In certain circles, the word “Garmin” is less a brand name than a category definer, like Q-Tip or Band-Aid. From casual hikers to nationally ranked professional athletes, anyone who loves outdoor sports can glean useful information from the bevy of sensors, safety features, and sophisticated software that come with every Garmin watch. A few other fitness trackers have come close to replicating Garmin’s durability, wearability, and reliability, but the company remains the industry standard. Unlike, say, an Apple Watch, Garmins also work with both iPhones and Android phones.
Many features that only recently debuted on other fitness trackers, like sleep tracking, blood oxygen measurements, and fall detection, have been on Garmin watches for years. Over the half-dozen years, the WIRED team has tested dozens of Garmin watches. Let us help decide which Garmin is best for you.
Once you’re set up with your Garmin, don’t forget to check out our buying guides to the Best Barefoot Shoes, the Best Wireless Workout Buds, or the Best Hiking Gear.
Updated October 2023: We added the Vivomove Trend, the Epix Pro (Gen 2), the Venu 3, the Vivosmart 5, the Edge 840 Solar, and the Garmin Forerunner 255. We also updated links and pricing throughout.
Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.
Services Marketplace – Listings, Bookings & Reviews