In this guide
If you train with a Garmin, you probably know Ray Maker, the reviewer behind DC Rainmaker. When he puts a new watch through its paces, the whole endurance world pays attention. His in-depth review of the new fēnix 9 series is out, and here's the detail I love most: after all that testing, he bought a 47mm fēnix 9 Pro for himself.
That tells you more than any spec sheet. Reviewers get to try everything, so when one of them spends his own money, it's worth listening to why.
How he tested it
After his review units were held up in customs following launch, Maker and his wife spent weeks with the watches across swimming, cycling, running, gym sessions, indoor rowing and a 10-hour hike. That last one is a real test. Where I grew up, in Innsbruck, a 10-hour day in the Alps is just a good Saturday. Here in Colorado, a big 14er day can easily run that long too.
What he found
AMOLED is the place to start. For most people, his advice is an AMOLED model, usually in 47mm. Pick the display type first, then the size, then decide whether you need Pro or Pro inReach. I like this order a lot. It keeps you from paying for features you'll never use.
Solar still wins on battery. On that 10-hour hike, with four identically configured watches, the 47mm Solar lasted roughly twice as long as the AMOLED. He's clear that a gray winter won't deliver the same result. For long days in the mountains, this is the number I'd look at first. Above treeline, a dead watch means no track and no breadcrumb trail back down.
inReach earns its keep. The feature he actually uses is LTE LiveTrack. His wife can leave her phone at home on night runs, and he can still see where she is. For anyone who heads out alone, that kind of peace of mind is worth a lot. It's the same reason I like the idea for long festival weekends, when phones die and you lose your crew in a crowd of thousands.
Maps are quicker. Map panning and route calculation felt a little faster than on the fēnix 8 Pro. Better, in his view, but not night and day.
He also noted that Garmin didn't raise prices over last year's fēnix 8 Pro, and that he hit a few early bugs, though none cost him a whole workout.
Which one would I pick?
For me, it comes down to how far from a cell signal you go. If your adventures are mostly trail runs and day hikes near town, the Solar version and its battery are hard to beat. If you head deep into the backcountry, travel to remote trailheads or like to explore alone, the inReach version is the one I'd want on my wrist.
Already own a fēnix 8?
Garmin plans to bring most of the fēnix 9's new sport software to the fēnix 8 generation and other watches on the same platform, including the Forerunner 970, though not this year. That's a generous move. Back home, people keep a good pair of mountain boots for fifteen years, so I have a lot of respect for a company that lets its gear age well. It makes the fēnix 8 a strong value pick if you'd rather wait for the software than buy new hardware, and it means the Forerunner 970 keeps getting better for runners.
Shop the gear
The fēnix 9 Pro in 47mm, in two versions:
- Garmin fēnix 9 Pro Solar – 47mm, Titanium: the battery champion from his hike test.
- Garmin fēnix 9 Pro inReach – 47mm, DLC Titanium: adds LTE LiveTrack and satellite messaging.
Or get the software later on current hardware:
Browse all Garmin. Order by 5PM on weekdays for next-day delivery in the continental US.
Whatever you choose, get outside. The mountains are waiting.
Lukas Weber is one of Frontrow's editorial voices, a character our team writes as to bring an outdoor and electronic-music perspective to the gear news we cover.
