Garmin is an organization that’s been round since 1989 and is well-known for its GPS know-how. They’ve a long-standing fame for producing high-quality, dependable, and sturdy merchandise.
Garmin’s first foray into the operating watch market was the Forerunner 101 in 2003. This watch was a game-changer on the time, because it allowed runners to trace their distance, tempo, and time with out having to make use of a separate GPS gadget. (Critically, I ran for years with only a watch that might inform time, begin and cease!!)
Since then, Garmin has continued to innovate and enhance upon its operating watch designs, releasing new fashions with more and more superior options and applied sciences.
Immediately, Garmin presents a variety of operating watches to go well with the wants of runners of all ranges, from novices to elite athletes. We’re going to dive in to evaluating these under, however first I wish to discuss a bit extra in regards to the options you might want to contemplate.
They make SO MANY WATCHES now that it may be complicated. Listed below are the first options you’re going to wish to think about.
GPS Accuracy
Typically, all Garmin operating watches are going to satisfy your fundamental GPS wants. You’ll be getting correct information on the highway and for almost all of your path runs. Nevertheless, if you’ll be doing extra back-country issues or open water swimming, then you might have to step as much as the upper stage watches just like the 965, Fenix and Enduro.
Battery Life
Battery life is one other vital issue to contemplate, particularly in the event you’re planning to make use of your look ahead to lengthy runs or multi-day occasions. There’s a variety relying upon the smartwatch options and out there GPS modes, going from 20 hours as much as a number of weeks in battery save mode.
Measurement and Weight
The scale and weight of your Garmin watch also can impression your operating expertise. Search for fashions which are snug to put on and received’t weigh you down throughout your runs.
An increasing number of Garmin is making most fashions of their S model, which suggests small. It matches higher on a smaller wrist and I can attest to this whenever you see me carrying the Enduro subsequent to the Venu 2s.
Show Options
A transparent and easy-to-read show is vital for monitoring your progress throughout a run. Just about all Garmin watches could have high-resolution screens, adjustable brightness ranges, and easy-to-navigate menus.
However you might have to resolve if you would like contact display or are extra targeted on lengthy battery life and thus prepared to forgo all the gorgeous colours.
You’ll additionally discover that the Garmin Join app makes it very straightforward to customise your screens throughout exercises on all watches. Moreover some watches will present further watch face choices there or you may monitor issues like your cycle by way of the app.
Coronary heart Fee Monitor
All Garmin operating watches are going to incorporate the wrist based mostly HR monitor sensors. That is the characteristic I are usually the pickiest about as I exploit it for all of my straightforward runs.
Up to now the Enduro has carried out the perfect over the long run. This will likely have one thing to do with the bigger fashion and it being extra rugged, so within the winter it may possibly proceed to get a greater studying.
That being mentioned, all of the watches additionally pair with a chest strap by way of Bluetooth or ANT+ so you will get the gold normal of readings. I additionally recognize that they now have 24/7 HR monitoring that can assist you monitor resting HR.
Information Monitoring and Evaluation Capabilities
Garmin watches include a wide range of information monitoring and evaluation options, together with coronary heart fee monitoring, VO2 max monitoring, and customized exercise creation. Take into account which metrics are most vital to you and select a watch that gives the options you want.
Value Vary
Working watches vary in value from round $150 to over $1,000. A few of this is because of options, some to do with supplies like a display that’s much less prone to break whenever you drop it off a cliff or might be submerged in water for diving, not simply a swim. Take into account your funds when selecting a watch, but additionally understand that a costlier watch might supply extra superior options and higher sturdiness.
Greatest Garmin Watches for Runners
All proper now let’s evaluate Garmin operating watches. These are listed so as from fundamental entry stage to prime finish, together with a few of the options that set each aside.
Greatest Garmin for Learners – Garmin 55 ($199)
Let’s begin with the watch that I like to recommend 9 occasions out of 10 for somebody who simply wants a GPS watch to start out higher monitoring their exercises, the Garmin Forerunner 55.
Understanding the options of this entry stage watch, may even assist you to higher perceive any upgrades that seem in additional superior watches. Checkout my in-depth assessment of the Garmin 55 to see all of the fundamentals it’s best to count on in your Garmin operating watch and what they imply (i.e. what’s coaching standing, Reside Monitoring or treadmill calibration).
The one draw back to this watch is that you simply aren’t getting the highest stage GPS. So in the event you take it on the paths or via numerous buildings it will not be as correct.
Moreover, you don’t have a inbuilt accelerometer or barometer, so that you received’t be getting any details about elevation adjustments. As I point out with the Venu, I do imagine that information is useful.
Past that, you received’t be getting issues like race predictor, music management or storage, sleep monitoring and another operating information insights.
See the total specs of the Garmin 55 >>
Greatest Garmin Smartwatch – Garmin Venu 2 ($399)
A number of you could have requested me in regards to the Venu 2, so I spent a while operating with it and carrying it 24/7 lately to provide you my sincere suggestions. Let’s simply begin with it’s a ravishing watch and the AMOLED touchscreen colour show is unimaginable!
I had no points with the sleep monitoring, steps and even GPS. And when you would possibly consider this as a health tracker, I’d say it’s completely a step above something I’ve seen from Fitbit or different manufacturers. It’s lacking some run information, however has numerous different nicely although out options just like the physique battery or sleep information, that merely remind numerous you to get better higher.
The place it got here up quick for me is on the metrics supplied for runners and through a run.
- It doesn’t present elevation achieve or loss, which will not be helpful to you. However I discover this data actually precious when coaching for a particular race and dealing on matching the course.
- The screens throughout a exercise don’t have a wide range of colours, which I’ve gotten used to for rapidly scanning the info.
- I turned off the motion alert reminder, but it surely simply stored pinging me all day lengthy in any case.
All of that being mentioned, this will nonetheless be completely the best choice for you!!
I would 100% desire this mannequin over a typical Apple Look ahead to supplying you with extra correct HR information, GPS and common data. And with the Venu 2Plus, you may certainly obtain and make telephone calls similar to out of your Apple Watch. Or you may snag the Venu Sq which is their solely sq. mannequin of a operating watch to provide you that Apple look.
See all of the specs of the Garmin Venu choices >>
Greatest Total Garmin Look ahead to Runners – Garmin 265 ($449)
After testing this watch, I’m really prepared to start out altering my advice for lots of runners from the Forerunner 55 to the 265. This AMOLED show is insane and the watch options actually are a step up from the entry stage watch.
That being mentioned, if all you want are the fundamentals of HR, how far did I run and a few tempo information then don’t spend the additional!
All of the watches from right here have the touchscreen choice, which is sweet…however may also be a severe ache within the winter. So I recognize that all the buttons stay out there to make it straightforward to start out, cease, lap, and even regulate settings (together with turning off contact display).
The 265 goes to be a little bit lighter than the Venu and but additionally much less sturdy than the Venu or Fenix. It’s additionally going to start out supplying you with extra of these operating stats:
- Restoration time
- HRV standing (debatable how correct HRV is)
- Coaching readiness, coaching load and coaching impact
- Elevation information, stride size, operating energy, operating dynamics
- Extra correct monitor exercises, PacePro
- Higher biking and swimming monitoring
See all of the specs of the Garmin 265 >>
And also you’re nonetheless getting a lot of the smartwatch options of the Venu, Garmin pay for contactless fee, and music storage, so it’s a greater choice in the event you’re actually searching for coaching information that can assist you enhance.
Greatest All Round Garmin Watch – Garmin Fenix 7 ($699- $999)
While you desire a operating watch that appears like a ten and has the brains of a ten, that is your clear reduce winner. The Fenix can do all of it from operating to deep sea diving to skydiving, proper alongside supplying you with telephone notifications, pay out of your watch and a good multi-color show.
Truthfully, I didn’t notice how uninteresting the display was till I acquired the Venu and 265.
Evening and day distinction, however once more I believe the much less colourful non-touch display is a part of the longer battery and sturdiness. You possibly can regulate the display brightness, however assume brighter will take extra battery and it’ll nonetheless not appear like the above watches.
Using all 3 satellite tv for pc choices, GPS, GLONASS and Galileo, which suggests this watch is supplying you with prime notch efficiency for GPS accuracy it doesn’t matter what journey you’re on.
You’ll even be getting all the anticipated operating options like cadence, stride, vertical oscillation, altitude, elevation achieve, pulse oximeter, fueling reminders, race predictor, coaching solutions, tempo, and VO2 max.
The Fenix additionally consists of maps, which is an unimaginable characteristic in the event you love not simply trails, however operating in new cities (which I do loads!)
Because of all the options the battery life on this watch is nice, however not what you’ll discover within the Enduro.
- Smartwatch as much as 11 Days
- Normal GPS mode 37 hours
- Photo voltaic charging implies that you get additional on all of the battery life settings, like as much as 46 hours GPS or 14 days smartwatch mode (large fan of all their photo voltaic version watches now)
The Fenix additionally permits you to pre-load music so that you simply aren’t streaming out of your telephone. Nevertheless, for almost all of runners I nonetheless suggest carrying your telephone. The emergency alert options really require the Garmin app to be open in your telephone to provide individuals your location.
Fascinated about extra particulars? Checkout my in-depth Garmin Fenix 7 assessment and comparability >>
See extra specs of the Garmin Fenix 7 >>
Greatest for Skilled Path Runners – Garmin Enduro ($799-$1099)
One of many few watches that instantly acquired my stamp of approval for HR accuracy! It’s a beast of a watch, by way of dimension, however I nonetheless put on it nearly any time I’ll be hitting the paths and for lots of my highway marathon coaching as nicely.
Moreover, it grew to become my go to for our mountain hikes, snowshoeing and cross nation ski days. Since battery life is likely one of the issues that stands out, let’s have a look at that.
- Smartwatch as much as 50 Days
- Normal GPS mode 70 hours
- Photo voltaic charging implies that you get additional on all of the battery life settings, like as much as 300 hours of GPS!
- Energy Meter to assist preserve battery life by turning off some issues, then as much as 200 hours in GPS mode
- Expedition mode is designed for multi-day actions that can assist you get that prolonged battery life
- Maps for navigation are one of many options that used to set this watch aside, however now you can get much more good colours and maps on the 965.
Once more the display on this one shouldn’t be that brilliant contact display of the smartwatches, but it surely completely nonetheless provides you all of your watch notifications. You can not reply to texts from the watch.
What the Enduro has that Fenix doesn’t:
- Titanium choice for watch face
- Nylon strap
- Bigger watch face and show with no S choice for smaller wrists
- Dramatically longer battery life throughout the board
- Photo voltaic version is really spectacular in relation to battery
- Extra sport options for Ultrarunning, Expedition, Journey Racing
Be aware solely the Enduro 2 consists of maps, which can price you one other $300. However actually this seems like a should have characteristic for these lengthy out of doors adventures.
Fascinated about extra particulars? Checkout my in-depth Garmin Enduro eview and comparability >>
See extra specs of the Garmin Enduro >>
Greatest Look ahead to Triathlon – Garmin 965 ($599)
Whereas this isn’t a triathlon weblog and I can’t faux to know all of the stuff you want, I’ve completed my justifiable share of swimming and biking through the years. I additionally owned on of the early fashions of this watch the 935 and it was a stellar watch. So I really feel assured chatting with the options and high quality for triathletes.
Whereas I’ve used older fashions whereas dwelling and coaching in Florida (that one time tried triathlon), I’ve not placed on the most recent mannequin. However I couldn’t write up this assessment and never embrace it!
Which Garmin Working Watch to Decide?
As you may see from the checklist above, I’ve good issues to say about just about all of the Garmin operating watches I’ve examined.
On this article, we’ve coated a few of the key components to contemplate when selecting a Garmin look ahead to operating, together with GPS accuracy, battery life, dimension and weight, show options, information monitoring and evaluation capabilities, and value vary.
By taking these components under consideration, you’ll be capable of select a watch that meets your particular wants and helps you obtain your operating objectives. However I do know that’s nonetheless simpler mentioned than completed as a result of the Garmin 55 would possibly do what you want…however oh boy is that Fenix fairly and wow the display on the 265!!
Right here’s a have a look at the common dimension of their watches vs the S fashions.
Garmin Working Watch Comparability Chart
There are numerous components to contemplate, however let’s have a look at a number of of them to attempt to assist with that ultimate alternative.
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Garmin Forerunner 55 |
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Garmin Venu 2 |
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Garmin Forerunner 265 |
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Garmin Fenix 7 – Solely diving authorised watch |
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Garmin Enduro 2 |
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Garmin Forerunner 965 |
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So what are you ready for? Whether or not you’re simply beginning out otherwise you’re a seasoned professional, there’s a Garmin watch on the market that’s excellent for you.
Take a while to discover the varied fashions out there, learn evaluations, and check out some on for dimension. With some research and a few cautious consideration, you’re certain to discover a Garmin watch that shall be your excellent operating companion for years to return.
On the lookout for extra suggestions?
