Does anyone have experience of using a Garmin Fenix for navigation?

[The Other PaulG]

Hi all - I am contemplating acquiring a Fenix. Its uses will be for recording activities (for Strava) and for basic navigation (off road cycling and marathon kayaking).

All Garmin devices record activities, no problem. But what about the navigation?

Do you use a Fenix for basic nav? If so, how easy is it, are the installed topo maps sufficient, can you download other maps, can you download routes, does using nav flatten your battery super fast, is the screen big enough to be useful, what else do I need to know?

Pls quote your Fenix version (eg 5X, 6 Pro etc) along with the watch size if commenting on the visibility of its features.

Many thanks in advance for any useful insights.

 

[Mike_E]

Not a fenix but I use a forerunner 955 for cycling, running, hiking and skiing and the nav and map works great. Used it for the tour du Mont blanc and also some other walking in the Alps and it was spot on. Enough battery to almost last two full days use. Fenix should be better.

 

[The Other PaulG]

Thanks Mike - like this one? Do you just use the pre-installed maps?? Can you connect it to software on your PC to do your route planning?

 

[DJ123]

I've done it using a Garmin Solar watch. It can show you the track on the watch, plus guides you back to it if you come off the trail.

It uses the downloaded maps on the phone to import routes, to guide you along the route.

I am assuming the Fenix uses the same Garmin Explore maps? So it's standard GPX formats you can use for navigation.

 

[Mike_E]

Thanks Mike - like this one? Do you just use the pre-installed maps?? Can you connect it to software on your PC to do your route planning?

View attachment 475897

Yep pretty much. I do the routing using the Garmin connect app on the pc and then send it to the watch. All very slick. I just use the standard maps, never wanted to use anything else.

 

[Mike_E]

I've also imported gpx files to Garmin connect and synced them to the watch which worked fine too. Did that for the TdMB

 

[The Other PaulG]

Thanks DJ and Mike - that's really helpful.