

Using our expertise on fitness tech, and additional reviews from sites like Tom's Guideand Tech Radar, and customer reviews from sites like Amazon and Walmart, we determined which watches are worth buying for your chosen activity. We pored through the many Garmin watch models and consulted Runner's World's test on Garmin running watches.

Note that the longer the battery life, the more features, and the sturdier the build, the more expensive your watch will become. You should also consider aesthetics and build-a sleeker and more lightweight design will transfer well from everyday wear at the office to a post-work workout, while the bulkier, more ruggedized builds are necessary for traipsing around the wilderness, and situations that may cause your watch to take a beating. Battery life will also be more important-particularly for endurance athletes-as you want to make sure that your watch will last through your workouts, races, or marathon golf tournaments. If you are a more serious athlete or want to track a more niche sport, however, you will want to make sure that all of the data that you want on your watch is available.

These are Garmin’s everything-but-the-kitchen-sink watches that boast many. The slimmest Garmin Approach smartwatch model at only 0.83-inches wide, tracking activities through an array of sensors like its accelerometer, GPS receiver, optical HRM, fitting everything inside a 5-ATM waterproof chassis with a mineral glass display-protection.
GARMIN SMART WATCHES SERIES
If you are someone that simply wants to keep track of your fitness level, heart rate, and sleep, a more basic model will be more than enough for you-there is no use spending upwards of $400 for features that you won't use. The Garmin Fenix 6 series (specifically the Fenix 6 Pro) is the best Garmin watch you can buy. The first is what activities you will want to use it for.

While it may be simple, there are a few key aspects you will want to consider when purchasing a Garmin watch. The Vivoactive 4 is Garmin's sport focused smartwatch, designed to offer the benefits of notifications and smart features with a jack-of-all-trades sports tracking which supports up to 20 activities.
GARMIN SMART WATCHES PLUS
What makes the Venu 2 Plus different is its built-in speaker and microphone.
GARMIN SMART WATCHES PROFESSIONAL
But if you plan to put in more miles and need a GPS watch dedicated for more experienced and professional running-then check out our tested guide to Garmin GPS running watches. Venu 2 Plus is the latest version of the Venu 2, which Garmin launched in April 2021. The watches on this list are suited for alternative activities and everyday use outside of running, with a couple options that are perfect for somebody just getting started running.

Activity tracking ranges from running, swimming, and cycling to even more niche activities like stand-up paddle boarding, golf, or even yoga. While expensive, these watches help to keep track of your heart rate, sleep, steps, and any activities or sports that you choose to pursue.

User rating, 4.4 out of 5 stars with 414 reviews. Most of us associate Garmin either with running watches or an in-car GPS system, but the brand has expanded in the past decade or so to encompass every sport, activity, and niche imaginable. Garmin - Venu GPS Smartwatch 30mm Fiber-Reinforced Polymer - Black With Silicone Band.
