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 — Fenix 8 / Enduro 3 / Tactix 8 / Fenix E / Quatix 8 — v24.12 (beta) — 16 October 2026
the5krunner insight: A decent beta for Fenix users, mostly because of the course guidance and activity switching changes, with the rest being small quality-of-life tweaks.
This beta build is mostly fixes, but it carries a handful of changes that affect daily use. Course turn guidance now works outside the map page, and Change Sport puts your favourite activities first. It covers the Fenix 8 range and its siblings, and it is beta-only for now, so it arrives automatically only if you are enrolled in Garmin’s beta program.
- Course turn guidance is now available outside the map page
- Change Sport shows your favourite activities first, with a More option for the rest
- Faster POI search results
- Weather data stays visible during weather service outages
- Updated swim module
- Pulse Ox app blocks vibrations only while a reading is being taken
- Pairing instructions added for the HRM 200 and HRM 600
- Garmin Pay shortcuts are blocked while Stealth Mode is on
Full release notes: Fenix 8 series beta
Garmin — Edge 1050 / Edge 850 / Edge 550 / Edge MTB — v33.12 (beta) — 14 October 2026
the5krunner insight: A small release, but the LiveTrack change matters for anyone riding multi-day events.
The headline is the removal of the 24-hour limit on LiveTrack sessions, so family or event organisers can keep following a long ride. It covers the Edge 1050 and the Edge 850 and 550, plus the Edge MTB.
- LiveTrack sessions are no longer capped at 24 hours, so multi-day rides keep sharing your location
- The Find My Edge locator alarm can no longer be muted by accident
Full release notes: Edge 1050 / 850 / 550 / MTB beta
Hammerhead — Karoo — v1.663.2548 — 15 October 2026
the5krunner insight: Worth installing mainly for the new extensions, with the CLIMBER tidy-up as a useful extra.
The Karoo gets three new extensions in its library and a cleaner CLIMBER map. The release notes do not say which Karoo models are covered, so check the notes for your device.
- CLIMBER map no longer leaves a blue line on a climb you have finished, and you can scroll down the CLIMBER drawer to see past climbs
- New CrankBite extension for personalised nutrition and hydration planning that syncs with your rides
- New GluKaMon extension that connects several continuous glucose monitors so you can track glucose while riding
- New Shelto extension to find route stops such as shelters, water stations, toilets, repair stations, campsites and charging points
- Low battery alerts now appear on the post-ride screen
Full release notes: Karoo software build
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 17 October 2026: Amazfit, COROS, Suunto, Polar, Wahoo, Samsung, Huawei either had no release in the window or released stability and bug fix updates only.
Previous edition: #16 Deep Dive Feature Files: Week Ending 10 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Garmin Edge 1050 now allow LiveTrack sessions longer than 24 hours?
Yes, in the beta. The 24-hour limit on LiveTrack sessions has been removed, so multi-day rides can keep sharing your location.
What is new in the latest Garmin Edge 1050 firmware update?
The beta removes the 24-hour LiveTrack limit and stops the Find My Edge locator alarm from being muted by accident.
What is new in the latest Garmin Fenix 8 firmware update?
The latest beta adds course turn guidance outside the map page, shows favourite activities first in Change Sport and speeds up POI search. It also keeps weather data visible during outages and updates the swim module.
Does the Garmin Fenix 8 show favourite activities first?
Yes, in the latest beta. Change Sport lists your favourite activities first, with a More option for the rest.
What is new in the latest Hammerhead Karoo software update?
The Karoo gets three new extensions, CrankBite, GluKaMon and Shelto. The CLIMBER map also removes the line from finished climbs, and low battery alerts appear on the post-ride screen.
Can the Hammerhead Karoo track glucose while riding?
Yes, through the new GluKaMon extension, which connects several continuous glucose monitors to the Karoo.
Last Updated on 17 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.
- 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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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
