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Garmin Forerunner 935 In-Depth Review

Garmin-FR935-TrainingScoreFirstbeat

*** Update: The next generation Forerunner 945 has since been released. For the latest information on this watch series click the link for the Forerunner 945 In-Depth Review***

Today Garmin announced their latest triathlon/multisport…and running-specific focused watch, the Forerunner 935.  This watch follows almost a year after the FR735XT was announced last spring, and only 3 months after the Fenix 5 series was announced in January (which just started shipping last week).

So what’s the FR935 all about?  Well in a nutshell it’s a cheaper version of the Fenix 5, with a plastic shell as opposed to metal. Basically – it could be named the Fenix 5P – for Plastic.  It’s got a barometric altimeter (and WiFi!) that the FR735XT lacks, and also adds in things like the new Training Load/Recovery features found in the Fenix 5, as well as Bluetooth Smart sensor support.  Not to mention support for the also just announced Running Dynamics Pod (RD Pod).  Finally, it also adds in the just announced TrainingPeaks workout synchronization app, allowing you to sync workouts from TrainingPeaks to your watch (including other devices).

I’ve been using the FR935 for a fair while now, and thus have had the chance to use it across numerous sports and workouts.  While the first few weeks were on beta software, the last few weeks have been on what is considered release candidate/final production firmware.  As always, once done with this review, I’ll send the loaner/test unit back to Garmin and go out and get my own through normal retail channels.

With that – let’s dive into it!

What’s new:

Garmin-FR935-OpticalSensor

As noted in the intro, in many ways the FR935 is basically a Fenix 5 in a different skin.  It’s got a near-identical user interface, save a few minor tweaks the company is experimenting with to simplify the user experience (but more on that later).  In terms of functionality though, it’s basically a Fenix 5.  I’ve gone through the menus side by side (see video below), and everything is identical to a Fenix 5.  Everything.

Still, there are some notable features that are new to today, which are also coming to the Fenix 5/Chronos series, these are:

Running Dynamics Pod: Sensor pod compatibility  added (basically the Garmin Running Dynamics metrics, but in a small wearable pod, also to be compatible with FR735XT/Fenix 5/Chronos)
TrainingPeaks pre-installed on the FR935, now available on numerous other devices via Connect IQ
Training Status/Load/effect metrics: These are new, provided by FirstBeat, also seen on Fenix 5 series and includes split of aerobic and anaerobic training effect.

Still, what if you’ve been sleeping the last few months and skipped the whole Fenix 5 series?  How would the new features look compared to the FR735XT of last year?  Well, everything above, plus the below:

Barometric Altimeter: Added it, 735XT didn’t have it and only had GPS-based elevation
WiFi: Added it to 935, 735XT didn’t have it, and only half of Fenix 5 series has it
Display: Up to 240×240 pixels, same as the Fenix 5
Display: Went from 16 colors on the FR735XT to 64 colors on the FR935
Display: Now supports Emoji, right to left languages (Arabic and Hebrew)
Charging Cable: Identical to Fenix 5 series, can charge mid-activity, but wrist blocks it a bit
Connect IQ: Fully supports CIQ 2.2.3+, as well as a full 2MB for apps or 32 installed CIQ apps/items, whichever comes first.
Battery: Increased battery life up to 24 hours in GPS at 1-second sampling
Battery: Increased UltraTrac battery life to 50 hours
Gyroscope: Added Gyroscope to all models, used to increase track points in UltraTrac mode
User Interface: Slight tweaks to UI to match Fenix 5/Chronos series
User Interface: Added new quick access controls menu, to access apps/widgets, to match Fenix 5 series.
Strava: Added Strava Live Segment support for Bike & Run
Sensors: Added support for Bluetooth Smart sensors (Cycling Power/Speed/Cadence, Running Footpod, Heart Rate)
Sensors: Added Varia Vision Heads Up Display Support (all ANT+ remote displays technically)
Sensors: Added Varia Bike Lights (all ANT+ lights technically)
Sensors: Added Varia Bike Radar
Sensors: Added Shimano Di2 Shifting, ANT+ Gear Shifting Support (SRAM RED eTAP & Campagnolo EPS)
Sensors: Added ANT+ Muscle Oxygen Sensors (MOXY/BSX)
Optical HR Sensor: Revamped tech, now records 24×7 data every 1-2 seconds
Optical HR Sensor: Flattened out even more, virtually flush with back of unit
Training Data: Added FTP Estimation for cycling
Training Data: Now supports swimming PR’s (along with previously added Swim Structured Workout support), like the FR735XT/Fenix5, but unlike some older tri watches
Live Group Tracking: Added like the Fenix 5 models, à la the Edge 820 group tracking
Straps: Compatible with the QuickFit straps, specifically the Garmin Fenix 5 ones (not the 5S/5X), such as leather/metal/etc…
Golf: Added TruSwing, Greenview, and Autoshot features
Other Sports Added: Mountain Biking, Treadmill and Indoor Track separated, Ski and Snowboard separated, Navigate app, and Track Me app
Navigation Functions: Full navigation identical to that of the Fenix 5 series.  That includes things like proximity and navigation alerts (for distance to waypoint, and time/distance remaining to destination).  Note, there are no maps like the Fenix 5X units.

Phew – got all that?

Good.

Still confused?  Sorry, it happens to the best of us.  The good news is I’ve got a video below explaining it all!  Go forth and enjoy!

Oh – and you may be wondering why they dropped the ‘XT’ off the end of the official watch name (i.e. not the FR935XT).  The reasoning is twofold.  First they didn’t want to put off the running side of the house, thinking it wasn’t for them (since it’s basically what people wanted in a fabled FR635).  They feel like it’s an equally good option for runners or triathletes.  Second is that they figured most triathletes would know from the initial ‘9’ in the series (i.e. 910/920/935), that it was still a triathlon watch.  And if you didn’t know about the ‘9’ part, you probably didn’t know about the XT part anyway. 😉

With that, let’s move onto some sizing!

Model and Size Comparisons:

Like the FR735XT, the FR935 comes in one size, but a few two-band variants.  There’s the base unit, which is black with a barely visible silver trimming/button, and then there’s the bundle unit which is also black but with a neon yellow trim/button and a secondary yellow strap.  Throughout the review you see the bundle variant, with the yellow strap since I was mostly too lazy to change it to the black strap.  So, the two options are:

Base unit ($499USD): Black watch face with silver accent and black band, charging cable
Bundled unit ($649 USD): Black watch face with yellow accent and black band, additional yellow band, charging cable, HRM-TRI HR strap, HRM-SWIM HR strap, quick release kit.

Note that I don’t have an unboxing to share at the moment, since the unit I was sent came in a simple plastic baggie with just the charging cable and an extra band.  Plus the charging cable.

Garmin-FR935-Black-Band-Extra-Bundle Garmin-FR935-Charging-Cable

Once I get a proper box, I’ll add the unboxing back into this review.  Given what Garmin included in the Fenix 5 boxes, don’t expect anything more than what you see above, plus a few pieces of legal paper telling you not to do anything stupid with it, as well as how to put the band on.  Pretty standard stuff.

What is notable here is the band though.  Within the box it doesn’t include Garmin’s new QuickFit bands seen on the Fenix5, but rather a standard screw-in band.

That’s a bit of a bummer, the good news is that the QuickFit bands are still compatible with the FR935.  Specifically with leather, metal, and other silicone band colors.  Basically, what we saw on the Fenix 5.  Note, that I tried the Fenix 5 bands (the middle-sized ones) and they fit just fine.  The 5X bands would be too big, and the 5S bands too small.

With that, let’s look at sizing between the FR735XT, the FR935, and the Fenix 5 series (plus a Fenix3 thrown in):

Garmin-FR935-Size-ComparisonsText

As you can see, sizing-wise the FR735XT and FR935 are pretty similar, however the FR935 is slightly larger – by a few millimeters in diameter, albeit identical in depth.

Garmin-FR935-Size-Comparisons-SideText

Finally, the FR935 comes in at 49g, whereas the Fenix 5 starts at 84g (depends on which bands you use).  The Fenix 5S starts at 67g.

The Basics:

Garmin-FR935-StepTrackingOverviewBasics

I’m going to mix things up a little bit in this review from past reviews.  Partly because I get bored writing things in the same structure each time, and partly because I think at this point there’s some things that are considered ‘base’ knowledge.  Meaning that I’ve often split up into separate sections swim/bike/run, with there being so much overlap between all three sections.  For this I’m going to round-up the watch basics into this section, then sports into the next, and then talk about newish FR935 pieces like the new Training Status/Load/Recovery components, RD compatibility, and Training Peaks integration.  Then I’ll separately dive into accuracy of GPS and optical HR sensor.

To start off with, you’ve got the watch face.  This uses a bit more of a traditional plain Jane watch face with just the basic elements on it by default.

Garmin-FR935-Watch-Face

However, you can easily customize the data elements on it, as well as the style.  And that’s before we even talk Connect IQ watch faces.

Garmin-FR935-WatchFace2 Garmin-FR935-WatchFaceData

Like the Fenix 5, you’ll now have a quick controls option, which can be accessed by holding the upper left button down for a few seconds.

This allows you to quickly lock the screen, put it into do-not-disturb mode, as well as save your GPS location and sync data.  You can lightly customize some of these options in the menu as well.  You rotate through the options on the controls screen like a rotary telephone.

While the watch face can be customized with your daily activity tracking – such as steps or stairs climbed (it has a barometric altimeter to help track that), you can also iterate through the different widgets by pressing the up/down buttons.  For example, here’s the daily activity tracking widget (followed by the detailed views within it):

Garmin-FR935-Activity-Stats-Main

Garmin-FR935-Activity-Stats-Totals2 Garmin-FR935-Activity-Stats-Totals1

Additionally, you’ve also got the ability to quickly glance at your last sport/workout stats, along with the calendar, notifications, weather, and other widgets.  You can customize these from both Garmin options, as well as 3rd party options.

Garmin-FR935-WeatherWidget

Within the pile of widgets is one for 24×7 heart rate.  This will show your continuous heart rate data, as measured by the optical HR sensor on the back of the unit.  Since this unit shares the exact same sensor as the Fenix 5, it now too measures at a rate of every 1-2 seconds.

Garmin-FR935-OpticalSensor

That optical HR data can be seen at any time from the 24×7 widget, allowing you to glance back at not just the last 4 hours, but also your resting heart rate over the preceding 7 days.  I’ve talked about this a fair bit in this post, but in a nutshell I find resting heart rate a great indicator of impending (or current) sickness or excessive fatigue.  It’s easy for me to plot that and know that I may want to adjust my training or recovery accordingly.

Garmin-FR935-Continual-HR Garmin-FR935-Continual-HR-7DayAverage

This data is also then available on Garmin Connect, either your mobile app (iOS/Android/Windows Phone), or on the web using your old Netscape-equipped computer.  Below is a screenshot from iOS.

2017-03-28 18.11.32

As part of the daily activity tracking, it’ll also automatically recognize and track certain sports, for example walking, running, or cycling.  You’ll see these shown as little grey bubbles on your daily heart rate graph, as well as within the list of activities each day.

2017-03-28 18.11.38 2017-03-29 11.12.34

When it recognizes a sport, it’s not enabling GPS or other sensors.  Rather, it’s just leveraging the accelerometer.  Thus, the data quality is pretty low.  I’d *never* use it to track a run, but it’s useful for tracking quick errand trips on a bike around town that you probably wouldn’t otherwise bother to track.  Or for that romantic evening walk on the beach.  All important things to properly capture.  The data shown is pretty minimal, as seen below.  Just start time, type, and duration.

On the left is a simple bike-sharing bike ride home from a party, and on the right is a short walk around town.

2017-03-29 11.12.38 2017-03-29 11.12.58

Next, with all this fancy phone integration you’ve got the ability to of course sync workouts via Bluetooth Smart (or WiFi), as well as receive notifications from your phone.  The FR935 supports standard notification centers on your phone, meaning that any app can take advantage of it.  It’s not just texts or calendar notifications like some watches.  Anything from your favorite sexting app to Instagram, or Ikea kitchen cabinet planner to GoPro’s action cam app.  If it does notifications and normally alerts on your phone, it can alert on your watch.

You can open up alerts to get more detail.  Or you can dismiss them, which will also clear them from the phone.  For dismissed alerts, you can view them within the notification panel on both the watch, as well as your phone (for example, on iOS just swipe down from the top).

Note one handy little feature is that the FR935 and Fenix 5 series now support many emoji, so you can see those directly on the watch.  This is helpful if certain individuals in your family (not pointing any fingers at the Newfoundland contingent or anything) use an astounding amount of emoji icons.  Impressive really.  I mean, just saying, in theory they do.

Finally – as hinted at above, the FR935 does have WiFi on all units, which means when you walk into your house after a workout is completed, it’ll quickly upload via WiFi.  In most cases it’ll do so before you even get your shoes off.  If you’re running barefoot then…umm…before you take your pants off?  I don’t know.  It’s quick.

You can configure numerous WiFi networks using the Garmin Express app:

image

The inclusion of WiFi in all FR935 units is interesting.  Mostly because at $499 it’s less expensive than the base Fenix 5 units at $599, which don’t actually include WiFi (for reasons that make no sense).  Only the Sapphire Fenix 5 units include WiFi.  In any case, it’s really only used for syncing fitness data.  It’s not like you’re going to browse the web with it.  Also, it only works for networks that don’t have proxy/filters on them.  So it won’t work at Starbucks for example.

What’s that? Something in the basics section not covered?  Well, chances are that I’ll cover it throughout the rest of the review. But…if you’re the type of person that wants to press every button on the watch – then the below video is for you!  It’s exactly that: I go through all the menus screen by screen!

With all the basics (and more) covered – let’s head onto using it for a workout.

Sport Usage:

Garmin-FR935-Run-Mode

Let’s talk about how it works in sport, or rather specifically workouts.  When it comes to sport modes there are numerous to choose from here.  They are:

Running: Run, Trail Run, Treadmill Run, Indoor Track
Hiking: Hike, Climb, Walk, Navigate
Cycling: Bike, Bike Indoor, Mountain bike
Swimming: Openwater Swim, Pool Swim
Triathlon: Triathlon Mode, Swimrun, +general multisport mode
Skiing: Ski, Snowboard, XC Ski
Other water: Stand Up Paddleboard, Row, Row Indoor
Other: Golf, Golf TruSwing, Strength, Cardio, Jumpmaster, Tactical, Other (make your own up)

In order to keep things simple, I’m going to start with explaining the basics of sport mode using the running mode.  But the key thing to understand is that by and large these sport modes share the same core functionality.  Meaning that things like alerts, structured workouts, data field customization are the same across the board.  Where you see differences is in nuances related to each sport, for example in cycling you can enable power meter metrics – but those aren’t seen in golf or swimming.  Or in swimming you’d get stroke metrics that aren’t seen in running.  But the way you interact with each mode is largely the same.

To begin a workout you’ll press the upper right button, which immediately goes into a newly designed sport menu.  This single menu is the only tangible difference between the FR935 and the Fenix 5.  In this menu the watch will actually immediately start acquiring GPS signal and your optical HR – even before you choose a sport.  The logic here being to simply jumpstart that process while your brain decides what to do next.

Garmin-FR935-SportSelection

You can scroll down in the list of sports to find any of the above mentioned sports, or, you can customize and add your own sports/names.

Garmin-FR935-Sport-Selection-Menu

You’ll notice that as you’re pondering your sport name, the unit will finish up finding GPS and change the color of the outer ring from red to orange, and then to green.  Green is good, everything else is bad.  So definitely wait for green.  Additionally, you’ll see the HR icon stop blinking and go solid, which means HR has been locked.  Wait for that too.  All of this usually only takes a couple seconds, so it’s pretty quick.

Garmin-FR935-Sport-Menu-Ready

Once that’s done, you can hit the upper right button and you’ll see your data pages that you’ve configured.  This hasn’t started recording yet, and you can still see satellite status around the edge of the watch.

Garmin-FR935-SportReadyToRUn

Since we’re here, let’s talk data fields and data screens.  This basically applies to all sports.  Essentially, you can customize the living crap out of data fields and screens.  No device on the market gives as much customization as this.  You’ve got customizable data pages (screens), that can have up to 4 fields each.  That can be one field, two fields, three fields, or four fields.  And then within both three and four fields you can arrange them two different ways each (technically three ways for three fields – one without field titles).  Here’s a gallery of how that looks:

You can create numerous custom data pages (each having customizable data fields), I haven’t reached the limit because you can create so many and I’m lazy.  But you can also select from standard data pages that can be lightly customized as well.  These include: Virtual Partner, Map, Compass, Elevation (Graph), Music Controls, Running Dynamics (x2 pages), plus a heart rate zone page.  Lots of pages.

The only minor downside is you can’t customize/save these from your phone or Garmin Connect, but rather they must be done on the device.  On the bright side, that means you can customize them on the fly during a workout or standing at the start line.  Or…at Chipotle.  Whatever floats your boat.

Garmin-FR935-AddNewDataPage

Once you’ve started your workout (by pressing the upper right button), the unit will start recording your data.  This also includes displaying your data, such as distance and pace/speed.  There’s literally gazillions of data fields, and they’re listed in the manual.  I used to write them out, but it was silly because it’s so massive (and is always changing).  Plus, you can use Garmin Connect IQ to download zillions more data fields.

I tend to keep mine somewhat basic.  Essentially I’ve got a page focused on workout totals (i.e. total distance, total time, etc…), and then another focused on laps (i.e. lap distance, lap pace, lap time, heart rate).  Btw, you can select either automatic laps based on a preset distance or manual laps based on pressing the button.

Note that you can also customize the lap banner, which allows you to specify which data fields are shown when you press the lap button, or when auto-lap is triggered.

Garmin-FR935-LapBanner

This functionality is handy, though I’d give Suunto the nod for a better overall lap implementation with their lap summary page (a function that was ironically copied from Garmin’s Edge devices).  That Suunto lap summary page allows you to quickly glance at all your last laps with various data like average pace or HR next to it.  Maybe we’ll see something like it in Connect IQ or similar someday.

In any event – let’s run.  While running you’ll get data on your data fields however you set them up.  You can change data pages by simply pressing the up/down buttons.  Alternatively, you can use auto-scroll to have it iterate through them (I personally never like that, since I want to know what I’m going to see when I glance down).  But choice is good.

Note that the FR935 mirrors that on all Garmin running wearables over the last 2-3 years and will show your current/instant pace rounded to the nearest :05 seconds.  For example 7:35/mile or 6:45/mile (not 6:46/mile).  A few other companies have followed in these footsteps, as ultimately all GPS data is smoothed one way or another.  Either it’s smoothed more behind the scenes to give you a false 6:57/mile number, or it’s smoothed more visibly into a bucketed 6:55/mile number.  But fear not, lap average pace and average pace are exact number (i.e. 6:57/mile).  So you can always use those for pacing.

Once done with the run you’ll get workout summary and PR (personal record) information – such as longest run, or fastest 5K run, etc… You’ll also get recovery time metrics (more on that in the next section), and workout benefit details.

GOPR5548 GOPR5553

At this point the watch will then sync that workout via Bluetooth Smart to your phone, or if you’re within range of the WiFi networks you setup – it’ll use that instead (it’s a bit quicker).  And that’s again an important differentiator between the FR935 and the Fenix 5: All FR935 units have WiFi, whereas only some of the Fenix 5 models have WiFi.

2017-03-29 11.32.10 2017-03-29 11.32.18

Once it’s done syncing to Garmin Connect, you can go ahead and look at the data via the Garmin Connect Mobile app (iOS/Android/Windows), or just via web browser on Garmin Connect.  Here’s one of my runs, utilizing the FR935 and the RD Pod (and the optical HR sensor):

GarminFR935Run

Next, we’ll touch on cycling.  As noted this is largely the same as running from a generality standpoint, but there are notables such as power meter support in cycling (both ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart power meters).

2017-03-26 14.04.22

While riding you’ll display any data from sensors as well as GPS (i.e. speed and distance), and you can also utilize the unit on your wrist to re-broadcast your heart rate to secondary devices via ANT+.  So if you’ve got an Edge device (or an app like TrainerRoad or Zwift) – then you can have those apps pair to your wrist heart rate and record them there too.

One other difference of note between the Fenix 5 and the FR935 is that the FR935 has a quick release kit available for it.  This means that if you’re doing a triathlon and want to quickly remove the watch from your wrist to mount onto your bike, you can easily do so.  This quick release kit is still a bit early in production, so there’s only renders (and some bad cell phone photos) available at present.  It sounds like that’ll start shipping in late April.  Still, that’s a definite bonus point for the FR935 over the Fenix 5.

Forerunner 935 Quick Release Kit

Alternatively, for those doing just cycling you can certainly mount the FR935 onto one of the $11 watch mounting blocks to put on your handlebars.  That works just fine (though, the optical HR sensor wouldn’t be usable then).

Once all is said and done your ride, you’ll get the ride data on Garmin Connect just like other sports.  Also, this will happily transit over to Strava, TrainingPeaks, Xert, and many other apps automatically using Garmin’s Auto Sync system.  That process usually takes forever…ya know…like 1-2 seconds in total.

GarminFR935-Bike

Since we’re talking cycling, let’s talk triathlon mode.  Triathlon mode enables you to quickly iterate from sport to sport with little more than a key press.  This is useful for going from the swim segment of a race to the bike segment, and then onto the run.  Further, it can capture transition times as well.

Within the triathlon mode you’ve got the aforementioned transition time option, but you can also use the little known option to automatically lock the buttons after you change sports each time.  This helps to prevent accidental key presses – in particular pressing the ‘lap’ button, which would move you onto the next sport (a really bad thing if it happens at the wrong time).

In addition to triathlon mode you can make your own multisport mode options – such as combining stand-up paddle boarding with skiing.  Or two or more other totally compatible sports.  Further, you can do a bit of a free-style multisport mode by pressing the left-center button at any time to simply switch to another sport.  This is helpful if you’re going to repeat something like bike/run over and over again until a predetermined time (common brick workout strategy).

Speaking of swimming, the unit supports both openwater and pool swimming modes.  In pool swimming mode it’ll use the accelerometer on the watch itself to determine each time you hit the wall at the end of a length.  It then uses the preset pool length that you specify in the watch to do simple math on your total distance (as well as pace).

You can use either flip turns or open (non-flip) turns, it doesn’t much matter.  However, keep in mind that like all swim watches, it’s essentially looking at changes in direction and shifts in acceleration.  So here’s a few tricks you can use as well to get better accuracy:

A) Obviously, ensure your pool length is right
B) The key to swimming watches is remembering it’s looking for a ‘cue’ as to when you’ve reached the end of the length.  So, push off forcefully each time
C) It doesn’t matter if you do flip turns or open (non-flip) turns, I mix and match depending on the craziness at the end of my lane
D) Again, just push off sharply, no matter what you do
E) Avoid stopping/starting mid-lane, since it’ll confuse things
F) If you have to pass someone mid-lane, it’s best to ramp into that pass as evenly as possible. Versus just instantly sprinting mid-lane, since it may think you’ve just done a new length.  I realize that’s easier said than done – but just giving some general advice
G) Don’t do the YMCA song at the end of the lane, even if at the YMCA.  Also, if you go the bathroom, pause the watch.

Speaking of pausing, note that the FR935 does include an inverted display color when you pause it – so you can know whether your mid-set or not.  Also, you can use drill mode for things that don’t involve your wrists (i.e. kickboard drills).  That allows you to simply enter in the total distance for that drill set at the end of the set.

Next, let’s talk openwater swim.  Within openwater swim mode it’s going to leverage the GPS within the device to determine distance.

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The challenge here though is that every time the watch goes below the surface of the water (basically, every other second), it loses that signal.  So the goal with openwater swim mode is to try and string together these generally poorly conceived points into a rational swim track.  Meaning, it’s rarely perfect – I usually aim for accuracy +/- 10% as a rough yardstick of success.  Sometimes you’ll get better (like spot-on better), and sometimes it’ll be crap.

There are things you can do to improve your success rate though:

A) Always get signal above water before starting
B) Always press the start button above water, and then wait for 2-5 seconds before your first strokes
C) If making a sharp turn somewhere (such as a buoy), I find it helpful if you slightly slow down your stroke rate at the turn buoy – giving the unit just an extra split second of your wrist above water to try and find GPS
D) Always wait until out of the water to stop the GPS track, ideally waiting 5-8 seconds for it to ensure it has a clean lock on GPS

If you do those four things, I find substantial improvements in GPS tracking during swims (across all device vendors).  None really impact your workout.

Note that in neither openwater swim mode or pool swim mode does the FR935 capture heart rate via the optical HR sensor.  For both you’ll need either the HRM-TRI or HRM-SWIM.  This is due to the challenges associated with optical HR sensors in the water.

With all that background, I put together this openwater swim video with the FR935 – showing you how it works from start to finish.

As shown in the video – once done you’ll get a GPS track showing your particular route.  In this case, the GPS track was pretty good actually.

FR935-OpenwaterSwim

Last but not least, let’s talk structured workouts and intervals.  These come in two varieties.  First are structured workouts that you can download from Garmin Connect.  These can be ones that you’ve created, or that you’ve downloaded from their free training plans.  Doesn’t much matter, they show up in the device in pretty much the same way, under Training > Workouts:

Garmin-935XT-MyWorkouts Garmin-FR935-WorkoutSelection

It’s here that you can then view the steps (i.e. targets) of the workout, as well as start the workout.

Garmin-FR935-StructuredWorkoutSteps

Once started, the workout function will warn you of upcoming segments, as well as display to you the specific target for each segment.  It’ll also count-down the time left in each piece.  For example, it’ll show you that you’ve got 93 seconds left and that your target HR zone is 165-172bpm.  It’ll even show a nifty little target HR indicator.

Now to demonstrate this, I used the new TrainingPeaks app (you’ll see a separate post shortly on that).  That app essentially transfers the structured workout from TrainingPeaks and then lets the native workout functionality on the FR935 take care of processing.

Just to be clear though, you don’t need TrainingPeaks for anything of this.  The above simply shows how it works if you did use TrainingPeaks to download the workout, but the downloading can also be done natively purely using Garmin Connect Mobile (or your desktop computer).

Next, if you want a more simplistic experience you can use instead the native interval workout function on the watch itself.  This function allows you to configure a warm-up, a work portion (plus repeat count), a rest portion, and then a cool-down.

Garmin-FR935-IntervalWorkout

For example you can specify a work portion of 1 mile, with a rest of 90 seconds, and then do 5 repeats.  You can customize any given portion of that.

Garmin-FR935-Interval-Rest

Once started, it’ll run you through the workout in more or less the same manner as a full downloaded structured workout.  The only difference though is that you’re not going to get a specific target (i.e. pace, heart rate, etc…).  Note that these functions work the same regardless of which sport you’re in (running/cycling, or also swimming for structured workouts).

Finally, we’ll wrap up with a brief talk through of navigation and courses.  I dive into this a bit more in my Fenix 5 In-Depth Review a mere 6 days ago, and that watch functions identically to this in that respect.

In any event, the FR935 includes the ability to navigate on both downloaded courses, as well as past activities.  This can be used either for simple directional assistance – or to even race against courses/activities that are configured with specific timing.  Further, you can also just use the FR935 for basic navigation back to a saved point, or to backtrack your way to wherever you started from.

You can launch navigation from within any given sport (i.e. hiking), or you can launch it on its own.  The net result is basically the same, except that you’ll get data fields customized for that sport if you launch it within that sport.  Plus, you’ll get a few extra data pages from the navigation side of the house.

To begin, you’ll select a course.  For example, here are ones I’ve downloaded from Garmin Connect to my watch via Garmin Connect Mobile.

Garmin-FR935-Run-Course

Once selected you can then view a breadcrumb trail map, or the elevation plots of it:

Garmin-FR935-Navigation-Maps

From there you can start navigation, which allows you to follow that breadcrumb style navigation based on the route of the course.  The watch will also show your times against any pacing within the course/activity file (such as racing against a past activity).  You’ll see the direction of travel using the internal compass, which is displayed as a small red arrow on the edge near the bezel.

Note that unlike the Fenix 5X, the FR935 doesn’t contain any actual map like you’d find on a car/phone GPS.  Meaning, you won’t see streets, lakes, or rivers or anything else. You’ll simply see where you’re going and where you’ve been (identical to the Fenix 5/5S).

The core difference here in this realm between something like the FR935 and the slightly older FR735XT is that the FR935/Fenix5 contain barometric altimeters, which are lacking in the FR735XT.  That’s a big deal for folks hiking (or doing anything) in the mountains.  As I showed in my FR735XT review last year, the altitude readings left much to be desired, whereas with the FR935/Fenix5, it’s far better.  You can see that in the GPS accuracy section in particular (below), on the March 9th mountainous ride.

Finally, note that in order to create courses that at this time you need to use a desktop web browser of some sort, as the Garmin Connect Mobile app doesn’t allow creation there.  You can however sync/specify saved routes from Garmin Connect using the mobile app, and send them to your watch wirelessly.

Training Load & Stress:

Garmin-FR935-TrainingLoadMetrics

When Garmin introduced the Fenix 5, that introduced new training status and load features that have now carried into the FR935.  These metrics are built by FirstBeat and licensed by Garmin.  That’s the same company that has powered much of the training and recovery features on past Garmin watches, as well as other companies in the wearables industry.  These specific new features were previously offered in FirstBeat’s pro athlete training suite, and have now been squeezed into the FR935.

One really important thing to point out is that these metrics take time to adapt to you.  Realistically FirstBeat says it takes about two weeks in total to get to the point of having truly valid data.  That also assumes that you’re able to get two workouts that trigger a VO2Max estimate (either running or cycling, but two of the same sport type).  It’s those two key items that allow it to really hone in.  It’ll reach its ‘full potential’ once it has about a month’s worth of data on you.

To start, when you finish a workout you’ll be given a split of anaerobic an aerobic training effect, in terms of a number between 0.0 and 5.0.  While Training Effect used to be a single number, now it’s split:

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This data is presented for any workout where a heart rate sensor of some sort was used (be it optical or HR strap).  This training effect number is also saved to Garmin Connect, where it can be viewed at the bottom of any workout:

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The exact number corresponds to a much longer explanation of what those data points mean, which can be found in these two sheets that FirstBeat has sent over.

Training Effect terms/phrases (Excel)
Training Status terms/phrases (Excel)

Next, after some activities (if a change has occurred), you’ll receive a VO2Max estimate.  In the case of cycling this requires a power meter.  The VO2Max estimate won’t necessarily show on every workout, and may take a few weeks as well to really fine tune itself (in particular it’s best to have a hard workout).

Garmin-FR935-VO2Max

Moving right along, the unit will give you recovery hours – similar to before on a number of Garmin devices.  These recovery hours can be checked at any time, and will slowly count down to zero hours as time passes.  If you do another workout, it’ll increase correspondingly.

Garmin-FR935-RecoveryHours

Then we’ve got training load.  This numerical number is specific/unique to you, and is based on trending over time.  This is where that multitude of weeks of training data comes in play, as it allows FirstBeat to figure out what’s ‘normal’ for you.  They noted that they reach their full analytic potential after a month of data.

Garmin-FR935-TrainingLoad

Keeping it in the green means your load is appropriate for your capabilities.  Whereas overtraining puts you into the red, and undertraining the blue.

Finally, we’ve got the general training status page (accessible anytime as a widget by just pressing the down button a few times).  This is a way to look at the specific load you’re applying, and whether the load is contributing to fitness.

Garmin-FR935-TrainingStatus

In general, I’ve found this particular page has been pretty accurate when it comes to judging what my training load/etc is in relation to what I’m actually feeling.  As long-time readers know, I tend to be pretty critical of these sorts of technologies, but this one does seem to be getting it right the vast majority of the time.

The FirstBeat folks initially shared with me a massively long presentation and supporting documents that outlined how this tech works. They were able to pull together a bit more finessed/polished version of that over the weekend, which they said I could share/post here. You can find the full PDF here, and I’ve put all the slides into a single gallery for quick clickage below. Note that this applies to the FR935, Fenix 5, and Fenix Chronos units.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t sound like the older FR735XT or Fenix 3 variants will be getting this update.

Heart Rate Sensor Accuracy:

Garmin-FR935-HeartRate24x7-Last4hrs

The FR935 includes Garmin’s Elevate optical HR sensor built into the bottom of it, which is used both in workouts as well as in 24×7 continual HR monitoring mode.  Just like the Fenix 5, the FR935’s optical sensor got a slight overhaul/upgrade, most notably when in 24×7 mode.  Previous to this, Garmin’s Elevate sensor would sample rather infrequently (outside of workouts), at rates from every few seconds to every few hours.  It was all over the map.

Garmin-FR935-OpticalSensor

But with the new lower-power FR935/Fenix 5 optical sensor, it now samples every 1-2 seconds. Basically, it’s always on.  In addition to the change in sampling frequency, they’ve also reduced the sensor bump.  Of course – my goal is to find out if there were any undesired repercussions from this, specifically in sport mode.  When it came to 24×7 mode, the new data looks much better, and the accuracy seems spot on for casual activities like watching TV, walking, or just living life.

2017-03-28 18.11.32

Thus with each subsequent new unit released I re-visit sensor accuracy.  While it’s the same physical hardware, one can see the impact that firmware updates make.  Additionally, each watch has a slightly different form factor (exterior design), which can impact accuracy in terms of external light getting into the sensor area (which degrades accuracy of optical HR sensors).

Before we move on to the test results, note that optical HR sensor accuracy is rather varied from individual to individual.  Aspects such as skin color, hair density, and position can impact accuracy.  Position and how the band is worn are *the most important* pieces.  A unit with an optical HR sensor should be snug.  It doesn’t need to leave marks, but you shouldn’t be able to slide a finger under the band (at least during workouts).  You can wear it a tiny bit looser the rest of the day.

Ok, so in my testing I simply use the watch throughout my normal workouts.  Those workouts include a wide variety of intensities and conditions, making them great for accuracy testing.  I’ve got long/steady runs, hard interval workouts on both bike and running, as well as tempo runs and rides.  Not to mention skiing and hiking.  Night and day, sun and snow.  I’ve got it all!

For each test I’m wearing additional devices, usually 3-4, which capture data from other sensors.  Typically I’d wear a chest strap (usually the HRM-TRI), as well as another optical HR sensor made by Scosche and in some cases also a Suunto Spartan Wrist HR that I’m also testing.  I generally consider the Scosche sensors to be the most accurate optical HR sensors for fitness/workouts today.  Note that the numbers you see in the upper right corner are *not* the averages, but rather just the exact point my mouse is sitting over.

Let’s dive into the first data set.  Note all this data is analyzed using the DCR Analyzer, details here.

First up is some intervals from this Saturday.  You can see that I’ve got a pretty even warm-up phase, building intensity.  Then I go into 3xintervals, followed by four much shorter sprints.

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As we start off there’s a bit of disagreement between the optical side of the house (all three sensors), and the chest strap.  It’s hard to say who is correct, though I’d likely place it on the optical side of the house this time (FR935/Scosche).  The Suunto unit is a bit off there, bouncing around.  But at the 5 minute marker they all merge.

At they largely stay pretty darn close together for the three interval sets.  You see a little bit of lag on the 2nd interval from the FR935 in the first 30 seconds or so, but it’s not horrible.

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As we transition to the four short sprints at the end, things actually match really well.  Except the last one.  What’s going on there?  In that one I was filming the TrainingPeaks video showing the sprint – and it definitely seemed to impact things.  That’s logical – given that I’d have been trying to hold my wrist up for the camera, and thus dorking with the cadence readings.

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So overall, pretty good there.  And I know why certain ones were offset compared to others – which is important.

Here’s another interval workout with the 935, and then a Fenix5 paired to an HRM-RUN HR strap.  Also, the Suunto Wrist HR.  In this you can see that outside of the first few minutes (again), the FR935 and HR strap track quite closely.

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Which is again, the experience I saw over and over again (and also shown in the data).  When it came to running – there wasn’t much of an issue here, outside of occasional warm-up type oddities in the first few minutes.  Which of course is also common in HR straps.

Next, let’s look at some cycling.  I’ve got some indoor trainer rides, but those are all honestly kinda boring as the sensor works just fine and dandy there.  Just like the Fenix 5 – indoor trainer rides no problem.

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Instead, let’s look at this outdoor ride from Sunday as one example of HR data.  This ride actually turned out quite good for HR data from all three units, at least for the first portion of the ride.  The different sensors by and large agreed quite nicely, minus some minor quirks.  I removed the Suunto Spartan Wrist HR data from this plot, because it was too distracting.  You can find that down below in the table if you want.

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We do however see around the 2hr marker that things go sideways a little bit.  This seemed to be a lower intensities, mostly when I was coasting downhill along some occasionally rougher terrain through a park of sorts.

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We this same decoupling towards the end of the ride as well – also at lower intensities.

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Thus the pattern seems to be a bit where as long as I was riding along with some effort, it was doing pretty well.  But if I got into rougher roads with less intensity – then it fell apart a bit.

Which, is all roughly in line with what I saw for the Fenix5 as well.  It works well enough for me during running – even through intervals.  However, cycling is a mixed bag.  Indoors it’s fine, and outdoors as long as there is some evenness within intensity (or roads), then it works out pretty well.  But if I drop intensity and then combine that with rougher roads – it tends to struggle.

Lastly, here’s a table of all my activities on final or near-final software from the last 3-4 weeks:

FR935 Data Sets

DateWorkout TypeData TypeUnits UsedComparison Link
Mar 26thCyclingGPS/HRFR935, Edge 820 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT with ScoscheAnalyze
Mar 25ndRunningGPSHRFR935, Fenix 3 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT with ScoscheAnalyze
Mar 24thCycling (Indoor)HR FocusedFR935 Optical, Suunto Wrist HR, Scosche Rhytm+, TICKRX HR StrapAnalyze
Mar 22ndRunningGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT no HRMAnalyze
Mar 20thRunningGPS/HRFenix 5, Spartan Wrist HR, Fenix 3 with HRM-RUNAnalyze
Mar 19thCycling (Easy)GPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Spartan Wrist HR, Edge 1000 with TICKR-XAnalyze
Mar 12-18thSkiingGPS/HRFR935Single device only
Mar 8thCyclingGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Wahoo BOLT with TICKR HRAnalyze
Mar 7thOpenwater SwimGPSFR935, Fenix 5, Fenix 3 on Swim Buoy (Reference)Analyze
Mar 4thRunningGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Suunto Spartan Ultra, Fenix 3 with HRM-TRIAnalyze

(Note: All of the charts in these accuracy sections were created using the DCR Analyzer tool.  It allows you to compare power meters/trainers, heart rate, cadence, speed/pace, GPS tracks and plenty more. You can use it as well, more details here.)

GPS Accuracy:

Garmin-FR935-GPS-GLONASS

There’s likely no topic that stirs as much discussion and passion as GPS accuracy.  A watch could fall apart and give you dire electrical shocks while doing so, but if it shows you on the wrong side of the road?  Oh hell no, bring on the fury of the internet!

GPS accuracy can be looked at in a number of different ways, but I prefer to look at it using a number of devices in real-world scenarios across a vast number of activities.  I use 2-6 other devices at once, trying to get a clear picture of how a given set of devices handles conditions on a certain day.  Conditions include everything from tree/building cover to weather.

Over the years I’ve continued to tweak my GPS testing methodology.  For example, I try to not place two units next to each other on my wrists, as that can impact signal. If I do so, I’ll put a thin fabric spacer of about 1”/3cm between them.  But often I’ll simply carry other units by the straps, or attach them to my shoulder straps of a CamelBak.  Plus, wearing multiple watches on the same wrist is well known to impact optical HR accuracy too.

Next, as noted I use just my daily training routes.  Using a single route over and over again isn’t really indicative of real-world conditions, it’s just indicative of one trail.

When it comes to the data I’m focusing on for accuracy details in this review, I’m going to mostly limit it to the last few weeks, since earlier data was beta data.  Though in those earlier beta builds, I had no issues with GPS accuracy.

First, let’s just start off with a run in/around the city.  Note as with the optical HR data, all this data is analyzed using the DCR Analyzer.

This run passes under tunnels, over bridges, and right alongside 6-10 story buildings.  Here’s the high level overview.

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But let’s dig into some challenging sections – such as turning onto the bridge – did it handle that correctly?

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It seems to – all units nicely cross the bridge without ending up in the water.  They also correctly navigate exactly where I was on the path.  Next, looking at the turnaround near Bastille, three of the four units correctly plot that turn, including the FR935.

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However, as we get back down the other end of the canal, some units do go for a brush with the buildings.  I ran right alongside the building and the Fenix 5 and FR735XT end up in the building slightly, whereas the FR935 doesn’t and correctly tracks.

It also correctly tracks through the tunnel that’s seen in the lower left of this image.

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In short, on this run there’s no issues with GPS accuracy of the FR935.  And that’s indicative of what I saw on other running activities as well.

So what about something trickier – like an openwater swim?  Well, here ya go:

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As you can see, all three units tracked actually quite closely.  There’s maybe a brief moment of track oddity around the mid-point, which is roughly when I stopped to take some photos/video, which might explain that.  Also towards the end the FR935 adds a little bit of distance as well:

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Now, when it comes to cycling I largely see good results.  There’s honestly not a lot to analyze.  You can dig through the results below – but things are pretty darn clean, which is usually the case for most GPS units.  The higher speed means that there’s less room for GPS to ‘wander’.

Lastly, here’s a table of all my activities on final or near-final software from the last 3-4 weeks.  Note that in general I’m excluding activities where I didn’t have multiple devices, or excluding activities where GPS isn’t involved (i.e. indoor treadmill runs or similar).

FR935 Data Sets

DateWorkout TypeData TypeUnits UsedComparison Link
Mar 26thCyclingGPS/HRFR935, Edge 820 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT with ScoscheAnalyze
Mar 25ndRunningGPSHRFR935, Fenix 3 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT with ScoscheAnalyze
Mar 24thCycling (Indoor)HR FocusedFR935 Optical, Suunto Wrist HR, Scosche Rhytm+, TICKRX HR StrapAnalyze
Mar 22ndRunningGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5 + HRM-RUN, Spartan Wrist HR, FR735XT no HRMAnalyze
Mar 20thRunningGPS/HRFenix 5, Spartan Wrist HR, Fenix 3 with HRM-RUNAnalyze
Mar 19thCycling (Easy)GPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Spartan Wrist HR, Edge 1000 with TICKR-XAnalyze
Mar 12-18thSkiingGPS/HRFR935Single device only
Mar 8thCyclingGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Wahoo BOLT with TICKR HRAnalyze
Mar 7thOpenwater SwimGPSFR935, Fenix 5, Fenix 3 on Swim Buoy (Reference)Analyze
Mar 4thRunningGPS/HRFR935, Fenix 5, Suunto Spartan Ultra, Fenix 3 with HRM-TRIAnalyze

All of the above link to the DCR Analyzer data, which you can then dig into the individual activities in more detail if you’d like.  Further, you can download the original data at the bottom of each page.

Connect IQ & 3rd Parties:

Garmin-ConnectIQ-TrainingPeaksApp

Like almost every wearable Garmin has made in the last few years, the Forerunner 935 includes support for Garmin Connect IQ, which is Garmin’s app platform that 3rd party apps can take advantage of.  Said platform has thousands of apps covering all sorts of things from Uber to watch faces to specialized apps for very specific race scenarios.  Basically, it allows companies or hobbyists to not only integrate with 3rd party services, but also to bridge the gap where the base device may be missing a feature.

The FR935 includes the same support for Connect IQ version 2.2.3+, which is the latest version of Connect IQ.  That will enable it to support newer apps over the next while.  This includes 2MB for apps, or up to 32 individual apps – whatever you reach first.  Additionally, it also has 64 color support, also the same as the Fenix 5 and Chronos series.

In the case of 3rd party support, you’ll see both apps that can be downloaded – as well as some that are actually pre-installed.  For example, TrainingPeaks is now preinstalled as an app – which offers the ability for you to iterate through structured workouts directly from their platform.

In addition, you’ll see other pre-loaded apps like Strava Segments, which allows you to race Strava Segments in real-time.  That works identically to how the FR735XT works, which I covered in this video.

Those Strava Segments are downloaded automatically to your FR935 based on Garmin’s connection to Strava behind the scenes.  The watch will then give you updates for how you’re competing against the leaderboard in real-time as you race the segment (running or cycling):

DSC_9079

Afterwards, it’ll update accordingly on the Strava site (once you upload your activity upon ending it).  Again, nothing super new here when it comes to these features.

In many ways, what’s most notable is beneath the covers and came in the form of updates last fall during the ANT+ Symposium.  These updates have given app developers far more connectivity to the watch.  For example, the Training Peaks integration isn’t some sort of special secret back door between the two companies.  Rather, it’s just TrainingPeaks leveraging the new capability to hand-off files (workouts) to the watch via your smartphone connection.  It’s the exact same functionality that Xert uses on the Garmin Edge lineup.  The only difference? Garmin simply placed the TrainingPeaks app on your FR935 by default.  Just one file placed there, that’s it.  For everyone else – you can simply go to the Garmin Connect IQ app store and download it for free.

Still – all of these apps are cool. Be it ones that Garmin is highlighting as part of partnerships, or smaller apps from hobbyist developers that you’ve never heard of.  In fact, sometimes the smaller ones are the coolest ones.

Sensor Support (ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart):

Garmin-FR935-Sensor-Support

The Fenix 5 series was the first Garmin unit to not only support a slew of ANT+ sensors, but also now supports Bluetooth Smart sensors.  The Garmin FR935 then followed along in those same footsteps.  Previously Garmin would only utilize the Bluetooth side of the house for connecting to your phone via Bluetooth Smart.  Now however, you can connect to both ANT+ and Bluetooth Smart sensors, assuming both follow published standards.

At present, the FR935 supports the following sensor types:

ANT+ External Heart Rate Sensor
ANT+ Cycling Power Meter
ANT+ Cycling Speed-only, Cadence-only, and Speed/Cadence Combo Sensors
ANT+ Running Footpod
ANT+ Gear Shifting Profile (SRAM RED eTAP/Campagnolo EPS)
ANT+ External Temperature Sensors (Tempe)
ANT+ Lighting Systems (Garmin Varia/Bontrager lights)
ANT+ Radar Systems (Garmin Varia Radar)
ANT+ Remote Display (Varia Vision heads up display)
ANT+ Muscle Oxygenation Sensor (i.e. Moxy/BSX)
ANT Shimano Di2 Gear Shifting Profile
ANT Garmin VIRB Action Camera Control
ANT Garmin RD (Running Dynamics) pod
Bluetooth Smart External Heart Rate Sensor
Bluetooth Smart Cycling Speed-only, Cadence-only, and Speed/Cadence Combo Sensors
Bluetooth Smart Cycling Power Meters
Bluetooth Smart Running Footpods

Phew! Lots of sensor types!

Now, the most important wording I noted above was ‘follow published standards’.  On the ANT+ side, this means either following specific adopted ANT+ profiles (i.e. the heart rate sensor or gear shifting profile), or in a few limited cases, following company-specific standards.  For example, Shimano Di2 doesn’t technically follow the ANT+ gear shifting standard, rather, they’ve done their own thing.  But they were the first to do that thing, so everyone supports it anyway.

Where things get messy is private/extended variants of standards, especially on the Bluetooth Smart side.  For example – running dynamics.  There is no standard on either ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart for running dynamics type data (i.e. vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc…).  Instead, Garmin uses private-ANT (just like Shimano does for Di2).  And other companies like Wahoo with the TICKR series use private methods over Bluetooth Smart.  Though, these aren’t compatible.  Meaning that you’ll get base heart rate data – but you won’t get any running dynamics stuff when using a non-Garmin strap.  Maybe some day, but today is not that day.

The same is true of offline data, meaning the ability for a heart rate strap to cache/save data when not connected to a watch.  Garmin uses this with the HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM heart rate straps to save data while you swim, because it can’t send that data to the watch through the water.  When connected again, Garmin uses the standard ANT+ ANTfs offloading capability to allow a watch to download that data.  This is a published standard (and has been for more than half a decade).

However, others don’t follow this standard, and there is no equivalent published standard for offloading fitness data on Bluetooth Smart.  Thus other companies do it differently.  For example, both Polar’s new H10 and Wahoo’s TICKR-X can save data offline, as can Stryd, Suunto and 4iiii heart rate straps.  But none do so the same way on Bluetooth Smart, let alone utilize the ANT+ ANTfs standard for offloading.

Said more simply: You’ll need a Garmin HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM strap to download data.  And you’ll need either a Garmin HRM-TRI/HRM-RUN/RD Pod to get running dynamics.

Garmin-FR935-RD-Pod

Note that I’ve included a full review of the RD Pod here in this postc.

Of course, folks could pressure both sides of the equation to support other standards.  For example, folks could pressure Garmin to open up Running Dynamics to be an ANT+ standard for a variety of efficiency metrics (nobody has tried harder to pressure them to do so than I).  And inversely, folks could pressure companies like Wahoo and 4iiii to support ANTfs offloading of data from the strap for offline access.

Finally – some might wonder if you can use Polar’s H7/H10 and other like straps that transmit heart rate signals underwater live, to do so to the FR935 (underwater).  The answer is no.  That’s because while underwater the Polar device doesn’t use Bluetooth Smart to connect to these straps, but rather an analog frequency (the same one used for gym treadmills and such), which Garmin doesn’t support.

Here’s a simplified FAQ section, since I’ve seen about 1,291 questions about this:

Will the FR935 support running dynamics from my Wahoo TICKR strap?

No, see above for details.  It will read the heart rate data just fine.

Will the Garmin FR935 connect to my PowerTap P1 pedals via Bluetooth Smart?

Yes, they can. You’ll connect both sides (Left/Right) and the Garmin will properly track left/right balance.  However, because there is no standard for Torque Efficiency and Pedal Smoothness on Bluetooth Smart, you won’t get those unless you connect via ANT+.  The general guidance of *every* power meter company I talk to in the industry is given the option to connect your power meter over ANT+ or Bluetooth Smart, always choose ANT+.

Will my power meter work flawlessly over Bluetooth Smart?

I’m just gonna be straight about this now: This will continue to be a mess.  Garmin has done a pretty good job in getting compatibility working for the dozen+ ways that power meter companies have adopted the Bluetooth Smart standards in power meters.  In the few BLE power meters I’ve tested, they’ve worked.  But I haven’t tested every firmware version of every unit out there – and I can guarantee some don’t work.  It sucks.  A lot.  Garmin isn’t the only one shaking their head.  Everyone is.  Different companies handle it differently.  Suunto has tried as well to just ‘make it work’ as quickly as possible, while Polar seems to drag its heels on making things work.  Everyone I talk to in the industry here about this topic truly sighs and puts their head in their hands in frustration.

Who to blame is a mixed bag, but either way, the consumer is left holding said bag.  The good news is that every power meter out there except the Polar power meters support dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, so just use ANT+ and don’t worry about it.

Will the FR935 connect to my Polar strap underwater?

No, said Polar strap uses analog signals to broadcast underwater.  Garmin doesn’t have that hardware in the Forerunner series to connect to that.

Does this mean the end of ANT+?

Not likely.  I do think it applies pressure to ANT+ though to maintain relevance, but I think they can do that through things like standardizing running metrics and stuff – thus encouraging companies to utilize the platform. But until the day comes where I can look back on the preceding 6-12 months and say that every Bluetooth Smart power meter (or cycling sensor) has worked flawlessly with every head unit (from a connection standpoint), then ANT+ will likely continue to do quite well.

Can I connect multiple Bluetooth Smart sensors?

Yes and no.  You can connect multiple sensors to an FR935 – no issues there.  However, you cannot connect multiple devices to a single Bluetooth Smart sensor.  So if you’re connected to your Bluetooth Smart heart rate strap with the Zwift app (on your phone), then the FR935 will be unable to connect to it as well.  That’s because Bluetooth Smart at this time cannot accept multiple master device connections.

Bluetooth 5.0 does resolve this (upcoming), but so did Bluetooth 4.1 – and nobody has adopted either from a sensor standpoint in the sports industry yet.  ANT+ does not have these limitations, a key reason it’s used in gym/coaching scenarios today.

Bugs & Quirks:

I often include a section in my review about specific bugs and quirks seen in the product.  From a software development standpoint, there’s often a fine line between a bug that needs fixing – and what the software industry calls ‘by design’.  Meaning it’s not technically a bug, but rather something that’s designed that way (however sucky that might be).  In my case, I’m going to call those ‘quirks’.

In general, I’m drawing the line that I’m only going to cover bugs seen in the final production version of things.  After all – that’s somewhat the point of beta – to rid itself of bugs.  I have however been tracking bugs I saw during beta, and specifically validating those have been fixed in the production version.

Also, note that I’m specifically looking at issues *I’ve encountered* during swim/bike/run/ski/hike/daily use/etc…  This isn’t designed to be the end-all-be-all of bugs that may exist in the product.

What’s interesting here though is that with the mostly shared code based on the Fenix side, bugs I’ve been finding have been taken care of there first.  Plus any bugs I’ve found on the FR935 they’ve resolved within a few days.  So my ‘bug list’ if you will is incredibly small, nitpicking items at best. For example one of the last sport type widgets doesn’t quite seem to be pulling the correct workout type by default (but can easily be changed), but even that’s only something I happened to notice because I was taking a bunch of photos for this review this weekend.

If there’s anything that falls into this category, it’d be that optical HR sensor accuracy while cycling certainly leaves something to be desired.  A complaint I echoed in my Fenix 5 in-depth review.

As with all companies, it’s not so much having bugs in a product that’s concerning (as every company/product has bugs) – but rather, it’s how quickly a company responds to unexpected bugs.  Both in terms of initial triage via support channels, as well as then, of course, issuing a fix in short shorter via updated firmware.  Generally speaking Garmin is pretty good about earlier issues in new products, usually fixing most oddities pretty quickly in the first few weeks/months.  Given that the codebase is shared with the Fenix 5 series, that helps in having a broader number of people and getting updates out quicker.

Product Comparison Tool:

I’ve added the Garmin FR935 into the product comparison tool, allowing you to compare it against numerous other products I’ve reviewed and/or hands-on time with.  For the purposes of the below chart, I’ve placed it against the Fenix 5 and Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR.  But you can easily mix and match to compare it against any products in the database, here at the product comparison tool.

Function/FeatureGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Copyright DC Rainmaker - Updated September 12th, 2021 @ 3:29 pm New Window
Price$499$599$499
Product Announcement DateMar 29th, 2017Jan 4th, 2017Jan 4th, 2017
Actual Availability/Shipping DateMar 29th, 2017March 2017Mar 31st, 2017
GPS Recording FunctionalityYesYesYes
Data TransferUSB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFiUSB/Bluetooth Smart/WiFi (Sapphire only)USB & Bluetooth Smart
WaterproofingYes - 50mYes - 100mYes - 100m
Battery Life (GPS)Up to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 50hrs in UltraTrac GPSUp to 24hrs in GPS-on, up to 75hrs in UltraTrac GPSUp to 50 hours
Recording Interval1S or Smart1S or SmartVariable
AlertsVibrate/Sound/VisualVibrate/Sound/VisualSound/Visual/Vibrate
Backlight GreatnessGreatGreatGreat
Ability to download custom apps to unit/deviceYesYEsNo
Acts as daily activity monitor (steps, etc...)YesYesSteps only (not distance/sleep)
MusicGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Can control phone musicYEsYesNo
Has music storage and playbackNoNoNo
Streaming ServicesNoNo
PaymentsGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Contactless-NFC PaymentsNoNo
ConnectivityGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Bluetooth Smart to Phone UploadingYEsYesYes
Phone Notifications to unit (i.e. texts/calls/etc...)YesYesYes
Live Tracking (streaming location to website)YesYesNo
Group trackingYesYesNo
Emergency/SOS Message Notification (from watch to contacts)NoNoNo
Built-in cellular chip (no phone required)NoNoNo
CyclingGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Designed for cyclingYesYesYes
Power Meter CapableYEsYesYes
Power Meter Configuration/Calibration OptionsYesYesYes
Power Meter TSS/NP/IFYEsYesNo
Speed/Cadence Sensor CapableYEsYesYes
Strava segments live on deviceYesYesNo
Crash detectionNoNoNo
RunningGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Designed for runningYesYesYes
Footpod Capable (For treadmills)YEsYesYes
Running Dynamics (vertical oscillation, ground contact time, etc...)WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR)WITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (NOT VIA OPTICAL HR)No
Running PowerWITH RD POD, HRM-TRI OR HRM-RUN (or 3rd party Stryd/RunScribe)With extra sensor
VO2Max EstimationYesYEsYes
Race PredictorYesYesNo
Recovery AdvisorYEsYesYes
Run/Walk ModeYesYesNo
SwimmingGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Designed for swimmingYEsYesYes
Openwater swimming modeYesYEsYes
Lap/Indoor Distance TrackingYesYesYes
Record HR underwaterWITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR)WITH HRM-TRI/HRM-SWIM (Not with optical HR)Yes
Openwater Metrics (Stroke/etc.)YesYesYes
Indoor Metrics (Stroke/etc.)YesYEsYes
Indoor Drill ModeYesYesNo
Indoor auto-pause featureNo (it'll show rest time afterwards though)No (it'll show rest time afterwards though)No
Change pool sizeYEsYEsYes
Indoor Min/Max Pool Lengths14M/15Y TO 150Y/M14M/15Y TO 150Y/M15m/y to 1,200m/y
Ability to customize data fieldsYesYesYes
Captures per length data - indoorsYesYesYes
Indoor AlertsYesYesNo
TriathlonGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Designed for triathlonYesYesYes
Multisport modeYesYesYes
WorkoutsGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Create/Follow custom workoutsYesYesNo
On-unit interval FeatureYEsYEsYes
Training Calendar FunctionalityYesYesYes
FunctionsGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Auto Start/StopYEsYesYes
Virtual Partner FeatureYEsYEsNo
Virtual Racer FeatureYesYesNo
Records PR's - Personal Records (diff than history)YEsYesNo
Tidal Tables (Tide Information)NoNoNo
Weather Display (live data)YesYesno
NavigateGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Follow GPS Track (Courses/Waypoints)YesYEsYes
Markers/Waypoint DirectionYEsYesYes
Routable/Visual Maps (like car GPS)NoYes (5X Only)No
Back to startYesYesYes
Impromptu Round Trip Route CreationNoYes (5X Only)No
Download courses/routes from phone to unitYesYesYes
SensorsGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Altimeter TypeBarometricBarometricGPS
Compass TypeMagneticMagneticMagnetic
Optical Heart Rate Sensor internallyYesYesYes
SpO2 (aka Pulse Oximetry)NoNo
Heart Rate Strap CompatibleYesYesYes
ANT+ Heart Rate Strap CapableYesYesNo
ANT+ Speed/Cadence CapableYesYesNo
ANT+ Footpod CapableYesYesNo
ANT+ Power Meter CapableYesYesno
ANT+ Lighting ControlYesYesNo
ANT+ Bike Radar IntegrationYesYesNo
ANT+ Trainer Control (FE-C)NoNoNo
ANT+ Remote ControlNo (can control VIRB though)No (can control VIRB though)No
ANT+ eBike CompatibilityNoNoNo
ANT+ Gear Shifting (i.e. SRAM ETAP)YEsYesNo
Shimano Di2 ShiftingYEsYesNo
Bluetooth Smart HR Strap CapableYesYesYes
Bluetooth Smart Speed/Cadence CapableYEsYesYes
Bluetooth Smart Footpod CapableYEsYesYes (+ Stryd Running Power Meter)
Bluetooth Smart Power Meter CapableYEsYEsYes
Temp Recording (internal sensor)YEsYesYes
Temp Recording (external sensor)YesYesNo
SoftwareGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
PC ApplicationGarmin ExpressGarmin ExpressPC/Mac
Web ApplicationGarmin ConnectGarmin ConnectSuunto Movescount
Phone AppiOS/Android/Windows PhoneiOS/Android/Windows PhoneiOS/Android
Ability to Export SettingsNoNoNo
PurchaseGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
AmazonLinkLinkLink
Backcountry.comLink
Competitive CyclistLink
DCRainmakerGarmin Forerunner 935Garmin Fenix 5 (5/5S/5X)Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist HR
Review LinkLinkLinkLink

Again – remember you can make your own comparisons using the comparison tool here.

Summary:

Garmin-FR935-Constant-HR

The FR935 is a very solid and capable product – and one that builds nicely on last year’s FR735XT, while offering a slightly lower priced option compared to the more fashion-focused Fenix 5 series.  The tech and features inside it work just as well as the Fenix 5.  And while the benefits are minimal over recent products, they are more substantial when comparing it against older watches like the FR920 or much older FR910XT, 310XT, and so on.

But I suspect there will (probably rightly), be some disappointed people with one area: The size/form factor.  Specifically that for triathletes, many have actually enjoyed the larger/rectangular display seen on the FR920XT and the umpteen generations before it.  On the flip-side, runners will likely be happy since they’ve now got an upgrade option for those that want all the fancy features in a slimmer running focused unit.

The benefit though to Garmin’s consolidation on watch formats (i.e making it round) is that they’re also consolidating on code bases.  That has a very real-world impact to stability of the product.  The fact that this product will be available immediately, and likely with few visible bugs is a testament to the software being the Fenix 5 codebase that’s been used for many months by hundreds of testers.  It also means that going forward, it won’t end up an orphaned product since it’s tied like a conjoined twin to the hip of the juggernaut in Garmin that is the Fenix product lineup.  Sometimes there’s safety in numbers.

If you’re looking for a great little triathlon watch that has all the features of the Fenix 5 without the price tag of it – then the FR935 is a very solid option.  Especially since it ships starting…today. Just in time for the season.

Found This Post Useful? Support The Site!

Hopefully you found this review useful. At the end of the day, I’m an athlete just like you looking for the most detail possible on a new purchase – so my review is written from the standpoint of how I used the device. The reviews generally take a lot of hours to put together, so it’s a fair bit of work (and labor of love). As you probably noticed by looking below, I also take time to answer all the questions posted in the comments – and there’s quite a bit of detail in there as well.

If you're shopping for the Garmin Forerunner 935 or any other accessory items, please consider using the affiliate links below! As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, but your purchases help support this website a lot. Even more, if you shop with TPC (The Pro's Closet), you'll save $40 on purchases over $200 with coupon code DCRAIN40! The Pro's Closet has been a long-time partner of the site here - including sponsoring videos like my cargo bike race, as well as just being an awesome Colorado-based company full of good humans. Check them out with the links below and the DCRAIN40 coupon!

Here's a few other variants or sibling products that are worth considering:

And finally, here’s a handy list of accessories that work well with this unit (and some that I showed in the review). Given the unit pairs with ANT+ & Bluetooth Smart sensors, you can use just about anything though.

This is a dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart cycling cadence sensor that you strap to your crank arm, but also does dual Bluetooth Smart, so you can pair it both to Zwift and another Bluetooth Smart app at once if you want.

This is one of the top straps I use daily for accuracy comparisons (the others being the Polar H9/H10). It's dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, and in fact dual-Bluetooth Smart too, in case you need multiple connectons.

Seriously, this will change your life. $9 for a two-pack of these puck Garmin chargers that stay put and stay connected. One for the office, one for your bedside, another for your bag, and one for your dog's house. Just in case.

This speed sensor is unique in that it can record offline (sans-watch), making it perfect for a commuter bike quietly recording your rides. But it's also a standard ANT+/BLE sensor that pairs to your device. It's become my go-to speed sensor.

This wifi-connected scale will track your weight and related metrics both on the scale display and in Garmin Connect (plus 3rd party apps like TrainingPeaks). It'll also then sync your weight to your watch/bike computer, to ensure accurate calorie data.

The HRM-PRO Plus is Garmin's top-end chest strap. It transmits dual ANT+/Bluetooth Smart, but also transmits Running Dynamics & Running Pace/Distance metrics, stores HR data during a swim, and can be used without a watch for other sports. Also, it can transmit XC Skiing Dynamics as well.

And of course – you can always sign-up to be a DCR Supporter! That gets you an ad-free DCR, access to the DCR Quarantine Corner video series packed with behind the scenes tidbits...and it also makes you awesome. And being awesome is what it’s all about!

Thanks for reading! And as always, feel free to post comments or questions in the comments section below, I’ll be happy to try and answer them as quickly as possible. And lastly, if you felt this review was useful – I always appreciate feedback in the comments below. Thanks!

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1,772 Comments

  1. Timothy Coyle

    Ray-

    In your opinion is the tri bundle worth the extra $$$ given the cost of the base watch?

    Tim

  2. Derek C

    So, as someone who purchased one of the first 935 retail watches:

    There are issues with this. Forgetting firmware and software issues, the main issues seem to be:

    This watch cannot handle swimming long-term. Indoor pools seem to kill the barometer/altimeter over time. As you can see from the comments here and on the garmin forums many people have had their alimeter die if they regularly swim.

    In addition the OHR optical heart rate sensor epoxy housing seems to crack over time, with what look like small scratches all over it. Again, I think this is linked to contact with swimming pool water and change of temperature, such as moving from a cold pool to a hot pool shower.

    I don’t think Garmin have fixed these, as even people who have had replacements are experiencing this issue repeatedly, suggesting the best way to deal with this is NOT to swim with them or use them in water/shower. I agree this seems crazy for an expensive traithlon watch, but I can’t see any other solution

    🙁

    • Richard

      As someone who has never swam with my 935 the barometer/altimeter has still broken. Garmin said its a software issue and won’t provide an answer as to how it can be fixed. I’m now a happy Suunto customer.

    • Janet

      Please add me to the stats of people with this issue. My issue first started with the 910XT when I realized that my elevation no longer worked. Fast forward to this past March when I got my first 935. It was broken by June. Sent back, received a brand new watch…broken by September. At this point I don’t want to play the game of buying a new watch and sending the broken one back over and over again. Now that I’ve had 3 watches break with the exact same issue across 2 different models, it’s certainly a problem Garmin hasn’t solved. I swim 3 times a week and figure that’s probably setting it off. Most of all I am very frustrated that the elevation information is useless. Coming here reassures me that it’s a common issue. Now the question I’d really like answered – is Polar, Suunto, or Coros a better option? I’m curious to find someone who has made the switch successfully. I’m fed up.

    • Tony

      Same here Janet – have got a replacement but based on Garmin forum and here I’m waiting for mine to fail.

      I swim 3 days a week and us it for 3 runs a week as well, rinsed off with clean water after every activity

    • Fiona

      Out if interest which suunto did you get?

    • Henrick

      I’m a little blown away by this. Are you people saying that this is sold as a water proof watch, while it isn’t? Is the problem fixed as of today?

    • Scott

      No, no one said that it isn’t water proof.

    • Henrick

      No one said it directly. However; if the majority of the people experience a broken phone following regular swimming — how can one claim the phone to be water proof?

    • Scott

      No one said it indirectly either. Garmin made a statement that it is only a cosmetic issue. Also, the majority of people have not experienced problems. Lastly, this post is about a watch, not phones. I’m not sure what phone you are referring to.

    • Henrick

      I miswrote — of course I meant watches, not phones.
      People are complaining about broken watches after frequent swimming (I’m not, since I don’t have the watch nor a frequent swimmer).

      The fact that the majority of the people are not experiencing difficulties, does not say anything about what’s causing the issue. Neither does the statement about “cosmetic issues”. So what’s causing the “cosmetic issues”? I don’t even know what that means.

      For me, I don’t really care. I’m just looking at the facts, totally without conclusion.

      You should too.

  3. M surman

    Thanks 4 info

  4. Barret

    Which Suunto model? I can’t find an equivalent with quite as many features. Thanks.

  5. Carrera Torino

    I wish DCThunderstormaker would comment on these reports.

    My OHR sensor has been slightly cracked for some time and I only noticed when my barometer and altimeter stopped working recently. I only swim approx once a week so I am annoyed. Only had the watch six months.

    It’s all good recommending a warranty replacement but it is surely obvious to everyone that it just happens eventually if you swim infrequently with a TRIATHLON watch!!

    • I don’t really see it as a common issue. I’ve heard of it a couple times, but given the massive number of units shipped (my guess would be between 300,000 and 600,000), it’s just not a super common issue.

      Generally speaking when there’s cracking of anything, it’s usually one of three things:

      A) Manufacturing defect (random or systematic, this sounds pretty low though)
      B) Environmentally driven situation (i.e. exposed to something unique, perhaps a certain acidity, etc… that’s causing unusual wear)
      C) User error – simply put, dropping it and such

      I’m not saying anyone’s at fault, but just pointing out the three most common reasons things seem to break in the wearable world after doing this a decade or so. While I’ve got no doubt sensors can crack, it just doesn’t seem to be widespread.

    • Tina

      Hey DC!

      I ain’t so sure about that! I began seeing a flood of reports in the comments here and on the forums over at garmin 🙁 On my 3rd replacement watch now-I figured I got unlucky but seems it’s a inherent hardware issue for us who swim often! I would love to discover what messes up the temp sensor and barometer-my thoughts are they ain’t proper waterproof and are corroding after contact with pool water.
      If folks don’t swim they ain’t got the same problem.

    • Angus

      When I noticed cracks appearing on the optical heart rate sensor a web search sent me here. I described the issue to Garmin customer service and they replaced the watch under warranty. The number of comments seems to suggest a common issue.

      I guess I’m conflicted about Garmin products. I loved my 935 (and I’m sure I’ll love the replacement when it arrives). But this issue with the heart rate monitor, the battery/cover issues with the Vector 3, the button on the Edge 530’s… every product seems to have some issue that pops up after 6 months.

  6. Bob

    I had the cracked epoxy as well. I never once swam with the watch using it only for running. I was fortunate to have been able to swap the watch after 10 months for a brand new one. The OHR has been spotty at best. For months it will be mostly on for long steady runs but then would go off the rails with absurd readings. It also started to give bad readings after the run. The heart rate reading would remain high while taking it by hand would show 20-30 points lower. Usually, is would track heart rate very well just after the run.

    • Tina

      Hey Bob!
      Me too! I ain’t swam with my 3rd replacement but the OHR has went crazy again and temp and barometer giving crazy readings.

      For the OHR epoxy breaking I ain’t certain but could be laying it on the table at night can crack it on time, cause it vibrates with move alerts if it’s laid down all day on a hard surface. Barometer breaking, beats me. I figure it’s just water damage but for me this time I sure don’t know, as I ain’t swam!

  7. Carrera Torino

    Hi DCR. We have thunderstorms here, so in these parts you are known as this.

    I agree in principle, but the Garmin rep on the phone said they had replaced quite a lot because of the two main issues of altimeter and optical heart rate sensor minutely cracking in places, increasing as time passes. I guess you yourself rotate a lot of watches, being an athlete, but the level of issues seen here is really beginning to annoy me because it seems to be happening to some of us regularly with multiple replacements.

    I swim in a UK pool that is just a normal usual swimming pool. I don’t use hot water or showers with the watch yet they seem to eventually all go the same way. If you could possibly speak to Garmin about it next time you have contact I would appreciate it, because we all know Garmin make mistakes with design and feedback can improve it. For example in a 935 + or 945 next generation I hope they will provide a better barometer/altimeter (faulty design of which has been known for years with the Fenix range), protecting both the OHR from cracking and allowing the devices to be used swimming without eventually failing.

    To me it seems the swimming part is the most important: they eventually go crazy for regular swimmers. For me I only swim indoors 1 time in a week, so as much as it is regular swimming it’s not a lot of swimming.

    Best wishes and keep up the good work.

  8. Richard

    A couple of reports?

    There are 20 in your own comments section DCR, then loads more on
    link to forums.garmin.com

  9. Bret

    Is DC paid by Garmin?
    Either he’s in a different world or he’s truly unaware there’s a big problem with these watches. If I swim a lot I need a new one after a few months. Doesn’t make a difference if I wash the sensor hole out or just leave it be. I don’t think this is as rare as is being suggested.

    • Sorry Bret, but no, I’m not paid by Garmin.

      If it was happening every day to every person, it’s all you’d see on threads on triathlete focused sites like Slowtwitch. But it’s simply not.

      I don’t doubt it’s an issue here and there, but it’s not supper common. Without looking through the 20 apparent comments here, I don’t know how many are unique – but even assuming they are unique – that’s 20 out of 1,612 comments – or 1.2% (that’s well below typical consumer electronic failure rates over time, fwiw).

      I get it – it sucks when you’re on the wrong end of a broken issue. I’ve broken 3 Garmin Edge USB ports over the past year. But I also know that I virtually never hear of the issue – which tells me it’s something I’m doing that’s unique that’s causing that. And using the 20-comment number that was noted in the comments above, 1.2% of people (again, it’s way less than that because most people don’t post here unless they have questions or problems) – that’s no an epidemic.

    • Joel G Rivera-Gonzalez

      Ray. This might be a bigger problem that comments suggest. I’m on my 3rd watch. The first 2 had the exact same issue (barometer/altimeter died…and I swim 2 to 3 times a week). Just because people are not vocal about it on the product review page, doesn’t mean it’s not a huge problem…

    • Perhaps, but the numbers simply don’t support it. I tend to look at trends. For example, even assuming the 20 comments here were unique (which, they aren’t), that’s 1.2%.

      But if it were a ‘bigger problem’ or widespread, then the Garmin Forums would be all over it. But looking at the last 30 days of posts to the FR935 sub-forum on Garmin’s forums, there’s no active thread/post about cracked optical HR pods. Again, a month is a long-time. If it was super common, there’d be lots of discussion about it. Perhaps I missed it in looking at 10 pages of threads, but I don’t think so.

      There’s a single thread in that time period about a barometer dying with a two individuals and a bunch of discussion, but ultimately, just two people from earlier last month.

      My suspicion is that for those having it happen 2-3 times, there’s something unique in your environment/wearage/usage that’s causing that. Does that mean it’s your fault? No. Does that mean it’s Garmin’s fault? Probably. Does that mean it’s impacting everyone? Probably not either.

    • Lance

      I’m not so sure those stats are right…. I’m an actuary 😉

      If we can disregard general postings and concentrate on complaints/bug reports/failures and then analyze those, I think we would see quite a high number. For me if you do not use the barometric functions often you may not care a bunch about it drifting, but for me the drifting is the sign of soon-to-be failure if swimming is resumed. When I called Garmin I was told it was a faulty device, but from the garmin forums I don’t think it’s a faulty device, I think it’s a faulty design. If garmin come out and say “hey guys, my bad, we have redesigned the barometric seals, don’t worry” then I accept that. My concern is the design remains the same and another watch fails. From reading the forums and private messaging people I collated data that suggests any sort of swimming causes eventual failure. Don’t seem to matter when the person bought the watch, serial numbers are high and low.

      To the guy above, Bret, pretty obvious DC doesn’t work for Garmin…. but yeah I haven’t abused my watch and it’s broken two times, so on my third. If I could be bothered I would cover up the barometric hole with sellotape each time I swam as this would probably be a permanent fix.

    • Lance

      Clarification: I meant to say if you aren’t hiking or doing an activity, such as cycling, where the barometric elevation is important and something you would regularly glance at, then the user wouldn’t notice the signs of it gradually failing until it did eventually fail. I had to keep calibrating the altimeter every 10 minutes as it kept drifting when in good dry weather before a month later it RIP’d.

    • Scott

      This actually made me laugh! So, if we take away all the comments except for the negative ones, then we will have a higher percentage of negative complaints!? Lol!

    • Jonas De Man

      Had mine replaced yesterday by a brand new one in warranty, I’m not a swimmer, just running and mountainbiking.

    • Chris Brock

      Just adding my name to the list of runners (no swimming) that have dealt with the cracking on the OCR of the Garmin 935. Lovingly cared for two watches—same issue. I’m about to get my third replacement watch from Garmin and am seriously considering selling it and trying a different brand.

    • Gerard Thijssen

      Hello Ray, I am aslo one with a cracked 935 OHR sensor. It sucks.Especially since this happens after 12-18 months.
      Point is, that we can identify 2 facts: First, more people experience this, by now way more than the 20-30 comments you identified. Second, one can trace at least one cause of issue, namely air pockets in the sensor windows and expansions of the air, whether by temparture, or by airpressure,or by skin borne chemical traces.

      For me, this means a design/fabrication issue, which unfortunatly has taken several months to make itself visible to the end-users.
      Nevertheless, as garmin design-fabrication error. Erros happen, but still Garmin should take upon itself to assist all people that have this issue, whether it is the first or the 4th time this happens to somebody, whether this issues was found by end user within garantee timewindos or outside this window. The 1 or 2 year windows does not allow to see this issue, while the end-suer still has invested in garmin a lot of money.
      I would like to ask you to re-evaluate and assist all people that have this issue and bought through your recommendaitons a watch taht has design-fabrication issues, whether this effects ‘only1-2%’ or more, it is still a large absolute number.
      Please try to approach this as thorough as you do your reviews: find the facts and present these. for completeness, do not limit to 935, but also 945 and also include Suunto, Polar, etc.

      Just my 2 cts

      greetings
      Gerard

    • Just to be clear, you can find all my Polar reviews here: link to dcrainmaker.com

      And my Suunto reviews here: link to dcrainmaker.com

      I review/preview/etc all their products. There’s just a factual reality that Garmin typically releases 15-20 different fitness/outdoor/cycling products per year, whereas Polar and Suunto release 2-3 each per year. As such, there will simply be more Garmin reviews.

      I also get that it totally sucks to have a cracked sensor, and clearly there’s people having them. But I think Garmin has replaced them every time for folks (no pushback that I’ve seen). What’s unclear to me is what causes it. I suspect some portion are due to some manufacturing defect that doesn’t manifest itself for a really long time. Whereas I suspect some portion are simply due to people dropping a watch on a hard surface and eventually some hairline cracks develop into something more sinister, perhaps months later.

      For context on numbers, my bet is that Garmin has probably sold between 300,000 and 800,000 FR935’s (more likely in the upper end of that range).

    • Gerard

      Hello Ray,
      Thanks for your feedback on my message and sorry for not replying sooner due to my holidays.
      First of all, I may have been a bit to direct in my post, and apologize to you if my post has given offence. I value your reviews and openness very much, which is why I have bought the watch with Clever Training.

      My post reflects my feeling towards Garmin, which is very disappointing as they will not solve this issue for me. I am offered a refurb for 106 Euro, which is the same when I would have damaged the watch, which is clearly not the case here. I would have more understanding should Garmin indeed replace my failed watch. I guess Garmin feels I should give them even more money for a watch that may or may not crack again.

      My post also reflected a bit my not understanding. Not understanding, since you always dive deep and find the facts when something is not correct or failing. In this case, I perceived your feedback towards the cracked OHR as a ‘meeh, it is only 1,2% and a consumer product sometimes fails’, which is not what I would have expected.

      My post was a suggestion to you to use your expertise and find the facts, as indeed you do for all products and all brands.
      By now, we have seen several more feedback of cracked OHR, even on the 945.

      Gerard

    • Mark

      Garmin isn’t replacing mine (second one, and every precaution to limit chemical exposure possible) As per Garmins email today:

      “Thank you for contacting Outdoor Product Support. Since the epoxy coating covering the optical sensor is not vital to its performance, to have this layer peel away is only considered normal wear and tear to the watch. I can assure you, this will also not impact the water proofing of the watch.”

      This is a design issue and it’s affecting more watches than you think (for one I suspect most users don’t pay much attention to the sensor), this has happened to two 935s in my care and I am positive neither one was ever dropped or banged around.

  10. Steve

    I swim regularly and had mine replaced after the barometer failed in about 6 months.

    • Lance

      Hey Steve. When did you get the replacement? Is the new one holding up so far? Do you swim more than once in a week with the watch on?

    • Robin

      I don’t regularly swim with mine and I’ve had it 8 months. I do shower with it every day and I haven’t noticed an issue.

    • Steve

      It has only been a few months so far, but is working fine. The first one took more than 6 months to fail. I swim 3-5 times per week with the watch on as I use it to track my swimming. I’ve started to blow out the barometer hole after swimming and whenever I shower with it (which is only after a run to clean it up). The thinking is that hard water deposits/soap may have gotten in the hole. I also do not leave it on when using soap any more (which I did for the first watch). Not sure if this stuff will work, but I figure it is worth a try.

  11. Jonathan Sourkes

    Ray

    What are the odds of a 935 plus or 945 announcement in early 2019?

    • Joey

      I’m in the market for a new watch but am waiting because I’m really hoping that an updated version of the 935 could around the corner with music.

  12. Matt Atkinson

    Hey Love all you do does the 935 support Spotify do you know. Thanks.

  13. Michael Hodges

    My 935 is recording double the altitude gain that it should. I have done a few experiments where I rode with my EDGE and with other riders on the same route. My EDGE alt recording is roughly the same as the other riders in the group. However, the alt recorded on my 935 is double. So I have to go into Strava and correct the elevation each time. The nice people at GARMIN said I needed to re-calibrate – which I have done several times and the 935 records the correct alt gain for a few rides then goes back to recording double. Any ideas? thanks Mike

  14. Wilfred

    The altitude readings on my watch have gone completely crazy! 1500 meter on a 5000 meter flat run..
    Sending my watch back to have it repaired..

  15. Joey

    Surely Garmin is working on a new 935 Music. The 935 is almost the perfect watch for me. It’s just missing music. I don’t want to have to bring my phone along for music and really can’t justify the outrageous price of the Fenix 5 Plus. Has anyone heard any rumors?

  16. Rainer Egretzberger

    Hello,

    I just bought a Tacx Flux 2 and connected this trainer with my Forerunner 935 and my Edge 820. In both cases as a cadence/ speed sensor (and not as trainer on the Edge).

    The Edge works fine, but on the FR 935 I have countless speed drop outs. It’s like an on/off signal every half second.

    The strange thing is, that this happens also on the FR 935 of my girlfriend. And it’s also strange that both FR works without any problem if they are connected in the same way with my Tacx Neo.

    So it’s strange:
    – If the problem is the Tacx Flux 2  why it works fine with the Edge 820?
    – If the problem is the FR 935  why it works fine with the Tacx Neo?

    Has anybody an idea or had the same speed drop outs?

    Thanks Rainer

  17. Pete Marshall

    Adding to the list of others where I have also had barometer/altimeter issues, I am onto my 2nd replacement watch from Garmin now and I suspect these watches fail by design. Though I have a few friends who have these watches and no issues I have elevation issues with every activity I do. Mine under reads and often is reading something like -36 at sea level. This morning I was -86 at sea level. I use my watch for regular riding, running and swimming. 9 out of 10 open water swims the gps has massive issues recording the correct route and activities over 4 hours the GPS often has glitches, it may loose complete satellite connectivity for 5-10 minutes even with clear skies and and no mountains or trees around.

    Have tried all different settings, firmware versions, countless emails with Garmin support, I am ready to give up on this watch.

    My partner used to have a 235 and now has a 735, both these watches record activities far more accurately than my 935, I am thinking of ditching the 935 and going with the 735.

    I really wished the 935 just worked, it did what it is intended to do, I really want to like this watch.

    • Scott

      My experience with multiple GPS units is that if you are within 36 or 86 feet, you are doing pretty good. No altimeter is perfect.

  18. Darren Spicknell

    Did some searching but didn’t see anything quite like this.  Has anybody had a 935 suddenly have the OHR LED’s go on to EXTREME bright levels suddenly and stay on?  Did a hard reset.  Still won’t go back down to normal LED levels.  Battery life is now dropping 1% every 2-3 minutes.  Current software build.  

  19. John B

    Having a hard time finding a concrete answer to this, so I’m asking here:
    Will VO2 Max not calculate for treadmill runs, with or without the HRM-Tri/Run strap? I seem to only have VO2 Max values from my outdoor workouts (in this case, walking, as I don’t run outdoors in the winter). This seems to hold with what I’m seeing, but was hoping for clarification or a “yup, I’ve seen that before” answer.

    Thanks!

  20. robert day

    Can I use another brand of chest strap heart rate monitor to pair with my Garmin 935 or do I have to purchase a Garmin? I’d like to get HR data that can be stored from several runs rather than just one. Also, I’d like to get updated lactate threshold readings.

  21. Joe Smith

    How is this compare with Fenix 3?
    Is it right decision to upgrade from Fenix 3 to FR935?

  22. Chris

    Hi Robert,

    The 935 will work with any Bluetooth or Ant+ heart rate strap. I’m using an old Wahoo tickr run strap with my 935. For a strap that stores data, I think you’d have to go Garmin HRM Tri, since I don’t believe that the hrm run stores runs.

    Regards,

    Chris,

  23. Sebastien SPIESER

    Hello,
    It not clear for me: can I display both and at the same time, left and right instant power from left/right powermeter?

    thx,
    S

  24. Su-Chong Lim

    Not everyone seems to be as annoyed as I am by the difficulty of reading the data on an exercise watch because of the oblique viewing angle caused by the angle of the wrist when held in your line of sight during running. But enough people are sufficiently annoyed to be driven to purchase devices like the Edgegear Shift watch strap that Nathan referenced (#1534). I bought one myself, but while it works nicely during running, when worn swimming it allows the watch edge to be caught by the flowing water and tends to flip the watch edge up. Also, it can’t be worn while running with mitts or gloves.

    I had been working on fabricating a plastic or maybe alloy device that straps to the the watch lugs and also offers another pair of lugs to attach the straps with an angle rotation offset so that you can strap the watch to your wrist as usual but the watch is rotated 45 degrees from its usual 90 degree angle so you can read it easily.

    But it occurred to me, could you not do a software work-around and have the display fields showing the data with digital display aligned at a 45 degree angle compared to the original format? I’m not a software or LED display expert, so I would have no idea if there is a good technical reason why this has not been done before. If it could be done it would work really well on a round watch, rather than on the prior rectangular 910xt and 920xt models.

  25. Erin

    Just purchased the 935 with the understanding that it would connect to Bluetooth smart sensors. I have the TomTom Speed & Cadence Bluetooth smart sensors and CANNOT get it to work. It says it’s connected on my watch, but no data is read to the watch. Help!

  26. Andrew

    Lets add another to the OHR cracking situation.
    Just noticed mine has cracked in the last month or so, and I’ve only ever swum with it 4-5 times, and not at all in the last eight months. Have contacted Garmin support to see what they can do.

  27. Nick

    I’m going on my third for a cracked OHR. The last one was only 2months old. It didn’t see any bug spray or sunscreen since it was in the winter nor did I go swimming with it. I would guess it’s a thermal issue as my first one went in the winter time as well.

    • Andrew

      I’m in the middle of summer here in Australia, the watch hasn’t seen <10 degrees in a looooong time. Still waiting for Garmin Aus to reply, emailed them 5 days ago…

    • Steve

      Hi Andrew, they won’t reply. I had to call them to get any action. Once I did Garmin Australia did replace my 935 due to the failed altimeter.

    • Paul Voorend

      Yip I’ve only had action from them once I’ve rung them (Garmin Australia / NZ)… they aren’t the most responsive of companies but I haven’t had any bad experiences.

    • Duncan Tindall

      Hmm, I’ve just seen mine is cracked. Still seems to be working fine. I’m in NZ and so it’s not seen cold for a long time. I do wear 24×7 and swim in pool 3-4 times a week, open water couple of times a week. Wouldn’t have got lots of sun block on it as I tended to spray over the watch, but on the odd occasion I can’t rule out some getting on it. So does that mean they won’t cover the replacement? Seems somewhat perverse that of all the things you can’t do with a fitness watch then wear sunblock and go swimming is on the list.

      NZ based FWIW, and based on previous experience I’m not looking forward to being without my watch for a month whilst it goes back to AUS….

  28. David

    Er I actually agree with Lance.

    People buy a product and after 3 days comment how amazing it is. Reality is you need many long term reviews in order to judge a product. Seems to me the 935’s can’t cope with regular swimming or the altimeter and HR plastic circle cracks, perhaps due to temperature changes. It certainly figures and makes good sense that this could be the reason.

    Too many illogical posts on this forum. I treat my gear with kid gloves and I’m on my fourth 935. Given my use of running, cycling and swimming I guess the swimming is killing them. Plenty of pics of rear HR cracks too. Cools it be leaving the watch overnight on a hard surface could damage the rear HR LED plastic cover when it vibrates hard, such as during regular move alerts? Sounds plausible.

    • Duncan Tindall

      Re the cracking from standing – impossible. Or at least mine has cracked and in the year and 3 months I’ve had it then the back has never touched a hard surface. Only time it comes off my wrist is to charge when it is then either on it’s side or supported by the charge cable.

  29. kamil

    Hi,

    I cannot calibrate my DZero power meter via BLE using FR935. It shows calibration error:0. It works just via ANT+. Is it so, that you can calibrate Quarq Dzero via BLE only by using phone app.?
    1
    many thanks

  30. Jorge

    Hi, have you heard anything new from the Forerunner 945? There are already first pictures on the internet. I’m looking forward to your first review. 😉 Thanks

    • Paul Voorend

      Pretty certain DCR wouldn’t admit to anything, never has in the past and then just surprised us with a post about a “First up review” for a device he’s had for a month already haha. He needs to have had the device for long enough to warrant enough testing

    • Ben

      If he as a unit to review he’s almost certainly under NDA until the release date, which is why we don’t hear anything until the post appears. He’s not legally allowed to comment!

  31. Christos

    I swim 3 – 4 times a week in a swimming pool and temperature/altimeter/barometer suddenly died.
    As I read, it’s a very common problem and I am very disappointed because I paid a lot of money for a faulty product.

  32. John Kissane

    Amazon are listing it for release on April 30th – link to amazon.com

  33. Beth

    I recently upgraded from the 410 to 935, as I began training for a Tri. At first I did a side-by-side comparison. I had to wear two Heart Rate straps to do this because the 935 would not recognize my original soft strap that still works great with the 410. The new HRM-Swim can be uncomfortable sometimes. I found the GPS, speed, etc stats for running and cycling were the same.

    Then the Pool Swim…I have been using the Moov (about $50 Amazon) and really like their stat presentation and automatic accounting of rest periods. It correctly calculates the stroke type, turn time, etc. It’s HRM is stupid headband – so – pass. And no watch face – but it wasn’t designed for that…

    The Garmin consistently miscalculates and will randomly break a single lap into two if your watch arm varies mid-stroke, such as to make a very quick adjustment to your suit or goggles. And I mean “quick” so as to not pause in the rhythm of your lap. It also will report a Backstroke as a Freestyle, or vice-versa, mid-lap, and often clock that as another full 25 yard length in your interval.

    So now I wear BOTH, the 935 and the Moov, and keep an eye on the lengths tallied at the end of each “interval”. Then I do a manual check and make a note in the event title and Notes section. Yeah – I was gladly surprised to see stats recorded from my 410 going back to 2009 (yep!) so maybe I’ll want to walk down this memory lane in another decade.

    Remember – you MUST STOP the Garmin or it will continue add on laps – UNLESS as you finish the lap you grab that wall and do NOT MOVE during your “Rest” period. I just observed this as I went through my swim stats from two days ago = Garmin Connect swim intervals actually logged a time period called “REST”! In all my use during the past 2 months since I bought this, this is the first time I’ve seen that stat. “Don’t move that watch.”

    All that said, I used DC’s original review when I decided to splurge on the 935. I got it for the Swim capability, even though all the other features are nice and I do use most of them, they were secondary to my decision.

    Would I still buy the 935, even though my 410 still functions fabulously? I got it on a really good sale where it (barely) came within my discretionary budget. Otherwise, no, I would still be using the FR 410 and Moov exclusively.

    PS – I love the Moov for cadence on my stationary bike.

  34. Catalin

    Hello,

    Pff…After 1 year of usage my Forerunner 935 start to have the famous cracks on OHR sensor 🙁

    For sure is a bad quality of the material which is used to cover the sensor and too sensitive to thermal changes….
    I just comeback from a trip where it was like 35C and comeback home where it was like…10C

    Being contacted the support by phone…they recognized the issue, said that the watch will be exchanged but…no response to my emails from them…after 48 hrs.

    After using a Fenix 5S in the same conditions and without any issue I really really regret the decision to not buying a Fenix 5 Plus for example.

    I wanted something lighter…now I get a plastic toy with cracks!

  35. Steve

    Add another to the list of cracked/pitted OHR. Bought as a refurb. Pitting showed up about 6 months later. Don’t swim. Paddle in fresh and saltwater. Gets rinsed off everyday in the shower. I used a chest strap when accuracy is desired, i.e, paddling workouts but not for walks etc. It’s annoying to think that it will eventually fail completely due to water ingress.

    • Catalin

      I’ve got a replacement from Garmin support but is of course a refurbished one so I have now to use it in a responsable way like no swimm at all. Lucky me that remains 1 year warranty but they really screwed up with this OHR sensor.

      As Fenix 5x seems to have the same issue as well the possibility to have a running/swimming/bike watch become limited.

  36. Robin

    Just as a point of comparison, I’ve had mine for over a year now. Regularly swim, shower with it, and of course run. I ride with it too but I’m recording via my edge 520. I’ve never had any issues with my hr on my watch, or the optical sensor itself.

  37. Mark D

    I got a 935 shortly after they came out. It was replaced late last year due to a cracking OHR sensor. The replacement I’ve been CRAZY careful with. It’s never been in the shower, I don’t swim with it, and I don’t apply sunscreen near that part of my wrist (and up until this month probably didn’t wear any sunscreen). I wipe it down with tap water and a dry towel only. Now the second watch has started cracking. Garmin is telling me it’s a known issue, and wont affect the watch. The first part I believe, the second I’m not so sure about.

  38. Stewymee

    Another cracked OHR. Contacted Garmin Australia today who said it’s just a cosmetic issue and unless there are issues with the unit it’s not replaceable.

    • Catalin

      This is strange, you should got an replacement as most of us we received in Europe/USA.

      I think you should insist on this…

      Good luck!

    • Stuart

      A long story. Garmin agreed to replace it after sending photos of it and proof of purchase. But heres the kicker. They sent it out without contacting me to conform my details.They sent it to an old (5 years) address. When i contacted them they apologised and nitially said id have to wait for it to be returned before they could send out another one, which would be over 30 days. Anyway not being happy with that outcome i insisted on a better outcome. They eventually agreed and advised they would send another replacement out and i should get it within 3-5 business days. 5 days went by and I still hadn’t received the replacement, so I contacted them again. They again apologised and after doing some checks they advised that it hadn’t been sent out, but they would send it out today and i would get it by the end of the week. So the end of the week came and no watch. I contacted them and asked what was going on. Again!!! they apologised and after a 10min wait the said ‘technical’ hadn’t sent it out and it would be another 5-10 business days before I would get it. Not happy with that outcome i asked to speak to someone further up the food chain. After hanging on for another 10min they came back and said I could go an collect a new unit from a local sports store chain, however they didn’t have my yellow version in stock, so did I want a black version? No was my reply. In the end they agreed to refund me my money back. That too would take between 5-10 business days to clear. Disappointed with the whole process but now Im able to upgrade, buy another one or move back to the polar vantage v.

  39. Dquigs

    I can get this for exactly half the price of the 945

    Is the watch accurate for swimming ?

    Main reason of looking to change up from the 920xt is that it seems to be getting a mind of its own in swimming (both pool and OW) and run pace when using GPS

    Any reason’s i should go for the 945 and spend the additional 250

  40. DQuigs

    I can get the 935 for exactly half the price of the 945

    Main reason of looking to change up from the 920xt is that it seems to be getting a mind of its own in swimming (both pool and OW) and run pace when using GPS

    Any reason’s i should go for the 945 and spend the additional 250

    • Matt Holtwick

      What did you end up doing? I am also considering the 935 and also updating my HR strap from the old one to the HRM-Tri, but possibly spending more for the 945. However, I won’t use Garmin Pay, Music, or the Maps as I will always have my phone on me.

    • Catalin

      Don’t go for 945, it suffers from same OHR cracks issue as 935 – just check Garmin forums.

      Pretty disappointing…

  41. Sergio

    Another HR sensor cracked here, on my 2 years old FR935
    I have mixed feelings, The Garmin Lady was very helpful, she recognized they are having issues with the 935 HR sensor, but no so bad as in my watch
    She said they seen those issues in the last two months mostly, and since then they are working in a solution, and doing extra research
    She offered a refurbished one, I wonder if the refurbished one will have the same issue, and how they will react in 18 months if I call back, there will an almost 4 years since I purchase it, I don’t think they’ll do much about it…
    I work hard to earn the money to buy an extra expensive watch, I’m expecting the watch to last more than just a couple of years
    My FR305 on the other had is doing great, just the battery is staring to wear out

  42. Paul

    Greetings! I am writing to see if you can work a ‘Jedi mind trick’ the next time you talk with the folks at the Garmin mothership. I was attempting to create a Custom Activity and Garmin limits the number of activities to a max of 5 (transitions are not counted in the max of 5). I am racing an ‘Enduro Tri’ soon — it has R-S-B-R-S-B-R and wanted to capture the whole race as one workout. Not a big deal – love the watch regardless. But, seems rather arbitrary to limit a ‘Custom’ Activity to a certain number. Thanks!

  43. Daniel Rayn

    I believe the HR plastic surround cracking specifically above the HR sensors is related to the air-gap in those exact locations and temperature changes of the watch.

    In Australia there seem to be far less reports of the HR lens cracking, where in Europe it’s quite high. We have cold winters in Europe. I suspect the plastic contracts marginally and the only place it can therefore crack is where there is air for the plastic to minutely mold position – therefore it cracks around the HR LED sensors as the air gap is there.

    It’s just a guess. I am on my third 935 and this watch has been rarely used and never for swimming or worn in water or the shower, so I am quite disappointed it has broken again around the HR lens area. I can’t really believe it’s cracked, but I see the 945 is also affected, so I won’t be upgrading.

    I sort of miss my vivoactive original watch. No HR, but it did just seem to work before Garmin borked the firmware after version 5 or so!

  44. bob d

    I’m at my wits end with the heart rate monitor on this 935. At first, it seemed fine. Then I would get high readings for months. All of a sudden it would be back to giving me sensible readings.Now the readings are obviously too low. So now I want to get a separate HR monitor.

    I’ve read that the Garmin run no longer allows you to just replace the strap if it wears out. Or to just replace the monitor if it’s defective.Does anyone use a different heart rate monitor with it? If so, can you still get all the additional benefits such as a guided test for Lactate threshold numbers and HRV? Also, there’s a Garmin Connect ap that allows you to see two heart rate readings at the same time? Does the second device have to be a garmin strap?

  45. Eva

    Hello, I know that 935 is not meant for diving but can it withstand snorkelling 5-20 meters. I would appreciate some info (even better some first hand experience) on that.
    E

    • No issues there. Though, I’m not aware of many people that snorkel to 20-meters, unless you’re free-diving. 😉

    • Eva

      Haha fair point! I guess 10m should do. Although it’s good to know. Like if there is a REALLY nice shell on the bottom … My ears hate my fins already, don’t want a broken watch on top of it 😀 Thank you very much for your reply and help!!

    • Yeah, I did test it down to 50m in the waterproofing chamber once before.

  46. Gerard Thijssen

    Hi all,
    I am afraid I also have 935 with cracked OHR sensor.
    I wish it was just a scratch, it is not!

    This does seem like a design/fabrication issue that took some time to make itself visible.

    What is the general feedback by Garmin?
    I woould think they stand for their product and fix this for the consumers that have placed their trust (and euros!) into Garmin’s hands.

    Greetings

    Gerard

  47. Phil

    oh well, I am joining the HR Sensor cracked / alt-bar issue club seems like 🙁
    – never use sunscreen or lotions
    – NEVER dropped the watch
    – wearing it 7/7
    – laying side ways when charging
    – swim 5 times a week
    – take warm but not hot showers
    – run 3 times a week, spin or ride 3 times a week
    I guess I am doing everything wrong 🙂 using my triathlon watch as a .. triathlon watch …
    I guess if the integrity of the water resistance is intact, I don’t really care, I am out of warranty and not paying a cent for a replacement. I’ll buy the next gen 9×5 possibly skipping the 945
    over than that great watch and so so support, mostly b/c it’s next to impossible to get a hold of them
    also, DC, great stuff always. I would never buy a unit w/o reading your review first 🙂

  48. Anna

    Just discovered I too have a cracked heart rate sensor on my 935. I got the watch originally in fall 2018, then a month later had it replaced under warranty because the altimeter was broken (it was faulty right out of the box, I kept trying settings to fix it before having to admit it was borked). Got the replacement, no issues until this week. Probably 9 months of moderate triathlete type use (so swimming, biking, running, and using it basically continuously as a daily wear watch).

    It’s immensely frustrating to be replacing it again (fortunately still under warranty) but now knowing when the inevitable next problem comes up it probably will be out of warranty. For the price of these watches these types of things shouldn’t be happening!

  49. Jac

    Another cracked OHR – 3 months old 935. Suggested a friend in Aus check his 6 month old watch too – also cracked. Does it affect the HR readings – mine readings seem to have been wonky from near the start of using the 935.

  50. Charis

    Hi to the community. I want your opinion (all of you and of course our expert blogger). I will be short. I hike and trail running. As it seems, 935 is the best watch atm with barometric altimeter, gps, ohr, light, fast, with tips about your training, around 400 Euros. I will use it ONLY the hours of training, probably 1 or 2 hours the day, and of course longer hours the weekend. The only reason I haven’t bought it yet is the broken OHR issue you all talk about. With the use I describe above, you really think I should risk the buy? If not, what would you suggest me to buy?

    Thank you all for your interest.

  51. Bibliophole

    Add my name to the list of cracked sensors on my 6-month old 935. Usage has been to record heart rate while riding Peloton bike, record details about various hikes, and the rare mountain biking session. It’s never been dropped, never been in water (pool or shower), and stored on my wood night stand out of direct sunlight when not in use (it’s not my primary watch or daily driver). I have contacted Garmin about HR inaccuracy a couple of months ago, and they sent me a chest strap – I wonder if the sensor crack could have contributed to the crazy-low HR readings I was seeing…

    • Jac

      My second one just cracked (after less than a month). I just checked it because of low HR readings today. Cracked even worse than the first one Garmin replaced. It must be more than just cosmetic – I was also getting inaccurate readings with the first one once it cracked.

    • Brendan

      Same happened to my 935 unfortunately. I got mine in Feb 2018. Just noticed it, not sure how long it has been like that. Garmin is replacing for free, which is nice. Watch has just had normal use but has been exposed to sunscreen and cold weather.

  52. angelo

    As of September 2019 are you aware of any data field in ConnectIQ that could handle the running dynamics from Wahoo Tickr X?

  53. Kotie Erwee

    Can anyone confirm whether the software for the new VO2 max calculations and updated Race Predictions used on the 945 be implemented on the 935 as well? Currently those are two points swaying me on buying the 945 ilo the 935, but if they are also coming to the 935 I think I could rather go for the cheaper op the two. Thanks in advance for the response.

  54. Frank Young

    I have an 935 on software 14.10. I have two pair of Brooks Ghost 11 shoes each of which is equipped with its own Garmin foot pod. I use one pair exclusively for treadmill running. The footpod on that pair is calibrated at 103.7 and is set to speed Always and Distance Indoor. The outdoor pair is also set for speed always and distance indoors. It’s calibration is 110.0.

    Earlier today, I took my indoor shoes for an outside run. I did my favorite 10K. The reported distance was 6.79 miles (0.58 miles too far). After a 30 minute hold, Garmin support told me that the only way to get GPS distance outdoors was to disconnect the foot pod. I politely told him he was not correct and he disconnected me. Seems he favors the disconnection solution.

    Anybody have any insight into this? Four years ago, I fought the battle to get the Fenix 2 to be able to be set for footpod distance indoors only and they finally obliged. My 935—I thought—used to be able to do this trick. The settings are certainly still there.

    • Frank Young

      Update. The error was in my route—not the watch. Nonetheless, the Garmin support rep is still a rude numpty who does not know what he is talking about. Glad my watch is still working the way it should.

    • Scott

      I believe Ray mentioned in one of his posts that it is true that you cannot use GPS and a foot pod at the same time. It is one or the other.

  55. Sam

    I dont know what is up with this watch but this month my floors climbed has blown up! 20 floors climbed today and I never went up a single step (and I live in a flat area). I thought it was just me but my wifes Vivoactive3 is doing it too. Looking at my stats in Garmin Connect it was accurate up until the week of November 12th 2018 then it started getting more and more askew every week. This month it’s 180+ floors up per week with less than 100 down. I should be living on a space craft by now! I opened a ticket with Garmin but should probably just shut floors off because it’s not all that useful.

    • Sam

      Garmin’s official response is:

      “The following information and tips that may help with the issue:
      A significant change in weather such as a strong storm system or a strong high pressure system may trigger excessive credit while walking.
      Walking into a warm building on a cold day or even walking near exit doors when it is cold outside may trigger excessive credit.
      Walking outside on a windy day with the device exposed can cause an issue.

      Ensure the device is free of any dirt or debris. Give it a quick rinse and wipe it down. There are small holes generally found on the back or side of the device. If these holes are clogged it may interfere with the device’s ability to measure elevation correctly.”

      So I guess USING the watch makes it have issues with floors climbed. Add in the HR sensor cracks and it’s pretty good at telling time and smart notifications and not much else.

    • Chad H

      Hey Sam.

      Show me a recent garmin watch with barometer altimeter sensor and optical HR and I’ll show you cracked OHR eventually and a dodgy altimeter in time. It’s just the way they are.

      Advice: do a hard reset and downgrade your 935 to software 9.10 and GPS chipset version 4.40 – this solved some issues for me.

      I agree with you about the lack of OHR quality – it shouldn’t crack ever unless you drop it on the floor repeatedly. The altimeter sensors in garmin watches are garbage and eventually fail if you swim a lot. I don’t swim with mine and they seem to last a year before going crazy.

      I’ve had 4 935 warranty watches and the OHR keeps cracking, two altimeters failed. I’ll keep harassing them for replacements when the units fail and won’t buy a new garmin expensive watch again. Buying old units on ebay seems to be the solution , such as fenix3hr and accepting their limitations. Some guys posting here have more money than sense! Their 935 fails so they go buy the newest and greatest only for them to break eventually too.

      Sad times for garmin.

    • Chris Pap

      Greetings,

      I really wanted a 935 for the functionality but these quality issues hold me back. I hear the 945 seems to be suffering the same fate? What about the Fenix 5? Does it also have the same quality issues ?

      Regards,
      Chris.

    • Scott

      I really like my 935 and Fenix 5X Plus. I haven’t had any quality issues with either.

    • Rebecca

      All recent Garmin watches suffer from two main issues:

      1-optical HR cracks over time due to cold/hot contraction in normal temperature fluctuations
      2-Altimeter barometer temperature sensor (one sensor with 3 functions) fails if you swim regularly in fresh water or a swimming pool.

      Garmin are aware but don’t care. They try to blame the user, but you can see from an image search online of searching ebay for pictures of Fenix3HR, Fenix5, 935 and 945 that users who barely use the watches also experience these issues.

      If a user isn’t experiencing the issue right now they will eventually if they move to middle Europe and swim regularly. It’s a hardware design faults. You can get a warranty exchange repeatably like me but I regret buying a 935. The 935 is by far the best recent Garmin watch but it still suffers from the above two flaws.

      The Fenix5 entire range has a hardware design flaw in every watch that means even Stryd recommend against buying it: the ANT+BLE antenna isn’t capable of generating eand enough radio power and those who do connect to footpods, power-meters and the like will experience drop outs – there’s no cure.

      My advice to anybody now is to consider at length whether you want to repeatedly send back watches every 6 months or so for replacements due to incumbent design faults. It’s a lot of money to splash out and I’m on my fifth forerunner 935 with the OHR crack issue. I’ve been injured and have barely used it yet it has OHR cracks – go figure.

      I’m no Apple watch fan and don’t own one but apple product good quality kit. Garmin are stuck in the 1990’s with sub-standard design and manufacturing. Please explain to me why Vivoactive3, 4, Fenix range and forerunner range have OHR cracks in 2019 through bad design! It’s crazy. The fenix6 is new and therefore seems ok so far, but I strongly see no reason why we won’t see the same epidemic in a few months with this watch too.

      My advice? Get a second-hand 935 cheaply and be prepared to warranty replace it and force Garmin to replace it. If you already have a repeatedly broken watch then contact your creditcard company if you wish and perform a cashback chargeback to get your money back.

      There’s currently a class action lawsuit in the US against Garmin for these issues.

      Rebecca

    • Scott

      Rebecca, I am curious to know where you got your information. I did some research and find nothing about a class action lawsuit or even a proposal for such. Second, your claim that “All recent Garmin watches suffer from two main issues” is simply not true. Where did you hear that the problem of cracking 935’s is related to “cold/hot contraction in normal temperature fluctuations”? I would have to disagree that Garmin doesn’t care based on the fact that they are replacing consumers’ watches who complain about it, as they apparently have done for you as well. It is also not a true statement to say that ALL Fenix 5’s have trouble connecting with foot pods. Mine does just fine, every time. I haven’t heard of it being a wide spread problem. Finally, getting a second hand watch would be poor advice if what you said is true since the warranty applies to the original owner with a proof of purchase.

    • Fritz

      If these statements are true I am curious as to why my watch after 2 years/6 months with extensive use, almost daily, doesn’t have either of these problems. The only thing I rarely use it for is swimming so maybe that explains why I don’t have issue #2. I can imagine that the optical HR sensor would easily crack if the watch was dropped repeatedly or right on the sensor but cracking as a result of temp fluctuations seems odd.

    • Gerard

      Hello Scott,
      I am afraid it is not true that garmin replaces units with cracked OHR.
      My unit has a cracked OHR, and garmin in Netherlands refuses to replace this stating this is not design fault. Unit was little over a year old.

      Garmins service is not as good as we like to think or believe.

    • Scott

      Gerard, it is true that Garmin replaces watches with this problem. They have replaced a lot of them. Many people have talked about this on this blog as well as Garmin forums. Even Rebecca mentioned above that they have replaced hers several times. Unfortunately for you, you seem to be an exception for some reason. Maybe that is specific to your region?

    • Anthony R.

      Rebecca:

      I’ve had a Fenix 5 for years and have never encountered the issues you mention in your post. I’ve never had a problem connecting to a footpod, it has never cracked, and I have never had any dropouts – BLE or Ant+. I do pool swims at least three times a week and have had zero issues with the altimeter or barometer. I also have a Stryd, and when I spoke with a sales rep, he mentioned nothing about Garmin being subpar and definitely didn’t “slam” Garmin.

      I’m really not sure where you’re getting all your facts from, but you would think there would be widespread reports of all of these issues. I can’t find any…

      I live in the U.S. and there is no class action lawsuit against Garmin anywhere.

    • Andrew

      The Scotties of the world like to pretend that Garmin wearables are awesome, sad reality is that they are poor quality and even poorer value.
      Doesn’t stop the fan bois from buying them hoping they get the one that works properly.

    • Anthony R.

      So what you’re saying is essentially every product Garmin makes is pure crap, and those of us who prefer Garmin, we’re idiots?

      So how long have YOU been manufacturing sport watches? What’s your company name? Would love to see what products you offer? Or are you a mechanical or software engineering specializing in wearables?

      As a “fan boy”, I’ve had MULTIPLE Garmins and never had a problem. Never.

      So maybe you should stick with facts versus your own jaded and biased opinion.

      DCR is based on facts, not the sour taste in your mouth from a bad run in with a product.

    • Fritz

      I have been running and biking for over 20 years. Based on my experience and everyone I know who uses Garmin and competing manufacturer watches, Garmin makes the best. They are the most dependable and accurate and they have the features people want. All technology devices unfortunately are bound to have some issues. I would love to hear from other people who think there is a better watch out there that isn’t a Garmin.

    • Scott

      Andrew, your comment is pretty ignorant. I have to assume that you are the same Andrew that has a long history of making rude comments on DCR’s reviews.

    • Okey doke all – that’s enough.

      Keep the conversations civil or folks get banned. Simple as that, it’s all I ask. Critical opinions are always welcomed, though primarily with supporting evidence.

    • Andrew

      Standard response from someone with a vested interest in Garmin:
      Deny the problem is widespread and you’re one of only a few people to have this issue.
      Repeatly swap out the units for another refurbished one until the warranty runs out.
      Attack personally anyone who challenges their opinion.

    • Robin

      Wow Andrew. I’m pretty sure Ray has called out Garmin on a number of occasions, not including this particular post – link to dcrainmaker.com

      Ray has build his reputation on not having a vested interest in any of these companies.

    • Anthony R.

      While 99.9% of us on here are trying to keep it civil, and all about facts, can something be done about this Andrew character?

      Quite frankly, getting really annoyed by his constant rude, emotion driven, overly broad generalizations about people and products.

      Literally in the last three days he’s left no more than three snarky rude comments.

      It’s fine to have your own opinion, but he’s just now trolling anyone with a contrarian point of view.

      He’s engaging in more “fan boy tirades” than he is in actual discussion.

      Just curious…

    • Andrew – you’re the only one attacking people personally here. Nobody else is.

      As I said in my comment, I’m more than happy to have discussion on the matter, but enough of the personal attacks. This is your last warning. Keep it civil, or you’re out.

      Again, don’t misconstrue this, you can discuss the issue all you want here (preferably with actual facts, but hey…). You just can’t be rude about it. My rules here are astoundingly simple: Don’t be a dick. That’s all I ask.

  56. Mark

    Need a little help/input from the group.

    The bubble on the top of my watch face has developed over the last 2 days or so. If it continues to spread, it would seem to be a fatal issue.

    Has anyone else had this issue? Has it been a fatal issue in your use case? I suppose it could stop spreading around the outside edge and never impact the actual screen.

    Thanks.

    • Bob Schuiling

      Yes, exactly the same.

      Garmin offers standard (in South Africa) out of warranty deal of a new unit for ZAR 3 000 plus a three month warranty.

      This happened after 2.5 years so out of warranty, but still it should not happen with a premium product unless it was subjected to physical damage.

      I think it’s a cheeky offer and a 3 month warranty on a new product does not seem right.

      I hope you have better luck.

  57. Alex M

    Fenix 5 series has major problems with sensors. The antenna cannot output enough power. GPS tracks and the altimeter-barometer functions are also affected by static electricity, such as static building up on your polyster fleece that covers it when running. This is the reason so many people are seeing problems with these.

    There is no perfect watch, each have hardware faults. For 935 and 945 the optical HR sensor cracks in time and the Fenix6 and 945 use the inferior Sony GPS chipset and have other issues, as you can see on the Garmin forums.

    Buy cheap, buy second hand.

    • Twinaxx

      “Buy cheap, buy second hand” – indeed. I have bought new Garmins, but also a lot of used ones. Those are especially cheap when they are well used, banged up, and scratched. They have proven that they can withstand intensive use. The best way to buy is meeting the seller in person and checking out the device works 100%. After cleaning them up, applying a screen protector to cover up small scratches, and attaching a new strap, they look mostly OK and will last a good while. Sometimes the battery has to be replaced. Very rarely it proves to be a problem watch after all, or it dies in a week. But even then, out-of-warranty repairs/exchanges of older watches can also be a really good option, you get a new or refurbished one for way less than the original price. Buying new is no guarantee that it will function without issues for years. My experience with a new FR935 is unfortunately not as great as it was with a new Fenix 3. Next time I want to upgrade, it will probably be to another used Garmin.

  58. Karl

    Is a difference in altitude of +-3m on a track ok? I don’t mean a drift like when wheather shifts but a constant noise in the plot.
    Overall it is doing OK but it has a constant noise in it everywhere. My previous 920XT was deadflat, maybe 1m up or down here or there but no noise…
    See on the attached picture two identical runs, the part in the red line is on a track… It’s hard to accept this after spending money to _upgrade_ from the 920xt (love the watch otherwise).

  59. Grant

    Hi All,
    Merry Xmas. The purpose of this email is to share an article that I saw that compared the training and recovery recommendations of the garmin 935 and Polar Vantage. Its interesting that the findings were “despite using the same heart rate data, the watches often contradicted each other”. What do other people think? link to wareable.com

    DCRainmaker if you have not done it already I would love to see your view on the value of the watch recommendations. Is one better than the other? After all one of the main reasons I upgrade my watch is to get better analysis.

    At the moment I am using the 935. I do have a power meter for indoor cycling but that does not count. So my training status is no status. I am now trying to work out if any watches can do training status or load on an indoor trainer?

    • Sam

      They are all trying to calculate something from a limited amount of data you give them. In Garmin’s case they use Firstbeat and it is done on your device so you have to be recording heart rate, as an activity, on your 935. Their activity tracker is also in it’s own Garmin Health silo so it doesnt take any of that into account. On my Wattbike I simply record one activity with the Wattbike app and one with the Garmin watch. Everyone is happy. None of them are terribly accurate but most are in the ballpark if you give them the data they want.

  60. Rich Mayfield

    One more altimeter/barometer failure here. Garmin is offering a one-time goodwill replacement (I’ve had the watch for 13 months). I wont be swimming in the pool with the replacement. Fortunately, I have my 920XT still.

    Really, I don’t care about the elevation reported by the watch. I would be perfectly happy with the 935 if, even after the barometer totally fails, I could just have the Garmin app or Garmin Connect ignore the bad data so that Garmin Connect, Strava, etc. uses GPS/survey data to figure out elevation gain. Done. Totally satisfied.

    This just seems like such a win from Garmin’s and the consumers’ points of view. No hassle, no replacements.

    • Nikki

      It’s quite a serious failure, Rich.

      If you want to go mountaineering, as I regularly enjoy doing, then an altimeter is very important, as is the ‘storm alert’ function for rapid decreases in pressure that represent incoming rain and snow weather.

      Garmin watches have, for years, broken altimeters/temperature/barometer sensor if you swim a lot with it or regularly get it wet. Suunto’s don’t fail in this simple way or nearly as much and neither do other manufacturers.

      If you’re silly enough to spend $500 on a watch every year or two then I suggest you are the ideal US consumer doesn’t question the quality of the hardware that they have purchased. Garmin’s warranty is 2 years but if the fault is present at purcase, which it is – the altimeter/barometer fails with water use right from the get-go – then you are owed at least a replacement if not a full refund under UK law.

      The issue we see here is that nobody is keen to form a group to show that most recent Garmin watches suffer this issue. The mystery seems to be the 920XT that can handle swimming but has a functioning altimeter even after swimming a lot with it, although to be fair many user reports here suggest it fails in the same way whilst swimming.

      Have pride in your earned money and demand better products through your words and actions. Call Garmin and lodge a formal complaint. for a $500 to $1200 product (see Fenix6 altimeters now breaking too due to swimming) we deserve better. If Suunto can manage it then so can Garmin!

  61. Karl Bolton

    Another altimeter failure here. Garmin offered me a refurbished replacement unit for £92. I do not feel it reasonable for a £450 watch to fail after just 2.5 years. They swapped out my wife’s watch for free when it failed after..you guesssed it, 2.5 years. I’m currently in discussion with Garmin but they are not, so far, budging on the cost. Maybe they are getting so many failures now that free replacement is no longer an option for them?

    • Nikki

      Karl, the failure was present at purchase as the watches cannot handle swimming yet are held up as swimming and triathlon watches.

      You are owed some form of refund or replacement. If you wish a refund please see the UK Citizen’s Advice website.

      The Garmin forums are full of barometer/altimeter failures and you can see the huge swathe of posts here that shows that if you swim then the altimeter/barometer will end up wrecked eventually. It starts to ‘wander’ a lot up and down throughout the day and will eventually fail entirely.

      I have a warranty replacement I don’t swim with and the altimeter and barometer are still good 6 months down the line. The other 4 watches I swam with and I logged the altimeter drift through the exercises recorded. The fault is obvious.

    • Znook

      Well I must be bucking this massive trend of damaged altimeters/OHR sensors, despite my 935 having been through the wars (i.e. I don’t go out my way to protect it). It’s been through open water sea swims, weekly pool swims, indoor bike rides, outdoor bike rides, open air runs (no indoor runs on a treadmill yet so that could be the issue), lots of track me activities, in the shower, loads of dunking in a nice warm soapy washbasin after every activity (as well as the HRM-TRI when used) and my 935 is still pristine like the day I bought it. No altitude issues, no OHR cracks, heck even the recessed barcode sticker is still like new. When did I get my 935, about a month after it came to market so must be three or four years old by now.

  62. Helge

    Since this comments section still seems to be active: Have you observed the change in Calorie expenditure calculation starting with the latest firmware update (15.10)?
    Especially: Is this something specific to the 935 or has the Firstbeat algorithm been changed for all devices?

    The change is pretty significant for me, around a 50% increase on average. (others on the garmin forums are reporting similar numbers)
    Seems especially bad for longer, low intensity activities like slow bike rides. So maybe some issue with reducing the activity expenditure by BMR?

    Still, as a user relying on somewhat accurate activity tracking for use in Myfitnesspal, this is concerning.

  63. Joel

    Is anyone else having issues with running records?

    Everytime I run a sub 7:30 mile it claims is a record. (It’s not).

    Not sure what’s going on…

  64. Andrew

    Another cracked OHR for me now for my refurbished watch (a replacement for another cracked OHR). Again never dropped the watch, and I haven’t ever swum with this watch either. Turning into a joke, and really putting me off the Garmin 945 as I was looking to upgrade for music and Garmin Pay 🙁

  65. Phil T

    Another with a cracked Forerunner 935 HRM. Third replacement, all for exactly the same issue. I don’t drop them, don’t wear them in the shower, seldom swim with them and I live in a temperate climate… So I will attempt to get it replaced a 4th time, but this time will re-sell and probably put the money towards an Apple Watch, which is becoming popular among runners in my group.

    • Philip

      The strange thing is that the cracks always start and increase from the centre of the three LEDs or the central sensor. They don’t start at the side, for example.

      As we are now seeing the same problem with the 945 I have to say that it seems to be a design flaw that remains unsolved as it is cheaper Garmin to replace these with a refurbished watch safely knowing that one will eventually break too in the same manner, from which you will hopefully go buy another latest model of Garmin.

      My advice is to keep in touch with support once things break and don’t accept “no replacement” as an answer from them.

      I have noticed that if I don’t swim with the watches they last a lot longer. If you swim you will notice the altimeter drifting regularly far more than it would if you didn’t swim. Water seems to instantly damage the sensor, for some reason, unresolvable without replacement.

  66. Jonas S.

    Hi Ray, all,

    I see with my fourth 935 (yes… all before had breaking HRM plastic issues) that on multiple occasions after completion of an activity (with HRM) the HR spikes to around 230-240bpm before coming down again. It usually takes around 5 minutes to stabilize.

    Anyone having similar issues? It’s not causing any problems, just a bit weird, and I want to avoid that this is a sign for other problems.

    • Lars van der Huiz

      Yes, I had the same issue.

      You need to avoid swimming with the 935, avoid water contact, avoid SPF suncream on the optical heart rate lens. I appreciate that this goes against the use of the watch, but it does mean the optical sensor won’t crack and the barometer-altimeter won’t fail.

      If you contact Garmin and explain you may be able to get a replacement 935 that you can take good care of by avoiding what I have mentioned. It’s still the longest life and best balance of any garmin watch, despite the fact it still falls apart in time.

  67. Andres M.

    Ray,
    .1 The default temperature is 40 degrees celsius.
    .2 The default configuration does not includes the elevation gained in any activity- I have to go to the web page to fix it (the Elev. correction enable stuff).

    So, any riding or running activity is marked as done with no elevation gained and at 40 degrees. I have not been able to fix this and I have not find any solution in the differente fora or web sites that I have researched.

    Hopefullly you can find the time to advice on this issue.
    Cheers from Ecuador.

    • Hmm, I’m not sure I understand. There is no such thing as a default temperature? If you’re only seeing 40*C, and not seeing any elevation gained, then that means that your watch is having an issue with the barometer being broken (both are part of the same hardware components on the watch).

      🙁

  68. Andres M.

    Thank you for taking the time to reply, The barometer broken explains the issues with the temperature and the elevation. Gracias. AM

    • Miguel

      Hi Andrés M., the same thing happens to me, since the firmware of my forerunner 935 was updated to version 20.0 on July 10, the altimeter and thermometer have been stuck at a fixed value. The altimeter can only be calibrated manually to a new value based on the GPS position or manually, but once the value is specified it is not updated again. I have spoken with the SAT and I have tried a total reset and cleaning in warm water with neutral soap … nothing at all. The problem I am almost sure is the firmware, but they do not recognize it, they say to send it to repair. Someone else happens? a greeting

  69. Torkil

    The 935 is nice with functions and all. The wife and I have one each. But the build quality is not good. She has had her replaced once, mine should’ve been too, but I don’t want to go without a watch for weeks waiting for the replacement… We have both gotten hairline fractures in the watch face, even ton my wife’s replacement where she put on a screen protector! And the sensor on the back is cracked as well. Is this fixed on the 945? Or di we have to buy Fenix watches for them to be durable..?

  70. Darren Garvie

    Hiyou really do an excellent job in testing the products. Just wondering I have the option of getting 735xt quite cheapI have only started running lately and I cycle a lot would the said watch be a good start or would I be better getting a 935?

  71. I used this review to help me decide to buy the 935 2 years ago. Now I’m coming across what appears to be a major limitation with the number of Waypoints (I think?) on Courses – so on long races (50 or 100 miles), on loading a course it says max number of points (50) exceeding, rest will not be displayed (or something like that) and while it initially indicates distance to next turn and buzzes for the turns, it then switches to showing the distance to the finish – a lot less useful. I’ve been told this is a limitation of the 935. True? Or is there a way to stop this. And if true, what’s the point of (theoretical) 24-hours battery life but inability to properly do navigation for a run of that long? (I know, that’s not your fault – but I would like to know if that’s what’s going on.)

    • Jac

      I’ve also been frustrated with this limitation! Also interested to know if there’s some work-around for this. (Not always possible to split a long run into a few courses files when running trails.)

  72. Bruce Overbay

    I just purchased a 935. My question is can it be set up for a duathlon rather than a triathlon?

  73. Bob Schuiling

    I value your reviews and have had very successful click through purchases, thank you.

    I have a FR935 that’s screen is showing signs of delaminating and I wondered if you have come across this? – always better to deal with a product recall than to Haggle with Garmin.

    2.5 years is not a long life for what I would regard as a premium product.

    Also, do you do follow up reviews? It would be nice to know what other owners are experiencing as well.

    Regards,
    Bob – Cape Town, South Africa

  74. Cornie

    With the Hefty price tag of the newer generation (In my country it works out to $850 for the 945) is it still worth while to buy the 935 (Works out to $350) to be able to use it for the next 3-4 years. I do running cycling and the odd duathlon.

  75. Tomasz

    Hi Ray,
    Have you seen the HR sensor cracking like this on any of your units? A friend of mine also has fr935 and about 2 years from buying it, he’s got very similar crack on the sensor. Neither of is throwing the watch around, though. Still, it seems to be working fine and Garmin says that HR reading shouldn’t be affected..

  76. SL

    Checking in on old, repeat topic … barometer/altimeter going dead for 935 owners who pool swim regularly.

    My scenario: I swim ~2x a week. I rinse my watch after every use (swim/run/bike) and shake to clear out any residual from the sensor port. After a few months of regular use, elevation data will suddenly go haywire – the elevation charts are right(-ish) but the reported climb/descent are off by 1000s.

    Reddit, Slowtwitch, Garmin Forums have several threads with many others who have experience the same thing. Garmin seems to recognize how regular this is; their support page has an option that leads you to an auto-replacement. link to support.garmin.com

    My questions …
    * Do you know if the 945 (or other newer devices) have changed the manufacturing/equipment related to the baro/alt sensors?
    * What other “hacks” have others done? Buy a swim-only watch and use the 935 in the water only occasionally or during races? (which seems $$ dumb)

    • Dave Miller

      Here is the truth: it happens on all Garmin watches with the single altimeter barometer temperature sensor.

      It only happens if the watches are regularly used to record swimming, getting wet throughout. It takes about six months from starting to use the watch during swimming for the sensor to fail.

      The 935 does it, the 945 does it and the 955 does it too. It’s just one of those things that Garmin hasn’t been able to resolve. Other manufacturers, such as suunto, haven’t seen the same failures, so it seems to be a bad engineering or manufacturing of the sensor. Contact Garmin and they are normally good about replacing it because it is a well known problem. If they complain, quote consumer rights, the high incidence of the issue and refer them to DCRainmaker’s comment sections on 935, 945, 955, and also Garmin forums.

    • Hmm, I don’t think I’ve seen any 955 failures?

  77. Larry

    Hi, I run using the walk run system so the walk run alert is very important to me. When I had the Garmin 630, the audible alert was louder and I could also make out the vibratory alert reasonably well, though ironically, I felt it more when I wore a wristband on my watch. I’ve had the Garmin 230 now for about three years and the Walk – run alerts are terrible. I cannot hear or feel the alerts even if I’m not listening to a podcast. How does the 935 stack up in this area?Which is the best Garmin for walk – run alerts? (My work around is meant to use a gym boss alert paper but I’d rather carry less stuff with me.)

    Thanks,

    Larry

  78. Jeremy B

    Ray, is the cracking still a fringe issue?

    link to support.garmin.com

    I was putting my 935 on eBay (got a 955 Solar) and noticed the cracking in the optical heart rate monitor area. Never swam in it. Never dropped it. Now, I’ve had it for a long time, but I baby my stuff. It’s a defect, although it may still only affect a small percentage of the population.

  79. 935 Family

    Ok, here we are at the end of 2022. The 955 has been out for months now, and it’s time for me to wonder, yet again, if there will be any trickle-down of features?

    There are a bunch of us still using the 935 watch… 3 of them in my family alone, many Fenix 5’s amongst my friends. Here’s what I’d really love to see:

    1) Give us some of the Sleep stats on our watch… I don’t really love opening the phone to find out how long I slept, nor if my sleep helped recharge my “Body Battery”
    2) How about that Body Battery?
    3) Recommended workouts: The watch knows how rested, how balanced or inbalanced my workouts have been, suggest something. You have it on the 945, the 245… why not the 935?
    4) Overnight status/rest/stress measurement. The 935 tracks my sleep. It can measure HRV on-wrist for what it shows as “Stress Score” … it would be great to get a baby version of the 955’s “Morning report” on how rested, how much to go hard or rest for the day.

    And I know I’m dreaming to even ask this kind of thing. The watch came out in 2017. Over 5 years ago. The first OTA update bricked mine, and Garmin graciously replaced it. I know the chipset has a lot less processing power than a 955, and a lot less memory to work with. Still, we dream of getting something to trickle down. When this watch dies, I’ll likely upgrade to the latest+greatest… be that 955 or 977, or whatever generation Garmin is on. But the 935 keeps on going, so I don’t really want to just throw it away and start over.

    Oh, and carry-forward on my stats would be pure joy for when I do update.

    If those apps (Body Battery, Morning Report, Sleep) were just made available on the IQ store, I’d jump for joy.

  80. Mark Edward

    I just came here to find out if anyone else had problems with the barometer on their 935 (I’m quite slow moving, and have just been fixing the elevation on runs using Strava data for the last year or so!).

    Do you think if I wrote nicely to Garmin about it, they might give me some money off a new Fenix 7 or 965? (Despite the 935 being presumably out of warranty, and having given me good service for 5 of its 6 years)

    • Robert B

      All’s I can say is try it, they can only say no, which I would expect given the age of it. Garmin’s warranty is 1 or 2 years depending where in the world you reside. I”ve had success making claims under “good will” up to 3 months after the warranty expires with other companies. Once a replacement and discounts of between 10 and 25%.

      Unless you’re after the latest and greatest model, I’d hang on till black Friday, the discounts will exceed whatever, if anything a manufacturer will offer.