First Look: Garmin fenix 5X

by
posted on October 23, 2017
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
fenix_f5_fl.jpg

Watches made for sporting/fitness purposes are one of the hottest items in the outdoor industry. Whether you're simply tracking how many steps in a day or intend to make full use of the miniature GPS on your wrist, they can be darn handy devices to have along. Garmin makes some of the finest GPS watches in the business, and I recently had the opportunity to test out their new fenix 5X during a Colorado elk hunt. Here are five things you need to know.

1. It’s packed with features.
The fenix 5X is loaded with features that should impress any hunter. It comes loaded with full-color TOPO U.S. mapping, GPS and GLONASS capability to track in more challenging environments than GPS alone, as well as a 3-axis compass, gyroscope and barometric altimeter.

2. It doubles as a fitness watch.
Fitbit and its competing products are all the rage at the moment. If you’re packing a fenix 5X, though, you won’t have to strap anything else to you wrist. The 5X features wrist-based heart rate monitoring. It also counts steps and monitors your sleep. The watch uses your heart rate to provide calories burned information, too, making it handy if you’re looking to shed a few pounds or maintain your current physical shape.

3. The mapping is fantastic.
The fenix 5X features full-color TOPO U.S. mapping that comes preloaded. Better, the map data is optimized for at-a-glance navigation and location tracking. If you’re going off the grid, that’s fine, too. Each model in the fenix 5X series providence comprehensive navigation and tracking to guide you on and off the beaten path, plus ABC (altimeter, barometer and compass) sensor capabilities.

4. It can connect to your smartphone.
Owners of the fenix 5X can download the free Garmin Connect Mobile application and sync their watch with a smartphone. The app allows you to keep an even more detailed eye on fitness features, mapping and more. Below is the heart rate chart from Tuesday, Oct. 17. You'll note that my heart rate peaked at 159 beats per minute, a little after 6 p.m. It probably won't surprise you that it's about that time that I killed a bull elk.

5. It's built to last.
The fenix 5X has a rugged design that features a stainless steel bezel, buttons and rear case. I’m a clumsy sort of guy, and have routinely banged the watch against trees, doors and anything else that’s gotten in my way. It has hazarded such treatment without issue. The battery life is nice, too—it’ll last up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 20 hours in GPS mode.

For more information, go to Garmin.com.

Latest

2025 NRA World Shooting Championship
2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

KelTec Named Official Stage Sponsor for 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is proud to announce KelTec as an official sponsor of the 2025 NRA World Shooting Championship, returning to Camp Atterbury, Ind., from September 30 to October 4, 2025.

Thompson/Center Arms Celebrating 60th Anniversary

Thompson/Center Arms is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025. Since 1965, T/C Arms has built a legacy rooted in the pioneering spirit of American hunters.

Federal Ammunition Awards 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships

Federal Ammunition recently awarded the 2025 Tom Knapp Memorial Scholarships to two 4-H shooting sports teen ambassadors: Lucy Evans from Georgia and John Bruner from Pennsylvania.

Head to Head: 7x57mm Mauser vs. .30-06 Springfield

I’ve had more than a few requests for this Head to Head, so I figured it was high time to pit two of the early 20th century’s most popular military cartridges against one another. Let's dive into the 7x57mm Mauser vs. the .30-06 Springfield.

NRA Hunter Education FREE Online Course Now Available in Louisiana

The National Rifle Association of America’s award-winning free Hunter Education online course is now available in the State of Louisiana, the latest addition as NRA works to make the course available to hunters in all 50 states.

Moultrie Updates Line of Game Feeders

Moultrie has expanded the capacity of its line of feeders, and bettered the cameras' integration with the company's connected technology to streamline the feeding process.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.