Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

ZeroPak Delta


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 45
Like Tree34Likes

Thread: Smart watches - Garmin, Suunto or ? and hunting

  1. #1
    Member chainsaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Norf
    Posts
    5,417

    Smart watches - Garmin, Suunto or ? and hunting

    What’s the good, bad and ugly in real world use? Not really interested in GPS features as I carry the old faithful Garmin 60 for that. Compass, alt and baro and battery life more important. Also no need for latest and big $$$. Prefer a slightly older model with a proven track record. Have several other Garmin devices, find dealing with them a pain in the arse.
    Suunto Traverse any good ?

  2. #2
    Gone................. mikee's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Nelson, New Zealand
    Posts
    9,638
    I have an Instinct Solar mainly because it will link with my Garmin Alpha 100

    Good Specials at moment on some models
    https://www.torpedo7.co.nz/brand/garmin?specialOffers=On+Sale&sr=garmin?

  3. #3
    MB
    MB is offline
    Member MB's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    Northland
    Posts
    4,177
    I have the basic Garmin Instinct. Compass is very good, altimeter/barometer less so. It's usable, but I wouldn't expect a 100% accurate reading all the time. Hear what you're saying about GPS on a watch, but it could be your backup. The watch is on your wrist anyway, so no extra weight/hassle. May get you out of trouble one day.
    chainsaw likes this.

  4. #4
    Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Location
    christchurch
    Posts
    17,036
    garmin instinct for me, currently on special at leemings for 250
    Pengy and chainsaw like this.

  5. #5
    Member Savage1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Whangarei
    Posts
    3,453
    I’ve had a Suunto Core and Suunto Baro9, garmin Fenix 3 and currently have a Fenix 5X

    Sunnto Core has all the features you want, are really rugged and battery lasts 6 months or so. I’m not sure I’d trust the compass and baro on it. I might still have my old one kicking around, can’t remember if I broke it or not.

    Fenix watches are far superior as a smart watch, I wouldn’t be without my 5X but I use it a lot for running. I never use the compass/baro/alliteration/map, but it’s there. I’d always carry a specific compass. Battery lasts about two weeks if not using the running mode much.

  6. #6
    Member Pop Shot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Rangitikei
    Posts
    1,266
    Although not quite what you're after, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the new Garmin Fenix 7. I'm expecting it to be around $1500+ though.
    Sika stag and dirkvanvuuren like this.

  7. #7
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Tasman
    Posts
    1,695
    The DLC and sapphire lens on the Fenix 6 is amazing, it’s yet to take a permanent ding or scratch even though it’s my daily beater watch for work.
    I primarily wanted to be able to see phone notifications without having to dig out my phone. My hands are generally full and all our paging comes via the phone + it’s normally noisy.
    I’m not a smart watch person but been surprised how I’ve warmed to the fitness and biometric recording.
    It gets about two weeks on a charge running an analogue watch face, UTC and day/date. I understand running the second hand chews the battery. Think I was getting close to 3 weeks using a digital display.
    I find the flash light function quite handy at times.
    Charging smart watches is a root and it’s not the most comfortable wearing watch.
    I’ve kept an eye on the barometer, it drifts and needs regular calibration to be close to accurate.
    T.FOYE likes this.

  8. #8
    Member chainsaw's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Norf
    Posts
    5,417
    Thanks for all the comments and recommendations. Another factor is how easy is the watch face to read, especially in full sunlight?

  9. #9
    Member
    Join Date
    Oct 2016
    Location
    south island
    Posts
    19
    fenix 3 and the instinct solar... both are ace. use the gps feature heaps when bush stalking and turn off my main unit.

  10. #10
    Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Tasman
    Posts
    1,695
    Quote Originally Posted by chainsaw View Post
    how easy is the watch face to read, especially in full sunlight?
    I find the Fenix is much easier to read in full sunlight than in the shade, but still quite useable.

    Setting the buttons to shortcut to certain features is quite good too.
    The info displayed on the watch faces is customisable to a point also.
    chainsaw likes this.

  11. #11
    Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2019
    Location
    Invercargill
    Posts
    136
    Not a watch but depending on your mobile you might already have a device that can be used for compass, altimeter and barometer - and of course topo map/GPS
    My iPhone does all that with a couple of apps - only starting checking barometer on recent hunts and you definitely get a feel for the pressure dropping. The longest hunt I have done was a 5 day one and on flight mode and turning off several nights the battery lasted fine and all the functions above work on flight mode.
    chainsaw likes this.

  12. #12
    Member Tikka7mm08's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    North Loburn
    Posts
    4,370
    I have the Fenix 6x Pro Solar - the solar is a bit of a gimmick therefore I had to have it. Garmin got GPS watches right with the Fenix 5x and the 6x wasn't really that different. On battery save mode it lasts for 80 days, and you can still take way points but have tracking turned off. It is a good back up for the 66i and super convenient being on your wrist.
    kiwijames, chainsaw and T.FOYE like this.

  13. #13
    Member
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Christchurch
    Posts
    4,405
    And has a very good ballistic app which is so handy to have on the wrist
    chainsaw likes this.

  14. #14
    Member Happy Jack's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2020
    Location
    Nelson/Tasman
    Posts
    3,102
    I looked into getting a Garmin watch but 2 things put me off, I would need to wear my reading glasses all the time and I don't wear a watch. I use my phone so I can zoom in negating the need for glasses but do usually carry a 64S as backup

  15. #15
    Member 199p's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Palmerston North
    Posts
    4,066
    Quote Originally Posted by Pop Shot View Post
    Although not quite what you're after, I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the new Garmin Fenix 7. I'm expecting it to be around $1500+ though.
    no way your paying $1500 for a watch bro
    BRADS likes this.
    Konus binoculars " The power to imagine"

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Smart Watches
    By cambo in forum Gear and Equipment
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 23-07-2021, 08:48 PM
  2. Suunto Core
    By Ryan_Songhurst in forum Gear and Equipment
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 19-12-2017, 09:42 AM
  3. Watches
    By Gibo in forum Gear and Equipment
    Replies: 91
    Last Post: 20-07-2016, 07:40 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!