Garmin Watch Buying Guide for Fitness Aficionados

Best Garmin watch for running 

Whether you’re a regular marathon runner, or have just begun training for your first 5k in lockdown, Garmin has watches for all levels and needs. 

 

For a basic running watch which tracks and monitors all the necessary metrics, and then some, we recommend the Garmin Forerunner 35. This watch is slim, stylish and includes all the features and functions required for daily runs and health activity. 

 

 

Key features of the Garmin Forerunner 35 include:

 

• Slim, lightweight design 
• Available in various colours 
• Heart rate monitoring throughout day and night 
• Tracks distance, speed and location of runs 
• All day activity tracking, including steps and calories
• Push notification reminders for when to move 
• Smartphone connectivity 
• Music controls 
• Built in activity profiles for indoor and outdoor running, cycling and cardio 

For a more advanced running watch, we recommend the Forerunner 745. Although a multisports watch, the features and design make it the ideal wearable piece of tech for those with more intense training regimes. 

 

Key features of the Forerunner 745 include:

 

• Sleek, lightweight design 
• Easy to read screen 
• Available in a variety of colours 
• Music storage 
• Programmed with running workouts 
• On-wrist heart rate monitor, but can also be paired with chest strap 
• Various fitness tracking functions, including performance condition and coaching, training status and load, running dynamics and route recommendations 
• Multisport functionality, including swimming and cycling
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Smart wallet 

Best Garmin watch for hiking 

When hiking, you need a watch that can withstand any and every condition, no matter how wet, windy or warm. And in those more extreme circumstances, you need a watch you can rely on. One that will keep you safe through advanced and intuitive features and functions. The Garmin Instinct Solar offers all that and more, which is why it is the ideal watch for hiking. 

 

 

Key features of the Garmin Instinct Solar include:

 

• Solar powered 
• Long lasting battery life, that can be managed through metrics on usage of various apps and functions 
• Military standard robustness 
• Access to GPS, GLONASS and Galileo
• Pre-loaded sports apps, including hiking, running and cycling 
• On-wrist heart rate monitor 
• Altitude monitoring 
• Sleep tracking 
• ABC sensors, including altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather and three-axis electronic compass
• Tracback® feature which takes guesswork out of routing by navigating you back to your starting point the same way you came
• Smartphone compatibility 

Best Garmin watch for swimming 

Understandably, not every watch can be used for swimming. While water resistance is a must, the Garmin Swim model includes a number of other innovative functions and features that can help any water-based athlete enhance their performance and break records. 

 

 

The Garmin Swim features include:

 

• On-wrist heart rate monitor 
• Pool and open water swim modes 
• Critical swim speed tracking 
• Drill logging 
• Pacing alerts 
• Customisable workouts 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Watch automatically stops when you do 
• Long lasting battery life 

Best Garmin watch for cycling 

For cyclists, it’s not just the spec of your wheels that make a difference to your rides. Rather, with a watch that monitors your own health, fitness and performance, as well as the conditions and environments in which you’re cycling, you’ll be on track for the ride of your life. 

 

Showcasing all of these functions, and more, the Garmin Fenix Pro Solar edition is the watch for cyclists.

 

 

Key features of the Garmin Fenix Pro Solar watch include:

 

• Solar powered 
• Available in a variety of colours 
• On-wrist heart rate monitoring 
• Can be mounted onto handlebars 
• Mountain biking metrics 
• Specialised grit™ and flow measurements that rate trail difficulty and how smoothly you descend
• Pre-loaded sports apps 
• Hydration tracking 
• Multi-GNSS support 
• ABC sensors, including altimeter for elevation data, barometer to monitor weather and three-axis electronic compass
• Round-trip routing 
• Turn by turn navigation 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Smart wallet 
• Safety tracking 
• Music storage 

Best Garmin watch for golfing 

With the right piece of tech on your arm, you can play your best round. Garmin produces a number of watches geared towards the green and each player’s individual needs and preferences. 

 

If you’re all about the game, and want an advanced watch that is data driven and guaranteed to deliver results, the Garmin Approach S62 is for you. 

 

 

Key features of the Garmin Approach S62 include:

 

• Sizable, easy to read screen 
• Virtual caddie 
• Wind speed and direction monitor 
• Over 40,000 pre-loaded golf courses located all around the world 
• Plays like distance indicator 
• View the green and hazards on your wrist 
• Pinpointer function for blind spot shots 
• Score recording 
• Can be paired with Garmin Golf app for more data, reporting and to join virtual leaderboards and challenges 
• On-wrist heart rate monitor 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Smart wallet for easy transition to 19th hole 

 

If you want a watch that encompasses both style and functionality, the luxurious MARQ Golfer is the ideal piece. 

 

The watch’s features include:

 

• 18 custom-etched hole markings right on the bezel
• Sleek and sophisticated design with green nylon bracelet, ceramic bezel and digital display 
• Virtual caddie 
• Wind speed and direction monitor 
• Over 40,000 pre-loaded golf courses located all around the world 
• Plays like distance indicator 
• View the green and hazards on your wrist 
• Pinpointer function for blind spot shots 
• Score recording 
• Can be paired with Garmin Golf app for more data, reporting and to join virtual leaderboards and challenges 
• On-wrist heart rate monitor 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Smart wallet for easy transition to 19th hole 

Best Garmin watch for triathlons 

Getting a watch right for a triathlete isn’t easy as it’s a job that requires water resistance, lightweight design and multifunctionality. Yet Garmin does it perfectly. 

 

The smartwatch expert brand offers various multisports watches, and depending on the level and intensity of your training regime, you will likely find a piece in their collection that is catered to your every need. 

 

For an entry level watch that is ideal for multiple sports, including swimming, cycling and running, the Garmin Venu GPS smartwatch is the perfect proposition. 

 

 

Key features of the Garmin Venu GPS smartwatch include: 

 

• Available in a variety of styles and colours 
• Water rating of 5 ATM, so can be used in swimming pools and showers 
• Health and fitness tracking, including on-wrist heart monitor, pulse OX sensor, hydration tracking and respiratory monitoring
• Pre-loaded sports apps, including for swimming, running and cycling 
• Virtual coaching feature 
• Customisable workouts 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Music storage 
• Smart wallet 

 

For athletes who are in more rigorous training and require a watch with greater triathlon geared functions in order to supplement and enhance performance, the Garmin Forerunner 945 is for you. 

 

Key features of the Garmin Forerunner 945 include:

 

• Multitude of health and fitness tracking functions, including on-wrist heart-rate, VO2 max monitor, performance condition and training effect and load
• Virtual coaching 
• Pre-loaded sports apps
• Running dynamics metrics 
• Long lasting battery life 
• Round-trip routing 
• Turn by turn navigation 
• Smartphone compatibility 
• Music storage 
• Smart wallet 
• Safety features, including live tracking and incident reporting 

So, there you have it - the best Garmin smart sports watches for a variety of needs and activities. 

 

Looking to purchase a Garmin watch? Check out the collection available at Wallace Allan today.