I have been using multiple smartwatches for my crossfit workouts and currently I have the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro in a long term test an it’s really starting to be my favorite smartwatch for working out.
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a great fitness tracker and it’s very well suited for CrossFit with all the built-in tracking features and a sturdy not too bulky case. You can also use apps like Cross-Training from the Garmin Connect IQ store which make it easy to do workouts without your phone.
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro has a hefty price tag and if CrossFit is the only thing you are planning to use the device for then there are also cheaper options in the Garmin line-up which may provide you with most of the value you will get from the device. Read on to discover how I’m using the Fenix 6 pro during my CrossFit workouts and how it compares to some less expensive options I have also used.
Price of the Fenix 6 Pro
The Fenix 6 Pro is currently listed at 649 USD on Garmin.com. Recently on sale, the watch has been seen for prices as low as 449USD on Amazon.com and 425 € on Amazon.de.
You can check the current price for the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro on Amazon via this link.
Comparing it to other Garmin devices nothing else in this price range comes close in functionality or battery life. Fenix 6 has up 21 days of battery life, Venu 2 has 11 days and Vivoactive 4 has 8 days.
Venu 2 is only marginally less expensive at 349 USD. If you don’t need all the functionality the Vivoactive 4 is actually a great choice at only 199USD on sale. For the current Vivoactive 4 price on Amazon.com check this link.
Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Crossfit workout considerations
Size of the Fenix 6 Pro
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a rather large device measuring 47 x 47 x 14.7 mm compared to for example the Polar Ignite measuring only 43 x 43 x 8.5 mm. For most CrossFit activities the size of the watch hasn’t been a problem for me. The only activity I have had some issues with wearing the watch are some kettlebell moves like the kettlebell snatch. However other watches will not either be comfortable when doing snatches.
The Fenix 6s is smaller and the 6X is larger but all of them are still significantly thicker than the Polar Ignite.
Why there is no touch screen on the Fenix 6 Pro
The Fenix 6 was intentionally designed with buttons instead of a touchscreen. You can also check the above unboxing video where I explain that touchscreens don’t work well while they are wet from sweat, moisture, or just from the fact that you might be swimming.
From a CrossFit point of view I rather press a button than try to fiddle with a touchscreen if I’m in the middle of a HERO WOD.
Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitoring on the Fenix 6
Wrist-Based Heart Rate Monitoring on the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro works very similarly as on other Garmin models like the Vivoactive 4. It’s quite good in some activities like running but for Crossfit it’s not really very accurate so I do prefer using a chest strap for accurate heart rate readings during my Crossfit workouts.
Watch Activities for tracking Crossfit on your Fenix 6
In the Garmin Connect IQ store, you can find some specific activities like Cross-Training which will work well for Crossfit. I did download the Cross-Training app from the Conenct IQ store and tried the 30 day free trial. The app has over 50 000 downloads and it has good reviews and it is compatible with many Garmin devices like the Fenix 6 models.
The Cross-Training activity does provide the possibility to program OTM and AMRAP style workouts and in an AMRAP style, it’s nice that one can press the lap button to track how many rounds one completes. I have also tried using the Strength activity during AMRAP style workouts and it too can kind of be used for tracking the laps but Cross-Training does work better for this purpose.
Fenix 6 Music Features
If you are looking for offline Spotify features then Garmin is the best option in my opinion. Check out my full article on offline Spotify.
I naturally tried using the offline Spotify features on the Fenix 6 and they work great with my Bluetooth headset. I highly recommend getting the Pro model so that you get the benefit of the Music features because not needing to take your phone with you and the ability to change the music from your watch is just super.
Garmin Pay on the Fenix 6
Garmin Pay is great and it works perfectly well on the Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. In the below video I tested it at a local store.
If you are doing crossfit I’m guessing you will be doing some running exercises as well so having the peace of mind of having a credit card with you even though you don’t have your wallet or your phone with you is awesome. If you feel like it you can pop to the store to get a drink during or after your run.
Conclusion
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is a great smartwatch and very suitable for Crossfit but I don’t see why you would need to get such a high end device just for Crossfit since you would get most of the value with a cheaper device like the Garmin Vivoactive 4.
If you however are interested in the Cross-Training app do bear in mind that it doesn’t work on the Vivoactive 4. Also note that if you want a device with buttons then the Fenix 6 is also a great option.
Since Crossfit is a sport with so many disciplines I’m guessing you occasionally do run, swim, bike, and also do other sports. If that’s you then I bet you will be happy with the Fenix 6 Pro and will not regret investing a bit more to get a great device. It’s the best I have used thus far.
