My recent thoughts on 2017 were that it was going to be the ‘Year of the Garmin’.
2017 will be a series of battles as many of the industry giants go head-to-head across various markets. This quick post is just a 5-minute heads-up of some Samsung youtube videos (linked below)
From recent leaks you will KNOW that Garmin are going to come out with all guns blazing and with a fearsome arsenal and you can pretty much guess where the firepower will be targeted.
You will see from some of the videos, below, that Samsung (Gear S3) is clearly thinking it can be a player in the ‘Fenix front’. One of the battles will be with the features of Samsung’s Tizen that encroach on the Fenix-theatre – I don’t think Tizen will ultimately win this battle. They will have an awesome screen/display but perhaps less awesome ruggedness and navigational features?
Suunto’s SPARTAN has been a mere 2016 skirmish. Their battle with Garmin may well start as the Northern Hemisphere warms up in 2017. Can they carve out and retain a piece of strategically important territory? Today’s announcement of a 3 year warranty for 2016 purchasers is a nice bit of propaganda showing that they are in for the long game.
The Sports-Fitness Front is where AndroidWear is digging its trenches. Their backer, Google, might be the world’s tech super power but they have often been fickle in the battles they have choosen in recent years (Pixate for one). They know when to beat a hasty retreat. Longterm, I don’t think they will have to retreat this time round – I could be wrong but I have visions of an ever-expanding Google empire.
The winner of the war won’t be known for years to come.
Your war-related analogies eagerly awaited 🙂 no doubt vastly better than mine.
It’s a good written analogy and to be clear I don’t like real wars.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=5Xdvi7g8BdA
https://youtube.com/watch?v=3fi4a45L0kk
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ikgH-AJfRSg
https://youtube.com/watch?v=ZbJjs2HTOP0
Last Updated on 16 January 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red light therapy for niggles. It works.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. ID
the features of the S3 look nice, barometric, oHR, big battery with 380mAh, gorilla glas, display 360×360 pixel, etc
http://images04.oe24.at/samsung_GearS3_front.jpg/249.752.966