Garmin Fenix 8 - Real World, Comprehensive Review

The Fenix 8 watch is one of the most versatile Garmin GPS devices you can buy. I've spent several months testing this watch in a variety of applications. Here's my comprehensive review.

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[BruceChastain]

I'm still on my two year old forerunner 245, I love it, it does everything I need. I was thinking the other day, Garmin almost makes too good of a product, because I don't have any reason to upgrade. I wear mine everyday, the band broke after about 18 months, so I just replaced it with an aftermarket one for pretty cheap.

[DG-gqgm]

Great review. I have the previous version and love it. I do find the strength training doesn't really register very well in terms of training load but otherwise zero complaints about it.

[bonn]

Nice review I got my epic2 pro that I got a few weeks ago and enjoy it

[jassy]

I wake up to 400 steps on my watch even though I’ve been asleep, the step tracking seems to be off for my Fenix 8 51mm. Thought it would go off gps and see that I haven’t moved at all

[tylerbruce]

Honestly the Edge 130plus is a better option for hard rough riding.

The last thing you want is crashing a blowing up your watch.

I say this as someone who has blown up 2 Edge 130plus in the last two summers going OTB.

[isgoodu]

If Garmin made a LTE enabled watch, Id give them a look. Why carry a phone if you don’t need to. I have an Apple watch Ultra 2. Just used it in Canada. Outdoors at -7 F, snow, and it was money. Battery life is perfect in most use cases. But…it’s really a personal preference thing. So, use what works for you.

[stefanfeenstra]

If you have a problem with 80 grams: use nylon wrist band, then it's way lower.

You're happy with using one app? That's what I dislike about Garmin, I'm using three apps for one watch (connect, diving app, connect IQ).

And if you don't want to touch the buttons for setting up a stopwatch, use voice control 'set a timer'. With the stopwatch you're still touching buttons.

And why do you measure your heart ECG? I've worked in heart rehabilitation and can't get any useful information from it. What's your use?

Oh, and stuff like sleep analysis is very poor with Garmin. Morning reports are full of crap.