The Garmin Fenix3 HR

In brief, it’s a beast! This is a watch for the ultra or multisport athlete that likes the best, and has the cash to pay for it.

The Fenix3 HR has all the gadgetry you could ever want or need, plus more. Aesthetically it look great, with a soft rubber wrist-band (Other options are available to bling it up) and a large easy to read face. A sunlight-visible high-resolution colour Chroma display with LED backlight means you can see you data in any light.

The rear has a small sensor on it for reading heart rate, which by the way you don’t even notice when wearing the watch. The one thing I did become aware of is the weight. It’s a relatively heavy timepiece, but that’s due to the stainless steel bezel and high scratch resistant domed sapphire glass lens. However this high level of build quality will make it last through the toughest challenges. Another plus is the long battery life of up to 40 hours in UltraTrac mode, 16 hours in GPS mode and up to 3 weeks in watch mode, and 2 weeks in smartwatch mode.

In terms of navigation the Fenix3 records a GPS track log creating a bread-crumb trail as you move. You can mark locations, such as a point of interest or course checkpoint, and you can easily create and follow your own courses. There’s an internal altimeter that accurately trackes elevation changes, a barometer for monitoring the weather, and a 3-axis electronic compass.

For the tech savvy, it’s equipped with both ANT+ and Bluetooth® Smart capabilities so you can wirelessly share locations and routes, and connect to your mobile device to see messages and updates while you’re on the go. There are also handy training metrics like cadence and recovery time, plus loads of other features that a simple trail runner like me doesn’t need, but likes to play around with while drinking coffee after a session.

If I had to choose between this and a similarly priced Suunto….I think the Fenix3 HR would win.