Four Pillars Of Philosophy
Garmin have long been the benchmark for GPS watches. They are the brand name which has become synonymous with the sector. Because of this, people expect big things from them. Their latest release is the fēnix 8, the marquee watch of the brand which packs a whole host of new and improved features from previous versions.
Designed for durability of both battery and build, the fēnix 8 promises to take you beyond what you thought was possible. The fēnix 8 is a tool rather than an accessory. Long, wild adventures in the unknown mean you need to be able to rely on the tools you pack, let’s see how Garmin have made the fēnix 8 your go to distance buddy. The package is balanced upon four key pillars: ruggedness, trust, advanced multi sport features and everyday utility.
fēnix 8 Pillar 1: Ruggedness
Firstly, Garmin have packed the 8 with features to enhance the robustness of the watch. For the weather and the water, Garmin have redesigned the buttons of the fēnix 8 to make them leakproof and able to take on any conditions. To back this up, Garmin have options to encase the fēnix 8 in titanium and the 1.4” AMOLED display is protected by sapphire glass.
The sensors also come with extra protection from the built in guard to keep the elements out. Whichever environment you take the fēnix 8 into, it will be able to survive and help you thrive. From mountain tops to the rigours of SCUBA diving, the latest iteration is built to US military standards for shock, heat and water resistance. As a mark of the durability of the fēnix, all four astronauts on the upcoming Space X mission will be equipped with the watch.
fēnix 8 Pillar 2: Trust
When you are in the back of beyond, it is vital to be able to trust your tools. Garmin want to build this trust by offering their best battery life yet. Their top of the line 51mm AMOLED design offers up to 29 days of battery life. Moreover, the fēnix 8 Solar offers up to 48 days of battery life.
Furthermore, when you are adventuring far away from civilisation and looking to find your own way, mapping is a vital tool. Garmin have built the fēnix’s mapping ability with preloaded maps to save the necessity for runners to download their own. Additionally, maps now come with configurable layers which can add information in the order and frequency which suits you. You can customise the layers which you want and the order in which they are shown to give greater depth of knowledge on your route. Finally, Garmin have enhanced their map’s Dynamic Round Trip Routing. Whist it has been around for a while, in the latest iteration, the mapping will allow flexibility on the run and reroute your path with the turns you decide to make on your trails while ensuring you make it back to your start point.
fēnix 8 Pillar 3: Advanced Multi Sports
In addition to the features which will please purist runners and explorers of trail, Garmin have added extra multi sport functionality. As runners, we know that we should strength train to assist our performance and help to prevent injuries from occurring. The fēnix 8 includes an advanced strength training feature which has plans to guide your training and optimise your gains in the weight-room. Additionally, if dry land isn’t always your thing, the 8 also includes a host of new dive features to keep you safe while you adventure in the deep blue sea.
fēnix 8 Pillar 4: Everyday Utility
Finally, Garmin want to make the fēnix 8 your good buddy which is always on your wrist. With music and payment abilities built in, it can be more than just a giver of information and tracking. Furthermore, if you are someone who uses runs as a way of gathering your mind and boosting creativity, the microphone feature is your friend. A voice note facility enables you to capture your best ideas while on the move, respond to messages and activate features from the watch itself. Perfect for living a life on the move.
Along with these and 24/7 heart rate, sleep and nap tracking, the fēnix 8 comes with a built-in flashlight to light the way ahead. The LED light can illuminate your path, offer a red safety light and even strobe to match your cadence. Beyond just being a running and training tool, the fēnix 8 is your daily lifestyle companion.
Garmin Enduro 3
Just one more thing…
It wasn’t just the fēnix 8 which was launched at the livestream event. The Enduro 3 offers many of the same tools as the fēnix 8. Dynamic Round Trip Routing, advanced strength training, a flashlight and pre-loaded maps all come in the package. However, at just 63g on wrist and with a 320 hour GPS battery life, the Enduro proves that great things come in small packages!
Both watches are available now from garmin.com