SpencerR wrote:
FORM makes sense because you cant check your watch while swimming.
For running, you can easily check your watch.
For biking, you can easily check your computer.
I'm not sure why anyone would use these over a watch/computer for run/bike.
Bumping this old thread because I work for ENGO, and maybe I can shed some light on how this works and why we made it.
Running: The dirty secret of running watches is that you need to slow down to read them - if you can read them at all (as others have noted). Compulsively checking your watch to make sure you're on pace adds up to a lot of time. If your game is about managing pace, it's great to have pace in your natural field of view. No more anxiety / constantly checking your watch. Anyone with a reverse split / fast-finish marathon or tri strategy will benefit from ENGO. If you do ultras or like to explore, ENGO will keep your key metrics in your field of view, and enable you to use the full Garmin display for navigation. Setup a primary/secondary display configuration - no need to press buttons and attempt to control the device while maintaining pace. And then, consider the merit of realtime data: With the Apple Watch, you can view running dynamics in realtime - vertical oscillation, stride, etc. So you can adjust your mechanics in realtime, and feel the change in realtime. This isn't possible without ENGO.
Cycling: Good points have been made re: safety and legibility. There was also a point re: Aero testing. It's a thing - drop your head to check the computer and lose watts, lose aero, lose time. Like running, with ENGO it's possible to setup a primary/secondary display config. This is really nice for Strava, e.g., view your power, HR, cadence in the ENGO display - and make Strava or Nav LARGER on the Garmin display. Strava info does not display in ENGO because Garmin and Strava do not make this data available to 3rd parties (yet). But you can setup your own custom dashboard to make using the data easier. Live segments are easier to read when they have more real estate, for example. I know this community is all about tri, but there are probably a few members here who look at events like Leadville or BWR, who can benefit from prioritizing and segmenting data types to focus on their goals and however they prefer to manage effort. I wouldn't drive a car if the dashboard was the size of a Garmin and mounted at the bottom of my steering wheel - but that's what cyclists presently accept.
Not sure why anyone would use this over a watch or computer? Actually, you NEED a watch or computer to use this. It's just a display. It relies on the sensors and data from a device you already own - presently, that means a Garmin watch / computer, or an Apple Watch (it's great with the Ultra).
Why does it cost more than Form? Much more expensive display. ENGO is the lightest "HUD" type product by far at 36g, which is about the same as some Oakleys (etc) without a display, battery, wireless chip, and processor. 12h battery life - so plenty for competition. And $329 is much less than Recon, Solos, or Garmin's Varia HUD. All of those products were significantly heavier, with shorter battery life, and much more expensive.
Where Form uses a relatively large (and less expensive) display to ensure you can read it while swimming (while you're not looking at anything else), ENGO uses a much smaller micro display with higher res and probably higher brightness (not sure) to achieve good contrast in a range of ambient light conditions. The premise is the same: Athletes benefit from realtime data. Unlike Form, ENGO does not provide coaching or structured content - because there are already a bunch of apps that do this well for running and cycling.
If you can find a lighter, brighter HUD for sports, with better battery life, at a lower cost, you should buy it!
I'm not here all the time, but I will check back and will gladly try to answer any Qs. We built the product for tri and endurance sports - if there's a community that can put realtime data to use for marginal gains, it's this one.
The reason why HUDs are mainly used in an aviation or military context is because pilots and soldiers need realtime situational awareness and a hands-free UX. Not that different than elite athletes when you think about it.
Final comment: ENGO has a 30-day return policy. If it's not for you, return it. We know it's not for everyone. There will be some techies and early adopters who simply need to have it. But the people who will benefit the most are the ones who know what to do with the data that they choose to display to achieve a goal. Going for Sub 3? Sub 2.5? This might just help you get there. If you're already comfortable playing with Garmin data fields, you'll probably put ENGO to good use in no time.
Super appreciate the comments and feedback here. This is new, and we are still fully learning utility and benefits from people who are first experiencing it and putting it to work. We're also learning where we need to improve, and look forward to applying feedback to whatever we do next.
Thanks for reading!