Coach’s Take: An exercise physiologist reviews the Garmin Fenix 7 Pro
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro offers a wide range of features to help athletes and coaches track and improve performance. Photo credit: Abby Ferguson
Introduction
As an exercise physiologist, I love to geek out on tools that enhance athletic performance and contribute to a deeper understanding of physiological metrics during activities. I’ve tried many fitness watches over the past 20 years, and the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Pro Solar is a standout in this arena, offering a blend of sophisticated technology and versatility. It’s also easy to use and has become my favorite outdoor and performance/training watch that I’ve tested so far.
Design and Build Quality
The Fenix 7 is simultaneously rugged and elegant, suitable for everyday wear and extreme outdoor activities. The Sapphire Pro Solar model I’ve been testing features a solar-charging lens, extending battery life significantly, which is crucial for long-duration activities and expeditions. It’s worth noting that while the solar capabilities can be used to extend battery life, they will not generate enough energy to replace your wall charger. It’s mostly meant for those long summer days in the field, where exposure to the sun can extend the time in between charges. The solar charging does have an impact, though, especially when you make an effort to expose the watch face to the sun. I noticed a big difference when I had back-to-back days recreating outdoors when compared to tracking indoor activities and spending minimal time in the sun.
VO2 Max Estimation
The high fidelity of the VO2 max estimation is a game changer for athletes. This feature uses heart rate data and running or cycling dynamics to provide an accurate assessment of an individual's aerobic fitness. As a director of the Integrative Aerospace and Exercise Physiology (IAEP) Laboratory at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, we routinely measure VO2 max to assess performance and intervention efficacy. My estimated VO2 max by the Fenix 7 has been consistently within 1-2 ml/kg/min of my measured VO2. max from the lab.
As VO2 max is a key indicator of cardiovascular fitness and endurance capacity, this precision allows athletes and fitness enthusiasts to tailor their training more effectively. The Fenix 7's ability to adjust VO2 max estimates based on heat and altitude is particularly noteworthy, offering more accuracy in diverse conditions.
Multi-Sport Functionality
The range of activities that can be logged with the Fenix 7 is impressive, making it an ideal tool for athletes who like to do it all. It goes beyond the usual running, swimming, and cycling, encompassing activities like surfing, fishing, hunting, and even golfing. Each activity mode is well-thought-out, providing specific metrics relevant to the activity. For instance, surfing mode tracks the number of waves caught, wave speed, and distance surfed. It's pretty impressive for a watch getting smashed around in the waves since GPS doesn’t work great (or at all) when the device is submerged.
The watch's GPS and environmental data capabilities come to the forefront when tracking fishing and hunting activities. It helps in tracking your hunting spots and understanding patterns, which can be crucial for success in these activities. You can also pair your Garmin trolling motor to the watch, making it easy to hold in position and control your boat while fishing.
Summary of Features:
Battery Life: The solar charging feature significantly extends the device's usability in the field. My battery will typically last just over a week if I’m logging an average of 1 hour of activity each day.
GPS and Navigation: Garmin's GPS technology is renowned for its accuracy, and the Fenix 7 is no exception. It's incredibly reliable for trail runners, hikers, and mountaineers, adding a safety net in case you need help navigating to safety. It has no problem locating you in the heavy tree cover we have here in Florida, and it also does a great job working when in and out of the water while swimming or surfing.
Health Monitoring: The watch offers comprehensive health tracking, including stress tracking, sleep monitoring, and Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitor, which are invaluable for holistic health management. The measurement of heart-rate-variability (HRV) has also been interesting to track for the last six months. I can easily spot trends in my HRV during periods of high stress from work or training and notice huge dips in my HRV in response to illness or after having too many drinks the night before.
Connectivity and Smart Features: With smartphone connectivity, the Fenix 7 allows for smart notifications and automatic data uploads to the Garmin Connect app. The automatic uploads of your workout data make it easy for coaches like me to help with your training, especially since Garmin easily links up with popular sites like Training Peaks and Strava. Of course, you can turn all of the extraneous notifications off if you’re like me and don’t like to be bothered more than necessary during the day.
Customization and Apps: The Connect IQ store offers a range of apps and watch faces for personalization. You can get as nitty gritty as changing individual colors on your watch face and adjusting GPS settings for each activity type to improve battery life.
Any cons?
· The price is steep. Coming in at $899 USD, the watch is a significant investment. However, you can catch significant sales during the holiday season, bringing the price down by a couple hundred dollars.
· With repeated exposure to water, the silicone band that comes standard with the watch can sometimes cause skin irritation. This happened to me a few times and forced me to wear the watch on my right wrist instead of my left. A nylon strap can be nice to switch to during these times to give your skin a break from the rubber. But unfortunately, purchasing a nylon band from Garmin comes at a significant expense. The cheapest option comes in at $39.99, with additional options well over $200.
Conclusion
Garmin continues to lead the charge with training watches, and the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Pro Solar is a testament to Garmin's commitment to pushing the boundaries of what a sports watch can do. Its robust build, precise metrics, and wide range of activities make it an excellent tool for anyone serious about their fitness and outdoor adventures. The high fidelity of its VO2 max estimation is particularly beneficial for athletes focused on improving their aerobic capacity. While it's a significant investment, the range of features and the quality of the data it provides make it a worthy one for those who demand the best from their gear.
The many layout options for the home screen allow the user to display their choice of data, ranging from sun rise/set time to current heart rate and recommended training recovery time. Photo credit: Abby Ferguson.
As an exercise physiologist, I find the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Pro-Solar to be a remarkable tool that bridges the gap between advanced sports science and practical, everyday fitness tracking. It's a device that not only helps in tracking and improving performance but also plays a vital role in understanding and managing overall health and well-being. Wondering what other devices we have tested? Stay tuned as we continue to review a range of fitness watches.
