The Forerunner 55 is a good bet for anyone whos new to running, like its predecessor the Forerunner 45, it's an entry-level watch that really doesn't feel like it. The Garmin Instinct 2 boasts an infinite battery life yep, it has the power to last forever, charging with the sunlight. Read the full Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE review. If youre starting to get into running, chances are you want a device thats a step up from a basic fitness tracker but also wont overwhelm you with too many features. It's packed with advanced training tools, including some new additions like a real-time stamina graphic, which helps you pace yourself during events, and a graph showing how your VO2 max has changed over time. A bonus if you're a runner who prefers to leave your phone at home. There are a few catches, from which features work on solar power, to which versions of the Garmin Instinct 2 even pack a solar panel, to how many hours a day the watch needs to be exposed to sunlight. The Vivomove Sport is a good health tracker for someone taking their first steps into fitness, or just hoping to get a better overall picture of their health in 2022. To do this, head to more, then training in the Garmin Connect app. We were big fans of the original Garmin Instinct, but it was always a very functional looking watch chunky and stoic. The Garmin Fenix 7 is a rugged watch for outdoor adventurers. But if youre not doing lots of running, then youll probably be better off with a cheaper or more general-purpose Garmin watch. On the wrist, it's hard-wearing (with a Military Standard 810 rating against extreme environments and temperatures), waterproof up to 100m, and it's display is bright and easy to see, even in direct sunlight. In January 2022, the Garmin Venu 2 Plus was released a new smartwatch that keeps all the best features of the Venu 2 and adds a microphone so you can make calls and access your phone's voice assistant from your wrist. (If you want an OLED display, go for the Garmin Venu.) That said, the Garmin Vivomove can track ten different activity types from the watch, and it also comes with Garmins health-monitoring sensors such as heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and sleep. It also supports sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation, and menstrual cycle tracking. Now is a great time to shop, as the watch is likely to be on sale. Some Garmin watches have the features youd expect from the best smartwatches, such as mobile payments, music storage, and color displays. This is the first watch in the Fenix line to feature a touchscreen, and although it's automatically locked during workouts to prevent accidental touches, it's extremely useful for panning across maps with the watch in navigation mode. Finding the best Garmin watch depends on your needs and your budget. When it comes to health and fitness tracking, the Garmin Epix's features are identical to that of the Fenix 7, in that it can track just about everything. The Garmin Forerunner 745 supports more than a dozen types of indoor and outdoor workouts, provides feedback on your training (including recommended workouts and recovery times), and picks up a GPS signal in a matter of seconds. Read our full Garmin Forerunner 55 review. Read our full Garmin Forerunner 255 review here. Along with Garmins industry-leading features for tracking training and recovery, the vivoactive 4 comes with preloaded exercises, such as yoga and Pilates, which play as guided animations directly on the watch. For example, the Forerunner 945 will last for 14 days in smartwatch mode and 36 hours in GPS mode, while the fenix 6 will last up to 20 days in expedition GPS mode. There are also suggested recovery times and workouts, based on your training history, fitness levels, and recovery. The Fenix 7 has one major improvement on the Fenix 6 a touch screen. However, once it's on your wrist, you'll discover an array of excellent new training tools inside that'll help you monitor your fitness and optimize your training. We also take the watch for several indoor cycling classes while wearing a chest strap heart rate monitor so we can compare the values recorded and see how quickly the watch responds to changes in heart rate during interval training. Looking for the best cheap running watch? Make no mistake: this watch isnt for everyone. If the watch supports app downloads from Garmin Connect, we can also use a battery monitor app to check how quickly it drains. The Garmin Epix (Gen 2) essentially takes all the best features of the Fenix 7, and adds a stunning color AMOLED display. If you are looking for a cheaper watch, the Forerunner 45 is often in the sale right now, following the release of the Forerunner 55, so it's a good time to buy. The main difference between the Fenix 7 and the Epix 2 is the battery life in Expedition mode, the Fenix can last up to 40 days (74 days with solar), whereas the Epix will wind down after just 14 days. The Venu, for instance, has a touchscreen and an AMOLED display, which are both rare for Garmin devices, along with support for mobile payments, onboard music, and a stainless steel bezel. There are plenty of indoor training modes too, and the watch even syncs with compatible gym equipment, plus third-party fitness and diet apps. We compare the watch's sleep scores to those recorded by the Withings Sleep Analyzer, which measures movement and breathing directly, and produces reliably accurate results. We enable SpO2 tracking if available and track an average of one workout per day to give us an idea of how long the watch's battery will last in typical use. Find the best Garmin watch for your needs and your budget based on our testing. We weighed up the accuracy of their GPS tracking, the responsiveness of their heart rate monitors, and the quality of their training tools. In addition to a heart rate monitor, the Epix 2 has a blood oxygen sensor that can keep tabs on your levels throughout the day, as well as perform on-the-spot checks. The watch comes in two different sizes 42mm and 46mm, so more petite runners and riders won't have to lug a huge sports watch around if they don't want to. You'll then be able to select training plans and download the best one for you depending on your ability and your goals. Unlike the Forerunner 245, you can now use Garmin Pay for mobile payments on the move. As well as this, depending on your watch model, you'll be able to use the Garmin Connect app to use Garmin Coach to download running and cycling training plans and upload them directly to your watch. The Instinct 2 also allows you to download new apps, data fields, and faces from Garmin Connect IQ, and is available in a choice of more fun colors than the original Instinct. It also boasts a battery that should be long enough to support ultra marathon runners on race day. If you don't need a fully-fledged running watch like the Forerunner 955, but still want to get as much data as possible on your health and fitness, the Vivosmart 5 is the Garmin watch for you. New York, When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Everything in the Garmin Connect app is free to access, with no need to subscribe to a premium service to get deep insights into historic data and trends. The newly updated Forerunner 255 also has the ability to track triathlon and multisport activities. Its screen is a small monochrome affair, but Garmin's interface designers have done a truly impressive job of cramming in a wealth of data without things ever looking cramped. Read our full Garmin Forerunner 55 review. It's a full multi-sports watch, with carefully designed tracking modes for a wide range of activities, and runners, cyclists and swimmers are particularly well served. Theres a good range of Garmin watch prices for every budget. The device supports everyday fitness activities such as running and swimming, and it comes with Garmins typical health-tracking features, but its really designed for anyone who gets an adrenaline rush from scuba diving, backcountry skiing, or a multi-day hike deep in the wilderness. Some sensors chew up juice faster than others, so if you've got the screen on constantly, or youre always using the heart rate monitor or Pulse Ox sensor, your mileage may vary. The Forerunner 945 offers the same training and recovery metrics as the Forerunner 245 and 745 while adding metrics for tracking heat and altitude, which are important for determining the difficulty of a key workout. Others, like the Garmin Approach S62, offer in-depth golf training, too. How accurate are the Garmins sensors, and how well does the watch track your exercise and your overall health? Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. The Fenix 7 is a sports watch aimed at serious athletes who enjoy getting stuck into multiple sports and want to push themselves to hit new records. When Garmin comes out with a new watch, we fully charge it up, then strap it on our wrist for about a week or so to test out all its features. The Garmin Forerunner 945 has now been replaced with the Garmin Forerunner 955, which has solar charging capabilities and a touchscreen. It's well worth investigating the whole Garmin range before making a choice (you might be surprised by just how much a mid-range Instinct watch has to offer), but if you want the most advanced watch around and your budget can stand the hit, the Epix (Gen 2) is the one for you. In-depth analytics allow you to go as deep as you want, and while this is a runners watch through and through, thats not to say it cant track other sports. Most of Garmins watches have excellent battery life, but some are better than others. We also look at Garmins battery life claims, and compare it to our actual use. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. We were certainly impressed by its performance in our tests; even with regular workouts, the power meter barely budged when we got enough sun. Unlike the new Garmin Fenix 7 range, there's no touchscreen, but the five-button functionality is easy to figure out, and use on the move. Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. One big improvement with the Garmin Venu 2 Plus is the voice assistant features. All watches also sync to Garmin Connect, which offers a detailed look at your health and wellness data, and link you to the global community of Garmin users. Read our full Garmin Vivomove Sport review. While its not a robust smartwatch like the Garmun Venu, it does support mobile payments and music storage two key features for anyone who works out regularly and supports some third-party apps. In that case, the Forerunner 55 or 245 will work very nicely for you, and if you also enjoy cycling, swimming or both, the Forerunner 745 or 945 are superb triathlon watches that will serve you well. You have to swipe on the OLED touchscreen to view this information - and while the display size is limited, the analog watch face always stays in view. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, During testing, we found that the Garmin Forerunner 255 was small and lightweight. There's no triathlon mode (for that you'll want to upgrade to the Garmin Forerunner 745), but if you're primarily a runner and are looking to upgrade your entry-level watch to something more advanced, the 245 is well worth your consideration particularly since it's often heavily discounted. The Vivomove series is the most stylish of all the best Garmin watches. Where the Garmin vivoactive 4 shines and beats the other smartwatches on the market is in its fitness-tracking capabilities. Some Garmin models have more smartwatch features than others. Battery Life The only downside is the fact that its monochrome memory-in-pixel display isn't great for maps, and you'll get far less detail than you would with a watch like the Fenix 7 or Epix (Gen 2). After much running, biking, and sweating with a variety of Garmin watches, we think the best overall is the Garmin Forerunner 255. It does come at a cost though, and the Fenix 7 (although not cheap) is a more budget-friendly option. Reliable fitness tracking and Garmin Coach, Best Garmin for adventurers looking for a beautiful watch, Not as many smartwatch features as Apple, Samsung, Possibly Garmins most attractive smartwatch to date, Incompatible with Garmin Connect IQ app store, A solid Garmin watch for overall fitness tracking, Can be used as a watch, no phone required, Designed for ultramarathon runners or serious adventurers, An adventure watch for those who don't want to spend Fenix prices, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices. If you like the sound of the Fenix 7, but fancy something that looks a little more beautiful on your wrist, the Epix Gen 2 is the watch for you. Stretching is Matts top fitness tip. It packs the best of Garmins sensors, training apps, and health trackers into a device thats comfortable to wear all day and night. It goes deeper into what it tracks than most casual runners will want or even occasionally need. Not all Garmin watches support onboard music with built-in storage. Suppose you're a beginner or intermediate runner. However, if ultra adventures are your bag, this is a seriously impressive piece of kit, so much so, we named it the best smartwatch for the outdoors overall in our 2021 Health and Fitness Awards. Depending on your tracker, it'll give you deeper insights, such as your body battery (based on your sleep data) and your fitness age. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, This is all made possible by the super high-resolution AMOLED display, with three brightness settings and an optional always-on mode that allows you to see a huge amount of data at a glance, without digging out your phone. You have to track workouts, as well as control music, by pairing the watch with a smartphone, and youll need to use the Garmin Connect app to view your workout data. The screen is super responsive, even when being used in the rain, and makes moving around and customizing the watch a lot easier. Because Garmin watches span a wide range of prices and features, its important to identify which are most important to you within your budget. If you're seriously into your training and want the most profound insights into your health and fitness, the Fenix 7 and Epix (Gen 2) are excellent choices. There was a problem. At its core, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is an entry-level fitness watch, replacing the popular Forerunner 45 earlier this year. It also comes in two sizes: 40mm and 45mm. With a Masters Degree in journalism from Cardiff University, Matt started his digital journalism career at Mens Health and stayed on for over two years, where he earned his stripes in health and fitness reporting. Its also a step up from the Garmin vivoactive 4 with an AMOLED display and a stainless steel bezel. But Garmin devices are better known for their fitness features, and many of them are among the best sports watches and best fitness trackers on the market. When she's not pounding the pavements, you'll find Jane striding round the Surrey Hills, taking far too many photos of her puppy. Some watches are pretty bulky, which means they won't fit comfortably on smaller wrists or make sense for all-day wear. last updated 21 July 22, The best Garmin watches tested in real, sweaty conditions. If you're a runner, you're going to really, really love this watch. It's smart enough to wear all day, and with sleep tracking and an SPO2 sensor to monitor blood oxygen levels, you'll want to keep it on all night as well. The Garmin Epix smartwatch is epic in just about every way: its design, its display, its battery life are all superlative as well as its price. Garmin is known for its GPS technology, so its no surprise that nearly all of its watches have excellent GPS features. The Garmin Forerunner 245 was released in 2019, but has stood the test of time well, and is still a great mid-level running watch that packs a lot of features into a compact package. It also works well as a smartwatch, with Garmin Pay and customizable smartphone notifications. No, Google Stadia isnt shutting down but will it survive for long? Also, unless youre literally spending hours outside, the Solar charging is an expensive feature if you dont need it, but if you do, get ready to unplug that charger and run, ride or even ski to your heart's content. Youll also get step tracking and sleep tracking, though neither are front and center on the watch like they tend to be on lower-end fitness trackers. The watch also boasts a much better battery life than most smartwatches, even with its AMOLED display. In addition to standard metrics, some models like theGarmin Forerunner 945 also track heat and altitude, which are key for planning the impact of outdoor workouts. Sure, its not quite as attractive as Fitbit's latest devices, but it's extremely practical and, best of all, there are no features hidden behind a paywall. You get the advanced training tools you'd expect from a modern Garmin watch, including workout suggestions, recovery time guidance, and load monitoring so you can strike the right balance between effort and rest. He originally discovered exercise through martial arts, holding a black belt in Karate, and trained for many years in kickboxing. It's an excellent addition, and if you can afford the extra cost, well worth considering. That said, if youre a serious runner or cyclist, you might find the lack of GPS on the watch frustrating. Some Garmin watches are pretty utilitarian in design, and even though the face of a Garmin Instinct Solar (below) isn't any larger than a typical smartwatch, its overall look can be overwhelming on a slimmer wrist. However, theres a trade-off for the style: Garmins Vivomove watches dont come with a GPS sensor. The silicone band matches the watch face as standard, but the watch is compatible with Garmins 20mm quick release bands, so you could swap in a leather, or suede band should you wish. In order to maintain battery life, though, the watch uses the LCD display thats typical for Garmin watches. The Classic costs $249.99 and features a dual-tone leather strap, whereas the Sport version has a soft silicone band thats easier to clean post-workout and costs $199.99. Take a look at the Instinct 2; it's built like a tank and has incredible battery life. Its arguably Garmins most fashionable smartwatch and has a number of useful tools for female users, including menstrual or pregnancy tracking, giving mums-to-be a better understanding of their day-to-day health. With so much variety, it's no wonder people need some help to find the best Garmin watch for their needs. Otherwise, it offers all of the same metrics, as well as a battery life that will last months (should you need it) and most of the features youll have come to expect from Garmins higher-end watches. Garmin also has watches for those who want most (but not all) of the companys fitness functionality and prefer a more stylish smartwatch. When you're training outside, Garmin's heritage in satellite positioning really shines; the Epix (Gen 2) establishes a GPS lock quicker than any other watch we've tested, tracks your runs and rides with impressive accuracy, and helps you find your way with extremely detailed vivid maps. Heres why you can trust us. Worried about scuffs and scratches? Satellite positioning is quick to establish a lock, and proved super accurate in our tests. Garmin watches all come with batteries that will last for days on a single charge and should get you through more than one workout when youre connected to GPS. Read our Garmin Forerunner 245 vs Forerunner 255 comparison here. Others might prefer more multi-sport orientated premium offerings such as the Fenix 7 or specialist watches like the Enduro, but for everyone else, from everyday exercisers to serious runners, this watch should have everything youll need and then some. Garmin has you covered with the excellent Forerunner 55. Unlike the Forerunner and fenix watches, the Garmin vivoactive 4 offers a touchscreen. But the trade-off is storage, battery life, and water resistance up to 100 meters (330 feet). There's no metal bezel, so it doesn't look quite as slick as more modern Garmin watches, but the resin case is lightweight and unobtrusive enough for everyday wear, and is tough enough to shrug off rough treatment. These include new suggested workouts based on your past activities, which help give your training some structure even if you're not following a dedicated plan. If you're someone who ventures out alone, the 945 can give you (and the people who care about you) some peace of mind. Theres also no sub-dial to clutter the watch face with activity or notification data. It's not quite perfect the memory-in-pixel display lacks contrast, and the choice of a blue backlight muddies its colors but it's a thoughtfully designed watch crammed with all the features you need to get your training on track, whether you're a runner, swimmer, cyclist, triathlete, golfer, skier, or something else. If you're starting your fitness journey and want a watch that will help improve your habits, that's fantastic a watch in the Venu line will suit you perfectly. But beyond that, the Instinct 2 is better than the firstGarmin Instinctin almost every way. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Onboard music Garmin also offers a Forerunner 255 Music edition, which comes with onboard storage for up to 500 songs and syncs with Spotify or Deezer accounts. You will receive a verification email shortly. You can add a range of third-party apps through the Garmin Connect IQ store, though you wont find the same selection as you would in the Apple Watch store. The Venu 2 Plus is a stylish smartwatch on a par with the Apple Watch and Fitbit Versa 3 - and its rugged enough for bike rides, strength workouts, and playtime with the kids. While it looks very similar to its predecessor, Garmin made some important changes, adding some of the more advanced training tools usually reserved for their more expensive watches. NY 10036. But on the plus side, its beautifully light, has excellent sports tracking abilities, and offers superb battery performance. The Garmin Forerunner 955 is the best of Garmins running-focused smartwatches, and as its most recent premium offering, top of the heap if you want great running and fitness tracking features. To test the accuracy of the watch's GPS, we take it for several runs on pre-measured courses, and if it has mapping capability, we create a new route using Garmin Connect, sync it to the watch, and use it to navigate the route. Plus, if you really pare usage and features down, your watch can run from anywhere from 130 days to a whole year. The Instinct 2 keeps all the best features of its predecessor (including a shockproof fiber-reinforced resin case and exceptional battery life) and tucks it all into a slimmer package that's now available in two sizes: 45mm or 40mm for smaller wrists. We've tested the best Garmin watches to help you find the perfect one for your wrist. At the other end of the spectrum, there are some high-end Garmin watches for golfers, endurance athletes, and folks who may spend some time off the grid. The battery wont last as long as the Forerunner 945, but 16 hours in GPS mode will still get most athletes through several workouts in between charges. Polycarbonate lens rather than toughened glass, The best premium Garmin watch for runners, The most advanced Garmin multi-sports watch to date, Best rugged Garmin watch with a beautiful AMOLED display, The best Garmin watch for new and improving runners, A tough, long-lasting Garmin watch for tough multi-day events, A very decent mid-range Garmin running watch, The best Garmin watch for affordable style and practicality, We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices, Up to 8 hours with music, 22 hours without, 7 timed activities, 14 days activity tracking data, Up to 122 hours (Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar), Amazon leaves popular Prime Video show high and dry after shock cancelation, Microsoft 365 users have a new reason to choose Edge over Google Chrome, Daredevil: Born Again has a key difference to other Marvel shows and I'm all for it, iPhone 14 release date prediction: here's when we expect the new iPhone to hit stores, HBO just canceled another comedy with 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Stray is such a hit that the cat is getting put into Doom, The best gaming PCs are cheaper than you think, This major breakthrough could end PC overheating worries for good, Bad news, Amazon Prime members - one of your best perks is being taken away, How to turn your iPad into a digital photo frame, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. The Garmin Forerunner 55 is a stripped-down version of the Forerunner 255. Its design is understated, and doesn't scream 'sports watch', but it's packed with an impressive array of training tools including accurate GPS (supported by Galileo and GLONASS), quick access to Garmin Coach training plans, sensitive heart rate monitoring, cadence, splits, and more. When choosing a Garmin watch, there are three key points to consider: what sport are you interested in, what level are you at, and what is your budget? It can go either 50 or 65 days in smartwatch mode, depending on whether you factor in solar power, and offers between 70 and 80 hours of GPS battery life. It has an impressive range of workout modes (including swimming and weight training), provides feedback on your training load, and delivers daily stress insights all on your wrist. Where the Garmin Lily shines is in its display and its responsive, monochromatic touchscreen, which is easy to use, even in direct sunlight. If your budget runs to it, the Venu 2 and Venu 2 Plus are our top picks, thanks to their onboard GPS and fantastic displays. We also look at the other features of the Garmin, including sleep tracking, female health tracking, mobile payments, and smartphone notifications. Theres also a Music edition that can store up to 500 songs to help power you through your workouts. Its worth noting that the Garmin Forerunner 55 doesnt support music storage, mobile payments, or third-party apps. We also check to see if battery-saving mode will still meet your workout-tracking expectations. TechRadar is supported by its audience. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. This is a differentiator from similarly priced watches such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active or the Fitbit Charge 5 which track workouts but dont offer custom coaching plans. Some Garmin series even offer a dedicated music variant, like the Forerunner 245 Music. Most models, however, fall between $200 and $500. The Instinct 2's mid-range price makes it very tempting though, and it comes highly recommended. Matt Evans At just 40 x 40 x 12.7mm, it's essentially a scaled-down version of the smart and versatile Vivoactive 4. Read our full Garmin Forerunner 745 review. It's available on both Android (opens in new tab)and iOS (opens in new tab), and once you've downloaded the app and signed up, you'll be able to connect your Garmin to your phone. After a workout, you'll also see advice on how long to rest and recover before your next effort. Like its larger counterpart, the Vivoactive 4S boasts excellent fitness tracking with on-board GPS that locks on in just a few seconds and gives an accurate record of your runs and rides, rather than smoothing out the route as some trackers do. Be aware, though, that it doesnt have full mapping support or a built-in music player. Its also easy to swap out bands no small thing if youve just spent days in the woods without a shower. Smartwatch features The standard Instinct 2 offers impressive battery life, but While the first-gen Instinct Solar could hypothetically keep running indefinitely on a single charge, the company says that it's now a practical possibility if you spend enough time outdoors. Along with an accurate GPS, a long-lasting battery, and the ability to track many types of workouts, the watch features the same fitness metrics as Garmins latest higher-end GPS watches: Training Status to track progress, Training Load to see workouts over a seven-day period, and Training Effect to measure anaerobic and aerobic. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. It's the same size, and has the same five-button interface (there's no touchscreen here). It's still very respectable for an AMOLED smartwatch though particularly one this robust and packed with this many features for both everyday wear and fitness tracking. Tom's Guide is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. NY 10036. By Read on to learn more about the best Garmin watches. Doctor shares how to stop restless leg syndrome from ruining your sleep, Google Pixel Fold may have just been leaked by Googles own app, F1 Hungarian Grand Prix live stream how to watch the race free and online, F1 live stream 2022 how to watch free online, Hungarian GP race, standings, schedule and more, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device.