Fenix 5 (and inReach Mini)

edh

edh

Thru Hiker
I've just acquired both of these and face a bit of a learning curve; ostensibly they are for a research project in the USA later this summer (with a pilot study in the Dolomite's next month).

Just wondering for Fenix (and their ilk) users...

How have you set yours up?
  1. Favourite widgets?
  2. 'Best' Watchfaces?
  3. Apps you like?
  4. Anything else....?

I'm currently using Hike 2+, a ToDo app (work reminders), and the GearMin Watchface.

Early days, the metrics it generates seem impressive.
Some functionality is a little 'hidden' maybe?
Just Activated the inReach.....so I'll play with that (in a serious academic manner) over the next few days..
 
Arne L.

Arne L.

Thru Hiker
I've used a Fenix 3 since early 2015 now and still use it every day for running, cycling & hiking. I see no reason to update yet (although the Fenix 5X Plus is pretty tempting... ).

To be honest the Connect IQ store never really interested me. The watch is full of metrics and what is standard on it suits me fine.

I tried the 'Hiker' app but thought the interface was too busy and confusing. So now I just use the standard apps.

What I like is that you can fully customize your data fields. My Hiking-app has 3 screens with 4 data fields, and the one I look at the most has altitude, sunset, current time & walked distance. The one just under that has Vertical gain, speed, sunrise & direction.

That's it, really. My Fenix 3 is pretty boring, I have no extra widgets or watch faces. I like to keep it simple.

Do not use Ultratrack. It's not accurate, especially not during hikes with a ton of switchbacks. My Fenix 3 lasts 15 hours in GPS-modus; I carry a small lipstick charger (3000mAh) just for the Fenix. I really like data.

You could also turn off Glonass as it has no benefits IMO. It saves a tiny bit of battery.

I receive my Inreach Mini tomorrow and I'm bummed that I can't control it with my watch.

So... I need a new watch. :rolleyes:
 
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EM - paul

EM - paul

Thru Hiker
i use the gearmin face day to day as it has so many metrics on one face. Its small fields though so you need sharp eyes.... not for the optically challenged

https://apps.garmin.com/en-GB/apps/a58303e8-b0a8-4387-ba1c-519a648d3b70

accuweather widget is good but needs a signal to update the weather. Ive found it really accurate for predicting when rain will start and stop although if on a gixer meet its not needed :D

I dont really use it in gps mode much but configuring data fields seems fairly intuative
 
theoctagon

theoctagon

Thru Hiker
I’ve no interest in the watch but liking the mini so far in my very limited 30km of testing. Setup/activation took less than 20 mins. Seems easy to use.

With the standard tracking option (10/2) I seem to be getting around 2% battery drain/hr. A lot more testing/use needed but I don’t regret buying it, yet
 
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EM-Chiseller

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
I'm a fenix 3 user...love it and wouldn't be without it...untill I can afford a 5 or 6 ....
I'll check back in later...bed time
 
Arne L.

Arne L.

Thru Hiker
So, my Inreach Mini has arrived.

41249550290_a37f45c67a_b.jpg


It is really tiny (& really orange); standard bic for scale.

42157758625_306dd34c3a_b.jpg


There's some bits included; a quick start manual in a ton of different languages, a carabiner, standard micro-USB cable, a holder and a allen wrench to attach the holder.
I'll probably won't be installing the carabiner or the holder as it will sit in the back mesh pocket most of the time.

41249549650_a04079fdbb_b.jpg


I'll activate mine now and have a play with it on a bike ride in the wilderness of West-Flanders this afternoon.
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
I used that code you mentioned for the free airtime.
I activated mine yesterday.
 
Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
Doesn't it drive you nuts, being constantly tracked, monitored, measured, and 'inreach' like this?

Whatever happened to just wandering off, and around, and about, in order to get a (little) bit lost, and thereby find ones-self?

- Asking for a friend - who is also doing some research :angelic:
 
Arne L.

Arne L.

Thru Hiker
Fair Weather Camper said:
Doesn't it drive you nuts, being constantly tracked, monitored, measured, and 'inreach' like this?

Whatever happened to just wandering off, and around, and about, in order to get a (little) bit lost, and thereby find ones-self?

- Asking for a friend - who is also doing some research :angelic:
Click to expand...

No, otherwise I wouldn't have bought it :D

I just like being in touch with home. I like letting my GF know that all went well at the end of the day. And a big part of my family likes the huge 'SOS' button on the side since most of my trips are solo.

It's comforting, in a way.

But I think your question is fair. But to me, these 'gadgets' improve my outdoor experience.

And I guess I might be a little bit of an analytical type of person. I like knowing how much distance I've walked or how much vertical gain I've managed. I like to blame my running background for that, where data like splits & pace are very important.

I like looking back at my walks on Garmin Connect just as much as I love taking pictures on the trail.

It's all a part of the experience. For me.

And I still get a (bit) lost sometimes
 
Enzo

Enzo

Thru Hiker
After getting lost in the woods as a kid I've been a fan of not having anywhere to be, so you can't be lost, your just where you are.

But these days I'm the same as @Arne L. I like looking at miles covered, average speed etc I guess its what's left of my competitive spirit!
I just use viewranger, several £xxx cheaper than a Garmin!
 
Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
Exactly I'm not lost...

I know exactly where I am - right here ...

The fact that not everyone else knows where I am... :angelic:

Is part of the joy for some of us :o o:

But yes, peace of mind, emergency services and so forth.. Very sensible.. One day I'll wish I had one etc.. I was 'strenuously encouraged' to get a mobile phone, long after everyone else had one.. in case I had a tractor accident when working alone... Hmmn well, that was quite clearly a mistake.:confused:

Ah yes.. @Enzo Competitiveness.. And with whom, prey tell are you competing??
 
Enzo

Enzo

Thru Hiker
Myself obviously, who else is there?

I too was late to mobiles. Working alone in the woods with a chainsaw it seemed sensible. No signal of course :banghead:
 
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Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
Hmmn, I guess I did used to compete with myself. Endlessly attempting to better everything - it gets a bit exhausting, after a while..

Now I s'pose I just accept me as I am, and accompany myself, on trips as an encouraging, but non-pushy friend.. Much more fun, and sociable :)

But we'd better shut up, off of, this thread now @Enzo.. Before we get into trouble. with you-know-who.. :bag:

Edit.. I couldn't leave two guesses just sat there... I just couldn't :angelic: - It was making my toenails feel too tight :arghh:
 
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Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
edh said:
Whomever that ogre might be...

I'm all for discussion about the place and role of technology in outdoor recreation.
Click to expand...

Oh, you know.. That sometimes grumpy guy, who gets a bit testy with folks, now and then...:D

I've had incredulous bike shop proprietors become quite annoyed with me, because I don't carry a bike comp on multiday tours.

How can I live with not knowing how far I've been, or how fast, or having no stats on ascent and descent...
How will Strava survive without my uploading this data??

I tell them that I measure my trip success, based on number of cute cows in front of sunset pictures gathered.. :cool:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLgLSRrBU2Z/

Or successful kite launches.. :)

Sure such columns, will appear on a spreadsheet somewhere afore long..


And shouldn't that be whomsoever? :shy:

And of course you like a discussion around place and role of tech in recreation..:rolleyes:

It's always good to get someone else to do the work for you;)

Us 'plebs' are onto you academic sorts and your 'collaborative' research game :).

It's like luring easily led folks onto 'reality' shows to make cheap TV. :geek:
 
EM - paul

EM - paul

Thru Hiker
edh said:
It is kind of cute....Paul needs to make a dedicated pouch for them with a see-through DCF window.
Click to expand...

Does the antenna need oxygen or will it work covered? My thought process with this was to use it tied to the phone and watch so you dont have to interact with it unless needing the sos function and it could be chucked out of the way.
 
EM - paul

EM - paul

Thru Hiker
DC rain video on youtube seems to indicate you can initiate SOS via the watch too so should have no need to use the device at all.
 
edh

edh

Thru Hiker
It will work covered; they do pretty well under medium tree cover in my experience.

Mine will be lanyarded away somewhere...although the temptation to fit it to a shoulder strap for that 'tactical' look is strong :biggrin:

And as above; I'll do most of the interaction via the watch or the app.
 
Fair Weather Camper

Fair Weather Camper

Thru Hiker
edh said:
It will work covered; they do pretty well under medium tree cover in my experience.

Mine will be lanyarded away somewhere...although the temptation to fit it to a shoulder strap for that 'tactical' look is strong :biggrin:

And as above; I'll do most of the interaction via the watch or the app.
Click to expand...


Reckon an equivalent air of 'Tactical Gnarl' could be acheived thru attaching one half of a Fisher-Price walkie-talkie set to ones shoulder strap .. :biggrin:



On a slightly more serious note tho ..

Isn't it possible that all this visibility / findabilty tech has led to


a) A misplaced sense of overconfidence in the inexperienced, possibly leading to more trouble.

b) Further economic / tech ability, exclusion from outdoor activity, for those who will somehow get the feeling that they shouldn't venture out without all this stuff?

c) An increased need to manage expectations of those left at base camp* - just because i could interact with you 24 / 7 doesn't mean I should - or even want to ... o_O



*Our son did a classic one of these last summer - left a plaintive little " i'm a bit lost, and cold, and hungry, camping somewhere near a fjord, my phones about to run out of juice :confuseded: but Ill get back to you tomorrow" message

Five days, and nights, of fretting later, he finally gets in touch - having forgotten all promises to contact, and blithely wandered off elsewhere - that sorely tested the 'Cool Momma Mettle' - especially as we were ourselves, due to go south - of course - once you find out that the little darlings are not dead - all you want to do is kill them :arghh:
 
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