Garmin has long been a forerunner in the fitness wearables industry for the more outdoorsy and active crowd. Garmin is well-known for its GPS functions and athletic style, and they are always releasing new and creative devices. However, which are the best Garmin fitness trackers?
Their emphasis and dedication to performance distinguish them from other companies such as Fitbit (and others). Garmin doesn’t only manufacture gadgets that look nice; they also create versions that can fulfil all of your workout and lifestyle demands.
Garmin provides a tracker to match every athletic demand. Whether you’re a swimmer and want something waterproof or ride and require maps. With so many options on the market today, how does one pick the finest?
1. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar
First on our list of the best Garmin fitness trackers is the top-of-the-line Garmin Fenix 6 Pro Solar. However, it’s not for everyone. With the longest battery life and biggest display in the game, this GPS watch is no laughing matter. It was designed with the hard-core explorer in mind, including mapping for terrain, ski slopes (over 2,000 resorts), golf courses (over 41,000), and Multi-GNSS support for precise mapping where GPS suffers. Of course, all of this comes at a cost. However, this is undoubtedly the best for those searching for the finest in the sector.
2. Garmin Vivoactive 4 and 4S
This newest upgrade to the Vivoactive model line is really appreciated. The Vivoactive 3 was already a favourite of many, and this update brings a slew of additional capabilities, like making integrated music/music streaming standard (previously optional).
It’s also available in two versions: 4 (45mm across) and 4s (40mm across). It’s a very welcomed adjustment for individuals with tiny wrists since the 40mm is considerably more comfortable and inconspicuous on the wrist.
3. Garmin Vivomove Style
The Vivomove Style is an excellent choice for someone searching for an everyday wristwatch with good fitness monitoring capabilities but with exceptional… well, style. Overall, its display quality and absence of GPS are its worst aspects. However, it is Garmin’s more urban product in their broad lineup.
4. Garmin Venu 2 (and Venu Sq)
The new Garmin Venu 2 (and square version, the Sq) is among the greatest sports watches on the market, combining serious fitness capabilities with an amazing variety of smartwatch functions for daily use.
Although its design isn’t revolutionary and is quite identical to the earlier Garmin Venu, it’s suited for both workouts and everyday use, which is a difficult balance to find. Its brilliant, high-resolution AMOLED display is the true star, enabling you to view a massive amount of data at once and displaying a plethora of information on your training progress and general health directly on your wrist. The Venu 2 is one of the greatest Garmin watches to date, having been thoughtfully planned and implemented.
5. Garmin Forerunner 945
Garmin’s Forerunner series also caters to a specialised segment of fitness, notably those focusing on running and triathlon (obviously). Apart from the typical feature set (contactless payments, onboard music and GPS, etc.).
The Forerunner 945 has many running-specific applications to help you train. However, its capacity to correctly track your cadence, ground contact time, stride length, vertical oscillation, balance, and even vertical ratio is quite astounding. With this much information, you’ll be able to perfect your stride before your next big run.
Interestingly, there’s a Garmin Forerunner 945 LTE version about to be released.
6. Garmin Forerunner 645 Music
Garmin’s Forerunner 645 Music is a really fascinating watch. It has many of the same features as luxury watches like the 945 or Fenix 6, but it is much less expensive. You may even save a bit by selecting the non-music version if you don’t intend to utilise it.
The multisport modes, open water tracking, and sturdy build of the more costly watches are worth the additional money for athletes, triathletes, runners, and marathoners. However, the 645 provides virtually everything they might want in a smart running watch for practically everybody else.
7. Garmin Instinct
Last but not least on our list of the best Garmin fitness trackers; the Garmin Instinct is a new (ish-2020) line that has been introduced to Garmin’s already wide collection. It is geared for use in the great outdoors.
Whereas the Garmin Fenix is available to go on hikes, trail runs, and open water swims, it is not inexpensive. So the Instinct is a cheaper option that delivers the same essential functionality as the Fenix but lacks certain larger features.
The Instinct has a design that is unlike anything else in Garmin’s watch lineup. It has a bolder, more colourful casing design and a screen that employs a tiny sub-display to showcase your numbers more interestingly. In addition, because it is a transflective screen, it is visible in strong light and remains operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It has all of the necessary sensors, including a built-in GPS and various outside and ambient sensors, such as a compass and temperature, for that extra data hit. There’s also a heart rate monitor on board for continuous monitoring of heart rate while exercising, which should be enough for long walks and moderate trail runs but may fall short in terms of accuracy for high-intensity activities. The pulse oximeter sensor, which appears on the current Garmin Instinct Solar watch, has been omitted.
If you’re keen to compare Garmin with another well-established brand, check out how we think Garmin fares against Suunto.
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Last Updated on June 21, 2021
Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.
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