The 6 Best Garmin Watches for Every Use Case: Ranked and Reviewed

Key Points

• Our top overall pick is the Garmin Enduro 2 with its long battery life, solar charging, and robust navigation features.
• For runners, we recommend the Garmin epix Pro Gen 2 which provides the best display, maps, and training analysis.
• Swimmers should consider the Garmin Swim 2 designed specifically for tracking pool and open water swimming.
• Golfers will appreciate the Garmin Approach S70‘s course maps, virtual caddie, and swing analysis.
• The Garmin Forerunner 965 is ideal for triathletes and multisport athletes allowing quick switching between activity profiles.
• For convenient health tracking, the Garmin Venu 2 monitors energy levels, stress, sleep, fitness and more.

As pioneers in sports technology, Garmin introduced their first running watch back in 2003. Today, Garmin offers rugged multi-sport GPS watches packing advanced sensors, detailed performance metrics, training tools, and smart features into a compact wrist device.

With so many models available now across various price points, it can get overwhelming finding the right Garmin watch suited for your priorities and budget.

That’s why I’ve compiled this definitive guide to the top 6 Garmin watches covering different sports and use cases. As an experienced technologist and athlete, I’ve carefully compared the latest Garmin devices based on hands-on testing and in-depth research into their specs, features and real-world performance.

Let’s dive in and explore which Garmin is best for your needs whether that‘s GPS tracking for ultrarunning, swim pacing in open water, virtual caddies on the golf course, or 24/7 health monitoring.

#1 Best Overall Garmin Watch: Garmin Enduro 2

With its incredibly long battery life and solar charging capabilities, the Garmin Enduro 2 is built for hardcore athletes pushing their limits over multiple days in the wilderness.

Using the Power Glass lens and Power Manager settings, the Enduro 2 can last up to 150 hours in GPS mode by harnessing the sun’s energy. Even on the darkest days, it still packs an impressive 50 hours of runtime before needing a recharge.

Weighing in at a trim 58 grams, the Enduro 2 serves up all the detailed performance metrics, training tools, and navigation capabilities expected from a premium Garmin watch. The rugged build holds up well against the elements making it a trusty companion on remote adventures.

While the $999 price tag limits the Enduro 2’s mass appeal, for serious outdoor athletes prioritizing battery endurance over smart features, it delivers the goods.

Garmin Enduro 2 Key Features

• Up to 150 hours battery life with solar
• Rugged titanium & polymer construction with Power Glass lens
• ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, compass) plus GPS/GLONASS
• ClimbPro feature for monitoring ascent progress
• Training load/recovery time estimates
• Onboard topo maps, navigation sensors, flashlight and more
• Running, cycling and swim tracking profiles

Garmin Enduro 2 Pros vs Cons

Best Garmin Watch for Running: Garmin epix Pro Gen 2

Best Garmin Watch for Swimming: Garmin Swim 2

Best Garmin Watch for Golf: Garmin S70 Approach

Best Garmin Watch for Multisport: Garmin Forerunner 965

Best Garmin Watch for Health Tracking: Garmin Venu 2

How to Choose the Right Garmin Watch

With such a wide range of Garmin watches now available, it can get overwhelming finding your perfect match. Here are some key considerations when choosing a Garmin watch to best meet your sport, training and lifestyle needs:

Intended Use

Garmin offers highly specialized watches for running, cycling, swimming, golf, aviation, tactical use and more. Models like the Enduro 2 also work well for general outdoor fitness and adventure use. If you mainly stick with one sport, choose a Garmin watch that‘s optimized for that activity.

Battery Life

Depending on the sensors and features used, battery life can range from 1-2 days for full-featured smartwatches to over 150 hours with solar charging on ultrarugged models. Consider your typical workout duration plus needed safety buffer when tracking activities over multiple days outdoors.

Display Quality

Garmin uses different display types from high-resolution AMOLED touchscreens to Power Glass lenses on rugged editions. The display impacts visibility in varied lighting, device size/weight, battery efficiency and overall usability. Touchscreens offer more flexibility controlling the watch.

Smart Features

Higher-end Garmin watches add connectivity for notifications, contactless payments, music storage and personal assistant access. If you want a robust sport watch with extra smartwatch functions, look at the latest epix, fēnix, Forerunner and Venu series.

Advanced Metrics

Serious athletes training for specific goals appreciate Garmin‘s more advanced performance metrics like training load, recovery time, respiration rate and composite scores indicating workout readiness. Check that the sensors and analytics match your needs.

Price

Garmin watch prices span from $150 to $1,500+ depending on the model tier, materials used, sensors included and display features. Setting a budget will help narrow options, but it‘s worth investing more if a watch matches perfectly what you need.

Tips for Using Your Garmin Watch

Once you‘ve found the perfect Garmin watch for your sport and lifestyle, here are my top tips for getting the most from your new training partner:

• Personalize your data screens and settings for easy access to the metrics most important for your workouts.
• Sync your watch regularly with Garmin Connect to analyze full workout details, trends over time and customize device settings.
• Enable smart notifications and music controls if available on your watch to limit checking your phone during activities.
• Use Garmin‘s training plans, workout creator, course builder and other tools to take your training up a level.
• Take some time to explore all the features and configuration options – Garmin packs a diverse toolkit into every watch.

Garmin Watch Comparison Table

Watch	Best For	Key Features	Price
Garmin Enduro 2	Outdoor athletes	150 hour battery with solar, ABC sensors, navigation tools	$999
Garmin epix Pro Gen 2	Runners	AMOLED display, performance metrics, training tools	$899
Garmin Swim 2	Swimmers	Pool/open water tracking, pace analysis, heart rate	$250
Garmin S70 Approach	Golfers	Course maps, swing metrics, virtual caddie	$650
Garmin Forerunner 965	Triathletes	Multisport modes, training tools, recovery scores	$600
Garmin Venu 2	Health tracking	Activity/fitness monitoring, stress/energy levels	$350

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do Garmin watches last?

With proper care and maintenance, most Garmin watches can last over 5 years before significant battery deterioration. More rugged models with replaceable watch straps may provide 7-10+ years of useful life if the core unit stays intact.

Can I wear my Garmin watch in the shower or pool?

Most Garmin watches have a 5ATM or 10ATM waterproof rating allowing safe usage while swimming or showering. See the device specs to confirm the level of water protection and if it‘s suitable for pool lap tracking, open water diving or simply shower/bath use.

Where is the best place to wear my Garmin watch?

For optimized heart rate tracking while exercising, Garmin recommends wearing your watch above your wrist bone (away from your hand) on the arm normally not dominant. The watch band should fit snugly without shifting position for most accurate readings.

Can I use a Garmin watch in saltwater?

Yes, water-resistant Garmin devices can be used safely in saltwater. However, Garmin suggests rinsing the watch in fresh water after saltwater or chlorinated pool use and avoiding any soaps/chemicals that could compromise water sealing at the lens, buttons or wristband.

How do Garmin watches detect stress levels?

Using the built-in optical heart rate sensors, Garmin devices track heart rate variability (HRV) which signals relative stress levels based on analysis against your baseline HRV measurements during sleep/rest. Higher variability suggests lower stress.