REVIEW: GPS-clock Triathlon Garmin Fenix ​​2

Almost a year I have enjoyed hours Garmin Forerunner 910XT, which served me faithfully and to cope with all their tasks, but in them I missed exactly two things: the synchronization with a smartphone and features daily hours. I'm waiting for it all to the Forerunner 920, but Garmin has gone the other way, and this season, instead of all of the expected 920-x released Fenix ​​2 - successor Garmin Fenix ​​and Tactix, which were focused primarily on tracking fans (of which about hiking and the mountains, not the one about parcel). I can say that it turned out very well, almost perfect watches for runners / swimming / led.

To be honest, I've always liked the looks Garmin Fenix, so I was very happy when they are added to the phoenix what they do not enough to full multisport hours, and almost without hesitation ordered Fenix ​​2, and their one-year put on Forerunner 910XT sale. 910 th left the next day, but the new phoenix had to wait for a month because of the large demand and the queue of those wishing to get them.

Finally, in late April called the courier and blessed me news that the clock is about to be delivered. By the end of the day a treasured parcel was already in my hands.

Packaging Garmin Fenix ​​2 recalls his trekking roots, and the sticker on the screen offering to run a marathon in 2:12:40.

Inside the box was a package:

1. Actually the watch Garmin Fenix ​​2.
2. USB-cord to sync / charge and charge itself with adapters for different sockets, which is very useful if you travel a lot.
3. The chest heart monitor Garmin HRM Run.
4. wastepaper instructions in different languages.
5. Soft strap and a screwdriver / bolts for installation.

For almost three months I accumulates in the Fenix ​​2 more than 600 km, naplavatsya 30 km and hit a bike for 100 km. Almost everything they were better than the Forerunner 910XT, but first things first.

Run

Running - my main sport, so watch for me must first be "running", and Phoenix are able to do all that is required from racing hours. They measure the pace / speed, distance, heart rate show (with an external heart monitor) and climbing (with built-in barometer), can do simple and complex intervals.

To start the training necessary to press the red button to start / stop unambiguous inscription and choose among or Run Trail run activities.

Jogging, as well as for any other activity you can adjust the displayed parameters by selecting from pre-sets or creating your own. Each screen can be from one to four fields. For example, on my first screen set workout time, average pace, the current pace and distance.

At intervals of 2 Fenix ​​made a step backwards compared with the 910XT, because on a phoenix can not create complex intervals directly on the clock. Yes common fartlek 10 times in two minutes to make a very simple, but that's twice 3 + 5 + 7 + 2 minutes after a minute or 200 + 400 + 600 m by 1000 m must be created in Garmin Connect and then later exported to watch through a computer or mobile attachment. The Forerunner 910XT could do everything on your watch, even though it was not easy. If Garmin has added this capability in its mobile app, this would be enough, as I I think it would be even better, because to create a workout on your mobile and throw the clock via Bluetooth much simpler.

I ordered Fenix ​​2 complete with a new heart monitor Garmin - HRM Run, which in addition to heart rate, and also measures other metrics: cadence, time of contact with the surface and vertical oscillations, so that no more futpod needed.

Then these data as the standard rate, heart rate, and others, can be analyzed in Garmin Connect or in a mobile application. In the graphs, there are points of different colors: from red (bad) to purple (too good to be true), are optimal blue dots. From the time of contact with the surface at me all OK, but on cadence and vertical oscillations ought to work, although everything is interconnected, and if you raise the cadence of 180 steps per minute, and other indicators will be close to perfect.

Another Garmin Fenix ​​2 is able to calculate the approximate value of your VO2 Max (IPC - maximum oxygen consumption), which is largely determined whether to be you new or Borndalenom Armstrong. VO2 Max is incorporated genetically and through training can increase it by 10-15%. I usually keeps around 49-50 ml / kg / min., That for my age quite well.

Based on the estimated VO2 Max can immediately see the forecast time for which you will be able to run different distances from 5 km to marathon. Five and ten I run faster than clocks say, but at the half-marathon and marathon should still work.

After jogging with heart rate sensor Fenix ​​2 tells how many hours is required for recovery, depending on the duration and intensity of the last workout. I have come across different values ​​of 8 to 72 hours, after the latter was tortured half-marathon on the terrible heat. Most often watches offer a break from 18 to 24 hours.

In addition to the analysis of already completed training at Garmin Connect can also be created next. For example, as I wrote above, different types of intervals from the elementary to the most complex. If you can not engage with the coach, then there can also choose a training plan appropriate level plans there are detailed and have focused on heart rate and time, rather than distance and pace, as often happens, though here, too, the last there is. And best of all, that the chosen plan, you can synchronize with Garmin Fenix ​​2, then it will be enough to go to Calendar clock (Start - Workout - Calendar) and start training today or see what will happen tomorrow or the month.

I ran in a variety of conditions, from heavy rain (Fenix ​​2 waterproof to a depth of 50 m) to the sweltering heat, for all this time, no complaints were not, once the clock at the start jogging stuck, but after restart everything was OK.

Bike

Frankly, I'm not a fan of the bike, I have the most common MTB Giant, which I sometimes go on fields and woods, so to use the clock by 100% in this mode failed, hitting a measly 100 kilometers in three months. For my modest needs of bicycle (distance, speed, heart rate and track) Fenix ​​2 missing head.

After the trip (and after running or any other activity on the street) you can see the route, which has just been overcome.

Of course, Garmin Fenix ​​2 as the top triathlon watches are able to even a lot of cycling: there is a sensor support cadence / speed and pavermetrov different manufacturers, as well as advanced settings, in which I, sorry, no nothing sense.

To use a phoenix on a bike you can buy the usual Bike Mount from Garmin or from another manufacturer, they cost around $ 10 and look like this.

Severe triathletes have complained to me that to Fenix ​​2 has no quick release kit, as is, for example, for the Forerunner 910. This kit allows you to quickly remove the watch from his wrist after a swim, wear a bicycle, and then just as quickly return on the wrist for running, which saves a few tens of seconds in transit zones at triathlon.

Swimming

Garmin Fenix ​​2 has two navigation modes: open water and pool. In the first case, measuring the pace and distance it uses the GPS signal, which catches in the brief instant when the hand of the clock is above the water. A second - from the integrated accelerometer determines when direction changes during acceleration jerk time from the pool edge and adds length to the previously mentioned distance. In both cases, the clock define the style of swimming (front crawl, breaststroke, butterfly, back, sorry, there's a dog), and in the pool yet SWOLF.

About swimming in open water I have from my own experience does not tell you anything, because, firstly, while swimming Only in the pool, and secondly, breaststroke swimmer essentially when the hands are under water to approximately 100% of the time. But about the pool I have something to say, and mostly good.

Press the Start button, select and Swim Pool mode, then the clock will be asked about the length of the pool. Here there are the standard parameters (25 m, 50 m, 25 yards), and the length can be entered manually, but it should be at least 20 meters (or 20 yards), fans splatter in inflatable pool in the span. After that dive, and click Start. The water clocks do everything themselves, we just try to swim normally without the direction and abrupt changes pushing on the flanges, and if you decide to rest, then click on the Lap button and the timer stops. Very convenient that this screen will become bright, so immediately you can identify what is currently on pause. Pressing the Lap timer will start again, and the pools will be considered.

In addition to the actual distance and pace Fenix ​​2 can count even the number of strokes that you need to swim one pool, and SWOLF - term formed from two words and SWim gOLF and determining the effectiveness swimming. SWOLF is calculated as the number of seconds that you spend on a pool, plus the number of strokes needed to overcome it. The smaller the figure - the better. I have it while walking somewhere in the region of 47-50 (see photo 52, because I was several pools floated on his back).

When compared to the Garmin Forerunner 910 and the Suunto Ambit 2, which I also tested, the Fenix ​​2 to cope with a swimming pool is the best. A dozen training in different pools (including a strange pool in Radisson Slavyanskaya, which on the one hand, instead of a side staircase and a depth of 1 m), he told me only once I counted the extra 25 meters, because I'm in the middle of the track crashed head-on with a kind of right-swimmer probably he was from England, and had stay. Style is also determined almost accurately, although the same Ambit 2 all strove to call my breaststroke butterfly. After a workout in Garmin Connect, you can analyze in detail where and what went wrong (or vice versa so).

Multisport

Since Garmin Fenix ​​2 - watch for triathlon, they have Multisport mode. By default, there are standard Open water swim - Bike - Run, but you can change the order and type of activities, Walk - Ski - Hike, for example. Immediately you choose to include or not the transit zone. After starting the activity is included, topped the list, and switch to transit cell and the following activities are carried out by pressing the Lap button. After completion to Garmin Connect will be stored three (or whatever you set) different activity and transit zones.

Other Sports

Besides triathletes Garmin Fenix ​​2 can be useful to fans of other sports besides running, led and swimming. They have such regimes:

1. XC Ski - cross-country or cross-country skiing.
2. Ski-Board - downhill skiing or snowboarding. In this mode, the clock are able to determine when you go up on the lift, and automatically pauses, indicating the statistics of the last descent, and after climbing to the summit itself will include a new circle. Needless to speed in this mode are measured in 3D: take into account not only horizontal but also vertical movement in the space.
3. Mountaineer - climbing.
4. Hike - hiking, trekking, hiking.
5. Navigate - Navigate to the selected point.
6. Jumpmaster - skydiving.

If this is not enough, you can create new profiles and customize them to fit your needs.

Bluetooth

Things get better with Bluetooth, everyone knows that. progress and began to finally get to a sports watch, and no one is waiting for new products on the market in the price range is above average without Bluetooth. You can use Garmin Fenix ​​2 Bluetooth for three purposes:

1. Export activities with hours through the mobile application in the Garmin Connect Mobile and download workouts and routes data on the location of the GPS satellites in the opposite direction. To do this, go to Fenix ​​2 menu and click Sync (previously created between a couple of hours and a smartphone from Garmin Connect Mobile), after a few seconds in the application progress bar will appear that shows the status of the synchronization.
   
   It is worth a lot of patience, because the long-term training can be exported for 5-10 minutes, but good news is that this can happen in the background, so you can pass the time by choosing, for example, various running accessories for Smartphone.
2. LiveTrack. A new feature from Garmin, implemented in the latest hours. It allows through a smart phone to send information about the current activity of all your friends or just straight through Facebook / Twitter. But there is one catch - in the Fenix ​​2 can not work simultaneously and Bluetooth, and ANT +, so that when the LiveTrack will have to do without a heart monitor or cadence. Certainly a strange decision on the Garmin, although I still run without a smartphone, but the social exhibitionists can not endorse.
3. Smart Watch. Yes, the fact that Apple is about to make, the Garmin has already done. Kind. Fenix ​​2 can be used as "smart" watches, or rather they have one of the functions associated with the smart watch - the possibility of receiving notifications from your phone, and if you are someone calls, the watch will vibrate and show the caller's name (taken from the address book smartphone).
   
   Messages also appear, they can even be read directly on the screen hours.
   
   Notifications are received from third-party applications, for example, TelegramBut Fenix ​​2 is no Russian language, so instead of the Cyrillic alphabet displayed point.
   
   If you miss a call or message, the clock will show the number of missed notifications, and they can be quickly access by pressing the Menu button.
   
   Well, that's all that is "smart" in the Fenix ​​2, answer calls or messages, they are not able to work only as a wrist notification center. In the absence of Russian localization of the usefulness of this functionality in general is reduced to almost zero, especially considering the fact that in this mode have worked for hours on a single charge the battery only day.

I played around with the Smart Watch and turned, my Bluetooth is used only for the first item - pumped activities to Garmin Connect after workouts.

Battery operation

For hours, aimed at triathletes, very important indicator is the operating time on a single battery charge. Garmin states that Fenix ​​2 combat mode (GPS and ANT + sensors included update period is 1 second) stretch of up to 16 hours, which should be enough to fit into a full Ironman. If you want to record your track to a long hike in the mountains, you can enable the refresh period of 60 seconds, and then the battery will last for as many as 55 hours, but the track itself will be much less accurate than when you update every second, but in this case this accuracy to you to what.

I have 9-10 hours at various (mostly cross-country) workouts per week and wearing Fenix ​​2 hours as a daily charge enough as a once a week, which is about two times more than the Forerunner 910XT, although the latter were not designed for everyday use. But if you want to use Garmin Fenix ​​2 as smart watch, then get ready to charge it every day.

miscellanea

Just a few things that I would like to mention about the Garmin Fenix ​​2:

• Vibro! For me it is critical features in sports watches, because to hear a squeak in the crowd such as runners or on a noisy street is almost impossible, not to mention the swimming. I do not understand why some manufacturers (yes, the Suunto, I look at you now) is essentially ignored.
• The watch has a built-in thermometer, barometer and a magnetic compass, so that even without a GPS, they would have been some good travel clock. It should be noted that the thermometer indicates the actual temperature of the body surface so that usually it will be slightly higher due to our 36.6, heated air around the clock.
  
• Fenix ​​2 can show the time of sunset and sunrise in the place where you are.
• There is a built-in calendar fisherman, prompting a time when it would be best to pick one or the other day. Not tested.
• The backlight on the clock and the red looks very impressive at night. And lighting can be switched on automatically after sunset.
  
• The time is adjusted automatically via GPS satellites based on the time zone in which you are.
• The Garmin Fenix ​​2 has a built-in alarm clock, stopwatch and timer. You'll laugh, but this is not the standard set for the GPS-clock.
• On long press Down button, you can set up quick access to certain functions. I started the stopwatch.
• firmware updates come every couple of weeks, corrected bugs, add features.

fly in the ointment

In all there are downsides, and Garmin Fenix ​​2 can not be an exception. What I did not like in hours:

1. Slowness. I never thought that the clock can be as long "think". Phoenixes Laga in two main areas: at the time of transition from the clock mode in the menu or list modes, takes 5-7 seconds, and especially while watching the activities of history, here on the opening of a long cross-country can take up to one and a half minutes.
2. The lack of Russian language. I do not need it in normal usage hours, as I always prefer the English locale, but in the Smart Watch mode, it would be desirable not to read the text instead of circles.
3. There is no possibility to create complex intervals on the clock or mobile app, just across the Garmin Connect site. Sometimes you forget to do this in advance, and all.
4. When you create a simple slot in the warm-up and cool down confused answers yes and no seats, so that, if hitches will not include them in the settings, the warm-up activities, and when turned off, will.
5. Once stuck in the early hours of jogging.
6. No possibility to include both Bluetooth and ANT +, which is why LiveTrack incomplete mode.

Almost all of these disadvantages likely bugs or program features that may fix in one of the following updates, so I hope that all the items on this list will be a couple of months deleted.

Output

It seems to me, Garmin Fenix ​​2 - Best multisport clock on the market today that a firmware update will only get better. They are certainly not perfect, there where the work, for example, embedded tracker activity and more advanced integration with mobile application. I am sure that the Garmin, like its competitors, operate, and Suunto even shows how it should look to the example of Ambit 3 (but why again without vibration?). For this season I do phoenixes will not change anything, and the next look at what will show us in the Forerunner 920, but maybe one of the competitors will surprise.

Cost Garmin Fenix ​​2 in the US is $399 for hours and separately $449 for set hours + HRM Run. I advise to stop on the second option, especially if you do not have heart monitor.

As part of a review to tell all that is in the Fenix ​​2, it is difficult, therefore, to ask questions in the comments.