Whether you are a professional triathlete, avid hiker or occasional exerciser, investing in one of the best Garmin watches can be invaluable to achieving your health and fitness goals. From the high-end Garmin Enduro 2 to the more wallet-friendly Garmin Vivosmart 5, these state-of-the-art wearables are packed with features designed to help you excel. However, they are not particularly cheap — which is why so many people look for Garmin deals during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.
"Garmin watches typically offer more robust navigation, performance metrics and sports modes than Apple Watches or the best Fitbits. They are also built to withstand more extreme conditions and offer longer battery life, especially in GPS mode," Sergii Putsov, a professional weightlifter and the Head of Sport Science at Torokhtiy Weightlifting, told Live Science. Simply put, they are some of the best fitness trackers on the market. Scroll down to the Garmin watches FAQs section to read more about the potential benefits of owning a Garmin wearable.
However, picking the right model is not easy. To help you make the best choice possible, we have tried and tested some of the best Garmin watches out there. We looked at their durability, features and performance, both in the gym and in the great outdoors. You can read more about our testing protocol in the How we test section down below.
The quick list
Best overall
Sturdy, thoughtfully designed and jam-packed with health and fitness tracking features, this excellent all-rounder offers great value for money.
Best mid-range
Designed with fitness enthusiasts in mind, this watch offers plenty of excellent workout tracking features, but it does not cost the earth.
Best for daily use
This Garmin smartwatch is stylish, comfortable to wear and brimming with smart features, making it a perfect choice for 24/7 wear.
Best on a budget
This band strikes a great balance between quality and affordability, offering top-notch accuracy and plenty of features for less than $150.
Best for triathletes
This solar-powered watch has everything a triathlete may want: a water-resistant design, excellent tracking accuracy and long battery life.
Best for high-end features
Want the traditional Garmin functionality, but not the rugged looks? This premium watch combines high-end features with a no-nonsense design.
The best Garmin watches we recommend in 2024: Fully tested by our experts with real-world experience
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The best Garmin watch overall
✅ You are looking for a swimming watch: It has 10ATM water resistance.
✅ You want an outdoor watch: It comes with downloadable maps, reliable GPS and a sturdy design.
✅ You want in-depth health and fitness stats: The Fenix 7 is an excellent tool for boosting exercise performance.
❌ You are on a budget: The Fenix 7 costs from $599 to $999.
❌ You want to track your sleep: It may be too bulky for comfortable overnight wear.
🔎 Garmin Fenix 7: Big, bold and sturdy, the Garmin Fenix 7 won our seal of approval with its unbeatable tracking performance, long battery life and stacks of features. It is, however, quite expensive. ★★★★½
The Fenix 7 is our all-time favorite Garmin watch. This mainstream flagship model is not the most expensive or advanced wearable the money can buy, but if you want the encapsulation of what a Garmin watch is, the Garmin Fenix 7 will not disappoint you. It is sturdy, stylish and packed to the brim with tracking features — and it boasts excellent battery life.
What does it offer over cheaper Garmin fitness watches? It has excellent on-watch maps and enough internal storage for huge amounts of data. No mobile internet required.
Moreover, the Fenix 7 gets the latest generation of Elevate heart rate tech, introduced in the Venu 2. We were impressed by how well it keeps up with changes in exertion, and how closely it tracks with our benchmark chest strap band.
A Fenix 7 also provides deeper connections to outboard kit than, say, an Instinct 2. It can control a smart turbo trainer, for example.
During our Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar review, we found it heavy and bulky for comfy sleep tracking, but there are solutions within the range. The Garmin Fenix 7S is a smaller version, or you can upgrade to the standard-size Fenix 7 with a titanium casing and Sapphire glass. It is noticeably lighter.
The main point to think about here is whether a Fenix 7 will be overkill. Unless you are a fitness fiend you may be as happy with a Venu 2 Plus. And aside from maps and a couple of connectivity extras, the Instinct 2 may do the trick.
- Read our full review of the Garmin Fenix 7
Best mid-range Garmin watch
✅ You want in-depth workout tracking features: This watch tracks more than 100 activities and provides a detailed overview of exercise performance.
✅ You are looking for a running watch: It is light and comfortable to wear.
❌ You want exceptional durability: Its casing and bezel are made of plastic.
❌ You want downloadable maps: This watch will show you your 'breadcrumb' trail, but it will not store the data on the watch itself.
🔎 Garmin Forerunner 265: This beautifully designed fitness tracker offers the best of Garmin's features at a reasonable price — but it is not as durable as the pricier models. ★★★★½
The Forerunner 265 is an enthusiast fitness watch that has an OLED screen instead of the transflective style seen in almost all Garmins until recent years. An athlete-grade fitness watch with brilliant fitness tracking features, we rated it highly in our Garmin Forerunner 265 review, enjoying its versatility as a sports watch.
Wondering how it fits in the range? The Forerunner 265 is a Forerunner 255 with OLED. It is a Garmin Epix alternative that puts much less of a dent in your savings. Or it is a Garmin Venu 2 that trades in a little design gloss for some more advanced fitness features.
We reviewed the pink Forerunner 265S 42mm, the smaller alternative to the standard 46mm version. It is still larger than the Pixel Watch.
The watch is very similar to the Forerunner 255. Its casing and bezel are plastic — fiber-reinforced polymer as Garmin calls it — and the screen is toughened glass. It is an older type, though, Gorilla Glass 3. You lose the stainless steel bezel of the Venu 2 series, but this does help keep the weight low.
Weighing 40g, the Forerunner 265S is 6g lighter than the standard Forerunner 265. As a result it is a comfortable watch, although you can likely improve it further by switching out the strap. The supplied silicone strap does a great job during sports activities, but if you tighten it up for a more precise heart rate reading, it may leave a trail of indentations on your wrist. We found it somewhat hard not to over-tighten this watch, for some reason.
The screen is the star of the show here, though. It is a 1.1-inch 360 x 360 pixel OLED, or a 1.3-inch 416 x 416 pixel one in the Forerunner 265. While it does not fill out the front of the watch like the Apple Watch Series 8’s display, this little screen has everything we are looking for.
It is very sharp, super-colorful, and easily bright enough to work for outdoors exercise sessions on sunny days. This screen’s job is to make an argument for itself over the Forerunner 255’s transflective screen, and it is pretty persuasive, particularly when it is a touch display too. The Forerunner 255’s is not.
- Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review
Best Garmin watch for smartwatch features
✅ You are looking for a swimming watch: It features 10ATM water resistance.
✅ You want a reliable outdoor watch: The Epix 2 offers excellent on-watch maps.
✅ You want a stylish smartwatch: It works just as well with casual wear as it does with gym gear.
❌ You are on a budget: It costs from $600 to $1100.
❌ You want exceptional battery life: This watch lasts around a week on a single charge.
🔎 Garmin Epix 2: This sleek running watch offers a crisp AMOLED display, plenty of features and the unbeatable Garmin's tracking accuracy — but it comes with a steep price tag. ★★★★
For more than five years, the original Garmin Epix was the watch to buy for hikers who needed on-watch maps. You can now get great maps in other watches, so the second iteration of this flagship model is best described as a Fenix 7 with a lovely OLED screen. During our Garmin Epix 2 review, we were impressed by its combination of in-depth tracking features and smartwatch functionality.
It is sharper, bolder and more colourful, and this helps how those maps look on-screen, too. However, after a few weeks of living with the Epix 2, we appreciated its OLED screen most when at home. It makes the Garmin Epix 2 a flashier-looking, more smartwatch-like watch than the Fenix 7. All the main features are the same, though. You get great depth and heart-rate accuracy and GPS that is fast to connect.
Where’s the catch? The Garmin Epix 2 is pricey, starting much higher than the base Fenix 7. Were they priced the same the Epix would be sitting at the top of this list.
One final thing: an OLED screen means the Epix 2 does not last as long as the Fenix 7 in its always-on mode, where the screen stays lit. It lasts around six days between charges, not the two weeks and change you will see from the Fenix. Some will find this off-putting, but we review full smartwatches that last a day or so regularly. In that context just under a week of use does not seem remotely off-putting.
- Read our full review of the Garmin Epix 2
Best Garmin watch for daily use
✅ You want good value for money: It offers excellent tracking features and thoughtful design at a reasonable price.
✅ You want a running watch: It is light and comfortable to wear.
❌ You want in-depth health stats: It offers a lighter approach to data than premium models like the Fenix 7.
❌ You want an outdoor watch: This watch does not support downloadable maps.
🔎 Garmin Venu 2 Plus: This sleek all-rounder is durable, compact and comfortable to wear all day. It is also cheaper than some of the top-shelf Garmin models. ★★★★½
The Venu series sees Garmin branch out from its running watch roots to explore smartwatch-like designs. This watch is slimmer, lighter and — as a result — many folks will find it more comfortable than the flagship models. It is also more stylish and reserved than the Garmin norm, making the Venu 2 Plus a great choice for 24/7 wear.
This watch has a sharp and punchy OLED screen, which looks far more vibrant than the transflective displays of the Forerunner, Fenix and Instinct series, particularly indoors.
Is it a slam dunk for smartwatch tech, then? Not quite. If you want the screen to stay lit all day, you will see the battery life halve from 7-9 days to around four days. Not bad for a smartwatch, but plenty of Garmin alternatives last longer.
During our Garmin Venu 2 Plus review, we also found that it lacked the full on-watch maps. The Forerunner 955 features them, and it does not differ much in price. While you get maps of your runs and hikes in the Garmin Connect app on your phone after the fact, you can’t fully navigate on the watch itself.
It is less of an adventuring watch as a result, but excels as a wearable to enjoy all through the day, and for exercise around your local area. The heart rate hardware is effectively the same as that of the more expensive Garmin watches, for example.
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus has a few special tricks too, like an on-board speaker and voice support for Google Assistant, Apple Siri and Samsung Bixby. It feels a bit clunkier than interacting with Siri on an Apple Watch, but is a first for Garmin. If those digital assistant smarts do not appeal you may also want to consider the “non Plus” Venu 2. It is a bit cheaper, perhaps looks a little less slick, but otherwise has a very similar set of features.
- Read our review of the Garmin Venu 2 Plus model
Best Garmin for triathletes
✅ You want long battery life: It lasts up to a month on a single charge.
✅ You are looking for a swimming watch: This watch features 10ATM water resistance.
✅ You want good value for money: It costs from $200 to $400.
❌ You want music on the go: It does not support music apps.
❌ You want something small and inconspicuous: This watch has a relatively chunky build.
🔎 Garmin Instinct 2: This rugged watch was made with professional athletes in mind. It features an ultra-durable build, advanced tracking features and long battery life, but its design may not be up to everyone's taste. ★★★★
You can probably tell the Garmin Instinct 2 angle from a glance. This is a super-rugged, chunky outdoor wearable for those who do not care if their watch looks a bit bulky. In return, the Instinct 2 can last up to a month between charges and has 10ATM water resistance, double that of most other good wearables at the price — everything triathletes may want from a watch.
The Instinct 2 is hard to beat for long hiking weekends away from a charging point. However, there are reasons the Instinct 2 only costs half as much as some flagship Garmin. The screen is relatively small and monochrome, although the little inverted porthole is a great way to highlight one particular stat, like your heart rate. We grew to love this little circle during our Garmin Instinct 2S Solar review.
The Garmin Instinct 2 also lacks full map support, which is a major drawback in an adventuring watch like this. You can see a “breadcrumb” trail of where you have been, but not the surrounding terrain and roads because the watch does not store its own mapping data. It can help you avoid getting hopelessly lost, but will not let you map routes on the fly.
There is no local music playback either, the Instinct 2 can only control music played on your phone.
We found several reasons to pick another model. But the Instinct 2’s tracking accuracy is great and the sheer low-maintenance breeziness of a watch that seems to last forever between charges and is happy to truck on wherever you go should not be underestimated.
- Read our full Garmin Instinct 2S Solar review
Best budget Garmin watch
✅ You do not need the frills: It tracks all the basic health and workout stats — and it does it well.
✅ You want something light and comfortable: No chunky design.
✅ You are on a budget: It costs $150.
❌ You are looking for an outdoor watch: No GPS or on-watch maps.
❌ You want exceptional durability: This watch is made largely out of plastic.
🔎 Garmin Vivosmart 5: One of the most affordable options in the Garmin line-up, the light and compact Vivosmart 5 is a reliable no-frills fitness tracker — but only for exercising indoors. ★★★
If you are set on Garmin as a brand but do not want a big-faced watch, the Vivosmart 5 is a reliable and affordable band, making it suitable for people looking for something small, light and unobtrusive.
For a small watch, it has got a lot of good features. It can record your heart rate and steps, and it estimates your stress and breathing rate. It also monitors your sleep overnight and it can look at your blood oxygenation.
However, it does not have its own GPS so it can’t be used for phone-free runs. The screen’s top layer is plastic too, which is much softer than a good toughened glass and more likely to pick up scuffs and scrapes.
During our Garmin Vivosmart 5 review, our tester undertook a handful of long workouts with the Vivosmart 5 on one arm and the Garmin Enduro 2 on the other. Each time, both watches recorded the exact same maximum heart rate, and each time there was only a slight disparity in the average heart rate across the session, by a margin of 1-2 bpm. The Vivosmart 5’s step counts seemed fine and the stress tracking feature is good — although we found stress graphs are much better viewed in the Connect app on your phone than the band’s own tiny screen.
Overall? The Garmin Vivosmart 5 performs well for a casual fitness tracker and offers better tracking accuracy and more thoughtful software than the vast majority of trackers of this style.
- Read our full Garmin Vivosmart 5 review
Best Garmin watch for occasional exercisers
✅ You are looking for a basic fitness tracker: Great accuracy without in-depth fitness stats.
✅ You want a stylish watch: It is one of the best looking Garmin wearables.
✅ You want something light and comfortable: It does not overload your wrist with heavy machinery.
❌ You want exceptional battery life: It lasts up to five days on a single charge.
❌ You want an outdoor watch: No GPS or on-watch maps.
🔎 Garmin Vivomove Sport: Small, discreet and budget-friendly fitness watch without the bells and whistles of more premium models. Perfect for occasional exercisers, but too basic for those who train with performance in mind. ★★★★
The Garmin Vivomove Sport is a straightforward tracker — perfect for occasional exercisers. A lot of bells and whistles have been stripped out of this model, including in-built GPS. While this does mean that it is less accurate for measuring distances, it also means that it is a lot cheaper than the other watches in this list.
And as long as you have a smartphone to pair with the watch, you will not miss that GPS. The watch can actually calculate distance on its own if you input your average step-to-km count. However, during our Garmin Vivomove Sport review, we did not find that method particularly accurate – so we would recommend hooking it up to your phone on a run.
One of the biggest selling points of this watch is its aesthetics. Unlike most Garmin trackers, it does not look out of place when you are wearing it during working hours. It is also fairly light at just 33.8g, so you can happily wear it throughout the day and evening without it feeling cumbersome.
It tracks a variety of workouts, including pool swimming and yoga. And unlike a lot of the models in this list, you are not likely to feel overwhelmed by its features and functionality. As such, we would recommend this model for anyone who needs a fairly lightweight bit of kit to track general workouts – but it is probably not the best fit for endurance athletes and marathon runners.
A final note on battery life: while Garmin claims that the model can last for five or six days without charge, during our testing period we could only get it to last for four days max. While this is better than some trackers (like the Apple Watch 7) it is disappointing when compared to the likes of the Enduro model, also in this list.
- Read our full Garmin Vivomove Sport review
Best Garmin watch for high-end features
✅ You want in-depth fitness tracking features: Great for runners and passionate gym goers.
✅ You want an outdoor watch: It features on-watch maps and GPS navigation.
❌ You are on a budget: It costs from $600 to $700.
❌ You want exceptional durability: It is not plastic-made, but it is not sturdy, either.
🔎 Garmin Forerunner 965: This top-end Garmin running watch combines high-end features with a crisp display and user-friendly design, but it compromises on durability. ★★★★½
The Garmin Forerunner 965 strikes a great balance between looks and functionality. It is a great option if you want durability and traditional Garmin features, but you are not keen on the rugged looks.
During our Garmin Forerunner 965 review, we liked its no-nonsense design, but we were not fond of its high price tag given it is a watch with a plastic shell. The Forerunner 965, however, stepped up its design. While the main part of the shell is plastic “resin”, the bezel is titanium, a more expensive metal than steel.
Water resistance is lower too, at 5ATM, compared to the 10ATM of the Fenix 7. You want that higher rating if you plan on swimming any distance below the surface of the water.
However, we think lots of people are going to flat-out prefer the look of of the Forerunner 965. While it is not a small watch, and measures 47mm across, it is not an intimidating-looking one either. Don’t want to come across a try-hard? Get one of these or, even better, a small Forerunner 255S, rather than a Fenix.
A bit of OLED gloss aside, using a Forerunner 965 feels much like using an Epix 2 or Fenix 7. But there is nothing wrong with that, and the sense of really having an idea over how well your routine is working is quite powerful.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 perfectly encapsulates the Garmin's approach to quality and style. It takes the OLED screen tech of the Venu watches, and combines it with the high-end features of the Forerunner 955.
- Read our full Garmin Forerunner 965 review
Best Garmin watch for long trips
✅ You want a swimming watch: It features 10ATM water resistance.
✅ You want an outdoor watch: It features a reliable GPS and on-watch maps.
❌ You are on a budget: The Enduro 2 costs from $700 to $999.
❌ You want something light and comfortable: It features a relatively chunky design.
🔎 Garmin Enduro 2: The Rolls-Royce among Garmin watches, the Enduro 2 was made with hardcore fitness enthusiasts in mind, and its chunky design fully reflects that. ★★★★
No prizes for guessing what the Garmin Enduro 2 is all about. It is a watch that lasts an extremely long time between charges, and is aimed at endurance athletes. But we do not know any who would outlast this thing’s battery.
It is rated for 34 days of use in its "smartwatch" mode, or 46 days if you take use of its solar charging capabilities. Garmin says it can last up to a year in the power mode that basically turns it into a normal watch.
During our Garmin Enduro 2 review, we were also impressed by its features, the tracking accuracy depth and in-depth stats.
This is a high-quality, rugged watch with a stainless steel or titanium bezel and a predictably large 51mm wide watch face. A maxed-out battery requires some space. 10ATM water resistance means you can happily use it in the water too.
You can trust its route-tracking stats, and the TrackBack feature lets you see your previous route — handy for trail running and hikers.
However, the Enduro 2 is not the best fit for everyone. For one, it costs a small fortune, just like the priciest Fenix models and the Garmin Epix 2. We find that hard to justify when the Forerunner 955 and base Fenix 7 can do the same things, and cost a lot less.
- Read our full Garmin Enduro 2 review.
Best Garmin watches: Comparison
| Product | Rating | ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Fenix 7 | ★★★★½ | Ultra-durable, excellent battery life, on-watch maps, 10ATM water resistance. | Chunky design, relatively expensive. |
| Garmin Forerunner 265 | ★★★★½ | Good battery life, light and comfortable to wear, reasonably priced. | Plastic build, no downloadable maps. |
| Garmin Epix 2 | ★★★★ | Ultra-durable, excellent battery life, on-watch maps, 10ATM water resistance, crisp display. | One of the most expensive Garmin models. |
| Garmin Venu 2 Plus | ★★★★½ | Stylish design, light and comfortable to wear, reasonably priced. | No downloadable maps, no in-depth health stats. |
| Garmin Instinct 2 | ★★★★ | Durable, excellent battery life, 10ATM water resistance. reasonably priced. | Chunky design, no map support, no music apps. |
| Garmin Vivosmart 5 | ★★★ | Budget-friendly, light and comfortable to wear, great entry-level watch. | Plastic build, no GPS, no map support. |
| Garmin Vivomove Sport | ★★★★ | Stylish design, light and comfortable to wear, reasonably priced. | Relatively short battery life, no GPS, no on-watch maps. |
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | ★★★★½ | Good battery life, sleek design, comfortable to wear. | Plastic resin, relatively expensive. |
| Garmin Enduro 2 | ★★★★ | Ultra-durable, excellent battery life, on-watch maps, 10ATM water resistance. | One of the most expensive Garmin models. |
Our expert consultants
Sergii Putsov is a professional weightlifter, researcher and the Head of Sport Science at Torokhtiy Weightlifting, a coaching service founded by the Olympic weightlifter Oleksiy Torokhtiy. Sergii holds a master’s degree in Olympic & Professional Sports Training from the National University of Physical Education and Sport of Ukraine, as well as a PhD in Sports Science from the International Olympic Academy in Greece. He discussed the benefits and accuracy of Garmin watches and told us about his favorite models.
James Rodgers is an elite marathon runner and running coach certified by the United Endurance Sports Coaching Academy. He has over 20 years of running and racing experience, and his current 10K PB stands at 31.13 minutes. James told Live Science about the benefits of using Garmin watches for runners.
Best Garmin watches: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Garmin watch?
The Garmin Fenix 7 is one of the best Garmin watches money can buy. This rugged watch combines advanced fitness tracking abilities with durable design and up to to 57 hours of uninterrupted service in GPS mode, Putsov said. It also has 10ATM water resistance, downloadable maps and reliable GPS.
What is the best Garmin watch for runners?
The Garmin Forerunner watches are some of the best options for runners. For Rodgers, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is the best of them all. "It looks great; the display is bright and vibrant, and it has all the essential features that you need in a running watch and much more, including a huge battery life," he said.
What is the best budget Garmin watch?
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 and the Garmin Forerunner 55 are some of the best options on a tight budget. For example, the affordable Forerunner 55 offers multi-satellite GPS tracking, plenty of tracking features, user-friendly interface and a long-lasting battery life, Putsov said. Moreover, both Vivosmart 5 and Forerunner 55 are light and comfortable to wear all day.
Are Garmin watches waterproof?
Most Garmin wearables, including the Forerunner 255 and Venu 2 Plus, come with 5ATM water resistance. This means that they are water resistant to up to 50 meters in depth for 10 minutes, and suitable for shallow-water activities like swimming, snorkelling or diving into water. More advanced models like the Instinct 2 and Fenix 7 have 10ATM water resistance. This means they can survive up to depths of 100 meters, and are good for high-speed water sports.
Everything you need to know about Garmin watches
Which Garmin watch is best for you?
Short answer: it depends. We think that Garmin Fenix 7 should take the crown of the best overall — and so does Sergii Putsov. This rugged watch impressed us with its fitness tracking abilities and reliable design. "The Garmin Fenix 7 offers advanced tracking for a wide range of activities, as well as detailed metrics and insights tailored to each activity," Putsov said. "It is designed to withstand harsh environments and extreme conditions, and it also boasts an impressive battery life of up to 57 hours of uninterrupted service in GPS mode," he said.
The marathon runner James Rodgers, however, prefers the Garmin Forerunner 965. "It looks great; the display is bright and vibrant, and it has all the essential features that you need in a running watch and much more, including a huge battery life," he said.
However, Garmin wearables do not have to be expensive. With its comfortable design and high tracking accuracy, the Garmin Vivosmart 5 is our favorite budget Garmin watch. Putsov, on the other hand, prefers the Forerunner 55. "The Forerunner 55 offers a wide range of exciting features at an affordable price. Despite its relatively lower price, the watch has multi-satellite GPS tracking, multiple health and fitness tracking features, user-friendly interface and a long-lasting battery life," Putsov said. He also liked that the Garmin Forerunner 55 was lightweight and comfortable to wear all day.
How accurate are Garmin watches?
Studies suggest that the accuracy of Garmin watches may vary between metrics. For example, step count tends to be the most reliable measurement, while distance and calories burned may often prove to be inaccurate, according to a 2020 review published in the Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour. However, this is preliminary evidence and more studies are needed to determine the accuracy of Garmin watches, authors said.
Garmin watches are generally accurate for GPS tracking, because they connect to multiple satellite systems so they can better assess distance, time, pace, and split data, Putsov said.
"However, the accuracy of heart rate monitoring can be influenced by factors such as skin tone and wrist placement," Putsov said. Just like most fitness trackers, Garmin watches measure heart rate with photoplethysmography — a technology that uses optical sensors to detect changes in blood volume. Wearing the watch over a tattoo, loosely against the wrist or while performing rapid movements can make it more difficult for photoplethysmography to work properly, the 2020 review noted.
“Other fitness metrics such as VO2 max, recovery time and training load are estimates and not accurate measurements," Putsov said.
What are the benefits of using a Garmin watch?
Garmin watches typically offer more robust navigation, performance metrics and sports modes than Apple Watches or the best Fitbits. They are also built to withstand more extreme conditions and offer longer battery life, especially in GPS mode, Putsov said. This makes them some of the best outdoor watches on the market. "The long battery life makes them suitable for long-distance events or multi-day adventures, while the robust app integration and Bluetooth compatibility allow them to connect with a wide range of external sensors, such as smart trainers and heart rate monitors," Putsov said.
Garmin wearables also make for great running watches. "Garmin watches are often particularly designed for sport and, more specifically, running. Due to this, the key features are set up with running in mind, and performance in this field is the key to determining its success," Rodgers said. He also appreciated the easy-to-use interface of the supplementary app. "It is often running-focused, making things like creating workouts easy and simple. When you are running, having a simple screen with the metric you want to see is also beneficial,” he said.
Moreover, the additional features are often not vital for performance and may end up distracting you. "Running is also a great way to switch off mentally; having the ability to check emails and the like may become a distraction," Rodgers said.
How we tested these Garmin watches
How we test the best Garmin watches
Our reviewers. All of the Garmin watches in this guide have undergone thorough testing by our expert reviewers: a bunch of passionate personal trainers, semi-professional athletes and everyday fitness fanatics who use advanced fitness tech on a daily basis. Over the years, we have tried and tested dozens of models with the iconic Garmin logo, many of which are still on our wrists to this day. We know which of these top-shelf smartwatches are worth investing in and which are better given a miss. You can have confidence in our verdicts.
Since no two people are the same, we strive to look at fitness trackers through an objective lens. This means we test all Garmin watches to the exact same standard, using the same procedures. After wearing each watch for at least a week, we rank it across the following categories:
Design. We look at the durability, appearance and overall functionality of the Garmin watch in question. We assess whether it is intuitive to use, comfortable to wear and sturdy enough to withstand minor scuffs and scratches. We also make note of its dustproof and waterproof ratings, customization options and any design aspects that could enhance or impede the user experience. Put simply, we want to know who this Garmin was made for, and whether it can actually survive the conditions it was designed for.
Display. This is where we focus on arguably the most important part of a Garmin watch — its display. We look at the dimensions, durability and resolution of the screen, and check whether it remains functional and easy to read in challenging circumstances (for example, at night or in direct sunlight). We also assess the touchscreen's responsiveness and deduct points for any lags or performance issues we have experienced during testing.
Features. We want to know the ins and outs of every setting of the tested Garmin watch. For example, how complex are its health and fitness tracking features? How fast and precise are its GPS navigation systems? Can this Garmin watch store music files and on-watch maps or connect to third-party apps? Can it pass for a smartwatch? Also, does it offer personalized health advice, and if so, is this guidance actionable and easy to understand?
Performance. We put all Garmin watches through their paces to get a full picture of their tracking performance, battery life and connectivity. We test them during the day, when sleeping and while performing different workouts, regularly switching between different energy-use settings and activity modes. Finally, we assess the accuracy of Garmin's heart rate sensor using a validated chest-strap heart rate monitor (such as the Polar H9).
Value for money. Finally, we give our verdict on the important question: does this Garmin watch live up to its price tag?
After testing, we use these categories to calculate a final score out of five, and decide whether the Garmin watch in question earned a spot in our roundup of the best Garmin watches on the market.
