Gday all.
Was thinking of buying a Ripcurl Search GPS Watch but i am wondering if it is worthwhile for someone who doesn`t down wind or flat water paddle.All i basically do is just waves.Is there a benefit to logging your surf sessions or is this a fad that will soon ware off? Would love to hear the thoughts of people like me who use a GPS Watch regularly.
Cheers in Advance.

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mickyj said..
Gday all.
Was thinking of buying a Ripcurl Search GPS Watch but i am wondering if it is worthwhile for someone who doesn`t down wind or flat water paddle.All i basically do is just waves.Is there a benefit to logging your surf sessions or is this a fad that will soon ware off? Would love to hear the thoughts of people like me who use a GPS Watch regularly.
Cheers in Advance.

Personally, I love my Search GPS watch. I sometimes look at the session on-line afterwards, but for me personally I love the stats while I am out in the water. After a good wave I check my speed; in part to see how fast I went on a wave that felt good, but also to gauge the strength of the waves (a 22 km/h wave is good in Westernport but it would be poor at Flinders). I keep a track of my wave count. I like to see how far I have paddled during the session (even though some of that is the wave itself - on-line you can see how much you paddled versus how far you surfed, but I usually don't bother).

The tide info is quite useful, especially if you are surfing around low or high tide.

And it tells the time too! (But one issue I have is that I struggle to read the time and elapsed time due to the small font...)

Sometimes I like to see the on-line maps and wave patterns to see where I surfed - especially after a surf trip, but also if I surf somewhere new.

I have had mine for a long time now and it has performed flawlessly - as long as you use the iPad to upload the waves - the USB interface is flaky...

I have previously posted on SB about my Rip Curl Search GPS experience and the problems I have had with it. It has now been repaired/replaced 6 times in 1.5 years.....

Outside of those issues, I love it and the information it gives me and I only SUP surf.

I have tried the Nixon Mission - got rid of it after 1 month

Love mine too. I do a fair bit of flat water paddling too. Same as what everyone else above has said. You said you only surf so perfect. On the flat water it won't tell you your average speed or paddle strokes. Good thing I think

I am interested in this too... Do you guys wear the watch daily or just in the surf?

I wonder about having to recharge all the time. I am a fairly lazy bloke at heart so having to swap watches or continually recharge seems painful?

Any of the models out there have good tracking plus good battery life?

I only wear mine in the water. The battery life is great - if I am not using it I basically don't worry about recharging it. When you are surfing and the GPS tracking is on it uses more power, so after a few long sessions you have to recharge it. But it is rarely an issue.

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Emeboy said..
I am interested in this too... Do you guys wear the watch daily or just in the surf?

I wonder about having to recharge all the time. I am a fairly lazy bloke at heart so having to swap watches or continually recharge seems painful?

Any of the models out there have good tracking plus good battery life?

I wear mine all the time. Its a very soft band so can damage easily. Charge it monthly normally unless I'm getting 4 or 5 surfs a week then its more like every second week..

Love mine and never had an issue with it..

Love mine, wouldn't be without it, a mate lost his downwinding and went a bought another one straight away. I surf with a few guys that have them, there's always some banter about who got the fastest wave of the session

I wear mine night and day

I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

I have the Rip Curl GPS watch and the issue I've currently got is that there are 10 or so sessions on the watch, unfortunately when I attempt to synch the watch thru the app on my Imac it gets to about 40% and hangs, Rip Curl advise me that this is because it needs more RAM than is allocated by the computer to allow the program Java to run and extract all the data. I really dont want to reset the watch and lose all of these sessions but I'm at a loss on how to proceed

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deanrobi said..
I have the Rip Curl GPS watch and the issue I've currently got is that there are 10 or so sessions on the watch, unfortunately when I attempt to synch the watch thru the app on my Imac it gets to about 40% and hangs, Rip Curl advise me that this is because it needs more RAM than is allocated by the computer to allow the program Java to run and extract all the data. I really dont want to reset the watch and lose all of these sessions but I'm at a loss on how to proceed

Do you have access to a PC? You could download the Search app, connect to your account, and upload them. Or try it on an iPad. One time I had a lot more than 10 sessions on my watch and it worked.

No luck unfortunately, I've tried on my IMac, Mac book Pro and three different iPads, too much data I believe and Apple defaults only 256mb of Ram for Java so unless you are able and skilled to jump into Terminal and allowcate extra it will just hang. I will make sure that I don't leave it so long between synch's in future

if you got the $ buy buy.
I went through it back in the day and I'm happy with my $100 watch forerunner 25 ;)

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yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

How did you get Surf Tracker to work on your fenix 3? I've downloaded it and read the stuff on the interweb about you having to set up an activity that has only one data field but I can't find a way to do that, or see the Surf Tracker program.

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Area10 said..

yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

How did you get Surf Tracker to work on your fenix 3? I've downloaded it and read the stuff on the interweb about you having to set up an activity that has only one data field but I can't find a way to do that, or see the Surf Tracker program.

From memory mate, hold the left up button for a couple of seconds, settings, select with top right, select apps, select it (I renamed to surf), select data screens, select screen 1, layout should be 1 field and scroll down to field 1 and surftracker should be listed under it. Go back and rest of screens 2 onwards should be set to off.
Hopefully that helps. It took me awhile to work out that only 1 data screen should be selected. Cheers Whitey

Last paddle I remembered to take a photo of.

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Area10 said..

yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

How did you get Surf Tracker to work on your fenix 3? I've downloaded it and read the stuff on the interweb about you having to set up an activity that has only one data field but I can't find a way to do that, or see the Surf Tracker program.

I made my own App Called it Surf. Go to Settings>Apps-Pick your APP>Data Screens>Screen 1>Layout Pick 1 Field layout >Pick Field 1 >Should get Connect IQ Fields come up>Press and Surf Tracker comes up

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Area10 said..

yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

How did you get Surf Tracker to work on your fenix 3? I've downloaded it and read the stuff on the interweb about you having to set up an activity that has only one data field but I can't find a way to do that, or see the Surf Tracker program.

I have the Fenix 3 HR Chronos and when I originally set up the Surf Tracker it worked well, then I had a software update and now it will not work.

Apparently there is a bug at the Garmin end with some models, no matter what I try by way of setting up a data field the screen shows the IQ logo with a warning symbol.

Otherwise a bloody great watch

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marco gribi said..

Area10 said..

yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

How did you get Surf Tracker to work on your fenix 3? I've downloaded it and read the stuff on the interweb about you having to set up an activity that has only one data field but I can't find a way to do that, or see the Surf Tracker program.

I have the Fenix 3 HR Chronos and when I originally set up the Surf Tracker it worked well, then I had a software update and now it will not work.

Apparently there is a bug at the Garmin end with some models, no matter what I try by way of setting up a data field the screen shows the IQ logo with a warning symbol.

Otherwise a bloody great watch

Mine disappeared, only did the latest version last week and is working again

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yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

Fenix 3 is a great watch with a few niggles. The gps is very inaccurate it is always under by 10% especially in trees and the bands only last a year. Check the band carefully on the underside.
My Apple Watch is way better, syncs so quickly. But no SurfTracker on the Apple Watch :(

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hilly said..

yt04 said..
I bought a Garmin Fenix 3 hr sapphire edition a year ago and very happy with it. I get about 8-9 days from a charge and then takes about 2 hrs to charge back up. Never off my wrist except for when in the shower. Heaps of free apps to download including fitness, maps, find your phone, tides etc. Surf tracker is a cracker which gives wave count, time and speed of each ride. You can log onto your Garmin phone app and look at the gps tracking on a map too. I got mine from 99 bikes on sale for around $700 and there is a newer version of Fenix 5 now too. Tough as with scratches on the frame but nothing on the glass and I've smacked it plenty of times. Can't rate it high enough.

Fenix 3 is a great watch with a few niggles. The gps is very inaccurate it is always under by 10% especially in trees and the bands only last a year. Check the band carefully on the underside.
My Apple Watch is way better, syncs so quickly. But no SurfTracker on the Apple Watch :(

The ripcurl bands are very soft, so tear and damage easy. I tore my keeper on the band and Ricpurl set me another for $16 including freight..

I just take that as owning any watch that eventually you will need to replace the straps. I used to wear gshocks and broke plenty of their straps. I try to be gentle with the fenix though just to make it last longer.

Just pickeded up the Garmin Fenix 5X still sorting out the menu. Impressed so far . First GPS watch so will take awhile to get used to it .

Reset mine and it's working great again, it seems that if you end up with a lot of big files on the watch then you may have trouble uploading, depending on the amount of RAM your computer has allocated to Java programs, this was the advice I received from RipCurl, I had 10 sessions, each was about 3 hrs after a two week surf trip to Fiji and had to lose the lot, all good now

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Piros said..
Just pickeded up the Garmin Fenix 5X still sorting out the menu. Impressed so far . First GPS watch so will take awhile to get used to it .

Hi Piros,
Are you still using the Fenix 5X? I have just picked one up today and am wondering if the photos above are from the in-built Sup App or a third party App?
Have you got any advice on set up or surf apps that are available? The watch itself is quite impressive so far...

Yep I'm all over my Fenix 5X plus I have also ditched my GoPros for the Garmin Virb 360 & Ultra 30 . I can control both cameras on my board via the watch and get full telemetry on every device. It is farking amazing .Garmin have done such a sh!t job on promoting their action cams. All Garmin devices talk to each other. The Virb Ultra 30 is a perfect match to the GoPro 5 , and does a ton more stuff. Takes a bit to get your head around it all and the Garmin edit suite leaves GoPro edit for dead. Re the watch just download the app it's pretty basic and easy to use no third party , it even answers your phone. There is a Sup section just click on that gives you everything plus I use it for kiting and gives you boost and hang time. you also get stroke rate , heart rate , distance , max speed ect ect on your Sup .

By far the easiest high tech thing I have purchased. Leave it on at night measures your heart rate and sleep patterns all in the Garmin app.

Thanks Piros....
Good to hear you have this suite pretty wired. Hadn't thought of being able to pair with a camera as well and a quick look at the Virb Ultra 30 is impressive. God, more toys!!
I've got the app downloaded and it seems pretty straight forward.... now to get out and record some stuff!

Cheers

Im big thumbs up for the rip curl.
I got as a gift, would i buy myself hmm not sure as pricey but they are good.
I have set myself a goal for 150 surfs this year, currently on 35 so going to plan.
yeh good for checking speed on wave, thus far my top speed is 29.9 at Boat ramps. Think top speed on short board is around 27.
Good to keep track of wave count to prove to the non-believers and those that like the bed so you can gloat and prove it.
And yeh occasionally check the spagetti lines how much i have paddled.
I wear mine daily, took a bit to get used to as quite thick but no problem now.
Have to wear over wetties and even wettie tops as so thick.
i charge maybe once a fortnight, has gone flat once on me, in surf, actually kept the surf tho and just stopped and shut down, charged and synced and got till shut down time.
I have found got to sync regularly not only to take surfs off watch and reduce sync time but to update the gps. i find if i havent done this it sometimes takes a while to set before saying go surf.
I did make the mistake of leaving about 4-5 short surfs on then a lng one with 20+ waves and kept crashing on the sync. eventually got it.
you can clear the memory of the watch and reset.

Love my Rip Curl Search. Have not had any problems with it for some time now - although it was replaced/repaired 6 times...
Agree with all of CAUTIONS comments.

Ditto, I've been through 2 or 3 Trace units (I think they are out of business) but no issues with my SearchGPS. Love it, and the tracking, use it for kiteboarding too, pretty cool to see how far you go on a downwinder.