Update on the Garmin fenix backcountry sportswatch

UPDATE: Read my hands on Garmin fenix review.

We’re getting much closer to the Garmin fenix release date, with one source saying Garmin will ship it to dealers this Friday, and GPS City expecting to have it available next Monday. The company has posted some videos going though the menus (one is shown above), the manual has shown up, and Garmin has posted their first firmware update for it.

There are also some fenix FAQs on Garmin’s site now. Here are a couple of interesting tidbits from them:

• Sunscreen can damage the wristband (my wife and dermatologist are going to love that one)
• “Ultratrac is a GPS mode setting used for long distance and long-term tracking. The detail of the track log is greatly reduced because the device will only drop one track point per minute when using Ultratrac. This setting is perfect for the ultra-marathoner and can significantly increase the device’s battery life.”

This is probably Garmin’s most unique handheld release since the massive Montana showed up a little over a year ago. The minimalist fenix goes the opposite direction, marrying backcountry use with the size of the popular Forerunner sportswatch line. How will it be received? Only time will tell.

I hope to have a unit in hand by sometime next week, and will try to get up a quick post looking at some of the functionality ASAP.