Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers and the Outdoors

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💥 EPIX: REI: bit.ly/3JYwe9c - Amazon: amzn.to/3rzkzYa
💥 FENIX 7: REI: bit.ly/3pqBwm6 - Amazon: amzn.to/3rBnrUf
✅ FULL GUIDE: hikingguy.com/hiking-gear/gar...
🛰️ GPS TEST: • Fenix 7x - Slot Canyon...
✅ LATEST GEAR LIST: hikingguy.com/best-hiking-gear/
✅ IT'S EASY TO SUPPORT: hikingguy.com/support-hiking-...
✅ MORE FENIX REVIEWS: hikingguy.com/guides/garmin-f...
00:00 Intro
00:34 Differences Between Fenix 7 & Epix
03:20 General Health Features
06:00 GPS Performance
11:17 ABC Sensors
11:34 Screen Performance
17:20 Maps & Navigation
22:58 Battery Performance
26:15 Flashlight
27:48 Outdoors Workflow
29:20 Recommendations
For hikers and outdoors enthusiasts, the Garmin Fenix 7 and Epix (Gen 2) offer a ton of functionality and tools, all packed into a small piece of metal on your wrist. But does the benefit of having one of these watches justify the steep cost? In this review and guide, I'll take a look at the Fenix 7 and Epix from an outdoors and hikers' perspective and make some recommendations on whether this watch is something you should invest in. I won't cover the 2 billion non-outdoor things that this watch can do because this guide would take 100 days to read. My recommendations are based on my actual usage over hundreds of miles of hiking.
And if you find this guide helpful, please use my affiliate links to purchase your watch or anything from Amazon or REI. I get a small commission of the sale, and you pay nothing extra. I depend on these commissions to keep guides like this ad-free, independent, and free of sponsorship. Also, note that Garmin did not sponsor this guide nor provide me any free units to test or evaluate.
#hiking #nature #adventure #healthyliving #outdoors #explore #backpacking #naturalbeauty #hike #hikerchat #naturelovers #optoutside #trails #getoutdoors #neverstopexploring #trailtime #hiker #52HikeChallenge
#garmin #garminfenix #fenix #fenix7 #garminepix #gps #hikinggps

Опубликовано:

25 июн 2024

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Комментарии : 287

@chili1593 2 года назад

Very thorough and clear explanation of the features of these two devices. Thanks

@leefoster8015 8 месяцев назад

Probably the best review I've seen. No waffle just useful information.

@wSevenDays Год назад

Thanks for the review!

@carlad2286 2 года назад

I agree with you about the Epix. I had the Fenix 6x Pro and loved it (20 days battery life), but the battery life on the Epix works for me and I can't go back (last 20 days without any activities, but general health monitoring on and gesture control on). For hiking, I carry a charger in case the Epix runs out of power, but that has not yet happened. The Fenix 7 and Epix ver 2, touch screen is also a game changer, once used to it.

@BKDDY 2 года назад

Was just looking to buy one of these watches today! Nice timing & great review

@HumoudAlOmar Год назад

Thank you for the great review!

@neilsternthal6907 2 года назад

Excellent review. Answered all my questions. Thanks so much!!

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Thank you! 👍

@gerry5386 2 года назад

One of the very best Videos for me as a Hiker!! Thank you 😃👍

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Thank you 👍🙏

@igoranisimov6549 2 года назад

I had Fenix 6 Pro titanium. I just ordered Epix titanium black. I will continue using both, older Fenix 6 for outdoor and Epix for daily activities.

@randallsguaranteedsold6361 Год назад

Awesome comparison, thx for posting!

@rossifumifan1 2 года назад

Excellent, honest comparison review.

@fabsterun 2 года назад

Super useful 👌 first concrete advise I found in many videos thanks . I don't "neeeeed" it but I ordered the epix , all things you said totalled me not doubting between the 2 anymore specially the powerbank idea .. thanks subbed liked commented

@cbgls2413 Год назад

Great review thank you!

@Roof1028 Год назад

Great video, really informative and helpful

@ChristopherConnors Год назад

Great info, thanks so much!

@outdoorcinema7 2 года назад

Great and detailed review!

@encodecode1059 2 года назад

Great review!

@gonzaloparraguez9097 Год назад

Great video. Thanks a lot. Regards from Chile 🇨🇱

@isthi000ify Месяц назад

Amazing channel - thank you!!!

@eljavix Год назад

Great review 🙏

@alvaro34562 2 года назад

Thank you very much my friend for share all your knowledge in this great video! I want to perform a 5 days trekking in hard conditions at December and I think the Fenix 7 is the most accurate for this purpose.

@sergiimisiak2388 10 месяцев назад

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this! I appreciate your honest feedback!!! Epix’s screen seems like a real deal breaker! Especially on the Pro version which you obviously didn’t have at the time of the review. Thanks a lot again!

@onelaverdi2803 6 месяцев назад

Great, informative review. Epix it is!!!

@WanderingBobAK 9 месяцев назад

Great review and comparison. Pretty impressive what these watches can do. I'll keep keep my Fenix 7AS at least for now.

@Samzilla-Sam 7 месяцев назад

Great video! This was made before the Pro version of the Epix was released, which seems to make it on par with the Fenix now in terms of size options, battery life and the LED flash light. I had to take that in consideration while watching.

@AZC1949 2 года назад

Thanks, Cris. I would never have given an Epix/Fenix a thought if not for this. Now I am counting my “mad money” to see if I can stretch it far enough!

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Ha yea these are definitely luxury items but very handy to have on the wrist.

@vupham1982 Год назад

This has to the best and most honest review for the Fenix 7 and Epic, the content and user experience really stand out on helping myself deciding on choosing the Epix after many many videos for the last week of the same topic. Really appreciate this video!

@Hikingguy Год назад

big thank you!

@carlycfs 3 месяца назад

I totally AGREEEEE !! So helpful and personally professional too (if that makes sense LOL) !! Furthermore, his speech rate is SO understandable and equally that's helpful too !! He doesn't speak a million-miles-a-minute like some other YTrs OMGGGG !!

@heinrichkleist3473 10 месяцев назад

Great review! I've got an Epix 2 on the way and am looking forward to it.

@grahammethold Год назад

Nice review - thanks

@seantran4178 Год назад

Thank you so much for your video and I glad I found you. Very details and great advises. Also, very much for comments for those who need to desire to get the right Garmin for them. As for me, I rather choose the Epix better than Fenix because, I'm lazy to move my wrist to get the perfect light on the screen. I planing to hike-thru the PCT next year. This is a perfect gear for my new adventures. Again, thank you very much, HikingGuy and as always I am continue support your Chanel.

@Hikingguy Год назад

thanks so much and you'll enjoy the Epix, still loving mine, even compared to Apple Watch &&& good luck on the PCT next year

@Notagain640 2 года назад

I've upgraded from the 6X to the 7X and am very pleased with the improvements. GPS acquisition time is much quicker, for hikers, the map is now significantly more useable with the touch screen (my main reason for updating), and the flashlight is super useful. Sold my 6X for half the cost of the upgrade so not too painful. Overall, very pleased.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Awesome, glad that it's working out for you. It's a very powerful tool, and I'm enjoying the touchscreen as well, it def improves the whole experience.

@TheKauaiboyz51 2 года назад

i have the 6x and thinking about upgrading to 7x too. how much did u sell it for? $500 it sounds like? and where did u sell it? on offerup? thanks

@Notagain640 2 года назад

@The Trek Triathlete in the UK so got 520 GBP (approx 685 USD), but then the sapphire 7x is 950 GBP. One thing though is I kinda regret getting the sapphire due to screen visibility. Its a bit more reflective than my solar 6x. It's fine but blacks were deeper and contrast was greater with the none sapphire version. Its not much of a difference, feels like about 4 or 5 % . Don't really notice on a day to day usage, but compare them side by side and you'd choose the none sapphire for visibility but the sapphire for durability. It's the only thing which isn't an improvement and only then a minor point. I ended up replacing my 6x twice due to solar charing failures and each time had a new body and screen. Its definitely possible to scratch the 6x screen (and I'm very careful) so maybe the sapphire will prevent that.

@rajgopee1245 2 года назад

One other thing I noticed over the fenix 6 pro is that the 7x map refreshes so much faster. It's so much more usable

@virtualZ161 Год назад

Thanks for your input. I was thinking of getting the 6. I guess the 7 will be my new fenix upgrade. My fenix 3 sapphire is still working but buttons are less responsive now.

@randycoffey2401 Год назад

Nice video with honest opinions, vs promotional sales pitch.

@adamginsburg6072 5 месяцев назад

Thank You for the great info!!! If I get the Epix, I will purchase thru your link!!!

@Hikingguy 5 месяцев назад

Thank you!

@hardchemist 2 года назад

Excellent review! Thank you so much, subscribed. With an Optics Planet (OP) 10% off coupon an Epix is on the way for just under $963 after tax. They are hot items, and OP lists an 8 - 18 day delay in order fulfillment. In fact, *OP just now sent an email offering to substitute the Epix Sapphire with a Garmin Tactix Delta Solar - $100 more than the Epix!* No thank you, I'll wait for the Epix. I like the AMOLED and the touch screen. One week of battery life is already incredible, anything more is overkill unless you live outdoors IMO. Plus the lighter weight and no solar hogging up those extra millimeters of width are a perfect trade (IMO).

@TheGoodestDude Год назад

Thanks for this review! I will be starting van life soon and the top 3 things I was looking for in a watch was battery life, GPS, and health monitoring. I was on the fence between Fenix 7 and Epix 2. Thanks to your review I decided on the Fenix 7 solar sapphire. Only thing I’d be curious about is the ability to replace the battery a few years down the line. I usually try to make my phones (and now smart watch) last a few years

@wayfarerwalks 2 года назад

Great job as usual, Cris! Can't wait for your navigation follow-on video. Like you, I think Up Ahead is one of the sexiest "ideas" (not quite yet a real hiker feature) Garmin's got going for themselves. Unfortunately, they're missing the ball entirely by only having it on Connect which means it's cartographically pretty much useless to a long-distance hiker. If I was cycling or driving or jogging around town or a park, great. But Google mapping won't get us the base layer maps we need on our computer screens to plan and enter meaningful POIs along a day or week's hike. Hopefully they'll either add decent downloadable basemap capability into Connect ... or roll Up Ahead into Explore (or Basecamp). Dare to dream! Thanks again!

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Ha yea I'm with you 100%, I wish the platforms would just merge and that they would offer some decent map layers. When you compare the mapping and planning tools with something like CalTopo or Gaia GPS, it doesn't even come close. For me it means that I just do my planning outside of the Garmin world, and then bring it in. And hopefully Up Ahead will roll out to the handhelds. They just got courses so who knows...

@behindenemylines9033 Год назад

Great video.

@dr_melski 3 месяца назад

just got the fenix 7x pro sapphire solar, and i must say i'm quite happy with the screen. sure, oled pops more vivid and bright, but in direct sunlight the MIP is clearly visible, and with backlight more than bright enough in the dark. this, and the far superior battery life made me choose fenix over epix. also i like my always on display to be dark, not very dim. to each his own i guess :)

@mikafoxx2717 Год назад

I went for the instinct (the old one) because it'll do enough for my hiking courses and as a general purpose watch. I took a bit of the money saved and bought a chest heart rate strap so I can more accurately track zone 2 training, even with the older hr sensor the watch has. In a year or two I'll probably upgrade to the Epix. The colour TFT displays are pretty hard to read, and solar and sapphire glass compound the issue. Solar, besides on the instinct with the huge solar bezel and very low power display - is basically useless. I'll use a solar panel if outdoors or when I wash at home, it's more than enough to upkeep it.

@cyclofeedubox8332 Год назад

Hi, subbed after watching this review. Frank and down to earth unlike some yters out there! I’m still rocking a fenix 3 sapphire at present, 7 years on! The previous heart rate monitors and features of the 5/6 didn’t feel like enough of a jump for me to make the switch. Although massive in some ways I felt there were draw backs in other senses too (fiddly maps etc). I was all set on a 7x until reading more into the epix and now I’m really torn. I mainly ride, run and swim but there are a few other pursuits I enjoy too including hiking and rowing etc. Overall the epix looks fantastic and the clear winner, but having read up on amoled screens it appears they have a shelf life of around 3-5yrs. Given I’ve had my current 3 for 7yrs, I’m banking on the next one lasting me at least the same amount of time, if not more. Multi day bike rides (potentially following guided maps), a full distance Ironman and some extended distance lake swims are on my radar/bucket list, along with some multi day hikes too. Although these are both around the same price, if the epix screen begins to fade and die within 3yrs or so... won’t that make it redundant? Are you aware of anything from garmin about this at all? Thanks again, brilliant clear and fair review

@Hikingguy Год назад

Yea unfortunately the product lifecycle these days is relatively short. Everyone just assumes you'll upgrade. Given your case, I'd say the Fenix is probably the better bet. That said, my wife still wears an AMOLED Apple Watch from about 5 years ago and the screen looks great. Not sure how much of the AMOLED fade talk is internet drama or real. But still, the F7 is a great watch and a great upgrade from the F3.

@nepjunebhodii492 Год назад

best review !!!!

@christopher1800 2 года назад

Great review. Isn’t it amazing what they cramp into these things these days? These are wrist computers, capable of things we could only dream of 20 years ago on a full-sized desktop computer. That said, the size and “fiddle factor” is the biggest caveat for me. For hiking, I like larger screens which show some context without having to pan/zoom. I’m also worried about battery life, not in terms of how fast it drains, but the actual life span op the battery itself. 5 years is usually the standard, but for these very expensive devices, that means you can write off 1/5 of its price every year, just for that reason. That’s a serious ‘ouch!’. (I know, most people who are able to afford these probably won’t care).

@Luebke2773 Год назад

Is it not possible to let change the battery?

@jiffijoff9780 2 года назад

great review and comparison. Apart the detailed informations I really appreciate you calling those devices luxury items. Because they are. Many other reviewers get so over-enthusiastic it seems they forget how much money the average Joe has to invest into a special pupose watch like the two latest Garmin watches. I still have a Fenix 3 Sapphire collecting dust because of the screen. The sapphire version had an even dimmer screen compared to the non-sapphire version. In the meantime I tried to cover the basic needs with a Huawei GT2 and an Amazfit watch. While both being nice, they somehow don't tick my boxes - which is why I ended up on your review :-) IF I will decide to invest into a new allround watch it will be the Epix 2 Sapphire for all the reasons you compiled here: great screen, snappy refresh (compared to Fenix...), good battery life, excellent positioning pickup and accuracy, huge memory, great maps and rich functions/activities. Btw, I like the design as well, nice bonus there.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Yea, 100% a luxury item. It becomes more useful and easier to justify if you're using it for health, other exercise, etc.

@mantiscity 2 года назад

Nice review

@michaeltao263 Год назад

This video is super helpful, the review is very practical and to the point. I was hesitating between Fenix 7x and Epix Gen2 but after seeing this video I am determined to go for Epix Gen2.

@Hikingguy Год назад

Yea still wearing mine no regrets - even compared to the AW Ultra which I've been wearing (along with the Epix) for the last 30 days or so

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

How are you liking it? I’m stuck between the 7X and the Epix2. I want the flashlight of the 7X but the screen of the Epix2

@Hikingguy Год назад

@@gustavogo2915 I still love the Epix

@francoforte5039 Год назад

Great review! Could you please do a video comparrison on the Birdseye maps for these 2 watches? Thank you in advance!

@Cassadin1410 2 года назад

if w 7x or Epix2 had a calling function like Venu 2 two, it would be a masterpiece and I would not think about spending 1000 dollars on this watch

@pecanpie100 2 года назад

Great review as always! (I've seen lots of your vids and you always do a great job!) My main use is using the topo maps with a previously-prepared gpx track imported into the device and superimposed onto the topo map to follow when I'm off-roading. I have larger GPS devices of course, and they work great, but I like the idea of wearing a Garmin watch (the Epix 2) that also shows the map and previously-prepared track. So my question for you is, when do you plan to post your vid on using the Epix 2 for navigating? Thx!

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Working on it now, hopefully next week!

@patrickmaessen2313 2 года назад

Good honest independent review. Thanks!

@ibby81ae 2 года назад

I had the epix returned it got fenix 7x returned it, went back to the epix. The epix is so much clearer when I'm outdoors mountain bikeing under half shade half sun.

@miguelkeyn 2 года назад

Hey nice review and comment. I'm going to buy between both... My concern it's about always on display, I use for Road Bike and MTB paired with powermeter I love in my Fēnix 6 always see power and cadence without touch anything. With Epix 2 it would be easy (as MIT screen?) or u must to touch screen or light button with sun light?

@mickeybrumfield764 2 года назад

Garmin does do an impressive job of putting a functional map on something as small as a watch screen. Thought I would be loading maps onto the watch but there is not really a need to, the 100k maps work quite well with their watches.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Yea, it is really a small screen, probably right on the edge of usefulness. I do like looking down at the map and seeing trial names at junctions. Good way to cross-check as I hike.

@TheSurfskidude 2 года назад

If you’re traveling with the EPIXg2 for a few weeks and you want to keep track of your daily info…can you turn off the watch to save battery but when you turn it back on it starts where you left off or does a new track start up instead 🤔. Thanks. Great review🤙🏼

7 месяцев назад

Thank you for your detailed reviews and also for the information given on your webpage. With regard to this video, the Epix is available in three sizes now and I was wondering if it makes sense to get the mid-sized one (47 mm) because I have a slim wrist. Does this make sense from your experience or would that mean that I have only a little more battery life than the Apple watch Ultra (assuming that I would use the Epix mainly for hiking and mountaineering so that navigation and accurate tracking is vital)? And (as I require a watch for hiking and mountaineering) do you ever tested the Suunto Vertical? Again, thanks a lot!

@Bryan-xg5os 8 месяцев назад

Hey Chris, love your videos thanks for all the great content. Have you ever tested out any of the lower priced models Garmin offers? I'm considering the Forerunner 255 and especially like the new Alltrails integration and app compatibility.

@leefoster8015 8 месяцев назад

Havnt tried a forerunner myself but fenix software watches are overkill for most. If it has all the features you need then go for it.

@seantran4178 Год назад

Thanks!

@Hikingguy Год назад

WHOA THANK YOU!!!!!

@michaelruane8793 Год назад

A+ review

@unityxg 11 месяцев назад

Got an Epix Gen 2. Agree, get the Sapphire model. You'll get better maps.

@doncoddington3246 2 года назад

THANK YOU! awesome video! which pulse ox do you recommend?

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

I just turn pulse ox off

@ROrneli Месяц назад

the thing is though,.if you are a puritan and enjoy MIP screens the fenix is better. Its like buying a rolex with 20k meters depth rating, no one is diving that far. , it is respect for horology. The Fenix with it MIP screen still feels like a watch . Also the flash light on the fenix can come in handy in an emergency. Great review. thank you.

@CarlesRibaAstillero 2 года назад

Great review. Nice in-depth and relevant. Difficult to find these days. I really liked your comments about the screen both working with water and comparing fenix7 vs epic screen view with real use. I have a couple of doubts I’m not sure if you tried or can comment on. 1) Is the touchscreen working with gloves on? 2) Did you try looking at the screens with polarised sunglasses and/or reactive type of sunglasses under strong sunlight conditions? I found in the snow on sunny days I see the phone screen pitch black and have to remove them to see. I’m wondering if this might not happen on the fénix screen? Thanks!

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Thank you 👍 1 - They worked with thin gloves for me 2 - I occasionally wear Oakley's with fancy polarization and I can see the screen okay.

@robhunt8378 7 месяцев назад

I never had any trouble or had to perform any adjustments to read any of my Garmin with MIP displays, ever. Must be the sapphire glass making the difference.

@sl-rt5kv Год назад

For me, battery life is a big deal even when I am not in the backcountry. I often find that I must recharge at the most inopportune moments. My priority is to have a watch that can continuously track health stats, activities etc for as long as possible without recharging. I like the maps, but only rely on them in a pinch and don't spend a lot of time drilling down into details on my watch. I prefer the Connect IQ app on my phone for that. For those reasons went with the Fenix 7 rather than the Epix. Everyone has different priorities.

@muppix 2 года назад

Great video, thanks for making this. My two cents on the topic of battery life would be to point out that the 7X has a cell which is physically larger than the 7, so it’s not really a like-for-like comparison between the 7X and the Epix. Also, these batteries can only be recharged a finite number of times, and not replaced once they’re dead. Which will be a lot sooner for the Epix.

@adamj2683 Год назад

Just replace the battery then when that time comes.

@maciejp7829 11 месяцев назад

@@adamj2683he wrote above that they can't be replaced.

@fc-8843 Год назад

I had an Epix 2 which was great but started to have bluetooth connectivity issues soon after. Tried multiple pair of earbuds and nothing would work. Would connect then disconnect constantly then at one point just wouldnt reconnect. This is a known issue with many Epix users. Decided to go to a Fenix 7 since BT and music is super important to me.

@Hikingguy Год назад

Good to know, thank you. And yea, this is really just a hiking-focused review, so didn't bring music/headphones into the equation.

@jimkaneko1692 2 года назад

Do you happen to know if the Garmin Descent MK2 uses the same topo map feature? Just a shot in the dark. Thanks for the great video. Always enjoy your content.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Sorry, I don't know. Wish Garmin sent me all the watches to have and test, but no such luck.

@MrMann703 Год назад

Since Amazon has a no interest payment option, I'm going to commit to the Fenix 7x sapphire solar, usually I won't treat myself with this expensive of a luxury item but the payment plan makes it to tempting. I love hiking so the maps is a big sell and I'm getting older so keeping track of my vitals is a nice extra. My job also takes me into places where the sat maps will be more dependable than the mobile connection on the tablet for my work routes so it'll be a nice backup if needed. Thanks for the review

@Hikingguy Год назад

👍 Yea before I got one of these I would never even consider dropping that much $$$ on a watch. But having used them for many years, I really do love it. In addition to the hiking stuff, I use the sleep, workout, body battery, etc., there are tons of helpful features.

@jorgeo1492 Год назад

Shouldve just gone with the sapphire. Solar adds a whopping 15% more battery. Maybe worth it if you regularly thru hike. But otherwise it makes the screen dimmer

@Peakabike 2 года назад

Great video ! Very "user oriented" with none of the "fluff" that the "sponsored" reviewers include...One thing, could you try listening to music on your Epix and F7x ? Many of us are getting horrible sounding audio and Garmin hasn't done anything about it for 1+ month now apart from "generic" ("looking into it") messages in their forums.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Thank you 👍 and yes, I'll try the music out. I wasn't aware of the issue and will check it out.

@prrrkrrr3984 2 года назад

say I want all of the health and fitness monitoring of the watches for everyday use, but when I go hiking I don't care about tracking my activity and just care about step count and elevation. Would plotting a course and glancing at the GPS every half hour or so have the same impact on battery life?

@francisvaillancourt100 Год назад

Thank you for this nice detailed review. I'm looking at buying the non Sapphire version because I'm concerned with the reflective glass of the Sapphire version. Doesn’t that bother you when you’re looking at the watch?

@Hikingguy Год назад

I've used the Sapphire for years and didn't really have any problems. If you're not going to thrash it too much, the non version will probably be okay.

@richtubby5022 2 года назад

Well put together review. I actually bought a Vivosport 5 tracker but now have the hassle of wearing my main watch and a tracker so am considering buying one of these watches and giving my Mud Master to my son. I am a sucker for gadgets so probably will buy the Epic eventually. Quick question: How accurate do you find the sleep tracker? Mine seems to track total sleep pretty well but I am not sure about it's veracity for light vs REM vs deep sleep. What is your experience having used Garmin for a number of years?

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Thank you 👍 and re:the sleep tracking, it seems to be on par with what I saw on the Apple Watch - generally "okay" but not perfect. For example, when I wake up in the AM and sit down drinking my coffee, it can sometimes count the time as sleeping. And there's never any real correlation between a good sleep score and waking up feeling very rested. Wish I had better news for you.

@gianlucagilliotos8111 5 месяцев назад

Hi sorry is there a Method to show the altitude of a Point Chosen With the aim when navigating?

@Seahawks1976 2 года назад

Thought about the Epix but just like the bigger size of the 7x and the flashlight. I actually prefer the activity screen on the fenix as well as it’s white and looks awesome outdoors

@jaskajokunen 2 года назад

I really hate white backgrounds, the black in Epix is so much better. Good thing there are alternatives to each one preferences.

@DesertTriDad 2 года назад

Yeah I actually returned the epix for the fenix for the white background. I live in a very sunny state and the white background is brilliant, I struggled with the black background on the epix in bright sunlight

@briandriscoll1480 2 года назад

@@jaskajokunen LOL. I love white screens and always had one on my Fenix 6. But it's a battery hog on the amoled, so I've adjusted to black now that I have an Epix2. Great screen, even if black.

@noahneutral7557 Год назад

I would've loved an Epix if it had a 51mm case.

@johnmanley4528 2 года назад

Nice review. So far, even in brightest sunlight are you having any visibility issues with the Epix? I get the impression that you are seeing it better than the Fenix in just about every situation.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Yea, the Epix screen works all the time, even in very bright conditions. Going into this I had no idea I'd think this was important, but yea, wearing both, I always looked at the Epix, never the Fenix (unless I had to).

@romelarceno8959 2 года назад

Good to know thanks

@briandriscoll1480 2 года назад

In very bright sunshine, my Fenix 6S Pro maps had the edge on my Epix2. But only then.

@dallasdevries9421 2 года назад

I've never owned a sapphire glass. I always go for gorilla glass. Fenix 5 and Fenix 6. Thousand+ miles hiking in the Adirondacks and Catskills no scratches on screen, no problem with space with loading maps and tracks on my Fenix 6. I have always thought the extra money for the sapphire was just a money grab personally.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Yea, I've had good luck with the regular glass too. On these guys though, the "sapphire" model also gets you the multi-band GPS and extra memory, otherwise I'd probably just skip it as well. If you don't get sapphire, no extra features though.

@jorgeo1492 Год назад

Hard to believe you've never ever bumped it on something. Or taken a fall while biking. Sapphire is definitely worth it. The case on my old 5x is so beat up you cant use the torx screws anymore

@dallasdevries9421 Год назад

@@jorgeo1492 im sure I have, just not enough to damage the glass. I have the Epix 2 now so I guess I finally have the better glass. I'm just saying the glass was invincible I just never had a problem with damaging it with my usage which included significant hiking in the Adirondacks.

@jayjayfire8367 Год назад

Great review! Thank you..! I went into a local store cash in hand ready to purchase a Garmin Fenix 7x...I loved the 51mm model with built in torch and all the other features...however i was tottaly put off by the dullness of the screen, even compared to my much older and cheaper Samsung Gear Sport..😖 Needless to say i left the store "still" with cash in hand and extremely disappointed.

@Hikingguy Год назад

Yea the transflective screen doesn't come close to the Epix, which is why I went with the Epix. It's a big difference.

@jayjayfire8367 Год назад

@@Hikingguy Thank you..i think i will take a look at the Epix myself. 😁👍🏻 I do find it a real shame as i like the size and features of the 7x. Thanks again for a fantastic review! Keep them comming 👍🏻👍🏻🇬🇧

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

@@jayjayfire8367 did you get the Epix 2? I’m about to order but not sure if the 7X or Epix2 😢

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

@@Hikingguy I am stuck between the 7X (mostly because of the large screen and 🔦) or the Epix2 for the vibrant screen. I run in the woods at night often. I have an amazing headlamp (FenixHM65R-T) that has 1500 lumens but sometimes I forget it at home since it’s bulky to always carry around. Would the 7X 🔦 get me through a run in the woods at night? Which one would you recommend? I have a great coupon offer and can get either for 800. Thank you

@Hikingguy Год назад

@@gustavogo2915 I find the Epix is a perfect balance of brightness and readablity - if you're okay with the battery life on the Epix, I'd go with that. The only advantage that I see with the Fenix is the longer battery life.

@giannis6552 2 года назад

I bought the fenix & solar sapphire, as I wanted long battery life. I was seriously considering the Epix gen 2, but I was afraid it would need frequents charges. However, now I have serious second thoughts, as the screen on Epix looks gorgeous.

@blitzer25blitz62 2 года назад

maybe u need another 2nd thought as Garmin is new in AMOLED field. i dont like AMOLED burn ins as there's cases on Venu series. prefer Garmin to perfected it first, or supply from Samsung. for this reason me bought myself 7x SS. as a paramedic its "especially" LED torch and touch enabled maps really useful and wow factor to my colleagues. charge once a month yeahh

@giannis6552 2 года назад

@@blitzer25blitz62 yes that is true. Plus I have started really liking my fenix 7 and all the advantages of its MIP display, visibility in bright conditions, long battery life etc. Plus it is natively always on display and that makes it more convenient to see the time from any angle. In the future I might consider an amoled screen.

@neoone75 Год назад

If you come from fenix 5 plus like me battery life on epix 2 has still better. All depends on what's the use of the watch. 6 days of battery life is good enough. I don't have any endurance activities, so I don't need extra battery life. Amoled screen was what I was waiting for. I was about to buy fenix 7 for training and edge 1040 for navigation. Epix 2 has both of them bc of screen resolution and brightness and it shares the case, tech and feature with fenix 7. Plus it has the golf features what dedicated golf watches have. With better screen resolution the golf features are more detailed on epix 2 than fenix 7.

@rogerhuston8287 Год назад

I like a long battery, but I would only use it on a thru hike. Daily activity or a weekend backpack, the Epix is fine. I'd rather enjoy it 99% of the time instead of guarding against the 1%.

@RevoltingRudi Год назад

used the epix for a 3h bike ride. had the map always on to navigate a route. after that i still have 4-5 days of battery life of normal activity's. screen is very good to see even in bright sunlight. i decided that i don´t need that much more battery life and wanted the better display.

@carlw8072 2 года назад

Epix will eventually get screen burn? I’ve still got fenix 3 and it works fine. Will the epix still be working 7 years from now.

@CookieManCookies 7 месяцев назад

Funny you mention that, it took about 3 minutes on my gigabit connection to download the entire united states map onto my Enduro 2.

@csehyg Год назад

I have a Fenix 6 Pro and I don’t experience that “perfect angle” to see the screen. This is probably a sapphire specific thing. Hands down In twighlight though the amoled is much better. In all other lighting conditions the MIP screen is visible - to me at least.

@meinradsamuel4562 9 месяцев назад

Thanks for this review! However I was wondering what you would recommend if one is on a tighter budget but still would like to have a watch with map navigation? Any recommendations? I was thinking of that the forerunner 955/945 might be a good option.

@Hikingguy 9 месяцев назад

Yea 945 is still good - will do a review in the near future

@stevenm2949 Год назад

I’m currently using Alltrails to navigate on a hike (it works great, I no longer get lost on hikes) would you say that the Garmin navigation is as good? Great video!

@Hikingguy Год назад

Garmin is better but if AllTrails is working well for you, no need to switch unless you're hiking in conditions that make the phone unusable

@jyoung11jy 2 года назад

If the Epix came in a 51mm option that'd be my choice hands down. As is, I'm leaning towards the 7X S/S. If I can ever find one in stock!

@kautukbhanji5798 10 месяцев назад

Did you get it?

@jyoung11jy 10 месяцев назад

@@kautukbhanji5798 Yeah, got the fenix late last year. And of course now Garmin has released the epix Pro Sapphire in 51mm, which is what I wanted all along. Maybe upgrade next year.

@erichenberger 8 месяцев назад

The Epix Pro is 51mm I believe.

@kautukbhanji5798 8 месяцев назад

The recently released gen 2 is. A year ago there was no 51mm epix

@thesecret111 9 месяцев назад

The problem with sapphire it's less resistant not more!

@Godzilla-hh8ip 2 года назад

I was super confused between the Instinct 2 and Fenix 7 even considered the apple watch as I have an I phone. I am not an outdoor guy, I do a lot of fitness activities, cycle and do occasional hikes. Apple watch was good, but it lacked features such as the body battery and other fitness related stuff (I own a Garmin Vivosport) which I dont want lose out. Instinct 2 had all the features I ever want. But now in my mid 30's dont want to buy an expensive bloody watch which looks like a teenager gadget (In India even the Instinct 2 is close to 600 USD). today impulsively bought the fenix 7 standard edition for 900 USD in Amazon India. On another note, people could pick both an apple watch for formal occasions and instinct 2 for outdoor/fitness and it would cost less than a fenix 7.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

If the Apple Watch works for you, you might just want to return the Fenix and get an app like this: apps.apple.com/gb/app/training-today/id1507992127 - it's similar to the Body Battery and gets the stats from Apple Health. I also wouldn't be surprised if Apple comes out with their own version of Body Battery at some point.

@RigiLiquid945 5 месяцев назад

As a hunter, hiker, cyclist & ATV rider, I've enjoyed my Basic Instinct 1 for a few years. I was all set to just upgrade to the killer Instinct 2x Solar Tactical, but I wonder if the Fenix 7x might be a better choice with the mapping?

@Hikingguy 5 месяцев назад

For hunting I think the maps are great. You can wander and still have some context to your surrounding terrain.

@stinkiestbink 2 года назад

Would you say that the solar ring on the Fenix eats up valuable screen real estate? I love the screen on the Epix but am a battery nut and want the Fenix just for that. Also would you say the screen is as dim or dimmer than the Fenix 5X?

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

They took space from the bezel to make room for the solar panel, so you don't actually loose any screen space. And in terms of dim, I don't have the 5x anymore, but I think it's the same.

@dudodudi 2 года назад

How do you set grade of terrain (slope, incline) in percentage when hiking or running??

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Use the "Grade" data field

@vanmore5124 2 года назад

I too prefer the screen of the 7 over the Epix. I also like not having a screen come on and off right in my field of vision. I bought the 7Xss and have turned the heart rate monitor off. I noticed a red mark where it flashes on my wrist and so switched it off. The battery life has gone up as a result. More than I was expecting. It added a couple of days. I bought it for hiking and MTB as a backup to my phone. It's easy to set where my campervan is by double tapping a button. This is the first watch I've worn for over 15 years and it's excellent. The LED comes in handy, or wristy, everyday. I am going to download maps by Talktoaster soon which have more information for hiking/MTB.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Nice, thanks for posting that, and yea, overall these things offer a ton of utlity. And I had stopped wearing a watch for years before the Fenix (3), now I do it all the time. And the red mark - I had gotten that on earlier models. I found that taking the watch off when I showered, rinsing it, and scrubbing my wrist got rid of it. I think I loosened it up a bit as well. Glad the watch is working for you 👍

@vanmore5124 2 года назад

@@Hikingguy That red mark has never come back fortunately after trying the heart rate monitor again. These watches are really excellent, the only problem I have is when using turn by turn directions and I ignore a turn and it recalculates the route. It often crashes at this point. I have the latest software. Do you have any suggestions? I tried emptying the cache of stored data but to no avail.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

@@vanmore5124 I haven't ever had that problem so not sure of a solution. You might want to try the latest beta software though, maybe it addresses the issue.

@1971ChevelleSS 9 месяцев назад

How durable is it?

@sergioc404 9 месяцев назад

Does the up ahead feature work well with maps imported from other tools like OnX Backcountry?

@Hikingguy 9 месяцев назад

You can only use maps from Garmin but will work with any GPX created anywhere, just import to Garmin Connect, make a course, and it will work

@tinytippy Месяц назад

Hello Hiking guy! This may be a very obvious question, but when I start my hike activity on my Epix 2 and then start a course, how do I switch out of the map view to a data screen?

@Hikingguy Месяц назад

Up down buttons

@splatmatt 2 года назад

I'm considering a fenix 7 standard (base) model. I feel the small built-in solar panel is more of a gimmick. If I am backpacking, wouldn't using a folding solar panel like the anker 21w for 30min (while taking a break) do a better job keeping the battery charged up?

@pfortune 2 года назад

It is useful as the charging happens passively. A dedicated solar charger would certainly charge it up faster.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

I've had the solar on this 7 and my old 6, and solar def helps when you are out hiking. I have some burn rates solar vs non-solar in my 6x review, but if battery is important, I think it's worth it. And yes, a bigger panel will charge quicker, but you have to remove the watch to charge it. If you are just charging overnight and want to save some $$$, then you can prob skip it.

@mjmessick 2 года назад

In your review you said if you import a gpx file into Connect you loose the waypoints when you import to the watch. Is this also true for Garmin Explore?

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

So Garmin Explore is the only way to transfer waypoints back and forth, which are known as "saved locations" on the watch. Will do a vide on this, it's not intuitive at all.

@fendermon 2 года назад

Great video. Is there any reason I shouldn't pretend Garmin Explore doesn't exist? I really don't need or want sixteen ways to do things. Could you imagine Apple having two Itunes? Thanks

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Ha I know, man Garmin Explore is so bad. It's hard for me to understand why it can't be more like Gaia GPS, CalTopo, or even Garmin Connect. And it should all live under one roof, 100%. These days I don't even touch Explore. Some thoughts coming up in my nav video shortly...

@JN-no4ot 2 года назад

Nice review. I'm a long-time fenix owner (3X, 5x, 6x) and I'm going to order the 7x Sapphire Solar. I did consider the Epix. No doubt, the AMOLED display looks good and I understand the positives of increased pixel resolution such as during browsing maps; however, an issue with me is that the Epix display isn't a true "always on" display, which dims, and removes components of the watch face such as the background and second hand/digital seconds after the time-out period. Yes, I understand that I can set the Epix gesture function to turn on the watch at full brightness and full watch face; however, who wants a watch that is totally off until a hand gesture is detected? The bottom line is that the TFT MIP displays of the fenix series are truly "always on." Also, while it's impressive that Garmin managed to engineer the battery life of the EPIX to be much greater than other watches with AMOLED displays, it still doesn't cut it for me. Perhaps I'm just spoiled by being a long-time fenix owner. I'll consider future Epix releases when Garmin can achieve two weeks of battery life with a true AOD. Anyway, with all of that said, we are all different with different likes and dislikes. Fortunately, Garmin is a great company producing excellent products for a wide range of users and applications.

@briandriscoll1480 2 года назад

Actually, the always on display is, as advertised, always on. It is just dimmed. After two years with a Fenix 6S Pro (for sale), I bought the Epix2. I use the gesture mode and find it works very well. I don't mind waiting a half-sec for the display, and it stays on up to 15 seconds. But mainly, I love having an always-legible screen. With my Fenix, in the evenings or otherwise dim light, I'd have to turn on the backlight to get a good look at the screen. Also, if your current watch is not a sapphire, you will notice a difference from what you are accustomed to.

@Seanonyoutube 8 месяцев назад

@@briandriscoll1480do you still feel the same way? Ever miss the fenix?

@briandriscoll1480 8 месяцев назад

@@Seanonyoutube yup. Never miss the fenix.

@Seanonyoutube 8 месяцев назад

@@briandriscoll1480 have you ever tried running while navigating a new route? I’m thinking of using an apple watch on my right wrist for apple music/call answering & to see the stats of my workout all the time while using an epix on my left wrist to keep the map visible all the time. I know it sounds overkill but I hate having to switch between my running stats and the navigation (unless it’s super easy?) and I think the split view which combines both makes the map area annoyingly small…do you have any insight to contribute for this use case of navigating an unfamiliar route while running and simultaneously wanting to keep an eye on my running stats?

@rockyracoonanddogman1720 Год назад

How is the epix for readability in the sun during an activity like running? I saw another review that said the black background was hard to read compared to the Fenix.

@Hikingguy Год назад

For me overall its much easier to read in all conditions. The Fenix is only really solid (without adjusting the angle) in bright direct light

@Fozzee.1970 2 года назад

have you updated the firmware? My Epix certainly does not take a second to come on in gesture mode? It's just as quick if not quicker than my Apple watch S7.

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

Weird, so when you lift, it's comes on quicker than it does in this video? I thought I had updated the firmware but maybe something new came out. Will check it out and thanks for the heads up 👍

@jeverhart99 Год назад

Really liking your reviews. Quick question. Is the Enduro screen the same brightness as, say insight 2? You mentioned a screen technology Garmin typically uses and I had a super hard time being able to read the insight 2 even with backlight on. My old forerunner 100 was a lot easier to read.

@Hikingguy Год назад

The Enduro is the same as the Fenix 7, transflexive screen. Did you mean Instinct? If so, ti's about the same. I've found that that having all the colors black & white offers much better contrast that the colors.

@jeverhart99 Год назад

@@Hikingguy I just mention the instinct because I have actually seen that in person. So, are you saying the Fenix 7 (with some color) is harder to read than the instinct (just B/W) or, is the instinct easier to read? I could barely make out anything on the instinct's screen/face. I really want one of these watches, but I need to be able to read what is on the face :)

@Hikingguy Год назад

@@jeverhart99 If the Instinct is hard to see for you, you will probably want to go with an Epix that has the AMOLED screen, which is the easiest (for me) to see.

@jeverhart99 Год назад

@@Hikingguy Thx much. Good reviews. Subscribed

@mjmessick 2 года назад

What watch face do you use/prefer on the Epix?

@Hikingguy 2 года назад

just using the standard one with the outline minutes