Few manufacturers are as synonymous with outside sports activities as Garmin. You’ll discover these health trackers and smartwatches on dozens of wrists at any 5K, marathon, or Ironman. You’ll additionally discover Garmin devotees amongst divers, thru-hikers, golfers, kiteboarders — you title it. However these units aren’t simply for athletes. The corporate’s made important strides in its life-style choices, so no matter your health degree, there’s a Garmin for everybody.
In case you’re coming from a extra conventional smartwatch, Garmin’s core strengths lie in health, GPS, adventuring, and sturdiness. These are hardy units that are supposed to face up to the weather and final weeks on a single cost. A number of fashions include offline maps, superior navigational options, and extra coaching metrics than some other platform. And though many wearable corporations have begun rolling out subscriptions, Garmin has publicly said it has no intention of charging its customers additional. That’s an excellent factor since Garmin units are typically on the pricier facet.
Garmins aren’t too shabby on smarts, both. Whereas extra fitness-focused than something from Apple, Google, or Samsung, there’s sufficient to get you the fundamentals like notifications after which some. For instance, most Garmins have fall detection and security options, and a number of of the most recent Garmins not too long ago obtained an FDA-cleared EKG characteristic. (You’ll want a telephone readily available, nevertheless, as just one Garmin mannequin has mobile connectivity.) Many Garmin units additionally assist offline music playback and include a small third-party app ecosystem.
There are a lot of Garmin watches to select from. No, significantly, there are six main lineups, and every has a mess of fashions. However no worries — I check a number of Garmins yearly and will help level you in the fitting route.
The most effective Garmin for runners
Sizes: 42mm w/ 18mm straps; 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 39g (42mm); 47g (46mm) / Battery life: As much as 15 days (42mm); 13 days (46mm) in smartwatch mode / Show sort: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB
Garmin has many operating watches, and lots of them are nice. However the Forerunner 265 or 265S (you probably have petite wrists) strikes a wonderful steadiness between value, characteristic set, battery life, and a vibrant OLED show.
That stated, the Forerunner 265 / 265S is a little bit of an odd duck. It comes a mere 9 months after its predecessor, the Forerunner 255, and is, in some ways, just about the identical watch. The primary distinction is the 265 has an OLED show in comparison with the 255’s memory-in-pixel display. Often, which means worse battery life, however on this case, we obtained a couple of week on a single cost with the always-on show enabled. With out it, you’ll be able to stand up to fifteen days. Provided that OLED is simpler to learn and simply, properly, seems to be nicer, that provides the 265 lineup an edge over the 255.
The 265 additionally has dual-frequency GPS (also referred to as multi-band). The gist is you get rather more correct maps in difficult environments like cities and dense forests as a result of you’ll be able to entry each the L1 and L5 satellite tv for pc frequencies. And even with dual-frequency GPS enabled, you continue to don’t lose a complete lot of battery life. I wore it throughout a half marathon with that and the AOD enabled, and I nonetheless had over 80 p.c battery by the point I obtained residence. That is additionally a wonderful value, as the vast majority of multi-band GPS watches value properly over $600.
My major grievance is $450, whereas not dangerous for Garmin, continues to be rather a lot when you think about that’s the identical value as smarter smartwatches with nice operating options. Some runners gained’t care. However when you’re on a funds — otherwise you’re new to operating and really feel iffy about spending that a lot — then take into account the Forerunner 165 sequence. It begins at $250 (add one other $50 for onboard music) and does virtually every part the 265 sequence does. The primary stuff you’re lacking are dual-frequency GPS and some extra area of interest sport profiles. However when you’re principally sticking to operating, fitness center tools, biking, swimming, and climbing, you’re lined.
Neither has all of Garmin’s coaching options, nevertheless it’s obtained what you’ll must run something from a 5K to a full marathon. That features a Race Predictor, which supplies you an estimate of what your finest time could be primarily based in your precise coaching. You too can use PacePro to determine your pacing technique for a race. You additionally get Garmin’s Coaching Readiness characteristic to assist gauge load and restoration, Garmin Coach plans, and a number of operating type metrics. It additionally helps offline music and security options like fall detection. The one factor they lack is superior mapping. (They nonetheless have trackback, point-to-point navigation, and real-time breadcrumb path assist, nevertheless.)
The most effective Garmin for endurance sports activities
Sizes: 42mm w/ 20mm straps; 47mm w/ 22mm straps; 51mm w/ 26mm straps / Weight: 42mm: 63g chrome steel, 58g titanium; 47mm: 78g chrome steel, 70g titanium; 51mm: 98g chrome steel, 88g titanium / Battery life: 42mm: as much as 10 days (4 with AOD); 47mm: as much as 16 days (6 with AOD); 51mm: as much as 31 days (11 with AOD) / Show sort: OLED / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM / Music storage: As much as 32GB
The Epix Professional will get you each health characteristic that Garmin has to supply. And I imply every part. It will frankly be simpler to let you know what the Epix Professional doesn’t have: issues which might be restricted to LTE smartwatches, like the power to make calls. (This used to incorporate EKGs, however Garmin has since pushed a firmware replace that brings this characteristic to its newest watches.) In any other case, you’ve obtained topographical maps, turn-by-turn navigation, and extra coaching metrics than even a seasoned triathlete would know what to do with.
The Professional is extra size-inclusive than the normal second-gen Epix, which solely is available in 47mm. You may get the Professional in that dimension, too, nevertheless it additionally is available in 42mm and 51mm. This was a serious grievance I had with the second-gen Epix final 12 months, and also you like to see corporations really take this type of factor significantly. The most effective half is the Professional fashions begin on the similar value because the common Epix did. You’ll need to pay $100 additional for supplies like titanium and sapphire crystal, however that’s additionally true of the usual Epix.
That stated, it muddies the waters when you’re making an attempt to choose between the Epix Professional, Fenix 7, or the Fenix 7 Professional. The primary distinction is the Epix watches have OLED shows. One purpose I choose OLED is that they’re a lot simpler to learn indoors — the place most of us spend the vast majority of our time. The Fenix 7 sequence’ memory-in-pixel shows (plus photo voltaic charging when you go for it) permit for weeks and weeks of cost, however the smallest Epix Professional can get round 10 days with regular utilization. The 47mm and 51mm Professional fashions can go longer between costs as a result of larger batteries, however I felt that the 42mm has sufficient juice to fulfill most use instances. Garmin additionally has so many battery-saving modes and choices that I extremely doubt this may ever be a problem.
However actually the successful characteristic is the hands-free flashlight. It’s so helpful in my day-to-day life, and all it’s a must to do is double-press a button. It’s as brilliant as your smartphone, comes with a purple gentle possibility if you would like one thing simpler on the eyes, and might act as a strobe in an emergency scenario. The Fenix 7 Professional watches even have a flashlight, however the combo with the OLED show offers the Epix the sting — and it’s why I presently advocate it over the Fenix lineup.
However when you’re set on the Fenix’s additional battery life, I like to recommend the 7 Professional over the usual 7 for a number of causes. Its MIP show is barely brighter, all sizes have the flashlight, and, just like the Epix Professional, it has an up to date sensor array. These are spendy watches, nevertheless. In case you’ve obtained a while and financial savings are your prime precedence, then I like to recommend protecting an eye fixed out for gross sales. We’re heading into the vacation purchasing season, which implies there needs to be loads of reductions forward, particularly on older fashions like the usual Fenix 7 line.
The most effective Garmin on a funds
Sizes: 40mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 19g / Battery life: As much as 5 days / Show sort: “Hidden” OLED touchscreen / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A
What I like most concerning the Vivomove Sport is it doesn’t appear to be what most individuals anticipate from a Garmin. It’s a hybrid smartwatch, which implies it seems to be like an everyday watch however can observe health and ship notifications. Garmin’s hybrids are additionally distinctive in that all of them use an OLED show that stays hidden till you want it.
That is finest fitted to a casually energetic one that desires fashion and worth in a light-weight package deal. Assume wellness, extra so than health. It will get you steady coronary heart price monitoring and blood oxygen degree monitoring and might even present irregular coronary heart price alerts. You additionally get entry to extra in-depth metrics like respiration price, health age, stress, and Physique Battery, which is Garmin’s instrument for visualizing how well-rested you’re. For sensible options, you get all of the fundamentals, like notifications, alarms, and timers.
The Sport isn’t fairly as full-featured as another Garmins you’ll discover on this listing. For example, you’re giving up built-in GPS in favor of tethered GPS via your telephone. There are not any contactless funds, neither is there a microphone or speaker for taking calls on the wrist. However this is a funds decide, and also you get rather a lot, contemplating that is an entry-level gadget that would go for a Swatch at a look.
I don’t love that the battery life is brief for a hybrid, at round three to 4 days. Even so, that’s nonetheless a lot better than what you’ll get on an Apple Watch or Put on OS 3 watch. In case you’re keen to spend about $100 extra, the $269.99 Vivomove Pattern has extra stylish supplies, will get you extra display actual property, and wi-fi Qi charging. In any other case, it is a nice life-style wearable that may function a classier various to your typical health band.
In case you choose one thing newer to the Sport that’s additionally trendy, the Garmin Lily 2 is one other good possibility, particularly when you’ve obtained notably small wrists or choose one thing extraordinarily light-weight. The swipe and faucet gestures are nonetheless somewhat fiddly to make use of — which was additionally the case with the first-gen mannequin — however they’ve been barely improved. The recent design can also be a enjoyable approach to calmly monitor your health with out bogging your self down with notifications.
The most effective Garmin to interchange a Fitbit
Sizes: 40mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: As much as 11 days / Show sort: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 4GB (for Music Version)
In case you have been dissatisfied by the Fitbit Sense 2 and Versa 4, the Venu Sq 2 is the following smartest thing (and, in some methods, higher).
At a look, the Venu Sq 2 may simply be mistaken for an Apple Watch. On the wrist, you’ll discover it’s manufactured from plastic, nevertheless it nonetheless seems to be fairly stylish and very light-weight. The display is brilliant, straightforward to learn, and appears higher than any Versa or Sense ever did.
The characteristic set can also be nice for the value, with built-in GPS, a ton of watch faces, emergency security options, and contactless funds. In case you pay $50 extra for the Music Version, you’ll additionally get about 500 songs price of storage, however we wouldn’t advocate it. This doesn’t have mobile connectivity and, due to this fact, isn’t really standalone. You’ll probably be carrying your telephone with you anyway.
As for well being options, the Venu Sq 2 principally has every part you’d get on a Versa or Sense smartwatch however with Garmin’s treasure trove of metrics as properly. That features coronary heart price monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, depth minutes (how a lot average train you get in every week), stress monitoring, hydration monitoring, respiratory price, interval monitoring, and Garmin’s restoration characteristic, Physique Battery. So far as health goes, you additionally get entry to Garmin Coach, which offers free 5K, 10K, and half marathon coaching plans. You like to see it.
One other huge leg-up Garmin has over Fitbit? None of those options or metrics are locked behind a paywall.
The most effective Garmin smartwatch
Sizes: 41mm w/ 18mm straps; 45mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 40g for the 3S; 47g for the three / Battery life: As much as 10 days for 3S; 14 days for 3 / Show sort: OLED touchscreen / GPS: GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 8GB
Garmin has shored up the smarts in its watches over the previous few years, and the Venu 3 sequence is the neatest of the bunch.
The Venu 3 sequence is available in two sizes: 41mm and 45mm. Just like the Venu 2 Plus, it has a microphone and speaker. You possibly can take calls instantly from the wrist in addition to situation instructions to your telephone’s digital assistant by way of Bluetooth. It’s not the identical as having Siri, Bixby, Amazon Alexa, or Google Assistant constructed instantly into the watch, nevertheless it’s a intelligent workaround that works properly for hands-free management. It additionally helps security options like fall detection and stay monitoring in addition to contactless funds.
Like different OLED Garmins, the show is each vibrant and straightforward to learn. As for well being and health, you get a pleasant mixture of primary and extra superior options and metrics. It has Garmin’s newest coronary heart price sensor, which allows FDA-cleared EKG and AFib detection options. General, it leans a bit extra on the wellness and well being facet of issues, with depth minutes, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep monitoring, interval monitoring, irregular coronary heart price alerts, and stress monitoring. As for coaching, you continue to get built-in GPS, VO2 Max, coronary heart price zones, respiration price, and downloadable coaching plans by way of Garmin Coach.
New to the three and 3S is a sleep coach that components in metrics like coronary heart price variability and up to date exercise to find out your sleep wants. It additionally lastly provides nap detection, a characteristic that’s been lengthy overdue for the Garmin platform. The Venu 3 sequence additionally provides audio-guided meditation classes, and you may view how these classes instantly affect your metrics. From an accessibility standpoint, this additionally provides a brand new wheelchair mode.
That is the Garmin for you if you would like the platform’s in-depth coaching with out sacrificing the productiveness of a smartwatch. The primary issues it’s missing are mobile choices and a sturdy third-party app ecosystem. That stated, it’s obtained Spotify, Amazon Music, and Deezer for offline listening. It’s additionally an excellent possibility when you’re fed up with MIP shows and desire a smarter Garmin relatively than a full-on smartwatch.
Replace, September twentieth: Up to date pricing/availability and added a point out of the Garmin Lily 2. Antonio G. Di Benedetto additionally contributed to this submit.