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 9 Pro / Fenix 9 Pro Solar / MARQ (Gen 3) — v7.14 beta — 4 November 2026
the5krunner insight: A decent beta for hikers and runners who carry a pack, though Garmin warns it can crash the watch during Indoor Climb.
The headline additions are new post-activity cards for pack weight and a smooth second hand option for some watch faces. This beta covers the Fenix 9 Pro, Fenix 9 Pro Solar and MARQ (Gen 3) only, and is not available for the standard Fenix 9 or Enduro 4. A quick follow-up beta the next day focused on fixes and faster map loading rather than new features.
- Pack Weight and Pack Weight Calorie Burn Rate post-activity cards for walking and running
- Improved Golf shot detection
- Improved Indoor Row activity
- Distance editing added to the XC Ski Indoor and Indoor Cycling activity profiles
- Improved responsiveness in the Epic app
- Smooth second hand setting for some watch faces
- Timeout setting for the flashlight quick control
- Improved World Timer watch face
- First-time tip added to power modes
Full release notes: Fenix 9 Pro
Garmin — Instinct 3 / Instinct 3 AMOLED / Instinct 3 Solar / Instinct E / Instinct Crossover AMOLED / Instinct Crossover AMOLED Tactical — v16.09 beta — 5 November 2026
the5krunner insight: A small release, and only relevant if you surf or are curious about the new Recovery Mode.
This beta adds a Recovery Mode and better wave detection in Surf activities. The release notes reference Recovery Mode without further detail — one to watch. It covers the Instinct 3 family, including the Instinct E and both Crossover AMOLED models.
- Recovery Mode added
- Improved wave detection in Surf activities
Full release notes: Instinct 3 series
No updates this week
Checked and nothing to report for the week ending 7 November 2026: Amazfit (a Zepp app build only, with no changelog published), COROS, Suunto (Race S page unavailable this week; the other pages had no release in the window), Polar, Wahoo, Hammerhead, Samsung and Huawei either had no release in the window or released stability and bug fix updates only. Garmin releases not listed above, including the Forerunner, Edge and Fenix 8 releases, contained fixes or performance work only.
Previous edition: #19 Deep Dive Feature Files: Week Ending 31 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is new in the latest Garmin Fenix 9 Pro firmware update?
The beta adds Pack Weight and Pack Weight Calorie Burn Rate cards after walking and running activities, a smooth second hand setting for some watch faces and a timeout for the flashlight control. It also improves Golf shot detection and the Indoor Row activity.
Does the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro now show pack weight after an activity?
Yes. The beta adds post-activity cards for Pack Weight and Pack Weight Calorie Burn Rate for walking and running.
Does the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro have a flashlight timeout setting?
Yes. The beta adds a timeout setting to the flashlight quick control.
Does the standard Garmin Fenix 9 get the same beta update as the Fenix 9 Pro?
No. The beta covers the Fenix 9 Pro, Fenix 9 Pro Solar and MARQ (Gen 3). It is not available for the standard Fenix 9 or the Enduro 4.
What is new in the latest Garmin Instinct 3 firmware update?
The beta adds a Recovery Mode and improves wave detection in Surf activities. The release notes do not explain what Recovery Mode does.
Which Garmin Instinct models get the new Recovery Mode?
The beta covers the Instinct 3, Instinct 3 AMOLED, Instinct 3 Solar, Instinct E, Instinct Crossover AMOLED and Instinct Crossover AMOLED Tactical.
Last Updated on 7 November 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.
- Ravemen FR1000: The light and the computer mount in one unit, so nothing else goes on the bars. Better than mine.
- Ravemen FR1500SE: 1,500 lumens hanging under your Garmin, for proper night rides.
- Ravemen FR1100SE: 1,100 lumens under your Garmin, and up to 46 hours on slow flash.
- Ravemen FR500: A brighter FR300 with the same mount.
- 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.
- Kineon MOVE+: Red and infrared light for sore knees, Achilles and other joints after hard training. I use it.
- 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. See the gear tfk uses. ID
