That said, the silicone strap is soft and comfortable, and the closely spaced buckle holes double as vents, making it easy to get the right fit. Still, it would be nice if the lug bar was removable and more aftermarket options were available.
With the fēnix 7 Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition, Garmin continues its tradition of making best-in-class GPS watches. Unless you have special needs and plan to use the watch only for specific activities, it’s hard not to recommend the Garmin fēnix 7. It has great GPS capabilities, reliable heart rate and VO2 Max, and ABC settings for when you’re heading out further afield. The fēnix 7 offers functionality for a nearly limitless range of activities, has all the hardware and software most people need, and has an intuitive interface on both the watch and the Garmin Connect app. The Garmin fēnix 7 Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition is priced at $899, while the base model, the 7S Standard Edition, starts at $649. For more information on the Garmin fēnix 7 lineup, visit the brand’s website.
Required Data
>Brand: Garmin
> Model: fēnix 7 Pro – Sapphire Solar Edition
>Price: $899
>Size: Width 47mm, Height 14.5mm, Lug width 22mm
> Reviewer would personally wear it: During any exercise or outdoor activity.
>First friends I’d recommend this to: People looking for a GPS watch that can handle a wide range of activities.
> Best feature of the watch: It’s the perfect all-around GPS watch. Plus, the flashlight is incredibly useful.
> Worst feature of this watch: Garmin’s strap options are good, but I would prefer screw-in lug bars instead of fixed ones to accommodate more aftermarket strap options. I’d also like to see a cleaner bezel without text and a more streamlined form factor.
