When it comes to smart watches and the best watches for runners, it may seem like there’s only one game in town. Truth be told, there are a lot of amazing smart watches on the market from the Apple Watch Ultra to Samsung’s Galaxy 5. One of the biggest selections in smart watches for sports enthusiast comes from Garmin.
Lucky for us, Amazon is holding a big sale on a big selection of Garmin Smart Watches. We chose our favorites, which we must admit, was no easy feat.
(Some of) our favorite Garmin smart watches featured below
What’s so great about a Garmin smart watch?
Good question. Known for innovation and accuracy, Garmin is known for being at the forefront of technology. From solar powered smart watches to detailed fitness trackers, the American watch brand is known as much for style as product features.
What sets Garmin apart from other smart watch companies is its multi-sport tracking available on certain models and navigation features. This makes Garmin smart watches winners with runners, swimmers, adventurers and anyone wanting to up their fitness game with detailed feedback and metrics.
And while a smart watch won’t get you to the gym (oh wouldn’t that be nice), Garmin’s analytics can help you understand how to optimize movement more. It might just be the motivation you need to push yourself to the next level.
Amazon reviewers were quite evangelical about Garmin smart watches, many of whom had upgraded to a Garmin after years using similar less expensive brands. Buyers enthusiastically touted Garmin’s accuracy. Styling won big points with reviewers, some of whom called theirs “gorgeous” and “beautiful.” Reviewers noted Garmin is “a tad expensive.” Fair point, but more often than not reviewers felt their purchase was well worth the price — especially when you can snag a great deal on Garmin at Amazon.
What do we like about Garmin? Thanks for asking. While we were first drawn to Garmin because of Amazon’s killer discount, we dug into reviews and were struck by buyers’ passion, even on the higher-priced models. Durability and accuracy rated big from buyers, which means the purchase will pay off over time.
Shop Amazon’s best deals on Garmin smart watches
When choosing which Garmin smart watches to feature, we considered multiple factors.
- Price? Yeah. We were hard for our money and know you do, too. We loved the variety of deep Amazon discounts on Garmin, but considered much more than price when making our selections.
- Functionality. We thought long and hard about what each watch does. More importantly, do we need it? Smart watch bells and whistles are great if you’ll actually use them. If not, you’re paying extra for features that sound good at a dinner party but never actually get used.
- How does it look? Call us superficial, but if we’re going to wear a tiny computer on our arm, we don’t want it to look like a tiny computer on our arm.
- What did other people say? We don’t mind standing out in a crowd and forming our own opinions, but we do consider buyer reviews from confirmed buyers. Glowing reviews en masse are as informative as critical reviews screaming “Buyer beware!”
Now, the fun part. Let’s shop.
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar
Amazon
It’s impossible not to be impressed with the Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar smart watch from Garmin. One of the top-of-the-line models, this is a long-running, multisport GPS tracker with a scratch-resistant Power Sapphire lens, which uses the sun to extend battery life.
Clever features like the built-in LED flashlight keep you illuminated after dark (dusk runners, hello!), while the 24/7 health and wellness tracker can also track sleep (and help you enhance it). GPS makes this watch incredibly accurate, a bonus for trail runners, adventurers, and anyone on the go. The 28-day battery life in smart watch mode was music to our ears.
We really like the look of the Fenix 7, which comes in nearly a dozen colors to suit every personality and taste.
Garmin Fenix 7X Sapphire Solar, $800 (reduced from $1000)
$800
Need more? If you like the idea of the ultimate adventurer’s smart watch, but want to up your watch game slightly, we like Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistics Edition (starting at $1,450, reduced from $1,600). The military-inspired designed with have you feeling like you’re on a mission every time you step out, the navigation sensors and ski maps will keep you busy (and safe) all day.
Garmin Tactix 7 Pro Ballistics Edition, $1,450 (reduced from $1,600)
$1,450 on Amazon
Garmin Vivoactive 4
Amazon
When choosing a smart watch, we hate to let price dictate a purchase, but it’s tough to deny the quality of Amazon’s discount on the Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS smartwatch. Keep track of everything from energy level, stress levels and sleep (sorry it can’t find your keys, but they’re probably still in the door, you’re welcome), but it can track just about everything else.
Twenty preloaded indoor sports and GPS apps, including yoga, running, and swimming, can record all the ways you move, all day, all the time. Smart notifications keep you in touch with text messages and calendar reminders when paired with your mobile device.
We were impressed with the battery life, which can sustain one charge for up to 8 days in smartwatch mode, and up to 6 hours in GPS and music modes.
Available in two different sizes.
Garmin Vivoactive 4, $200 (reduced from $330)
$200 on Amazon
Runners, evaluate your current training methods to find if you need more or less on the road, all while listening to the best music via your watch. Training for a marathon, or just wanted to make your runs more efficient, this is the smart watch for you.
Garmin Forerunner 245 Music GPS Running Smartwatch, $223 (reduced from $350)
$223 on Amazon
Garmin Instinct
Amazon
Boasting durability that can withstand life’s adventures, the Garmin Instinct is shock and water resistant (up to 100 meters). Multiple navigation systems make for accurate tracking in rugged environments proving more accurate than GPS alone.
We like the track back feature for hiker, climbers, runners and adventurers to help navigate the back to your starting point. The battery life was a plus as well: 14 days in smartwatch mode and up to 16 hours in GPS mode.
Train with preloaded activity profiles and monitor heartrate, activity and stress, to make this one of the most efficient smart watches, especially for the price!
Four color options available.
Garmin Instinct GPS, $169 (reduced from $250)
$169 on Amazon
A hiker’s necessity, Garmin’s lightweight and compact satellite communicator allows you to navigate back to your starting point, share your location, and pairs with Garmin devices to receive messages and trigger an SOS. Some features require an active satellite subscription.
Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator, $350 (reduced from $400)
$350 on Amazon
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro
Amazon
An older (shh, don’t tell) cousin of the Fenix 7x, the Garmin Fenix 6X Pro has a large 1.4 inch display (that’s 36% larger than Fenix predecessors) and uses solar power to end battery life, which lasts up to 21 days in smartwatch mode and up to 165 hours in GPS mode.
Systems here, including sleep monitoring, pulse, and heart rate monitoring are advanced and can assist with altitude acclimation at high elevations (hikers, mountain climbers!)
Pre-loaded ski maps for more than 2,000 worldwide ski resorts make this the perfect accessory for the ski bunny in all of us.
Garmin Fenix 6X Pro, $400 (reduced from $650)
$400 on Amazon
Track tide changes and get anchor drag alerts with Garmin’s marine GPS smart watch, the Garmin Quatix 7 Sapphire Edition. Called a “remarkable” wristwatch by one reviewer, sailors and fishermen and women, this is for you.
Garmin Quatix 7 Sapphire Edition, $800 (reduced from $1000)
$800 on Amazon
Shop more Garmin smart watch deals on Amazon
Apple Watch Ultra is also on sale
Walmart
Key features of the Apple Watch Ultra:
- The most advanced Apple Watch, ever
- Designed for endurance athletes, outdoor adventurers and water sports enthusiasts
- Up to 36 hours of battery life
- Features a 49mm corrosion-resistant titanium case, Apple’s largest
- Brightest always-on Retina display of any Apple Watch model
- Precision dual-frequency GPS for accuracy, distance, route and pace calculations
Apple Watch Ultra, $730 (reduced from $800)
$730 at Amazon
Android alternative: Galaxy Watch 5
Samsung
You need an Apple iPhone to get the most out of your Apple Watch. If you’re an Android phone owner, consider going with the top-rated Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 instead. It’s compatible with Android devices in a way that the Apple Watch 8 is not.
Key features of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5:
- Android compatible
- Comes in 40mm and 44mm sizes (larger is $30 extra)
- Auto workout tracking can identify running, swimming, rowing and more
- IP68 rated (water-resistant in up to 5 feet of water for up to 30 minutes)
- Measures blood oxygen saturation and monitors your heart (ECG functionality)
- Charge lasts for one to three days, depending on usage
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, $280
$280 at Amazon