Garmin Fenix 7 – some significant new goodies (beta)
The latest beta version for Garmin’s Fenix 7 is available today. There are some nice additions which owners, especially runners, will be glad to receive. Less so owners of the Fenix 6…who don’t get them.
Commentary
The major ones here have already been announced and released for the Forerunner 965.
The major feature area is running dynamics calculated solely from sensors within the watch, no longer requiring a Garmin chest strap or similar. The Load Ratio is also new to the F7 and places your short-term training load in context with your longer-term training load. The theory is that an increased long-term load makes you resilient to a higher-than-normal short-term load.
I had missed or forgotten about the HRV Status being added to watch faces, and that pretty much does what it says. Similarly, the two longer-duration charts were added for Sleep Stages and HRV Status.
Perhaps initially less interesting are Garmin’s changes to the data field layouts and app categories. To me, these changes indicate that Garmin is still tinkering with the interface to make the watch more usable. I think they are finally succeeding in that endeavour, but with still some way to go. What do you think?
- Added 7-day sleep stage graph. – check how those inaccurate sleep stages vary inaccurately over time
- Added Apps category to activity/app list add flow.
- Added calorie burn rate chart to post-activity summary. – why not?
- Added flashlight strobe option to power controls. (Fenix 7X/Tactix 7/Enduro 2 only) – handy
- Added HRV Status 4-week historical graph. – not sure this is needed, Garmin will use something similar behind the scenes to provide the more useful insights
- Added HRV status data field to watch faces. – minorly useful
- Added Load Ratio to Training Status. – minor but useful
- Added more data field options to the hierarchical data page layout.
- Added new activity stage landing page. ?
- Added Obstacle Course Racing activity. – it’s a fairly popular sport.
- Added Workout Execution Score to post-activity summary. – minor but nice
- Added Wrist Based Running Dynamics. – fairly major but not widely useful
- Add more apps/glances to power controls and hotkeys.
- Improved battery estimates when flashlight is used in activity.
- Improved compass smoothness on the compass page.
- Improved Ski activity to now distinguish when you are on lifts versus skiing downhill. (err? what? handy now the ski seasons all but finished)
- Improvements to Altitude Acclimation.
Last Updated on 15 March 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
Nice list of new features, but (referring to Garmin’s website) I hardly see them addressing previously reported bugs. There are a lot of (minor-ish) issues that they still need to sort out since the 10.X release.
which ones were you thinking of?
I’m waiting for it to properly register naps.
Currently if I take a nap during the day, it overwrites my last night’s sleep.
I see GPS changed to 2.46. I really hope they have fixed the tracking inaccuracy for water sports.
One obs; ski season is finished in the northern hemisphere, but about to start in the southern hemisphere.
There are many spots in Chile and Argentina.
I know ! sorry 🙂
Will the 955 solar be getting these upgrades?
They should get most of them. Maybe not all
i would have thought so
Will these updates be for all models, i.e. Fenix 7 Standard, S and X?
yes i would have thought so
I was hoping for 8 data fields on F7????. The smoothed compass looks awesome!
I really wanted them to add in a ski erg activity, instead you have to line a row and rename
Wondering if Epix 2 will also get those updates