Active Watches

I was looking at a I watch 2 but found out that the Iwatch3 will be out later this year so since I was undecided I did not pick up the iwatch2

I have heard that the garmin watches but there are just so many choices.
I wanted to know if you have a garmin watch which do you have and how do you like it? Thanks in advance

 

It would be better if you defined your expected use and needs from your watch.

As you said, there are sooo many options out there and they are all tailored differently. I've been a Garmin watch user for about 8 years and I love it for what it is and the ones I've had worked for my needs and expectations. I started with a refurbished Garmin Active, then had a Fenix 5, and now an Epix Pro Gen 2.

 

Instinct 2X Solar


I never wore watches before because they would get beaten up at work, but this one is pretty durable. It's not overly fancy and it fits my needs. My favorite thing about the watch is that it's got a decently bright flashlight built into it. I use that function all the time. Very happy with the product.

 

If you're planning to do athletic endeavors and use your watch for that, Garmin is where it's at. From the tests I've seen, the Garmin's have better GPS, sensors, etc.

I've heard Polar is great, too, but I have zero experience with that.

If you want techy stuff, and you are already in the Apple sauce, the iwatch may suit you better.

I'm a Garmin user personally. Because I do athletic stuff. The Venu is what I'm currently using.

 

My primary use it accurate run tracking because I run in remote areas mostly , heart BP monitoring, steps and things of that sort

no concern with music because I run in silence and I don’t want to talk on the phone but I can see where that can be vital

 

Garmin is for you then. As you know, there is a lot to pick from. Just start looking through them and see which one has the features that sound good to you. Link it up to Strava and you'll be happy!

 

Thanks I have been looking at the venu x1
I’m 85% in
But seems the fenix is what the venu X1 is compared to. I don’t see any locally but I’ll find it. Thanks for the feedback

 

You probably can't go wrong with either one. I'd check out some YouTube vids and other comparisons.
I've had my Venu for a few years now. Probably like four, maybe even five years. I've thought about replacing it, but there is really no need. It still works fantastic, battery still last a few days, etc. I did recently replace the band, but that's it. The only time I don't use it is for Zwift rides. I bought a chest strap for that.

 

depending on your level of want, check with @RobertD and @RainMan_PNW
i have a garmin watch and it's been great. some will depend on your budget, some will depend on your use. but it does sound like a garmin is more for what you're looking for.

 

If you are rough on your hands and body, the Fenix and Epix have a titanium bezel and you can opt for sapphire glass. That is why I got the Fenix (titanium bezel) initially and was highly impressed with the abuse, my epix has the titanium bezel and sapphire glass so no screen protector is needed and its handled everything I've put it thru.

I do agree that the built in flashlight is a nice feature. I thought it was a silly gimmick until I had it available and it gets used a few times a week.

 

Huge Garmin fanboy here. Bought a Forerunner 965 and then they got all of my money - chest strap, pedals and rear radar for road bike, cadence/speed for MTB, blood pressure, weight scale, wife's Forerunner 265S, and the women's chest strap. Biggest thing is deciding if you want a smartwatch that can do fitness pretty well, or a fitness watch that can sort of do smartwatch things. The guys I ride with generally started with Apple and swapped over. For purely running, Apple does a great job. Either brand, you'll want to find a device with numerous GPS radios. These really excel for trail-based activities with tree coverage or cityscapes.

If you decide to go with Garmin, expect to spend some time learning their lineup. A lot of features overlap between base brands, and then the upper tiered models add on certain features. Between the upper tiered, they then break apart by ruggedness, battery life, screen tech, etc. It isn't easy to first dive into.

 

I have had a Garmin watch on my wrist almost constantly for over a decade.

Fenix 3
Fenix 3HR
Fenix 5X
Epix Gen2
Epix Pro (current)

The latest version of their HR sensors (4-LED) have been consistently within 1-2 bpm of the chest strap for all of my gym and rowing tests- enough so I stopped using my chest strap over a year ago.

I use it for walking, running (the little I do that), hiking and backpacking, connect it to my Concept2 row and bike (along with the app) for workout tracking, snowboarding, sleep tracking, ECG reporting… and barely scratch the surface of what it can do.
The flashlight on it gets used pretty much every night - crazy how much I use that little novelty. When out walking the dogs, jogging, or even mowing the lawn I connect it up to me Shokz headphones and don’t need to carry my watch.