If you follow sports tech, your inbox fills up fast. Most of what lands is minor patches dressed up as news. This cuts through all that with one weekly post covering every feature addition across the major brands, nothing else. Trivial bug fixes are excluded. Subscribe via RSS at the5krunner.com.
Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED / Instinct 3 Solar / Instinct Crossover AMOLED / Instinct E — v15.14 Beta — 24 July 2026
the5krunner insight: It is a modest beta, and only the obstacle race summary will matter to most endurance athletes.
The Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct Crossover AMOLED now show a full obstacle list in the post-activity summary after an obstacle race. The Instinct E receives the same beta without that summary. Gear suggestions for hike activities are improved, and Tactical models add Xero range sensor data in the Applied Ballistics app.
- Full obstacle list shown in the post-activity summary after an obstacle race (Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct Crossover AMOLED)
- Improved gear suggestions for hike activities
- Xero range sensor data added to the Applied Ballistics app (Tactical only)
Full release notes: Instinct 3 series
Garmin Fenix 8 / Enduro 3 / Quatix 8 / Fenix E / Tactix 8 — v23.15 Beta — 21 July 2026
the5krunner insight: It is a small release that only matters if you use the flashlight.
The flashlight shortcut on the Fenix 8, Enduro 3, Quatix 8, Fenix E and Tactix 8 now cycles through on, off and strobe modes. The remaining changes in 23.15 are bug fixes, covering music playback resets, the phone shortcut and activity volume.
- Flashlight shortcut now cycles through on, off and strobe modes
Full release notes: Fenix 8 series
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 25 July 2026: Amazfit, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Hammerhead, Samsung and Huawei either had no release in the window or released stability and bug fix updates only.
Previous edition: #7 Deep Dive Feature Files: Week Ending 18 July 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new in the latest Garmin Instinct 3 firmware update?
The beta adds a full obstacle list to the post-activity summary after an obstacle race, improves gear suggestions for hike activities, and adds Xero range sensor data to the Applied Ballistics app on Tactical models. Everything else in the release is bug fixes.
Does the Garmin Instinct 3 AMOLED show a full obstacle list after an obstacle race?
Yes. The obstacle list now appears in the post-activity summary on the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct Crossover AMOLED.
Does the Garmin Instinct E get the obstacle race summary?
No. The Instinct E receives the same beta, but the full obstacle list applies to the Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar and Instinct Crossover AMOLED only.
What is new in the latest Garmin Fenix 8 firmware update?
The only user-facing change is that the flashlight shortcut now cycles through on, off and strobe modes. Everything else in the beta is bug fixes.
Does the Garmin Fenix 8 flashlight have a strobe mode?
Yes. The flashlight shortcut cycles through on, off and strobe modes.
Last Updated on 2 October 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.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. 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.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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. See the gear tfk uses. ID
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