QLD
1080 posts
I have seen a few people say that they have had their watch bands on their Garmin watches break without warning, and hence their watch just descends to the bottom of the ocean never to be seen again.
I was in at my local Harvey Norman today getting a new watch under warranty (breakdown in GPS recording) and I asked the question as to whether the warranty would cover this circumstance. I may as well have asked what the square root is of 45678.
Has anyone who has lost a watch actually enquired as to the situation with warranty?
WA
574 posts
Interesting. Did the band suddenly give way, or did it happen during a crash or a gybe?
It really doesn't take much for these straps to come undone. If something catches the loose end of the band, it can easily be pulled open. Even with the two retaining loops on my Garmin watch, I've had the strap pulled right out of them and left hanging on my wrist by just the buckle. I was very lucky not to lose it.
I generally wear a long-sleeve wetsuit or rashie over my watch to prevent this from happening. If you search through these forums, you will also see that people have made custom covers out of old neoprene because losing watches in the water is not uncommon.
I don't think this would be covered under a warranty claim. In most of these situations, the band doesn't actually have a manufacturing defect or break I suspect. It simply gets pulled open or the pins give out under force.
QLD
1598 posts
Never use the Garmin rubber watch bands for watersports, the breaking of the band is almost guaranteed over time. I have a few brand new ones removed prior to the watch being used, always replace with a webbing band, and not one of those quick fit ones either.
Never broken a webbing band or lost a Fenix, but killed a lot due to start button failure,
.
SA
2753 posts
Hey mate, do you have a link of where you got yours ?
NSW
465 posts
I have been wearing a Garmin watch on my wrist for the last 10 years 24X7 except for when charging the battery about an hour a week. This includes a few hours a week swimming, a few hours a week cycling, and about 10-20 windsurfing sessions a year. My older Vivoactive had several of the clips that hold the excess band break and in need of replacement. I have never had the band itself fail or a watch fall off accidentally in any way. Of course I am sure it is possible if it got caught and a lot of force was applied. I think one key thing is to not do the band too tight for windsurfing so flexing muscles do not stretch it.
My old vivoactive is still in service with my son. I am amazed at the durability of the band given the extensive use it has had. He just 3D printed a new clip for it.
I did used to have a Garmin Swim (normal watch that does lap counting but no GPS), and I stopped using that when I got the vivoactive, and it sat in a drawer for many years, and then I cleaned the drawer and the band had fallen apart. That was purchased around 2014 and I discovered it fallen apart about 2 years ago.
NSW
8333 posts
I lost mine in a stack but I think it caught on something as I heard a crack / snap.
I now wear a Watch suit and it's great! GPS results are good and I don't have to worry about losing another watch.
I'd worn mine 5 years straight 24/7 . I think if I hadn't had that stack it would still be going.
