In most workouts (running, trekking, etc) you can cycle through the menus to a map screen. You can see what's around you, roads, landmarks, and more. There's also a feature that shows points of interest. The Fenix 6S performed flawlessly throughout my testing. I compared it to a Forerunner 945 and the Coros Apex, and all the essential metrics — heart rate monitoring, GPS distance, and pace — were spot on across the board. Like most Garmin watches, there is an abundance of data screens, and you can customize them to view the metrics you need the most. Navigation worth following

Performance condition (after running 6–20 minutes, compares your real-time condition to your average fitness level) Open-water swim metrics (distance, pace, stroke count/rate, stroke distance, swim efficiency (SWOLF), calories) The watch calculates your V02 Max which can help determine training pace and race finish predictors (I love how much faith my watch has in me!).

If you want a bigger battery, Garmin says the Fenix 6X will last you 21 days in smartwatch mode, or 60 hours hours in GPS mode.

Navigation is one of the strong points for Garmin watches, and is one of the core features of the Fenix series. I unfortunately learned the hard way that when your Garmin Fenix 6S Pro says you are off course, you better listen to it. Data from the Fenix 6S is uploaded to the Garmin Connect app, an all-in-one app that displays any relevant fitness and health data like: Across the board, these battery improvements are plentiful when compared to the Fenix 5 Plus. And - as mentioned earlier - these have largely been achieved via tweaks in the Fenix’s software which make management much more intuitive and allow users to better understand what kind of power they have remaining. This has been changed in a number of ways.

Sports Apps

Hiking, Climbing, Mountain Biking, Skiing, Snowboarding, XC Skiing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, Rowing, Kayaking, Jumpmaster, Tactical The most exciting features of the watch for The Salt Sirens readers is no doubt its ability for the sports watch to be converted into a surf and SUP watch. Running The Fenix 6S also features the same TOPO mapping – and while it's a nice feature to have, we still have reservations about its usefulness and usability. Different watches in the Fenix 6 and 7 lines carry different price tags, with the basic models costing less than those with Sapphire crystal or Power Glass. However, all new Fenix 7 watches are more expensive than their older counterparts.

The Garmin Fenix 6 lineup faces stiff competition from other brands as well as from Garmin’s own lineup. Here are a few of our recommended Garmin Fenix 6 alternatives: Whilst the Fenix 6S is a true multisport watch (it records everything from open water swimming, triathlon and weights , to skiing and golf) there are a number of functions that make it a particularly perfect watch for runners. It includes the Advanced Running Dynamics feature which provides you with a plethora of running data alongside the usual pace, distance, elevation and mile/km splits.Garmin not only added new fitness features, but it also migrated existing features, like body battery and training load focus, to the 6 series. What you end up with is a well-rounded watch that does almost everything. The Garmin Fenix 6 line comes in multiple models. At 42mm, the 6S is the smallest with the 6 (47mm) and the 6X (51mm) being the larger versions. One of the most frustrating things about this watch is while it’s marketing includes surf-friendly capabilities, Garmin’s official surf app is only for iOS users. However, if you are an Android user like me, it’s still possible to convert the Garmin Fenix 6S into a surf watch. For those wanting more insight into their climbing stats, ClimbPro measures each ascent for gradient, distance and elevation gain. To protect the display, Garmin did away with the chemically-strengthened glass material and replaced it with Gorilla Glass 3, but you now can choose between Gorilla Glass 3 or the more expensive sapphire crystal for their display lens material. I have not been able to test the long-term scratch-resistance of the display material, but Gorilla Glass 3 is on low-end phones and should protect you from the occasional rustle and tumble, but it’s still glass. Sapphire is what’s on expensive watches and is a much more tougher material. If you frequently scuff up your watches while outdoors, the sapphire model is worth shelling out for.

Vertical oscillation and ratio (the degree of 'bounce' in your running motion and the cost-benefit ratio with stride length) I settled on the Garmin Fenix 6S Sapphire model for its small size and robustness. For my lifestyle, the solar charging capability is not worth the extra cost. If I ever do want to charge this watch on long treks, I’ll connect it to a solar charging power bank as this watch charges via USB cable. I did want the pro model for the PacePro feature and phone-free music capabilities. First impressions of the Garmin Fenix 6S

TOPO and Ski Maps

However, it’s extremely power efficient and always-on and this sacrifice in aesthetics enables some of the Fenix’s best features. Combining all-day wearability and ultra-rugged design, classic smartwatch features, longer battery life, 32GB memory and added first-of-their-kind features; introducing the Garmin Fenix 6. At the end of each workout, you'll be able to see how your time was split between different heart rate zones (Image credit: TechRadar) Battery life