After using GARMIN Fenix 2 for 1 year. I have a lot of feedback on this GPS running/hiking/swimming/cycling watch.
Pros:
- All in one, a lot of functions for multi-sports. Suitable for people with portfolio of a lot type of sports
- Very clear and interactive interface with Pace, Time and Distance. And of course it able to customized.
- Long life battery, suitable for ultra marathon people. I personally tested it and achieved a GPS operate activity of ~14 hours. This is enough to cover your 50km or 84km
- However, if you are into hiking, trail run, you can change the mode to Ultra Trac which helps the watch to improve its battery life by changing the GPS interval from every seconds to 60secs or as per settings. It able to raise the battery life from 14 hours to 50 hours... (Depending on the condition of the battery)
- For GARMIN watch, of course you will able to synchronize with GARMIN app. For alternative tracking system, you can upload your sports history to Endomondo or Strava.
- GARMIN is actively update their firmware and GARMIN Connect apps to provide better user experiences. I believed the app is better than 1 year ago. A lot of functionalities and bugs has been fixed.
- There are a lot more function which are land measuring, stopwatch, compass, altitude, barometer (to detect rain) and others. During hiking, you will feel safer with this watch on your wrist.
- Warranty, as I complain to GARMIN about the Cons listed below, they replaced me with a new GARMIN watch.
Cons:
- Sometimes it takes around half hour to detect the GPS signal. I am not sure why this is happenning. I remembered around 5 times of running, I have to start my run first without detecting GPS. The GPS signal was activate at the 5th KMs.
- For a few times, after my run, I was not able to save the activity.
- The battery level showing on the watch is not true and it is confusing sometimes. (Suddenly 50% -> 20% -> 40%)
- The Bluetooth SYNC with GARMIN Connect is not working as it is.
- In order to AUTOMATICALLY SYNC with Strava or Endomondo, you need to pay an external website service @ https://tapiriik.com/ . But the Synchronization sometimes are prone to error, for example, HR data is not move over or the sport do not shown in Endomondo/Strava after Synchronization due to previous deleted sports. *Its complicated
- The watch sometimes will loop into endless and unlimited reboot. (I NOT SURE WHY)
- The storage in the watch is too small to bulk saving my activity for 1 year. Therefore I have to clear the sports history after 6 months of using.
 |
| Tapiriik, an website service to synchronize all your social sport platform |
 |
| GARMIN Fenix 2 Charging method |
Any other comments or questions about this watch, you can comment below. I bought this watch from VJSTORE 1 year ago and now, I already sold this watch for RM1,000 after claiming a new watch from GARMIN due to the cons as mentioned above. Now I just bought Forerunner 225 from Marathon Shop yesterday and was excited to test it in the coming training!
The promotion was valid from Christmas to 4th January 2016. The price of Forerunner 225 is priced at RM1,355. Therefore, I managed to bulk purchase (2 pcs) with another guy met on Facebook and get this promotion.
RM1,355 + (RM1,355 / 2)
= RM2,032.50 / 2
= RM1,016.25 per pcs for Forerunner 225
And I realized this price for this watch is the cheapest I can get in Malaysia.
 |
| Marathon Shop 50% OFF on 2nd ITEM |
 |
| RM1,128 for Forerunner 225 |
Even in LAZADA, which I normally get my gadgets from, able to offer me RM1,128, which is RM1,028 after 11% less with the new year coupon (RM100 capped). You can get an local set with 1 year warranty from Marathon Shop instead of none warranty if you get from LAZADA.
 |
| Marathon Shop Forerunner 225 |
Smart deal? Do you missed it, let's see what's the next offer I can grab. (If you got better deal, please share with me k)
