Oh I will try that! I haven not. I’ve only really focused on the charge cable port since that gets mucked up. Thanks!
What method of cleaning the port do you use? I guess I’m lucky because I just got my 955 replaced for the 4th time and they were so tired of me sending them back that they also sent me a Swim 2 for free just to swim with.
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I used to use a toothbrush and just some diluted dish soap. Don’t hammer the barometer holes with anything too stiff.
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Documented e.g. here https://old.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1blz701/pace_3_favero_assioma_low_power/ and here https://old.reddit.com/r/Coros/comments/1edims0/cycling_duel_power_meter/, and they confirmed it when I asked. It wouldn’t be the first time an update made things worse in a boring unflashy way.
I had a Coros Pace 2 which was working fine as my first sports watch. Unfortunately, after the warranty period passed, the dial stopped working, so it was essentially unusable except as a rudimentary timepiece. Though Coros offered a partial refund if I purchased another watch, I passed on this offer because all their watches are constructed with the dial. (You can search online such as on reddit for reports from others about the malfunctioning dial.)
I didn’t want to risk having this kind of failure again, so I bought a Garmin Instinct 2 that was discounted to < $180. It’s working fine and has a long battery life.
Price is right.
I experienced the same issue with the Epix Gen 2 Sapphire. I recently received the refurbished unit, but I’m considering selling it and using my backup Garmin 235 instead, as keeping a $1,000 watch that offers little value to me doesn’t seem practical. Since I don’t swim with a watch and rely on a cycling computer during rides, I find limited use for a high-end triathlon watch.
It doesn’t really matter if the altimeter on your watch is broken because you should always use the elevation correction feature in Strava and Training Peaks regardless. That is the only way to get accurate elevation data.
What about people who do not use Strava or Training Peaks or want to see accurate data in their Garmin Connect environment?
You can also change the survey type in GC How do I Change the Elevation Source in Garmin Connect? | Garmin Support
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Thanks, you beat me to it. These elevation correction features use DOD and other data sets to combine with your GPS and very accurately represent your true elevation. As the garmin site says, even the best altimeter in a device doesnt get it right in all conditions. Sometimes its not even close. If you are really making TSS decisions from the elevation data your watch is giving you you are doing it wrong.
It depends on what you are trying o achieve I guess. If you want a better record of your total El. Gain and El. Loss then you should correct it. If you are just after a reasonably accurate TSS then I say don’t bother.
In practice I feel that most runners don’t need it to be that accurate, they just need elevation not to fail and suddenly ramp the data up from wherever they are to 8,000m. Which is what the probably always seems to be.
If it is consistently a bit wrong then it doesn’t affect TSS that much. It’s when it suddenly jumps, effecting Normalized Graded Pace and rTSS. If I go in and correct a lot of my runs the TSS doesn’t change very much.
My 10 month old 965 altimeter died last week. The Garmin CS person told me that when chlorine dries on the sensor, it cracks it. I wear the watch in the shower, but that’s not enough of a rinse.
Seems like a pretty bad design flaw… especially since the watch could pull elevation data from the GPS.
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All the altimeters die. The watch will work fine otherwise. For years. Do elevation correction on Strava or other afterwards it’s a lot more accurate anyway.
for $600, I’d prefer a watch that’s fully functional 10 months after I bought it. I feel like that’s a reasonable ask.
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I could sell you my ambit S. Has worked fine since 2015. In itself and comparing with some of your experiences it makes it valuable !
My wife had a Garmin which lasted just 2 years. I have been tempted to buy a new watch, just for the fun of it. My biggest criticism would be that the outdoor GPS watch is pretty poor.
if i had to buy a new one, i would look at the Coros 3 too.
Has anybody seen the review of the Kospet watch by Matt Hanson. I had never heard the name before
Buying a GPS watch is like buying a car. Buy new, get all the features, longest warranty, most expensive. Buy a year or two used, most of the features, warranty running out, less expensive. Buy a beater a few years old, missing modern features, no warranty, least expensive. If you opt for new, just like a car, the most value is keeping it forever, until it dies and has no resale (maybe parts). Next best might be keeping it a year or two and selling while it still has some value and buying the next shiny thing new. Different strokes and all that. I have been a ‘buy and hold’ for my last three Garmin GPS watches (FR305, FR 920XT, FR 955 - although I did sell that 920XT for a few bucks despite its advanced age). My 955 is 2.5 y/o and, if a 975 emerges this summer, I might be tempted b/c the 955 probably could still attract a few bucks on eBay. But there is no doubt that the prices of new GPS watches are insulting, at least from the ‘most known’ vendors.
@giorgitd thanks for bringing this angle into the convo; it’s a valuable one.
To be dead honest, I think it’s pretty much the only valuable angle to look at most / all purchases that are not needed [ toilet paper, hydro bill, etc. ].
Expanding on this a bit: I look at all of these in terms of $ / hr or $ / month of enjoyment & actual use and need of the functions.
Important Pt 1: When the $ / mo gets too high, I won’t pay it, period. I don’t care how cool, neat, or useful it is. $ 1000 / 2 yrs = $ 41.67 / mo. I’m not giving half that per mo to anyone for a damn fitness watch. Eat your own shorts, buddy; stuff it some place uncomfortable, and come back to the table with a realistic cost ! 
Important Pt 2: “Am I actually going to get use out of these features ? If so, how much value do I give it / mo ?”
If someone makes a fit watch that makes popcorn and folds the laundry, that’s neat, but for $ 1000, I’ll just fold my own laundry, thanks.
My watch is to track my Ws, HR, cadence, speed, time, etc, and report it back to intervals.
I have had it for 10 yrs now, and that cost over the past 5 - 7 yrs is essentially $ 0 / mo. I’m quite happy w that. I’d pay a few $ / mo for some more features that were actually useful, but only a few. I’m not going to pay even half $ / mo that my internet costs, etc.
Many ppl don’t stop to consider this: The $ / mo, and how much use and enjoyment they will get from it vs. putting that money to other things, that they enjoy more. Great food, dinners out w their partner, vacations, ride trips, etc.
The company just says “Give me $ 950 for this, bc it has GPS and a bigger display now.” and ppl just sorta roll their eyes and open their wallets.
Most Important Point, #3: Companies are not going to stop price gouging, and start increasing prices at a fair rate, until ppl stop buying their new fancy junk.
If you happily [ or begrudgingly… ] agree to pay me either $ 100 or $ 200, at my choice, for the same item, I will take the $ 200.
If I come back in two years and you agree to pay $ 400, because the item broke, and you need a new one, I will take it.
I will only give it to you for $ 100 if you refuse to pay the $ 200, and don’t buy it.
Just say ‘No’. 
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Posts have devolved a bit from the original poster’s question about a good budget conscious replacement for a Garmin Forerunner 745. That said, I will continue the divergence a bit…
A while ago, I generally shopped for my watch and bike tech from a value and necessity point of view - I bought the device that met my core needs and held onto it until either it died or current products had major advances. Now, I am totally different. Triathlon is a hobby, and the tech is part of that hobby. I enjoy having the latest tech in general, and staying with latest tech is not overly expensive if I can sell my old stuff.
So, part of my hobby is buying the latest-and-greatest tech and selling my old thing. The incremental cost is actually not that high, because my net upgrade cost is typically $200 to $200 every 3-ish years.
Garmin just announced the 970 for $750 USD. That is a crapton of coin, and normally I would order by default. But my quick compare is that it may be less than my 965 - heavier and shorter battery life. So, this may be the first top-tier Garmin I do not buy.
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Yeah. For reference…FR955 released 5/2022 at $499 (MIPS, not AMOLED). FR965 released 3/2023 at $599 (AMOLED). So, if the early reports are true, this is a +$150 increase for the FR970 (AMOLED) over the FR965 (at their respective releases). pink | What could be responsible for such a large increase? /pink
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