I purchased the Fenix 7X Pro Solar Sapphire to replace my Fenix 5X, mostly because I was finally going to be able to hike the Grand Canyon North to South Rim as a day hike. I had previously hiked down the South Kaibab trail to Phantom Ranch and up the Bright Angel trail three times, and at 70 years old now, I knew this was going to be an epic hike that I wanted to track with the latest Garmin technology. Everything went well for the first part of the hike from North Kaibab Trailhead down to Phantom Ranch, with the distance and elevation shown on the watch closely matching the data on the NPS trail map. When I started up the Bright Angel trail, I noticed that the watch began to quit showing the correct distance and Elevation Gain. Unfortunately, I had no idea what to do to try to fix that problem, and I just kept going up, up, up to the end of the hike at the Bright Angel Trailhead. When I hit “Save” for the hike, my Fenix 7X Pro only “captured” 15.68 miles, 1,205’ total Ascent, and 5:35:47 total time, which was roughly the distance and time just getting down to the Colorado River. The actual amounts for the hike were 23.6 miles, 4740 elevation gain, and 14 hours, 20 minutes total time. The map of my hike showed straight line sections way longer than a mile between mile 14 - 15, and 15 - the end. After I had saved the event, my watch screen went dark, and after numerous attempts to re-start it, I was getting system update and “Loading Maps” messages, until about an hour later when the watch returned to normal. As soon as I was able to get to a place where I could contact Amazon regarding a return of the watch, I sent it back to the seller. I have confidence in Garmin products, and this was my third watch from them, but I am completely disappointed and also stunned that a System Update or something else could take over during an event, instead of having to wait until event recording was stopped. Also, using my Fenix 5X on a hike out of the Canyon in 2019, I had no issues with the distance and elevation gain being inaccurate.

**Garmin Fenix 7 Review: A Game-Changer for Outdoor Enthusiasts**

I recently got my hands on the Garmin Fenix 7, and I have to say, it has completely transformed my outdoor adventures. As someone who loves hiking, running, and exploring the great outdoors, this watch has quickly become an essential part of my gear.

**Design and Build Quality:**
The Fenix 7 boasts a rugged design that feels incredibly durable. The materials used are top-notch, and it's clear that Garmin has built this watch to withstand the elements. The display is bright and easy to read, even in direct sunlight, which is a huge plus when you're out on the trails. I appreciate the customizable watch faces and the variety of bands available, allowing me to personalize it to suit my style.

**Features and Performance:**
One of the standout features of the Fenix 7 is its extensive range of tracking capabilities. Whether I'm trail running, mountain biking, or hiking, the GPS accuracy is impressive, providing real-time data on my distance, pace, and elevation. The multi-band GNSS support ensures that I can navigate even in challenging environments, which gives me peace of mind during my adventures.

The heart rate monitoring and fitness tracking features are also exceptional. I love how the watch provides insights into my performance and recovery, helping me to optimize my training. The built-in sports apps cover a wide range of activities, and I appreciate the detailed metrics for each sport.

**Battery Life:**
The battery life on the Fenix 7 is outstanding. I can go for days without needing to recharge, even with regular GPS use. This is a significant advantage for long hikes or multi-day trips where access to charging might be limited.

**Smart Features:**
Beyond its outdoor capabilities, the Fenix 7 also offers smart features that enhance its usability. Notifications from my smartphone come through clearly, and I can control music directly from my wrist. The Garmin Connect app is user-friendly and allows me to analyze my activities and connect with friends, adding a social element to my fitness journey.

**Conclusion:**
Overall, the Garmin Fenix 7 is an incredible watch that combines ruggedness with advanced technology. It’s perfect for anyone who is serious about their outdoor activities and wants a reliable companion to track their progress. I love it, and I can't recommend it enough to fellow adventurers looking for a watch that truly delivers. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or just starting your fitness journey, the Fenix 7 is worth every penny.

This watch has not met my expectations for the price point and the alleged features. First thing worth mentioning, is that the watch died six weeks after I purchased it. It had 1 day left of battery on it - I plugged it in, and it went black and never turned on again. I went to REI (where I purchased the watch to begin with) and had it replaced... with the intent of giving this watch another try. And honestly, the watch and the Garmin Connect interface misses the mark on a few things that really mattered to me. First, the actual road GPS is "off" and under-tracks mileage my .10 of a mile for each mile. Which doesn't matter on hikes, but it does matter when running road races for time. Second, the VO2 max is wildly wrong, after going to a facility and taking a proper VO2 max reading from a professional. This watch came in at 6 points OVER the true real measurement. Third, the sleep data is wrong. This watch has constantly wrong with what time I woke up and what time I went to bed and every single morning I have to manually make the changes. My apple watch was so much more accurate here, that it is mind boggling Garmin is this wrong. Fourth, this watch along with the Garmin Connect interface is so annoying and needs so much improvement. Every notification has the exact same vibration on it (vs. apple watch, texts feel differently then emails so I know what I need to look down for and what I can ignore) and there's no simplified way to turn some notifications off. It just mirrors your phone and that's that, which is not helpful. I should be able to control which notifications go to my watch and which go to my phone. There's no training program for a marathon, which is BONKERS.

Overall, trying to switch to Garmin has been a super frustrating experience, and between the watch dying and the data being wrong in multiple areas of use, it's not a watch I want to keep using. I don't have faith in it, or the brand, which is so disappointing. I really wanted to be over the moon with this watch, but other than the long battery life (which it broke and died anyway), I don't have much to compliment it on.

Originally bought the 47mm version, watch face too small for all the data-rich features Garmin packs into this device. Traded it for the 51mm version and I am much happier.

The watch covers the gamut of uses from outdoor adventure to swimming, biking, walking, HIIT, treadmill, etc...menu preselections from Garmin need to be modified to your uses. Order of data/features easily adjustable to your needs. The extra battery time from the 51mm is big bonus on the device, great to minimize the 'power-up time' anxiety. I got the full time out of it that Garmin specs. That said, I have not, as yet, used it with nav or maps or tracking running so I will be looking to see how the power diminishes when I use it for a lengthy hike (days in the back-country) and paired with my InReach device for full integration of way-points and messaging/explorer app.

I also use to keep track of heart-rate as I do heart-rate training when cycling and when firefighting to see how my exertion levels are. Great to track that.

The sleep mode is pretty nice though when set, it is hard to get out of it to have the watch functioning fully during the time you set sleep mode for. The morning report is also a nice feature, not sure how accurate it is on sleep measurements; restfulness, etc...

Overall, very satisfied with the watch. It is not a daily for me as I mainly use it during activities.

I do recommend the 51mm for easier viewing of data, especially at a distance.