New GPS Watch

FlyingScot · 01-15-2023, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinkxingu

Update: I did not know that Garmin makes two options similar to the Epix but more specialized.

The Mach 1 is for aviators.

The Quatix 7, which some people here might be interested in, is the marine version. It has sailing/boating features built in and (I'm not sure if the Epix can do this) the option to install Garmin's Lakevu maps. That's a pretty cool backup!

Edited to add: though I didn't install the Lakevu maps, I played around a bit to see how it might look, and I think the watch is just too small to be legitimately useful.

Trails work because they're a singular line with only a certain radius to be concerned about. When looking at a larger area, however (other than just finding the location), the display seems too small.

For data, though—tides, weather, wind direction/speed, pacing, etc.—it might be useful.

I'd be interested to know if anyone uses a watch for this purpose.

Sent from my SM-G990U1 using Tapatalk

This is interesting. I have an Apple Watch that has similar capability for land, although I do not know how it would work on water or hiking trails--maybe some but not others? I can ask my watch orally for walking directions and it will plot the route and vibrate on my wrist at each turn. Then when you look at the watch it will say something like "turn left in 100'". So the size of the display is irrelevant, at least for the most important info. Easy to see how this could be combined with Garmin data

LikeLakes · 01-16-2023, 06:58 PM

I got a Coros Apex 42mm a bit over a year ago. In my case I didn't want it to interface with my phone beyond syncing data, and decided that I didn't want/need installed maps either. Finally, I wanted a more manageable size to wear every day, my watch also comes in 46mm. Because it doesn't have all the functionality of the Garmin's etc. you mention it is less than half the price too.

I couldn't be happier with it. It has modes for all the things I do, hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, many more. When I'm done it tells all the various metrics of the event. For me, it's a perfect match of all the functions I want without the ones I'd disable anyway.

Though it lacks maps, it does have a return to start mode so if lost you can use it to navigate back to where you started using a bread crumb trail.

01-16-2023, 06:58 PM	#2
LikeLakes Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 339 Thanks: 50 Thanked 92 Times in 66 Posts	I got a Coros Apex 42mm a bit over a year ago. In my case I didn't want it to interface with my phone beyond syncing data, and decided that I didn't want/need installed maps either. Finally, I wanted a more manageable size to wear every day, my watch also comes in 46mm. Because it doesn't have all the functionality of the Garmin's etc. you mention it is less than half the price too. I couldn't be happier with it. It has modes for all the things I do, hiking, biking, skiing, paddling, many more. When I'm done it tells all the various metrics of the event. For me, it's a perfect match of all the functions I want without the ones I'd disable anyway. Though it lacks maps, it does have a return to start mode so if lost you can use it to navigate back to where you started using a bread crumb trail.